The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-02-22

ouip' can army about New
burg on the Hudson The approach Of
peace had quickened tie fears Of the ar
my lest peace should he made prctcXt.
when it came. 20 disrcrSe them before
their just demands should be satisfied
by Il government under the articles Of
Confederation which they were learning
TO dcspisc for its weakness. Its COM
manIcr-n-chie Washington. felt deeply
| that the army. after all it had suffered
| and achieved should be left pcnniless
and turned adrift without reward o."
| hope for the future and. so far as hlS
power and Influence extended. he cm-
| ployed his abilities TO secure ample
| Justice to IT, Murmurings could not be
! suppressed however and it was Tumor"d
| IN Philadelphia, that the army had So
| crctly determined not to lay down its
arms until due provision and 4 salts
i factory prospect should ba afforded on
! the subject pf their I;ss for. after eight
| years of faithful service, IN which some
| of the officers had sacrificed all their
means III the cause OF liberty, many Of
| them had flaugitt TOR fro1ftfne them, but
| the doors of Il debtors prison and their
pittance Of pay was many months in ar
| rearS In March 1853. this discomfort
| assumed form in an address. generally
| attributed to a General officer. which
| was circulated through the camp. inyit
| ing a meeting Of TIE officers to seek re-
| dress by the use of their powers as an
| armed body. Washington showed his
| tact on this occasion hy assuming con-
/ troll of the movement and, SnmmOnln@ the
officers. he administered such Il rebukc
| ~ them. that left to themselves, upon
! bis retiring from the aSsemblage. they
| 'ResovcI. unanimously, that. at III,
| ,.,I of hp "a
officers of the American army engaged
| III the service of their country from the
| purest love and alta achnent to the rights
| and liberties of human nature, which
| motives still exist in the highest de
| gree: and that 10 circumstances of dis
| treSs or danger shall induce Il conduct
| that may tend to sully the reputation
and glory which they have acquired at
tie price Of their blood and eight years
Of faithful service
| About this iunctGre the Society of
the Cincinnati sprung into existence.
| Who first conceived the idea is matter
| Of some uncertainty hUt its origin is gen
| orally conceded to Gen. Henry Knox
As early us 1916, ut Il meeting, in
| New York. Of Washington. Lee and
| Knox. the latter is recorded to have
! remarked that he should wish for
some ribbon. to wear in bis hat or button
hoIe. to lie transmitted to his dcccnd-
| ants a badge or proof that be had
| fought in defense of the liberties Of the
| colonics.' 1t i said too that Washing
| ton. being present at !. service in Christ
| church, Philadelphia. on December %.
| ITS. was alluded to by Rev. DIR. William
| Smith. in a sermon on that occasion, rs
| the CincinnatuS OF America. drawing a
| historical parallel between Washington
and his Roman predecessor which may
I have suggested the name and title Of tn.
| Society when it assumed form. 1t was
probably, however. the joint conception
Of Maj. General. the Baron. Won Steuben
anl Mai. General Henry Knox. but TO
| I<n0X must bc attributed the principal
| share in til" matter for there exists, III
| his handwriting Il rough draft OF the
| proposed organization. dated West Point
| 10Th Of April. 1888. endorsed by him 4
| Rough draft Of Il Society TO be formed
| by the American officers and to IL
| called The Cincinnati. This was pre-
| sented to called meeting of tn" Off
GERS. held at the 'Cantonmcnt Of the
American Army on Hulson'S River 10th
| Of May. 11S:. composed OF an officer
! from each regiment. then in camp in
| coz junction with the General officers.
over which Gen the Barn Won Steuben
presided. -tt IN adjourned meeting held
| at the quarters of Cen Baron Won Steu-
| ben on May Il. 1888. the beloved In
Stitution" of the Society was adopted.
Its preamble set forth that the Colonies
Of North america. having separated from
the domination of Great Britain had. af-
ter Il bloody conflict Of eight years. l,c~
causc free. independent and sovereign
states ana TO perpetuate. therefore a>
we'll the remembrance Of this vast event
as the mutual friendships which have
been formed under the pressure Of COM
ing danger. and on many instances,
cemcnted ly the blood of the parties. the
officers of the American Army ,lo, here
by. in the most Soleun manner. associate.
C.nstitntc and combine themselves into
one Society Of Friends. to endure as