Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-08-28
A New ANrcDorK OF wAsH1NoroN.

Paulding, in his Life of w ashington," mar
rates the following anecdots, which we Judge
will be as new TO our raiders as il is to us /:
Being accustomed to visit an old and hos
pitable friend whose mansion is not far from
the place have been describing, formed an
acquaintance with the worthy dame by often
stopping in my rambles to rest myself, and lis
ten to her stories about Washington and Put
nam, and other revolutionary heroes of less
note. Washington was just below her best
looking glass, and whenever she looked that
way it reminded her of something the general
said or did or some event of those woful times
when the foot of an enemy pressed almost
every threshold in the land. She would look
at the picture with the affection of a mother,
and exclaim "Ah, he was good man.
remember he used to come over sometimes,
nay, very often, to talk over matters with Gen.
Putnam, who had his quarters here. If ever
man loved his country, it was Gen. Washing
ton. | could tell, but | am old, and lose my
memory every day. could tell of his perplex-
tiles, his watchings, cares, and suHerings of
mind and body, which l believe he never let
any one see but myself; and I shall never for
get his kindness when lost my youngest son.
My boy was quite hero among the young
men of the hills, and at night went out with
parties of militis, beating the plundering
Yagers that came from below and carried away
every thing they could hnd, to the ruin of
many of our poor people, who stayed between
the lines because they were old, and knew not
where else to 60.
" One night-it was the twentieth of Jam
uary-I can recollect that--in the dead OF
night, my son and bis little troop were sur
prised in turn by a party from below, while
warming themselves in the house, which the
enemy surrounded in blank silence and set OF
FIRE. In attempting to escape they were al
killed by the Ysgers, who hacked them down
though they begged for quarters. The mex
day, while was out to neighbours house
my sons body was brought home by som,
people who knew him ; and when returned
there saw it, with the blood frozen in tn,
gashes with which he was covered.
don't remember what became Of me til
found myself sitting III our old arm chair
and the general standing just by, with his ha
10 one hand and the other resting on the bacl
of the chair. Mother, said he soon as com
TO myself-'Mother' and the word made me 81
proud l almost forgot what had happened
'Mother,you have given son to your counlrl
"a brave man to his God Go now to your
room and will see every thing done
| went for no one could say nay to hin
when he soothed or commanded, IL they bur
led my boy like a soldier. The troops fred
while the general stood over the grave, and th
pride of mother almost overcame her affec
ton. Time, hardships and more sorrow sue
ceeding each other for years afterward, drov
away the bitterness of this bereavement al
though when the floor was washed. or the SUI
shone bright upon it, we could see the stat
of blood where the body had lain. | can tai
of the death Of my son, remember also tina
he died in the service of his country, and hi
country's father followed him to his gtave.