The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-05-12

that will kill him. l ride as well as he, bui
more carefully"
bsde Major Burnet farewell, and ar.
rived at the house Of Sergeant Knapp just
as he had alghted from his horse. He left
The steed In care of a lsborer and invited
me into his dwelling. / felt sure that he
could toll me more about events at Wash-
lngton'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 the time
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 GuardP' 1
asked.
mot long after the battle of Monmouth
Courthouse" he replied. 81 Joined the
army when / was eighteen and my first
battle was at White Plains. was after
ward with General Wooster in tho affair at
Ridgefeld, in Connecticut, where he was
killed. Then Joined the light infantry
under Lafayette, fought in the battle at
Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey on
that terrible hot Sunday in June, and was
chosen a member of the Commander-in-
Chiefs guard a month afterward."
where did Washington reside at New
WlndsorP'' inquired.
''In plan, old-fashioned Dutch farm
house, built by the father of Simeon De-
Witt," he answered. SIT was not large.
but comfortable in cold weather." he con-
tinued, land there General and Lady
Washington liyed and entertained COM
pany from some days before Christmas in
1880 until the spring of 1881. That house
stood In the village and was pulled down
many years ago. Great officers of the
army with their wives wero entertained
there, and there were lively times there on
the Christmas after Lady Washington
came"
How were the Guard housed that vim
terp'' l asked
First in tents and then In huts,' he re-
piled. ''rhe weather was very mild. The
river did not freeze up at Newburgh until
after New Year. The bay was as clear of
ice as in MAY. The water-guartl boats
could go and come as they pleased. Why,
only a few days before Christmas, Nash
ington ordered Colonel Humphreys to take
as many of the water-guard as he might
think necessary and attempt to bring off
the Hesslan General Knyphausen from
Morris's House, on the upper part OF York
Island, or General Clinton from the city.
He went with two whaleboats aud barge,
and twenty-five or thirty men, including
officers, but did not succeed on account of
high winds"
you say General and Mrs. Washington
gavo entertainments occasionally, Were
you ever at headquarters at such ,l,aesp"
I 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.
ave soldiers always called her SO. She
was real lady IL there ever wag oae." he
answered
''Well, as was saying, It Was Lady
WashiDgton's FIRST entertainment there.
There was trouble at that time In getting
poultry for headquarters, particularly tur-
keys, for the camp had lately been ssisb-
lished. and the farmers In all directions
had been robbed of their fowls By the bad
soldiers. AS knew all the farmers In the
neighborhood. was sent to procure poul-
try for this occasion. l had travelled far
without success, when 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 taml.y's
use, but gladly let ne have three OF them
for the general, with which returned TO
headquarters.
''Who were at that Christmas dinner?'
inquired.
81 cannot remember ALL" be said. Sit
ting in silence for while In summoning
memory to the front, he said:
"There we're two young French officers
from Rochambeau's army at Newport;
Governor George Clinton and his wife or
daughter; some gentleman and their wives
from the neighborhood; Molly Clinton
(who, you know, was the mother Of De-
Witt Clinton), and the staff officers, two of
them with their wives. Colonel Hamilton,
Washington'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. Be-
sides poultry, there was beef aud mutton.
After dinner spIced wine was passed
around, followed by pies, pudding, apples,
nuts and cider. was detailed as a ser
geant, 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 we're stationed In the
passage through which each gnest went to
the dining-room.
"On such occasions Colonel Hamilton
generally sat at the head Of the table, but
nov being absent, the General presided at
one end Of the table himself, and Lady
Washington at the other end. She was
short, stout-built and good little woman.
Before the guests sat down, the General
standing, asked a blessing With solemn
tones and closed eyes. Old Billy, Wash
lngton's body-servant, whose head sp-
peared like bunch Of white sheep's wool,
was the chief walter on that occasion, and
moved with great dignity. In the evening
some Of the young people Of the village
were invited In, and all INDUCED In limo
cent amusement, particularly in dancing,
until nine o'clock, when the company
broke up. Captain Colfax, who command