Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-06
Some ReHcsjn
the National
Museum

AS Tue rOurtl OF July rolls around
each year the story of the winning
OF American independence is told and
retold in all parts Of the land. The her
olsm and suffering of that terrible
conflict are impressed upon the public
mind through the various forms OF
celebration which characterize that day
But more vivid than any fash of ora.
tory, display of fireworks or patriotic
parade Is visit to that section of the
national museum at Washington, D.
c., where are preserved many notable
relics of the war of 1776.
Not only Is the uniform of General
George Washington to be seen hang.
ing there in glass case, but nearby,
In similar enclosure, is the hand
embroidered robe the Father Of His
Country wore when being christened.
The buff of that full dress continent
tai uniform is as spotless as when
the dignified soldier wore 1T with such
grace and the blue of the coat lacks
even a suggestion of being faded
Gazing at it In the position Of promi-
nence it occupies at one end of the
old museum, one can picture In mem
DRY the many stirring scenes and
splendid ceremonies through which
that costume has passed. And such
material evidences of the revolution
make 1t seem far more real than
could any school history or anec-
dote.
A reminder Of days when times
were hard is sturdy trunk-shaped
camp chest used throughout the
struggle by George Washington. II
contains numerous tiny compart-
ments, and each knife, fork, spoon,
medicine bottle, cup, glass and flask
is displayed intact. Even the pewter
dishes he ate from and had his cook
ing done in are arranged about the
chest and, most suggestive of the
whole homely outfit is his little bread
toaster perched on one end of the
chest as If awaiting a long lifeless
hand to lift it into place.
Suggestive, somehow, of melan-
choly evenings is the large brass can
die stick and reflector used by Gen
Washington in his tent and wherever
he happened to be quartered during
the revolution A perpendicular
brass rod, with heavy round base, sup
ports two branches and back of them
rises the polished reflector. BY the
light from tapers in this holder the
future first president pored over
wearisome plans for outwitting a
powerful foe. Also, it's rays fell
athwart the paper on which he wrote
his farewell address to the army Aft
erward it was cherished object at
Mount Vernon and Is In collection
including the generals arm chair and
his pistols and tent pipe-holder and
such relics. His leather letter case is
well preserved and proves one of the
most interesting bits of the collection
to visitors.
Aside from anything app ertaining
to Washington, perhaps, the most nc
table revolutionary relic is the ia
nous John Paul Jones flag. This has
long been source of controversy
among students Of history, some of
whom claim it is the same tattered
emblem of liberty which fioated from
the Flagstaff Of the famous Bon
Homme Richard" while others insist
the material Of which it is made was
manufactured at later period.
The national museum authorities
have made no attempt to prove or
contradict it's genuineness But placed
conspicuous1y beside the much worn
homemade flag, whose stars are
sewed on with big, coarse stitches, Is
an autographed letter stating that the
flag Is what it is claimed to be.
Then there are swords worn by off,
GERS Of the Centennial army and a
very odd looking, silver mounted
cy tod
tionary war by Col. John Cooper Of
Virginia.
The dress sword blade and scabbord
of the famous John Hancock, whose
family name has since the earliest
Indian name been synonymous with
military affairs in America, is cher,
ished possession of the museum. He
was governor of Massachusetts and
president of the continental congress
at the time of the signing Of the dec
laration Of independence.
The sword of LIE Marquis de la
Rochambeau, friend Of Lafayette and
of George Washington, is also in this
revolutionary collection. 1t was pre-
scented to Gen. Peter Gansevoort by
the governor of New York in 1913.
The general was then quite an old
man in retirement, who managed
however to take some part in the war
plans of 1912. ..
! His full dress uniform worn during
| that political imbroglio with England
hangs in the museum with some other
most interesting relics of his eventful
military career. He fought with great
credit through the war of the revo
luton and his sword worn then is
placed reverently on ivory by the
celebrated Gilbert Stewart shows Gen
Gansevoort in full dress continental
uniform of his rank and wearing 6
decoration of the order of the Cincin
matt. He was especially noted for his