The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-12-19

ems favors, both here and hereafter,
attend those who, under divine aus
pieces, have scared innumerable bles-
sings for others.
With these wishes and this bene-
diction, the COMMANDMENT 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"
I he closing Of the military scenes"
| am about to relate
New York had been occupied by
! Washington on The 25th 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 il his duty
to surrender to that body he commits
sion which he lad received from them
years before.
The morning Of the 9Th of Decem-
Der, 1888, was a sad and heavy enc to
the remnant 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 SOL
emn council the privates who had
fought a2d bled in the I" heavy fight )"
under his orders, were to hear his
commands no longer The manly
form and digniiiad countcnancc of the
great captain was henceforth to live
in their memories.
AS the hour of noon approached,
the whole garrison, at the request of
Washington himself, was put 10 mo
ton, and marched down Broadway
street to Francis's tavern, his head
quarters He wished to take leave Of
private soldiers alike with officers, and
bid them all adieu His favorite
light infantry were drawn up in line,
facing inward, through Pearl stret, at
the foot of Whitehall, where a barge
was in readiness to convey him TO
Powell's Hook.
Within the dining room of the tav-
ern were gathered the generals and
field officers to take their farewell
Assembled there were Knox, Greene,
Clinton, Steuben, Gates and others,
who had served him faithfully in the
tented field but alas ! where were
others that had entered the war with
him seven years before Their bones
crumbIed ia the soil from Canada to
Georgia. Montgomery had yielded
up his life st Quebec, Wooster fell at
Danbury, Woodruff was barbarously
murdered while a prisoner at the bat
lie OF Long Island and Mercer fell
MORALLY wounded at Princeton the
brave and chiyalric Laurens, after
displaying the mos heroic courage in
a trifing skirmish in South Carolina !;
the brave bnt eccentric Lee was 10
longer living, and Putnam like help
less child, was stretched upon a bed of
sickness. Indeed, the battlefield and
time had thinned the ranks y hich en-
tered with him on the conflict of inde-
pendence
Washington entered the room-the
hour OF separation mad came. AS he
raised his eye and glanced on the faces
of those assembled, a tear coursed
down his cheek, and his voice was
tremulous as he saluted them. Nor
was he alone. Men, albeit, unused to
| the melting mood, stood around him,
whose hands, uplifted 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,
Washington called for glass of wine.
1t was brought to him. Turning to
the officers he thus addressed them.
With heart full of and love graft
tude, | now take my final leave Of
you, and | most devotedly wish your
latter days mag be as prosperous and
happy as your former ones have been
| glorions aud honorable" lie then
raised the glass to his lips, and added,
| cannot come to each of you to take
my leave, but shall be obliged to you il
each Of you will take me by the hand .
General Knox who stood nearest,
burst into tears, and advanced, inca
pablo of utterance. Washington
| grasped him by the hand, and embrac-
ed him. The officers came up success
siyelg and took an affectionatc leave.
No words were spoken, but all was
the silent eloquenee of tears. What
were mere words at such q scene !
Nothing i was the feeling of tho
heart--thrilling, though unspoken
When the last officer had embraced
him, Washington left the room, fol-
lowed by his comrades, and paeset
ifhroroh the limo of infantrv ri.