Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-09-08

The weary years of the protracted
struggle found the Life Guard always
present, always sharing the dangers
and hardships OF the army. While
Washington was in camp at Newburgh
during the autumn Of 1882, when the
war was virtually at an end, bold at
tempt was made to capture and deliver
him to the British. In little secluded
valley south Of Washington's head
quarters lived a man named Ettrick,
who profcsscd TO be a warm patriot.
The tide backed up the small stream
near his house, and good oarsmen could
send a boat rapidly through the gorge
into the Hudson; and then easily reach
the British vessels lying below West
Point. The plan was to invite Wash
ington to dinner and to secrete party
of Tories in the forest who at the proper
time would capture the commander in
After Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, had
gained for Tarentum, at a heavy loss,
the victory Of Heraclea, he visited the
field of battle and, seeing every Roman
corpse with its wounds in front, ex-
claimed, "If these were my soldiers,
or if | were their general, we should
conquer the world"
chief and spirit him away from the very
midst Of his encampment. The daugh-
ter of Ettrick overheard the conspir-
ators and begged Washington to decline
the invitation, giving him the true rea-
some. Washington decided to turn the
tables on his would-be captors. He
directed a detachment Of his Guard to
thwart the plot, and while the dinner
was in progress it closed in on the
/ house. When the guardsmen arrived,
Ettrick thinking that they were his Tory
allies, laid his hand on Washingtons
shoulder and said, 81 believe, general,
you are my prisoner"
! AS the guards entered and surrounded
the despicable host Washington remark
ed, 81 believe not, sir. You are mine"
| The daughter, who had not antici-
rated such termination of the affair,
begged Washington to be merciful. AS
reward for her fidelity Washington
spared her fathers life on his promising
to leave the country, which he quickly
did. He took up his residence in Nova
Scotia.
! With the end Of the war in sight, fur
loughs were given to the army and on
Friday, June 6, 1888, the Commander
in Chiefs Guard ceased to exist as an
organization. There were two classes
OF men, however, then in the service,
those who had enlisted for the duration
Of the war and those who were under
engagement for three years. From the
three-year men a new Guard was form
ed TO continue in service until the
definite treaty of peace should arrive
from England
Captain Howe remained in command
OF the reorganized Guard until the end.
and on November 9, 1888, Washington
sent him to convey his baggage and
his papers to Mount Vernon. He pro-
ceeded through Philadelphia and Will
mington. thence to Baltimore, Bladens-
burg, Georgetown, Alexandria and Mt
Vernon. On completing that duty the
detachment returned north to West
Point, where under a resolution of Con-
gress they were presented with their
horses and their accoutrements and dis
charged from the service.
That in brief is the story of the Or
ganlzation that was privileged to serve
at the headquarters Of General Wash
lngton during the long drawn struggle
for independence. 1t was something TO
kindle patriotic fires in the breasts of
the men who served in it, especially
when memory dwelt upon their service
to their great leader in the hours of de-
feat as well as in the hours of victory:
and none knew better than they that his
fame would grow with the lapse of
years, for his indcmitable faith and
courage alone had kept alight the fires
OF independence in the dark and dis
couraging hours of the Revolution.