Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
provoked the following reply:

col. Lewis Nicola.
Sir-With a mixture OF great surprise
and establishment. | have read with at
tention the sentim ant you have submitted
to my parusal. Be assured. sir, no oc-
currence in the course of the war has
given me more painful sensations than
your information of there being such
IDEAS existing in the army as you have
expressed, and 1 must view them with alb
horrence and reprehend with severity
For the present the communication of
them will rest in my own bosom, unless
some further agitation of the matter
shall make disclosure necessary.
i am much at d loss to conceive what
part OF my conduct could have given en-
couragemeht to an address, which to me
seems big with the greatest mischiefs that
can be.all my country. If l am not de-
ceived in the knowledge of myself, you
could not have found a person to whom
your schemes are more disagreeable.
AT the same time, in justice to my own
feelings. | must add that no man pos
sesses more sincere wish to see ample
justice done to the army than 1 do, and
so far as my powers and Influences in
constitutional way, extend, they shall be
employed to the utmost of my abilities to
effect 1t, should there be any occasion
Let me conjure you then if you have any
regard for your country concern for
yourself. or poSterity. or respect for me-
TO Danish these thoughts from your mind
and never communicate. as from yourself
or any one else, sentiment of like
nature.
with esteem. am, sir. your most
obedient servant.
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Officers Abandon Plan.
1t Is easy to excuse the officers of the
continental army FOR this act, because
they had been badly treated and a secret
agreement had been signed by nearly
of
to crush the movement after receiving
Nicolas letter. and called a meeting Of
his officers.
When they We're all assembled he read
to them an earnest appeal to their
patience and patriotism. His first words
more effect than any of his arguments
He tried to read 1t without his glasses
but being unable to do so, took his spec
tacles out OF his pocket, saying in
pathetic tone:
You see. gentlemen. that I have grown
not only gray. but blind in your service"
The consequences of the address were
final. The spirit of mutiny and revolt
vanished and every ofiicer present
pledged his support TO Washington This
was the spring of 1888. and soon after
peace was declared and the British army
evacuated New York.
Washington met Carleton at Dobbs
Ferry to settle the details and as fast as
transports were available the British gar
rison was sent home. Washington moved
from Newburgh to West Point in Au-
gust. and few weeks later took up his
headquarters in what is now Central
Park. but it was then considerably out
side the city.
He was accompanied by Gen. Henry
Knox. who led the American troops the
entire length of New York to Wall street
and there halted while two companies
were sent forward to take formal poses
sion of the Battery. to hoist the Ameri-
can flag and fire a salute ~ thirteen guns
The British ships still remained In the
harbor and their passengers witnessed
the last act of the tragedy OF war
curious incident must have caused
them great deal of amusement The
British ensign which still fioated from
the Headquarters fiagpoie at the Battery
would not come down. and ii was soon
discovered that some ingenious Britisher
had ma led it securely to the pole and
had left the staff well siushed with
grease. so that il could not be climbed.
1t was an awkward dilemma The
Americans tried to shoot the flag down,
but that was impossible. and the officers
In charge was in utter despair when