Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-08-17

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r. A correspondent TIE Cincinnati Gozette
writing from HiratnsBurg, Ohio, June %,
! Describes his visit TO venerable hero:
" tHHaving just visited John Grey. the last
J survivor of Washington's army, desire
through your columns to give the public
some account OF this interesting and solitary
1 veteran. Arriving at Hiramsburg, a little
town six miles east of Cumberland, and
about twenty five from Cambridge, we we're
met by citizen of this place, who kindly
offered to go with US to the residence of the
old revolutionist. From Hiramsburg we
had about mile to go to reach the house
| "As we entered the cabin we were met by
a sweet faced little girl of perhaps thirteen
summers, who invited us to come in and
! take seat. We were just beginning to tell
the little girl the object of our visit, when
door on the opposite side of the room OPEN
ed, and there before us stood, or rather
leaned on crutches, an old man, bent with
years, his long gray hairs flowing down like
snow over his STOPPING shoulders. We
( knew at q glance that the venerable man
before us was John Grey. He came limping
up towards US, apparently with great diff
Guilty, and we arose, and with uncovered
heads met the old man, who stood still fer
n moment, balancing himself on his crutches,
and then with kindly smile, raised his
dim eyes and extended his withered hand
to each of us, saying to each How do you
doT
"When the old man was seated, he was
quite out of breath from the severe exertion
he had just had to make in walking from
the adjoining room. In q few minutes,
however, he became quite restored and COM
posed, and in answer to our questions gave
us the short and simple annals of his life
in plain and honest words
He was born at Fairfax Court House,
Virginia, January 6, 17G4, and is conse-
quently now in his 1O4th year. During the
Revolution he at one time worked on the
Mount Vernon estate for Washington, and
says that he worked with the slaves of Gen
era Washington. He always calls Wash
ington The Ginl.'
"Mr. Grey's father fell at White Plains in
l7s0, and soon after the son enlisted, with
Spartan heroism, at the early age of sixteen,
taking up the musket that had Just fallen
from the lileless hands of his gallant father.
He served until the close of the war, and
was mustered out at Richmond, Va, soon
after the surrender of CORVALLIS. During
his term of service he participated in an en-.
gagemcnt ut Williamsburg, besides several
skirmlshes elsewhere and was present at
all the preliminary movements around York.
town, and was finally at the memorable sur
render of Cornwailis.
Il took down few of the old mans
words when he was speaking of his service
in the army. L was said he, a mighty
tough kind Of boy in them days. often
saw big. heavy men give out on the march,
but never Jagged foot behind.' He says
he was married three times, twice in Vir-
gina and once in Ohio. His last wife is
now sleeping in the family cemetery.
"Mr. Grey has lived sober, pious and
industrious life-a Woodworking man and
Christian all his life. ...
For seventy eight years he has been
consistent member of tie Methodist Church.
There ARE old men living near him now who
have known him for forty years, and who
say that they never knew of his doing or
saying wrong thing, nor ever heard any
one say that he did. Few men have so pure
and noble record. Mr. Greys education
is very limited, for he was alway poor, and
the poor in Virginia had but little chance
to learn much. Congress last winter gave
the old man pension of five hundred dol
lars per anuum, obtained for him through
the influence of John A. Bingham, person
al acquaintance of Mr. Grey. Little as 1t Is
the old man seems well satisfied although
he is very poor. He is Jealous Republican,
and hopes to live to vote once more" a'