The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-03
RELICS OF WASHINGTON.
Some Newly Discovered Proofs that the Faith
er Of His Country Was Not FaultIess.

In view of the recent completion of the Wash
ington monument and the approaching celebra-
ton Of that event, there has beena wonderful re-
vival OF "reminiscences concerning the first pa
triot. Many of these are new and curious, and
others valuable, as they afford an additional in
sight into the personal character and peculiari-
ties of Washington Mr. W. w Corcoran pres
ident of the Monument Association has received
number of letters which show the extraordi-
nary interest which the coming dedication is ex
citing, and reveal the impetus which has been
given to the research for Washington relics.
For instance, as to the latter, John Coppin ger,
ninety years of age writes from Columbia, S.
c., that he is the son of Henri Coppinger, who
was Washingtons bugler at the siege of York
town; that he is in possession of the bugle used
by his father during the closing period Of the
Revolution, and he wants to come to Washington
to blow it on dedication day. up to thirty years
ago. writes Mr.. Coppinger, Il was a band
master. as was my father after the Revolution.
I must have seen Washington, as 1 was born
in Alexandria and was six years old when he
died / am somewhat infirm now, but if could
stand on the monument and blow my fathers
bugle l believe it would make me twenty years
younger"
Very few people have ever had the temerity
to charge George Washington with having writ
ten poetry but Mr.. James III. Sanderson, of
San Jose, CAL, writes that he is in possession of
an old scrap-book, inherited from his father,
George Sanderson, who lived and died in Wythe
vile, Va, which contains a manuscript poem of
hexameter verse in the veritable handwriting of
w. ~ ~
Mr. Sanderson does not furnish a copy of the
ode, but he says there are foot-notes attached
which prove beyond a doubt that it was ''orig-
inap with Washington. He wants to read the
poem at the dedication, or have it read "by some
eminent elocutionist of national fame" with the
proviso that the manuscript be returned to him
intact
On the subject of Washington manuscripts the
most valuable find of recent date has been made
by Zimmerman. Of this city. They have been in
the possession of poor family, near Alexandria,
for the last seventy five years. They consist of
several manuscript letters of George Washing
ton, and memorandum in his own handwrit
ing, which latter doubtless possesses consider
able value, as it supplies missing link in the
records of the First Auditors Office in the Treas
ury Department. 1t comprises list of furni
ture and fittings bought for the executive man
sion between 1889 and 1876, the period of the
presidential residence in New York The mem
orandum shows the first purchases ever made for
contain record The chirography is unques
tionably Washington's. The last page seems to
have been used by Washington to record several
private matters. It contains records of money
lent" to various individuals, of money borrowed
and of partial payments thereon.
Among the other manuscripts recovered by Zim-
norman is one which he has not exhibited, but
which he says would show that General Wash
ington had taste for French pictures of class
that has so long excited the ire of Mr.. Anthony
nj fho orr Snn ion of
Vice. A paper marked Glands Owned by G..
W., sets forth that the Father of his Country
had six farms, ranging in extent from ~ to 620
acres. Some of these tracts are marked sandy
There is also a letter from Washington to
Samuel Lawson, ESQ.," offering to purchase
certain negro man. Washington explains that
he wants the negro not SO much to work himself,
but to look after the other hands" In other
words, he was in need of a ''nigger driver"
Washington has generally been credited with
the introduction in America of mules valua
bic adjunct of plantation appurtenances, but
very few people know that one of his favorite
riding animals was white mule, which was
kept carefully stabbed and groomed along with
his blooded horses at Mount Vernon. In the year
1897 there was published at Alexandria for
brief period weekly paper called Hopkins's
Gazette. A few numbers of this sheet are still
extant. In one of them there is an account of
an exciting adventure in which Washington,
the white mule and one Jared Dixon figured.
From this accountit appears that Jared Dixon
was Welshman. who lived on one hundred
acre tract Of land adjoining the Mount Vernon
plantation. Washington always claimed that
the tract belonged to him and he made several
efforts to dispossess Dixon, but without success.
According to the Gazette Washington's overseer
had on one occasion torn down the Dixon fence
and let cattle into the field, and various similar
annoyances were resorted to IN order to fore
Dixon to move away. But Dixon would neither
der kent on i
waiting his little farm in defiance of the m n
who had been first in war and was now first in
peace.
1T was last Thursday, about the hour Of
noon," says the Gazette, when General Wash
ington rode up to Mr. Dixon's gate. He was
mounted on his white mule, who had come down
the broad road on his famous fox-trot of eight
miles an hour. There was fire in the Generals
eye and his underlip protruded fur, betokening
war; His riding boots shone in the sum- as did
his gold spurs His hair was tied with gor
geous black ribbon and his face WAS pale with
resolution. Mr.. Dixon and family were adjust
ing themselves for dinner when they heard the
call at the gate There was a most animated
conversation between the two neighbors, in
which the General infcrmed the humble settler
that he must receive a certain sum for his dis
puted title or SUI NIT to be dspossessed.
Mr.. Dixon, Who wass also revolutionary SOL
der and feels thai he has some rights in this
country, informed his lordly neignbor that the
land was his own; that he had paid for it and
built houses thereon and that children were
born to him ON it, and that he would defend
it with his life. Continuing, he charged the
General with melting his employees to depfedate
on the fences and field. 1t was natural that all
this should arouse the mettle of the modern
Mars. He few into a towering rage and ap-
piled many epithets to Mr.. Dixon that are not
warranted by the ten commandment He even
went so far as to raise his riding whip and
threatened personal violence. Mr.. Dixon is a
man of few words. but high temper and not
caring to have his home and family thus offended,
he gave the General one minute to move away
while he rushed into the house for his deer rife
There are none who doubt the valor of the Gener-
al, but there may be a few VINO do not credit
him with that discretion which is so valuable
part of valor. Suffice it for the ends of this
chronicle to say that it required only few mo-
ments for him to turn the gray mules head to-
wards Mount Vernon, and in less time than it
takes to here relate. the noble animal was dis
tancing the Dixon homestead with gallant speed.
1t was no fox trot nor yet so fast as the Derby
racord hut most excallent for mfle. AT any