The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-05-21

highlands of the Hudson to the RaritaD.
The suffeFings that winter were intense,
but the army, though mach depleted
by assertions ana the expiry of terms
of enlistment, emerged from its SHOW
drifts in the spring ready for active serv-
ice against the enemy. Mutiny and de-
sertion were met by Washington with
stern punishment, and two soldiers were
hanged for the former omense at Morris
town. He ragged also against the pecu-
lative and money making spirit rife in
the country, writing:
81 would to God that some one Of the
most atrocious in each state was hung
in gibbets upon a gallOws five times as
high as the one prepared by Hamanl No
punishment, i'll my opinion, is too great
for the man who can build his greatness
upon his country's ruin.
And that he would have made short
shrift with spectators and contractors
who supplied shoddy garments and rot
ten food to his suffering soldiers, if he
had the power, no one doubts. The rig
ors of war at headquarters were some
what softened by the arrival of Mrs.
Washington, who had also been an angel
of mercy at Valley Forge and other can
tonments, and several subscription balls
were arranged, at which the wife of the
commander in chief was chaperon to
some very attractive young ladies.
1t cost the country something to have
the wife of Washington with him at the
various headquarters (some 40 or more
in all), as appears from an item in his
expense account rendered to congress:
ITO Mrs Washington's travelling ex-
penses in coming to and returning from
my winter quarters; the money to de-
fray which being taken from my private
purse. and broTt with her from Virginia
Pounds, 1864, los"
But as the commander in chief had
refused to receive any compensation for
his services from the very outset he was
at least entitled to his expenses, both
ordinary and extraordinary.
1t was while in Morristown that the
commander was visited by the French
minister and Spanish envoy, Don Juan
Miracles, who brought letter from the
governor of Havana, and who had come
Ostensibly for the purpose of enabling
the Spanish government to reach con-
clusion as to the wisdom and propriety
Of recognizing or aiding the new repub-
lie. Spain was at that time coquetting
with congress (even as our congress is
now coquetting with Cuba) and had lit
tie disposition to negotiate an alliance,
except ON the basis of exclusive right to
navigate the Mississippi and acknowl-
edgment Of her claims in Florida.
Washington did not, probably, coincide
with the opinion expressed by Gouvern-
eur Morris, who wrote, Everybody
knows that the rapidity Of the Mississip-
pi current will forever prevent ships from
sailing up it. But, although ne could
not predicate the steam boat, yet he be-
lieved that true diplomacy should leave
the matter of navigation open for future
negotiation. But Don Juan's mission
was suddenly terminated by his death,
in April, 1880, and he was buried in
the local cemetery with such wealth of
diamonds on him that it was considered
necessary to post guard above his
grave. The French feet, with the Count
de Rochambeau, arrived in July, and
Washington went to Hartford to consult