The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-07-04

cit was In 1l0S, says ner DloSfapner,
'!that an officer attired in military un-
dress, and attended by a body servant, tai
and militaire as his chief, crossed the fer
~ called Williams, over the Pamunkey,
a branch of the York River. On the
boat touching the southern or New Kent
side, the soldiers progress was arrested by
one OF those personage5 who give the beau
ideal of the Virginia gentleman of the old
regime-the very soul Of kindness and
hospitality. He would hear Of no excuse
on the officers part for declining the in
vitation 20 stop at his house. In vain the
Colonel pleaded important business at
Williamsburg; Mr.. Chamberlayne insisted
that his friend must dine with him at the
very least. He promised, as temptation,
to introduce him to young md charming
widow, who chanced then to be an inmate
of his dwelling At last the soldier sur
rendered at discretion, resolving, however,
to pursue his journey the same evening.
They proceeded 10 the mansion. Dir.
Chamberlayne presented Col. Washington
to his various guests, among whom was
the beautiful Mrs. Custis. Tradition says
that the two were favorablv impressed
with each other at the first interview" 1t
may be supposed that the conversation
turned upon scenes in which the whole
community had deep interest-scenes
which the young hero, fresh from his ear
ly fields, could eloquently describe; and
we may fancy with what earnest and rapt
interest the fair listener "to hear did seri-
ously incline or how the "heavenly rhet-
oric Of her eyes" beamed unconscious ad-
miration on the manly speaker. The
morning passed; the sun sank low in the
horizon The hospitable host smiled as
he saw the Coloneps attendant, Bishop,
true to his orders, holding his masters
spirited steed at the gate. The veteran
waited, and marvelled at the delay "Ah,
Bishop" says a fair writer, describing the
occurrence, ''there was an urchin in the
drawing-room more powerful than King
George and all his governors, Subtle as
q sphynx, he had hidden the important
dispatches from the soldiers sight, shut
up his ears from the summons Of the tell
tale clock, and was playing such mad
pranks with the bravest heart in christen-
dom, that it futtered with the excess OF
new-fo und happiness"
Mr. Chamberlayne insisted that 10 guest
ever left his house after sunset; and his
visitor was persuaded, without much diff
Guilty, to remain. The next day was far
advanced when the enamored soldier was
on the road to Williamsburg. His bust
ness there being despatched, he hastened
to the presence Of the captivating widow.
The marriage that followed the acquain-
tance thus romantically begun, took place
in 1859, and was attended by all the beau
ty and wealth Of the neighborhood. Af
ter the ceremony, Colonel and Mrs. Wash
ington repaired to Mount Vernon, where
they took up their abode. BY this union,
an addition of about one hundred thousand
dollars was made to the fortune of Wash
ington, an accession which rendered him
one Of the most opulent gentlemen Of the
Old Dominion. Engrossed with each
other, the young couple continued to reside
on their estate, until the war of Indepen-
dence breaking out, Washington was sum-
moned to the field to lead his country's
armies Mrs. Washington, however, even
now would not consent to part entirely
from her husband. She accompanied him
to Cambridge, and remained unit! the
evacuation OF Boston, when, the army
moving Oh to New York for an active
campaign, she returned for awhile to Vir-
gina.
After this it was her custom to spend
her summers at Mount Vernon, rejoining
the General as soon rs the army went into
winter quarters. At the close of each
campaign, accordingly, an aid-de-camp was
despatched to escort her to her husband.
Her arrival at camp was always a season
Of rejoicing. The plain chariot, with the
neat postillions in their scarlet and white
liveries, was welcomed as the harbinger
of rest and cheerfulness. Her example
was followed by the wives Of the other
officers. Thus, every winter, something
like society was established at headquar-
ters, when the smiles and affection of
woman relieved, for a season at least, the
gloom of disaster and despair.
Lady Washington was accustomed to
say that it had ever been her fortune to
hear the first cannon at the opening, and
the last at the closing of all the campaigns
of the war Of Independence. During the
terrible winter of Hts, she was at
Valley Forge. The privations to which
she had to submit may be Judged from a
letter she wrote to Mrs. Warren, in which
she says: 'sThe Generals apartment is
very small; he has had log cabin built
to dine in, which has made our quarters
much moro tolerable than they were at