The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-06

ing tomorrow at u O'Clock; also al
evening at the head of every regiment,
after which the chaplains of the several
brigades will render thanks to Almighty
God for all his mercies, particularly for
His overruling the wrath of man to His
own glory, and causing the rage of wal
to cease among the nations" He also
congratulated the army for the success
that had crowned their efforts. At the
Temple the proclamation was followed
by three huzzas. A prayer was then off.
cred and an athem called g Indepen-
dence " sung and played by the excited
troops, and like enc of Cromwell's
/ hymns on the day of battle, there went
up:
1 The States. o Lord, with songs Of praise,
Shall in tiny strength rejoice h-
! And best with Thy salvation, raise FL
/ ! To heaven their cheerful voice. - I'D.
And all the continent shall sing,
Down with this earthly king.
No king bat God.
Washington also issued an order for
preparations for public rejoicing; but
the soldiers could not wait for the hour
appointed, and ushered in the morning
with the roar of cannon and discharge
of musketry that shook the hills. All
| day long troops lined the banks of the
Hudson, and from Fort Putnam at West
Point to these headquarters and back to
the camp-ground, in the roads and
! fields, it was continual fen de j0ie, with
shouts and songs, save when the prayers
of thanksgiving arose to Almighty God.
When night came down, the piles of
lcombustible materials that had been
piled on the lofty top of Bea-
con Mountain and Storm King,
to signal any advance of the
enemy up the river, were set on
fire, and the flames, shooting heaven
ward, lighted up the waters of the Hud-
son, and answering fires from Newburgh
sent back their joyful greeting, while
the deep-mouthed cannon blended in
their loud acclaim, that peace, blessed
peace, had returned, and the land was
free. The Temple where Washington
had so recently read his address with
such painful emotions, was flooded with
delight, while the platform on which he
had stood was literally covered with
flags. A grand ball had been given,
but before it commenced all joined in
singing an athem of peace to Him who
had given them peace.
One more act, the most touching per-
haps in the whole drama, and then the
curtain would fall to rise no more.
Washington must now bid farewell to
the army that had followed his for
tunes so long and so faithfully, and
that army disband and melt away into
the mass of citizens. On the morning
of the Sd of November the army gath
cred on the lawn in front of this old
building, and as
In their ragged regimentals
stood the old COntinentals,
head of each regiment. Never more
should they move together into the
smoke of the conflict at the bidding of
their beloved commander. Never again
would he ride along their firm-set lines
with the light of battle on his cOunte-
nance, and words of praise and encour-
agement on his lips. Years of common
suffering and common danger had en-
deared him to them. His affection had
never wavered, his promise had never
been broken, his cOnstancy had never
failed them. Sad and touching as well
as glorious memories came thronging
around them, and in the sorrow
of that final parting they for
got the joys of peace. When
the reading was finished, the
bands struck up the tune of "ROsln
Castle" which was always played when
q dead comrade was borne to his grave,
and then they broke ranks, and the glo-
rious old Revolutionary army was a
thing of the past, to live hereafter only
in the memory and affection of DOS
terity.
The scene that followed was heart
breaking. Trusting solely to the word
and promises of Washington, they had,
despite the warnings of the anonymous
address, and without securing the JUS
tice they had demanded, laid down
their arms. Many q noble officer,
who had ridden all gallanly through
the ranks Of the foe, and periled his life
over and over again for his country,
was now left by that country to beg his
way back as pauper to his suffering
family. Says DR.. Thatcher, who was
present, "Painful was the parting; no
description can be adequate to the trag-
ic exhibition. Both officers and sol
diers, long unaccustOmed to the affairs
of private life, were turned loose
upon the world. Never can
that day be forgotten, when
friends, companions for seven years in
Joy and sorrow, were torn asunder
without the hope of ever meeting again,
and with the prospect of a miserable
subsistence in the future" Major
North, one of the actors in this painful
drama, says: "The inmates of the
same tent or hut for seven long years
grasped each others hand in silent
agony-to go they knew not whittier,
all recollection of the art to thrive by
civil occupation lost, or to the youthful
never known; their hard-earned mill
tary knowledge worse than useless, and
with their badge of brotherhood mark
at which to point the finger of suspicion
-ignoble, vile suspicion!-to be cast on
world long since by them forgotten.
Severed from friends, and all the joys
and griefs which soldiers feel; griefs
while hope remained-when shared by
numbers, almost joys. To 60 in silence
and alone, and poor and helpless-it
was too hard Oh, on that sad day how
many hearts were wrung. l saw it all,
nor will the scene be ever blurred from
my view" -...
The brave, generous-hearted old Bar
on Steuben looked on the pitiful scenes
with swimming eyes. Seeing Colonel
Cochrane, brave and meritoriOus Off
Ger, standing apart with sad and dis
consulate look, he approached him, land
tried TO cheer himlup by saying that
better times would come soon. "For
myself" replied the officer, 81 can
stand it; but" pointing to mere HOY
ell, "my wife and daughters are in the
garnet of that wretched tavern, and l
have nowhere to carry them, nor even
money to remove them" " Come,
come" said the Baron, 81 will pay my
respects to Mrs. Cochrane and your
daughters, if you please;;", and leaving
him standing alone, he strobe away to
the tavern, where he found the ladies
sunk in dependency at the dismal pros