Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-07-24
REPORT
OF THE BODY GUARD
OF THE COMMANDER-IN-C
DDDOVEn


OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHI
APPROVED"
Then out of LOssing's Field Book,
Howe's New Jersy Historical Collec-
tons, and other documents of War of
Independence, gathered the following
data thrice interesting now in the
light of the brilliant career Of his grand
son-of William ColfaX, the life-guards-
man of the Father of his Country.
The Life-Guard was organized on
New York Island in 1776, soon after the
seige of Boston. 1t was composed of $50
men, and was at first commanded by
Callett Gibbs, Of Rhode Island. There
were three Lieutenants, Harry p. Liv-
ingstone, of New York, VIM. Colfax, of
ginia. In 1879 William COlfaX was
raised to the chief command, and the
number was increased to $50 men. Col.
Nichols, of Virginia, was lieutenant UNI
der COlfaX. TWAS ColfaX whom WASH
ington personally relied upon and pre-
ferred to hold this important place near
his person, and it was through the sOli-
citations of Capt. COlfaX that Washing
ton was initiated into Free Masonry
taking his first degree at MOrristOwn,
N. j., while the army lay there in win
ter quarters. The ceremony was per-
formed in what is known as the Morris
Hotel, opposite the village green of Nor
ristOwn, over what was recently the
bar-rOOm.
At Morristown Capt. COlfaX was par
ticularly the guardian of the safety of
Gen. Washington. The latter had his
headquarters then in the house of Gabriel
Ford, Esq, still standing. TWAS mile
or ~ out Of toy hn Il
his family occupied all the house except
couple of rooms reserved for Mr.. Ford
and family; in q log hut, on one side,
he kept his office, with his Aides-de-
Camp Hamilton, Tilghman, and others
log hut on the other side accommO-
dated his cook. Surgeon Thacher, in
his diary relates the hardships of that
winter. The Life-Guards occupied fifty
rude huts in a meadow near by, and the
army was encamped over a long sweep
of hillsides, two or three miles off in
either direction. The near proximity
of the British army obliged Capt. Col
fax to be constantly alert. When an
alarm gun was sounded, successive in
terror pickets repeated it, till the whole
line of camps was aroused. If the alarm
were near by, the Life-Guard at once
filled the house. Five marksmen were
pldceu III each WILLOW, reduy 10 SllOOt
down an enemy. The staircases Were
guarded, and in this way the Life-Guard
held the Generals person till the earliest
regiment appeared in sight.
Capt. ColfaX used to relate, in his old
years, with good deal of humor, an in
stance of the complacency of Washing
ton.
One time the alarm was sounded.
Confusion reigned. An aide-de-camp
rushed into the house, crying, "Where's
the General? Where's the General?'
WashingiO on coming out of his room,
and walking composedly down stairs,
said
"Be quiet, young man! BE quiet !"
Before the door of this house Count
Pulaski used to drill his favorite regi-
ment of cavalry. Capt. CQlfax relates
that Pulaski used to fire off his pistol,
throw it in the air, catch 1t, hurT it at
an imaginary enemy, and then, with
one foot in the Istirrip, bend to the
ground without losing his rein, and re-
cover the pistol.
At this place, Washington rode light
bay horse, so small that the General IS