The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-07-11
TIL E PILOT.
The White House---Its Historical As
sociations,

pamunkey, was the mansion kuo &" Ii % 1HS
"White House. burned last week by our
retiring troops. II stood on the site Of
the one in which Washing ton was mar
riad. From Curtis Life Of Mrs. Martha
Washington, we extract the account OF his
courtship and marriage:
auwas in 1858 that Washington, at
irad ir military undress, and attended by
a body servant, tall naihtalre as bis CHIEF,
crossed the ferry called Williams over the
Pamunkey, branch of the York River
On the boat touching the southern or New
Kent side, the soldiers progress was ar
rested by ore Of those personages who
give the beau ideal Of the Virginia gentle
men of the old regime, the very soul of
kindness and hospitality. 1t was in vain
the soldier urged his business at Williams
burg, important to the governor, &c. Mr.
Chamberlavne, on whose domain the NIL
itaire had just landed, would hear of no
excuse. Col. Washington was name
and character SO dear to all Virginians
that his passing by one Of the castles of
Virginia, without partaking of the hospi>
taIities Of the host, was entirely ont of the
question. The Colonel ,.however, did not
surrender at discretion, but stoutly main
tanned his ground till Chamberlayne, bring
ino I'D the reserve, in the intimation that
he would introduce his friend to young
and charming widow, then beneath his
roof, the soldier capitulated On condition
that he should dine-only dine-and then
bv pressing his charger, and borrowing 0!
the NIGHT, he would reach Williamsburg
before his excelIency could shake off his
morning slumbers. Orders were accord
inoIv issued TO Bishop, the Colonors body
servant and faithful follower, who, togeth-
er with the fine English charger, had
been beoueathed by the dying Braddock
to Major Washington on the famed and IA
ted field Of Monongahela. Bishop, bred
in the school of European discipline, raised
bis hand to his cap, as much as to say
Your orders shall be obeyed.'
The Colonel now proceeded to the man
sion, and was introduced to various guests,
(for when was a Virginia domicil OF the
olden time without guests . and, atove
all. to the charming widow. Tradition
relates that they were mutually pleased,
on this. their first interview-nor is it re
markable they were Of an age when lm>
pressions were strongest. The lady was
fair to behold, of fascinating manners, and
splendidlv endowed with worldly benefits.
The hero was fresh from his early fields,
redolent with fame, and with a form on
which every god did seem to set his sea,
TO Give the world assurance Of a man.
The morning passed pleasantly away,
evening came, with Bishop, true to his
orders and firm at his post, holding the
favorite charger with one hand, while tie
other was waiting to offer the ready stir
rup. Tie sun sunk into the horizon, and
vet the Colonel appeared not, Twas
strange, twas passing strange surely he
was not wont 10 be single moment behind
his appointments-for he was the most
punctual of men.
Meantime, the host enjoyed the scene
of the veteran at the gate, while the Col
onel was so agreeably employed in the
22..77Ior: and proclaiming that no visitor
ever left his home at sunset, his military
guest was without much difficulty persua,
ded to order Bishop to put up the horse
for the night. The sun rode high IN the
heavens the. ensuing day, when the enam-
ored soldier pressed with his spur his
chargers side, and speeded on his way to
the seat Of government, wh3re, having dis
patched his public business, lie retraced
| his steps, and, at the White House, the en-
gaeement took place, with preparations
for marriage.
And much hath the biogra?her hearc
Of that marriage, from the grey hairec
domestics who waited at the board where
love made the feast and Washington the
guest. And rare and high was the reve!
ry at that palmy period Of Virginia's fes
tai age; for many were gathered TO tina
marriage, Of the good, the great, the gift
ed, and they with joyous acclamations
hailed in Virginia's youthful hero happ.
and prosperous bridegroom.
"And so YOU remember when Colone
Washington came courting of you
Young mistress!n said the biographer f
old Gully, in his hundredth year. "Ay
master, that do" replied the ancien
family servant, who had lived TO see fly
generations; great times, sir, great time
shall never see the like again - can,
Washington looked something ike man
proper man-hey, Gully" "Neye
seed the like, sir-never the ike of him
though l have seen many in my days
tall, so straight and then he set on
horse and rode with such an air. All sir
he was like no one else Many of th
grandest gentleman, in the gold lace wer
at the wedding; but none looked like him
: self" S:rohg, indeed must have been th
impression upon tie person and manne
Of Washington made upon the rude, IN
! tutoret mind" Of this negro, since TIA
lapse of three quarters Of a century ha,
, not sufficed to etiace it.
Tie precise date of the marriage tn
biograrher has been unable to discover
having in vain searched among the rec
ords Of the vestrv Of II. Peters church
New Kent, Of Which the Rav. Munson,
Cambridge scholar, was tie rector aus
performed the ceremony, it is believed
about 1859. A short time af.er thei
marriage, Colonel and Mrs. Washington
removed 10 Mount Vernon, on tie Poto
mae and permanently settled there.
% t.s.ra -, avs