The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-07-29
A RARE EPlSTLE.
George Washington IA Nan-HIs
Very DroIl Letter About Bunker Hill
and New England People.
TFrom Harper's Weekly1

[From Harper's Weekly,l
On the morning of the Sd of July, 1775,
the troops at Cambridge. Mass. were
drawn up IN order upon the Common to
receive the newly elected commander-in-
chief. Accompanied by the general Off
GERS of the army who were present,
Washington rode ON horseback from his
quarters to the great elm tree that now
stands at the north end of the common,
and under the shadow of its broad
branches drew his sword and took com
mand of the army.
Washington found affairs in a deplora-
bic condition. The army was composed
of mixed multitude of men of every
sort, from the honest, highminded, patri-
otto citizen to the knave and criminal.
There was little discipline. Drunkenness,
theft, peculation, falsehood and disobe-
dlence were prevalent, and WaShIngton's
first duty was to introduce a stern Sys.
TEN of reform. The following copy ola
autograph letter from Washington to his
nephew, Lund Washington. superinten-
dent Of the Mount Vernon property, Will
show how the comm2nderln-chie felt In
regard to the position of affairs. The
original of this letter is part Of the
large and valuable collection Belonging to
Thomas Adds Emmett. NJ. D., who kindly
gave permission to take a copy. 1t has
never before been published. 1t is YER
batlm copy of the original IN spelling,
grammar and punctuation. This care
leSSly written letter shows the home side
Of Washington's character, Invested of
the pompous dignity with which tradi-
ton invested him.
THE LETTER
CAMP At CAMBRIDGE Augt Goth I775.
DEAR LUND, Your letter by Captn
Prince came to my hands last night
was glad to learn by it that all are we'll.
the acct given Of the behavior of the
Scotchmen at Port Tobacco & Piscatawa
surprized & vcXed me = why did they I'M
bark in the cause? what do they say for
themselyesl-what does others say Of
them!-are they admitted into company!
or are they kicked out of iti-what
does their countrymen urge in justitica-
ton of theml-thev are fertile in inven-
ton, and will offer excuses where excuse
can be made can not say but | am
curious to learn the reasons why men,
who has subscribed and bound themselves
to each other & their country. to stand
forth in defence Of it, should lay down
their arms the first moment they were
called upon.
Although | never hear Of the mill, un,
der the direction of Simson, without
degree of warmth and vcxation at his cX-
IRENE stupidity, yet, if you could spare
money from other Purposes, could wish
to have 1t sent to him, that it may, if pos
sible, be set a going before the works get
ruined & spoilt, and my whole money
perhaps totally lost.-lf | am ready to
lose Barran's debt to me, it will be a pref
ty severe stroke upon the back Of Adams
4 the expense | am led into by that con-
founded fellow Simson, and necessarily so
in putting my Lands under the manage
ment of Cleveland
Spinning should 90 forward with all
possible dispatch. as we shall have moth
ing else to depend upon if these disputes
continue another year, can hardly
think that Lord Dunmore could act 50
low, and humanity part, as to think of
scizing Mrs. Washington by way Of
revenge upon me; however as | suppose
she is, before this time gone over to Mr..
Calvert 5 and will soon after returning. 20
down to New Kent, she will be out of his
reach for two OF three months to come,
in which time matters may, and prob
ably will, take such turn as to render
her removal either absolutely necessary
or quite uSeleSS-I am nevertheless ex-
ceedincly thankful to the gentlemen of
Alexandria for their friendly attention to
this point and desire, you will if there is
any sort of reason to suspect any thing of
tins kind provide kitchen for her in
Alexandria, or some other place Of safety
elsewhere for her and Papers
The people of this Government have
obtained a character which they by no
means deserved their officers generally
speaking are the most Indifferent kind of
people | ever saw have already broke
one col. and five captains for cOwardice,
4 for drawing more Pay Il Provisions
than they had men in their companies
there is two more coils now under arrest,
and to be tried for the same offences--in
short they are by no means such Troops,
in any respect, as you are led to believe
of them from the accts which are pub
lished, but | need not make myself enc
mics among them by this declaration, al
though it is consistent with truth dare
say the men would fight very well Of
properly officereG) although they are an
exceedingly nasty & dirty people-had