NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. No. CCCCI.-OCTOBER, 1883.-VOL. LXVII. THE LAST DAYS OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY AT NEWBURGH. HE same reasons which induced Wash- | enemy would be fatal, as New England ington to make his head-quarters at would be separated from the other coloNewburgh during the latter part of the nies, and the two sections could be easily Revolutionary war made it an important beaten in detail. Once, Burgoyne had spot from the outset of the struggle. New almost reached Albany, and Clinton had England, through her open port and her forced the passage of the Highlands to coown resources, furnished the chief mate- operate with him. To prevent a similar rial for carrying on the war. The Brit- catastrophe Washington took up his posiish, occupying New York and patrolling tion at Newburgh. The main army was the Hudson up to the Highlands, cut off encamped some two or three miles back, the direct communication between it and behind a morass, which Washington the army under Washington in New Jer- spanned by a single causeway. The house sey and Pennsylvania. The next nearest in which he took up his head-quarters route was by way of Fishkill and New- stands on a bluff that overlooks the Hudburgh. Hence loaded teams were constant- son for eight miles to West Point. From ly arriving at the former place, which, this outlook he could ascertain at once being ferried across the river, took their when the enemy's ships broke through the tedious way back of the Highlands south barriers constructed there and began to to the army. ascend the river, and take such steps as he deemed necessary. The house, standing ing, with a great pointed roof much higher than the body of the house. It is built of stone, with walls two feet thick, and contains six rooms besides the kitchen on the first floor, and five above. The roof is sustained by long timbers of red cedar, rough hewn, which to this day give out the delicate perfume of this wood. The main room on the first floor is low, with heavy rough-hewn timbers supporting the floor above, and is known, and has been for a century, as "the room with seven doors and one window." On one side is a huge open fire-place big enough to roast an ox, and on the hearth-stone of which one can look up through the tall chimney and see the sky above. When the news of the battle of Yorktown and surrender of Cornwallis reach-to-day just as it did then, is a quaint builded England, the government seemed paralyzed. Lord Germain took it to Lord North, the Prime Minister, and when asked how the latter received it, replied, “As he would a bullet in his heart." Flinging up his arms, he strode backward and forward across his apartment, exclaiming, "Oh God, it is all over! oh God, it is all over!-it is all over!" Parliament met two days after, and the strength of the opposition showed that in all probability it was all over. The news of this state of things did not reach this country till winter, and so, as soon as spring opened, Washington, leaving Rochambeau to protect New Jersey, joined the American army which had been ordered to march to Newburgh. With the army of Cornwallis gone, Sir Henry Clinton, shut up in New York, was in a condition to effect nothing except with his ships up the Hudson. This river, therefore, must be protected at all hazards, for, if hostilities should be resumed, its possession by the Some three miles south, back on the high ground, were the head-quarters of Knox and Greene, a house apparently modelled in its exterior after that occupied by Washington. Those of most of the other generals were strung along on a ridge opposite the slope on which lay Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by Harper and Brothers, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. VOL. LXVII.-No. 401.-41 ENTRANCE TO WASHINGTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS. encamped the army in huts. Wayne's was to the north of Newburgh. Thus it will be seen that Washington's head-quarters, situated on a bluff sloping down to the river, was to the other head-quarters and to the army like the pivot of the diverging rays of a fan. No arrangement could be better for the speedy dispatch of orders to every part of the army. The history of the army during the year and a half it lay here may be divided into two parts first the year of leisure, idleness, and comparative indifference, and the last six months of excitement, filled with great events until the army disbanded. Of course as the prospects of peace brightened, the strict discipline of the army relaxed, and the intercourse of the army with the people grew more intimate, and hence the domestic life of Washington and the-officers became better known. Consequently many incidents of a private, social character have been handed down by tradition. It is only a few years since two men, one a major in the artillery, and the other a member of Washington's LifeGuard, both nearly a hundred years old, died a few miles back of Newburgh, one of whom has grandchildren still living in the old homestead. As to Washington, the routine of his life here furnished but little incident. His breakfast was a very informal meal, after which he ordered up his horse, and, attended by an orderly or his negro servant Bill, rode over to the head-quarters of some of his generals. His lunch was free to all of his officers, but the dinner at five was a very formal affair, and every guest was expected to appear in full dress. If the guests had not all arrived at the precise hour, he waited five minutes to allow for the variation in the watches, and then would sit down to the table. The chaplain, if present, would say grace; if not, then Washington would say it himself, he and all the guests standing. If Hamilton was present he did the honors of the table; if not, then one of the aides-de-camp. The dinner usually consisted of three courses-meat and vegetables, followed by some kind of pastry, and last hickory-nuts and apples, of which Washington was very fond. The meal lasted about two hours, when the table was cleared off, and the leaves taken out so as to allow it to be shut up in a circle, when Mrs. Washington presided, and from her own silver tea service served the guests with tea and coffee, which were handed round by black servants. Supper was at nine, and the table remained spread till eleven. It consisted of three or four light dishes, with fruit and walnuts. When the cloth was removed each guest in turn was called on for a toast, which was drank by all, followed by conversation, toasts, and general conviviality. General Chastellux, a member of the French Academy, who came out with Rochambeau as his aide, with the rank of major-general, travelled over the country, and published an account of his travels. In this he speaks of his visits to Washington, and describes these entertainments as delightful, and says that "General Washington toasted and conversed all the while," and adds, "The nuts are served half open, and the company are never done eating and picking them." Washington entertained a great deal. Not only French officers, but the leading statesmen of the country visited him to consult on the state of affairs. Baron Steuben's head-quarters were on the Fishkill side of the river, and he frequently came over to drill the Life-Guard in military tactics, with a view of making officers of them, should the war continue. Their encampment was just back of headquarters. On these occasions he was accustomed to dine with Washington. Once several guests were present, and among them Robert Morris, who had come up to consult with Washington about the state of the finances. During the dinner he spoke very bitterly of the bankrupt condition of the Treasury, and his utter inability to replenish it, when Steuben said, "Why, are you not financier? Why do you not create funds?" "I have done all I can," replied Morris, "and it is impossible for me to do more." "What!" said the baron; "you remain financier without finances? Then I do not think you as honest a man as my cook. He came to me one day at Valley Forge, and said, 'Baron, I am your cook, and you have nothing to cook but a piece of lean beef, which is hung up by a string before the fire. Your wagoner can turn the string, and do as well as I can. You have promised me ten dollars a month; but as you have nothing to cook, I wish to be discharged, and not longer be chargeable to you.' That is an honest fellow, Morris." |