The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1889-05-04
BoCraObipa1-


George Washington was born February
~, l1:s', Gt rUues Creek, Westmoreand
County, Va, and died at Mount Vernon, Va
December IL. ~ lie was q son OF Angus
tine Washington whose ear!iest-known an
cestOr came from England in 1871. He be.
calne planter O county magistrate O
member OF the House Of BUrgeS,es and a
COLONEL OF militia as tho time tho Seneca
lndlanswere troublesome. Augustine Wash
ington died in l1i3, but his wife, Mary.
lived to see that son the greatest military
and civic hero OF his day. George Wash
ingtOn attended the common schools but
never entered college He vas foremost In
athletic sports was a fearless rider and was
fond OF playing soldier but always insist ed
on being commander of the squad Be
cause of his honesty and excellent judg-
ment be was frequently selected as umpire
In various disputes that arose among HE
boy companions. His brother Lawrence,
an officer In the British navy, ono time per
suaded him to enter his Mai stys service
and went so far as to get q midshipman 8
warrant for him when he was but fourteen
years of age, but his mother prevailed on
him not to accept But for her gentle en-
treaties how different might have been the
fate of the Nation,
Continuing his studies and paying special
attention to surveying. to which he was
partial, at sixteen he became q surveyor.
At nineteen he was appointed Adjutant-
General of the Virginia militia and ordered
to make an inspection OF the force. Sub
sequently he went To the West Indies with
his brother, who was in feeble health, and
then had the smallpox. Before he was
twenty-One he was sent as q commission
er to the commanding officer OF the French
troops and so successfully did he perform
the work that henceforth be was promi-
nent man before the country and the civ
ilized world. On his return he was ap-
pointed Lieutenant C Colonel OF a regiment
was soon promoted to COlonelcy and
afterward served with distinction in the
campaigns against the French and Indians.
When Braddock was sent over to take com
mand of the British forces Washington be-
came q volunteer aide de-camp on his staff,
was with him at the disastrous battle on the
Monong ahela above Pittsburgh and was the
only mounted officer not wounded or killed
Afterward he had the honor of planting the
British flag on Fort Duquesne.
January q, l1j9, he was married to Martha
Custis. widow of John Parke Castis, and re-
signed his commission in the army. Pre-
VlOuSly, however, he had been elected uelc-
gate TO the House OF Burgesses When he
attended for the first time he was, by pre-
concerted arrangement publicly thanked
for his distinguished services, and was SO
greatly embarrassed at the unexpected
compliment that he could not utter word
in acknowledgement He was continued
as a delegate for many years, and although
he made no set speeches he was conceded
to be the ablest business member In l17i
he was elected to the first Congress, re-
elected in l1115, and then by that body
chosen Commander in Chief OF all the con.
tnental forces July OF that year he took
command of the army in front Of Boston.
The history Of the struggle need not be re-
told He took final leave Of the army Octo-
Der Is, l7S}, resigned his commission Dc
cember % and the following day set out
for Mount Vernon.
As private citizen delighting in agricult-
ural pursuits and thoroughly enjoying the
home circle the condition Of the country he
had saved was never absent from his
thoushts Reluctant as he was TO again