The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-10-28
(CONTINUED.O

gu uin' anu mOunt vernon seemed 10
him more like a haven than ever
where to seek rest and solace.
The two years he had yet to wait
may well have seemed to him the
longest OF his life and may have add
ed touch Of their own to what
strangers deemed his sternness
Washington had seldom seemed so
stern as In one incident OF those try.
ing months.
An officer of the American army
had been taken in a skirmish. and the
English had permitted a brutal com.
pany Of loyalists. under one Captain
Lippincott, to take him from his pris
On In New York and wantonly hans
him in broad daylight on the heights
near Middletown
Washington at once notified the |
British commander that unless tn,
murderers were delivered up to BE-
punished. a British officer would be
chosen by lot from among his pris-
oners to suffer in their stead; and,
when reparation was withheld. pro-
ceeded without hesitation to carry his |
threat into execution.
The lot fell upon Captain Charles
Asgill, an engaging youth of only .
nineteen, the heir of a great English .
family.
Lady Asgill, the lads mother. did .
not stop short OF moving the very
French court itself to intervene to
save her son, and at last the congress
counseled his release the English
nd he,
Of the murderers in whose place he
was to suffer, and Washington him.
self having asked TO be directed what
he should do.
Captain Asgill has been released"
washington wrote TO Vergennes, in
answer to the great minister's intei
cesslon. Il have no right to assum
manner in which this disagreeable at.
fair has terminated. But l beg you
to believe, sir. that l most sincerely
rejoice. not only because your hui
name intentions are gratified. but be-
cause the event accords with the
wishes of his most Christian ma
1esty"
Grest Weight lIfted-
It lifted great weight from his
heart to have the innocent boy to
go unhurt from his hands, and he
wrote almost tenderly to him in &C
quainting him with his release; but
IL was OF his simple nature 20 have
sent the lad to the gallows, neverthe
less. had things continued to stand as
they were at first
He was memorable to check perfidy
and vindicate the just rules OF war.
Men were reminded, while the affair
pended, Of the han ging Of Andre, Ar
nolds British confederate in treason.
and how pitiless the commander-in-
chief had seemed in sending the frank,
accomplished. lovable gentleman to
his disgraceful death, like any COM
mon spy, granting him not even the
favor to be shot. like a soldier. 1t
seemed hard to learn the infexible
lines upon which that consistent mind
worked, as If 1t had gone to school
to Fate.
Goodby &c His Officers.
But no one deemed him hard or
stern, or so much as a thought more
or less than human, when at last the
British had withdrawn from New
York and he stood amidst his officers
In Frances tavern to say goodby
He could hardly speak for emotion;
he could only lift his glass and say
with a heart full OF love and graft
tude. | now take my leave OF you,
most devoutly wishing that your lat
ter days may be as prosperous and ,
happy as your former ones have been
glorious and honorable. can.
not come to each OF you and take my
leave" he said, but shall be obliged
n you will come and take me by
the hand"
A Fervent Parting.
When General Knox, who stood
nearest, approached him, he drew him
to him with a sudden impulse and
kissed him, and not a soldier among
them all went away without an en-
brace from this man who was deemed
cold and distant After the parting
they followed him in silence to White
hall Ferry, and saw him take boat for
his journey
And then, standing before the con-
gress at Annapolis to resign his com
mission, he added the browning
touch OF simplicity to his just repute
as a man beyond others noble and
sincere. ,
Resigns His Commission.
II have now the honor OF Offering
my sincere congratulations to con-
gress," he said, as he stood amidst the ,
august scene they had prepared for ,
him. land OF presenting myself before
them to surrender into their hands .
the trust committed TO me. and to
claim the indulgence OF retiring from ,
the service of my country" :
Happy In the confirmation OF our
Independence and sovereignty, and =
pleased with the opportunity AFFORD !
ed the United States OF becoming a 9
respectable nation. resign with sat /
isfaction the appointment | accepted I
with diffidence-a diffidence in my r
abilities to accomplish so arduous a
task, which, however. was superseded
by q confidence In the rectitude OF our 4
cause. the support OF the supreme .