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1. George Washington, the illustrious commander of the American army, in the war of the revolution, and the first president of the United States, was the son of Augustine Washington, of Virginia, and born February 22d, 1732. His father dying when he was ten years of age, the care of his education devolved on his mother.

2. When Washington was young, the means of education were scanty and indifferent, and he had only common instruction in the usual branches of education; but it is said he made great proficiency in mathematics, and this qualified him for the office of surveyor, by which he laid the foundation of a large

estate.

3. At the age of fifteen, Washington solicited and obtained the place of a midshipman in the British navy; but he was induced to relinquish the place, and it is said, in obedience to his mother's wishes. Little is known of his course of life, or of his character, at this early period. But his cotemporaries have remarked, that he was grave and thoughtful; diligent and methodical in business; dignified in appearance, and honorable in his deportment. In his youth, he was a stranger to dissipa

tion.

4. At the age of nineteen, Washington was appointed an adjutant-general of Virginia, with the rank of major. At the age of twenty-one, he was dispatched by Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, with a letter to the French commander on the Ohio, remonstrating against his taking possession of territory within the colony of Virginia, and erecting forts to secure such pos. session. This duty he performed with fidelity.

5. The French commander, refusing to abandon his plans, and the French continuing their project of erecting a chain of fortresses, to defend and maintain their claim to the country west of the Alleghany mountains, the assembly of Virginia raised a regiment to defend the frontiers. Of this Colonel Fry was commander, and George Washington was lieutenant colonel.

6. Colonel Washington departed with two companions as far as a place called the Great Meadows, where he was informed, by friendly Indians, that the French were erecting fortifications at the forks of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, near where Pittsburg now stands. Colonel Washington surprised their camp, and took the party prisoners, except the commanding officer, who was killed.

7. Soon after this, Colonel Fry died, and the command of the troops devolved on Colonel Washington, who stationed them, with some reinforcements, at the Great Meadows, where a stockade was erected, and called Fort Necessity. Here the French forces attacked the Americans, who fought with great bravery; Colonel Washington exposing himself on the outside of the fort, and conducting the defense with intrepidity.

8. The superiority of the French forces compelled Colonel Washington to surrender, but upon honorable terms; the garrison marching out with the honors of war, retaining their arms and baggage, and having permission to march unmolested into the inhabited parts of Virginia. The assembly voted thanks to Colonel Washington, and the troops under his command.

9. In 1755, Great Britain sent two British regiments to maintain the claims of the crown, and expel the French from the territory in dispute. These were commanded by General Braddock, who invited Colonel Washington to serve with him as a volunteer aiddecamp. This invitation was accepted, and General Braddock advanced into the wilderness.

10. By advice of Colonel Washington, General Braddock left his heavy artillery and baggage behind, and advanced with twelve hundred men, in hopes to reach the French fort while weak, and before reinforcements should arrive. These troops were delayed by obstructions and want of bridges; and Colonel. Washington being indisposed, was left at the Great Meadows. 11. As soon as Colonel Washington had recovered, he pro

ceeded and joined the advanced detachment. But after Braddock had crossed the Monongahela, and but a few miles from the fort, the French and Indians attacked his troops, who had nothing to defend them from the enemy's fire, and a great slaughter ensued. In a short time, Col. Washington was the only aiddecamp left alive and not wounded.

12. Colonel Washington was now the only officer to convey orders from the general, and he traversed the field of battle in all directions. He had two horses shot under him, and four balls passed through his coat; but he escaped unhurt, though every other officer on horseback was killed or wounded. Providence preserved him for a more exalted station, and more important services.

13. General Braddock conducted himself with great bravery, and by his example, encouraged his troops to stand their ground; but valor was useless against enemies covered by woods. At last the general, who had three horses shot under him, received a wound, of which he died in a few days after the battle. On the fall of Braddock, the troops gave way, and could not be rallied till they had crossed the Monongahela.

14. In this fatal battle, sixty-four officers, out of eighty-five, were killed or wounded, and of three Virginia companies, scarcely thirty men remained alive. The intrepid and prudent conduct of Washington, in this affair, served to exalt his reputation, and contributed to increase that public confidence in his military talents, which afterwards raised him to the supreme command of the American army.

15. The defeat of General Braddock left the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia exposed to continual depredations. The Virginia assembly determined to raise a regiment of sixteen companies, and appointed Colonel Washington to the command. He visited the frontiers, where he found posts, but no soldiers. Parties of French and Indians made incursions into the back settlements, murdering and capturing women and children, burning houses, and destroying crops.

16. In this distressed situation, Col. Washington attempted to raise an adequate force to defend the settlements; but this was not practicable, as Virginia alone had more than three hundred miles of frontier. The people looked to Washington for protection which he could not afford. Their distresses affected him so, that he observed, in a letter to the governor, "I could offer myself a willing sacrifice to the butchering enemy, if I could contribute to their relief."

17. In this state things remained till the year 1758, when a force was ordered to drive the French from the fort at the forks of the Monongahela. This force was delayed, so that it did not arrive till November, when it was discovered that the fort

was abandoned. The success of the English troops in the north, prevented the French from supplying the fort with an adequate number of men, and our troops took possession of it. In this year terminated the career of Colonel Washington, as a provincial officer.

18. When the United Colonies, in 1775, had determined to resist the British claims of unconditional submission, Colonel Washington, who was a member of the first congress, was unanimously appointed to the chief command of the American army. He accepted the office with great diffidence, acknowledging his consciousness of his want of abilities equal to the important trust. At the same time he declined any pecuniary compensation for his services: he desired only that his expenses might be defrayed by the public.

19. General Washington immediately entered on the duties of his office, and repaired to the army, then lying in the vicinity of Boston. As he proceeded on his journey, he was every where treated with the utmost attention and respect. He lodged one night at New-Haven. In the morning, before leaving the town, he and General Lee, who was in company, were invited into the college-yard, to witness the military exercises of a large company of students, who were training for service.

20. The manual exercises of this body of fine active young men, were performed with such precision, as to gratify and astonish the generals, and to extort from General Lee a violent exclamation of wonder. After these exercises, the company escorted the general as far as Neck Bridge, accompanied by a great body of citizens.

21. When the general arrived at Cambridge, he was received with the joyful acclamations of the army. But he found the army destitute of many things necessary for active operations. They were destitute of bayonets, and had a very small quantity of powder, not more than nine rounds to a man; nor were the troops duly organized into brigades and regiments, or well-disciplined. General Washington took the most vigorous measures to remedy these defects, and to supply deficiencies.

22. From the year 1775, to the close of the war, and the establishment of the independence of the United States, General Washington commanded the American army; and under the most distressing and discouraging circumstances, manifested the most determined resolution, fortitude, and intrepidity. When the army were destitute of food or clothing, he sympathized with them in their sufferings; when mutinous, for want of pay, he interposed his authority, tempered their passions, encouraged their hopes, and reduced them to subordination. 23. After a long series of military events, the surrender of the British army, under Cornwallis, at Yorktown, in Virginia,

in October, 1781, brought the war to a glorious issue. The army, however, was not disbanded till 1783, after the negotiations for peace, between the powers at war. The army returned to the banks of the Hudson, where they remained till the British troops had withdrawn from New York.

24. In November, 1783, the British army evacuated New York, and General Washington entered the city, where he was received with every mark of respect.

25. It now became necessary for the general to take leave of the army, and the manner of his taking leave of his officers was no less affecting than solemn. Having assembled the officers, be called for a glass of wine, and thus addressed them: "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."

26. Having drank, the general added, "I cannot come to each of you, to take my leave, but shall be obliged to you, if each will come and take me by the hand." General Knox, who was next to him, turned, and being incapable of utterance, General Washington grasped his hand, and embraced him. In like manner, each officer came, and he thus took an affectionate leave; but not a word was uttered on either side. A solemn silence prevailed. Tears of sensibility glistened in every eye. The tenderness of the scene exceeded all description.

27. The army being disbanded, General Washington proceeded to Annapolis, in Maryland, then the seat of congress, for the purpose of resigning his commission. On his way, he delivered to the controller of accounts, in Philadelphia, a statement of the expenditure of all the public money that had passed through his hands. His accounts were all in his own handwriting, and nothing was charged for personal services.

28. When the general appeared before congress, he was received as the founder of the American republic; every eye gazed upon the illustrious citizen; every heart was swelled with emotions of joy and gratitude; tears flowed from every eye; nor did the hero suppress the manly tear. After a decent pause, the general rose and addressed the president, Thomas Mifflin, congratulating congress on the termination of the contest; and, resigning his commission into the hands of the president, commended the interests of his country to the protection of Almighty God.

29. The president replied in the most respectful and affec tionate terms, expressing the high sense which congress entertained of the wisdom, prudence, and military talents, which the general had displayed; uniting with him in commending the interests of the country to Almighty God, and addressing to

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