The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-02-02

eldlheu lulO lAS mlCct OF lDlS scene
Of woe and desolation. Not a hoof
entered the camp and the welcome
lowing Of cattle ceased 10 be heard.
Teams and men came in empty-hand-
ed. A foreign officer, walking amid
the novels, and seeing men, with no
covering bat a blanket, fitting from
one hut TO another, and hearing
through the crevices the soldiers
muttering. "AO pay, no provisions,
no rum" said he then despaired of
American Independence. Washing,
toms heart at last become filed with
fearful forebodings and be looked
around him in dismay, aud in 8 letter
to Gen. Clinton, in the middle of
February, said: For some days past
there has been little less than a fam
inc in the camp. a part Of the army
has been q week without any kind of
flesh, and the rest three or four DAYS"
Yet he adds: Naked and starving
as they are, we cannot enough ad-
mire the Incompatible patience and
fidelity of the soldiers 4 noble
compliment and nobly won. At the
same time, Warren wrote to Greene:
The situation of the camp is such
that, in all human probability, the
army must dissolve. The horses are
dying for want Of forage. The coun-
try in the vicinity Of the camp is ex-
hausted. What eonse-
quences have we nationally to ex-
pect? Says DR.. Thatcher: 1T is with
great difficulty that men enough can
be found in a condition cit to dis.
charge the military camp duties from
day to day, and for this purpose
those who are naked 6orrolr Of those
trh0 haze clothes"
What a picture is this though
sketched in mere outline by the Com
mander in chief and his officers.
The imagination shrinks from filling
up the frighIfal details. The army
was slowly diving, not from the rsya-
ges of shot and shell, but from expo
sure, sickness and slow starvation.
Night-moonless, starless night
had closed over that city of novels.
Even Washington, in whom "hope
shone Ike q pillar Of fire when il had
gone out in all other men, could not
penetrate its all p%eryading blaekness.
Ii was at this time, when all human
help seemed gone, that Mr.. Potts, at
whose house be was quartered, walk
ing near a secluded thieket on his
farm, heard q low voice, as of one in
prayer, and, looking in, saw Wash
ington on his knees, tears on his
cheeks, and his face upturned 10
heaven, ~beseeching, in agonized
tones, that God would pity and save
his suffering army and suffering
country.
O hwould'st thou know his name
Who wandered thus alone,
Goresd. in heavens archives.
The Preyer Of Washington
In the midst Of all this darkness and
suffering and almost despair, as if on
purpose 10 crush one of the modest
hearts that ever beat in a human bo-
som, a conspiracy was set on foot in
and out of Congress to disgrace him
by removing him from the bead of
the army and compel him to serve in
a subordinate capacity. False charges
were raised; forged letters were pub
lished: vet be bore all in silence. lest
in defending himself re should ex-
pose secrets that would injare bis
country. "My country" was ever
| uppermost in his thoughts aud dear.
, er to him than life itself. He could
say of his country as David did Of
Jerusalem: III | forget thee oh, my
!, country |. may nv right hand forget
d its cunning" He was great I'm tho
J high places Of the field" amid th,
e storm ard tumult of battle; be wal
E great and noble as head Of 1.-THE nation
q but be was greater still in his silen
s suffering at Valley Forge.
But spring at length came an,
with it partial relief, and such sol
?, diers as could were compelled to TAX
q the field: and, as it wore on, new
q was received that made those bowel
IL ring with shouts and lound huzzas
e On the first day of May a horsemai
II rode into camp with the tiding
& that France had recognized our indie
q pendenee and formed an allianc
P with Us, and that ships and troop
7 and money were on the way TO on
relief Soldiers forgot their naked
q ness and shook their rags, like ban
q ners in the air. Congress had 81
q pointed a thanksgiving as they NOV
o ed int Valley Forge which scenes
e a moekery, but now they would hav
d one Of their own. Washington i.
sued q proclamation, appointing th
d 18th on which 'to acknowledge th
divine goodness and celebrate th
Is important event which we owe I
e his divine interpositicn." A genera
parade of the..srmy was ordered, an
the several brigade chaplains wer
!. directed to offer up prayer at th
head ofeaeh brigade aud deliver
IL sermon so the soldiers. And neve
e did more fervent acknowledgment G
divine goodness ascend to HEAVIER
and never were more earnest appeal:
le made to the soldiers 10 stand true {
e. their great leader and their countr,
than were made that day by thosI
q patriotic ehsplsins When the re
q ligious services were over, the artil
!; lery Numbered forth its glad acclaim
d answered by the rolling volleys c
e musketry, and Long live Washing
ingtonn and Long live the King @
y France again and again shool
those rude novels TO their founda
O tons
As Washington rode off the field
o Long live Washington" tent the al
and continued TO roll after him til
; his ~lessea;ag form disappeared 10 the
; distance. Ave. long live Washing
: ton and long live Valley Forge il
the memory and affections Of The
American people until patriot heart:
shall cease 10 beat-Ncr York %
: SeFrer.
; A Michigan ex-soldier writes tc
r the Grand DanidS Eorls ,ha. II Was