The Coolidge examiner., 1933-04-21
Ger. GeorQe WashInQtOn
by ELMO SCOTT WATSON
(FQOrf "TnE SAVIOR oFTHg STATE
COURTESY wfs. rioRRo" CosapA

couRre5T r1oRRo" coapAST)
by ELMO SCOTT WATSON
@T WAS just 80 years ago that the cur
Y 1 tain was rung down on the last act of
81 1 the mighty drama known as the Amer
4 lean Revolution and. appropriately
enough, the stage setting for this act
E0h Oh was along the Hudson river, which
&h \ had been the scene of so many impor-
ENhHE tant events during that struggle. More
EJBQU particularly the locale was the town
" of Newburgh, n. Y.
49, 1t was here that Washington and his
Continental army, after the victory over Corn
wallis at Yorktown. had settled down their
last camp ground Of the war. In the Hasbrouck
mansion. a small, sloping-roofed stone farm
house, Washington had established his head
quarters and here were living with him Martha
Washington and members of his military fami-
ly, officers who had followed his fortunes faith
fully during the war-Col. Tench Tilghman, Col
David Humphres Maj Benjamin Walker. Col
William Stevens Smith. Hedijah Baylies and
Jonathan Trumbull. Jr, son of the famous
Brother Jonathan" Trumbull, governor of Con
necticut
The camp OF the soldiers pitched in
semi-circle extending from four miles southwest
of Newburgh to the village of New Windsor on
the west bank of the Hudson, now a suburb
OF Newburgh On the summit OF a high. tree
less hill overlooking the valley had been erected
a big. oblong wooden building. known as the
Temple the New Public building which was
used for holding religious services for the Con-
tinentals
On April 10. 1888 (the anniversary of the Bat
tie of lexington, a courier rode hastily through
the streets of Newburgh and drew up before the
Hasbrouck mansion. The burden of his des-
patches was the proclamation OF congress for
the cessation of hostilities. At noon of the same
day the proclamation was read to the officers
of the army who were assembled In the Temple
for that purpose and in the evening 1t was read
to every regiment in the army. Although the
signing of the treaty of peace was still several
months In the future Qt not signed until
September 3, 1889 the American Revolution
at an end.
Now began the work of demobilzation and
the officers prepared to take leave of each
other perhaps forever. IL occurred to Gen. Hen
~ Knox. commander at West Point, to whom
had been given the delicate task of dlsband-
ing the army, that there should be some way
of perpetuating the ties that had bound them
together during the dark days of their struggle
for liberty. Then. too. there was the idea of
paying tribute to their fellow officers who had
lost their lives in the struggle and of finding
some method of support for the widows and
orphans of the dead heroes
The proposal of Knox to found a patriotic
and memorial society met with the instant ap-
proval of the other officers of the army and 1t
also had "the acquiescence and hearty appro-
baton" of Washington. meeting to organize
such a society was held at yerplanck house the
headquarters of Baron Won Steuben near Fish
kill, with that doughty German soldier presid.
ing and Knox serving as secretary-general
The name chosen for the organization was
the Society of the Cincinnati and the selection
of that name is easily explained The colo
nists were mostly agricuturists and many of
them had been educated in England where Roman
history the inspiration of the scholar
So the name of Society of the Cincinnati was
appropriate for them because they like the
Cincinnatus of Roman legend had left the plow
for their country's service and like him. now
that their service was over, were returning to
the plow again.
The order or medal, of the society was also
in keeping with this idea. 1t is a baldheaded
eagle. suspended blue ribbon with white
borders, typifyng the union of France and Amer
lea. On the eagles breast is shown Cncinnatus
receiving a sword and insignia from the Roman
senate and in the background is his home, his
wife and his pillow. Around this scene are dis
played the words "Omnia relnquit servare rem
publcan"-He left all to serve the republic. On
the reverse of the order is Fame crowning Gin
cinnatus with a wreath. inscribed "Virtutis
Praemium'-the reward of valor. In the back
ground is seaport city with open gates and
ships entering the harbor and below this are
Joined hands supporting heart inscribed 'Esto
Perpetua"-Be thou Faithful, the command of
the society. The design for this medal was the
work of Major L'Enfant, destined for future
fame as the man who was to plan the new Capt.
tai of the Nation. Washington, D. c.
The membership of the society was composed
foreign. who had served three years or been
honorablv discharged and TO their direct male
descendants by order of BIRTH through females