Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1905-03-17
A SOLDIERS LAUREL
brew or WASHINGTON pEcKED
BY KING FREDERICK.
Prcof That Sword Was Sent Aner;es's
Foremost Nan with ;ls Inscription
Familiar 70 Us All from Earliest
Chiidhood.

The story that Frederick the Great
sent George Washington a sword with
'the Characteristic and eDlgrammaiie
message. From the oldest general TO
the greatest general In the world.
has been familiar from our earliest
childhood. i Is a plain narrative. as
given by members Of the Washington
family, who alone have any knoEl
edge, real or traditional. Il the fact
The appraisers list Of the personal
effects Of Washington. made al Mount
Vernon. May. 1890. contains this item:
Swords and blades. $1,000" Among
these. which were chiefly presents.
was the one sent by the King OF
Prussia. Tie personal effects Of
Washington were divided among the
heirs. but a large proportion we're left
az Mount Vernon for Mrs. Washing.
ton. who vas still living. Upon her
death Justice Bushrod Washington
took possession Of the mansion. FOR
he was his uncle's chief heir and the
one 70 whom he intrusted his papers.
BushTod Washington lived thirty
wears al Mount Vernon, and be.
queathed the estate and personal
property. save an occasional gift. tc
his nephew Col John Augustine
Washington. who also lived there
thirty years. There was an immense
accumulation Of papers and relies. and
among other souvenirs OF interest was
the sword Of Frederick.
Major Lewis Washington. Of Belle
Air, Jefferson county. Va. visited his
cousin al Mount Vernon In 1858. Al
this time he vas the owner OF two Of
the FIVE swords willed by Gen. Wash
inEton to his nephews-one direct
iron his grandfather. William Angus
tine Washington; the other. that one
which Justice Bushrod Washington
received and had willed TO his father
George Corbin Washington. Major
Washington admired the elegant dres,
sword sent by the King. and ofiereG
in exchange for II, being perfectly sat
ished as 20 us authenticity, the Bush
rod Washington sword During hi
life this beautiful rapier was seen by
many neighbors and friends at hi
home. Some years after his death hi.
widow. Mrs Ella Bassett Washington
sold II, with other valuable Washing
ton relies, to the State Of New York
These are now deposited in the Il
brary at Albany. In the catalogue
will be seen No. (. dress sword Of
Washington. The sword acquired by
Col Washington in this exchange was
sold a few years since by his son
Lawrence Washington. Of Alexandria
to John II. Hayemeyer. Of New York
who presented II TO Mount Vernon. be
ing thus happily returned to It's orig
lnal abode.
When Col. John A. Washington dis
posed OF the home Of our FIST Presi
dent to the Ladies Mount non As
ISOLATION Of the Union. he gave pos
session early In the year 1860. lie
carefully packed his valuable papers
In barrels, OF which there were
twelve. He left them In the care OF
his friend. Upton Herbert, first super
intendent Of Mount Vernon. thinking
In the disturbed state Of the country.
they would be safer than at any other
place. Col. Washington sad death |
occurred In 1861, and these papers re
manned at Mount Vernon until Mr.
Herbert left his Office. In 1866 he re
moved them 10 Alexandria. and stored
hem In an old bank building; this
In 1868, was burned ant
nearly all the papers and documents
were destroyed. A few baskets m'
u the half charred debris were
iawked about the old town by boys
'or which they got % cents each. In
hese some fine autographs were
'ound, showing how great the loss
also some few letters. one Of which
'rouGht a large price. It was from
May Washington, in good condition.
The surviving children OF Col
say documents referring
0 this sword were In these barrels
daughter, Mrs. Chew, Of West Vir
,lnia. writes: My father always
poke OF the sword he gave up as
,avIng been presented by Frederick
he Great and there was In his ros.
cssion a letter from Frederick to
zen. Washington. which was placed
n n bank In Alexandria and burned
With the building. My impression has
Ilways been that the letter was sent
With the sword" This is perhaps sui.
Icient OF family Confederation, though
have more at hand
OF documentary proof have not
ound any. though the search is not
ct complete. The archives IL Ger.
many may yield all We need.
One interesting item of circum.
tantial evidence came to me a few
months ago. A German artist, yigor.
uc and full ~ ramlntpcanca NJ Tho