Evening star., 1928-02-19
FrtPre enOn il American "
Of Him

Army brought once more to the
verge OF dissolution. So cold 1t was
that New York harbor froze. and at
Morristown soldiers died by the hum
dreds of hunger and privation. Death
and dcsertion reduced resistance to a
mere shell. but Wa5hington-beggins
-four from State TO State, borrowing
money by personal solicitation-poured
tie wine of his own fierce resolution
into the veins Of starving men and held
few thousands together. Moving like
corpse that rejected burial, the gaunt.
haggard band staggered forth in the
Spring to take up the old task of hold
ing the Hudson.
In September. stung to madness by
the insults and injustices Of politicians,
Benedict Arnold sold his honor for
50,000 and generals commission in
the British service Washington had
loved Arnold. and for the first time
men saw him cry-great SobS that tore
his heart-a David mourning Absalom.
AS If to spare him nothing, VIM
ter was again an agony of cold and
hunger. Checking disintegration by
sheer force of will. Washington sent
! his beloved Greene down South. to-
eether with hard-bitted Daniel Nor
/ gan. Baron Won Steuben, Lafayette
and Light Horse Harry Lee. for he saw
The Southern States ID the center of
military operations.
Results were soon apparent. for
Greene's mastery strategy turned every
defeat into victory. and at last Corn
wallis was driven back into Virginia
and cornered at Yorktown.
Washington learned in May that the
french feet had sailed from Brest. and
weariness fell from him as he prepared
to strike. He had but 1000 men. in
stead of the $1,000 promised by Cor :
gress. but Rochambeau hurried to the
Hudson with his 5000 and plans were
laid for an attack on New York.
In August, however, word came that
Admiral de Grasse was sailing from San
Domingo straight for Chesapeake Bay.
and on the instant Washington grasped
the chance of crushing CORVALLIS.
Mastery strategy deceived the British,
and before Clinton awoke the allied
army was we'll past Philadelphia, and
October saw the sword Of CORVALLIS
offered in surrender.
Two years that followed we're as
filled with hardship and heartache as
any that had gone before. for Congress
and the State gayly assumed that
Yorktown ended the war, and dismissed
the Army from their thoughts.
! Soldiers continued to serve out Of
. their love for Washington. but as the
dawn OF 1888 saw peace a certainty
/ these Scared, impoverished veterans
/ began TO murmur. Where was the
money due them? Were they TO be
/ kicked out to starye in. the ashes Of
/ their ruined homes? And as Congress
! ignored their plight. Gates crept from
! obscurity. together with other mischief
makers. and urged the men not TO
/ sheathe your swords until you have
obtained full and ample justice"
| Not even his experience at Valley
Forge was more bitter TO George Wash
/ inetou than this hour. for he was in
! fullest sympathy with his soldiers, yet
rlut.ny and anarchy could not be per-
/ mitted TO menace victory and inoe-
F.. perdence.
/ Facing the Sullen gathering IN the
! hope Of winning them away from their
angers. he saw before him those who
were as dear as brothers. and tears
| Elled his eyes The head that he barred
| was no longer hazel, but white as snow
and it was with shaking hands that
he fumhled for his steel-rimMed
glasses.
| You see," he said apologeticaily and
With unprecedented pathos. i have
grown not only gray but blind In your
service" "
There vas no need for him TO read