Milford chronicle., 1931-12-25
w A S H l N G TON
SHEATHS HIS SWORD

On this date of December %, one
hundred and forty-eight years ago,
George Washington handed back to
the Continental Congress his COM
mission as Commander-in-Chi of
the Revolutionary Army and return
ed to Mount Vernon, a simple Am
erican citizen. But the mere state
ment of that fact cOnVeyes little of
the drama that lay behind his act.
Only a few months before he be-
came George Washington, private
citizen, he might have become mill
tary dictator of America, and at the
lifting of finger. He put aside the
proposal in indignation, but had
George Washington been other than
the man he was, the history of the
United States might read very diff
ferently from what it does.
While the surrender of Cornwall
lis at Yorktown in 1881 had virtual
ly ended the Revolution in victory
for America, ,desultory fighting still
went on, and Washington wished to
keep the army up to strength. 1t
was nevertheless a period of mac
tivity, and the officers and soldiers
had plenty of time to brood over
their grievances at the hands of
Congress. Their pay was long in
arrears. Numbers of the officers
had sacrificed their personal for.
tunes to the cause of their country.
And now they faced the prospect of
being turned back into private life,
penniless and ignored by a country
that appeared to them ungrateful.
This bitter sentiment reached a
climax while the army was station
ed at Newburgh. 1t finally took
shape in an open hint to Washing !
ton that he place himself at the
head of this movement in the army
to take over the government, and |
thus make himself dictator of Am
erica. So impoverished was the |
country, and so feeble had become |
he State and national governments,
that nothing could have stood in the
way of this move, had Washington
yielded. Instead he Indignantly re-
Duked his officers for this threaten
I'd stain on their patriotism, prom
sed once more to stir Congress TO
AXE up the matter of payment, and
II this he finally succeeded.
Late in January, 1888, came news
hat the preliminary peace treaty
lad been signed in Paris. On Apri!
Il, Washington was informed that
IN agreement for the suspension of
lostilities had been signed. In due
ime thereafter came the disbanding
# the army, the triumphal entry of
Washington and Governor Clinton
nto New York City, on the heels of
he departing British, and the fam
lis farewell that the Commander
n-Chief bade his faithful officers at
'aunce's Tavern. Immediately af-
erward, Washington went to Phila-
elphia, to present an account of
is personal expenses during the
light years of the war.
This business being concluded,
Washington left Philadelphia for
nnapolis, where Congre was
hen sitting. There he arrived cn
'ecember 20, and asked the presi-
ent of Congress as to the manner n
l which he should resign his COM
lission. The 23rd was named as
le day for this ceremony. At 70 Il
clock the Maryland State House, n
here Congress was in session, was
rowded for the occasion. The gal c
,ries and large part of the floor
the Hall of Congress was filled n
ith ladies, functionaries of the "
tate and National Governments, q
ilitary men, and citizens.
Washington entered, conducted by i,
le secretary Of Congress, and took
IS appointed seat. After a brief r
ause, General Mifflin, president of e.
1ngress, announced that "the Uni
d States in Congress assembled" ii
ere prepared to receive his COM "
unication. In the course OF his al
'ief address, Washington said,
The great events ON which my res 81
nation depended having at length
ken place, l now have the honor S.
offering my sincere congratula- ID
)ns to Congress, and of presenting
yself before them, to surrender h;
to their hands the trust commit W
d to me, and to claim the indul- as
nee of retiring from the service
my country" A few words of m
aise for his officers and the army, by
solemn appeal for the blessing of
ID on his country, and he had fin ia
led. OF
A newspaper of the time, the w,
Iryland Gazette, in describing the
enc, said, Few tragedies have CT
er drawn so many tears from so SC
my eyes as the moving manner in pa
lich his EXcellency took his final
tve of Congress-" ho
On the next morning Washington OH
forth from Annapolis and reach Dc
Mount Vernon that same even lot
Eve-to spend there
rhaps the happiest Christmas of H;
! life. Thus eagerly did the VIC fri
> of the war for our independence
get military glory and return to
, ranks of fellow citizens. SO