The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-05-14
WASHINGTON TAKING COMMAND.

England militia and spoke disparaging-
ly of them, but in the letter informing
congress that he had communicated
their vote Of thanks to the army he OBJ
serves:
''They were indeed at first band of
undisciplined husbandmen, but it is IN
der God to their bravery and attention
to duty that l am indebted for that
which has procured me the only reward
I wish to receive-the affection and es-
TEEN of my countrymen.
From Boston the British sailed for
Halifax, but Washington OWNED, how
ever, that their next objective would be
New York and thither led his little
army in April, 1776. By the middle of
that month we find him established at
New York and disposing his motley
forces for the defense of that city and
its neighbOrhood. And on the very day
the Declaration of Independence was
signed and the scattered colonies were
first designated as the UNITED States of
America, y the 4th of July, 1915, the
British began to disembark their troops
at Staten Island,
Washington's first encounter resulted
in victory-a diplomatic one-and
was revelation to the British Lord
Howe, inasmuch as he found the leader
of the characterization Yankees possessed
of perfect acquaintance with military
and social etiquette. He addressed an
official letter to "Mr. Washington, "
which the latter refused to receive.
Then to George Washington, Esq,
Etc, F" which was likewise declined, for
the reason that while, as the British
claimed, the ct ceteras might mean ev-
erything they also might and did mean
anything. 1t was bitter pill, but the
noble Briton had to swallow it, and
Washington established his point that
letter directed to a public character
should have an address descriptive Of
that character, etc., which was what
the British wished to avoid-a recogni-
tion of Washington military title and
status. This may have seemed at the
time a small affair, but in reality it was
important as giving a status for further
negotiation.
But he was not so fortunate on Long
Island, when the hireling HeSsians
frightened the raw troops by mere ap-
pearance and perfect discipline. The
British possessed every advantage. They
had overwhelming numbers of veteran
soldiers, Injured to war and under per-
feet control, and ships at their command
with which to remove their troops from
and concentrate them at any given
point they desired. Thus, while Wash
ington and his weary soldiers were pain
fully crawling across the country. rag
ged and half starved, the British were
transported without fatigue and could
fall upon the worn and hsrried Ameri-
cans with freshness and vigor.
New York presented different condi-
tions from Boston. Being impossible to
fortify it and foreseeiug that should he
remain there his forces would be entirely
surrounded, Washington sullenly with
drew, yielding only when compelled
and at the last moment the coveted city
and island to his opponents. To his re-
luctaDce to leave the enemy in posses
sion of the east bank of the Hudson are
huN tiiV N4oeAStLOuo uCACdlS VI LUX lS4duA
and White Plains and the retention till
the last moment and the subsequent loss
of Fort Washington, with its 5000 men
and valuable stores. That he might
have exTicated his command from their
perilous positions with less loss, partic-
ularly at Fort Washington, is undeni-
able, but it was due to his reluctance to
withdraw from territory which could
only be reclaimed after months of fight
ing. Hence he held on to the last, and
Ii Was at the crossing of the Hudson
that his army came near to humiliation.
And let rs note right here that Wash
ington had already displayed that tena-
cious quality, that cohesive force, which
made him invincible and wrung victory
from defeat after defeat. ultimately ter
minating the long struggle in favor Of
the American arms. He held his force
togetber-it was never actually beaten
in spite Of every difficulty, in the face
of overwhelming odds, and bided pa
tiently, albeit with torture of soul, the
moment in which to strike an effective
blow. This was the secret of his even
eual success-to await the RIGHT mo