Middletown transcript., 1876-01-15

j situation OF the camp IA sucn tnat,
, all human probability. the army mus
, dissolve The horses are dying TO
, want of forage The country in th
!, vicinity of the camp is exhausted. = :
What consequences have we rationale.
to expect 2" Says DR.. Thatcher Il
is with great difficulty that men enoug'
can be found in condition fit to dis
charge the military camp duties from
day to day. and for this purpose thos'
who are naked borrow Of those ,oho har'
clothes"
What picture is this. though sketch
ed in mere outline BY the Commander
in-chief and his officers! The imagina.
tion shrinks from filing up the fright
| full details. The army was slowly dy.
ing. not from the ravages Of shot and
she'll, but from exposure, sickness and
slow starvation. Night-moonless star
less night-had closed over that city ol
bowels. Even Washington. in whom
"hope shone like pillar Of fire when
it bad gone out in all other men, could
MT penetrate its all-pervading black.
ness 1t was at this time, when all
human help seemed gone. that Mr.
Potts, at whose house be was quarter
ed, walking near secluded thicket on
his farm. heard low voice, as Of one
in prayer, and, looking in. saw Wash
ington on his knees. tears on bis cheeks.
and his face upturned to heaven. be-
seeching, in agonized tones. that God
would pity and save bis suffering army
and suffering country.
"Oh, would'st thou know his name
Who wandered thus alone
Go read, in heavens archives,
The prayer Of Warrington.
In the midst Of all this darkness and
suffering and almost despair, as if on
purpose to crush one of the noblest
hearts that ever beat in human bosom.
a conspiracy was ret on foot in and out
of Congress to disgrace him by remov-
ing him from the head of the army and
compel him to serve in subordinate
capacity. False charges were raised
forged letters we're published; yet be
bore all in silence, lest in defending
himself be should expose secrets that
would injure bis country. "Ay coan-
try" was ever uppermost in bis
thoughts and dearer to him than life it.
self. He could say Of bis country as
David did Of Jerusalem i..If forget
thee lob. my country. may my righ,
hand forget its cunning" He was
great "in the high places Of the field
amid the storm and tumult Of battle:
be was great and noble as head of the
nation but be was greater still in his
silent suffering at Valley Forge.
But spring at length came and With
it partial relief. and such soldiers as
could were compelled to take the field
and, as it wore on, news was received
that made those novels ring with shouts
and loud huzzas. On the 6rst day of
May q horseman rode into camp With
the tidings that France had recognized
our independence and formed an alli-
ance with us, and that ships and troops
and money were on the way to our re-
lief. Soldiers forgot their nakedness
and shook their rags, like banners. in
the air. Congress had appointed a
thanksgiving as they moved into VAL
ley Forge which seemed a mockery. but
now they would have one Of their own.
Washington issued proclamation. ap-
pointing the 7th on which ito acknow-
ledge the divine goodness and celebrate
the important event which We owe to
his divine interposition." A general
parade Of the army was ordered. and
the several brigade chaplains were d.
rected to offer up prayer at the head Of
each brigade and deliver sermon to
the soldiers. And never did more fer
vent acknowledgment Of divine good
ness ascend to heaven, and never we're
more earnest appeals made to the SOL
diers to stand true to their great leader
and their country than were made that
day BY those patriotic chaplains. When
the religious services were over, the
artillery thundered forth its glad ac-
claim. answered by the rolling vollays
of muske;ry, and Long live Washing
ton" and "Long live the King Of
France" again and again shook those
rude novels to their foundations.
As Washington rode off the field.
"Long live Washington" rent the air
and continued to roll after him till his
lesseDing form disappeared in the dis
tance. Aye. long live Washington and
long live Valley Forge in the memory
and affections Of the American people
until patriot hearts shall cease to beat.
PAYING DEBrs.-Paying of debts is,
next to the grace Of God. the best
means in the world to deliver you from
q thousand temptations to sin and van