Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-21
The wrath OF washington.

| FROM nush washington In Doines-
tic Life we take the following:
"An anecdote derived from Colonel
Lear shortly before his death, in 1910,
may be here related showing the height
10 which Washington's passion would rise,
yet be controlled. II belongs to his do
mestic life, with which dealing, having
occurred under his own roof, while il
marks public feelings the most intense,
and points to the moral life. give il in
Colonel Lear's words as near as can,
having made note of them q, that time.
Towards the close of a winters day
in 1899, an officer in uniform was seen
10 dismount in front of the Presidents
house in Philadelphia, and giving The
bride to his servant, knocked at the door
of the mansion. Learning from the por.
ter that the President was at dinner, be
said he was on public business, and had
dispatches for the President. A servant
was sent into the dining-room to give in
formation 10 Mr.. Lear, who left the table
and went into the hall, where the officer
repeated what he had said. Mr.. Lear
replied that, as the Presidents Secretary,
he would take charge of the dispatches
and deliver them At the proper time. The
officer made answer that he had just come
from the Western Army, and his orders
we're to deliver them with all promptitude
to the President; but that he would wait
his directions. Mr.. Lear returned and
impaired to the President what had pas
sed. General Washington arose from
the table and went to the officer. He
was back in n short time, made word of
apology for his absence, but no allusion
TO the cause of it. He had company that
day. Every thing went on as usual.
Dinnerwas over, the gentlemen passed to
the drtwing-room of Mrs. Washington,
which was open in the evening. The
General spoke courteously TO every lady
in the room, as was his custom. His
hours were early. and BY ten o'clock all
the company had gone. Mrs. Washing.
ton and Mr.. Lear remained. Soon Mrs.
Washington left the room. ,fsoI1
"The General now walked backwards
and forwards for some minutes without
speaking. Then he sat down on the sofa
by the fire, telling Mr.. Lear to sit down.
To this moment there had been no change
in his manner since his interruption al
the table. Mr.. Lear now preceived his
emotion. This rising in him, he broke
out suddenly as'','9 f'a ra''A''
Its all over---St. Clair's defeated;
routed; the officers nearly all killed--the
men by wholesale; the route complete
too shocking TO think of-and surprise
IN the bargamv 1902
"He uttered all this with great vehe.
mence. Then he paused. got up from
the sofa, and walked about the room sew
eral times, agitated, but saying nothing,
Near the door he stopped short and stood
still few seconds, when his wrath be.
came terrible. - .HHa ,ri1r
"' Yes he burst forth, 'here, on this
very spot, l took leave of him; wished
him success and honor. You have your
instructions, | said. from the Secretary Of
War; l had strict eye to them, and will
ado but one more. beware Of surprisei /
repeat it, beware of surprise-you know
how the Indians fight us. He went off
with that as my last solemn warning
thrown into his ears. And yet to suffer
that army to be cut 10 pieces, hacked by q
surprise-the very thing l guarded him
against! o God, o God, he's worse than
a murderer! how can he answer i, to his
country l--the blood of The slain is upon
hiln--the curse of widows and Orphans
the curse of Heaven
This torrent came out in tone ap.
palling. His very frame shook. II was
awful, said Mr.. Lear. More than once
he threw his hands up as he hurled i'm.
precautions on ST. Clair. Mr.. Lear re.
mained speechless; awed into silence.
The reused chief sat down on the so.
ia once more. He seemed conscious of
his passion, and uncomfortable. He was
silent. HIS wrath began TO subside; he
at length said. in an altered voice: This
must not 60 beyond this ROOM Another
pause followed longer one-when he
said in tone quite low: General ST.
Clair shall have justice. looked hastily
through the dispatches. saw the whole dis
aster, but no, all the particulars; l will
hear him without prejudice he shall have
justice. 'Aii'aA'' . ''a'l-'' @
b.'Hc was nov, said Mr.. Lear, perfect.
ly calm. Half an hour had gone by.
The storm was over, and no signs of il
after wards seen in his conduct. or beard
in his conversation. The result is well
known. The whole case was investiga.
ted by Congress. and ST. Clair was excul-
pa,ed and regained the the confidence
Washington had in him when appointing
him TO that command. He had put him
self 10 the thickestof the fight and escaped
unhurt, though so i'll Us to be carried on
a litter, and unable 10 noun, his horse
without help