Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-16
living representatives of seven generations
of his kindred.

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 carelessly
that man rides; be will have fall yet that
will kill him. | ride as well as he, but
more carefully"
I 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, l
asked,
"Were you with Washington all the time
that he was at New Windsor ?''
"Certainly," he replied 81 was one of
the Guard, and believe am the only one
living"
"When did you join the Guard ?"
asked.
"Not long after the battle of Monmouth
Courthouse" he replied. 81 joined the
army when / was eighteen, and my first
battle was at White Plains. l was after
ward with General Wooster in the affair at
Ridgefeld, in Connecticut, where he was
killed. Then 1 joined the light infantry
under Lafayette, fought in the battle at
Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey on
that terribly hot Sunday in June, and was
chosen q member of the Commander
Chiefs guard month afterward."
"Where did Washington reside at New
Windsor ?" inquired.
SIN plain, old-fashioned Dutch farm
house, built by the father of Simeon De-
Witt" he answered. cit was not large,
but comfortable in cold weather." he con-
tinued, "and there General and Lady
Washington lived aud entertained company
from some days before Christmas in 17S0
until the spring of 1881. That house stood
in the village and was pulled down many
years ago. Great officers of tie army with
their wives were entertained there, and
there were lively times there on the Christ
mas after Lady Washington came"
elbow were the Guard housed that win
ter p'' asked.
'.First in tents and then in huts," he re-
piled. "The weather was very mild. The
liver did not freeze up at Newburgh until
after New Year. The Bay was as clear of
ice as in May. The water-guard boats
could 90 and come as they pleased. Why,
only few days before Christmas, Wash
ington ordered Colonel Humphreys to take
as many of the water-guard as he might
think necessary and attempt to bring off
the Hessian General Knyphausen from
Morris's house, on the upper part of York
Island. or General Clinton from the city.
He went with two whaleboats and a barge
and twenty-five or thirty men, including
officers, but did not succeed, owing to high
Winds"
"You say General and Mrs. Washington
gave entertainments occasionally. Were
YOU ever at headquarters at such times?" l
asked.
"Always, as special guard at the door of
the house, or on other duty there. / shall
never forget the Christmas dinner at head
quarters, few days after Lady Washing
ton came"
"Why do you call her Lady Washing.
ton?" inquired.
"We soldiers always called her so. She
was real lady, if there ever was one," he
answered.
"Well, as l was saying, it was Lady
Washington's first entertainment there
There was trouble at that time in getting
poultry for headquarters. particularly tur-
KEYS. for the camp had lately been estab.
lished. and the farmers in all directions
had been robbed of their fowls by the bad
soldiers. As l knew all the farmers in the
neighborhood, l was sent to procure poul.
try for this occasion. had travelled far
without success, when l called at the house
of General James Clinton, who was then in
the Northern Department. His wife Molly,
one of the best of women, had locked up
several turkeys for her family's use, but
gladly let me have three of them for the
| General with which / returned to head
quarters"
WWho we're at that Christmas dinner?'' ]
inquired.
II cannot remember ALL" he said. Sit
ting in silence for while in summoning
memory to the front, he said:
"There were two young French officers
from Rochambeau's army at Newport
Governor George Clinton and his wife OF
daughter; some gentlemen and their wives
from the neighborhood; Molly Clinton
(who, you know, was the mother OF Dc
Witt Clinton, and the staff officers, two O
them with then wives. Colonel Hamilton