Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-01-05
The Simplicity of Washington.


He had seldom seemed so stern, in
deed, as in one incident of those trying
months, says Harper's. An officer of
the American army had been taken in
skirmish and the English had per-
mitted brutal company of loyalists,
under one Capt. Lippincott, to take him
from his prison in New York, and hang
him in broad daylight on the heights
near Middletown. Washington at once
notified the British commander that
unless the murderers were delivered up
to be punished British officer would
be chosen by lot from among his pris-
oners to suffer in his stead, and, when
reparation was withheld, proceeded
without hesitation to carry his threat
into execution. The lot fell upon Capt.
Charles Asgill, an engaging youth of
but 10, the heir of great English fam
lily. Lady Asgill, the lads mother, did
not stop short of moving the French
court to intervene to save her son, and
at last the congress itself counseled his
release, the English commander hav-
iiS uioStfOWCu Tic dSl VI lllC hiui uSl
ers in whose place he was to suffer,
and Washington himself having asked
to be directed what he should do.
Capt. Asgill has been released" he
wrote to Vergennes, in answer to the
great minister's intercession. II have
no right to assume any particular merit
for the lenient manner in which this
disagreeable affair has terminated.
But 1 beg you to believe, sir, that
most sincerely rejoice. not only be-
cause your humane intentions are
gratified, but because the event ac-
cords with the wishes of his mcst Chris
tian majesty"
1t lifted great weight from his heart
to have the innocent boy go unhurt
from his hands, and he wrote almost
tenderly to him in acquainting him
with his release, but it was Of his SIM
pie nature to have sent the lad to the
gallows, nevertheless, had things con-
tinued to stand as they were at first.
He was memorable to check perfidy
and vindicate the just rules of war.
Men were reminded, while the affair
pended, of the hanging of Andre. Ar
nold's British confederate in treason,
as spy and how pitiless the COM
mander-in-chief had seemed in sending
the frank, accomplished. lovable gen.
tleman to his disgraceful death, grant
ing him not even the favor to be shot
like a soldier. 1t seemed hard to learn
the infexible lines upon which that
consistent mind worked. as if it had
gone to school to fate.
But no one deemed him hard or stern
or SO much as thought more or less
than human when at the last the Brit
ish had withdrawn from New York and
he stood amid his officers at Fraunces'
tavern to say goodbye. He could
hardly speak for emotion; he could
only lift his glass and say: with a
heart full of love and gratitude l now
take my leave Of you, most devoutly
wishing that your latter days may be
as prosperous and happy as your for
mer ones have been glorious and hon
orable. i cannot come to each
of you and take my leave" he said,
'but shall be obliged IL you will come
and take me by the hand" When Gen.
Knox, who stood nearest, approached
him, he drew him to him with sudden
impulse, and kissed him, and not a SOL
dier among them all went away with
out an embrace from this man who was
deemed cold and distant. After the
parting they followed him in silence to
Whitehall ferry and saw him take boat
for his journey.