The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-10-31
George Washington.
BY JOHN PHOENIX.

American Revolution.
He was born of poor but honest pa
rents, at Genoa. in the year, 1872
! His mother was called the mother of
Washington. He married early in
life single widow lady, Mrs. Martha
Custis, whom Prescott describes as
the cussedest prettiest woman south
of Mason and Dixson's line. Young
Washington commenced business as a
country surveyor, and was present in
that character at sham fight under
General Paddock, where so many guns
were fred that the whole body of mill
tia were stunned by the explosion, and
sat down to supper unable to hear a
word that was said. The supper was
afterwards alluded to in Braddock's
| defeat, and the smile dead as Brad
dock" subsequently vulgarized into
deaf as haddock," had its rise from
this circumstance Washington com
manded several troops during the
Revolutionary war, and distinguished
himself by crossing the Delaware river
on ice of very inadequate thickness, to
visit family of Hessians of his ac-
quaintance. He was passionately
fond of green peas and string beans,
| and his fayorite motto was Sin time
of peas prepare for war;
Washington's most intimate friend
was French gentleman, named Mar
Gus Dee, who from his constant habits
of visibility, was nicknamed "lauchv
yet" His greatest victory was OBJ
tanned at Germantown, where coming
upon the British 10 the night, he COM
pletely surrounded them with wall
Of cotton bales, from which he soon
opened terrific fire which caused the
enemy to capitulate. The cotton be-
ing perforated with musket balls, was
much increased in weight, and conse-
quently in value, and the expression
playfully used, "What is the Price Of
cotton ?" was much in vogue after
that battle.
During the action, Washington
might have been seen driving up and
down the lines, exposed in small
Concord wagon, drawn by bobtail
gray horse. His celebrated despatch
"Veni vidi vici," or, ] came and saw
in Concord wagon, has reference to
this circumstance.
Washington was called the Father
of his Country !" but the child has
grown, however, to that extent that
its own father would not know it
General Walker is also called the
Father of Nicaragua" and we have
no doubt that in case of his demise
his children, the native Nicaraguans,
would erect a suitable monument over
his remains, with the inscription, go
father and fare worse
Washington was member of the
Know Nothing order, and directed
that none but native Americans should
be put on guard which greatly an
noyed the Americans, their comfort
being entirely destroyed by perpetual
turns of guard duty.
He was twice elected President of
the United States, by the combined
Wing and Know Nothing parties. the
Federalists and Abolitionists voting
against him; and served out his time
with great credit to himself and the
country-drawing his salary with a
regularity and precision worthy of all
commentator.
Although for the time in which he
lived very distinguished man, the
ignorance Of Washington is something
perfectly incredible. He never trav-
eled in steamboat, never saw rail-
road or locomotive engine, was per-
fectly ignorant of the principle of the
magnetic telegraph, never had da-
guerreotype, Colts pistol, Sharp's rifle,
or used friction match Tie ate his
meals with an iron fork, never used
postage stamps on his letters, and
knew nothing Of the application Of
chloriform to alleviate suffering, or the
use of gas as illumination. Such q
man as this could hardly be elected
| President in these times, although il
must be confessed, we occasionally
have a candidate who proves not
much better informed about matters in
general.
| Washington died from exposure or
the summit of Mount Vernon, 10 the
year 1886 leaving behind him name
that will endure forever, if posterity
! persist in calling their children aftel
him to the same extent as has beer
fashionable. A portrait by Gilbert
| Stuart, of this great soldier and states
man, may be sesn very badly engraved
in the History Of the United States
but the likeness is very unsatisfactory
Upon the whole, Gen. George Wash
ington was very excellent man
though unfamiliar with Scots In
fantry Tactics" he was tolerabl
officer, though he married widow, h,
was a fond husband and fhongh h,