Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-12-03
TO MARK OLD ROAD
BY D. A. R. TABLET
Ceremonies at MiIlersville Saturday
Dec. ii by Anne Arundel Chap
ter Daughters of American
Revolution.
PATH WASHINGTON JOURNEYED.
When He Left New York Dec. a, 1888
for Annapolis to Bid Farewell to
Public Life.


There are few thoughts more allur-
ing to a worried and harrassed mind
than those of road leading from the
troubled places on and on. through
pleasant lands. in the shade of woods,
the sun of meadows, over the murmur
of brooks. across the invigorating
heights, on, on to peace and quiet and
rest.
Sucl. road as this was iourneyed
over by our General Washington
when, leaving New York, December
4. 1888, the last scene of association
with the long, weary, distressful years
of the Revolutionary War, after bid
ding an affectionate and touching fare
we'll to his officers he crossed the
Paulus Hook and started forth with
the vision of Mt. Vernon, his loved
home, the goal to be reached. where
he would find cessation of strife. ease
of mind and the longed-for quiet
The extracts from the old papers of
that day, the Pennsylvania Packet, the
Independent Gazette, the Maryland
Gazette, show more clearly than can
any chronicle at present, the esteem
and veneration held in the minds of
the people for His Excellency, the
illustrious General Washington" their
COMMUNICATIVE chief, who had led the
American forces to victory.
How they loved himl All along the
road they gathered, the high and lowly
to pour out before him their affection.
In Philadelphia he remained long
enough to turn in to the Comptroller
of the Treasury an account of his ex-
penses during the war, taking no cent
of pay for his own services.
In Baltimore he was entertained
right royalty, and on the 18th of De-
cember started for Annapolis. Tradi-
tion and family story, from which
sources so much of valuable history is
gathered. points out the old Stage
Coach Road as the one over which the
General travelled upon his way to the
State Capital This is borne out by
contemporary writers. as had the trip
been made upon any other road the
end of it would have been by boat,
and the Maryland Gazette states that
Generals Gates and Smallwood and
other persons of distinction went out
several miles to meet him.
1t is pleasant to picture in imagi-
nation the scene. Scharf tells us of
the coach and four, with the leaders
mounted by livered postillions, in
which was seated not only the General
but doubtless Lady Washington as
well as she was with him in Annap-
oils. We can hear the crack of the
whip, as the coachman caught sight
of the brave uniforms of the Generals,
speeding on in fine style to greet their
illustrious commander.
How stately and yet how tender the
greeting! How vividly does the jour
ney over this road contrast with the
weary marches of discourag cement
over other roads during the past eight
yearsl Now do Joy and contentment
reign, except that the bond of close
association must be broken, all is
supreme happiness. The General and
his party were attended to Mr. Mann's
Inn. where apartments had been made
ready for them.
The citizens of Annapolis showed
him every honor and on the following
Tuesday, December 23rd, 1883, he ''re-
signed his commission of general OF
the American armies, into the hands
of the Continental Congress, from
which it was derived, Immediately af-
ter which His Excellency will set out
for his seat named Mt Vernon, in Vir-
ginia. emulating the example of his
model, the virtuous Roman General
who. victorious, left the tented fed
covered with honor and withdrew
from public life, otium cum dignilate
1t was from this "virtuous Roman
General" the name of the organiza-
ton was derived of which George
Washington was the first President
the Society of the Cincinnati. This
office in Maryland is now held by Col
Oswald Tilghman.
From the door of Mr.. Mann's Inr
started the stage coach upon its daily
trip to Baltimore, or as advertised
performing her tour of duty to Balti
more" Arriving in the evening and
starting back the next day, accom-.
plishing seven trips in each week with
regularity and dispatch"
Among the published regulations
were the following: 'The stage tt
take in her passengers at Mr.. Mann's
door precisely at eight o'clock in the
morning. take refreshments at Mrs
Urquhart's and arrive in Baltimore
that evening. Nine passengers will BIZ
considered full freight, and no more
shall be admitted without the consent
of every passenger"
On Saturday, December 18th, 1915
at 2.30 p. m. this same road will be
honored by the Anne Arundel Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, by the unveiling of bronze tab.
let upon a large stone. This stone
weighing many tons.and standing over
six feet high, lay in the woods of Mr.
Henry Keidel, at his home on the Sew.
eru and was given nv him raoct bind