Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-28
Voc. ). NO "a.

| ington the commission of sergeant. At the
time of his discharge he received from the
| Commandcrin-chief the Badge Of Military
| Merit, for six years faithful service. This
honorary badge of distinction established
! by Washington. in August, 1871, and was
conferred upon commissioned officers and
soldiers who had served three years with bra-
very, fidelity, and good conduct, and upon
| every one who should perform any.singularly
meritoriDus action The badge entitled the
recipient ito pass and repass all guards and
military posts as fully and amply as any corl.
missloned officer, whatever Il was the or
der of the American Legion Of Honor
After the war, Sergcant Knapp settled IN
! New Windsor, near Newburgh; and there he
lived the quiet life of a farmer until his death
which occurred en- the eleventh of January.
| 1856, when he was little more than ninety
six years of age His body was taken to
| New burgh, and lay in state for three days,
in the centre Of the recepti9n-room in Wash
ington's headquarters, so we'll preserved as
the property Of the State. On Wednesday,
the sixteenth of January, attended by ci-
vic and military pageant. and vast assem-
blage of people, it was buried at the foot Of
the flagstaff, on the slope near that venera-
ted building, around which cluster SO many
memories of Washington and the Continental
army. It is a most appropriate burial-place
for the mortal remains o. the vet eran guards
man.
Pardon me for mentioning. in eouclussoh,
a personal incident. which will ever appear to
NE sacred picture on memorys wall [
, was invited by committee of arrangements
at wbureh, to participate with them, on
the eleventh of September, 1875, in the eel
ebraton of the anniversary of the battle of
Plattsburgh The venerable Sergeant Knapp
was amorg the invited guests who were pre-
sent. The ceremonies consisted of civic
and military procession, an grafton, and a
public dinner By request occupied seat
5 by the side Of the old guar3sman, in the car
II riage with the orator, and also upon the plat
|, form erected upon the green in fro!t of the
: old headquarters. When the orator had con-
: cluded, | was invited TO introduce Sergeant
= Knapp to the audience-an audience of at
e least FIVE thousand peopie-who testified their
If respect for the vene-ated hero By huzzas
o which almost brought echoes from Beacon
Hill and the Storm-king And. when he
e was about to retire from the dinner table, the
e old man arose, leaned firmly upon his staff,
,e and with solemn but unfaltering voice, invi-
'e ted the whole company to his funeral. Just
'r four months to day, from that time, his
t, spirit went home and many who were al the
he feast, were rlourners at the burial.
q 1T is that introduction 70 which refer as
Il the cherished picture in ny memory. The
=. man, the place. the occasion, invested it with
; rare interest; and shall ever feel that then
- enjoyed privilege vouchssfed to few men on
- the earth.
r There, near the very spot where he had
:, kept faithful vigils three-quarters of century
before, was the same majestic river flowing
n. at his feet the same mountain-peaks, on
s. which beacon-fres cleaned during the old
IL war for independence, were standing, with
nt outlines all unchanged, within the sweep Of
a. his dim vision !; the same old house-with il:
4 room with seven doors and one window
bv wherein the great leader of the Continenta
q. army had labored, unused, and rePosed-wa,
lat still there to welcome his totteriug feet; there
ng was the same green slope, whereon he ant
N his companions had watched and sported, him
. self the last survivor Of them all In the nius
90 of such wonderful associations lie stood lk
re 9 Nes;9r, with the mon and wcSicn Of IT,
an three generations that ke had lived crowdin
around him to do reverence 10 his age gu
is, services and l. not yet born when he ha
it lived half q century and more, was permi;
ap- ted to lead him by the hand, and to spea
m his name to the multitude. Il vas Z priv
lege, indeed!
his Excuse me for recalling the scene "a sue
or presence as this. But I know there ar
ha- hearts around me that beat in sympathy vi:
vas my own and it should be remembered IL;
zen the time is ncar-it is even at the door
n.y. when to have SEEN soldier Of that old ~
ing will be considered great privilege, and ii
uty recipient of it viii be gazed upon with ii
SO wide-open eyes of pleasant wonder. OF II
MS. two hundred and thirty thousand Continslt
o'- soldiers, and the ffty-six thousand rniliti
hen who bore aras during tie Revolution. an
ned went forth to fght for freedom in Amnric
of probably not two hundred are now out of Il
ons spirit land! Precious Indeed should til,
he seem to This generation, for in the ne-t tn,
'ar- viii all be gone.
of They are golden sands in the hour-gla
OF of Time"
was --ss-.-------
ris- Ey The Grafton Rank. at Grafton Ms.