New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-16
GENERAL Go,.FAX, AsHING.
TONS LIFE GUAKDsMAN.

whie silk, fringed, well wOrn with mold
and raiu, bearing an old fashioned device
OF soldier, holding in one hand fiery
horse and the other receiving from the &C.
MUS of Liberty, who sits beside the Ameri-
can eagle, a streaner bearing the motto
Conquer Or die y This was the original
standard of the Life Guard Of General
George Washington, commanded by Cap
tain (atterwatd GeneraD William Coltax,
the grandfather OF Schuyler Colax. candt-
date for the Yice-Preridenoy Of the United
States. The old man died in 1888. when
the present Speaker Of the House OF R-pre-
sentatives was fifteen years old, and the
latter's recollection of bis distinguished an
ces'or is vivid and enthusiastic.
Mrs. Matthews, CofaX's mother, recalls,
"a 1t were yesterday, the time when she en-
tered the Generals family as the wife of
his son. He was a hale and handsome
man, positive IN bis opinions, Washing
tonian IN bis pollti E, something of trav-
eler, for he visited indiana among the ear
lest of his family, and be knew by the as
ISOLATION of the whole war the military life
and habits of the first President. He is
buried at Pompton, New Jersey, the seat OF
his family.
The side Of this old standard, so much
older and more stored than our newer
shotriven and grimy guidons, impelled me
to make some search in the library OF Con-
gress for tue life of William Colfax. In
this, Mr.. SpoffOrd. the librarian, assisted
me, and although the results were meagre,
they were of the highest interest.
First, out of Peter Forces collection
manuscripts drew IA yellow foolscap sheet,
in the hand writing of civilian Colfax,
Commandant," bearing the date OF June
rs. 1888, and containing the names Of sixty
five men, constituting the lite-guard of the
commander-in-ehief Across the back of
the report, in the hand writing of George
Washington, was written: "keport Of the
body guard Of the commander in-chief ap-
proved
Then, out Of LOssings Field Book,
Howe's New Jersey Historical Collections,
and other documents of the war Of hide
pendence, l gathered the following data
thrice interesting now in the light of the
brilliant career of his graudson-of Will
liam CJlfaE, the lite guardsman Of the
Father of his Country.
The Life Guard was organized on New
York Island in l776, soon after the siege Of
Boston, 1t was composed of one hundred
and eighty men and was at frat command
by Callett Gibbs, Of Rhode Island.
There were three LieHtenants-Harry P.
Livingstone, OF New York, William Coliax,
Of New Jersey, and Benjamin Goymes. OF
Virginia. In 1873 William Coliax was
raised to the chief command, and the num-
Der of the guard was increased to two
hundred and City men. Colonel Nichols
g ~, 4 lrr N.,lE
Il was Colfa1 whom Washington person
ally relied upon and preferred to hold this
important place near his person, and it was
through the solicitations of Captain COltaX
that Washington was initiated into Free
Masonry, taking his first degree at Morris.
town, New Jersey while the army lay there
in winter quarters. This ceremony was
performed in what vas known as the Nor
ris Hotel, opposite the village green OF
Morristown, over what was recently the
barroom.
At Morristown Captain Colfax was par
ticulariy the guardian of tue safety of Gen.
eral Washington The latter had his head
quarters then in the house of Gabriel Ford
still standing. 1t was mile or two out o.
town. The General and his family uccu-
pied all the house except couple OF rOomt
reserved for Mr. Fold and family; in log
hut, on one side, be kept his office, with BIZ
aidesdeoamp Hamilton, Tignman, ant
others; a log hut on the opposite side &C
commodated his cook. Surgeon Thatcher
in his diary, relates the hardships of tina
winter The Life Guards occupied tifty
rude butts in meadow near by, and thu
army was encamped over long sweep o
hilsides, two or three miles of in eirhel
direction. The near proximity to the Brit
ish army obliged Captain Golf K to be con
staptly alert. When the alarm gun was
sounded, successive interior pickets re-
peated it til the whole line of camps was
aroused. If the alarm was near by, the
Life Guard at once filled the house. Five
marksmen were placed at each window
ready to shoot down any enemy; the stair
cases were guarded, and in this way the
Life Guards held the Generals person til
the earliest regiment appeared in sight.
Captain Colfax used to relate IN his old
years, with a good deal of bumoP, au in
stance Of the oomplacency of Washington
One time the alarm was sounded. Con
fusion reigned. An alddecamp rushed
into the house, crying, where's the Gen
eralG Where's the General ?"
WoSuluB tVui VomiuH Out Va uas IOuiH aut
walking composedly down stairs, said:
Be quiet, young man. Be quiet"
Before the door of this house Count Pu
laski used to drill his famous cavalry. Cap
tain Colfax relates that Pula-ki used to fir
off his pistol, throw it into the air, catch il
hurl 1t at an imaginary enemy, and then
with one foot in the stirrup, bend TO tn
ground without losing his rein, and reeoye
the pi-tol
At this place Washington rode Iigh
bay horse, 80 small that the Generals legs
astride him, almost touched the ground
Captain Colfax often told of one of the few
instances when Washington was known :,
laugh heartily. It was when describing
ArnOId's precipitate fight from Robinson
house at West Poiot, on the discovery o
his treason. The estimate of Washingt, N
given by Colfax will not be Inapplicabl
TO General Grant:
HE was reserved. and bis mind an
peared continually in exercise. He uni
ted sound Judgment with the extremes
degree of caution"
The Lite tiuardsmen continued In ex
istence, under Captain Colfax, till IT'S;
| the last year OF tue war, when there weri
bat sixty-t0ur Of them besides theic com
msndant. They were selected by quota
from each of the States. with reference {
their phytic i, moFal. and intellectual a
tributes To imagine the leader OF thl
famous band Of picked patriots we hav
but to revive the strong. devoted, faithful
face Of Captain Coliax dressed 10 the M
form OF bis company: blue coat wit
1 white iacings, white waietc0aE, breeeheI
half black gaitara and 0ocked hat with
blue aud white feather.
Mrs. MstihsWs has now ia her posse
| sion the silver shoe buckles Of Gsnprl