Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-05-25
The Inst Of wa-hington'- Life Guard.
Copyrighted 1855. by FuSk q wAoNALs, for

more than five feet nine inches" sober,
young, active, and well made" Gibbs was
vet their commander. He was succeeded
at near the close of l179, 10y William Col
fax, Of New Jersey, the grandfather of
the late Vice President Schuyler Colfax.
The uniform of the corps consisted Of
blue coat with white facings, white waist
coat and breeches, black stock and black
half CATERS, and cooked hat with blue
and white plume Their flag was of white
silk, ON which was painted one Of the
Guard holding a horse and in the act Of
receiving banner from the Genius of
Liberty, personilied as woman leaning
upon the Union shield, near which was the
American eagle. Upon ribbon was the
motto of the Conquer or Die.
This flag (which ! have seen and sketched)
was made after the national banner of the
United States-the Stars and Stripes was
adopted in June, l717.
Informed that Sergeant Ural Knapp. the
probable last survivor Of Washington's Life
Guard. and MAJOR Robert Burnet, one Of
the Generals escort into the city of New
York ON the morning when the British
evacuated it in November, 1888, were liv
ing not far from Newburgh, on the lud
son, ! made three attempts to visit them.
The first effort was Il failure at the See
ond | had IA brief interview with Major
Burnet, aud the last resulted in AN interest
ing conversation with both of the veterans,
on a pleasant September afternoon. ] rode
first to the residence of Major Burnett
whom had visited ON a hot evening in
August Approaching his house by green
lane, shaded by ancient willows planted 10y
his own hand, | greeted the old patriot as
he sat in his arm chair just inside the wide
open front door Of the spacious entrance
hall Of his dwelling Seated there, ! was
entertained for an hour 10y his reminis
renccs of the old War for independence
He gave me graphic account Of the great
meeting of officers at The Temple, on
the camp grounds Of the Continental army,
not far from Newburgh where, in a digni
fled address, Washington gave a scathing
rebukc Of the unpatriotc and sedtious
spirit manifested 10y the famous "Newburgh
Letters, in the spring of 1888, which were
the occasion Of the assemblage.
Washington entered the Temple unat-
tended. after the officers were seated, said
Major Burnet took seat at one end of
the long room, and in few minutes he
rose with a paper in his hand. Taking
from his waistcoat pocket pair of silver
framed spectacles, he said, in his usual de
| liberate manner of speaking, as he placed
them before his eyes, You see, gentlemen.
that have not only grown gray but blind
in your service These words powerfully
touched every heart, and from that mo
ment every soul in the room was loyal to
the chief and the cause.
Major Burnets father was a Scotchman,
| aud his mother was native of Ireland
| He was a lieutenant of artillery, and was
| in charge of battery at West Point at the
| time of the discovery of Arnold's treach
| cry lie was afterward promoted to major,
and was one of the officers delegated to at
| tend the meeting at THE Temple Just al
| luded to- lie continued in the army under
/ the immediate command of Washington,
and was one Of the founders of the society
/ of the Cincinnati When the Americans
marched into the city of New York, ac
| compnnied by Washington, ON the day of
/ the British evacuation, he commanded the
rear guard. He SNas also present at the
/ final parting Of Washington with his Off
/ GERS at Fraunce's Tavern in Broad street.
/ Major Burnet was then eighty-seven
| years Of age. He had seen what few men
| in modern times had behed, namely, the
/ living representatives of seven generations
Of his kindred.
Sergeant Knapp lived short distance
| from Major Burnet While we were in
conversation the venerable sergeant, Bur
nets senior in age, rode by at brisk pace
homeward. The Major said, with a trace
of jealousy in his tone, See how careless
ly that man rides he will have fall yet
that will kill him. | ride as well as he but
! more carefully"
bade Major Burnet farewell, and ar
rived at the house of Sergeant Knapp just
as he had alighted from his horse. He left
the steed in care of laborer and invited
me into his dwelling. | felt sure that he
could tell me more about events at Wash
ington's headquarters at New Windsor,
than any other living person, and with very
little preface, after we were seated, asked:
Were you with Washington all tine time
that he was at New Windsor =
Certainly" he replied II was one of
the Guard, and believe | am the only one
living
''When did you Join the Guard Z" asked.
"Not long after the battle of Monmouth
| Court house, he replied. IL Joined the
army when | was eighteen, and my first
battle was at White Plains. | was after
ward with General Wooster in the affair at
Ridgefeld, in Connecticut, where he was
killed Then | joined the light infantry
under Lafayette fought in the battle at
Monmouth Court house in New Jersey on
that terribly hot Sunday in June, and was
chosen a member of the Commander in
Chiefs guard "A month afterward
"Where did Washington reside at New
Windsor = inquired.
In a plain, old-fashioned Dutch farm
house, built by the father of Simeon De
Witt, " he answered. at was not lar &c,
but comfortable in cold weather" he con
tinued, "and there General and Lady Wash
ington lived and entertained company from
some DAYS before Christmas in $50 until
the spring Of 1881. That house stood in
the village aud was pulled down many year,
ago. Great officers of the army with theiT
wives " ere entertained there, and there
were lively times there ON the Christmas
after Lady Washington came
How were the Guard housed that win
ter .' / asked
First in tents aud then in huts, he re
piled The weather was very mild The
river did not freeze up at Newburgh unit
after New Year The bay was rs clear o
ice as in May. The water guard boat
could 90 and come as they pleased. Why
only IA few days before Christmas, Wash
ington ordered Col. Humphreys to take II
many of the water guard as he might thinl
necessary aud attempt 10 bring off the Hes
, sian General Knyphausen from Morris
house ON the upper part of York Island
or General Clinton from the city. He wen
with two whaeboats and barge, aud ?
or 30 men, including officers, but did no
succeed, owing to high winds. 10"
You say General and Mrs. Washington
gave entertainments occasionally. Wer
you ever at headquarters at such times