Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-03

has kindly yielded to our request, ana detail
ed the impression made upon his youthful
mind by the sight CT the grandest figure thai
adorns the heroic age of the Republic.
Washington's Personal Appearance.
/ first saw General Washington on the 18th
of October. 1878, when for a short time be
had his head quarters at a house then occupied
by Colonel Kane, (great-grandfather of the
late DR.. Kane,) some two miles westerly oil
the Quaker meeting house on Quaker Hill, IN
the present town of Rawlings, formerly
called Fredericksburg, Dutchess county, and
on the road loading to Poughkeepsie. The
encampment of the largest portion of the
Continental army then collected in one
place was on the same ridge of land with the
Quaker meeting-honse, and from two to three
miles south of it, on the road from Cold
Spring to Carmel, the present county seat of
Putnam county, and within the limits of the
town of Patterson in the same county.
was at that time in my tenth year, and, like
all boys belonging to ardent wing families, at
that stirring period. was intensely interested
in the great events occurring around me-
My father and mother took me with them to
see the camp about ten miles distant from
their residence.
The 18th of October was selected as the
time for the visit, because it was known that
there would be "a grand parade and festival
on that day, it being the first anniversary of
the surrender of Burgoyne. For the same
reason many others availed themselves of
the occasion to visit the camp, and large,
crowd of both sexes was collected. AS every
body was eager to see General Washington
they huddled together upon the road leading
from the Generals headquarters to the camp,
all on horseback, as every body then rode
who rode at all. The cavalcade OF officers
and their attendants who had gone up to
headquarters TO escort the COMMANDMENTS
Chief down to the place of entertainment
soon made their appearance. As it was pas
sing the company of spectators, my father
inquired of soldier standing by the road,
whether -" his EXcellcncy" was in the train
which was just riding by. He answered,
remember, thus: ''Yes, sir; he's on the right
hand in front, on the blaZedfaced horse
and a noble horse he was. The cavalcade,
Immediately it had passed the throng of
spectators, wheeled to the left of the road
into an open field at the foot of very abrupt
but short ascent to the fiat upon its top, where
the tables where set under a long shade of
green boughs. AS soon as the Generals
horse came to the foot of the HILL he sprang
forward with the swiftness of a bird and
assembled it rather by leaps than an ordinary
gallop and reached the top before any other
one of the escort had got half way up. Ger
tainly never before. nor during the long
years since did behold so noble an eques-
trian figure; for General Washington excelled
in Craftsmanship, as he did In everything else
which he undertook.
When the General and his attendants had
arrived at their destination, the spectators dis
mounted and took their stand outside of the
assembly of officers, who joined in numerous
parties in conversation for a long while before
dinner was served. My eyes were riveted
during the whole time upon General Wash
ington. whose noble personal appearance and
majestic bearing so far exceeded any other
present as to leave no ground for comparison.
A lofty stature two inches over six feet, with
form as perfect in its proportions as posi-
BILE to represent both gracefulness and strength
"a nearer and repeated view OF him many
years afterwards, when in the Office OF Presi-
dent of the United States, enables me to say,
that my first estimate of his personal appear
ance was not mistaken one, though formed
in the enthusiasm of boyhood. L gazed at
him for at least TWO hours, scarcely having
patience to have my attention turned to other
distinguished officers whom my father pointed
out to me-such as the Baron Steuben, Gen
Knox and the Baron d. Kalb. | then be-
lieved tha5 | was looking at the nOblest and
bes. man in the world, and eighty years of
reading ald reflection which have since elaps |
ed has in no wise changed that early impress |
siOns.
The General was dressed in a blue coat |
with buff facings and large gold epaulets, |
with snuff colored small clothes and vest, and |
boots reaching quite to the knee. His hair, |
Of which he had a great quantity, was craped |
and turned back from his forehead. and dress |
ID in a very large and long braid or twist up |
1n his back; the whole profusely powdered, |
is was then the fashion. His sword was wha:
vas called hanger, shaped like a sabre, but
much shorter and lighter. 1t was worn at
ached to a belt around the waist, under the
:oat. The handle was of green ivory. the
tilt and guard of silver, and was .ae same
hat was presented To Congress some years
go by the relative to whom it was bequeath-
by the Generals will. Such were my first
IMPRESSIONS at the sight of the greatest man
his own or any other age. The picture is
tamped upon my memory in living light, and
me seems only to increase the freshness of
cOlOring.
The last time / saw Gen. Washington was
/ May, 1890, during the second session of the
rst Congress under the present Constitution;
q being held in New York, and the last which
yas convened in that city. / was then III my
wenty second year. My brother-the late
iliiah Boardman. afterwards and at the time
f his decease United States Senator from
Connecticut making an excursion to New
ork accompanied him. in order to see the
ty, which had never visited, and to take
,Ok at Congress, which | had a great desire
} see in session. We arrived in the city on
aturday evening. We agreed to go to the
Iurch the next morning where we supposed
he President would attend, for the purpose
{ seeing him; though we had both seen him
ghle in command of the army; and my
.rother. indeed, many years older than my
If, had served a campaign under his orders.
he Presiden. then resided in the centre house
I what was called Mr.. Combs block. on the
yestern side of Broadway, between Trinity
'hurch and the Bowling Green. To accom-
lish our object. we went first to the front of
rinity Church, intending to wait there until
he Presidents carriage came up, and if it
vent by, to repair to ST Paul's, knowing that
e would attend service at one of them
When we reached our proposed stand, we
ound a large number of gentlemen occupying
be ground, doubtless influenced 10y the same
notives with ourselves, and had already
0rmed two lines reaching from the church
DOR to the middle of the street, and few
ards apart. The Presidents coach soon
anne up, and stopped at the mouth of the
venue formed by the spectators.
He stepped out of it with his hat (such as
e used To wear while in command of the ar
NY in his hand. and walked through the bow
ng lines of admiring gazers with that grave
y serene bearing aud majesty of countenance
uch as in my estimation, no other face ever
ore lie was followed by Mrs. Washington,
scorted by gentleman of the family, and 10y
h. private secretary and lady. His dress upon
ccasion was precisely like Stuart's portrait OF
i'm Except the sword,) to wit: black through
ut, silk stockings, and silyer-buckled shoes;
is hair dressed in front just as Stuart's por-