The Press., 1885-12-31

"A. J." of Enfield, (the initials will be recognized by many Stafford people), is moved by some recent "reminiscences print ed in the Thompsonville Press to send the following to that paper
 The statement in The Press of Decem- Der 10th that "Capt. Jabez King of this town, with his company of infantry, per- formed escort duty to Lafayette in Hart ford, in his last visit to the United States D recalls to my mind that did escort duty for him, as civilian, on the occasion of his passing from Boston to Hartford. At that time the most feasible stage route from Boston to Hartford was through Staf- ford. On that occasion the citizens of Hartford had appointed committee con- slsting of Henry l.. Ellsworth, afterwards commissioner of patents at Washington, Daniel Wadsworth, particular friend of Lafayette, and third, name not recollect- ed, but I am inclined to think it was MT. Nichols, who came with a coach and horses as good as Hartford could produce at that day, and they proceeded to the last house in Connecticut, occupied by MT. Brown, where they made their headquar- ters, adjoining the state line where the town of Stafford joined the town of Hol- land ill Massachusetts. They were soon joined by many citizens of Stafford in their best turnouts and company of cavalry in full dress uniform, their swords at their sides and pistols in the1r holsters, con- mauded by Capt. Orrin Holt of Wiling ton. There we waited till after sundowp, and threatening to rain, the cavalry and many citizens retreated to Stafford Center The delegation from Hartford and some of the Stafford citizens remained and kept a sentry on the road to watch for the coming of Lafayette and be sure to prevent his passing without notice. When he finally arrived I happened to be doing sentry du- ty, and gave notice of his approach. The Hartford gentlemen and others rushed out and stopped the coaches, and MT. Ells- worth inquired for Gen. Lafayette, and finding him, invited him to take a seat in the Hartford coach, assuring him it was 8 very easy coach to ride in. Lafayette de- clined, saying he was very comfortabl, situated and did not wish to change hls carriage. Mir. Ellsworth then said to the, general, ''Mr. Wadsworth, of Hartford, is here" Lafayette inquired, "Is Daniel Wadsworth, of Hartford, here" MT. Wadsworth then advanced and affirmed that he was, whereupon Lafayette clam bered out of his carriage as quick as his age and infrmities would permit, and such Il have never witnessed before or since. As soon thereafter as the son and other com. panions of Lafayette were introduced the whole company proceeded to the Center tavern, then kept by Jasper Hyde, where we found the company of cavalry and hundreds of other people assembled to see Lafayette, among them several revolu- tionary soldiers. Lafayette was stationed in one of the parors, and the crowd passed through and each one shook hand with Lafayette. One of the revolutionary sol diers, "Si' Wheeler by name, had "kept up his spirits by pouring down." and had become pretty nearly full, who when he got hold of his hand, says 'Lafayette, God bless you. Do you remember the battle of Yorktown?" Lafayette answers, "Yes grand affair."" Wheeler then says "Do you remember Colonel ?" "Yes, D he says, a brave man and an excellent of- l ficer." Here the crowd behind became impatient and Wheeler was hustled off. Then the cavalry escorted Lafayette to Stafford Springs hotel where he slept that night. This hotel was then kept by Eluah Johnson, then sheriff of Holland county. Thls was in September, 1924, when I was % years old