Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-15
Our Scrip 8ook
Mysteries of the Revolution.
THE WARNING.

Is a 4N44
1t was Saturday night, the 9th Of
June,s 1778, when the American army,
after a toilsome march in a tropical heat
halted for rest and refreshments in the
county Of Monmouth, in the State Of New
Jersey. The weary soldiers were gath
cred in groups, some preparing the even.
ing meal. while others, exhausted'by their
nsarek, threw themselves on the ground
fepose. The short night Of June
was waning away, the watch-fire burnt
|dimly, and silence reigned around. Not
so at headquarters. There lights were
seen, while the Chief, seated at a table,
or dictated dispatches, which were fold
ed and directed by aid-de-camps. and
secretaries, while near at hand were ex.
presses, seated like statutes upon their
Tdrowsy horses, awaiting orders, and ever
and anon, an officer would approach them
with the words, This is for Major Gen
eral-; rid with speed, and spare not
the spur = and in a moment the horse
man would disappear in the surrounding
gloom. Suddenly a stranger appeared
on the scene. He wore no martial Gus
tune, neither had he the measured tread
of the soldier. In truth his appearance
was anything but militaire. On being
challenged by the sentinel, he answered,
+" DR.. Griffith, chaplain and surgeon in
the Virginia line, on business highly i'm
portant with the Commander in Chief"
TheLy Of Hteficer Of the Guard"
brought forth that functionary, SO neces.
sary a parsonage in a night camp.
The officer shook his head, and waving
his hand said, mo sir impossible inten
sely engaged my orders positive can't
be seen on any account" The reverend
gentleman quailed not, but said to the
officer who barred his passage, " Present
sir, my humble duty to his Excellency,
and say that DR.. Griffith waits upon him
with secret and important intelligence,
and graves an audience Of only five min
utes duration"
The high respect in which the clergy
of the American army was held by Wash
ington, was known to every officer and
soldier in its ranks. This, together with
the imposing nature of the chaplain's Wis
it, induced the officer of the guard to
enter the head quarters, and report the
circumstance to the General. He, quick
ly refarningy nshered the Chaplain into
the presence of the Commander. n-Chief.
Washington, still with pen in hand,
received his yisitorueeurteously, when
Griffith 0hserv9a, The nature Of the
communicates am about to make to
your Excellene8 must be my apology for
disturbing you AZ this this time Of night.
While | am not permitted tevdivulge the
names of the authorities from whom |
have obtained my information, I can as
sure you they are Of the first order,
whether in point of character or attach
ment to the cause of American indepen,
dence. | have sought this interview, to
warn your Excelleney against the conduct
of Major General Lee, in to-morrows
battle. Ny duty is fulfilled, and / go
now to pray to the God Of battles for
success to your arms, and that he nav
always have your Excellency in his holy
keeping" The chaplain retired, the
officer Of the guard, by signal from the
Chief, accompanying the reverend gen.
tleman to the lines of the sentinels.
When the warning became known in
the army, many conjeoturcs as to the
sources from whence the chaplain acuui.
red his information, were created
Nothing ever transpired, and the secret
died, while the mystery remains to the
present time.
The conduct of Major General Lee in
the battle of Monmouth, very fairly JUST
fed the warning Of the chanplain. 1t is
certain that the brave and skillful com.
mander had no leaning toward the enemy,
but it is thought he expected, by throw
ing things into confusion, to lesson the
merits Of Washington in the public esti
nation, and thus himself aspire to the
command of the army.
The interview between the Generals
has been but imperfectly narrated by the
chroniclers Of the events of that heroic
age. We have our relation from the ven
James Cfaik, who, as physician
General to the staff, was always in the
suite Of the Commander-in- Chief in the
moment Of battle. He said, the meeting
was abrupt. When Washington, with
warmth, demanded of the Major General
why the advanced guard Of the army was
in retreat before the enemy, having made
little or no resistance. Lee replied in lam
guage explanatory, but decorus and off
cer-like. The Chief then said, Will
YOU, sir, command en- this ground? To
which Lee replied. "Your Excellency's
orders shall be obeyed, and | will be
among the last to leave the field"
Bnt the poetry of this memorable inter-
view. was in the chivalrie ardor Of Alex
ander Hamilton. He sprung from his
horse, and leaving the animal to itself,
drew his sword, and addressing the Chief,
said. General, we are betrayed, and the
moment has arrived when every true
friend Of his country should be prepared
to die in her DEFENCE. Washington,
though inwardly pleased with the heroic
devotion of his f~ayorite Aid, yet deaming
it inappropriate to the battle field, in the
then uncertain fortunes Of the fight, calm
Nv observed to the yourg enthusiast.
Il Colonel Hamilton, you will take your
horse'-tho animal quietly cropping the
heritage hard by, unconscious Of the scene
that was enacted so near it. in which such
great spirits were the actors.
Dir. Griffith survived the war, and be-
came rector of a parish in which. Wash
Iington .worshipped. He was elected
first Bishop Of Virginia under the new