Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-05-12
Hours with Hen and Women of the
Revolution.
The Last of WashlngtOn's Life
Guard.

Copyrighted. lass, by FUNK 4 WAGNALLs
The third time always conquers,'
declares n wise say ing" | found il
verified in my attempts to obtain al
interview with the latest known sur
vivOr of the famous corps known M
" Washington's Life Gaard,' which
was formed, in the spring of '7G, OF
trustworthy men of the Continental
army Tor the protection OF the person
papers and baggage of the Command.
erin Chict. OF this corps The unfOr-
tunate martyr, Nathan Hale, was an
original member. 1t consisted of lo0
picked men from different regiments.
lis first commander was Caleb Gibbs,
of Rhode Island. He WIS succeeded,
neal the close of'79, BY VIM. Colfax OF
New Jersey, the grandfather OF the
late Nicc.Prcsidcnt, Schuyler Coliax,
Their flag was OF white silk, on which
was painted one OF the guard holding
Il horse, and in the Act OF receiving 4
banner from the Genius of Liberty
leaning upon the Union shield, near
which was the American eagle. Upon
a ribbon was the motto of the corps
conquer or die" This flag. which |
have seen and sketched, was made af-
ter the national banner OF the United
States the Stars and Stripes was a.
dopted in June, l777.
Informed that Ural Knapp. the prob
able last survivor Of W~ashington's Lille
Guard. and Maj. Robt. Burnct, one of
the Generals escort into the city of
New York on the morning when the
British evacuated it in November. IL
So. were living not far from Ncwburgh
on the Hudson, made three attempts
to visit them. The first effort was a
failure; at the second had a brict il
tervicw with Maj. Burnet, and the last
resulted in an interesting conversation
with both OF the veterans. | rode first
to the residence of Maj, Burnct, and |
WAS entertained for an hour by his
"reminiscences of the old War for In
dependence. He gave me a graphic
account of the great meeting of Off
GERS at The Temple" on the camp
grounds of the Continental Army,
not far from Ncwburgh, where, in a
diguilicd address, Washington gave a
acathing .cbnkc of the unpatrlotic and
.editious spirit manifested by the IA
nous "Ncwbnrgh Letters" in the
spring OF 1888. which were the occa.
sion of the asscmblage.
Washington entered the temple
unattended, after the officers were
seated" said Maj. Burnet took seat
at one end OF the long room, and in a
few minutes he rosc with n paper in
his hand. Taking from his waistcoat
pocket n pair of silver-framed spccta-
clcs, he said, in his usual deliberate
manner OF speaking, as he placed them
before mis- eyes, You see, gentlemen,
that | have not only grown gray but
blind in your service These words
powerfully touched every h5art, and
from that moment every soul in the
room was loyal to the chief and the
cause"
Maj. Burnett continued in the army
under tho immediate command of
Washington, and was II of the toun-
dcrs Of the Society of the Cincinnati.
When the Americans marched into the
city of New York, accompanied hy
Washington on the day OF the British
evacuation, he commanded the rcar
guard, lie wa also present at the ii.
nal parting OF Washington with his Of
ticcrs at Frannce's tavern in Broad
AT the time of my interview
Maj. Burnct was 81 years OF age. He
had seen what few men in modern
times had bcheld, namely, the living
representatives of seven generations
of his Kindred.
Sergeant Knapp lived n short dis
tauce from Maj. Burnct. While we
were in conversation, the venerable
Sergeant, Burnet'e senior in age, rode
by al II brisk pace, hoincward. The
Major said, with Il trace Of jealousy in
his tone, "scc how carclcssly that man
rides he will have u fail yet that will
kill him. ! ride as well as he, but
more carefully"
| babe Maj. Burnct farewell and ar
rived AT the house Of Sergeant Knapp
just as had alightcd from his HORSE
| felt sure he could tell me more about
events at Washin9ton's headquarters
at New Windsor, than any.other living
person, and with very little preface, al.
ter we were seated, | asked,
"Wcre you with Washington all the
time that he was at New Windsor"
"Certain!y," he replied: IL was one
of the Guard, aud | believe | am the
only one living"
when did YOU join the Guard?' |
asked.
Not long after the battle of Mon
mouth Courthouse" he replied. II
joined the army when | was eighteen,
and my first battle was at White Plains,
| WAS afierward with General Wooster
in the affair at Ridgeiield. in Connec,i-
cut, where he WAS killed. Then | join-
ed the light infantry under Lafayette,
fought in the battle at Monmouth
Courthouse in New Jersey on that ter
ribly hot Sunday in June, and was
chosen y member of the Commander
in.Chici's guard 4 month aflerward."
Where did Washington reside at
New Windsor2" | inquired.
ain u plain, old. fashioned Dutch
farmhouse, built by the father OF SIM
o Dewitt" he answered. 1T was
not large, but comfortable in cold