The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-04-08
Ma PASSION


Western Virginia in one Of Neil &
Moore's stage coaches. over the old
national road, from Baltimore. was
one Of three inside passengers, my CONE
panions being two elderly gentlemen Of
iine appearance and general informa-
tion. A STRIPPING and an entire stranger
10 the country through which we were
passing ! listened with great interest
to their general conversation, which
was mainly suggested by the localities
and inhabitants along our route After
passing Hugerstown we came upon q
portion of the trail of WashingtOn's
rangers. when, In l7ji he was sent TO
look after the French aggressions on
the Ohio. This introduced talk con-
cerning Washington career and char
acter One of the gentlemen avOwed
himself the son Of a Revolutionary Off
cer-a Penusylvanian- who fought at
Germantown, knew Washington inti-
mately, and was with the army during
It's memorable winters encampment az
Valley Forge When q boy he had
often heard his father tell an anecdote
of our great commander that occurred
at that time, which he proceeded to re-
late.
It was universally known throughout
tho army (and is now a matter of histO-
ry) that Washington was an exceeding
" methodical man, having a stated time
for every action public and private, of
his daily life. At his headquarters at
Valley Forge it was proclaimed i'm gen
eral orders that the hours between
eleven q. M. and two p. m was
sacred to the Generals privacy
and must not be interrupted by
any caller except upon business OF
the utmost importance. This strict or
dinance became, one day, the topic OF
conversation at the mess table of some
young officers, one of whom wagered
$40 that not a man at the table dared
venture 70 disturb the General i'm his
rooms during those hours. It was taken
in a frolicsome spirit by one of them,
who was to try the experiment within
week.
Having assumed so dubious a task, its
imprudent under,akerprOceeded to CON
trive ways and means whereby to aO-
COmplish it, To avoid unpleasant con-
sequences, the attempt must find iusti-
iicaton in some occasion Of mOmentOus
Importance. This no pretended to find
in a runor just then prevalent in the
camp of an intended surprise Of the
army by the British at that time ocou-
pying Philadelphia This was true A
night attack had been planned, but was
averted by information given by a
Quakcrcss. Said rumOr he would make
his apology for breach of orders. cNcul.
pating himself on the ground of its in
trinsic moment and the assumed iguO-
rance of tho COmmander-in-C Chief, so that
the worst he could have to fear would
be a kind rebuke for Overweening patri-
Otic zeal. BE accordingly ConCOcted his
story in SET phrase, and wcnt-albeit
with much mjsgivlug to headquarters.
The General S room was at the end of 20
long corridor, IN which an army sentry
was walking. Being promptly chal-
lengcd by that official, something like
the following ensued:
Il wish to see the General imme-
atcly'
You can not, sir; you must know the
orders"
"Yes, l know them, but I have a grave
communication which lwish to make to
him forthwith.
Cant help it, sir; you must come
after two o'clock. have my orders,
and can't break them
Friend, suppose know of a matter
OF vital Importance to you, to me, to
him, to the whole army which an hour
may render fatal to us all don you
see that such things Overrides your or
ders and that the consequences OF delay
win be laid mt your door? must see
him and tell him.
The sentry was staggered at his earn
estness and the apparent pressure of the
occasion, and to the applicants con-
tinued urgency at length said: IAN or
ders are to permit of no interruption of
the General till two o'clock dare not
knock to announce you Ii things are
as you say, and you are willing to take
the responsibility 60 and do so, and the
Lord save both of us
"Ihe officer went TO the door and
knocked No answer, Again, sjll all
silence within His heart thumped
heavily, and he was more than half
minded to fOrego his purpose, But that
anticipated laugh at the mess-tablr over
his failure spurred him to one more at.
tempt. Immediately following the third
knock a sound as of chair suddenly
and violently pushed over bare floor
was heard followed by heavy
tramp of boots toward the door
With a quick jerk Of the bolt il
flew open, and Washington, with head
thrown back and face flushed with
anger, stood before him with the cXcla-
nation, ''What does tins mean, sir?'
The culprit attempted To- summon up
his concocted story; but the expression
This intewogator face, suuhus me had
never seen before, and the access of "a
sudden consciousness of. his frjy0lily
made him stammer In utter fOrgetful-
ness of his well-digesled words But
not for long, for Washington cu, him
short with, "Bcgone! and consider your
self under arrest, sir As he lwHud &c
sneak away, he heard these further
words shot at the sentry, "D0you know
your ordersP'
eyes, General but"
Then obey them and if this occurs
again, will thrustyour bayonet through
your cursed body.
Then succeeded a bang of the door.
more heavy footballs aud the usual
silence
What were the ultimate results to the
officer of this escapade my informant
did not know. He won his bet but wa,
accustomed 10 say that ne would rather
encounter a dum-hoad court-martjuI
than 20 have faced THAT look aud act oI
Washington Cor st. Louis RcHu5.