Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-24

fecion formed and strengthened in the
i early years OF the acquaintance of these
two noble persouages was never bro.
ken. Divergent Is were their views CT
the iOnary crisis, the individ-
ual associations of former years held
sway through all the days of their
lives. aad death only closed their cor
respondeDce.
Immediately after the battle of Lex
ington in 1775, Washington wrote to
his friend. then in England: Unhappy
it is TO effect that brothers sword
has been sheathed in brothers.
breast; AID that the once happy and
peaceful plains of America are to be
either drenched with blood or inhab-
tied by slaves. Sad alternative But
can virtuous man hesitate 10 his
choice ?"
After the battle of Bunker's Hill,
July 25th, 1775, the General wrote to
his friend again
my Dear Friend-You must no
doubt have heard of the engagement
on Bunker's Hill on the 18th ultimo,
but as am persuaded, you will have
very erroneous account transmitted Of
the losses sustained by the provincials,
| do assure you upon my word that our
loss as appears by the returns made to
me amounts to no more than one hun
dred and thirty mine killed, thirty six
missing and two hundred and seventy
eight wounded. am very truly your
friend,
&c WASHINGTON
Doubtless it was by letters like these
despatched after every battle that
Mr.. Fairfax was continually kept cor
rectly advised of the progress of the
great struggle by the commander in
chief Of the colonial troops.
To mutual friend in Eogland on
hearing OF the death of Geo William,
Washington Immediately wrote, "Our
endship was long, deep and uninter
rupted aud bis loss will be lamented by
al who knew him."
1t was duriOg one of the candidates.
OF Mr.. Fairfax for seat in the House
of Burgesses, that of 1854, that occurred
on his account the acrimonious dis
pute between Mr.. Payne, the friend OF
Col. E)zey, his opponent, and his own
friend, Col. Washington, in the market
place of Alexandria iu which the latter
Was felled 10 the ground.
Much as we may be Inclined to Gen.
sure The political sentiments of George
William Fairfax, it is only fair for us to
presume that If he had remained in
Virginia be might, like thousands of
others in the colonies, finally have affili
ated periecllywith his old ueighbors and
friends, and readily fallen in with the
tide of opposition to the measures OF
the mother government and shown as
much patriotism as did bis eminent
friend, the great commander and first
President of the united colonies-and
remembe bering his untiFing devotion to
the American prisoners of war in Ent
land throughout the contest, his early
al associations and services, and his great
integrity of character, let Us still in our
loving charity and magnanimitv think
of him only as the bosom friend, the
trusted adviser, the elder brother and |
com panion of our peerless Washington,
surveying and mapping the wilderness
lands of the Shenandoah and nobly fill
ing the mission as pioneer, and doing |
his part in the building up of great
commonwealth. His Influences for
good as well as those Of his father, |
which were exerted for the right |
moulding of the habits and char
acter of Washington, have never
been properly estimated, though |
he himself full appreciated and valued |
them as appears from his private letter.;
and the old homestead of Belvoir will |
always possess a peculiar interest, as
the place where the three noted per-
sonages we have described passed so |
much of their time in pleasant social
companionship together.
While Washington was rougbing it |
through the Virginia wilderness trac-
ing out and mapping the lands of the |
future homesteads of civilization, cut |
ting his way through dense thickets,
clambering over rocks and wading |
streams in true backwoodsman style,
sleeping often on boughs of pine, broil
ing his steaks of venison over the Goals |
of the camp fires with wooden fork
cut from the sapping for a spit, per-
haps no expectations of any thing in
the future beyond the plain routine of
planters life had come to the young |
adventurer, but he was in the hands of
destiny aud unwittiugly he was going |
through the prelude to one OF the |
creates modern historical dramas
which was soon 10 unfold in the colo
MES and in which he was to be the most |
conspicuous actor. w. ID. 5.