Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-16

CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN oUTBY
WARMERS SAFE CURE.

Washiugton's secretary. was at Albany,
where he had married General Schuyler's
daughter only ten days before, and did not
return until after the holidays. There were
about twenty at the table, which was set in
the biggest room in the house. Besides
poultry, there was beef and mutton. After
dinner spiced wine was passed round. fol-
lowed by pies, puddings, apples, nuts and
cider. / was detailed as a sergeant, to take
charge of the Life-Guard Band, which
played lively tunes during the feast and
so | saw all that was going on in the room,
for we were stationed in the passage
through which each guest went to the din
ing-room.
"On such occasions Colonel Hamilton
generally sat at the head of the table, but
now being absent, the General presided at
one end of the table himself, and Lady
Washington at the other end. She was a
short, stout-builG and good little woman
We all loved her. Before the guests sat
down, the General, standing, asked a
blessing with solemn tones and closed eyes.
Old Billy, Washington's body-servant,
whose head appeared like bunch of white
sleeps wool, was the chief waiter on that
occasion, and moved with great dignity
In the evening some of the young people
of the village were invited in, and all in
dulged in innocent amusement, particularly
in dancing, until nine O'Clock, when the
company broke up. Captain Colfax, who
commanded the Guard, was guest at the
dinner. We all had good time"
Sergeant Knapp gave mo many other
interesting "reminiscences of his life as a
guardsman, and I fingered until the sun
had set and the twilight was fast deepen
ing. bade the venerable patriot farewell,
when he said:
"Oh, forgot to tell you the best part of
the story of the Christmas dinner at head
quarters. There was a pretty and proud
little girl in the village, named Anna
Brewster, then in her teens, but less than
three feet high. She refused Lady Wash
ington's invitation to the dinner because
she supposed it was given only to crafty
the curiosity of the other guests. She soon
found out her mistake, for Lady Washing
ton called at her mothers house, and little
Anna was afterward very often at head
quarters. When she grew to full woman
hood she was only yard high. She lived
a maiden until she was seventy-five years
old, and then died. Perfect in form, sweet
in temper, she was beloved by everybody.
Anna Brewster was the smallest woman IN
America.
1t was dark when left the old guards
mans door, and rode back to Newburgh
in the light of full moon. met Sergeant
Knapp once afterward. 1t was at cele-
bration at Newburgh of an historical event.
There was civic and military procession.
] was invited to ride in barouche with
Sergeant Knapp and the orator of the day.
The Sergeant and | were invited guests.
He had a conspicuous seat on the platform,
and when the orator had finished his ad-
dress l was invited to introduce the vener-
able guardsman to the people. The audi
eDce testified their respect and reverence
for the hero by hurrahs which almost
brought echoes from Beacon Hill and the
Storm King, looming up from the Hudson
not far off, on the crests of which Sergeant
Knapp had seen signal fires blazing during
the old War for Independence. And when,
an hour later, this last survivor of Wash
ington's Life Guard arose at the public
Banquet to depart, with a solemn but firm
voice he invited the whole company to his
! funeral Just four months to a day from
that time, when he was a little past ninety
six years of age, his spirit took its flight,
and many who we're at the feast were
mourners at the burial. His remains were
inferred near the tall flagstaff at Washing
| TOMS headquarters at Newburgh. Over
them stands chaste mausoieum of brown
sandstone, fashioned by the eminent sculp.'
tor the late Henry K. Brown. 1t was
erected by Company F. 10th Regiment
Newburgh Guards, in the early summer OF
! 1860.
BENSON j. LOSING, LII. d.