The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-03-22


and may the choicest of heavens favors,
both here and hereafter, attend those who,
under Divine auspices, have secured innu-
merable blessings for others.
with these wishes and this benediction,
the Commander-in-C Chief is about to retire
from service. The curtain of separation
will soon be drawn, and the military scenes
to him will be closed forever"
The closing Of the military scenes" l
am about to relate:
New York had been occupied by Wash
ington on the 18th of November. A few
days afterwards he notified the President
Of Congress, which body was then in session
at Annapolis, in Maryland, that as the war
was now closed, he should consider it his
duty 10 proceed thence and surrender to
that body the commission which he had re-
ceived from them seven years before.
The morning of the fifth of December,
| 1888, was a sad and heavy one to the rem
nant of the American army in the city OF
| New York The noon OF that day was to
witness the farewell of Washington; he
was to bid adieu to his military comrades
forever The officers who had been with
| him in solemn council, the privates who
had fought and bled in the ''hcavy fight"
under his orders, were to hear his commands
no longer. The manly form and dignifcd
countenauce OF the great captain" was
henceforth to live in their memories.
As the hour Of noon approached, the
whole garrison, 1T the request OF Washing
ton himself, was put in motion, and march
| ed down Broad street to Francis tavern,
his headquarters lie wished to take
| leave Of private soldiers alike with officers,
| and bid them all adicu. His favorite light
| infantry were drawn up in line, facing in
wards, through Pearl street, at the foot
Of Whitehall, where q barge was III readl-
ness to convey him TO Powelps Hook.
Within the dining-room Of the tavern
were gathered the generals and field officers
! TO take their farewell.
Assembled there were Knox, Greene,
Steuben, Gates aud others, who had served
with him faithfully in the ''tcnted field"
| but alas, where We're others that had en-
| tered the war with him seven years before?
| Their bones clumhled III the soil from Can
! ada to Georgia Montgomery had yielded
| up his life at Quebec, Wooster fell at Dan
| bury, Woodruff was barbarously murdered
while prisoner at the battle on Long
at Princeton the brave and chivairic LaU-
rens, after displaying tha most heroic cour
age in the trenches of Yorktown, died Ill
trihing skirmish in South Carolina; the
| brave but eccentric Lee was no longer
| living, and Putnam like helpless child,
was stretched upon the bed Of sickness.
| Indeed, the battlefield and time had
thinned the ranks which entered with him
on the conflict OF independence.
Washington entered the rooIn-the hour
! of separation had come As he raised
his eve and glanced on the faces of those
assembled, a tear coursed down his check,
and his voice WAS trcmulous as he saluted
them. Nor was lie alone. Men, "albeit,
unused to the melting mood, - stood around
him, whose hands, uplitted to cover their
brows, told that the tears which they in
vain attempted to conceal, bespoke the
anguish they could not hide.
After a moments conversation, Wash
| ington called for a glass of wine. 1t was
brought to him. Turning to the officers,
he thus addressed them:
"With heart full Of love and graft
tude, now take my final leave OF you, and
| most devoutly wish your latter days may
be as prosperous and happy as your for
mer ones have been glorious and honora-
ble" He tl,en raised the glass to his
lips, and added, 81 cannot come to each OF
you to take MY leave, bnt shall be obliged
TO YOU if each of you will take ME by the
hand"
General Knox, who stood nearest, burst
into tears, and advanced, incapable OF ut
teranee. Washington graspes him by the
hand, and embraced him. The officers
came up succe-siveiy, and took an atiec-
tionate leave. No words were spoken, but
all was the ''silent eloquence of tears. =
What were mere words at such scene !!
Nothing. 1t was the feeling Of the heart
thrilling, though unspoken.
Washington grasped his hand, in con-
vulsive emotion, IN both of his. All dis
cipline was now at an end. The officers
could not restrain the men as they rushed
forward to take Washington by the hand
and the violent sobs and tears of the sol
diers told how deeply engraved upon
their affections was the love OF their com
nander
When the last officer had embraced
him, Washington left the room, followed
by his comrades, and passed through the
line of right infantry. His steps were
slow and measured, his head uncovered,
and tears flowing thick and fast, as he
looked from side to side at the veterans
IN rhom he now bade adieu forever