A VISIT TO WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS

A VISIT TO WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS.

BY GEN-AL W. H. CARTER. UNITED

STATES

ARMY.

WRING the years 1780-81-82, the Marquisde Chastellux, D a member of the French Academy and a major general in the French army, serving under Count de Rochambeau, made a tour of the colonies from New England to the James River in Virginia. His description of his experiences were translated and published. The Marquis enjoyed the friendship of Washington, who continued to correspond with him for some time after the former’s return to France. There are many deiails of colonial and army life in this book of travels, some extracts from which may be of interest at the present time. After a visit of inspection to West Point and the defenses of the Highlands, he made his way through New Jersey to Washington’s headquarters, where he arrived as a dinner party of the General’s were about to quit the table. Instruc. tions were immediately given for the following day in order that the Marquis might see the army which was about to march to winter quarters. “Whilst we were at breakfast, horses were brought, and General Washington gave orders for the army to get under arms at the head of the camp. The weather *as very bad, and it had already began raining ; we waited half an hour ; but the General, seeing that it was more likely to increase than dimiaish, determined to get on horseback. Two horses were brought him, which were a present from the State of Virginia; he mounted one himself, and gave me the other. Mr. Lynch and Mr. de Montesquieu, had each of them, also, a very handsome blood horse, such as we could not find at Newport for any money. We repaired to the artillery - Let him tell his own story : I -... .

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431 camp, where General Knox received us; the artillery was numerous, and the gunners, in very fine order, were formed in parade, in the foreign manner ; that is, each gunner at his battery, and ready to fire. The General was so good as to apologize to me for the cannon’ not firing to salute me ; he said, that having put all the troops on the other side of the river in motion, and apprised them that he might himself march along the right bank, he was afraid of giving the alarm, and of deceiving the detachments that were out. “We gained at length, t.he right of the army, where we saw the Pennsylvania line ; it was composed of two brigades, each forming three battalions, without reckoning the light infantry, which were detached with the Marquis de la Fayette. General Wayne, who commanded it, was on horseback, as well as the brigadiers and colonels. They were all well mounted ; the officers also had 8 very military air; they were well ranged, and saluted very gracefully. Each brigade had a band of music ; the march they were then playing was the Huron. I knew that this line, though in want of many things, was the best clothed in the army ; so that His Excellency asking me whether I would proceed and see the whole army, or go by the shortest road to the camp of the Marquis, I accepted the latter proposal. The troops ought to thank me for it, for the rain was falling with redoubled force ; they were dismissed. therefore, and we arrived heartily wet at the Marquis de la Fayette’s quarters, where I warmed myself with great pleasure, partaking from time to time of a large bowl of grog, which is stationary on his table, and is presented to every officer who enters. The rain appearing to cease, or inclined to cease for a moment, we availed ourselves of the opportunity to follow His Excellency to the camp of the Marquis. We found all his troops in order of battle on the heights to the left, and himself at their head, expressing by his air and countenance that he was happier in receiving me there than at his estate in Auvergne. The confidence and attachment of the troops are for him invaluable possessions, well acquired riches, of which nobody can deprive him ; but what, in my opinion, is still more flattering for a young man of his age, is the influence and con .

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sideration he has acquired among the political, as well as the military order; I do not fear contradiction when I say that private letters from him have frequently produced more effect on some States than the strongest exhortations of the Congress. O n seeing him, one is at a loss which most to admire, that so young a man as he should have given such eminent proofs of talents, or that a man sg tried ,should give hopes of so long a career of glory. Fortunate his country if she knows how to avail herself of them ; more fortunate still should she stand in no need of calling them into exertion ! “I distinguished with pleasure among the colonels, who were extremely well mounted, and who saluted with great grace, M. de Gimat, a French officer, over whom I claim the right of a sort of military paternity, having brought him up in my regiment from his earliest youth. This whole vanguard consisted of six battalions, forming two brigades ; but there was only one piquet of dragoons or light cavalry, the remainder having marched to the southward with Colonel Lee. These dragoons are perfectly well mounted, ancl do not fear meeting the English dragoons, over whom they have gained several advantages; but they have never been numerous enough to form a solid and permanent body. The piquet that was kept with the army served then as an escort to the provost marshal, and performed the functions of the Marechaussee, until the establishment of a regular one, which was intended. The rain spared us no more at the camp of the Marquis than at that of the main army; so that our review being finished, I saw with pleasure General Washington set off in a gallop to regain his quarters. We reached them as soon as the badness of the roads would permit us. At our return we found a good dinner ready, and about twenty guests, among whom were Generals Howe and Sinclair. The repast was in the English fashion, consisting of eight or ten large dishes of butcher’s meat, and poultry, with vegetables of several sorts, followed by a second course of pastry, comprised under the two denominations of pies and puddings. After this the cloth was taken off, and apples and a great L a . I

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433 quantity of nuts were served, which General Washington usually continues eating for two hours, toasting and conversing all the time. These nuts are small and dry, and have so hard a shell (hickory nuts) that they can only be broken by the hammer; they are served half open, and the company are never done picking and eating them. The conversation was calm ancl agreeable ; His Excellency was pleased to enter with me into the particulars of some of the principal operations of the war, but always with a modesty and conciseness which proved that it was from pure complaisance he mentioned it. About half past seven we rose from table, and immediately the servants came to shorten it and convert it into a round one ; for at dinner it was placed diagonally to give more room. I was surprised at this maneuver, and asked the reason of it; I was told they were going to lav the cloth for supper. In half an hour I retirid to my chamber, fearing lest the General might have business, and that he remained in company only on my account; but at the end of another half hour I was informed that His Excellency expected me at supper. I returned to the dining room, protesting against this supper ; but the General told me he was accustomed to take something in the evening; that if I would be seated I should only eat some fruit and assist in the con. versation. I desired nothing better, for there were then no strangers, and nobody remained but the General’s family. The supper was composed of three or four light dishes, some fruit, and above all, a great abundance of nuts, which were as well received in the evening as at dinner. T h e cloth being soon removed, a few bottles of good claret and madeira were placed on the table. ‘.The weather being fair, on the 26th I got on horseback, after breakfasting with the General. He was so attentive as to give me the horse he rode on the day of my arrival, which I had greatly commended: I f o u d him as good as he is handsome; but abozze all, perfectly well broke, and well irnined, having a good rttouth, easy in hand, and stopping short in n gallop without bearing the bit. I mention these rntnute particulars because it is the Generuihintselfwho breaks all his own lwrses; and he is a very excellent and boid horseman, leaping the

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hiEhcst faces, adgoing extreme& quuk without standing upon his stirrwps, bearing on trSa brdle, or letting his horse inn wild, circumstances which our young men look upon as so essential a part of English horsemanship, that they would rather break a leg or an arm than renounce them. ‘’ Here would be the proper place to give the portrait of General Washington; but what can my testimony add to the idea already formed of-him? The continent of North America, from Boston to Charleston, is a great volume, every page of which presents his eulogium. I know, that having had the opportunity of a near inspection, and of closely observing him, some more particular details may be expected from me; but the strongesr characteristic of this respectable man is the perfect union which reigns between the physical and moral qualities which compose the individual; one alone will enable you to judge of all the rest. If you are presented with medals of Caesar, of Trajan, or Alexander, on examin. ing their features you will still be led to ask what was their stature, and the form of their persons; but if you discover, in a heap of ruins, the head or limb of an antique Apollo, be not curious about the other parts, but rest assured that they all were comformable to those of a god. Let not this comparison be attributed to enthusiasm! It is not my intention to exaggerate, I wish only to express the impression General Washington has left on my mind; the idea of a perfect whole, that cannot be the produce of enthusiasm, which rather would reject it, since the effect of proportion is to diminish the idea of greatness. Brave without temerity, laborious without ambition, generous without prodigality, noble without pride, virtuous without severity, he seems always to have confined himself within those limits, where the virtues, by clothing themselves in more lively but more changeable and doubtful colors, may be mistaken for faults. This is the seventh year that he has commanded the army, and that he has obeyed the Congress; more need not be said, especially in America, where they know how to appeciate all the merit contained in this simple fact. Let it be repeated that Conde was intrepid, Turenne prudent, Eugene adroit, Catinat disinterested. It is not thus that Washington 7

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486 will be characterized. It will be said of him. ut the endofa h g c a d war he had nothing with wkuh he couCdreproack himelf. If anything can be more marvelous than such a character, it is the unanimity of the public suffrages in his favor. Soldier, magistrate. people, all love and admire him; all speak of him in terms of tenderness and veneration. Does there then exist a virtue capable of restraining the injustice of mankind; or are glory and happiness too recently established in America, for envy to have deigned to pass the seas? “In speaking of this perfect whole of which General Washington furnishes the idea, I have not excluded exterior form. His stature is noble and lofty; he is well made and exactly proportioned; his physiognomy mild and agreeable, but such as to render it impossible to speak particularly of any of his features, so that in quitting him, you have only the recollection of a fine face. He has neither a grave nor a familiar air, his brow is sometimes marked with thought, but never with inquietude; in inspiring respect, he inspires con. fidence, and his smile is always the smile of benevolence. “But above all, it is in the midst of his general officers that it is interesting to behold him. General in a republic, he has not the imposing stateliness of a Marechal de France who gives the order; a hero in a republic, he excites another sort of respect, which seems to spring from the sole idea that the safety of each individual is attached to his person. As for the rest, I must observe on this occasion that the general o5cers of the American army have a very military and a very becoming carriage; that even all the officers, whose characters were brought into public view, unite much politeness to a great deal of capacity; that the headquarters of this army, in short, neither present the image of want nor inexperience. When one sees the battalion of the General’s guards encamped within the precincts of his house; nine wagons, destined to carry his baggage, ranged in his court; a great number of irooms taking care of very fine horses belonging to the general officers and their aids-de-camp; when one observes the perfect order that reigns within these precincts. where the guards are exactly stationed, and where the drums beat an alarm, and a particular retreat, one is A

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tempted to apply to the Americans what Pyrrhus said of the Romans.” The Marquis later visited Philadelphia, and describes a dinner at the \,,use of Chevalier de la Luzerne, French ambassador. Amongst those whom he met at dinner was ‘Colonel Laurens, An of Mr. Laurens, late President of Congress, and now a prisoner in the Tower of London; he speaks very good French, which is not surprising, as he was educated at Geneva, but it is to his honor, that being married in London, he should quit England to serve America. He has distinguished himself on several occasions, particularly at Germantown, where he was wounded.” To this the translator has added the following note : “Among the numerous traits that might be cited to do honor to this illustrious young man, so prematurely and unfortunately lost to his family and his country, the translator has selected the following, extracted from the journals of Congress: “THURSDAY, November 5 , 1778. -‘Resolved, ‘That John Laurens, Esq., aid-de-camp to General Washington, be presented with a Continental commission of lieutenant colonel, in testimony of the sense which Congress entertains of his patriotic and spirited services as a volunteer in the American army, and of his brave conduct in several actions, particularly in tbat of Rhode Island on the 29th of August last; and that General Washington be directed, whenever an opportunity shall offer, to give Lieutenant Colonel Laurens command agreeable to his rank.’ . “FRIDAY, November 6, 1778. “A letter of this day, from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens was read, expressing his gratitude for the unexpected honor which Congress was pleased to confer on him by the resolutions passed yesterday, and’the high satisfaction it would have afforded him could he have accepted it without injuring the rights of the officers in the line of the army, and doing an evident injustice to his colleagues in the family of the commander-in-chief ; that having been a spectator of F

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437 -. . .78 f the convulsions occasioned in the army by disputes of rank, he holds the tranquility of it too dear to be instrumental in disturbing it ; and. therefore, entreating Congress to suppress the resolve of yesterday, ordering him a commission of lieutenant colonel, and to accept his sincere thanks for the intended honor.’ Whereupon “Resoheti. That Congress highly approve the disinterested and patriotic principles upon which Lieutenant Colonel Laurens has declined to accept the promotion conferred on him by Congress.” It is a far cry from the Revolution to the War with Spain, and one is apt to say, in these iconoclastic days, that such things no longer occur, yet it is an established fact, at least in two cases known to the writer, that young men of merit and capacity, appointed to volunteer staff commissions in the war with Spain, presumably because their fathers were influential Senators, declined the appointments with the full consent and approval of their distinguished parents. It was a genuine privilege to have access, upon terms of intimacy, to those controlling the destinies of the colonies. It is also a privilege to have the opportunity to read the opinions of so distinguished a Frenchman upon our military system and the customs and manners of the Revolutionary period in the Colonies.

CHICAGO,

ILL., October 31. 1907. Editor Cavalry Journal: In reading Marquis de Chastellux’s journal of his travels I was impressed with certain parts which may be of interest to the youog officers, who must ever constitute the main support of the CAVALRY

JOURNAL.

When I was the editor I was sometimes puzzled for an article which would lend variety to the contents, and it is the memory of that fact which has led me to quote these extracts. Yours very truly.

W. H. CARTXR.