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- V 5? 4 - . - ' And North-Carolina State Gazette, No. 20. BALEIGIL; (N. C.) FRIDAY; -3AY 17, 1816. Vol; VIII. T Thi BIOGRAPIIX From tkt dwurican Magazine. ssKTci or tbk tire or TRK LATE BARON STEUBEN. (COXCLCDKD.) General Greene said well, thai the fate of Vir ginia, depended on the success of our anus in the CaroUnas. That success wu Tery near the TUron! heart i he had a personal attachment to Gen. Greene, and the highest respect for his ta leuti i and certainly he exerted himself to the utmost to fulfil hit engagements with him ; though be soon felt that he did his duty at the expense hfhis Popularity. It could not be pleasant to the Virginian to see, in such a time of danger, their defences lessening every uay . n or aia uie Baron' zeal permit him, on -every occasion, to act with that mildness and caution, o necessary tn be observed by military commanders, in a re rmbm and among free citizens. Men sufficient to form a moment had, with much pauis, been railected together at Chesterfield court-house. The corns was paraded, and on the point of marching, when a well looking man, on horse back, and as it appeared, his servant, on another, rode un and introducing himself, informed the Baron that he had brought him a recruit. I thank you, sir, said the Baron, with all mv heart ; you have arrived iu a happy moment ! Vhere is four man, Colonel? for tie was a colonel iu the militia Here, sir. ordering his boy to dismount The Baron's countenance altered 5 w e saw, and feared the approaching storm A sergeant was ordered to measure the lad, whose shoes, when off, discovered something: by which his stature had been increased. The 'Baron patting the child's head, with his hand trembling with rage asked him Bow old he was? He was very young, quite a child. Sir, said he, to the man, you must have supposed me to be a rascal 1 Oh! no, Ba ron, I did not. Then, sir, I suppose you to be a rascal, an infamous rascal thus to attempt to cheat your country. l ake oil tl is fellow's spurs place him in the ranks; and tell Gen. Greene, from me, Col. Gaskins, that I have sent him a nan, able to serve, instead of an infant, whom he would basely have made his substitute ! Go, bit bov. take the Colonel's spurs and horses to his wife ; make my compliments, and say her husband has gone to tight tor the ireeaom 01 nis country, as an honest man should do. 1 By pla toons 1 to the rhht wheel ! forward march ! Co lonel Gaskins, fearing the consequence, let the man escape, on the arrival of the corps at the ri vir Roanoke: nor was he tardy in returning and maki.t application to the civil authority for reurcss. oui uovernor jenerspn, jur. raauison and other gentlemen of the council not doubt ifig the jwrity of the Baron's motive, and fully appreciating his honest zeal, prevented any dis agreeable results attending this high handed ex ertion of military power. When Arnold landed in Virginia, there was nothing to oppose him ; a few militia hastily called together, and a troop of Armand's cavalry, mutinous for want, of pay, and every necessary, were the whole force. A feeble attempt was made, at a pass near James' "River, to oppose his progress, but without effect. He marched on, and civil and military scattered before him. After destroying a d stealing what ver there was time and opportunity to steal and destroy, he retreated towards his vessels. Phi lips arrived with reinforcements, and marched to wards the capital; a few more militia were -col -4 lected ; a show of resistance was made at Peters burgh, by the Baron ; some lives lost and a re treat ordeied. The Legislature, with the public functionaries, had ;one to Charlotteville, near the mountains. The Baron followed in their rear to the Point of Fork, many mile9 above Richmond, where the arsenal of the state had been placed. as in a state of jerfi.ct security. Notice, was, however, soon given that Simcoe and . Tarleton Were advancing. One of the Baron's aids-decamp was made prisoner. The artillery apd wires were cineny saved, by being crossed over the river, Tarleton, -missing his stroke at the Baron, pushed on to Charlotteville. The Go vernor and Legislature fled, and it would have aecn the height o! lollv to hav? remained. Mr fferson, has not been dealt fairly with, for his ' conduct on that occasion There was nothing to protect him, or them, and it would not have been V mark, either of patriotism, or of common sense, r courage, to have thrown himself into the arms f the enemy. It is true, the Baron had. at this time, cotle?tedibmrt-S0 militia, iH-recottect nf - ami 1 Vi4rA Una rnfVir Kfkfl xr rf 4 Via l a " kind of troops, under" 'a General Lawson, some " 70 miles distant The Baron's men, I know, were barefooted, badly armed, and totally lgno- at of almost every tning which- a soldier should know. - ' ' ' ' enemy, after doing dl the mischief in their towers retired from the upper Country. Corn- pallia had. arrived from the southward ; and the Alarquis de la Fayette, with a respectable forced from the northwards The Bacon had no.desira to put himself iindr the command of this officer, hose rank, In Europe, had been that of lieute- n&nt Only, and for vbnm h tn4rtinH nn rnr. mand of a division and was fortunate in reeeiv- j ing (he first overtarea of Iord ComwiUi, daring I bis tour of duty, in the trenches. At the reliev ing hour, next morning, toe Marquis approached with hit division the Baron refused to be reliev ed, assigning as a reason, the etiquette in Europe; that the offer to capitulate had been made during his7 guard, and that it was a point of honor, of which he would not deprive his troops, to remain f n the trenches till the capitulation was signed, or hostilities re-commenced. The dispute was referred to the Commander in Chief the Baron remained until the British flax was stmckw Vayne was with him The fact is fixed in my memory by a circumstance that happened at the time 1 shell, thrown from -the enemy.-fell near htm 1 the Baron threw himself into the trench- Wayne, in the jeopardy and hurry or the moment,' fell on hint $ the Baron, turning bis eyes saw it was his Brigadier I always knew you were brave, Qeheral, said he, hut I did not know that too Were m perfect u every poiotnf duty'l 'ion cover jir uesverat v reueai, id ue oesi manner merits. On all proper occasions, Congress was urged in his behalf nd from time to time he re-. ceivea ot money rood ana Ma, suras, wmcn some narrow aainaed men, thought much too large. Elbridge Gerry and I state it with plea lure, was always liberal in his behalf. Would to Heaven, that Mr. Gore's efforts, in favor of that reroletionary patriot's poor wife and children, had been ssccessfiilv. But what sums, how much, coald have been enough for one, who searched a round for worthy objects, whose wants might be relieved ? Never did a review, or an inspection pass withovt rewards in money, to soldiers, whose arms were in the highest' order. Never was his table unfilled with guests, if furnished With provisions. Officers of rank, men most pro e st out 1 pon a world, long since h i them f jrgot e i. Severed from friends, and all, the oy air griff which soldiers feel ! Griefs, while nope remain edwhen shared by numbers, almost joysfTt go in silence. And alone, and poor and hopeless; ' It was too. hard ! On that sad day how tnaay, hearts were wrung 1 I saw' it all, nor will the" scene be ever blurred or blotted from my view. To a stern old officer, a Lieut. Colonel Cochran," from the Green Mon ntaiim- -ivlio n.uM.r and difficulty almost in every step, from his youth, Z j and on whose furrowed visage, a tear until thai moment had never fallen ; the good Baron said-.' , what could he said, to lessen deep distress ! For myself, said Cochran, I care not, I can stand it f but my wife and deighters are id Hie garret op I uai wrcicnea tavern k- anow not where to re iiM minent for knowledge and attention to their duty. were marked for invitation t but the rentlemen 1 move.iiorhave I meanafor tlieir remrtTL rom.:: of his family were desired to complete the list ' my friend, said the Bareptet as go I will par, with others of inferior Tde j poor fellows, said my respects to Mrs. Cochran and yoor daughters ' he,. Sierras ttld offissrs stomachs, without, if you please. I followed to the loft, -the lower their ratio- in the society of ladies, the Ba- nKms beinz ail filled with ioidira.i:ikimn v. I ron apneared. otkTtAt adTanUze. He encased neks, despair and'-Uasnhemr. Arl ' kn possible. ' ''The-ciptare of Lord . Cornwallis, clos-1 in thei-amasements.ld bj his wit and plea Baron left thwporntap eastuways he left' ed the- campaign. The Baron returned to the j stntrr, the delights of the evening were increase Hope with them,hnd all hehad torive. black ' norinwara ana remainea wim uie army, conxin-1 cu. iiis-siern looaanu icuiyriu voice were on- man, wiui wounus:onneaieu, wept on tfie wharf ually 'employed, till the peace in perfecting its ? ly for the. field. Ahi said an oldtaan who had ' (for it was at Newburj-where . this tragedy was discipline: and indeed, the army arrived at an : been a captain, and thenin 1786, kept a public ' acting) there was .4 vessel in the stream, bound 1 high point of knowledge. The adroitness, and j house, near Utica,hpw glad I am to see you, Ba-' to the place where he once had friends. He had' ' above all, the silence, With which manoeuvres ! ron, in ray house t but I used to be dreadfully a- not a dollar with which to pay hisoassaffe. and hV 1 1 At A I A AT B U r V .3 W L . II ' I J . 1 1IFI f m n I were performed, was remarked with astonishment fraid of 70U i How so, Captain P . You hallooed by the officers of the French army. The Marquis de la Val de Montmorency, said to the Baron, I admire the celerity and exactitude with which your men perform; but what I cannot conceive, is, the profound silence with which they manoeu vre I I do'nt know, Mobs, le Marquis, from whence noise should proceed, when even my Bri gadiers dare not open their mouths, but to repeat the order. Aht hal Mons. General, vociferates the Marquis, Jevous comprend, Jevoui comprend. The French troops were exceedingly loud in their evolutions and marches, and Mons. la Val, at all times louder than the rest. On a subsequent occasion, designed to show the high degree of expertness at which our officers and soldiers had arrived, when an intended grand exhibition had been postponed in consequence of and swore, and looked so dreadfully at me once, Baron, that I shall never forget it. O fie, fie, done Captain. It was bad to be sure, said he, but you did halloo most tremendously ! Not withstanding the bodily fear the Captain had been put in, his look and actions shewed, that there was not a man on earth whom he would have been more rejoiced to see at his table. It is true, the Baron was rough as the oeean in a storm, when great faults were committed ; but if, in a sudden gust of passion, he had injured, the redress was ample. 1 recollect, that at a re view near MerriBtown, a Lieutenant Gibbons, a brave and good officer, was arrested on the spot, and ordered into the rear, for a fault, which it af terwards appeared another had committed. At a proper moment, the commander of the regiment a violent storm, the Baron was asked by one of came forward and informed the Baron of Mr. the French Generals, who, with others, had re-1 Gibbons' innocence, of his worth, and of his a- retired with him to his marquee,, what manoeu vres he had intended to perform ? The General was informed, but with a non cWance, calculat ed to induce a belief that was the first moment the business had been thought on. Yes, said the French Chief, I have seen, particularly -the last you mentioned, by the Prussians, in Silesia, but with a very complex addition, which he explained. Yes, answered the Baron,' but you will 'recollect, General, that we are not quite Prussians. Cesl vraiy test vrai, metis avec U temps, said the Gene ral. After his guests had retired, the Baron muttered, cest ai, cest vrai, avec le temps! I I will let these Frenchmen know, that we ean do, what the Prussians can, and what their army can not do. Get the order for review, said he, to one of his aids, set down and add as I dictate I will save those gentlemen who have not been in Sile sia, the trouble of going there They may come to Vemlanck's Point, next week, for instruction. with fieir avec la temps ! They came, Chiefs av d Subalterns, on horseback and on foot, for their encampment was but a few miles off, and every thing was done in the finest style, to their real or pretended admiration. Alas! when I think cf time nast. of that dav. and look to that emi nence, on which General Washington's marquee was pitched, in front of which stood that great man, 111 m in the consciousness ot virtue, sur rounded by French Nobles, and the Chiefs of his own army ; when I cast roy eyes, then lighted up with soldierly ambition, hope and joy, alon that lengthened -line, my brothers all ! endeare by ties made strong by full communion in many a miserable, many a joyous hour, my heart sinks at the view ! Who, how few, of all that brilliant host, is left; those few now tottering oh the ton fines of the grave ! The Baron's tent, that day, was filled, and more than filled, with French men. I am glad, said he, to pay some part of the dinner debt, we owe our allies. At the siege of York, or rather immediately afterwards, he sold such part of his camp equipage, brought from Eu rope, as was of silver, that he might give a feast. I can stand it no longer, said he, we are contin ually dining with those people, and cute feelings under this unmerited disgrace. De sire Lieutenant Gibbons to come to the front, Colonel. Sir, said the Baron, to the young gen tleman, the fault which was made, by throwing the line into confusion, might, in the presence of an enemy, have been fatal. I arrested you as its supposed author, but I have reason to -believe that I was mistaken, and that in this instance you were blameless : I ask your pardon; -return to vour omm&ncUI would not deal uniustlv bv any. much less by one whose character, as an ofiT- cer,is so respeotablAll this" passed with the Baron's hat oft, the rain pouring on his reverend head ! Do you think there was an officer, a soldier who saw it, unmoved with affection and respect r Not one. Though never perfectly master of our lan guage, the Baron understood and Bpoke it with sufficient correctness He would sometimes of purpose miscall names, and blend or adopt words similar in sound, dissimilar in meaning. Dining at Head Quarters, which he did frequently, Mrs. Washington asked what amusement he had re course to now that the certainty of peace had re laxed his labours ? I read, my lady, and write, and play chess, and yesterday, for the first time, I went a fishing. My gentlemen told me it was a very fine business to catch fish, and I did not know but that this new trade might, by and by, be useful to me but I fear I never can succeed I sat in the boat three hours, it was exceedingly warm, and I caught only two fish ; they told me it was fine sport. What kind of fish did you take Baron ? I am not sure my lady, but I think one of them was a whale. A whale, Baron, in the North River ! Yes, I assure you, a very fine whale, my Lady It was a whale, was it not? appealing to one of his Aids. An eel, Baron. I beg your pardon, my Lady, but that Gentleman certainly told me that it was a whale. General Washington, now that his mind was comparative ly at ease, enjoyed a pleasantry of this kind high ly. I have seen him laugh with all his heart, at Doctor Thomas's story of the Yankee, hi9 counr tryman, who had journied from Taunton, to see Count Rofchambeau'8 army : The cursed fools . i t . r ! ; M 1 ft 1-. ; 11 ( 1 coutd not walk. Where found or borrowed V know not, but the Baron soon returned the ne rro hailed the sldop, and cried God'Almkht bless you, master Baron! 'v .. -v But why do I retail these scraps oft his beneyd 1 '.; lence, when all who knew him; and were worthy1 knew him as their friend. What toodandhono-; rable man, civil or military, before the'accuMei' party -spirit, murdered friendships, did not re- , , pect and love the Baron ! Wad' most f thofci who knew him best. ' ; ' It is time to quit these recolle&ionV: to'miiV most dear, to those whoknewhim not,perhafis,of : uiuv nui ui 11c avuuiq iu uie revolutionary war? 1 rvno . ran ft tVamiol...- .n..7i.JvAL tx J anecdotes oratory. After the retired to a farm in the vicinit rNew-VftriVJ liU. where, with forming a system for the orirantoatfnri v ..jj:. ! ..fn....n.i,( 1 -i.t-.s4 iu discipline of uie mu ma ooos,a, chess and - F nassed his time as aareeahlv m.4 ifra l - " h i 'rr , . J T7 - --l-"" ti l 01 iunas wouia permit. ;. , ' - i 1 he State of New-JerseyJiad given hih a small ' improved farm; and the statt spf New-York, theft under the administration of Governor CHnihr gave him a tract of sixteen thousand Acres of land m the county of Oneida ; and aftef the General1' uviuuiiKui was ui iu wicniuon, vnaerthe new 11 cannot cive a piece ot broat umrst in return they shall have ; wno cauea an nat a cnapeau ; wny couiu nt tney grand dinner, it 1 eat my soup with a wooden 1 can it nat at once ana aone wun it. v one spoon forever after The-Baron had a M share i At the house of the respectable Mrs. Livingston, 01 nonoraoie Dnae ne couiu noi receive wimoui' uiouieroi wie uib yimuwiuuwiren tiiiuc, u- a wish and hope to return. In thought and a' . lent and modest worth of every kind, met awel he was indeed most liberal and most kind. On ; come, the Baron was introduced to a Miss SheatT, the eve of returning to the northward, from Vir - aiat regard. With a body blotched all over, with fdueaseloj harrassed ni chagrined,,, he retired to Albemarle county, Where. fortiraiite in the Atic'iet nf iwo" or thrrt 8pectable'gentlemeii,1ie remained, until Ke was t .iormed by Gener'al Washinaton, of his approach w V irginia. : At the siege of York, (and he was, VI believe; the only 6fEfer in the American" army, ho had ever assisted at if siege,) hd had the com-' ginia, I must go, said he. toft sick aid-de-camp I must leave you, my son, but I leave you among a people where we have found the' door f every house wide opent where the heart of every fe male is full of tenderness and virtue. Quit this deleterious spot, the instant you are able there is my sulkey, and here is naif of what I have; God bless you, I can do no more. Nor eould he the feelings of friends in such a moment, and under such circumstances,' may possibly be con ceived, but not expressed. A jourry of three hundred miles was before him, a single piece of gold wins purse. Are other instances necessary to unfold the texture of his'' heart? how many have I, written fiin my own 1 There iyl trust a book in which they, everyone of them, are" enter ed , to the Credit of his account with heayeto. " Ge neral "Washington bad an high esteem for the Baron and was fully sensible i his worth and an amiable and interesting young lady. I am very happy, said he, in the honor Of being pre sented to you, Mademoiselle, though I see it is at an infinite risk : I have, from my youth, been cautioned to guard myself against mischief, but I had no idea that her attractions were so power ful. , . At the dishandment of the revolutionary army, when inmates of the same tent or iiut for seven long years, were separating, and. probably fore- ver ; grasping each other?s hand, in silent agony I saw the Baron's strong endeavors to throw some ray of sun-shine on the gloom, to mix some drop of cordial with the painful draught. To go, they knew not whither ; all recbllection of the art to thrive by . civil befcupations lost, or to the youthful never known. V Their hard earned milii tarv knowledge was then useless, and with their badgeof brotherhood, a mark at which to point the finger of saspicion-gnoble, vile suspicion ! to be constitution, by the exertions ofCdonel HamiT j ton, patronized and enforced by esidrot Washw ington, and a few liberal and powerful 'men in Congress, a grant of, two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, was made" him XoitAX r.vji! c,. After this, the summers were cMeflv snnl an hi A acres, it is true, were in the wilderness t butthev were his, and he was lord and blaster bf the toif He built a convenient log-hoijise, cleared sixty ' aiirs, jaii,ciicu out ius iauu ipa easy terms, '. to some twenty or thirty tenants-Wistribated ner ly a tenth or the tract in gifts tok his Aids-de-camp, and servants, and sat himself down, to acertald degree, contented, without sccietj, except that ' of a young gentleman who r feadto and with hjmi His farm and garden offered jhim gome pleasura-'V ble moments ; but his library1 was the chief iolacef n of the day. This state of inaction, was jmdoubt1 edly unfriendly to health He ate only at dinner, N but he ate with strong appetite. In cfrinkingfhd was always temperate ; indeed he was free from' every vicious habit. His powers' of, mind anaV body, were strong, and he had received, to ter' tain extent, a liberal education; His days were i uuuuuuicuij oiiui icucu uy ma seuenury motie 01 1 life. He was struck with an apoplexy, which iir a few hours was fatal. Would to God 1 hut. if i i- no matteiw.the little tim that parts us from'mnK . friends will soon be passed. Aweeabl to hi desire, often expressed, he was ' wrapped in hi cloak," placed in a plain coffin, and hid in the ' earth, without a stone to tell wher hd lies? A few neighbors, his servants, the ' young gentle- man his late cpmpanioni and one on whom, tor 15 mrs, his countenance never ceased to- beam With kindness, followed to the grave Tt wai intA ? thick and lonely wood; but in a few year's after a public highway was laid and opened hear,i or," over the hallowed sod ! Walker snitched the poor remains of his dear friend from sacrilegious yoiauon, ana gave a bounty to protect the grave t -in which he laid them, from rude and impious in-, V trusion;.-- " '-'v-- .AiAri''': Some" few years previous to-the Baron'a dea.th'j y a pious gentleman of the citjr of New-York, who ' had a great affection for him, told me, with strong marks of joy that they had passed the evening, ' ' and npajrt of last night together That the Baron : V confessed hisfuil belief in Jesus Christ, with lure , and certain bopev throueh him of a blessed irh mortality. From the life our dear friend has ledi - in I ilj I A - 1 i ' . . ... . f S . ...AH:. iu vamps auu luuie gay wona,saiq wegooaman, . o I feared ) and you do'nt know what Toy I feel, V M t. i AL.i. 'II T . u ..11 rf. ill : a. A . V : Ki . ; ' iu wic uciici iutb ne win neweu taut eiermzr r , : Hi ' - - - T ; ' LThe Baron was a member bf the Reformed Ger man Church in NewYork lie died in.1795, tfi !'. the sixty-fifth year of his age-''Vfi?" ;' v . i Bntit is time todoseand thusi; Sir? von fiaveV - I 'I '-r - t ,1:' these recollections hastily thrown together; with - all their imperfections, I ouldheyiwere: ii better form, and that thi Sketch were more l'Vvfi$Z, thy the memory of my benefactor and friends ' Many years have elapsed, and left their effect . , w r: :.v::-f -V,. A,-',' .(.-: 1 ' - ' -.-'-,, 4 i. 'i - tk
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
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