Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-22
DEsERET EVENING NEVIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY go 1892


ington's gained fair share OF the iau
rels.
when George was II years OF age.
his elder brother Lawrence. who had
been a captain in the Virginia battal-
lon sent to the war returned home.
The stories he told his young brother
Of the scenes and Incidents Of warfare
Increased TO enthusiasm his military
ardor. and henccforth. when not en-
gagged in sham fights. parades. reviews
and other warlike features. at which
George always commanded, occupied
every spare moment Of .he boys time.
When George Washington was about
II years VI age his brother Lawrence.
observing In him preferences and a
temperament so conEenial to his own,
proposed TO the boys mother that ne
should enter the navy. ~ II offered at
that time greater chances of prefer
fnent. Mrs. Washington reluctantly
and after great persuasion gave her
consent to this proposal. and a mid
Ahipman's warrant was obtained Tot
the youth. He engaged with spirit and
enthusiasm In the work Of preparation
for his departure. and II Il stated that
his luggage was actually on board
man-of-war anchored In the river when
at the last moment his mother rclcnted
II Is perhaps idle to conjecture what
might or might not have happened hnd
btofNe washington stitftN INV tfiAA-
iah navy. IL iS.hnweNcr. quite SAFE 70
assume that had he done 70 he would
never have been known as the Father
Of His Country"
After passing three years a. sur
veyor Washington. when hut 10 YEATS
n age. was appointed adjutnnt general
with the rank % major to inspect and
exercise the militia In one Of the dis
trlcts into which Virginia was divided
In view OF the French oncroachmcnN
and Indian dcpredntions with which the
frontiers were threatened. French posts
were already established on the banks
Of the ohio. and Governor pinwiddie
selected Washington for the dangerous
and arduous mission Of interviewing
the officer commanding the French
forces and inquiring by what authority
he was invading the Kings dnmlnluna.
lie accepted at once and set out, with
out military escort. on his journey OF
nearly 500 miles. great part OF " over
LOFTY and rugged mountains and
through the heart % the wilderness.
After encountcfinT many dangers and
narrowly cHoapinF with his NE he sue
ccasfully performed his mission ana
Jan. 10, t1af delivered to Governor Din.
widdie the reply ~ the French com.
mandcr 10 his message of inquiry.
Immediately after waahlngton's ~.
turn he was appointed 10 the command
immediate exlgcncica. soon aftcrward.
the military establishment having been
Increased. he was appointed lieutenant
colonel N "a regiment, 81 which he
shortly assumed the full commend
through the death Of his colonel. He
commanded AZ the much miareprcaont.
cd aklrfnish with the French which rc.
suited In the death ~ Iumonvillc and
also az the battle ~ Great Meadows,
where Washington held tho enemy, Of
vastly superior numbers. nt bay from
morning 20 niFht until the French re-
qucste1 pgrlcy. The terms ~ the
captiuiatign. a. understood by WASH
iugton. were highly honorable. but
when printed 1t contained conditions
which h. never would have agreed 10
had they not been suppressed or soft
ened 10y the man who Interpreted the
document 90 him.
After WnshlnFton'H return from this
expedition the course pursued by Gov.
ernor Dlnwiddic In recognising the
troops ~ Virginia gave him great dis
satisfaction. The effect NJ u would b.
60 reduce Washington from the rank N
colonel 10 captain, aud, his rcmon.
strnnccs being In vain. he resigned
from the service Aftor brief visit
60 his mother he retired IN Mount Ner-
non. hut h. had not been long there
when he was solicited by Governor
sharpe ~ Maryland. then the COM
mnndrr In chief ~ the British forces.
To- resume his former military rank
but under conditions which he could
not reconcile with hiH self respect In
declining the Invitation he used the
memorable language. ~ shall have the
consolation ~ knowing that I have
opened the way whom tho smallncaa "