lOeeKly gftemawa JUmertcan-
VOL. 13 DECEMBER 9, 1910 NO. 22
Washington's Adieu.
On the second day of July, 1775, Gen
eral Washington arrived in Cambridge,
Mass. accompanied by Major General
Lee, his next in command, and other
officers, and established headquarters in
the mansion subsequently occupied by
Longfellow. About 9 o'clock on the
morning of the following day, attended
by a suitable escort, he proceded from
his headquarters to a great elm tree near
Harvard College. Here the Continental
forces were drawn up in military order.
Under the shadow of the tree Washing
ton drew his sword as commander in
chief of the American army, declaring
that it should never be sheathed until
the liberties of his country were estab
lished How completely he kept his word is
known to every one. When the war was
brought to a close in the autumn of 1781
the work he had set out to accomplish
was done. But two years more were to
elapse before the treaty of peace was
signed, and during that period Washing
ton gave still further illustration of his
disinterested patriotism and of his politi
cal wisdom rnd foresight
Finally the day came for Washington
to take leave of his army, October 18,
1783. For the last time he assembled
them at Newburgh, N. Y., when he rode
out on the field and gave them one of
those paternal addresses which so emin
ently characterized his relationship with
his army. To the tune of "Roslin Castle"
the soldiers' dirge- his brave comrades
passed slowly by their great leader and
riled away to their respective homes. It
was a thrilling scene.
They were gray haired soldiers, who
had grown old by hardships and expos
ures, and too old to begin anew.
Tears coursed freely the furrowed cheek3
of these veterans. As Washington look
ed upon them for the last time he said:
"1 am growing old in my country's service
and losing my sight, but 1 never doubted
its justice or gratitude." Even on the
rudest and roughest of the . soldiery the
effect of his parting language was ir
resistible. But his final leave of everything con
nected with his military life was taken
on December 4, 1783, at Fraunces' Tav
ern, New York city. Here he had re
quested his officers in full uniform to as
semble. On entering the room, and find
ing himself surrouuded by his old compan-
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