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THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 973.4-1 
 
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Return this book on or before the 
 Latest Date stamped below. A 
 charge is made on all overdue 
 books. 
 
 University of Illinois Library 
 
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 41 
 
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 j 
 
 George Washington 
 
 From a photograph of the famous Houdon bust at Mount Vernon 
 
 Official portrait of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission 
 
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASES 
 
 Relating to tne Life ana Time of 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON 
 
 As Prepared and Issued By the 
 
 UNITED STATES GEORGE WASHINGTON 
 BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION 
 
 VOL. I 
 
 ffi g imm of the 
 
 1 313 1932 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO 
 
THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION FOR THE 
 
 CELEBRATION OF THE TWO HUNDREDTH 
 
 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON 
 
 President of the United States 
 
 Chairman 
 
 Vice President of the United States 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives 
 
 united states senate 
 Simeon D. Fess Ohio. 
 
 Vice Chairman 
 
 Arthur Capper . Kansas. 
 
 Carter Glass Virginia. 
 
 Millard E. Tydings Maryland. 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 Willis C. Hawley Oregon. 
 
 John Q. Tilson Connecticut. 
 
 Joseph W. Byrns : Tennessee. 
 
 R. Walton Moore Virginia. 
 
 presidential commissioners 
 
 Mrs. Anthony Wayne Cook Pennsylvania. 
 
 Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman Colorado. 
 
 Henry Ford Michigan. 
 
 C. Bascom Slemp . . . . r Virginia. 
 
 Wallace McCamant Oregon. 
 
 Albert Bushnell Hart Massachusetts 
 
 George Eastman New York. 
 
 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 
 
 Representative Sol Bloom 
 
 historian 
 Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart 
 
V'l 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 George Washington Bicentennial Celebration in 1932 1 
 
 The George Washington Bicentennial 8 
 
 Plans for the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Celebration 15 
 
 Program Covers Wide Range 17 
 
 Unpublished Washington Letters 23 
 
 President Hoover Writes Foreword for "Writings of George 
 
 Washington" 26 
 
 Every State, City, and Town to Participate in the Nine 
 
 Months Bicentennial Celebration 31 
 
 Mr. Bloom Promises Cooperation 33 
 
 Massachusetts to Act as Host to Visitors in 1932 34 
 
 George de Benneville Keim Appointed New Jersey Chairman . 3 8 
 
 The Twelve George Washington Programs 40 
 
 Aid for Teachers in Bicentennial Work 42 
 
 Colleges Pleased with Washington Study Course 44 
 
 Educational Data on Washington 46 
 
 Make Washington Your Ideal 49 
 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 
 Offers Material to Libraries 50 
 
 Library Idea Liked 54 
 
 Plays and Pageants for Schools 5 5 
 
 Reliving Washington's Life in Pageantry 57 
 
 Music Associated With Washington 59 
 
 A George Washington Atlas 61 
 
 Blind of America Will Celebrate Washington's Bicentennial 65 
 
 Radio Programs to Play Important Part in 1932 Celebration 66 
 
 Committee to Select Official Picture of Washington 67 
 
 Artists to Submit Designs for Washington Quarter 72 
 
 Design of Quarter Dollar to be Changed in Commemoration 
 
 of George Washington 75 
 
 Original Washington Pictures to be Exhibited 77 
 
 Washington Pictures Available to Writers 80 
 
 Lasting Memorials to be Contributed by Government 82 
 
 Restoration of Wakefield 85 
 
 Wallpaper of Washington's Bedroom 88 
 
 Washington's Home Town 91 
 
 Yorktown Sesquicentennial Forerunner of Washington Bicen- 
 tennial 96 
 
 Engineering Memorial to Washington 99 
 
 Broadway Plans to Honor Washington 105 
 
 President Hoover Notified World's Greatest Suspension 
 
 Bridge Will be Named for George Washington 107 
 
 iii 
 
 821658 
 
iv Contents 
 
 Page 
 D. A. R. Approves Name of "George Washington Memorial 
 
 Bridge" for Hudson River Structure * 112 
 
 All America to Sing "America" 114 
 
 Society of the Cincinnati Will Honor Washington 116 
 
 War Mothers and George Washington 118 
 
 Scouts Distribute Mount Vernon Seeds 121 
 
 Listing Eighteenth Century Business 122 
 
 Helpful Suggestions 124 
 
 George Washington Bicentennial Celebration to be World- 
 Wide 128 
 
 France and United States to Honor Memory of Washington 
 
 at Paris Exposition 133 
 
 Plans are Started For Action Abroad 135 
 
 Other Nations Will Join in Honoring Washington 136 
 
 Latin America to Pay Homage During 1932 Celebration. ... 139 
 
 Foreign Cities Will Name Streets and Squares for Washington 143 
 
 Mount Vernon Walnut Seeds Planted Abroad 145 
 
 Americans Residing Abroad Organize for 1932 Events 146 
 
 Washington's Love for His Mother 150 
 
 George Washington Had to Overcome Obstacles as a Boy. . 154 
 
 Sea Voyage of Washington and Hoover 157 
 
 Washington Hunted Buffalo and Bear 159 
 
 Washington Hunted on Hoover Camp Site 160 
 
 Fort Necessity to be Rebuilt 161 
 
 Braddock's Defeat Brought Washington Fame as Fighter. ... 163 
 
 When Washington Ran for Office 165 
 
 George Washington Sees a Coal Mine 167 
 
 Declaration of Independence Hailed With Joy by Washington 171 
 
 Washington Elected Commander-in-Chief 174 
 
 That Glorious Christmas of '76 176 
 
 Washington's Only Fourth of July Address 181 
 
 Washington Assumed Command at Cambridge 184 
 
 That Winter at Valley Forge 186 
 
 Where Washington Crossed the Delaware 190 
 
 The Battle of Princeton 192 
 
 Washington Prevented Rout at Monmouth 196 
 
 How Washington Observed Christmas 199 
 
 British Fire Salute in Honor of Washington 204 
 
 Lee's Bravery Wins Washington's Praise 204 
 
 American Privateers Harass British During Revolutionary War 205 
 
 Battle of Kings Mountain 208 
 
 Washington and the Thirteenth Colony 211 
 
 Six Washington Birthdays Spent Near British Lines 214 
 
 General Washington's Important Headquarters 217 
 
Contents v 
 
 Page 
 
 Patriotic Farmers Eager to Join Army 221 
 
 Public Health In Washington's Day 222 
 
 Medical Care of Washington's Soldiers 227 
 
 Soldiers Placated by Washington 230 
 
 Washington Was the Father of West Point 231 
 
 Washington Grateful for Gifts to Soldiers 234 
 
 Tories Conspired to Kidnap Washington 235 
 
 Shortage of Powder 237 
 
 Washington Had Many Narrow Escapes 238 
 
 Washington's Victories Master Strokes 241 
 
 Washington Indignant at Suggestion He Become "King". ... 245 
 
 Famous Speech 247 
 
 When the Revolution Ended 249 
 
 German Colonial Patriots 401 
 
 The Swedes in the American Revolution 407 
 
 Irish Colonial Patriots 413 
 
 Jewish Colonial Patriots 423 
 
 Von Steuben Revived Ragged Continentals 430 
 
 Honoring Von Steuben's Memory 432 
 
 American Patriotism Amazed Rochambeau 43 5 
 
 Polish Hero's Birthday Recalls War Exploits 437 
 
 First Flag Was Not "Stars and Stripes" 439 
 
 Many Striking Designs 439 
 
 Call on Betsy Ross 441 
 
 Our Flag is 154 Years Old! 441 
 
 London Excited by First View of Ship Flying "Old Glory" . . 444 
 
 Robert Morris Helped War of '76 With Own Money 446 
 
 Alexander Hamilton's Achievements 450 
 
 General Israel Putnam's Exploits 454 
 
 The Patriotic Thomas Paine 459 
 
 Versatile Benjamin Franklin 464 
 
 Activities of Thomas Jefferson 468 
 
 Story of "Mad Anthony" Wayne 471 
 
 Paul Revere's Midnight Ride 477 
 
 The Story of Nathan Hale 481 
 
 John Jay — First Chief Justice. 485 
 
 Anniversary of Patrick Henry's Birth 489 
 
 Hamilton and Jefferson Traded Votes in Selecting Capital Site 492 
 
 James Monroe Wounded at Trenton 494 
 
 Birthday Anniversary of Madison 496 
 
 President Adams First to Occupy White House 499 
 
 When the British Left New York 251 
 
 Washington's Memorable Farewell 253 
 
 George Washington Resigns Commission 255 
 
vi Contents 
 
 Page 
 
 When Washington Became President 258 
 
 Washington's Last Visit to His Mother 262 
 
 The First Thanksgiving Proclamation 266 
 
 First President Did Not Fear Operation 270 
 
 Corner Stone of the Capital 271 
 
 Only Two Bills Vetoed by Washington 273 
 
 Muscle Shoals Worried Washington 276 
 
 Government Printing in Washington's Time and Now 277 
 
 University of Pennsylvania Conferred Honorary Degree on 
 
 George Washington 279 
 
 Washington Received Degrees From Five Colleges 281 
 
 Washington's Tour of Southern States 283 
 
 "See America First" Was Washington's Advice 286 
 
 George Washington and Peace 288 
 
 An Indissoluble Union 292 
 
 Origin of "Father of Country" 294 
 
 Washington Twice Commander-in-Chief 295 
 
 Washington and the Constitution 298 
 
 First Law Under the Constitution 300 
 
 Letter From Monroe to Washington 304 
 
 Money in Washington's Day 307 
 
 Communication in Washington's Day 309 
 
 George Washington's Wedding 311 
 
 Martha Washington Gave Full Measure in Patriotic Service 316 
 
 George Washington, Fisherman 319 
 
 Washington Sent Money to Madame Lafayette in 1793 321 
 
 Washington Bought a Chariot by Mail 3 24 
 
 Secretary Hyde Tells About Washington's Plows 326 
 
 Senator Capper Discusses Washington's Farm Problems 329 
 
 George Washington Branded His Cattle 335 
 
 Farmer Washington Also Suffered From Drought 337 
 
 Washington Tried Siberian and South African Wheat 340 
 
 Mount Vernon Named for British Admiral 342 
 
 Washington as a Manufacturer 343 
 
 Washington's Fish Business 346 
 
 George Washington the Bookman 349 
 
 Washington Pleased by "Home Town" Ball 352 
 
 Mount Vernon Became a Mecca at End of War. '. 354 
 
 Friends Sent Washington Numerous Gifts 356 
 
 Washington's Last Birthday 358 
 
 Washington Wrote Will Without Legal Aid 362 
 
 Service Ships Toll Bells as They Pass Mount Vernon 3 64 
 
 The Coat From Washington's Own Back 365 
 
 Washington Spent Much Time in Independence Hall 367 
 
Contents vii 
 
 Page 
 
 Dramatic History of Independence Hall 368 
 
 Independence Voted July 2, 1776 370 
 
 Liberty Bell May Ring Again 373 
 
 Richard Henry Lee's Independence Resolution 378 
 
 French Colonial Patriots 380 
 
 Polish Colonial Patriots 390 
 
 George Washington Was Interested In Orphans 502 
 
 Washington Was Pioneer in Public Schools 5 04 
 
 Washington's Belief in a Supreme Being 508 
 
 Washington's Religious Attitude 514 
 
 Washington Worshipped in 34 Churches 520 
 
 George Washington's Advice to a Young Lady 524 
 
 George Washington, Road Builder 527 
 
 Painters and Paintings of George Washington 529 
 
 A Rare Bust of George Washington 540 
 
 Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington 541 
 
 Houdon Bust Formally Dedicated in Virginia 543 
 
 First Congress Urged to Feed on "Wild Pigeons" 545 
 
 Twenty Lexingtons and Fifteen Concords 546 
 
 Army Officers Made "Naval Commanders" in First United 
 
 States Fleet 548 
 
 Three Presidents Died on July 4 550 
 
 The "Old North State" in the Revolution 553 
 
 Anniversary of Vermont's Statehood 557 
 
 Virginia Ratified Constitution 143 Years Ago 562 
 
 Granite State Revolutionary Heroes 565 
 
 Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War 570 
 
 Maine in the Revolutionary War 574 
 
 Anniversary of Ticonderoga 578 
 
 Kentucky's Admission to the Union 579 
 
 Tennessee's Admission to the Union 582 
 
 First Washington's Birthday Celebration West of the Mis- 
 sissippi 584 
 
 When Delaware Ratified 586 
 
 South Carolina's Heroes of the Revolution 591 
 
 New Hampshire Ratifies 598 
 
 "Molly Pitcher" To Be Honored in '32 601 
 
 Ancient Bell Clapper for Christ Church in Alexandria 602 
 
 First "Sub" Used in Revolution 604 
 
 Visitors Interested in Washington's Swords 605 
 
 Speculation and Worthless Money 606 
 
 George Washington and Aviation 609 
 
 United States Army's Two Washington Regiments 611 
 
Introduction-* 
 
 IN RESPONSE to an increasing number of requests 
 for copies of newspaper articles and releases of his- 
 toric interest prepared and issued by the Publicity De- 
 partment of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission, this material is being selected 
 and re-edited for distribution to the newspapers and 
 special writers of this and other countries. 
 
 This First Volume of selected publicity material 
 covers the period of the Commission's activities from 
 March 1, 1930, to July 1, 1931. Volume Two will 
 cover the period from July 1, 1931, to the end of the 
 celebration, Thanksgiving Day, 1932. 
 
 It is of special interest and significance that complete 
 files of these releases are desired by newspaper editors for 
 permanent reference. Probably never before have 
 newspapers placed such value upon current publicity 
 material furnished them. This is indeed a gratifying 
 tribute to the experienced judgment and sound qualifi- 
 cations of those responsible for the conduct of this im- 
 portant service. 
 
 When the United States Commission began the work 
 of departmental organization, it was realized that 
 nothing was of greater importance than the perfecting 
 of processes for bringing the origin, purpose and plans 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission to the attention of the American people. 
 Publicity was, of course, essential. But such publicity 
 could hardly be along conventional lines. Strict histori- 
 cal accuracy was mandatory, but beyond that, were 
 problems never before encountered by publicity 
 experts. 
 
 ix 
 
Introduction 
 
 Since this is the most original and comprehensive pro- 
 gram of commemoration ever undertaken by any gov- 
 ernment, it follows that its publicity campaign must 
 also be original and upon a scale never before formu- 
 lated. 
 
 The publicity problems were many and required 
 most careful study and the exercise of professional skill 
 of the soundest character. Our subject was George 
 Washington, and to make this great man live again and 
 become a vital force in the minds and hearts of the 
 American people, was a project of magnitude. 
 
 The organization of the Publicity Department of the 
 Commission began early in the Spring of 1930, when 
 the Associate Directors selected Edgar P. Allen to 
 head this important department of the Commission 
 organization. Mr. Allen is a newspaper and magazine 
 writer of superior attainments and public relations con- 
 sultant of long experience, who has carried on his work 
 with commendable industry and ability. The organi- 
 zation of this department has gone forward upon a 
 carefully prepared schedule that has culminated in what 
 leading authorities agree, is the most complete service of 
 its kind ever perfected. 
 
 Our publicity work has, of course, included prac- 
 tically every available channel of publicity approach. 
 While we have taken advantage of such admirable op- 
 portunities as are offered by radio, motion pictures, 
 news reels, public addresses, service for the blind in 
 Braille, magazines of all kinds, photography, posters, 
 etc., the substantial foundation of the publicity cam- 
 paign has been the American newspapers. 
 
 It is also a pleasure as well as an obligation to acknowl- 
 
Introduction xi 
 
 edge the unselfish and invaluable services of the entire 
 publicity staff whose constant contact with the Ameri- 
 can press has been a delight and inspiration. The per- 
 sonnel: 
 
 Edgar P. Allen, Director of Publicity 
 
 M. E. GlLFOND 
 
 Assistant Director of Publicity 
 
 DIVISIONAL ASSISTANTS 
 H. O. Bishop Col. H. S. Kimberly 
 
 Historical Research Photographic Service 
 
 Hazel B. Nielson Donald A. Craig 
 
 School Activities Foreign Participation 
 
 James Hay, Jr. Burton Kline 
 
 Magazines Speaker's Material 
 
 Col. Frank P. Morgan Tefft Johnson 
 
 Records and Statistics Motion Pictures 
 
 J. T. Brown L. Lowell Johnson 
 
 Juvenile Organizations Special Activities 
 
 D. K. Edwards Emma P. Lincoln 
 
 Fraternal Publications Radio Programs 
 
 Wm. M. Stuart ¥m. T. Saffell 
 
 Editorial Research Clipping Service 
 
 R. H. Bailey Dorothea E. Jennings 
 
 Religious Publications Braille Service for the Blind 
 
 H. C. Caulsen Mrs. Florence Phillips 
 
 Cooperation with Municipalities Librarian 
 
 E. L. FUEGEL 
 
 Supervisor of Publications 
 
 EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS 
 Mary E. Turner Peggy Griffith 
 
 Matilda Frantz Mrs. Margaret A. Fair 
 
 Mrs. Ruth B. Thompson Josephine Frdzdman 
 
 Mrs. Wm. H. Clements Lois Wilson 
 
 Alice Farnsworth 
 
xii Introduction 
 
 We hope this compilation will be a modest reminder 
 to the American journalistic fraternity of our acknowl- 
 edgment and gratitude for that wonderful cooperation 
 which has made the success of this great Celebration 
 possible, and that this work will serve its primary pur- 
 pose as a permanent reference book for writers. 
 
 It should be pointed out that this compilation of pub- 
 licity material represents but a small part of the varied 
 activities of the Publicity Department of this Commis- 
 sion. These articles are selected because of their his- 
 torical value. They deal with episodes, personalities and 
 interesting events of the time of George Washington, 
 and as one distinguished editor has expressed it: "They 
 constitute a complete history of the Colonial period in 
 newspaper English — plain, authentic and comprehen- 
 sive." 
 
 Yet it must be borne in mind that no attempt has been 
 made to write this history in chronological order or to 
 duplicate the work of the historian. This book merely 
 presents sketches without effort at sequence and prac- 
 tically in the form in which they originally went to the 
 newspapers. 
 
 SOL BLOOM, 
 
 Associate Director, 
 
 United States George Washington 
 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 Note: Most of the publications, projects and plans, which are 
 mentioned in the articles contained in this book as being in course 
 of preparation at the time the articles were originally released, have 
 been now completed. 
 
George Washington Bicentennial Celebration in 1932 
 
 To understand George Washington and what he 
 means to America of today, we must think of him as 
 a man and not as an ideal. 
 
 As a man we can more nearly take his measure 
 and estimate his greatness. The glamor that has sur- 
 rounded his name has tended to obscure his human 
 qualities. 
 
 It is not my purpose to dwell upon the heroic side 
 of our greatest American. I want to impress upon the 
 people of this country that George Washington was 
 a normal man, subject to normal temptations, normal 
 perplexities, and normal sorrows. 
 
 The greatness of George Washington lies in the fact 
 that he surmounted tremendous obstacles and accom- 
 plished his purposes through sheer force of character 
 and perseverance. 
 
 Let us consider George Washington's career in the 
 order of his outstanding accomplishments. 
 
 First, there is the boy, the son of a Virginia farmer, 
 living in the country and having limited educational 
 advantages. 
 
 This boy, destined by Providence for such historic 
 achievements, was a normal boy. He was in every 
 sense a good boy, obedient and ambitious. Although 
 he had scant opportunities for schooling, he made the 
 most of what he had. 
 
 At an age when other boys are mostly concerned in 
 
 l 
 
Washington Bicentennial 
 
 sports and play, George Washington was seriously de- 
 voted to the study of a profession. When barely 16 
 years old, he was commissioned to perform a respon- 
 sible piece of surveying work which sent him into the 
 wilderness. There he encountered dangers and priva- 
 tions that would have daunted a less sturdy soul. That 
 he performed this work of surveying well has been 
 shown by repeated resurveys along the lines he laid 
 down. 
 
 We find him again when not yet of age, commis- 
 sioned to perform important military and diplomatic 
 exploits into the frontier country. 
 
 Inheriting the great estate of Mount Vernon while 
 still a young man, George Washington showed un- 
 usual interest in the subject of farming. He was the 
 first scientific farmer in this country. He was the first 
 student of methods of improving livestock, of rotating 
 crops and of diversified agriculture. Had George 
 Washington done nothing more than devote himself to 
 the study of agriculture, he would have been America's 
 pioneer authority on that subject. 
 
 Not only was George Washington a farmer, but he 
 was one of the foremost business men of his time. He 
 knew how to make his farms profitable. He had a 
 commercial vision far beyond his contemporaries. He 
 organized corporations, opened mines and quarries, and 
 did a considerable shipping business. 
 
 George Washington was the first inland waterways 
 advocate. He actually surveyed and planned water- 
 way connections between the Ohio Valley and the At- 
 
News Releases 
 
 lantic seaboard, which he was unable to complete be- 
 cause of the stress of the times. 
 
 George Washington looked beyond the boundaries of 
 the original thirteen Colonies and his eyes rested upon 
 the Pacific Ocean as the limits of the future Republic. 
 To him, more than to any other man, is due that im- 
 petus to foreign trade which has ever been America's 
 outstanding business policy. 
 
 But George Washington was too great a man to live 
 in the peaceful security of his plantation home. The 
 state of the Colonies demanded the resourcefulness, the 
 calm judgment, and the character of its greatest men. 
 George Washington had all of these qualities to a 
 greater extent than any other man upon American soil. 
 He was a natural leader, and instilled into his country- 
 men that spirit of confidence and devotion which made 
 the winning of the War of the Revolution a possibility. 
 
 It was George Washington who realized more than 
 any man of the time what the freedom of the Colonies 
 meant to the men and women who were to come after 
 him. It was his council, his judgment, and his sure 
 knowledge of men that guided the infant Republic in 
 the formation of our present system of Federal 
 Government. 
 
 In advocating American independence, George Wash- 
 ington staked his life, his property and the interests 
 of his family. He realized, perhaps more than any 
 other man, the hazards and uncertainties of a war for 
 independence. 
 
 Great as were George Washington's achievements as 
 
Washington Bicentennial 
 
 a soldier, far greater were his achievements as a states- 
 man and a citizen. 
 
 As the first President, he faced problems never before 
 faced by any man. By his wisdom, by his patience, by 
 his persistence, he molded the destinies of the young 
 Republic and placed it upon a sure foundation for 
 future growth. As we study the life of this great man, 
 there develop new and interesting phases of his char- 
 acter. 
 
 Has America sufficiently honored the memory of 
 George Washington? I unhesitatingly say it has not. 
 It is gratifying to every American citizen to realize 
 that the United States is preparing now to express in 
 the most appropriate way possible the honor which is 
 his due. 
 
 The Congress of the United States, in recognition of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington, which will be observed in 1932, has 
 created a Commission to formulate plans fittingly to 
 honor his memory. 
 
 At the head of this Commission is the President of 
 the United States. Other members of the Commission 
 are the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker 
 of the House of Representatives, four United States 
 Senators, four members of the House of Representa- 
 tives, and eight presidential commissioners. 
 
 Congress has asked the governors of the various States 
 to appoint State commissions to cooperate with the Na- 
 tional Commission. It is the purpose of the associate 
 director to make this celebration nation-wide and all- 
 American. 
 
 We have no exposition in mind. There will be no 
 
News Releases 
 
 world's fair, no concentration of material evidences of 
 the Nation's growth. 
 
 The celebration will be in the hearts of the people 
 themselves. It will be in the nature of a revival of 
 knowledge of and appreciation for our greatest Amer- 
 ican and the greatest human being in all history. 
 
 The Federal Government has authorized the publi- 
 cation of all of the definitive writings of George Wash- 
 ington, which will be published as a memorial edition 
 in approximately 25 volumes. The great Memorial 
 Boulevard between Washington and Mount Vernon is 
 under construction and will be one of the most beau- 
 tiful highways in all the world. A regional park system 
 for the National Capital, unsurpassed in America, is 
 now authorized by Congress as a George Washington 
 Memorial Parkway. This great parkway will include 
 some of the beautiful and historic places with which 
 George Washington has been identified. 
 
 Congress has also established Wakefield, Washing- 
 ton's birthplace in Virginia, as a national park and there 
 has been erected upon the site a replica of the house in 
 which George Washington was born. It is also pro- 
 posed to build in the City of Washington a great George 
 Washington Memorial Auditorium, which is most ur- 
 gently needed. 
 
 These are Federal projects contributed, or to be 
 contributed, by the Government itself. It is the pur- 
 pose of the associate director to bring the message of 
 George Washington to every church, every home, every 
 school, and every group of citizens in the United States. 
 We want to offer an opportunity to each man, woman, 
 
Washington Bicentennial 
 
 and child in America to participate in this national 
 celebration. 
 
 In our plans it is proposed to foster and encourage 
 in all parts of the country local, regional, and State cele- 
 brations. These celebrations the people themselves will 
 organize and take part in them. It is hoped that in 
 1932 there will not be a school room or school building 
 in the United States without its pictures of George 
 Washington. It is hoped that there will not be a school 
 or a church or a home that will not display the Ameri- 
 can flag with appropriate reminders of what it means 
 in our national life. It is proposed to hold essay con- 
 tests, pageants, plays, and exercises of similar kinds in 
 public schools. In like manner we want to enlist the 
 cooperation of all the clubs, associations, fraternal 
 organizations, and miscellaneous groups of people. 
 
 Not only do we want to impress upon the Nation 
 its debt to George Washington, but also our debt to 
 other heroes associated with him. We want to remem- 
 ber those splendid men and women, many of them of 
 foreign birth, who offered their lives upon the altar of 
 American independence. We want to remember Von 
 Steuben, De Kalb, and the Muhlenbergs. We want to 
 remember Carroll, Barry, Knox, and the host of other 
 Irish patriots. We want to remember with gratitude 
 Kosciuszko, Pulaski, and other Polish heroes. We want 
 to remember Benjamin Nones, who has been called the 
 "Jewish Lafayette," the Pintos and others of the Jewish 
 race, who offered themselves and their fortunes to the 
 cause of freedom. We want to remember Lafayette, 
 Rochambeau, and all that other host of equally heroic 
 men and women of the Italian, Swedish, Spanish, and 
 
News Releases 
 
 other European races, who performed their parts so 
 valiantly. Many of them came from across the seas to 
 help the cause of the Colonies. 
 
 George Washington was the magnet who drew all 
 those brave men to him. George Washington was a 
 man above all others who inspired confidence and de- 
 votion among those ragged, hungry, and suffering troops 
 who struggled bravely and triumphantly forward under 
 his leadership. 
 
 We Americans today still have our differences in 
 origin and in character. We still have our different 
 viewpoints and our different opinions. We still struggle 
 for various ideals and principles, but we can all rally 
 today under the leadership of George Washington, as 
 did those splendid Americans of 1 5 years ago. 
 
 In honoring the memory of George Washington 
 there can be no division and no dispute. He is so 
 transcendently great as to continue his influence down 
 through the years. In all the records of his life, in every 
 letter, speech and act, which can be traced to him, there 
 is not one weakness or one mistake. Wherever the flag 
 flies today, those under its protecting folds should re- 
 member that it was George Washington who established 
 that flag and what it stands for. In a world of bitter- 
 ness, hostility, and oppression George Washington 
 brought freedom and human liberty. Wherever people 
 are free, they should remember those men who gave the 
 world freedom. Wherever there is protection, peace, 
 and security, a prayer of thanksgiving should be offered 
 that George Washington lived and wrought. 
 
 We of the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission have a tremendous responsibility. 
 
8 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 It is our duty to arouse throughout the Nation a proper 
 sense of gratitude to the Founder of the Republic. In 
 this task we can not act alone. It is for all Americans 
 of all nationalities and creeds, of all conditions and cir- 
 cumstances, to make the year 1932 a year of thought 
 and reverence for the memory of George Washington. 
 He was so intimately associated with all affairs of life, 
 with the church, with statesmanship, with agriculture, 
 with business, with education, with commerce, and, in 
 fact, every phase of healthful citizenship, that no class 
 of our people can disregard their debt to him. 
 
 In the task before us we want the people themselves 
 to give us suggestions upon various phases of the cele- 
 bration. Please address your suggestions to the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 So let us now dedicate in our hearts the memory of 
 this man. Let us resolve that we shall do him honor 
 and reverence for what he was and what he has given 
 to us. I leave with you this appeal as Americans all, 
 in the freedom and enlightenment which George 
 Washington brought into the world. 
 
 The George Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Created by special act of Congress and financed by 
 the Federal Treasury, the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission, with offices in the 
 National Capital, is planning for 1932 a celebration of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of Washington's birth- 
 day, which will be unprecedented in extent and entirely 
 original in character and method. 
 
News Releases 
 
 For an event of this kind, it will be unprecedented 
 in extent, because it will be world-wide and will last 
 nine months, from February 22, 1932, through Thanks- 
 giving of that year. From Alaska to Ceylon, from Vir- 
 ginia to Japan, wherever Americans reside and human 
 beings respond to the inspiration of a great man's ca- 
 reer, honor will be paid to the Father of his country. 
 
 According to the plans of the Commission, the whole 
 United States is to become alive with pageantry, through 
 which the figure of Washington will move as he was 
 in life. Every school in America is to receive a picture 
 of the Father of His Country. Every home that housed 
 him, every building in which he spent but a night, is to 
 be festooned with flags and bunting. The battle fields 
 he lost and won are to echo oratory and resound to 
 martial music. 
 
 The trails he blazed and the roads he traveled are to 
 be mapped and marked anew. Great bridges, buildings, 
 and engineering projects will be named in his honor. 
 In every American city and village, in the nation's 
 singing, prayers, and preaching, time and time again 
 throughout the celebration period, the principles and 
 ideals of Washington, the peace-time and military 
 achievements of Washington, the times and associates 
 of Washington, will be emphasized, recreated and 
 made a part of the people's thinking and feeling, so that 
 love of country shall become a flaming and mighty 
 force in their lives. 
 
 The tribute will be original in character in that the 
 Commission, instead of trying to attract the public to 
 one central point by staging a world's fair, exposition or 
 
10 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 entertainment, will take the celebration directly to the 
 people at large in their cities, villages, and homes. 
 
 To appreciate how this unique commemoration will 
 be accomplished, it is necessary to comprehend the 
 machinery that is planning it. The United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission is headed 
 by the President of the United States as its chair- 
 man, and its personnel consists of distinguished men 
 and women representing all sections of the United 
 States. Its duties, as set forth in the act of Congress 
 which brought it into being in 1924, are to arouse in- 
 terest in the 1932 celebration, to formulate and execute 
 plans for its successful observance, and to collect and 
 disseminate information about Washington and his 
 times. Congress also stipulated that the States and ter- 
 ritories of the Union be invited to cooperate in the 
 celebration. 
 
 All this work was begun under the management of 
 two associate directors named by the executive com- 
 mittee of the Commission — the Hon. Sol Bloom, mem- 
 ber of Congress from New York, and Col. Ulysses S. 
 Grant, 3rd, U. S. A. After serving a few months, how- 
 ever, Colonel Grant presented his resignation, having 
 found that the pressure of the work interfered with 
 other official duties. Thus far his successor has not been 
 named and Mr. Bloom is in sole charge. 
 
 Thirty-three States of the Union* and the District of 
 Columbia, Hawaii, and Alaska have appointed com- 
 missions or representatives to cooperate with the Fed- 
 eral commission and to plan the events and ceremonies 
 
 * As of April, 1931. Since then commissions have been appointed in all States 
 and Territories. 
 
News Releases 11 
 
 through which their respective populations will take 
 part in the celebration. It is, of course, only a matter 
 of time until all the States will have taken similar 
 action. 
 
 Secretary of State Stimson has designated Assistant 
 Secretary William R. Castle, Jr., as the State Depart- 
 ment official through whom Director Bloom will invite 
 all foreign countries to join in the event and to plan 
 their own special ceremonies. Unofficial advices to the 
 Commission are that these invitations will be enthu- 
 siastically accepted. 
 
 To make the world "coverage" complete, all Amer- 
 icans residing abroad will be asked to stage celebration 
 rites and events. Already in London and Paris George 
 Washington Bicentennial committees have been set up 
 by resident Americans to secure large memberships and 
 formulate appropriate plans. Similar bodies are being 
 organized also in Germany, Poland, Italy, and other 
 European countries. 
 
 Moreover, to disseminate continuously throughout 
 the world all the news of the celebration plans, the Com- 
 mission has obtained permission from the State Depart- 
 ment to send its publicity and other literature in the 
 diplomatic mail pouches to all United States ambassa- 
 dors, ministers, and consuls general. This same ma- 
 terial also will be mailed to all American consuls and 
 to all agents of the Departments of Commerce and Ag- 
 riculture stationed abroad, who will give it the widest 
 publicity possible. 
 
 The Commission emphasizes that this is to be a coun- 
 try-wide and globe-girdling celebration, with each 
 country, state, and town selecting its own "key dates" — 
 
12 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 such as Decoration Day, Mother's Day, July 4, Labor 
 Day — for climactic events in the form of pageants, 
 plays, orations, parades, and community singing. 
 
 The national ceremonies will begin on February 22 
 next year, when from the national capital President 
 Hoover will broadcast an address on George Washing- 
 ton. Following him on the air will come the United 
 States Marine Band, an organization which, by the way, 
 existed in Washington's day as a fife and drum corps. 
 The plan is that, as this band plays "America," the people 
 through their radios all over this country and in many 
 foreign lands will hear it and sing the national anthem 
 to its accompaniment. In that vision of all Americans 
 simultaneously singing, is conveyed a dramatic picture 
 of what the Commission means when it declares that 
 it will carry the celebration to the people. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission has adopted an ambitious program in order 
 to stir the public's enthusiasm and to distribute infor- 
 mation about Washington. 
 
 It is making a motion picture of the life of Wash- 
 ington which it regards not only as excellent entertain- 
 ment but also as an absolutely accurate record of Wash- 
 ington's acts and of the customs, costumes, and build- 
 ings of his time. Because the Commission is a govern- 
 ment agency which consistently refuses to be connected 
 with any commercial or profit-making projects, it has 
 been given access to places and dramatic "properties" 
 that have never been, and probably never will again be, 
 available to a maker of pictures. 
 
 It is allowed, for instance, the unprecedented privilege 
 of using the interior of Mount Vernon for some of the 
 
News Releases 13 
 
 picture scenes; and various museums have loaned for 
 this work Washington's surveying instruments and some 
 of the very garments worn by him and his wife. Copies 
 of the film will be distributed in 1932 to the schools and 
 colleges of the country. 
 
 Among other features of the Commission's program 
 are: 16 pamphlets, later to be combined in a book en- 
 titled "Honor to Washington," dealing with the dif- 
 ferent phases and activities of the man, such as Wash- 
 ington the Business Man, the Religious Man, the Mili- 
 tary Man, the Traveler, and so on. These pamphlets 
 are either to be written or edited by Dr. Albert Bush- 
 nell Hart, the eminent Harvard historian, who is in 
 charge of the Commission's Historical Division. They 
 will soon be available to libraries, students, and writers. 
 
 A definitive, memorial edition, in 25 volumes, will be 
 issued, of "The Writings of Washington," collected and 
 edited by the well known Washington authority, Dr. 
 John C. Fitzpatrick, of the Library of Congress, and 
 containing many hitherto unpublished Washington 
 letters and other papers. 
 
 A Washington Atlas, containing maps showing many 
 of the buildings with which he was closely associated, 
 the roads he traveled and all the places he visited dur- 
 ing his lifetime; 
 
 A plan, in cooperation with the American Tree Plant- 
 ing Association, to have ten million "Washington Trees" 
 planted by cities, schools, churches, colleges, villages and 
 fraternal organizations has already made considerable 
 progress; 
 
 Designing of a medal to be struck in commemoration 
 
14 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of the celebration; distribution of 1,000,000 pictures of 
 Washington to the country's schools; furnishing sample 
 pageants, plays, and recitations to schools, colleges, and 
 communities to be used in celebrating the Bicentennial; 
 collection of the music that was played and sung in 
 Washington's day, and giving writers and students ac- 
 cess to the truly prodigious store of Washingtoniana in 
 the Commission's offices in Washington. 
 
 In further official recognition of this celebration, 
 Congress has authorized the Secretary of the Treasury 
 to make all quarter dollar coins in 1932 official George 
 Washington Memorial coins, with a profile portrait re- 
 lief on one side and appropriate inscription upon the 
 reverse side. This is the first time that a memorial coin 
 has ever supplanted a regular issue of United States 
 coins. 
 
 But the one thing which Associate Director Bloom 
 and his assistants never cease to point out is that this 
 celebration will be made a success by the people in their 
 states, towns, and hamlets; that the Commission's duty 
 is to give out information and suggestions; that every 
 State and city will have its own commission which will 
 determine the nature of its ceremonies and the type of 
 its permanent memorial to Washington. 
 
 The New York State Commission, for example, al- 
 ready has before it three suggestions for such a memo- 
 rial, one of which it will probably select. They are: a 
 monument to Washington at the entrance to New York 
 harbor, a park along the Palisades, and a building for 
 Washingtoniana at Albany.* 
 
 * Since this was written, the great new bridge across the Hudson from the 
 vicinity of Fort Washington to Fort Lee has been named the George Washington 
 Bridge. 
 
News Releases 15 
 
 "The people will do the celebrating," said Associate 
 Director Bloom recently. "We shall take pleasure in 
 offering them suggestions and giving them information 
 whenever they want such cooperation." 
 
 Plans for the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Celebration 
 
 Hon. Sol Bloom, associate director of the United 
 States Commission for the Celebration of the Two 
 Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of George Wash- 
 ington in 1932, recently made public some of the fea- 
 tures of the program for nation-wide participation in 
 the great historic event which is to make the two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington. 
 
 "We realize," said Congressman Bloom, "the serious 
 responsibility which rests upon us in the program now 
 under consideration. It is a work of such magnitude 
 that it will require many more months to work out any- 
 thing like a complete plan of operation. Yet I believe 
 it is due to the public that such information as is now 
 available shall be given out in order that the men, 
 women, and children of America can devote some pre- 
 liminary thought to their immediate interests in its 
 various phases. 
 
 "State, regional, and local organizations will furnish 
 speakers for many occasions. They will use the radio 
 whenever possible. Ministers will be asked to preach 
 frequently upon the character and example of George 
 Washington. In addition to this local work and in sup- 
 port of it, we are now completing plans for reaching the 
 school children of the land through cooperation with 
 
16 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the national organization of State superintendents, 
 teachers, and authorities of parochial schools, private 
 schools, colleges, and universities. In this way it is pro- 
 posed to conduct a nation-wide participation of school 
 children not alone in the various essay, oratorical, and 
 other contests, plays, and pageants, but by including 
 during the school year of 1932 special instruction 
 through additional patriotic features in the curricula. 
 
 "The associate director is working out many sug- 
 gestions and details that fit into the general program, 
 and these will be announced as each divisional subject 
 is rounded out. We believe that as these plans mature 
 the public will be more and more interested in giving 
 us suggestions and in cooperating with us, so that the 
 exalted character and historic achievements of George 
 Washington may be fittingly revived in the minds and 
 hearts of the American people." 
 
 Congressman Bloom further explained that, "while 
 the entire year of 1932 will be a George Washington 
 year, it is proposed to concentrate the patriotic observ- 
 ances within the period from February 22 to Thanks- 
 giving Day of that year. This will, of course, take in 
 the vacation months, when it is to be expected that 
 many people will wish to come to Washington to satisfy 
 their curiosity as to their beautiful National Capital, 
 which George Washington located and founded, the 
 wealth of historic objects and material here, the many 
 interesting phases of Government activities, and to take 
 advantage of such an opportunity to visit the many 
 stirring and inspiring shrines in the near-by States con- 
 nected with his youth and adult life." 
 
 To provide for these many visitors the local com- 
 
News Releases 17 
 
 mittee appointed by the district commissioners is being 
 asked to make special arrangements, as well as to assist 
 these gatherings and meetings of leading men and 
 women in the fields of education, religion, science, and 
 social service, already scheduled to insure a successful 
 and enjoyable sojourn. 
 
 "But," pointed out Mr. Bloom, "this is not to be 
 misunderstood. No concentration of the celebration 
 is proposed in any one locality. Washington was the 
 father of the entire country and, as the happy effects 
 of his wise and patriotic work extend to every corner 
 of our far-flung land, so should the celebration of the 
 two hundredth anniversary of his birth." 
 
 Program Covers Wide Range 
 
 The comprehensive program of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, designed 
 to bring to every State and Territory, every county, 
 city, and town of the country a series of celebrations 
 which begin on February 22, next year, and end on 
 Thanksgiving Day of that year, is presented by the as- 
 sociate directors of the Commission. 
 
 It is thought that the present program, which will be 
 constructively added to from time to time, will pre- 
 sent to every individual in the United States, as well as 
 thousands of Americans abroad a clear picture of George 
 Washington, the inspiration of his example, and the 
 power of his influence today. 
 
 The entire program has been carefully mapped out, 
 with great attention to detail, and is being pushed for- 
 ward vigorously, so that the entire country may awaken 
 
18 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 spiritually to the noble example of Washington, and 
 take part in the two hundredth anniversary of his birth. 
 The wide scope of the work which the Commission 
 is doing is shown by the following outline of its activi- 
 ties, as taken from its organization chart: 
 
 Educational Activities 
 
 This classification visualizes the general and specific 
 educational work of different departments of the or- 
 ganization, through the preparation and distribution to 
 educational institutions and to all organizations — patri- 
 otic, social, religious, business, labor, etc. — of literature, 
 study courses, programs for meetings, articles for pub- 
 lication, address, papers, etc., all relating to George 
 Washington and his time. 
 
 Organization Contacts 
 Patriotic societies. 
 Parent-Teacher groups. 
 Clubs and other organizations. 
 Schools, all educational institutions and groups. 
 Libraries. 
 
 Assistance to Organizations 
 Pamphlet of 12 programs. 
 Papers, addresses, broadcasts. 
 Special features. 
 Washington bibliography. 
 Washington chronology. 
 Lantern slides. 
 
 Articles for organization publications. 
 Preparation of teachers' training course. 
 Aid in illiteracy work. 
 Contests. 
 
News Releases 19 
 
 Juvenile Activities 
 Service for the blind. 
 Kindergartens, elementary schools. 
 Boy Scouts. 
 Girl Scouts. 
 Camp Fire Girls. 
 Games. 
 Contests. 
 
 Special Activities 
 
 Under this title are included activities of different de- 
 partments not included in any of the other classifica- 
 tions. These activities are among the most important 
 functions of the Commission and are constantly expand- 
 ing as the work proceeds. 
 
 Motion Picture (Life of George Washington) . 
 
 Art Loan Exhibit. 
 
 Participation by Foreign Governments. 
 
 Collection of Washingtoniana. 
 
 Firms in Business Continuously Since Colonial Period. 
 
 Oratorical and Essay Contest. 
 
 Tree Planting. 
 
 Office Historical Record. 
 Contacts With Cooperating Organization as Follows: 
 
 State Commissions. 
 
 City and Town Committees. 
 
 Patriotic and Veteran Societies controlling patriotic 
 shrines, such as Mount Vernon, "Wakefield, Yorktown, 
 etc. 
 
 Churches and religious groups. 
 
 Fraternal. 
 
 Labor. • 
 
 Business. 
 
20 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Agricultural. 
 Civic. 
 
 Governmental. 
 Etc. 
 
 Plays and Pageants 
 
 Under this title are included the writing, collection 
 and selection of plays and pageants in the Life of Wash- 
 ington for distribution to organizations everywhere, es- 
 pecially schools of all grades and churches, fraternities, 
 dramatic organizations and patriotic bodies. 
 Plays 
 
 Collection, selection and arrangement of all existing 
 one-act and full-length plays. 
 
 Writing of one-act plays and special plays for stage 
 and radio production. 
 
 Arrangement and direction of radio competition and 
 prize competition for full-length plays. 
 
 Distribution of all such plays to organization, com- 
 munities, clubs, civic bodies, educational institution, etc., 
 such as: 
 
 Civic, Municipal and State, 
 
 Schools and Colleges, 
 
 Patriotic and Veteran, 
 
 Agricultural and Horticultural, 
 
 Dramatic and Literary, <• 
 
 Fraternal and Labor, 
 
 Business and Government, 
 
 Women's and Social. 
 Pageants 
 
 Collection and selection of existing episodic scenes. 
 
 Compilation of reference list of all pageants now pub- 
 lished or to be published. 
 
News Releases 21 
 
 Production of special pageants. 
 
 Distribution to organizations, communities and edu- 
 cational institutions such as: 
 
 Civic, Municipal and State, 
 
 Schools and Colleges, 
 
 Patriotic and Veteran, 
 
 Agricultural and Horticultural, 
 
 Dramatic and Literary, 
 
 Fraternal and Labor, 
 
 Business and Government, 
 
 Women's and Social. 
 Costumes 
 
 Collection of all data and authentic costumes and ma- 
 terial of the Colonial Period; uniforms of Revolution- 
 ary War soldiers (American, British and French) ; types 
 of civic dress of men and women for all occasions; re- 
 production of illustrations of such costumes for use of 
 organizations in production of plays and pageants. 
 
 Historical 
 
 This work includes the writing and editing of his- 
 torical publications and assistance on historical subjects 
 to other departments. 
 
 "Honor to George Washington." 
 
 Writings of George Washington. 
 
 Research. 
 
 Addresses. 
 
 Editorial work. 
 
 Assistance to other departments. 
 
 Publicity 
 All publicity material of the Commission is handled 
 through the Department of Publicity. The work of 
 
22 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 this department includes the collection — alone, and in 
 cooperation with all other departments — of news, in- 
 formation and pictures, relating to George Washington 
 and the Bicentennial Celebration, and its distribution 
 throughout the world. It includes service to news- 
 papers and press syndicates and assistance to writers, 
 speakers and producers of moving picture news-reels. 
 Publications 
 
 Newspapers. 
 
 Magazines. 
 
 Miscellaneous. 
 
 Bicentennial News. 
 
 Clip Sheet. 
 
 Editorial Contacts. 
 
 Feature Writers. 
 
 Syndicates. 
 
 Braille Publicity. 
 
 News Services. 
 
 Maps and Layouts. 
 
 Clippings. 
 
 Foreign Language Press. 
 
 Addressograph Lists. 
 
 Editing Office Publications. 
 
 Information Service. 
 Radio 
 
 Preparation of Addresses. 
 
 Broadcasting Dates. 
 
 Scheduling Features. 
 
 Cooperating Stations. 
 
 Governors, State Commissions. 
 Motion Picture News Reels 
 
 Publicity Shots. 
 
News Releases 23 
 
 Features. 
 Pictures 
 
 Selection. 
 
 Collection. 
 
 Disbursement. 
 
 Files. 
 Art Features 
 
 Drawings. 
 
 Reproductions. 
 
 Novelties. 
 
 Calendars. 
 
 Cards, Menus, etc. 
 
 Posters, etc. 
 Contacts 
 
 Organizations. 
 
 Cooperating Agencies. 
 
 Writers, Editors, Publishers. 
 
 Editorial Associations. 
 
 Advertising Agencies and Clubs. 
 
 Schools and College Publications. 
 Index 
 
 Newspaper Articles. 
 
 Magazine Articles. 
 
 Press Releases. 
 
 Pictures. 
 
 Bicentennial News. 
 
 Unpublished Washington Letters 
 
 "Where are the unpublished letters of George Wash- 
 ington?" That is the question which seems to be wor- 
 rying Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant 3d, formerly associate 
 
24 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 director of the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission, these days. "By a specific act of 
 Congress," explained the Colonel, "the 'Writings of 
 George Washington' are being compiled under the direc- 
 tion of Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick, of the Library of Con- 
 gress, as a monumental tribute of the Republic to the 
 leading American of all time. This undertaking, in my 
 opinion, will be one of the most valuable features of 
 the National Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anni- 
 versary of the Birth of George Washington in 1932." 
 
 "Washington wrote voluminously," continued the 
 Colonel. "During war and peace, as a soldier and as 
 a statesman, Washington found time to answer dili- 
 gently all his correspondence and to propound his views 
 on all the leading questions of the day. To study Wash- 
 ington, one must study his writings. While Washing- 
 ton's papers — letters, journals, orderly books, account 
 books, and diaries — have been preserved in sufficient 
 quantity to supply material for some 25 volumes, yet 
 according to Dr. Fitzpatrick and other leading authori- 
 ties of Washington and his period, only one-half of 
 Washington's letters have ever been published in the 131 
 years since he died." 
 
 And again Colonel Grant asked: "Where are the un- 
 published letters of George Washington?" 
 
 The Colonel then proceeded to answer, in part, his 
 own question: "We know that some of Washington's 
 letters have been wilfully destroyed and that some of 
 them have been lost through negligence and careless- 
 ness. Yet historians claim that there are many letters 
 and papers — possibly hundreds of them — still in exist- 
 ence which have never been published. Many of these 
 
News Releases 25 
 
 documents are in the possession of people who do not 
 realize their value to history. Every now and then a 
 letter is discovered which had been locked up in a gar- 
 ret for generations. Because of the westward move- 
 ment after the Revolutionary War, such letters are apt 
 to turn up in any part of the United States. And," con- 
 tinued Colonel Grant, "it is this 'hidden' material which 
 the Commission is exerting every effort to obtain." 
 
 "When Congress authorized the printing of the 
 'Writings of George Washington' it had in mind not 
 only the compiling and editing of all the known papers 
 of Washington but also a thorough search for all avail- 
 able material heretofore unpublished. In brief, it was 
 and is the aim of Congress and the United States Bi- 
 centennial Commission to present to the people of our 
 country as complete a written Washingtoniana as is 
 possible to compile; to present to all Americans a com- 
 posite picture of the Father of His Country through 
 his writings — his physical appearance, his thoughts and 
 actions, and his ideals." 
 
 "Do you have any prospects of unearthing some new 
 material on Washington?" the Colonel was asked. 
 
 "Yes, we do," he replied. "My associate on the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 Representative Sol Bloom, of New York, and I are hav- 
 ing every possible source of material investigated by ex- 
 perts, with some interesting results. Documents have 
 come to the attention of the Commission which hereto- 
 fore have not been open to historians. However, there 
 are still many historically valuable documents extant 
 which the Commission is keenly desirous of knowing 
 about. Individuals and societies having such papers are 
 
26 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 requested to cooperate with us by permitting their ma- 
 terial to be investigated, and, if authentic, to be used 
 in this enterprise. The Commission will not ask any 
 one to part with the original copies of such papers. All 
 it desires is the privileges of making reprints of all un- 
 published material to be found. All owners of such 
 documents are asked to communicate directly with the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, Washington, D. C." 
 
 "When will these writings be completed?" the Colo- 
 nel was asked. 
 
 "I am informed by Dr. Fitzpatrick," he replied, "that 
 the first volume will be ready for publication by De- 
 cember of this year. The remaining volumes will go 
 to press as they are completed. The work in its entirety 
 will cover some 25 volumes. They are to be published 
 by the Government Printing Office and will be made 
 available to the people of every State in the Union 
 through the libraries." 
 
 President Hoover Writes Foreword for "Writings 
 of George Washington" 
 
 President Hoover has written the foreword to the 
 first volume of the "Writings of George Washington," 
 the great memorial edition which was authorized by a 
 specific act of Congress to commemorate the two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington 
 in 1932. This first volume has been completed and 
 will be ready for distribution in a few weeks, according 
 to the Division of Information and Publication of 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. 
 
News Releases 27 
 
 In a few printed pages the present engineer President, 
 who is chairman of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission, pays his tribute to the 
 first engineer President. 
 
 This is the first volume of the memorial edition, 
 which will be in an edition of about 25 volumes. The 
 work is being edited by Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick, long a 
 leading authority on George Washington and his time, 
 for the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. The undertaking is one of the major 
 projects of the Commission in connection with the com- 
 ing bicentennial celebration of the birth of the Father 
 of His Country. 
 
 The foreword, as written by the President of the 
 United States, is as follows: 
 
 "The people of the United States are justly proud of 
 their literary men and women. They likewise are proud 
 of their outstanding statesmen. Literary power and 
 statesmanship were combined in George Washington, 
 the greatest political leader of his time and also the 
 greatest intellectual and moral force of the Revolu- 
 tionary period. Everybody knows Washington as a 
 quiet member of the Virginia Assembly, of the two 
 Continental Congresses, and of the Constitutional Con- 
 vention. Few people realize that he was also the most 
 voluminous American writer of his period, and that his 
 principles of government have had more influence on 
 the development of the American commonwealth than 
 those of any other man. 
 
 "Unfortunately, Washington for many years was 
 interpreted to his countrymen chiefly through warped 
 biographies written upon a great deal of legendary 
 
28 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 assumption. Until very recently no readable biography 
 of George Washington in reasonable compass made him 
 stand for what he was — the most potent human and 
 intellectual force in a firmament of American intellect. 
 Nowadays good biographies of Washington are avail- 
 able, written from the sources. Many of them are de- 
 voted to a particular phase of his activity — the military 
 side, the political side, the personal side. Hence when 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission began its work, it did not attempt to inspire 
 new biographies. It selected as its most important 
 literary duty the making Washington better known, 
 by spreading abroad his own thoughts and plans and 
 hopes and inspirations in the exact form in which he 
 framed them. 
 
 "Thus one of the first decisions of the Commission 
 was to provide an edition of Washington's writings as 
 complete as possible, in a form which would make it 
 available for the present generation and forever here- 
 after. Of the two previous editions of Washington's 
 Writings the first, a hundred years ago, was the 12- 
 volume edition, edited by Jared Sparks, a pioneer in 
 collecting and publishing historical documents. Proper 
 canons in historical editing were not yet developed, and 
 it hurt the feelings of Sparks if the great man misspelled 
 or seemed to him ungrammatical. Therefore the Sparks 
 edition can not be relied upon to tell us what Washing- 
 ton actually did say. The edition of Worthington C. 
 Ford, 40 years ago, was scholarly and carefully edited, 
 but materials were then lacking for a complete edition, 
 the production was limited by commercial considera- 
 tions, and it is now out of print. 
 
News Releases 29 
 
 "The Commission has set out to publish a definitive 
 edition of all the written and printed words of George 
 Washington in the form in which they left his hands, 
 including several volumes of General Orders, almost the 
 whole of which up to now had remained in manuscript 
 only. Most of his original writings of every kind are 
 fortunately preserved in the Library of Congress. Other 
 libraries and private owners of manuscripts have per- 
 mitted photostats to be made for inclusion in the great 
 publication. When this series is completed, therefore, 
 almost the whole of his reported thoughts will be within 
 the reach of readers, investigators, and writers. 
 
 "The United States George Washington Commission 
 takes great satisfaction in rendering this public service; 
 for as the publication of the new series progresses it will 
 become more and more clear that the reputation of 
 George Washington as a soldier, statesman, and man is 
 enhanced by the record of everything that he is known 
 to have committed to pen and paper. 
 
 "One deviation has been made from the plan of in- 
 cluding all of Washington's writings in this edition. The 
 Diary has been recently published by a skillful editor, 
 enlivened by interesting notes. It has therefore been 
 left out of the new set. On the other hand, the General 
 Orders, which are of great significance for the history 
 of the Revolution, are now for the first time made avail- 
 able in print, and will be distributed in the order of their 
 dates. 
 
 "What is the message from Washington revealed by 
 this complete and scholarly edition? First of all it in- 
 cludes Washington's own graphic records of his experi- 
 ences on the frontier while it was still in the possession 
 
30 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of the Indians. Throughout the series will be found 
 letters and documents showing that he was the Ameri- 
 can of his time who had the liveliest sense of the abso- 
 lute necessity of occupying the West and making it a 
 part of an American commonwealth. 
 
 "The materials on his activity as a man of affairs, 
 which are here brought into relief, bring home to the 
 reader the picture of Washington as a landowner, land 
 developer, and land cultivator. A much neglected side 
 of his character is Washington as an engineer. His coun- 
 trymen have not realized how modern he was in his 
 engineering operations — as reclaimer of the Dismal 
 Swamp; as advisor and engineer of the Potomac and 
 James River Canal; as the first advocate of a combined 
 highway and waterway from the Atlantic Coast to the 
 Ohio River; as a bank director; as an investor; as one 
 of the earliest Americans to recognize the possibilities 
 of power transportation by water; and the first to sug- 
 gest that air navigation might be very useful to the 
 people of the United States. 
 
 "What Washington says for himself will also be the 
 foundation of our appreciation of his great abilities and 
 immense services as the leader of the Continental Army. 
 He was a thoroughly modern soldier, intensely interested 
 in drill and tactics and plans of campaign, but equally 
 unwearied in recruiting and supply and officering and 
 in maintaining the morale of his troops. All the efforts 
 to show that Washington had no military genius will 
 fade away under the searchlight of this publication of 
 his military material, much of it for the first time. 
 
 "If nothing had been written by others about Wash- 
 ington's leadership in forming a new nation, his papers 
 
News Releases 31 
 
 and correspondence while President would forever es- 
 tablish him as a great constructive statesman. His pri- 
 vate virtues are set forth from the earliest boy's letters 
 down to the last entry that he made in his diary. Wash- 
 ington with his wife's children and grandchildren stands 
 out as clearly as Washington at Yorktown. 
 
 "The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission is undertaking to throw light upon the 
 character of Washington in many ways. None will be 
 more enduring than this collection of his own words 
 and thoughts. The addresses, the pageants, the public 
 meetings, and the memorials of every kind which the 
 Commission will encourage and support, will call public 
 attention to the most striking of the events in his life. 
 But a hundred years after 1932 Washington will still be 
 appealing to the sense, the interest, the public spirit, and 
 the patriotism of that later age, by the great thoughts 
 of his mind, by his great hopes for his country, and by 
 the simple, straightforward, elevated, manly, and patri- 
 otic spirit of which these Writings will be the imperish- 
 able record." 
 
 (Signed) Herbert Hoover, 
 President of the United States, 
 Chairman of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 Washington, D. C, November 19, 1930. 
 
 Every State, City, and Town to Participate in the 
 Nine Months Bicentennial Celebration 
 
 These points should be emphasized with respect to 
 the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of 
 the Birth of George Washington next year: 
 
32 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 1. It is sponsored by the United States Government: 
 Congress created the United States George Washing- 
 ton Bicentennial Commission and the President of the 
 United States is its chairman. 
 
 2. It will not be a world's fair or exposition, and it 
 will not be held in any one place. 
 
 3. It will be a nation-wide, even a world-wide series 
 of celebrations in which every state, city, and town — 
 every organization and institution, every home and in- 
 dividual — in this country, together with Americans and 
 others in many foreign countries, will participate. Every 
 community is expected to plan and carry out its own 
 program of events, in cooperation with the United 
 States Commission and the State Commissions. 
 
 4. It will last from Washington's Birthday, February 
 22, 1932, to Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1932, 
 with special local and national celebrations everywhere 
 on all holidays, anniversaries, or other days which can be 
 connected with the life of George Washington. 
 
 5. While the ceremonies on February 22 should be 
 especially elaborate and impressive, as marking the ac- 
 tual Two Hundredth Anniversary of George Washing- 
 ton's Birth, arrangements also should be made for pub- 
 lic gatherings, pageants, plays, processions, musical fes- 
 tivals, tableaux, and other events at various times dur- 
 ing the entire period of more than nine months. Every 
 program should relate to the great life and work of the 
 First President and Founder of the Republic. On Me- 
 morial Day, Mothers' Day, Flag Day, Independence 
 Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and other national 
 and local holidays or anniversaries there should be spe- 
 
News Releases 33 
 
 cial programs, but the celebration should not be con- 
 fined to these days. 
 
 6. It will take time to prepare the local programs and 
 arrange for the local celebrations. The United States 
 Commission urges mayors and other officials of every 
 city and town in the country to appoint George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commissions or Committees, in or- 
 der to prepare for the events of the Bicentennial Year. 
 
 7. All organizations and institutions of whatever 
 character — civic, business, labor, educational, religious, 
 fraternal, literary, social, and others — are urged to plan 
 for a "George Washington Year" in 1932. 
 
 8. The United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission, Washington Building, Washington, 
 D. C, will send literature and suggestions for local pro- 
 grams to any committee, organization or group that 
 will write for them. 
 
 Mr. Bloom Promises Cooperation 
 
 The Hon. Sol Bloom, Associate Director of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, replied to Dr. Wirth's letter, expressing gratifi- 
 cation that the Americans in Germany have already be- 
 gun their preparations and promising that literature 
 would be supplied to the Berlin Committee from Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 "We are glad to learn," said Mr. Bloom in his letter, 
 "of the extensive plans which you and your assistants 
 are making in this connection. It is the desire of this 
 Commission that the Celebration in 1932 will be not 
 only nation-wide, but world-wide." 
 
34 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The George Washington Bicentennial Committee in 
 Stuttgart, Germany, has decided that the most fitting 
 way to commemorate the celebration there would con- 
 sist in the presentation of an initial library of American 
 books to the Technical High School at Stuttgart. Ac- 
 cording to Leon Dominian, American Consul General in 
 Charge, it is the intention of the committee that the 
 collection of American publications to be presented now 
 should form the nucleus of an American section in the 
 library and that this collection should be known as "The 
 George Washington Memorial Section." 
 
 It is believed that a fund of about $10,000 can be 
 raised for this purpose through the generosity of Amer- 
 ican residents in Stuttgart, he says, one-half of the 
 amount obtained to be spent immediately on the pur- 
 chase of books by American authors. The other half 
 will constitute the first fund in the establishment of an 
 endowment, the proceeds of which will be used to in- 
 sure yearly additions of new American publications to 
 the Memorial Library. 
 
 Massachusetts to Act as Host to Visitors in 1932 
 
 During the celebration next year of the two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington, 
 the tourist traffic to the State of Massachusetts will be 
 considerably augmented by many thousands of people 
 who will visit the Bay State, attracted by the numerous 
 places of historic interest in which this commonwealth 
 abounds. This statement is justified by an estimate 
 made by the Division of Information and Publication 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 
News Releases 35 
 
 Commission on the basis of figures submitted by promi- 
 nent road authorities of the United States, which indi- 
 cate that 1932 will be an outstanding year in tourist 
 traffic. 
 
 Massachusetts is able to boast of many places closely 
 connected with the life of George Washington, and to 
 these shrines thousands upon thousands of Americans 
 will direct their courses next year. Lexington and Con- 
 cord, where the "shot heard around the world" was 
 fired; Bunker Hill, the scene of a gallant resistance by 
 raw militia lines against a British regular force; Boston, 
 where the Revolutionary War began in earnest with 
 General Washington's siege of that place in 1775; and 
 the many other historic places and incidents of note in 
 Massachusetts will attract numerous visitors in 1932. 
 
 The Bay State's opposition to the measures by which 
 the British ministries attempted to curb the spirit of 
 freedom in the Colonies paved the way for the Declara- 
 tion of Independence and the complete severance of 
 colonial relations between England and her American 
 dependencies. The names of John and Samuel Adams, 
 the Warrens, and John Hancock stand preeminent 
 among those whose activities and leadership directed the 
 colonists toward independence. It was the attitude 
 taken by Massachusetts that caused Great Britain to 
 look upon the Colony as a hotbed of sedition. 
 
 George Washington first visited Massachusetts in 
 1756, when he went to Boston to lay before Governor 
 Shirley the troublesome question of military precedence 
 raised by the action of the British Captain Dagworthy 
 at Fort Cumberland. On this journey Colonel Wash- 
 ington presented a gallant appearance, and the impres- 
 
36 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 sion he made on his countrymen was a lasting one. As 
 the Commander in Chief of Virginia's militia and as 
 the young officer who had distinguished himself at Brad- 
 dock's defeat, his name was already well known through- 
 out the Colonies, and he was given a flattering reception 
 all along the way. The trip was made in February and 
 Washington remained in Boston 10 days, during which 
 time he attended sessions of the Massachusetts Legisla- 
 ture and various social functions. The house in which 
 Shirley received him still stands. 
 
 The next time Washington saw Boston was when he 
 assumed his position as Commander in Chief of the 
 Continental Army early in July, 1775. At Cambridge 
 he established headquarters first in what is now Wads- 
 worth House, the official residence of the presidents of 
 Harvard College. In a few weeks Washington moved 
 to Vassall House, known later as the Craigie House, a 
 very handsome colonial mansion, which he occupied 
 until his departure for New York April 4 of the fol- 
 lowing year. This building was afterwards the home 
 of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and still is owned by 
 the Longfellow family. 
 
 When General Howe evacuated Boston March 17, 
 1776, after an occupation of nearly a year, the seat of 
 operations was transferred to New York. Washington 
 did not visit the State again until October, 1789, when, 
 as President of the United States, he made a good-will 
 tour of the New England States. 
 
 On this good-will tour the first Massachusetts town 
 which Washington visited was Springfield, where he was 
 greatly interested in the arsenal. Other places which 
 
News Releases 37 
 
 welcomed the President were Leicester, Worcester, Marl- 
 borough, Cambridge, and Charlestown. 
 
 President Washington reached Boston on the morning 
 of October 24 and remained in the city until the 29th. 
 In his diary he notes the reception with which he was 
 welcomed and which revealed the great esteem in which 
 he was held by the people. They had not forgotten how 
 much they owed to the former commander for the relief 
 he brought to Boston when he forced the British to 
 evacuate. While in the city at this time he attended 
 an oratorio and an "Assembly," at which, he writes, 
 **There were upwards of a hundred ladies." The diary 
 goes on to say of the ladies, "Their appearance was 
 elegant, and many of them very handsome." His stay 
 in the future Hub City was most pleasant, according to 
 the record he kept. George Washington never returned 
 to Massachusetts — this was the last of his three journeys 
 to the Bay State. 
 
 Massachusetts has always played an important part 
 in the history of the United States, and the people of 
 the Bay State may well be proud of her record during 
 the Revolutionary War. Among the leaders of that 
 conflict the names of her citizens occupy a prominent 
 place. Now that the time has come to honor the 
 memory of the great founder of this country, Massa- 
 chusetts has signified her intention to participate in 
 the celebration next year of George Washington's two 
 hundredth birthday anniversary. 
 
 Acting in harmony with the suggestion and invita- 
 tion of Congress, Gov. Frank G. Allen has appointed 
 the following State Bicentennial Commission: Dr. Albert 
 Bushnell Hart, of Cambridge, chairman; Gen. Clarence 
 
ii Washington Bicentennial 
 
 R. Edwards, of Westwood; Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird, of 
 East Walpole; Mr. Thomas F. Ratigan, of Watertown; 
 Mr. Alexander Brin, of Boston; Joseph Legare, of 
 Lowell; Col. Robert E. Green, of Brookline; Gustave 
 W. Everberg, of Woburn; Mrs. Stephen P. Hurd, of 
 East Milton; Prof. Frank Vogel, of Jamaica Plain; 
 Charles H. Hastings, of Lynn; Felix Forte, of Somer- 
 ville; Francis Prescott, of Grafton ;Alphonse S. Bacho- 
 rowski, of Salem; Mrs. Carl L. Schrader, of Belmont; 
 Mrs. William G. D wight, of Holyoke; and Charles Fair- 
 hurst, of Greenfield. Dr. Hart, chairman of the Mas; 
 sachusetts Commission, is also historian of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The Committee on Organization and Celebration, 
 which is the active, everyday directing influence, is com- 
 posed as follows: Col. Robert E. Green, Alexander Brin, 
 Francis Prescott, and Mrs. Carl L. Schrader. This com- 
 mittee is now requesting the State legislature to provide 
 an adequate appropriation for the celebration. 
 
 George de Benneville Keim Appointed 
 New Jersey Chairman 
 
 George de Benneville Keim, secretary of the National 
 Republican Committee, governor general of the Gen- 
 eral Society of Colonial Wars, and commissioner of the 
 Port of New York Authority, has been appointed by 
 Gov. Morgan F. Larson to head the New Jersey State 
 Commission of 77 leading men and women for the cele- 
 bration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of George Washington in 1932. 
 
 Besides Mr. Keim, other nationally known appointees 
 
News Releases 39 
 
 are: Walter E. Edge, ambassador to France, Senator 
 Dwight W. Morrow, Prof. Arthur Adams, Senator 
 Hamilton Fish Kean, Thomas W. Lamont, Franklin W. 
 Fort, John Grier Hibben, president of Princeton Uni- 
 versity, Bishop Paul Matthews, Col. Franklin D'Olier, 
 Bishop Wilson I. Stearly, David Baird, Jr., Bishop 
 Thomas J. Walsh, Charles Lathrop Pack, Miss Mabel S. 
 Douglass, A. Harry Moore, and Bishop John J. 
 McMahon. 
 
 Mr. Keim is admirably equipped to lead the New 
 Jersey Commission in its celebration exercises honoring 
 George Washington next year. A member of one of 
 America's oldest families, Mr. Keim has for many years 
 been associated with the leading State and national civic 
 and patriotic organizations. 
 
 Besides Mr. Keim's affiliation with the General Society 
 of Colonial Wars, he is also associated with the Society 
 of the Cincinnati, Sons of the Revolution, Society of 
 the War of 1 8 12, and the Huguenot Society of America. 
 
 Mr. Keim is also a member of the Welcome Society, 
 the National Security League, the Navy League, the 
 Pan American Society of the United States, and the 
 New Jersey Historical Society. 
 
 Congressman Sol Bloom, associate director of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, when notified of Mr. Keim's appointment, said: 
 
 "I know of no man better equipped, by birth, 
 experience, and enthusiasm, to carry out the Bicenten- 
 nial Celebration in the historic State of New Jersey. 
 
 "I have known Mr. Keim personally for a long time, 
 and I am looking forward with pleasure to begin work- 
 ing with him in this great project. 
 
40 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "The two hundredth anniversary of the birth of 
 George Washington will be celebrated throughout the 
 Nation. The State of New Jersey, because of its his- 
 toric heritage, must necessarily play a leading part in 
 this celebration. With the appointment of Mr. Keim, 
 I look for full cooperation and harmony between the 
 New Jersey State George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission and the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission." 
 
 The Twelve George Washington Programs 
 
 Twelve elaborate programs, divided into 48 sub- 
 topics, portraying the personality, character, and 
 achievements of George Washington, have been com- 
 pleted by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 These programs are now available to schools, colleges, 
 and other educational institutions, as well as to patriotic 
 societies, clubs, and organizations desiring to take part 
 in the bicentennial celebration next year. They will be 
 furnished upon request without charge. 
 
 The programs are interesting and informative. Each 
 of the 48 topics is complete in itself, with all of the 
 papers supplementing each other. They bring out the 
 sources of talents and qualities contributing to the har- 
 monious union of intellectual and moral powers which 
 George Washington possessed and show, step by step, 
 their development. 
 
 Speakers and writers who desire to prepare their own 
 material will find these programs of great assistance as 
 a basis for their presentation of the various subjects. 
 
News Releases 41 
 
 Following is a list of the papers prepared on subjects 
 in the program: 
 
 1. Family Relationships of George Washington, — 
 Family name of Washington — derivations and changes; 
 paternal ancestry; maternal ancestry; brothers, sisters, 
 nieces, and nephews; stepchildren and step-grand- 
 children. 
 
 2. Homes of George Washington. — Birthplace and 
 early history of Wakefield and Mount Vernon; Wash- 
 ington homestead on the Rappahannock River; Mount 
 Vernon; migratory abiding places; military headquar- 
 ters; presidential mansions. 
 
 3. Youth and Manhood of George Washington. — 
 The boyhood of George Washington and his rules of 
 civility; travels, pursuits, and ideals (pre-Revolu- 
 tionary period) ; the man himself; George Washington, 
 his friends and enemies. 
 
 4. The Mother of George Washington. — Mary Ball 
 in early life; Mary Ball Washington as wife and mother; 
 Mary Ball Washington in later life. 
 
 5. George Washington, the Man of Sentiment. — 
 George Washington the son; George Washington the 
 country squire; George Washington the husband. 
 
 6. George Washington, the Man of Action. — George 
 Washington the surveyor; George Washington the sol- 
 dier; through the French and Indian War; George 
 Washington the commander in chief; George Wash- 
 ington the farmer; George Washington the citizen. 
 
 7. George Washington, the Christian. — Inherited 
 religious attitude; George Washington as a Christian: 
 In military experience; George Washington as a Chris- 
 tian: Revealed religious conviction. 
 
42 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 8. George Washington, the Leader of Men. — George 
 Washington: Patron of education; George Washington, 
 Leader in advancement of civilization; George Wash- 
 ington, President of the United States of America; 
 George Washington, a leader in philanthropy. 
 
 9. The Social Life of George Washington. — Social 
 life of childhood home; social life before the Revolu- 
 tion: At Williamsburg and Mount Vernon; social life 
 in later years. 
 
 10. George Washington, the Builder of the Nation. — 
 Military experience under British rule; changing views 
 on British rule; creation and organization of a new 
 nation. 
 
 11. George Washington, the President (1789- 
 1797) . — Triumphant journey as President-elect; first 
 term of the first President; the first presidential tours: 
 New England, Long Island, and Rhode Island; the 
 southern tour; second term of President Washington 
 (1793-1797). 
 
 12. The Home Making of George and Martha Wash- 
 ington. — Colonel and Mrs. Washington in residence be- 
 fore the Revolution; war-time households; presidential 
 households; last years at Mount Vernon. 
 
 Aid for Teachers in Bicentennial Work 
 
 The United States Commissioner of Education, 
 Dr. Wm. John Cooper, is cooperating in a very 
 practical manner with the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission. At his request, Miss 
 Florence C. Fox, office specialist in elementary educa- 
 tion, is preparing a pamphlet for the use of the schools 
 in celebrating the anniversary of Washington's birth. 
 
News Releases 43 
 
 Where to find appropriate material for the different 
 phases of the work will be the problem confronting the 
 teacher who attempts to arrange programs that will 
 depict the life and character of Washington and at the 
 same time will fit into the current work of the school. 
 The Office of Education endeavors to do this by point- 
 ing the way to sources of information on several topics. 
 
 There is the reading matter that can be put directly 
 into the hands of the pupils, books for the youngest 
 readers from 6 to 9 years old, for the intermediate and 
 upper-grade pupils from 10 to 14 years old, and for the 
 high-school pupils from 15 to 18 years. Besides this 
 reading material there are reference books for pupils 
 with annotations, some of them about Washington and 
 some about America at the time of Washington. 
 
 Then there are the lists of songs and minuets from 
 old colonial days, and the patriotic songs and marches 
 used in the schools today. Several picture companies 
 offer appropriate pictures, which schools may purchase, 
 costing from 1 cent per copy for packets of 20 in small 
 sizes, to 25 or 30 cents each in larger sizes. 
 
 A few poems have been found and listed that may 
 be used as recitations in celebration programs. Games 
 and outlines for original plays and dramatizations are 
 given as material for the use of teachers. One of the 
 essentials in the modern school curriculum is the cor- 
 related activity without which a Washington celebra- 
 tion would be incomplete. Suggestions for these ac- 
 tivities in graphic and plastic form and in the industrial 
 arts are included. References are also added for the 
 teacher's use in preparing lessons for pupils from origi- 
 nal source material, which may be secured from 
 
44 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. 
 
 Colleges Pleased With Washington Study Course 
 
 That the teachers of America will take a most 
 important part in the coming celebration of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington is indicated by the enthusiastic response with 
 which they are availing themselves of the offer of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission to furnish them with an "Appreciation Course" 
 on the first President. 
 
 This study course has been prepared particularly for 
 teachers and deals with the life and achievements of 
 George Washington; a history of the period in which 
 he lived; a study of the area selected by Washington 
 as the site for the Nation's Capital; and a correlation 
 of this course with the other subjects of the elementary 
 curriculum. 
 
 In a letter sent recently to presidents of the normal 
 schools and colleges of the Nation, an announcement 
 of this course was made, setting forth its object, which 
 is the development of an American consciousness of the 
 bicentennial, a focusing of an active, nation-wide in- 
 terest in the life and achievements of George Wash- 
 ington and a proper interpretation and application of a 
 higher conception of American citizenship. 
 
 The responses to this letter have been most gratifying. 
 They indicate a splendid spirit of cooperation and show 
 the wide interest the colleges are exhibiting. Space per- 
 mits extracts from only a few of the many letters of 
 
News Releases 45 
 
 acceptance of the appreciation course which have been 
 received from practically every State in the Union. 
 
 The president of a teachers' college in Virginia, the 
 State in which Washington was born, writes: 
 
 "I wish to express appreciation of the offer in your 
 letter. We plan to give such a course in this school in 
 the semester from September, 1931, to January, 1932." 
 
 A prominent Ohio college president replies: 
 
 "Of course, we shall observe the George Washington 
 Bicentennial this year, and to that end we shall be 
 pleased to receive a copy of your George Washington 
 appreciation course and any other material you may 
 have for free distribution." 
 
 The head of a Montana normal college writes: 
 
 "We are following the suggestion of your recent 
 communication and including in our required American 
 history courses for 1932 the George Washington appre- 
 ciation course. Our catalogue copy is now being pre- 
 pared, in which this announcement will appear. We 
 are offering this specialized work to all students who 
 take the course during 1932." 
 
 The Keystone State is enthusiastic and carries the 
 work into the practice school as well as the teachers' 
 college. The president of a prominent college of that 
 State writes: 
 
 "We shall be glad to cooperate at State Teachers' 
 College for the 1932 celebration. We shall want to em- 
 phasize this in the college, junior high school, depart- 
 ment of the training school, and the elementary school." 
 
 A North Dakota college president says: 
 
 "This institution is expecting to offer the George 
 Washington course in our summer quarter and also next 
 
46 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 year. We shall be glad to be kept informed of every- 
 thing that would interest instructors in this course. 
 The announcement will appear in the annual catalogue 
 of the institution when it is issued." 
 
 Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic 
 Arts, which has made a national reputation for its 
 efficiency, writes: 
 
 "You and your Commission are doing a work of the 
 greatest service and effectiveness in the organization and 
 promotion of this great observance. That is the only 
 way to make the observance truly national in its sig- 
 nificance and influence. Those of us who are directly 
 concerned in the teaching and writing of our national 
 history will welcome every opportunity to cooperate to 
 the fullest in the splendid work of your Commission." 
 
 A Montana college shows adaptability in arranging 
 its schedule to embrace this opportunity. The presi- 
 dent of this institution writes: 
 
 "The head of our history department has made the 
 brilliant suggestion that he change his early American 
 history course which is offered for certificate purposes 
 and is also accepted for normal school graduation, so it 
 becomes really a George Washington course for this 
 summer." 
 
 Educational Data on Washington 
 
 That the schools and colleges of the United States 
 are availing themselves of the 12 programs just com- 
 pleted by the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission, portraying the character, per- 
 sonality, and achievements of George Washington, is 
 indicated by the large number of requests received by 
 
News Releases 47 
 
 the Commission for these papers, which are furnished 
 free of charge. 
 
 The 12 programs are divided into 48 subtopics, each 
 of them complete in itself, with all of the papers sup- 
 plementing each other. They are characterized by .a 
 strong educational value, as well as the merit of histori- 
 cal accuracy, and should prove of unusual interest to 
 all educational institutions. 
 
 Each paper for each topic treats its subject as com- 
 pletely as is possible within the average time allotted 
 to a program address, thus giving to the reader or au- 
 dience the benefit of more extensive and condensed data 
 than is readily found in most of the books dealing with 
 Washington, which usually touch upon his entire life 
 rather than some particular portion of it or a special 
 achievement. 
 
 A particularly interesting document is that covering 
 Washington's ancestral background on both sides of his 
 family. Back into English records for more than 700 
 years the name of Washington has been traced to its 
 first appearance. Its origin, the various changes in its 
 spelling, the notable Washingtons, soldiers, churchmen, 
 lawyers, and landowners who have kept it within the 
 annals of English history in each century, show the 
 family line and traits down to the great-grandfather 
 of George, who came to America in 1657 and estab- 
 lished the family homestead at Bridges Creek, Va. Inti- 
 mate glimpses of the happy family life of George Wash- 
 ington with his brothers and sisters, nephews, nieces, and 
 step-children and step-grandchildren are revealed. 
 
 With the same care the various homes and abiding 
 places of George Washington are given in their proper 
 
48 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 place in his life, from Bridges Creek, his birthplace, to 
 Mount Vernon, his last resting place. In these also are 
 shown the limitations and exactions as well as the 
 elegancies and social routine of the presidential 
 households. 
 
 Both adults and children will be thrilled with the 
 stories of the boyhood, youth, and manhood of the first 
 President. His playmates, pastimes, amusements, ath- 
 letics, talks, school and home discipline, his rules of 
 civility, his disappointment at his mother's veto on his 
 going to sea, bring the reader to his first employment 
 as a surveyor's assistant under Lord Fairfax's patronage. 
 
 He is shown in his favorite role of the happy and 
 contented farmer, when he introduced the newest meth- 
 ods of planting, cultivating, and harvesting. He bought 
 the most recently invented machinery of the time and 
 experimented continually when he was at home. 
 
 As a business man and engineer, he visualized the 
 future greatness of the United States, and a section of 
 the program shows in an interesting manner how he 
 personally supported and assisted all enterprises that 
 had for their objective the development of transporta- 
 tion and communication between inland settlements and 
 coastal towns for the advancement of colonization and 
 commerce. 
 
 Among other characteristics of Washington por- 
 trayed by the programs are his attitude on religion, his 
 experiences as a soldier, as a patron of education, as a 
 leader in philanthropy, as President of the United 
 States, and his last years at Mount Vernon. 
 
 In addition to schools and colleges, speakers and 
 writers desiring to prepare their own material will find 
 
News Releases 49 
 
 these programs of great assistance as a basis for their 
 presentation of the various subjects. 
 
 Make Washington Your Ideal 
 
 That George Washington set an example which 
 present-day citizens and public officials might well 
 emulate is the opinion expressed by ¥m. John Cooper, 
 United States Commissioner of Education. In discuss- 
 ing the coming Bicentennial Celebration, he said: 
 
 "Judging from current events there is reason to 
 believe that this country is passing through a very 
 serious crisis. Since we are not at war it is not likely 
 to be considered seriously by the average citizen as was 
 the crisis which threatened disunion. Because we have 
 had nearly a century and a half of unparalleled growth 
 and have reached a position of world leadership, we are 
 unlikely to compare this situation with that which 
 Washington's generation faced. Nevertheless, I am con- 
 fident that our people confront a major crisis, ranking 
 in seriousness with those faced by the generations of 
 Washington and Lincoln and fraught with the conse- 
 quences perhaps no less momentous. If our country 
 is to survive this economic and social storm, we must 
 have some careful thinking and patriotic activity. 
 
 "It is well, therefore, that at this juncture we pause 
 to consider carefully the principles upon which this 
 Nation is founded, to analyze the qualities of citizen- 
 ship which are required for its preservation, and to dis- 
 cover the kind of leadership which successful adminis- 
 tration of our democracy demands. An immediate 
 occasion for making studies of these kinds is afforded 
 by the approaching two hundredth anniversary of the 
 
50 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 birth of George Washington. In all of our schools and 
 colleges, in our churches, through our press, effort 
 should be made to enable the average citizen to recon- 
 struct in his own thinking the situation which existed 
 when the independence of this country was achieved. 
 To do this Washington and his generation must be 
 stripped of all the myth and legend which have been 
 accumulated for nearly two centuries and their sterling 
 human qualities allowed to appear. No one can se- 
 riously doubt the value that could come to the Republic 
 in this day of greatness from an imitation by its present- 
 day citizens and its officials of those qualities which 
 made the founders, and particularly the first President 
 of this country, great. Obviously this is not possible 
 if Washington is regarded as a demigod. Every leader 
 in public life should aim to attain Washington's 
 stature. In so doing he will increase his own stature. 
 Every citizen should aim to achieve the independence 
 and self-reliance of Washington's generation, otherwise 
 government may become the master of a generation of 
 weaklings or the "Great Father" of a race of depend- 
 ents. Let us study Washington as our ideal and put 
 forth every effort to realize that ideal." 
 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission Offers Material to Libraries 
 
 Through the cooperation of the American Library 
 Association with the Library Department of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 special service is tendered to libraries in making their 
 selection of materials for use by organizations, schools, 
 and homes in connection with the celebration in 1932 
 
News Releases 51 
 
 of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 The Bicentennial Commission is prepared to furnish 
 selected material, upon request, without cost, covering 
 in condensed form practically every aspect of the life 
 of George Washington. This material has been com- 
 piled by the staff of the commission and by special 
 writers, under the supervision of Dr. Albert Bushnell 
 Hart, historian of the Commission. 
 
 Each library will be supplied with a complete set of 
 material listed below for its reference room. Addi- 
 tional sets, for circulation and branch libraries, will be 
 supplied on request. 
 
 Bibliography: Selected lists of books about George 
 Washington, recommended by the American Library 
 Association. These lists will be based upon the needs 
 and scope of the small as well as the large libraries. 
 
 Handbook: Prepared for use in the presentation of 
 the George Washington Appreciation Course to be fur- 
 nished to the Teachers' Colleges and Normal Schools 
 of the Nation. This hand book contains the outline of 
 the course covering a period of 12 weeks. Sources of 
 the material for presentation are given to aid teachers 
 of the United States in their participation in the nation- 
 wide celebration in 1932. 
 
 Honor to Washington: A series of 16 pamphlets, 
 edited by Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart, official historian, 
 under the following titles: "Frontier Background of 
 Washington's Career," "Washington the Man of Mind," 
 "Tributes to Washington," "Washington the Farmer," 
 "Washington the Business Man," "Washington as a Re- 
 ligious Man," "Washington the Colonial and National 
 
52 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Statesman," "Washington and the Constitution," 
 "Washington as President," "Washington the Proprietor 
 of Mount Vernon," "Washington the Military Man," 
 "Washington the Traveler," "Washington as Engineer 
 and City Builder," "Washington's Home and Fraternal 
 Life," "Race Element in Washington's Time," "Classi- 
 fied Washington Bibliography." 
 
 Juvenile Department: Programs, playlets, dances, 
 games, cantatas, historical maps, costume cut-outs, and 
 Braille stories. 
 
 Pageantry and Plays: Including pageants of different 
 lengths adapted to the use of large and relatively small 
 groups of participants, with instructions as to scenery, 
 costumes, properties, organization, and production. 
 Plays for radio broadcast will be furnished on request 
 to responsible organizations, groups, dramatic societies, 
 and schools. The materials furnished to consist of text 
 dialogues complete in details, scenes, stage direction, 
 instruction, and so on. 
 
 Portraits of George Washington for display in 
 libraries and schools. 
 
 Posters calling attention to books about George 
 Washington. 
 
 Programs and supplemental papers for patriotic 
 societies, clubs, and other organizations, and for educa- 
 tional institutions, covering 12 main topics and 48 sub- 
 topics, as follows: 
 
 "Homes of George Washington," with six subtopics. 
 "Youth and Manhood of George Washington," with 
 four subtopics. "The Mother of George Washington," 
 with three subtopics. "George Washington the Man of 
 Sentiment," with three subtopics. "George Washington 
 
News Releases 53 
 
 the Man of Action in Military and Civil Life," with six 
 subtopics. "George Washington the Christian," with 
 three subtopics. "George Washington the Leader of 
 Men," with three subtopics. "The Social Life of George 
 Washington," with three subtopics. "George Washing- 
 ton the Builder of the Nation," with three subtopics. 
 "George Washington the President," with five subtopics. 
 "The Home Making of George and Martha Washing- 
 ton," with four subtopics. 
 
 To augment the material now assembled, the Library 
 Department of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission is seeking intimate bits of un- 
 published history having a direct bearing upon scenes 
 connected with the life and achievements of George 
 Washington. Many incidents can be obtained only 
 through family records and well-founded tradition, such 
 incidents that have not been heralded in song or story 
 but depict the courage and heroism of the men and 
 women who have gone about their daily tasks in a quiet 
 and matter of fact way, and have arisen, in times of 
 stress, to meet unprecedented occasions. 
 
 Just as Massachusetts had its Paul Revere, Virginia its 
 Jack Jouett, and North Carolina its Mary Slocum, who 
 sprang into action when occasion arose, so, too, did 
 other localities have heroes and heroines whose services 
 were of material aid in the carving out of a new coun- 
 try, winning its independence, and organizing a well- 
 ordered Government. 
 
 Each community might well feature the ancestors of 
 some of its residents in local plays or pageants, or in 
 special scenes which can be embodied by the local 
 dramatic committee into the texts that are being pre- 
 
54 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 pared under the supervision of the pageantry depart- 
 ment of the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 The Commission will welcome any suggestions that 
 may be offered. Responses should be addressed to the 
 Library Department, United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission, Washington Building, Wash- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 Library Idea Liked 
 
 It has been decided, he states, that there will be no 
 limitation to the type of publication to be included in 
 the Memorial Library and that any branch of human 
 knowledge and endeavor about which American authors 
 have written could be represented in the collection of 
 the books thus formed. In conclusion, he writes: 
 
 "The committee decided on this form of commemo- 
 rating the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of 
 George Washington after considering several proposals 
 which included the sending of German young men to 
 American schools and the exchange of teachers between 
 the United States and Germany. All things considered, 
 it was found that the erection of a library of American 
 works in this city would constitute a permanent achieve- 
 ment as well as insure the possibility of a wide diffusion 
 of American thought and achievement among students 
 in this section of Germany." 
 
 Information is being forwarded to the Commission 
 by the State Department from foreign countries in all 
 parts of the world, telling of the plans of the Ameri- 
 cans residing in these countries to participate in the 
 
News Releases 55 
 
 celebration by local ceremonies at various times during 
 the year. 
 
 Among the countries from which news of these ac- 
 tivities has been received, either through the State De- 
 partment or in correspondence received directly by the 
 Commission, are: Great Britain, France, Italy, Aus- 
 tria, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, India, China, 
 French Indo-China, Japan, and most of the countries 
 of Latin America. 
 
 Plays and Pageants for Schools 
 
 Of all the lives of great Americans, George Wash- 
 ington's diversified career affords to the schools of the 
 country an unusual opportunity for portrayal in 
 pageantry. 
 
 Because of the ever-growing tendency on the part of 
 educational institutions and communities to use this 
 form of drama not only for the reenactment of history 
 but as a means of revelation of life itself, the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 has engaged a specially qualified staff to direct and to 
 prepare pageants suitable for the various grades and 
 different sized groups and for indoor and outdoor pro- 
 duction that will depict with dramatic accuracy signifi- 
 cant scenes from the life of Washington. 
 
 The pageant, perhaps more than any other subject of 
 education, calls for the coordinating and synthesizing 
 of school activities working toward its production. 
 Students in history, English, fine arts, domestic, practi- 
 cal, and mechanical arts may all have a part, through 
 their own skill and study, in the creation and in the 
 expression of the allied arts inherent in the pageant. 
 
56 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 There is being prepared a set of 18 one-act plays 
 which will cover the whole range of George Washing- 
 ton's life from boyhood to manhood; the period when 
 he founded the Nation; as President, statesman, 
 farmer, and engineer. They will graphically portray 
 the true character of our first President, and will be 
 prepared for production on the stage as well as radio. 
 
 A comprehensive reference list of all pageants and 
 plays that have already been written on the theme of 
 George Washington, along with those that are planned 
 to be written and published during the present year, is 
 being compiled. This list, as well as pageant scenarios, 
 and the plays will be completed in the autumn and sent 
 upon request, without charge, to superintendents and 
 teachers desiring it. 
 
 The list will include, among other information, the 
 number of episodes or acts, length of performance, the 
 number of characters and groups as related to sex and 
 age, scenery requirements, and other data that will prove 
 of service. 
 
 A small manual on "How to Produce a George Wash- 
 ington Pageant" will also be written and distributed. 
 For this purpose Miss Esther Willard Bates, professor 
 of drama at Boston University, has been engaged. She 
 prepared a similar manual upon the occasion of the Mas- 
 sachusetts Bay Tercentenary anniversary observance last 
 year and is the author of "How to Produce a Pageant," 
 a book of exceptional help to any teacher interested in 
 this subject. In the last edition of the "Encyclopedia 
 Britannica" Miss Bates wrote the article on pageantry. 
 
 Percy MacKaye, the playwright, and outstanding 
 exponent and writer of community drama in this coun- 
 
News Releases 57 
 
 try, has been engaged to write a pageant upon the 
 theme of George Washington, which will lay particular 
 stress upon the spiritual significance of his character and 
 services. This will be ready for distribution in the 
 autumn. 
 
 Reliving Washington's Life in Pageantry 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission began its work of planning the celebration 
 of Washington's two hundredth birthday anniversary 
 in 1932 with the aim of carrying this celebration to the 
 people rather than staging some one extensive central 
 commemoration. In line with this aim, the Commis- 
 sion early arranged the writing and publication, as well 
 as the selection, of plays and pageants for groups and 
 communities all over the United States. 
 
 Nothing helps more to an understanding of the facts 
 of history and the lives of great men than to see strik- 
 ing incidents in their careers reenacted. Participation 
 in these events intensifies interest and enthusiasm and 
 makes more real and sincere the honor that is being 
 accorded. 
 
 In arranging these plays, playlets, and pageants the 
 Bicentennial Commission has aimed to make them ac- 
 curate yet simple, so that any and all members of a 
 community may have a part and thus actually par- 
 ticipate in the celebration. 
 
 As study and care are needed to insure accuracy and 
 completeness in these dramatizations of Washington's 
 life and times, much thought has yet to be put upon 
 them, but already the experts engaged by the Bicen- 
 tennial Commission have received a great number of 
 
58 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 requests for these plays and pageants. It is gratifying 
 evidence of the nation-wide interest already awakened 
 in this commemoration of George Washington. 
 
 To keep this interest alive and growing it is the desire 
 of Percy J. Burrell, the authority on pageants engaged 
 by the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission to direct its Department of Pageantry, that 
 all persons or groups in the United States, wherever they 
 are, should notify this department of their plans, so that 
 helpful material may be sent them as soon as it is ready. 
 Members of various communities are writing original 
 plays and pageants. This splendid initiative the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 wishes to encourage to the utmost. The names and 
 addresses of these people are wanted at once. 
 
 The one caution urged is that this material from the 
 Bicentennial Commission be not expected before next 
 autumn, as time is required in its preparation and organi- 
 zation. Every care, for example, is being exercised in 
 order that designs for costumes and settings shall be 
 accurate to the last detail. The same attention is being 
 paid to the dramatic material itself. All summer the 
 artists and others in the Pageant Department will be 
 engaged in this work, so that all that pertains to pre- 
 senting Washington's career in pageant form may be 
 complete and available in plenty of time for rehearsal 
 and release during the bicentennial year. 
 
 By autumn of 1931 all instructions regarding the 
 various uniforms of the Revolutionary Army, and the 
 costumes worn by the women of the time, will be ready 
 in accurate plates, together with patterns for the 
 making of this apparel. Nothing will be overlooked 
 
News Releases 59 
 
 in assisting toward the presentation of these enactments 
 of incidents and events of these former colorful days. 
 Even when this pageant material has been distributed 
 and placed in rehearsal, the experts of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission will be 
 ready at all times to offer suggestions and advice. 
 
 Finally, helpful material pertaining to the proper 
 staging of these revivals of historic people and scenes 
 will be available in such quantity that no school, church, 
 society, club, community group, or other gathering de- 
 siring to enter into this reverent and yet entertaining 
 activity need be without the means of carrying out their 
 desires. 
 
 Music Associated With Washington 
 
 Representative specimens of popular and concert 
 music which were in many ways associated with George 
 Washington and his times have been collected by the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, and will at a later date be issued in booklet 
 form, entitled "Music from the Days of George Wash- 
 ington." 
 
 The booklet will be of material assistance to those 
 arranging musical programs in connection with the bi- 
 centennial celebration in 1932. It should also be un- 
 usually interesting to students of eighteenth century 
 music which was in vogue at that time in the thirteen 
 Colonies. All students of early American musical his- 
 tory will probably be impressed by the large amount of 
 music written by our first composers in honor of George 
 Washington. His praise was sung in countless songs. 
 There were but few patriotic poems in those days which 
 
60 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 did not end with the glorification of his outstanding 
 personality, and the literature of musical compositions 
 written in his honor is quite large. 
 
 The first part of the collection is devoted to patriotic 
 and military music of the Revolutionary and post- 
 Revolutionary periods. It opens with the "President's 
 March," written in honor of Washington at the time 
 of his first inauguration in New York in 1789, and 
 was played for the first time when he attended a per- 
 formance at the John Street Theater. The march im- 
 mediately struck the public fancy. In 1798 Joseph 
 Hopkinson wrote an original song which was set to the 
 music of the "President's March" and became immortal 
 as "Hail Columbia." 
 
 A typical specimen of early American "descriptive 
 music," which will be available, is Hewitt's favorite 
 historic military sonata, "The Battle of Trenton," a 
 contemporary musical impression of Washington's 
 victory. 
 
 Washington was a devotee of concerts and operas. 
 Among the concerts which he attended was one given 
 in Philadelphia on June 12, 1787, by Alexander Reinagle, 
 a composer-performer who became an influential figure 
 in American musical life during the years which fol- 
 lowed. The first movement of one of Reinagle's un- 
 published piano sonatas, taken from the composer's 
 autograph in the Library of Congress, is included in this 
 pamphlet. 
 
 Among the vocal pieces the Commission has selected 
 is one of the "Seven Songs for the Harpsichord of Forte 
 Piano," written and composed in 1788 by Francis Hop- 
 kinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
 
News Releases 61 
 
 pendence, who dedicated the songs to Washington as 
 a token 01* affection and respect. In his gracious letter 
 of acknowledgment, dated Mount Vernon, February 5, 
 1789, Washington says in part: "I can neither sing one 
 of the songs nor raise a single note on any instrument 
 to convince the unbelieving. But I have, however, one 
 argument which will prevail with persons of true taste 
 (at least, in America) , I can tell them it is the produc- 
 tion of Mr. Hopkinson." 
 
 The above letter destroys the legend that Washington 
 knew how to "raise" the tones of the flute and violin. 
 
 Another song selected by the Commission is "The 
 Way-worn Traveler," a favorite of Washington's. He 
 derived great pleasure in having Nellie Custis, his 
 adopted daughter, play the song for him on the fine 
 harpsichord which he bought for her, and which may 
 still be seen at Mount Vernon. 
 
 A George Washington Atlas 
 
 The plans of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission for the publication of a com- 
 plete atlas of all localities associated with the travels and 
 activities of George Washington were launched today 
 in Philadelphia with a meeting of the regional commit- 
 tee for the States between New England and the Poto- 
 mac in the rooms of the Philadelphia Geographical So- 
 ciety. 
 
 The meeting was presided over by Dr. H. M. Lyden- 
 burg, assistant director, New York Public Library, 
 chairman of the regional committee, and was attended 
 
62 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 by George K. Osborne, librarian of Rutgers College, 
 New Brunswick, N. J.; Albert Cook Myers, Pennsyl- 
 vania Historical Society, Philadelphia; George H. Ryden, 
 State archivist, Newark, Del.; and Dr. Louis H. Die- 
 land, executive secretary and librarian, Peabody Insti- 
 tute, Baltimore. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission was represented at the meeting by Col. 
 Lawrence Martin, director of the Division of Maps, Li- 
 brary of Congress, chairman of the Commission's Atlas 
 Committee, and editor of the Atlas; and by Dr. Albert 
 Bushnell Hart, the Bicentennial Commission's official 
 historian. The National Geographic Society, which is 
 to publish the map, was also represented by A. H. Bum- 
 stead, its chief cartographer. 
 
 The atlas to be compiled and issued under authority 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission will be the first of its kind to present a 
 complete graphic record of the movements and activi- 
 ties, civil, military, and personal, of George Washington. 
 As already planned in outline, the volume will be of 
 great educational value and of absorbing interest. 
 
 Of full atlas size, the book will contain 48 plates of 
 maps, accompanied with a brief explanatory text, and 
 with a prefatory guide to their study. Half of these 
 48 plates will be reproductions of maps made by George 
 Washington himself. In the words of Colonel Martin, 
 the editor, they "cover fifty years of map-making on 
 the part of Washington." 
 
 During the past year, in shaping the material for this 
 atlas, Colonel Martin has unearthed 20 times the num- 
 
News Releases 63 
 
 ber of maps previously known to the Library of Con- 
 gress as having been made by George Washington. These 
 have been found in such scattered places of deposit as 
 the British Colonial Office, the Huntington Library, the 
 collections of the Virginia Historical Society, and in the 
 ownership of private parties. 
 
 By all odds the most interesting and historically valu- 
 able of these George Washington maps is one which he 
 made at the age of 1 5 years. This is a surveyor's sketch 
 map, lettered in the youthful hand of the budding sur- 
 veyor, "Map of Major Law. Washington's Turnip Field 
 at Mount Vernon, as Surveyed by me this 27th Day 
 of February, 1747/8. G. W." The form of dating, 
 which seems to imply some uncertainty in the mind of 
 young George, reflects his painstaking accuracy instead. 
 The change in the calendar at that period obliged him, 
 for the sake of exactness, to write the year in that man- 
 ner. 
 
 A still more youthful map made by Washington will 
 be included in the Atlas — a sketch of lands at Mount 
 Vernon made in 1746, when he was 14 years old. 
 
 Colonel Martin believes that his continued searches 
 will bring to light still other maps formerly unknown, 
 made by Washington himself or associated with his life 
 and times. 
 
 Another feature of new and special interest in the 
 atlas will be a map of the city of Philadelphia on which 
 will be marked many spots linked with Washington's 
 frequent visits there that have never before been in- 
 dicated. 
 
 For example, all the places where Washington is 
 
64 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 known to have lodged, first as a member of the Conti- 
 nental Congress, then as General in Chief of the Army, 
 and finally as President of the United States, will be 
 shown on the map. So also will be marked the location 
 of buildings or houses where he worked. Hitherto these 
 have been restricted to Carpenters Hall, Independence 
 Hall, and a few others. Now to these have been added 
 the sites of other quarters where he conferred with other 
 Revolutionary figures engaged in mapping out the fu- 
 ture of the country. 
 
 One place of outstanding historic interest to be in- 
 dicated is the house where Washington talked with 
 Betsy Ross on the design and making of the first Ameri- 
 can flag. The site of stores visited by Washington will 
 receive like attention, and one last point of particular 
 interest — the spot where every day at 12 noon the 
 methodical George Washington stopped to correct his 
 watch from an especially reliable clock. 
 
 At this first regional committee meeting in Philadel- 
 phia Colonel Martin, editor of the atlas, outlined his 
 plans for this definitive tracing of all Washington's 
 places of residence, travels on business or matters of 
 state, and all his military campaigns. The Representa- 
 tives from this region embacing New York, New Jersey, 
 Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland were asked for 
 their expert assistance in furnishing any rare and un- 
 published material, so that the atlas may be complete 
 to the last detail. 
 
 Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart, historian of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, ad- 
 dressed the group on the Commission's plans and pub- 
 
News Releases 65 
 
 lications, within which this atlas falls, and the relation 
 of these maps to the 1932 celebration of George Wash- 
 ington's two hundredth birth anniversary. As assem- 
 bled and distributed by the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission, this permanent graphic 
 record of Washington's birthplace and home, all the 
 places of his temporary residence, the routes of all his 
 travels, his battle maps, the lands he owned, and the 
 land and city surveying that he performed in the course 
 of a busy life, will not only lead to full understanding 
 of the great man to be celebrated in 1932; it will be 
 of lasting educational service to all posterity. 
 
 Blind of America Will Celebrate Washington's 
 Bicentennial 
 
 In keeping with its purpose that no group of people, 
 however small, shall be excluded from the 1932 celebra- 
 tion, the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission has established a Braille department to 
 carry the fruits of its varied activities to the 100,000 
 persons in the United States who must read embossed 
 print. 
 
 Miss Hazel B. Nielson and Miss Emma Perley Lincoln, 
 representing the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission at the 69 th Annual National 
 Education Association convention, point out that this 
 department has very many plans and projects under 
 way. Of special interest to educators are those designed 
 to make George Washington real to the sightless chil- 
 dren; quite as real as to their normal playmates. 
 
 The series of pamphlets "Honor to George Washing- 
 ton," edited by Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart, will be printed 
 
66 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 in Braille and distributed to the Braille Libraries and 
 Schools for the Blind throughout the United States. It 
 is hoped that a current issue may be published monthly 
 in Braille with the beginning of the school term next 
 fall, one for each classroom, bringing to the students 
 news of the celebration participation of the sighted 
 world and of their correlated schools; reprinting of 
 Colonial musical selections; and descriptions of Colonial 
 games especially adapted for their use. 
 
 School committees will be organized to disseminate 
 literature and information from the United States Com- 
 mission. Bicentennial Tree Planting programs will fea- 
 ture the individual Arbor Days of the several States in 
 these schools for the blind. 
 
 Pageants and plays will be made especially available 
 for the students without sight and every effort is being 
 made to help them participate with the sighted children 
 in their planned festivities. 
 
 Radio Programs to Play Important Part in 1932 
 Celebration 
 
 Elaborate plans providing for the utilization of the 
 country's radio systems during the nine months' cele- 
 bration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of George Washington, beginning February 22 and end- 
 ing on Thanksgiving Day in 1932, have practically been 
 completed by the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The major radio systems have enthusiastically volun- 
 teered their services, and the Commission is assured of 
 regular weekly broadcasts beginning next fall, when 
 
News Releases 67 
 
 the radio audiences will have an opportunity to hear 
 dramatic playlets, historically authentic, depicting color- 
 ful episodes in Washington's life, performed by leading 
 radio actors, and supplemented with appropriate musical 
 arrangements. 
 
 The Commission is also arranging for a series of 
 patriotic lectures by famous men and women on the 
 various periods of Washington's life. In this connection 
 it is planned to use electrical transcriptions for the many 
 individual radio stations which are not connected with 
 the major chains. In this way, every section of the 
 United States will be reached and residents of the re- 
 motest districts will enjoy the same program listened 
 to by the people in the larger communities. 
 
 One of the features of the patriotic radio program 
 is a nation-wide song service, which will be broadcast 
 with great soloists of the world as leaders. A special 
 program has also been arranged, which should prove of 
 the greatest benefit to schools and colleges whose stu- 
 dent bodies are devoting special study to the life and 
 career of George Washington. 
 
 Committee to Select Official Picture of Washington 
 
 From the many more or less authenticated portraits 
 of George Washington known to exist, and which were 
 painted by contemporary artists, some of them priceless 
 both for their artistic as well as historic interest, it is 
 proposed by the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission, acting specifically under the 
 authority of Congress, to select the one portrait which 
 will have official sanction and be issued in hundreds of 
 thousands of copies as a part of the observance in 1932 
 
68 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 Since the responsibility of making this selection is 
 necessarily within the field of the best professional au- 
 thority, the Commission has invited a committee of dis- 
 tinguished art critics to undertake the work of designat- 
 ing the official picture and of assisting in supervising its 
 reproduction in colors. At the invitation of Lieut. Col. 
 U. S. Grant 3d and Hon. Sol Bloom, associate directors 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, the members of this committee met in 
 Washington recently for organization and to discuss 
 plans of operation. Those present at the conference 
 were: Hon. Charles Moore, Detroit, chairman of the 
 Commission of Fine Arts; Mr. Ezra Winter, New York, 
 member of the Commission of Fine Arts; Dr. John C. 
 Fitzpatrick, chief of the Manuscript Division, Library 
 of Congress; Dr. Leicester B. Holland, chief of the Di- 
 vision of Fine Arts, Library of Congress; Col. Harrison 
 H. Dodge, superintendent of Mount Vernon, and Dr. 
 Albert Bushnell Hart, Cambridge, historian of the Com- 
 mission. Mr. Gari Melcher, the distinguished painter 
 of Falmouth, Va., member of the committee, was unable 
 to attend. 
 
 On behalf of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission, Colonel Grant explained the 
 general purposes of the United States Commission and 
 the request was made of the members of the committee 
 to undertake the selection of the official portrait by such 
 methods as the committee might determine. 
 
 The committee was organized with Dr. Holland as 
 chairman. Several suggestions were discussed relative 
 
News Releases 69 
 
 to methods of procedure and it was decided that the 
 various members of the committee would collect and 
 identify as many examples of Washington portraiture 
 as possible for the consideration of the committee at its 
 next meeting, which will be held in the Fine Arts 
 Division of the Library of Congress the morning of 
 June 27. 
 
 This is the first time that a national body of profes- 
 sional critics has undertaken the work of choosing the 
 most authentic likeness of George Washington, and the 
 work will entail the examination of a great many por- 
 traits, most of which, of course, are well-known. There 
 are, however, other portraits in private ownership, which 
 the committee is anxious to examine and an appeal has 
 been made to the public generally to assist the commit- 
 tee in securing an opportunity to inspect such portraits. 
 It is desired that those having knowledge of authentic 
 portraits of Washington, known to have been painted 
 from life, get in touch with the chairman, Dr. Leicester 
 B. Holland, of the Library of Congress, so that the com- 
 mittee may take the necessary steps to include such pic- 
 tures in its survey. 
 
 The portrait finally selected will be used in the pub- 
 lication of the books, pamphlets and posters of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission for distribution throughout the United States, 
 and the stamp of approval by this committee to the 
 selected portrait, will give it the highest authoritative 
 endorsement and it is hoped bring to a satisfactory con- 
 clusion the contention as to which is the best likeness 
 of the first President, that has occupied artistic minds 
 for more than a century and a half. 
 
70 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Houdon Bust Official Washington Portrait 
 
 The Houdon bust of George Washington, at Mount 
 Vernon, has been chosen by the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission as the subject for 
 the official Washington portrait which it will distribute 
 over the country in its plans for organizing the Nation's 
 celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of Wash- 
 ington's birth in 1932. 
 
 In circulating this portrait of Washington, the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission will 
 make known to Americans the work of a great French- 
 man, recognized as one of the foremost portrait sculp- 
 tors of all time. Thus a further contribution will be 
 made toward payment of the debt which George Wash- 
 ington owed to Lafayette and to the French for timely 
 aid during the struggle for Independence. 
 
 Jean Antoine Houdon lived from 1741 to 1828. Born 
 the son of a domestic in the employ of a courtier, he 
 rose like Moliere to be an outstanding figure of the 
 eighteenth century and one of the glories of French 
 culture. While Houdon is known also for imaginative 
 sculpture, his fame rests chiefly on a series of 200 busts, 
 a collection forming one of the monuments of world 
 art. Besides his bust of Washington, he also made like- 
 nesses of Benjamin Franklin, John Marshall, Rousseau, 
 Moliere, and Voltaire. 
 
 The circumstances of Houdon's selection to execute 
 a likeness of Washington are themselves an interesting 
 page in American history. On June 22, 1784, the year 
 after the successful close of the Revolution, the legisla- 
 ture of Virginia resolved "that measures be taken for 
 procuring a statue of General Washington, of the finest 
 
News Releases 71 
 
 marble and best workmanship." After much consulta- 
 tion, in which Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin 
 took an active part, Houdon, already at the height of 
 his fame, was selected as incomparably the most reliable 
 and proficient artist. 
 
 Washington himself has left a record in his diaries 
 of Houdon 's stay at Mount Vernon for the purpose of 
 modeling this bust from close observation and measure- 
 ment of Washington's features and figure. He also made 
 a life-mask of Washington, for correction of the bust. 
 Both mask and bust served as models for the statue of 
 Washington by Houdon ordered by the State of Vir- 
 ginia and later erected in Richmond. The original bust 
 was presented by Houdon to Washington and has been 
 seen by every visitor to Mount Vernon. 
 
 One especially interesting circumstance accounts for 
 the lift which Houdon imparted to Washington's head. 
 During the artist's visit at Mount Vernon, Washington 
 had occasion to decline with some indignation a shady 
 bargain offered him by a horsedealer. The passing mood 
 impressed Houdon as so characteristic of the man that 
 he immortalized it in his bust. The result, in the opinion 
 of critics, is to give the likeness striking vigor and power. 
 
 In reporting to the Hon. Sol Bloom, associate director 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, the committee of historians and artists ap- 
 pointed to select this official portrait of Washington 
 stated that all available likenesses of Washington had 
 been studied. All had their individual merits, but the 
 committee was unable to arrive at a majority vote on 
 any one. 
 
 Unanimous choice fell instead on the Houdon bust. 
 
72 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Selection of this was further determined by the fact 
 that, as modeled from the living figure of Washington, 
 it has every guarantee of absolute accuracy in present- 
 ing Washington at the prime of his life, and because the 
 bust is beyond question a great artistic masterpiece in 
 every respect. Finally the bust was chosen because, by 
 being photographed from several angles, it provides a 
 variety of portraits, all artistic and all authentic. 
 
 In photographic form the Houdon bust will now be 
 made familiar all over the country by the United States 
 George Washintgon Bicentennial Commission during 
 the celebration of the birth of George Washington, be- 
 ginning on February 22 and lasting until Thanksgiv- 
 ing, in 1932. 
 
 Artists to Submit Designs for Washington Quarter 
 
 Within the next few days, Andrew W. Mellon, Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury, will invite prominent artists 
 throughout the country to submit designs for the new 
 quarter dollar which will be issued next year as part 
 of the nation-wide celebration of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington. 
 
 This will be the first United States coin of regular 
 issue to bear the image of Washington. It is authorized 
 by legislation enacted just before the adjournment of 
 Congress. 
 
 While the selection of the exact design for the George 
 Washington quarter rests with the Secretary of the 
 Treasury, Representative Sol Bloom, associate director 
 of the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, will be consulted before the decision is 
 made. Mr. Bloom has furnished the Treasury with a 
 
News Releases 73 
 
 profile photograph of the bust of George Washington 
 by Houdon, now at Mount Vernon, which has been se- 
 lected by the Portrait Committee of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission as the best 
 likeness of Washington in existence. This profile prob- 
 ably will be used on the new 2 5 -cent piece. 
 
 The portrait of the first President was used on a few 
 coins made in 1783, but they were not issued or ap- 
 proved by the government. Such approval might have 
 been given but for Washington's modesty which no 
 doubt made him feel that such honors were not for the 
 living. 
 
 Although issued to commemorate the bicentenary of 
 Washington's birth, the quarter will not be a com- 
 memorative coin in the true sense of the word. It will 
 replace the 2 5 -cent piece which has been minted since 
 1916 as a coin of a regular issue, and as such will be cir- 
 culated at face value. 
 
 The true commemorative coin is issued to signalize 
 some particular event and is sold at a premium. Only 
 a comparatively small number of each issue is made. 
 Commemorative coins have not been used as widely in 
 the United States as in some other countries. The first 
 to appear in this country was the Columbian half dollar 
 made in 1892 with the bust of Columbus in honor of 
 the immortal discoverer of America. Incidentally, the 
 only commemorative quarter ever coined in the United 
 States was made the following year. It bore the image 
 of Isabella, of Spain, the beneficent sovereign whose as- 
 sistance made it possible for Columbus to carry out his 
 cherished project. 
 
74 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The only coin of regular issue in the history of the 
 United States, up to the present time, bearing the image 
 of a President, is the Lincoln penny. This piece ap- 
 peared in 1909 during the celebration of the centennial 
 of the birth of the great Civil War President and was 
 a result of popular demand. 
 
 One of the reasons for the selection of the quarter 
 dollar to carry Washington's image is the popularity 
 of this coin. Also, officials of the Treasury have been 
 in favor of changing the design of the 2 5 -cent piece 
 now in use for other reasons as indicated by the fol- 
 lowing statement by Secretary Mellon: 
 
 "The design of the current quarter dollar has been 
 the subject of considerable criticism. It wears very 
 badly and is a difficult coin to manufacture; the design 
 is too elaborate for the small surface, and it is almost 
 impossible to bring the details into proper relief." 
 
 The first quarters were coined in 1793, the year fol- 
 lowing the act of Congress establishing the mint. Since 
 that time, $161,483,091 have been produced in 2 5 -cent 
 pieces. The annual issue of this coin in recent years in- 
 dicates that its popularity is increasing. 
 
 George Washington always took a keen interest in the 
 mint, and he frequently visited it to supervise personally 
 some of the work carried on there. Many of his mes- 
 sages to Congress contain reference to the mint which 
 show his solicitation for the institution. It has been 
 said that Washington gave some of his private stock of 
 silverware to produce half dimes because those small 
 coins were in demand among the poorer people and the 
 mint was unable to procure enough of the white metal 
 
News Releases 75 
 
 to supply the need. The female head which appeared 
 on some of these pieces was popularly supposed to rep- 
 resent Martha Washington, for she presumably sat for 
 the artist who created the design. 
 
 The coining of the George Washington quarter dol- 
 lar during the bicentennial year, to be continued as a 
 coin of regular issue, will be a notable event in the his- 
 tory of the Treasury Department. 
 
 Design of Quarter Dollar to be Changed in Com- 
 memoration of George Washington 
 
 With the approval of the Treasury Department and 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, Representative Randolph Perkins, of New 
 Jersey, chairman of the Committee on Coinage, Weights 
 and Measures, today introduced in the House a bill to 
 commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the 
 birth of George Washington by changing the design of 
 the current quarter dollar so that the portrait of George 
 Washington will appear on the obverse with appropri- 
 ate designs on the reverse. A similar measure will be 
 introduced in the Senate by Senator Fess, of Ohio, vice 
 chairman of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission. 
 
 The purpose of the legislation is to issue the new coin 
 in 1932 as a part of the Federal Government's partici- 
 pation in the Bicentennial Celebration. 
 
 The identical bills will be considered at an early day 
 in the House and Senate, and are expected to be passed 
 without opposition before the end of the present Con- 
 gress March 4. 
 
76 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 This will not be a special coin to be sold at a premium, 
 but will be a regular issue to replace the current quarter 
 dollar and will be placed in general circulation through- 
 out the country at face value, beginning in 1932. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury Mellon announced the 
 Treasury Department's approval of the new coin and 
 explained its purpose in a letter addressed to Senator 
 Fess and to Representative Sol Bloom, of New York, 
 associate director of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission. In his letter Secre- 
 tary Mellon says: 
 
 "Referring to your conversation concerning the mat- 
 ter of commemorating the two hundredth anniversary 
 of the birth of George Washington by the issue of spe- 
 cial coins, I am enclosing draft of proposed legislation 
 which has the approval of the Treasury Department. 
 
 "In the attached bill it is proposed to commemorate 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington by changing the design of the current quar- 
 ter dollar so that the portrait of George Washington 
 shall appear on the obverse with appropriate designs for 
 the reverse. The new quarter dollar could be issued in 
 1932 as a part of the Government's participation in the 
 two hundredth anniversary celebration. Coins of the 
 proposed new design would replace the current quarter 
 dollar, and would be placed in general circulation 
 throughout the country at face value, and not as a spe- 
 cial coin to be sold at a premium. As the new coins 
 would replace the present type of quarter dollar, the 
 issue of the same would not be contrary to the objections 
 set forth by the President in his veto message in connec- 
 tion with the issue of special commemorative coins. 
 
News Releases 77 
 
 "In view of the provisions of Section 3510 of the Re- 
 vised Statutes (Sec. 276, Tit. 31, U. S. Code) prohibit- 
 ing the making of any change in the design or die of a 
 coin oftener than once in 25 years without authority 
 of Congress, and since the design of the current quarter 
 dollar was adopted in 1916, this legislation will be re- 
 quired, and will be sufficient to enable the Treasury, 
 to make the change. No appropriation will be necessary 
 beyond that already provided for the Mint Service. 
 
 "The design of the current quarter dollar has been 
 the subject of considerable criticism. It wears very 
 badly and is a difficult coin to manufacture; the design 
 is too elaborate for the small surface, and it is almost 
 impossible to bring the details into proper relief." 
 
 Original Washington Pictures to be Exhibited 
 
 The astonishing feat of collecting the more important 
 original portraits of George Washington is being under- 
 taken by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 Through the generosity of the patriotic owners of 
 these paintings which are being loaned to the Commis- 
 sion, this rare and valuable collection will be placed in 
 the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington as a public 
 exhibition, and as one of the features of the George 
 Washington Bicentennial Celebration in 1932. 
 
 Nothing like this exhibition has ever been attempted 
 in the history of America, and such an assemblage of 
 these pictures may never be possible again. In art in- 
 terest the exhibition will vie with its historical impor- 
 tance, and the thousands of persons who visit the na- 
 
78 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 tional capital during the bicentennial celebration will 
 have an opportunity to see them and remember a sight 
 which should be prized the rest of their lives. 
 
 More than 20 artists painted George Washington 
 from life, and a number of these made numerous copies 
 of their work. Thus Gilbert Stuart made about 70 
 copies of his famous Athenaeum portrait, perhaps the 
 most familiar of all the Washington likenesses. Besides 
 the portraits themselves the exhibition will include a 
 large number of miniatures of George and Martha Wash- 
 ington, together with silver, jewelry and other me- 
 mentos. 
 
 The idea of this collection and exhibit was first sug- 
 gested some months ago by Hon. Sol Bloom, associate 
 director of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission. Mrs. Rose Gouverneur Hoes 
 was asked to assume the task of organization. As many 
 of the most valuable of the portraits are in the posses- 
 sion of private owners, the difficulty of assembling this 
 exhibition is great. But Mrs. Hoes reports a willing re- 
 sponse from all owners of these Washington paintings, 
 both public and private. 
 
 Members of the diplomatic corps have already volun- 
 teered the loan of several little-known Washington por- 
 traits. It is probable that one by Adolf Wertmuller, 
 which is now hanging in the Museum of Stockholm, 
 Sweden, will be added to the collection. It is hoped to 
 have in the collection the Gilbert Stuart portrait owned 
 by the Boston Athenaeum, and such treasures as the es- 
 pecially valuable portrait owned by Senator Freling- 
 huysen, of New Jersey. 
 
 In gathering these pictures and objects of art, and 
 
News Releases 79 
 
 arranging for their display, Mrs. Hoes has the assistance 
 of an active committee, among whom are Mrs, McCook 
 Knox, author of a work on Sharpies portraits of Wash- 
 ington, Dr. Alexander Wilbourne Weddell, of Virginia 
 House, Richmond, Va.; F. Lammot Belin, and George 
 B. McClellan, of Washington. 
 
 In addition to these authorities, Mrs. Hoes has the 
 sponsorship of an honorary committee composed of the 
 Vice President of the United States, Mrs. William 
 Howard Taft, Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Secretaries Stim- 
 son, Mellon and Adams, the Speaker of the House, the 
 Ambassadors of Italy, Germany, Poland, Great Britain 
 and Sweden. 
 
 Others on the committee are the governor of Mary- 
 land, the governor of Virginia, Maj. Gen. Douglas 
 Mc Arthur, chief of staff, United States Army; Adm. 
 William V. Pratt, chief of naval operations; Maj. Gen. 
 Commandant B. H. Fuller, United States Marine Corps; 
 Hon. C. Bascom Slemp, commissioner general, Inter- 
 national Colonial and Overseas Exposition; Dr. L. S. 
 Rowe, director general, Pan American Union; Dr. 
 Charles G. Abbot, secretary, Smithsonian Institution; 
 Dr. Alexander Wetmore, assistant secretary, Smith- 
 sonian Institution; Henry W. Kent, secretary of the 
 Metropolitan Museum, New York; Frederic A. Delano, 
 chairman, National Capitol Park and Planning Commis- 
 sion; Miss Helen C. Frick, the Frick Reference Library, 
 New York; Henry Ford; Mantle Fielding, of Philadel- 
 phia, Pa. ; Miss Frances Benjamin Johnston, Washington, 
 D. C. ; Mr. John F. Lewis, president of the Pennsylvania 
 Academy of Fine Arts; Dr. Charles Moore, chairman, 
 National Fine Arts Commission; Dr. John Hill Morgan, 
 
80 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 New York, N. Y.; Duncan Phillips, of the Phillips Me- 
 morial Gallery, Washington, D. C. ; Potter Palmer, presi- 
 dent of the Chicago Museum of Art; George A. Pope, 
 president of the San Francisco Art Museum; Walter G. 
 Peter, Washington, D. C., direct descendant of Martha 
 Washington; Robert Wirt Washington, King George, 
 Virginia, direct descendant of Augustine Washington, 
 the father of George Washington. 
 
 Washington Pictures Available to Writers 
 
 During his lifetime George Washington escaped the 
 ordeal of having to pose before innumerable cameras 
 every time he stepped out of his house, but today hun- 
 dreds of photographs are being made of the first Presi- 
 dent. These photographs are being collected by the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission and before the beginning of the nine-months, 
 nation-wide celebration of the two hundredth anniver- 
 sary of the birth of George Washington on February 22, 
 1932, the Commission expects to have the largest collec- 
 tion of Washington pictures in existence. 
 
 The collection at present numbers some 650 pictures 
 of which the Commission has about 6,000 copies on 
 hand. These pictures include portraits of Washington 
 painted from life by such famous artists as Gilbert 
 Stuart, Joseph Wright, John Trumbull, Adolf Wert- 
 muller, Charles Willson Peale and Rembrandt Peale and 
 others. There are portraits by artists from many foreign 
 countries including France, England, Italy, Germany, 
 Sweden and Denmark. In this collection are included 
 photographs of oil paintings, pen and ink drawings, 
 pastels, water colors, a portrait done in needle work, 
 
News Releases 81 
 
 statuary and the famous Rembrandt Peale portrait 
 painted on stone. 
 
 Hundreds of foreign artists have at some time or other 
 tried their hand on a portrait or bust of George Wash- 
 ington. He has been an inspiration for artists in every 
 land. 
 
 There is the famous Nollekens bust from England, 
 the original of which Associate Director Sol Bloom has 
 procured for the Commission; the rare tapestry work 
 of Lyons, France; statuary from South America, and 
 porcelain work from China. An interesting and valu- 
 able portrait of Washington done on Chinese porcelain 
 is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. 
 Arrangements are being made by the Commission to 
 secure a photograph of this Oriental masterpiece. 
 
 In the Bicentennial Commission's collection there are 
 pictures of Washington in almost every walk of life. 
 He is shown as a young surveyor, as a farmer, as colonel 
 of the Virginia militia, as a Mason, as Commander in 
 Chief of the Continental Armies and as President of the 
 United States. There are pictures of his wedding, of 
 fox hunts, various battles in which he was engaged, his 
 inaugural and many other important events in his life. 
 
 Among the pictures are copies of many Currier and 
 Ives engravings. These engravings are now very valu- 
 able due to the excellence of the work done by the 
 craftsmen. A very interesting lithograph of Washing- 
 ton in Masonic regalia, its value as yet undetermined, 
 has recently been unearthed. 
 
 The collection also includes portraits of Washington's 
 associates in the early history of this country — men like 
 Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Monroe, officers of the 
 
82 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Continental Army and the heroes from foreign lands, 
 such as Lafayette, Rochambeau, Von Steuben, Pulaski, 
 and Kosciuszko, whose services proved so valuable to the 
 Americans in the Revolution. 
 
 New pictures are daily being added to the already 
 large collection so that it is constantly growing. These 
 pictures are all available to writers who wish to use them 
 as illustrations for vairous articles and stories. Editors 
 of magazines may secure copies, without charge, upon 
 request, to illustrate articles in their publications on 
 George Washington or the George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Celebration. 
 
 This gallery of pictures, by the time it is completed 
 at the end of the bicentennial celebration, will be one 
 of the most valuable collections of its kind ever made. 
 It will be turned over to the Federal Government to be 
 preserved for future reference and used by students who 
 will thus profit by the work now being done. 
 
 Lasting Memorials to be Contributed by Government 
 
 The United States Government has embarked upon 
 a program in honor of the first President that will sur- 
 pass in dignity and impressiveness similar events in the 
 history of the Nation. 
 
 Congress has decided that this celebration shall not 
 be in the nature of an exposition or other centralized 
 attraction. Instead of inviting the people to a physical 
 memorial — a transitory gesture of homage — this cele- 
 bration will be in the minds and hearts of the American 
 people, in their own homes, churches, schools, fraterni- 
 ties, clubs, and other appropriate groups. 
 
News Releases 83 
 
 Organization of celebration activities is going for- 
 ward at this time in thousands of communities. The 
 celebrations will be carried out by the people themselves 
 in their own way and in such manner as seems most 
 appropriate to them. 
 
 The United States Government has taken official cog- 
 nizance of its own obligation and opportunities to pre- 
 pare for this great event. 
 
 It is assisting in the restoration and preservation of 
 patriotic shrines and completing its great building pro- 
 gram in the Nation's Capital, the city planned and 
 founded by George Washington and given his name by 
 a grateful people. 
 
 It is providing other impressive memorials of a last- 
 ing character to mark the two hundredth anniversary 
 of George Washington's birth. After a century and 
 a half of neglect, the birthplace of George Washington 
 is being rebuilt as nearly as possible to its original con- 
 dition, and will be opened to the public as a National 
 shrine on Washington's Birthday in 1932. 
 
 The farmhouse in which Washington was born was 
 built about 1720 by Augustine Washington, father of 
 George, near Pope's Creek, Westmoreland County, Va., 
 on the Washington plantation known today as Wake- 
 field. The house was destroyed by fire in 1780. 
 
 It is being reproduced by the Wakefield National 
 Memorial Association, aided by the United States Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 Like its prototype of long ago, the house is being con- 
 structed of hand-made bricks of clay taken from the 
 identical field from which the original material came. 
 
 Among the other activities of the United States Gov- 
 
84 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ernment contributing to the George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Celebration are: 
 
 Twelve memorial postage stamps, of various denomi- 
 nations, each bearing a different portrait of George 
 Washington. These portraits are from authentic paint- 
 ings from life by artists who became celebrated by reason 
 of work in portraiture during the Colonial and Revo- 
 lutionary periods. 
 
 Recoinage of the quarter dollar in a George Wash- 
 ington memorial design that will take the place of the 
 present 2 5 -cent piece. The new coin will bear the pro- 
 file bust of the first President. The distribution of this 
 new coin, and substitution for the present quarter dol- 
 lar, will begin January 1, 1932. 
 
 Reproduction of the official portrait of George Wash- 
 ington and distribution to the schools. It is the inten- 
 tion of the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission to place one of these portraits in every 
 school building in the United States. 
 
 An interesting feature of the Bicentennial Celebra- 
 tion will be the issuing of a commemorative George 
 Washington Medal. This design will be unusually at- 
 tractive, both artistically and historically. Leading med- 
 alists of the country submitted designs, which were 
 judged by the foremost art and medal authorities in the 
 country. One of the principal uses for the Commemo- 
 rative Medal will be in the conferring of prizes for com- 
 petition among school children. 
 
 Under the auspices of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission an exhibition of 
 fine arts, including sculpture, paintings, and relics per- 
 taining to George Washington and his time, will be held 
 
News Releases 85 
 
 in the city of Washington during the celebration period 
 of 1932. The exhibit has already attracted wide atten- 
 tion and promises to bring together for the first time 
 memorabilia of priceless value. The exhibit will occupy 
 four rooms at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. 
 
 Restoration of Wakefield 
 
 After a century and a half of neglect, the birthplace 
 of George Washington, restored as nearly as possible to 
 the conditions of two centuries ago, will be opened to 
 the public as a national shrine on Washington's birthday 
 next year during the world-wide celebration of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of the First Presi- 
 dent. 
 
 The original house in which Washington was born 
 was built between 1718 and 1720 by Augustine Wash- 
 ington, father of George, near Bridge's Creek, a small 
 tributary of the Potomac River, in Westmoreland 
 County, Va., on the Washington plantation known to- 
 day as Wakefield. The house was destroyed by fire in 
 1780. 
 
 It is being reproduced by the Wakefield National Me- 
 morial Association, aided by the Federal Government 
 and sponsored by the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 Like its prototype of long ago, the house will be con- 
 structed of hand-made bricks of clay taken from the 
 identical field from which the original material came. 
 Fidelity to history and tradition prescribes not only that 
 the house shall be as nearly as possible an exact repro- 
 
86 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 duction of the original colonial home and made of bricks 
 fabricated from native clay, but that the bricks shall 
 be made as nearly as possible according to the original 
 process. A primitive brick-making plant has been set 
 up and is being operated by negro workmen in the 
 ancient way. 
 
 After the original home was burned, the very bricks 
 were carted away to be used in building neighbors' 
 houses. The lands between Bridge's Creek and Pope's 
 Creek, which had been occupied by the Washington 
 family for four generations, were sold, with the excep- 
 tion of a plot 60 feet square, on which stood the house. 
 This tiny square was conveyed by the Washington fam- 
 ily first to Virginia and ultimately to the Federal Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 Altogether the Federal Government acquired about 
 1 2 acres and erected a tall white monument on the house 
 site. But the place for years was merely the unsightly 
 wreck of a once attractive Virginia plantation. The 
 graveyard of the Washingtons was overgrown with 
 weeds and brambles. 
 
 In addition to the restoration of the brick house in 
 which George Washington was born, the site of a 
 wooden house near Bridge's Creek, bought by John 
 Washington in 1664, eight years after he came to Vir- 
 ginia, and occupied by the Washington family, is be- 
 ing excavated and will be suitably marked. The family 
 graveyard will be restored with table-stones of colonial 
 design properly inscribed. 
 
 The rebuilding of the house in which Washington 
 was born is an interesting story of patient research and 
 unselfish devotion. The Wakefield National Memorial 
 
News Releases 87 
 
 Association, of which Mrs. Harry Lee Rust, Sr.,* is presi- 
 dent, has assumed a heavy responsibility. With the ex- 
 ception of an appropriation of $50,000 by Congress, 
 every dollar is being raised by subscription. Seventy 
 acres adjoining the Government reservation have been 
 bought by the association, and also the land around the 
 graveyard. Congress gave permission for the moving 
 of the monument in order that the house might be re- 
 built on the ancient site. 
 
 The Wakefield National Memorial Association secured 
 the improvement by the Federal Government of the 
 road, about a mile long, between Pope's Creek and 
 Bridge's Creek. Then finding that speculators had be- 
 gun to purchase for exploitation purposes strategic por- 
 tions of the ancient Washington properties, the associa- 
 tion interested John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in the project, 
 and he purchased for public use 267 acres at a cost of 
 $115,000. The brick-making plant now in operation 
 is upon land purchased by Mr. Rockefeller, and the plant 
 itself and the crew of workmen have been lent by him 
 and transferred from Williamsburg, Va., the ancient 
 capital of Virginia, which he is restoring. 
 
 The old kitchen near the house is being rebuilt, and 
 the colonial gardens between the house and the river 
 are being restored. Box plants of the period have been 
 procured, and plants indigenous to the region are being 
 used. 
 
 The idea underlying the whole project is to reproduce 
 the conditions prevailing at the time of the birth of 
 George Washington, whose father was an active and 
 substantial Virginia planter of the eighteenth century. 
 
 * Now deceased. 
 
88 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Wallpaper of Washington's Bedroom 
 
 The bedroom which George Washington occupied 
 at Mount Vernon will soon be covered with wallpaper 
 identical in design with that which adorned the walls 
 of the room during the lifetime of the first President, 
 according to a statement issued by the Division of In- 
 formation and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission. The present 
 smooth, white walls of this room will present a greatly 
 altered and highly attractive appearance under the 
 paper which has been reproduced from scraps of the 
 original wall covering recently discovered by Col. Har- 
 rison H. Dodge, superintendent of Mount Vernon, 
 while making repairs to the General's bedchamber. 
 
 The walls of this famous room are now covered with 
 a smooth, white plaster, which naturally was supposed 
 to be the original finish. Colonel Dodge's discovery, 
 however, disclosed the fact that this plaster had not 
 been applied until after the wallpaper had been first 
 pasted to the brown plaster underneath and then later 
 removed. A few pieces adhered so stubbornly to the 
 walls as to defy removal and they were covered up. It 
 is supposed that this later coat of plastering was ap- 
 plied by Bushrod Washington, who inherited Mount 
 Vernon after the death of Martha Washington in 1802. 
 
 When George Washington came into possession of 
 Mount Vernon in 1752, upon the death of his brother 
 Lawrence, the house then standing was not the great 
 mansion which exists today. At that time the building 
 was a two-story affair with a gable roof, four rooms 
 on each floor, a small porch in front and a chimney at 
 each end. In 1775 Washington commenced additions 
 
News Releases 89 
 
 to the place which consisted of a large banquet hall on 
 the north end and a library on the south wing with bed- 
 rooms above. In the midst of these operations, Wash- 
 ington was called to Philadelphia to attend the Con- 
 tinental Congress. This body appointed him Com- 
 mander in Chief of the American Army, and he imme- 
 diately left for Boston to assume his new duties. 
 
 It was at this time that Mrs. Washington, perhaps 
 becoming impatient to occupy the new bedroom, or- 
 dered it papered without waiting for the white 
 finishing plaster to be applied. 
 
 Bushrod Washington became the possessor of Mount 
 Vernon in 1802, and immediately selected for his own 
 use the bedroom which had been occupied by his illus- 
 trious uncle. It is supposed that the original wallpaper 
 may have become torn off or otherwise defaced. Either 
 because of the difficulty of procuring paper to replace 
 it, or because of his preference for simplicity, the new 
 owner determined to remove this decoration and cover 
 the walls with white plaster. The scraps which Colonel 
 Dodge discovered were pieces so well applied that they 
 could not be scraped off and consequently were 
 plastered over. 
 
 The feature pattern of this wallpaper was uncovered 
 after some patient effort on the part of Colonel Dodge. 
 The design was pieced together and photographed. 
 This photograph was sent to Europe in an attempt to 
 have the paper identified and, if possible, to obtain a 
 reproduction of it. When these attempts proved un- 
 successful, the paper was taken to some American wall- 
 paper manufacturing companies for the purpose of 
 having it reproduced in this country. In the office of one 
 
90 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of these firms Colonel Dodge was greatly surprised to 
 find a photograph of a well-preserved wallpaper which 
 was an exact duplicate of that which had been used in 
 George Washington's bedroom, except for the fact that 
 the pattern was reversed. 
 
 The paper from which this photograph was made 
 had been removed from the walls of a house near Port- 
 land, Me., which the owner said had been papered prior 
 to 1800. Experts are agreed that the wallpaper in 
 Washington's room is of French manufacture, so there 
 can be no doubt as to the source of that which was 
 found in Maine. In all probability it came to the 
 United States about the same time as the paper which 
 was used at Mount Vernon. 
 
 None of the walls at Mount Vernon are covered with 
 their original decorations, although the paper in the 
 main hallway is an exact replica of that which was first 
 used there. This paper was reproduced a number of 
 years ago from a piece of the original, which Colonel 
 Dodge discovered under a panel in the wall behind the 
 clock. 
 
 The colors in the paper which first decorated 
 Washington's bedroom have been faithfully reproduced 
 in the replica with which the walls will be covered. 
 Sepia brown is the color of the paper itself, while the 
 pattern is carried out in buff, blue, crimson, and vary- 
 ing shades of brown. The feature design shows a mill 
 at the edge of a pond which lies in the foreground. A 
 tall tree rises at the side of the building and graceful 
 swans are seen swimming on the placid water. In the 
 background appear some mountains at the foot of 
 which nestles a little church. From the horizon at the 
 
News Releases 91 
 
 mountain top the roseate sunset glow of the evening 
 sky blends into a deep blue at the zenith. The whole is 
 framed in an ornate and complicated border of buff. 
 Under this picture is a smaller pattern, consisting of a 
 lyre crossed with two trumpets and circled by a border 
 similar to that which encloses the feature design above. 
 Colonel Dodge is elated over the discovery and the 
 success which he has had in obtaining a reproduction of 
 his historically interesting wallpaper. It is indeed ap- 
 propriate that the room in which George Washington 
 died should be restored as nearly as possible to the con- 
 dition and appearance it presented while the Father of 
 his Country lived, and it is especially fitting that this 
 should be done in time for the celebration in 1932 of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of George Washington's 
 birth. 
 
 Washington's Home Town 
 
 Patriotic ceremonies, including an address by 
 Congressman James M. Beck, of Pennsylvania, on 
 "Washington and the Constitution," and the presenta- 
 tion of a portrait of George Washington by Hon. Sol 
 Bloom, associate director of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission, will feature the 
 one hundred and thirty-first anniversary of the found- 
 ing of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Va., to 
 be held on January 14, at the old Presbyterian Meeting 
 House in that city. 
 
 This society was founded a month after the death of 
 the first President by his friends and neighbors in Alex- 
 andria to perpetuate the memory of the man they loved. 
 And the society has existed ever since. 
 
92 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 George Washington was closely associated with the 
 life and growth of the city of Alexandria. It has come 
 to be known as George Washington's "home town." 
 Here, a short distance from Mount Vernon, he main- 
 tained a town house and office, did his trading and 
 voting, and to all its citizens, high and low, he was 
 affectionately known as "The General." He was made 
 a trustee of the town in 1763 and served as such until 
 public duties called him to a more active field. The 
 citizens of Alexandria availed themselves of every op- 
 portunity to honor him, a fact of which Washington 
 was never unconscious, and to which he was always 
 responsive. 
 
 The first public celebration of his birthday to occur 
 in Alexandria was featured by a formal "Birth-Night 
 Ball," at which he was present. This was in February, 
 1798. On the following Fourth of July he attended a 
 celebration in the town, the principal spectacle of which 
 was a sham battle, after which he reviewed the partici- 
 pating military forces. 
 
 Alexandria was surveyed and planned by Washington 
 in 1749, and this important specimen of his early work 
 is to be seen in the Library of Congress. In this city 
 he also recruited his first command in 1754, and in the 
 following year was made a major on Braddock's staff 
 in the old Carlyle House, which is still standing. In 
 1766 he was elected to the House of Burgesses from 
 Fairfax, in which county both Mount Vernon and 
 Alexandria are situated, and continued in this capacity 
 until transferred to the Continental Congress in 1774. 
 In 1766 he was elected a member of the town council, 
 
News Releases 93 
 
 and a little later a member of the magisterial court of 
 Fairfax. 
 
 In 1774, in conjunction with George Mason, of 
 Gunston Hall, and other leading spirits, he recruited, 
 organized, and equipped several companies of local 
 militia or independent commands, and acted as their 
 leader until he was commissioned as Commander in 
 Chief of the Continental Army. 
 
 After the Revolution he renewed his Alexandria 
 activities. He helped to organize and became a trustee 
 of the Alexandria Academy, and subsequently estab- 
 lished the first free school of northern Virginia as an 
 adjunct of this educational institution. It may be ob- 
 served that this little free school was the foster father 
 of the free-school system in Virginia. It thrived until 
 the establishment of the State system of free education 
 in 1871. 
 
 Washington became a director of the Bank of 
 Alexandria when that institution was incorporated in 
 1792, while in 1785 he helped to incorporate the Poto- 
 mac Company, the forerunner of the internal system 
 of waterways in America. 
 
 One of Washington's most important and outstand- 
 ing actions while in Alexandria was the calling of the 
 "Little Convention" in March, 1785, which consisted 
 of representatives from Maryland and Virginia. The 
 ostensible purpose of this conference was to regulate the 
 impost and commercial duties between Maryland and 
 Virginia, but the effect was far reaching. After con- 
 ferring for three days in Alexandria, the commission- 
 ers moved to Mount Vernon and continued their con- 
 ference until March 29, 1785. The resolutions adopted 
 
94 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 by this conference led to the Annapolis Convention, 
 which in turn was the forerunner to the Constitutional 
 Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. 
 
 The news of George Washington's death was known 
 in Alexandria within an hour or two after it occurred. 
 Two of the three physicians in attendance were from 
 that town, and all day long on that fatal December 
 M, 1799, and into the night, messengers had been hurry- 
 ing back and forth. Washington died at 20 minutes 
 past 10 o'clock on Saturday night, and the following 
 Wednesday was selected as the day for interment. A 
 lodge meeting was held by the Masons of Alexandria 
 on Monday, December 16, at which arrangements were 
 perfected for the burial of their beloved member. 
 
 The funeral was an Alexandria demonstration, and 
 was conducted with striking dignity and solemnity. 
 The program as carried out was prepared by Dr. Elisha 
 C. Dick, Colonels George Deneale, Charles Little, and 
 Charles Simms. Mrs. Washington had left the arrange- 
 ments in the hands of the Masonic lodge, making but 
 one request, which was that Col. Philip Marsteller, who 
 was not a Mason, be included among the pall bearers. 
 Of the four clergymen who participated, three were 
 from Alexandria and one from the Maryland shore op- 
 posite; the six honorary pall bearers, all colonels in the 
 Revolution, the various military organizations and their 
 officers, the officials and members of the two Masonic 
 lodges in attendance, the town officials in a body, and 
 the large majority of the citizens were Alexandrians. 
 
 If anything was needed to demonstrate the esteem 
 and affection in which Washington was held by the 
 people of Alexandria, it was demonstrated by the fact 
 
News Releases 95 
 
 that the journey to and from Mount Vernon was made 
 by most of them, citizens and military alike, on foot. 
 Owing to the wintry conditions of the road, the march 
 to Mount Vernon consumed so much time that the fu- 
 neral was delayed several hours waiting their arrival. 
 
 It is not surprising, therefore, that on January 14, 
 1800 — exactly one month from the day of Washing- 
 ton's death — there appeared in The Columbia Mirror 
 and Alexandria Gazette a notice of a meeting to be held 
 that evening by subscribers to the "Washington Society 
 of Alexandria." 
 
 Still bowed with grief over the death of the Nation's 
 outstanding hero, Washington's friends and admirers 
 formed the society to promote and perpetuate the 
 memory of the man who was the leader of the American 
 armies and the first President of the United States. 
 
 Chief Justice John Marshall was a member of the 
 society and was also vice president of the organization 
 at one time. Francis Scott Key was also a member, and 
 delivered the oration before the society on February 22, 
 1814. The theme of his oration was the wisdom of 
 Washington's admonition, in his Farewell Address, to 
 "promote institutions for the general diffusion of 
 knowledge." 
 
 The author of the "Star-Spangled Banner," in this 
 address, said of the Washington Society: "This day is 
 here celebrated by a Society formed for no low or ordi- 
 nary purpose, seeking no political distinction, or emolu- 
 ment, seeking nothing for itself, but aiming with a sub- 
 stantial and devoted patriotism, to promote the good 
 of all our country, by actual work of beneficence. A 
 society which, if these words were not true of its motives 
 
96 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 and views, would be put to shame by the name which 
 it has assumed." 
 
 The first officers of the organization were William 
 Fitzhugh, president; E. C. Dick and R. West, vice presi- 
 dents; Rev. W. Maffat, chaplain; Jonathan Swift, treas- 
 urer, and George Deneale, secretary. 
 
 Present officers are William Buckner McGroarty, 
 president; Charles H. Callahan, first vice president; 
 Howard W. Smith, second vice president; J. Barton 
 Phillips, secretary-treasurer; Rev. William Jackson Mor- 
 ton, chaplain, and John B. Gordon, chairman of the 
 standing committee. 
 
 Yorktown Sesquicentennial Forerunner of 
 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 One of the important celebrations which will 
 precede the commemoration of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of George Washington's birth in 1932 will 
 be the Yorktown Sesquicentennial, to be observed in 
 October, 1931, in honor of the one hundred and 
 fiftieth anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown, Va. The sesquicentennial celebration of 
 the British capitulation, which virtually ended the Revo- 
 lutionary War, will be an auspicious event in its own 
 right, but since the man who made the victory at York- 
 town possible in 1781 is also the one whose birthday 
 is being commemorated next year the two celebrations 
 are closely associated. The observance of the surrender 
 of Cornwallis, therefore, may be looked upon as a fore- 
 runner of the 10 -month nation-wide George Washing- 
 ton Bicentennial Celebration. 
 
News Releases 97 
 
 When the British troops, commanded by Lord 
 Cornwallis, marched out of Yorktown and laid down 
 their arms after enduring a severe bombardment from 
 the French and American batteries the Revolutionary 
 War was, to all intents and purposes, over. The Amer- 
 ican victory over Cornwallis was most decisive and, al- 
 though there was some desultory fighting after the 
 British capitulation, the Yorktown triumph really 
 ended the war. This important event, with its far- 
 reaching effects, was the result of the foresight, cour- 
 age, and perseverance of George Washington, and to 
 him more than any other man belongs the credit for 
 the American triumph. 
 
 Representative S. O. Bland, of Virginia, secretary of 
 the United States Yorktown Sesquicentennial Commis- 
 sion, said in a speech before the House of Repre- 
 sentatives: 
 
 "The crowning event of Washington's military 
 career was the victory which he won at Yorktown. . . . 
 It is proper that the commemoration of Washington's 
 final military achievement which established this Nation 
 shall be of such proportions as to correspond with the 
 celebrations which will commemorate his birth." 
 
 For this reason the Congress of the United States 
 created a national commission to prepare a plan and 
 program in commemoration of the siege at Yorktown 
 and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. This commis- 
 sion consists of the following members: 
 
 From the Senate — Claude A. Swanson, of Virginia, 
 chairman; David A. Reed, of Pennsylvania; Hiram 
 Bingham, of Connecticut; John G. Townsend, of Dela- 
 ware; and Robert F. Wagner, of New York. From the 
 
98 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 House of Representatives — Charles R. Crisp, of 
 Georgia, vice chairman; Robert L. Bacon, of New- 
 York; Roy G. Fitzgerald, of Ohio; George R. Stobbs, 
 of Massachusetts; and Joseph W. Byrns, of Tennessee. 
 Representative Schuyler Otis Bland, of Virginia, is sec- 
 retary of the commission. 
 
 The program, as outlined by this commission, will 
 include, in addition to other provisions to be made later, 
 the marking of historical sites; the issuance of special 
 commemorative postage stamps; the preparation of the 
 grounds in the vicinity of Yorktown; and the invita- 
 tion of all States in the Union to participate in the 
 exercises. 
 
 The commemorative program will be a four-day 
 event to be held at Yorktown. The feature will be 
 an address by the President of the United States, which 
 will take place on the opening day of the exercises. 
 Among those who will be present on the occasion will 
 be distinguished officials of this and other governments, 
 descendants of those who participated in the siege, and 
 many thousands of visitors from all parts of the United 
 States. 
 
 With the Yorktown Sesquicentennial Celebration 
 only a few months away, the plans for the event are 
 rapidly reaching a conclusion. Like the George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Celebration, this commemoration is 
 not to be in the form of an exposition. It will not cele- 
 brate what Americans can do now, but what our fathers 
 did to make possible the United States of the twentieth 
 century. Its purposes are entirely patriotic and will 
 be in keeping with the event it signalizes. 
 
News Releases 99 
 
 Engineering Memorial to Washington 
 
 The American Engineering Council has recommended 
 that, as its contribution to the observance of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington, the engineering profession undertake to repair 
 sufficiently to preserve the structure of the "Potowmac" 
 Canal, which canal, about 1 mile in length and em- 
 bracing five locks, was constructed in 1786 under the 
 personal supervision of George Washington to pass 
 boats around the Great Falls of the Potomac River. 
 This structure is the only engineering project now in 
 existence known to have been constructed by the first 
 President. 
 
 Little remains of this original engineering work, but 
 the route is well defined. Old excavations are intact, 
 except that there has been a great filling in of stone 
 and soil, and trees and other vegetation have moved 
 some of the stonework out of alignment. But enough 
 remains, and enough reliable data is available, to enable 
 the engineering profession to restore this great historical 
 project for preservation. In the report of the War 
 Department to the American Engineering Council, it 
 is stated that: "As a whole, these structures are rather 
 impressive, being in a wilderness and representing, prac- 
 tically the first engineering work of any magnitude in 
 this country. It is believed that this feature represents 
 the first lock canal built in the United States." 
 
 In order to ascertain just what will have to be done 
 to restore this work to a status of preservation, the 
 American Engineering Council asked Maj. Brehon 
 Somervell, Corps of Engineers, district engineer, for a 
 report of present conditions and the work that will be 
 
100 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 required. In this report it is stated that the canal ex- 
 tends from above Great Falls about 6,000 feet on the 
 Virginia shore, around them, and discharges into the 
 gorge below. The entrance to the canal was formed 
 by a short wing dam, which acted both to divert the 
 water and as a mooring for the boats descending the 
 river. Below the entrance the canal was built either 
 as a ditch or else secured by retaining walls to a point 
 about 1,000 feet above its lower end. The upper part 
 of the canal contains no striking features which were 
 directly connected with the canal itself. A low masonry 
 rubble wall separates the canal from the upper part of 
 the falls, and served to keep the water in the canal 
 during times of low flow and keep it out during times 
 of high flow. There is a wasteweir or spillway to a 
 few hundred yards below the entrance and below this 
 wasteweir are found the sites of a mill and an iron 
 foundry. The ruins of both of these structures are 
 very meager and do not form an imposing monument. 
 Opposite the mill is a marker commemorating the build- 
 ing of the canal erected by the D. A. R. of Fairfax 
 County, Va. 
 
 From the entrance to the mill there is still some water 
 in the canal. Below the mill the definition or the trace 
 of the canal is very faint, at times there being practi- 
 cally nothing to indicate its existence. Furthermore, 
 this section of the canal runs through an amusement 
 park operated by the Potomac Electric Power Com- 
 pany. Below the park proper, the canal, still largely 
 in cut, extends across an open pasture, which was 
 formerly intended as a basin at the head of the flight 
 of locks leading down to the lower level of the river. 
 
News Releases 101 
 
 In this basin, where the canal is poorly defined and 
 at times lost completely, there are two masonry struc- 
 tures of some interest. The first, on the east side of 
 the field, was evidently designed as a wasteweir. It 
 consists of nothing more than two rubble walls and all 
 indications of the gates which were between them have 
 disappeared. It is believed also that these walls repre- 
 sent what was originally intended to be the site of the 
 flight of locks leading down to the river. It was found 
 that the current of the river at this point was so swift 
 and the turbulence so great as to make it difficult for 
 boats to enter the river at this point. This location 
 was therefore abandoned. The only other interesting 
 feature in connection with this basin is the remains of 
 what were formerly head gates leading to the flight of 
 locks. No definite information as to the exact char- 
 acter of this construction can be found. It was prob- 
 ably used during the construction of the locks to cut 
 off water from the lower part of the canal, during 
 which time products were lowered down an inclined 
 plane opposite the wasteweir to boats on the river below. 
 
 The really interesting part of the canal lies below this 
 set of gates. From this point to the place where the 
 canal enters the river the canal is easily distinguishable. 
 There were five masonry locks, the upper lock being 
 100 feet by 14 feet, with a lift of 10 feet. This lock 
 is covered with trees and underbrush, whose roots have 
 pushed out some of the masonry and disfigured the 
 structures. Below this lock is another lock 100 feet by 
 11 feet, with a lift of 16 feet, similar in character to 
 the one just described. Being of a greater lift, it is 
 somewhat more impressive and, if anything, the 
 
102 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 masonry is in a better state of preservation. Adjacent 
 to this lock and on the river side of it is a flat area 
 enclosed by a rubble and earth wall in which are the 
 remains of gates probably used as a wasteweir. This 
 wall enclosed a basin for the supply of water to the 
 lower set of locks. Below the basin and second lock is 
 a third lock, which is in a very bad state of repair. This 
 was evidently a wider lock and capable of holding two 
 of the boats in use at that time. Below this structure 
 is a deep rock cut in which there was a double lock 
 100 feet by 12 feet, with 12-foot and 21 -foot lifts, lead- 
 ing down to the river. The cut is largely filled with 
 debris, which will have to be removed, but what was 
 evidently the sill between the upper and lower of these 
 locks is plainly visible. 
 
 Outline of Preliminary Project 
 
 The general scheme is to set aside an area along the 
 lower part of the canal, which would be cleared of 
 underbrush and made accessible by roads and paths. 
 The area selected for the reservation begins with the 
 head gates at the basin just below Dickey's and follows 
 the canal to the river. It is believed unwise and un- 
 necessarily expensive to attempt to improve the upper 
 part of the canal at this time, inasmuch as this part 
 of the canal contains no striking features and as the 
 improvement would require the demolition of certain 
 of the buildings in the amusement park. The cost of 
 this part of the land, if it could be obtained at all, 
 would be unduly high. 
 
 Access to the land will be secured by means of 
 existing roads and by paths which will lead from the 
 
News Releases 103 
 
 entrance to the various structures on the canal and to 
 the model. It will be desirable, inasmuch as the private 
 roads running from the turnpike to the canal may be 
 in bad repair, to secure an easement over these roads 
 and to surface them so that the public, and engineers 
 in particular, will not find the approach to the property 
 unworthy of engineers. Roads within the reservation 
 are purposely left out of the project, as it seems desir- 
 able not to permit automobile traffic on the grounds. 
 In the first place, the creation of a suitable road would 
 introduce an artificial feature out of harmony with the 
 project, and, in the second place, no suitable facilities 
 could be provided within the limited area for any exten- 
 sive automobile traffic. 
 
 It is proposed to secure a better definition of the canal 
 where it is cut by excavating the debris which has 
 fallen in it. At the locks the debris is to be removed, 
 and the masonry is to be put in such a state of repair 
 as will prevent its further deterioration. To do this 
 a large percentage of it will have to be torn down and 
 relaid. It is thought also that it would be desirable to 
 rebuild the gates on Lock 2 to give the public a better 
 idea of the operation of the locks than could be obtained 
 from the small working model. 
 
 The most suitable location for the house to shelter 
 the model is in the basin above the last flight of locks. 
 In preparing estimates for this house it was found that 
 a model of a sufficiently good scale to prove interesting 
 could not be housed in a building of the size mentioned 
 in the American Engineering Council's letter. For this 
 reason the size of the house has been enlarged and, in 
 addition to the retiring rooms suggested, two small 
 
104 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 rooms for offices have been added. This will permit a 
 symmetrical design of the building. It is proposed to 
 build the house of field stone with a stone floor and 
 fireplaces, the roof to be of hewn timbers and covered 
 with slate. The window and door frames will, of course, 
 have to be hand made. The whole building will follow 
 somewhat the general lines of those found along the old 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and in this part of the 
 country, which were built contemporaneously with the 
 canal. It is proposed to finish the interior of the stone- 
 work exactly as on the outside and to whitewash both 
 the interior and exterior, as was customary with the 
 buildings of this type. 
 
 The model will depict the entire canal, together with 
 the surrounding topography, plant growth, rock out- 
 crops, and old structures which were known to be in 
 existence at the time of the construction of the canal. 
 It will be equipped with gates and wickets and will have 
 water supply for its actual operation. The portion of 
 Great Falls adjacent to the canal will also be shown with 
 running water. Using a scale of 100 the model will be 
 20 feet by 60 feet, and it will be sturdily constructed, 
 having sheet lead lining for water areas and cement 
 molded to show topography with as much natural rock 
 as necessary to represent actual conditions. Growth 
 and ground effects will be appropriately shown with 
 miniature trees and colorings. Where necessary to bring 
 out relief and to secure proper representation of struc- 
 tures, the vertical scale will be enlarged. 
 
 The layout necessary for the memorial will contain 
 several acres and this valuable model. It will, therefore, 
 be necessary for a permanent caretaker to be employed 
 
News Releases 105 
 
 to look after the property. For this reason a small 
 house is provided for him near the entrance to the 
 property. 
 
 Bronze signs and plaques are provided at the locks 
 and other major features of the works and also on the 
 paths leading to the structures contained in the project. 
 
 It is estimated that it will require about $150,000 to 
 complete the restoration of this engineering work, and 
 it is proposed that sum be raised within the engineering 
 profession of the United States. 
 
 Broadway Plans to Honor Washington 
 
 New York's famous Broadway will next year stage 
 a remarkable celebration in honor of one of the first 
 and the greatest of all Broadwayites — George Washing- 
 ton. The celebration will be as appropriate as it is 
 unique. The most famous street in America had the 
 honor to provide George Washington a home 142 years 
 ago, when he went to New York to be the first Presi- 
 dent of the United States. Now the street is to acknowl- 
 edge this honor with honors in return, and on a scale 
 that will be) historic. 
 
 Broadway's celebration will be unique in many re- 
 spects. In the first place, it is the first instance where 
 a distinct section of a city has planned a George Wash- 
 ington celebration of its own and separate from any 
 commemorative activities that the municipality as a 
 whole may undertake. In this respect, the initiative of 
 Broadway may not remain unique very long, observes 
 the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 
106 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 mission. Other sections of other cities will not be long 
 in following Broadway's lead. 
 
 Already President Harriss, of the Broadway Associa- 
 tion, is busy selecting a special committee to coordinate 
 the activities of the historical societies and civic asso- 
 ciations that have signified their eagerness to participate. 
 Congressman Sol Bloom, associate director of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, has 
 pledged the hearty cooperation of that national body. 
 Mayor Walker has been invited to lend official prestige 
 and guidance to the undertaking, and the Broadway 
 Association has lost no time in drawing up tentative 
 plans to be submitted to its members. 
 
 The entire week of February 22, 1932, will be set aside 
 to honor the first American on this two hundredth an- 
 niversary of his birth. Parades, pageants, plays and 
 moving pictures, dealing with Washington's life during 
 his presidential activities on Broadway will be staged. 
 It is planned to open the week with a monster night 
 parade, with electrically illuminated floats portraying 
 Broadway life from Colonial times to the present. Fol- 
 lowing this will be other events, each vying with the 
 other in splendor. A mammoth pageant representing 
 "All Nations" is proposed for Madison Square, partici- 
 pated in by New York's 1,000,000 school children. All 
 Broadway's stores will be asked to make displays ap- 
 propriate for the occasion. 
 
 Throughout the week of celebration the theaters will 
 play a prominent part, with special programs and the 
 revival of historical plays of Washington's time. Noth- 
 ing could be more appropriate, for George Washington 
 was all his life a lover and patron of the theater. And 
 
News Releases 107 
 
 as Broadway is the Mecca of all America, this lead taken 
 by the famous street will stimulate similar Washington 
 celebrations all over the country, besides drawing to 
 New York thousands of visitors eager to see how Broad- 
 way honors one of its earliest residents. 
 
 Other sections of New York City, similarly associated 
 with the memory of Washington, are expected to ar- 
 range suitable commemorations. And these festivities 
 of the week of February 22 are to be but the beginning 
 of ceremonies to be held on appropriate holidays until 
 the final outpouring of gratitude to Washington on 
 Thanksgiving Day. 
 
 President Hoover Notified World's Greatest Suspen- 
 sion Bridge Will Be Named for George Washington 
 
 President Hoover, as chairman of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, was no- 
 tified today by representatives of the Commission and 
 of the Port of New York Authority that among the 
 magnificent new memorials, which will mark the world- 
 wide celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of 
 the birth of George Washington during 1932, will be 
 the most stupendous structure of its kind in the world — 
 the great suspension bridge rapidly nearing completion 
 over the Hudson River between Fort Washington, N. 
 Y., and Fort Lee, N. J. The President was told that 
 the Port of New York Authority has decided in favor 
 of naming this giant structure the George Washington 
 Memorial Bridge. 
 
 This news was taken to the White House by Senator 
 Simeon D. Fess, of Ohio, vice chairman; Representa- 
 tive Sol Bloom, of New York, associate director, and 
 
108 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 members of the executive committee of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 and George deBenneville Keim, representing the New 
 York and New Jersey members of the Port of New 
 York Authority. 
 
 This $70,000,000 bridge, whose two towers are higher 
 than the famous Washington Monument in the Na- 
 tional Capital, is being constructed by the Port of New 
 York Authority upon the authorization of the legisla- 
 tures of New York and New Jersey and with the ap- 
 proval of Congress. The legislatures of both these States 
 are expected to approve the plan to make the great 
 bridge a bicentennial memorial to the Commander in 
 Chief of the Continental Army and first President of 
 the United States. 
 
 The name of George Washington is peculiarly appro- 
 priate for this bridge. It marks the scene of one of the 
 most dramatic incidents of American history — -a defense 
 by a portion of General Washington's Army that is un- 
 surpassed for bravery in the annals of the Revolutionary 
 War. 
 
 The question of a name for the new bridge has been 
 agitated for months. It has been the topic of wide- 
 spread public discussion and a great many suggestions 
 have been made. The decision of the Port of New York 
 Authority — a body created by compact between the 
 States of New York and New Jersey with the approval 
 of Congress — in favor of making this structure a me- 
 morial to George Washington will, it is believed, 
 receive general approval. 
 
 This action is expected to be followed by similar 
 action in other States and cities. Doubtless many other 
 
News Releases 109 
 
 bridges, boulevards, and public works of various kinds, 
 now under construction or projected, will be named 
 in honor of the first President as a feature of the world- 
 wide bicentennial celebration in the year 1932. 
 
 The work on the new bridge over the Hudson River 
 was begun in May, 1927. It is expected that the bridge 
 will be opened for vehicular traffic in time for dedica- 
 tion ceremonies next year. The dedication, it is ex- 
 pected, will be one of the principal events in the series 
 of world-wide celebrations in honor of George Wash- 
 ington to be held from February 22, 1932, to Thanks- 
 giving Day, 1932. 
 
 The length of the bridge between anchorages is 4,760 
 feet, or nearly 1 mile. The main span is 3,500 feet long. 
 The width of the main structure over all is 120 feet 
 and the height of the towers above the water is 635 
 feet, or 80 feet higher than the Washington Monument 
 on the Potomac River at Washington. 
 
 Four great cables, each with a diameter of 35 inches 
 and containing 26,474 wire strands, bear the weight 
 of the main structure. The weight of this cable wire 
 is 28,450 tons. The upper deck of the bridge will carry 
 eight vehicular traffic lanes and two sidewalks. The 
 lower deck will be for rapid transit lanes. 
 
 The roadway is 250 feet above the river and the 
 clearance beneath the lower deck at the center is 213 
 feet. The steelwork in the towers weighs 40,200 tons, 
 and the structural steelwork in the main bridge with- 
 out the lower deck weighs 73,000 tons. 
 
 The new bridge is located on a line parallel to and 
 between One Hundred and Seventy-eighth and One 
 Hundred and Seventy-ninth Streets in New York City. 
 
110 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 It will form an important link in the highways planned 
 for comprehensive development of transportation facili- 
 ties at the Port of New York and provide a vital con- 
 nection in the national highway routes. It will provide 
 direct and expeditious access from northern New Jer- 
 sey and the portions of New York State west of the 
 Hudson River to New York City. It will serve traffic 
 between New England and the Atlantic seaboard, af- 
 fording a route that will avoid the more congested sec- 
 tions of New York City. In conjunction with the 
 Washington Bridge across the Harlem River and the 
 proposed Triborough Bridge across the East River it 
 will establish a new highway between Long Island and 
 New Jersey. 
 
 There is no spot in America more sacred to the 
 memory of the gallant soldiers of the Revolution and 
 to their Commander in Chief than this one. 
 
 Fort Washington and Fort Lee were erected for the 
 purpose of keeping the British warships from the upper 
 reaches of the Hudson River. When General Wash- 
 ington decided that Manhattan Island was no longer 
 tenable, due to the large force of the enemy there under 
 Lord Howe, and to the British war vessels in the river, 
 he conducted his main army to the New Jersey side, 
 encamping near Hackensack, but left a garrison of 
 about 3,000 men to hold Fort Washington on the New 
 York side. 
 
 Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia riflemen in 
 Fort Washington, under command of Colonel Magaw, 
 aware that Howe was making preparations to wipe 
 out the remaining American defenses on and about 
 Manhattan, worked like beavers, cutting down trees, 
 
News Releases 111 
 
 throwing up earthworks, and placing cannons in 
 hastily built redoubts. But on the night of November 2 
 Adjutant Demont, of the American garrison, deserted 
 to the British, taking a plan of the fort and the dis- 
 position of the American troops around it. With this 
 advantage Lord Howe at once decided upon concerted 
 action against the fort. 
 
 The British infantry, artillery, and frigates in the 
 river were placed in effective positions and a complete 
 cordon drawn around the fort. Then Howe demanded 
 that the Americans surrender. 
 
 "The fort will be held to the end," replied the gallant 
 Colonel Magaw. 
 
 It was on the 12th of November that the British 
 began to close in, with an army of more than 9,000 men, 
 against less than one-third that number of Americans, 
 who had to cover the fort itself and the several outlying 
 redoubts. 
 
 Washington kept in close touch with Colonel Magaw 
 and directed the defense. On one occasion Washington 
 crossed to the New York side in a small rowboat, 
 virtually under the guns of the enemy fleet. Generals 
 Greene and Putnam also crossed and conferred with 
 Colonel Magaw. 
 
 The brave stand of the heroic garrison is one of the 
 glories of American arms. Every step of the British 
 advance was a hard fight. Slowly the outposts were 
 driven in by superior force. At last only 600 Ameri- 
 cans remained in the fort when the main attack was 
 made on November 16. The rest of the little American 
 army was fighting out among the surrounding hills or 
 the men were out of action, wounded, or dead. 
 
112 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 More than 4,000 Hessians, under General Knyp- 
 hausen, charged against this little Spartan band of 600 
 Americans holding the fort on the heights. Three times 
 they were driven back by the American riflemen. At 
 length Knyphausen rallied the Hessians and led another 
 charge in person. 
 
 Meanwhile Captain Gooch was crossing the river in 
 a small boat, under shell fire from the British vessels in 
 the river, bearing a message from General Washington, 
 who was watching the action from Fort Lee, asking 
 whether the heroic garrison could hold out until night- 
 fall, when help might be sent. Dodging bullets and 
 bayonets, Captain Gooch gained the fort, but it was 
 too late. The fighting American riflemen had been at 
 last overwhelmed by superior numbers. 
 
 Captain Gooch leaped from the parapet, escaped to 
 his waiting boat, and took the news of the surrender to 
 General Washington. 
 
 It was an American defeat, but one of the most 
 glorious defeats in the history of warfare. 
 
 D. A. R. Approves Name of "George Washington 
 Memorial Bridge" for Hudson River Structure 
 
 Expressing its special interest in the George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Celebration next year, the National 
 Board of Management of the Daughters of the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, in session at Memorial Continental Hall 
 in Washington, has gone on record in favor of giving 
 the name "George Washington Memorial Bridge" to 
 the new suspension bridge over the Hudson River, 
 largest structure of its kind in the world, which is near- 
 ing completion between Fort Washington, N. Y., 
 
News Releases 113 
 
 and Fort Lee, N. J. The new bridge will be opened 
 for traffic in 1932, and will probably be dedicated dur- 
 ing the 10 months' celebration of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington. 
 
 The National Board of Management, which repre- 
 sents the various State societies of the Daughters of the 
 American Revolution, adopted a resolution this week 
 requesting that the committee, which has been selected 
 by the Port of New York Authority to recommend a 
 name for the gigantic bridge, give "special considera- 
 tion" to the name of George Washington. 
 
 The matter was brought to the attention of the 
 National Board by Mrs. C. Edward Murray, State 
 regent for New Jersey, and Mrs. Frank H. Parcells, 
 State regent for New York. The adoption of the reso- 
 lution was moved by Mrs. Edward S. Moulton, State 
 regent for Rhode Island, seconded by Mrs. Charles F. 
 Bathrick, State regent for Michigan. 
 
 The resolution is as follows: 
 
 "Being especially interested in the Washington 
 Bicentennial Celebration and in the perpetuation of the 
 name of George Washington, we, the National Board 
 of Management of the N. S., D. A. R., hereby respect- 
 fully request the committee who are considering the 
 name for the new bridge being built between New York 
 and New Jersey give special consideration to the name 
 George Washington Memorial Bridge, submitted by the 
 New Jersey and New York Societies, N. S., D. A. R." 
 
 A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Port of 
 New York Authority, which is constructing the bridge 
 by authority of the Legislatures of New York and New 
 Jersey and with the approval of Congress. 
 
114 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 All America to Sing "America" 
 
 One of the most interesting and dramatic suggestions 
 yet proposed in connection with the observance of the 
 two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington in 1932 has been brought to the attention 
 of Col. U. S. Grant 3d, associate director of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 This suggestion is based upon the belief that no more 
 appropriate honor could be paid to the memory of 
 George Washington than to create a great national 
 chorus, united at the same moment in every school- 
 house, church, theater, auditorium, and home, in sing- 
 ing the national anthem "America," to the leadership 
 of the United Service Orchestra, composed of the 
 Marine, Navy, and Army Bands, broadcasting from 
 Washington. 
 
 "Think of the thrilling grandeur of such an event," 
 enthusiastically declared the author of this suggestion. 
 "That wonderful old song, which has inspired the people 
 of this country for generations, will ring out from mil- 
 lions of hearts, a reverent tribute to the memory of the 
 Founder of our Republic. I have been told by experts 
 that the physical problems of such an undertaking can 
 be solved easily and simply. 
 
 "In accordance with custom, on February 22, 1932, 
 the President of the United States will probably deliver 
 an address at a joint meeting of the Congress in the 
 House of Representatives. On the annual occasions 
 besides the members of Congress, there are present mem- 
 bers of the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, members of 
 the diplomatic corps, and other high officials of our 
 Government. It is customary also for the President to 
 
News Releases 115 
 
 begin his address at noon. Now, if the people of Amer- 
 ica everywhere should take advantage of this greatest 
 radio hook-up ever arranged, and should assemble in 
 their churches, schools, auditoriums, and homes to 
 listen to this historic address, what would be simpler, at 
 the close of that address, than for the Nation, under 
 the leadership of the great United Service Orchestra 
 and the representatives of our Government, to join in 
 song?" 
 
 In commenting upon this suggestion, Colonel Grant 
 said: "I do not know how many people listen to these 
 great radio hook-ups. I have been told that a conserva- 
 tive estimate is about 50,000,000. It seems probable that 
 by working up this event in advance such an audience 
 could be considerably augmented, for loud speakers 
 could be placed in industrial plants, in institutions of 
 all kinds and, in fact, it would be in effect the greatest 
 audience ever assembled upon this earth. The fact that 
 it will be divided into many units would be discounted 
 by the common tie of radio, which would unite all. It 
 is indeed a great and inspiring conception to think of 
 most of the people of our vast country joining at the 
 same moment in a great hymn of praise and thanks- 
 giving, which would echo from every hill, prairie, city, 
 hamlet, and countryside under the flag. We can almost 
 imagine the song being borne through the air and made 
 audible to those beyond the range of the radio. 
 
 "I am not prepared to say just how this suggestion 
 can be carried out, if at all, but it appears to have merit 
 and perhaps will be an ideal project to usher in the 
 period of the nation-wide celebration in honor of the 
 two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 
116 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Washington, which will be ' celebrated from February 
 22, 1932, to Thanksgiving Day of that year." 
 
 Society of the Cincinnati Will Honor Washington 
 
 Among the patriotic orders planning participation 
 in the nation-wide, nine-months' celebration of George 
 Washington's two hundredth birthday anniversary next 
 year, the Society of the Cincinnati, the oldest hereditary 
 society in the United States and one which had for its 
 first president, George Washington, is expected to play 
 a prominent role. 
 
 The descendants of George Washington's officers will 
 rally at the celebration in 1932 for the General of their 
 forefathers; and will cooperate with the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission to make 
 this celebration the greatest and most far-reaching trib- 
 ute ever accorded a national hero. 
 
 The history of this organization reveals that no body 
 of patriots had a more honorable or more touching rea- 
 son for being. Yet when it was formed its purpose was 
 completely misunderstood, and the organization was 
 bitterly denounced. The eight years of the Revolution 
 having come to a close, the officers of Washington's 
 Army — those men who had fought, suffered and bled 
 side by side — faced the prospect of bidding each other 
 farewell, perhaps never to see each other again. 
 
 In order to preserve some bond and means of com- 
 munication among them, a group of representative of- 
 ficers met at the historic Verplanck house near Fishkill, 
 N. Y., on May 13, 1783, and adopted the following pre- 
 amble: 
 
 "To perpetuate, as well the remembrance of this vast 
 
News Releases 117 
 
 event as the mutual friendships which have been formed 
 under the pressure of common danger, and, in many in- 
 stances, cemented by the blood of the parties, the of- 
 ficers of the American Army do hereby, in the most 
 solemn manner, associate, constitute and combine them- 
 selves into one Society of Friends, to endure as long as 
 they shall endure, or any of their oldest male posterity, 
 and in failure thereof the collateral branches who may 
 be judged worthy of becoming supporters and mem- 
 bers." 
 
 The Society chose for itself the name of Cincinnati, 
 after Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who left his plow 
 to serve his country on the field of battle and then re- 
 turned to his farm when the fighting was over. Most 
 likely the founders of the Society recognized the simi- 
 larity between the action of their Chief and that of 
 Cincinnatus. 
 
 At its first meeting the Society of the Cincinnati chose 
 as its guiding principle, "To render permanent the cor- 
 dial affection subsisting among the officers. This spirit 
 will dictate brotherly kindness in all things and par- 
 ticularly extend to the most substantial acts of benefi- 
 cence, according to the ability of the society towards 
 those officers and their families who unfortunately may 
 be under the necessity of receiving it." 
 
 Innocent and kindly as it was, this organization was 
 instantly fought by Benjamin Franklin and Samuel 
 Adams. Thomas Jefferson demanded that the order 
 be annihilated. John Adams wrote from Paris that "the 
 formation of the society was the first step taken to de- 
 face the Temple of our Liberty." What is now the 
 Tammany Society of New York was formed in 1789 
 
118 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 for the express purpose of antagonizing the "aristocratic 
 Society of the Cincinnati," which was feared as an at- 
 tempt to form a nobility. 
 
 At the second meeting of the Society in 1783, on June 
 19, "His Excellency" George Washington was asked to 
 become President General, and served until his death. 
 Maj. Gen. Alexander Hamilton then succeeded him. 
 The last survivor of the Revolution to hold the office 
 was William Popham, of New York, who possessed the 
 modest rank of brevet major in the Continental Line. 
 
 The Society of the Cincinnati, with its 1,100 mem- 
 bers, should assume a leading part in the coming cele- 
 bration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of its first president and the first President of the Na- 
 tion. 
 
 War Mothers and George Washington 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, in its work of organizing the nation-wide 
 celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of Wash- 
 ington's birth in 1932, is to receive from the American 
 war mothers cooperation at once most touching and 
 fitting. No citizen needs to be reminded of the signifi- 
 cance of the stars worn by these brave mothers — the 
 blue star for those whose sons returned from service 
 unscathed except for the searing experience of war; the 
 silver star for mothers whose sons were wounded or dis- 
 abled in battle; and the gold star for those whose sons 
 made the supreme sacrifice and lie in heroes' graves. 
 
 Last year Congress, at the instance of Senator David 
 A. Reed, of Pennsylvania, and of Representative Sim- 
 mons, of Nebraska, authorized a pilgrimage of these 
 
News Releases 119 
 
 gold star mothers to the graves of their sons on the 
 battle fields of Europe. This pilgrimage, conducted by 
 the War Department, was open to those mothers and 
 widows who had not been previously overseas at their 
 own expense on this reverent errand. This year Con- 
 gress, through an amendment offered by Representative 
 Simmons, has authorized another pilgrimage to include 
 women who have previously visited these graves at their 
 own cost, as well as those whose relatives have been left 
 among the 4,384 "missing" — those men who were lost 
 at sea, or buried without means of identification, or 
 whose graves were afterward fought over in battle and 
 obliterated. 
 
 As part of this plan to omit none from the honors 
 due to the heroic dead, the Nation, through Congress, 
 has authorized the building of a chapel in each of the 
 American battle-field cemeteries in Europe. On these 
 chapels will be carved the name of each of these miss- 
 ing men whose graves will never be found. Since the 
 building of the chapels is in the care of General Persh- 
 ing, this labor of love on his part means the tribute paid 
 to these men by their Commander in Chief— an honor 
 which should console every mother whose son may lie 
 at a spot unknown, but whose name shall be known 
 forever. 
 
 As last year, this pilgrimage will be conducted in 
 separate parties, the first contingent sailing most appro- 
 priately on the U. S. S. George Washington on May 6, 
 the last one on the President Roosevelt on August 19. 
 On each voyage to Europe and back these gold star 
 mothers will devote one or more days to services and 
 exercises in commemoration of George Washington, 
 
120 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Commander in Chief of the armies that made America 
 free. 
 
 So these mothers of this later day, who have laid this 
 latest sacrifice of their loved ones on the altar of liberty, 
 will link themselves in spirit with those mothers of that 
 earlier time, whose sons fought loyally at Washington's 
 side or gave their lives that the sacred cause he so 
 heroically upheld might win to victory under his 
 masterly hand. 
 
 If it takes grief and sacrifice to bind us all in a 
 common understanding, then the memory of George 
 Washington could receive no finer tribute. For no one 
 suffered more than Washington himself at the death and 
 the suffering of his men, and no one better understood 
 the sorrow of their mothers. These memorials to Wash- 
 ington, as tendered by these modern mothers of sons 
 who fought in France, are still more fitting as recalling 
 Lafayette and the thousands of Frenchmen who came 
 to Washington's aid in his hour of trial. 
 
 These tributes to Washington by the pilgrim mothers 
 will help to spread to all the corners of our land some 
 knowledge of the celebration of Washington's two hun- 
 dredth anniversary next year, as planned by the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 Not only will these mothers learn for themselves of the 
 coming celebration, but, being members and leaders in 
 many patriotic organizations and outstanding citizens 
 in their communities, their zeal may be aroused in help- 
 ing to bring the entire Nation into the spirit of this 
 tribute to Washington. 
 
 The Bicentennial Commission is sending helpful and 
 informative material to selected leaders in each of these 
 
News Releases 121 
 
 16 pilgrim groups, who will organize these memorial 
 exercises on shipboards. As mothers of soldiers, they 
 will be especially interested in Washington's military 
 life, and as many of them will be greeted by Lafayette's 
 descendants, they will wish to recall his loyal devotion 
 to Washington. 
 
 Scouts Distribute Mount Vernon Seeds 
 
 The Boy Scouts of America, in cooperation with the 
 American Forestry Association and the United States 
 Department of Agriculture, are gathering walnut seeds 
 from the trees of Mount Vernon, the historic home of 
 George Washington, and are distributing them through- 
 out the United States for planting in the State capitals, 
 parks and other suitable places. 
 
 It is hoped that a number of these trees will be planted 
 in each State in time for the great celebration in 1932 
 of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 This walnut tree planting project is most timely and 
 appropriate. During his entire lifetime, George Wash- 
 ington ardently loved and cared for the trees which grew 
 around his home. He frequently brought seeds from 
 trees in different parts of the country to plant at Mount 
 Vernon. As a result of his painstaking care, his estate 
 became one of the most beautiful in America. It is 
 not difficult for any one who sees Mount Vernon today 
 to realize why Washington was so attached to his home 
 and was never happy away from it. During the weary 
 years of the Revolutionary War, when his stamina, cour- 
 age and sound judgment alone kept the American Army 
 together, he always longed for the quiet of his estate. 
 
122 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Later, during his two terms in the Presidency which he 
 had been called to fill by the unanimous voice of his 
 countrymen, he frequently wrote of the happiness he 
 expected to enjoy in retirement under his own "vine 
 and fig tree." 
 
 According to those in charge of the walnut tree plant- 
 ing project, the black walnut has been selected from 
 the many trees growing at Mount Vernon because it is 
 adaptable to a greater range of territory than any other 
 species in the United States. It is also among the most 
 ornamental of American trees, and in addition has a 
 practical market value as timber which makes it out- 
 standing in tree usefulness- 
 
 Listing Eighteenth Century Business 
 
 What corporations, firms, partnerships, or directly 
 inherited individual organizations of any kind, now do- 
 ing business in the United States, can trace their his- 
 tory back to George Washington's time? This is the 
 interesting question now being asked in an informal 
 survey of American business institutions by the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 and a host of cooperating agencies. So far as can be 
 learned the compilation of eighteenth century business 
 firms, surviving to the present day, has never before 
 been attempted. The suggestion has been enthusiasti- 
 cally welcomed and now the whole country is being 
 combed to make such a list complete. 
 
 Representative Sol Bloom, who, with Lieut. Col. U. S. 
 Grant III, is associate director of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, has hit 
 upon an idea that seems to have caught the favorable 
 
News Releases 123 
 
 attention of business men everywhere. Thus it is found 
 that chambers of commerce, banks, newspapers, his- 
 torical societies, insurance companies, advertising clubs 
 and many other organizations and individuals have 
 joined in the quest. 
 
 In discussing the subject recently, Mr. Bloom said, 
 "I had no idea such interest would be aroused in this 
 subject. Already scores of letters have been received, 
 many of which list such business concerns. Others tell 
 us where we might continue our search and we are fol- 
 lowing up every clue that is given us. Many lists of 
 old companies have been prepared by local chambers of 
 commerce. Frequently dinners have been given in va- 
 rious cities to representatives of these historic business 
 establishments. There are doubtless hundreds of insti- 
 tutions that are entitled to go on this unique roll of 
 honor, and it is surprising to learn not only of the nu- 
 merous business houses that have survived from the 
 eighteenth century, but also that many of them are still 
 doing business in the same locations and some of them 
 in the same buildings in which they started. Undoubt- 
 edly George Washington himself patronized some of 
 these establishments. We know this to have been true 
 of the Leadbeater Drug Corporation of Alexandria, Va., 
 as well as the Alexandria Gazette of that historic city. 
 
 "It is indeed odd to note, as I have done, that Euro- 
 pean firms and other foreign business organizations take 
 much pride in advertising the fact that they have been 
 in business for many years. Age casts a glamor over 
 such establishments and adds to their standing and 
 reputation. In the United States the general rule is to 
 advertise: 'This business has changed hands,' or 'This 
 
124 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 business under new management,' as if such busi- 
 ness restlessness were a virtue. We want to show, if we 
 can, by the number of American business organizations 
 that have been in existence since the eighteenth century 
 that, although we were a baby Nation then of only 
 about three million people, the percentage of business 
 houses in continuous existence since that time will com- 
 pare favorably with foreign countries. 
 
 "Chambers of commerce and newspapers are particu- 
 larly interested in this project, and when the list is com- 
 pleted we expect to give it wide circulation. If any 
 one knows of a business concern that has been in con- 
 tinuous existence since the eighteenth century, we shall 
 be more than glad to have that information. Already 
 it has been suggested that there be some sort of a meet- 
 ing or even organization of these old establishments, and 
 that their records be preserved and examined for their 
 historical value. It is impossible to tell how long this 
 inquiry will continue, but it has aroused so much atten- 
 tion that we expect to follow it through until all reason- 
 able sources have been searched. Thus far banks, in- 
 surance companies, newspapers, lodges, and drug stores 
 take the lead in historical records. We feel, however, 
 that we have only begun the search and there are at 
 the present time literally hundreds of helpers in this in- 
 teresting and important project. 
 
 Helpful Suggestions 
 
 Each organization and institution in the country — 
 local and national — will be best able to decide upon its 
 own method of appropriate participation in the series 
 
News Releases 125 
 
 of events in 1932 in honor of George Washington. The 
 following suggestions, which are necessarily incomplete, 
 may assist those who are preparing programs and ar- 
 ranging for their organization's part in the celebration: 
 
 Adopt resolutions pledging cooperation in making the 
 celebration the greatest of its kind in the history of the 
 world. 
 
 Organize committees at once to plan and carry out 
 a Washington program in 1932. 
 
 Adopt resolutions expressing your organization's faith 
 in the teachings of Washington and gratitude for his 
 work in founding the Nation. 
 
 See that articles about George Washington and plans 
 for the bicentennial celebration are published in local 
 newspapers, magazines, and in the official publication of 
 your organization. 
 
 Display the American flag and a portrait or sculp- 
 tured bust of George Washington in organization head- 
 quarters and urge a similar display in every public and 
 private office in your city or town in 1932. 
 
 Present at as many meetings as possible the programs 
 issued by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission, depicting the life, character, and 
 achievements of George Washington, and similar 
 programs. 
 
 Have special programs on all national and local 
 holidays and anniversaries and other days which can be 
 connected with the life of Washington. 
 
 Stimulate in all possible ways the educational, inform- 
 ative, cooperative, and demonstrative features of the 
 celebration. 
 
 Promote participation of students of schools, colleges, 
 
126 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 and universities in oratorical and essay contests based 
 upon the life and character of George Washington. 
 
 Conduct essay, playlet, pageant, and other contests. 
 
 See that every library in the community adds 
 standard books on the life of Washington from the 
 bibliography of the American Library Association, 
 which has the approval of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 Form reading and study groups of persons interested 
 in the life and achievements of George Washington. 
 
 Display conspicuously Washingtoniana, relics and art. 
 
 Unite in a plan, in addition to all other plans for tree 
 planting, to have a tree planted in the grounds of every 
 school, or near by, during 1932, to be called "The 
 George Washington Tree." 
 
 Request every church to have frequent sermons 
 during 1932 based upon the life, character, and services 
 of George Washington. 
 
 Plan to have an American flag and picture of Wash- 
 ington displayed not only in every schoolroom but in 
 every home. 
 
 Arrange for cooperation between the bicentennial 
 committees of various organizations and groups in plan- 
 ning joint programs throughout the period of the 
 celebration. 
 
 Suggest that fraternal and other organizations, in 
 which a large number of initiates may become members 
 at the same time, that these "classes" be called "George 
 Washington Bicentennial Classes." 
 
 Suggest that programs for celebrations be printed in 
 buff and blue, the colors of the Colonial Army, and that 
 they be kept as permanent souvenirs. 
 
News Releases 127 
 
 Teach Sunday-school lessons about George Wash- 
 ington's religious life, his prayers for the army and 
 country, his precepts and examples, and "Washington's 
 Rules of Civility." 
 
 Promote the organization of "George Washington 
 Bicentennial Clubs" to participate in the celebration 
 and to help arouse the citizens of the community to 
 honor the memory of Washington. 
 
 Encourage the schools to teach the life of Wash- 
 ington and inspire students to engage in individual 
 research. In the primary grade suggest the preparation 
 of scrapbooks of George Washington clippings, illus- 
 trated with pictures and original drawings. 
 
 Have all newspapers, magazines, and other publica- 
 tions of schools and colleges devote special editions to 
 George Washington and the Bicentennial Celebration. 
 
 Arrange special meetings to be attended by school 
 children, teachers, and parents to honor George 
 Washington. 
 
 Suggest to the faculties of all educational institutions 
 that they set an example to the students by adopting 
 resolutions embodying references to the character and 
 achievements of Washington. 
 
 Encourage chambers of commerce, other business 
 organizations, trade and labor groups, and employes of 
 industrial concerns to have their own bicentennial com- 
 mittees and to assist in the celebration by holding meet- 
 ings, distributing literature, encouraging the display of 
 flags, and Washington's pictures everywhere, printing 
 a George Washington bicentennial emblem on letters, 
 envelopes, and other printed matter, displaying Wash- 
 
128 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ington calendars, arranging for motion pictures, radio 
 addresses, etc. 
 
 Encourage railroads, banks, hotels, street railways, 
 insurance companies, calendar publishers, industrial and 
 manufacturing concerns, wholesale and retail houses, 
 newspapers, magazines, trade journals, advertising 
 groups, and every possible activity in your community 
 to do their own part to insure the success of the world- 
 wide celebration in honor of Washington. 
 
 Pay special attention to arousing the interest of the 
 children in the life of Washington and impressing them 
 with the great value of the work he did for his country. 
 
 Try in every way to arouse interest among the young 
 and old in everything connected with the colonial and 
 revolutionary periods of our history — music, dances, 
 costumes, homes, furniture, pictures, customs, books, 
 etc. 
 
 George Washington Bicentennial Celebration to Be 
 World-Wide 
 
 The observance of the Two Hundredth Anniversary 
 of the Birth of George Washington in 1932 will be 
 world-wide as a result of arrangements now being com- 
 pleted by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson has designated 
 Assistant Secretary William R. Castle, Jr., to cooperate 
 with the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission in making plans for participation by 
 foreign governments in the Bicentennial celebration. 
 United States Ambassadors, Ministers, and Consuls in 
 
News Releases 129 
 
 other countries are assisting the hundreds of thousands 
 of American citizens living abroad to arrange for their 
 part in the world-wide celebration. 
 
 Special American committees in London, Paris, and 
 Berlin already have been created to prepare plans for 
 the celebration and similar committees are being organ- 
 ized in Poland, Italy, China, Japan, India, and many 
 other countries, so that Americans in the remotest cor- 
 ners of the world will be informed of the celebration. 
 Plans have been completed whereby the Bicentennial 
 Commission will furnish to the committees abroad as 
 well as to individuals, the same service as that rendered 
 to groups and individuals in the United States. 
 
 That the people of the United States and the world 
 at large are rapidly awakening to the significance of 
 the celebration is indicated by the thousands of requests 
 that are pouring into the offices of the Commission for 
 all kinds of material relating to the celebration. 
 
 Rapid progress is being made by the Commission in 
 the preparation of one-act plays and pageant scenarios 
 which will be available to interested individuals and or- 
 ganizations throughout the country desiring to take 
 part in the celebration. It is the plan of the Com- 
 mission to make accessible to clubs, schools, colleges, 
 churches, civil, fraternal, patriotic, and other organiza- 
 tions, dramatic material for both indoor and outdoor 
 presentations on either a large or small scale. 
 
 The Commission is preparing 1 8 one-act plays on epi- 
 sodes in the life of General Washington, which are to 
 be broadcast in half -hour programs each week after 
 Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1931, and continue 
 for one year. These plays will also be furnished, on re- 
 
130 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 quest without cost, to organizations, groups, dramatic 
 societies, and schools. 
 
 In its eagerness to have every man, woman, and child 
 take part in the celebration, special arrangements have 
 been made by the Commission for the blind. There has 
 been established a Braille department, which has many 
 projects under way to brighten the hearts of blind chil- 
 dren. Character development stories from the life of 
 Washington, playlets, games, and other printed matter 
 is being transcribed into Braille, a system of reading for 
 the blind. Bas-relief maps and various clay models are 
 also being prepared and contests and programs arranged. 
 Thus the spiritual rebirth of Washington will be as real 
 to those who can only see with the "eye of the spirit" 
 as to those whose physical eyesight is unimpaired. 
 
 Three prominent books on the American Revolution, 
 in Braille, are already available. They are "George 
 Washington, the Man of Action," by Frederick Trevor 
 Hill; "George Washington, the Image and the Man," by 
 W. E. Woodward, and "The Four Great Americans," 
 by James Baldwin. 
 
 At this time 33 States, the District of Columbia, 
 Alaska, and Hawaii, have already appointed State groups 
 to cooperate with the Federal Commissions. In addi- 
 tion, thousands of cities, towns and smaller communi- 
 ties are naming committees for a similar purpose. [Later 
 all State and territorial commissions were completed.] 
 
 One of the outstanding contributions of the Federal 
 Commission's plans, particularly from an educational 
 standpoint, will be the publication of a definitive edi- 
 tion of all the authentic writings of George Washing- 
 ton that have been preserved, the perpetuation of his 
 
News Releases 131 
 
 entire life. This work is being done under the personal 
 direction of Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick, one of the most 
 distinguished authorities on George Washington and his 
 times. 
 
 President Hoover has written the introduction or 
 foreword for this work and the first volume is expected 
 to be completed within the next few weeks. It is es- 
 timated that one-fourth of the letters of Washington 
 in this volume have never before been printed. 
 
 The Women's Division of the Commission has already 
 prepared 12 elaborate programs for the use of women's 
 organizations and 40 papers on Washington have also 
 been compiled; copies of both are now available to 
 women's organizations upon request. 
 
 An interesting project now under way is the prepara- 
 tion of a series of maps, tracing the activities of George 
 Washington. These will show the homes of the first 
 President, the roads he traversed as a soldier and the 
 places he visited during his lifetime. This enterprise has 
 a double significance. It will be a valuable contribution 
 to the historian and it will be a direct aid to the millions 
 of people who will visit historic Washington shrines in 
 New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the District of 
 Columbia, Virginia, and other places where Washington 
 made his appearance. 
 
 One of the most important phases of the celebration 
 will be in connection with the public schools of the na- 
 tion. To facilitate a program among the schools, the 
 Commission has been in contact with leading educa- 
 tional authorities of the country. One of the features 
 considered is a nation-wide essay contest and similar con- 
 tests in oratory and graphic arts. 
 
132 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 School superintendents, teachers, representatives of 
 parochial and private schools, colleges, and universities 
 are formulating plans whereby all educational institu- 
 tions will participate in the celebration. The historical 
 significance of George Washington's services to his coun- 
 try and the spiritual value of his example as a citizen 
 and an American have always been of special interest 
 to schools and their students. 
 
 The Commission is also assembling a library of pic- 
 tures of George Washington and the people and places 
 with which he was associated. This will be a valuable 
 contribution to the Washingtoniana now in existence. 
 
 Another important feature of the general program 
 for the nation-wide celebration is the production of a 
 great motion picture, in sound and colors, depicting the 
 life and principal events in the career of Washington. 
 Plans for this picture are now being worked out by the 
 Eastman Films Company in collaboration with the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission. 
 
 Through a special arrangement this picture will show 
 scenes in the patriotic shrines of America, using material 
 in Government and private museums which will make 
 it unusually realistic. Through the courtesy of the 
 Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, some 
 of the scenes will be laid in the historic home of Wash- 
 ington at Mount Vernon. This will be the first time 
 that interior pictures have ever been taken at Mount 
 Vernon, and is the only time that a privilege of this kind 
 has ever been extended. 
 
 No private enterprise could possibly produce such an 
 authentic, elaborate and unique picture, as no amount 
 
News Releases 133 
 
 of money could induce the Federal Government to per- 
 mit the use of the priceless uniforms, costumes, dresses, 
 furniture, and other possessions of the Washingtons for 
 commercial purposes. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission emphasizes the fact that it has at no time 
 become, nor will it become in the future, affiliated 
 with any commercial project. The Associate Directors 
 are ready to cooperate with business firms, but at no 
 time will they compromise the Commission with an of- 
 ficial approval of, or responsibility for, any money- 
 making enterprise. 
 
 France and United States to Honor Memory of 
 Washington at Paris Exposition 
 
 France and the United States will join in honoring 
 the memory of the patriots of both countries who helped 
 to win independence for the American Colonies, and es- 
 pecially in paying homage to the memory of George 
 Washington during the six months of the International 
 Colonial and Overseas Exposition, sponsored by the 
 French Government, which will open near Paris May 
 1. The American exhibit at the exposition will help to 
 bring the world-wide celebration of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington in 1932 
 to the attention of all nations. 
 
 To emphasize and cement the long-standing friend- 
 ship of the United States and France, which began dur- 
 ing the American Revolution, an exact and full-size re- 
 production of Mount Vernon, home of George Wash- 
 ington, is being constructed on the banks of the River 
 
134 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Seine to serve as the administration building for the 
 American exhibit. 
 
 C. Bascom Slemp, of Virginia, who is Commissioner- 
 General of the United States to the French exposition, 
 is also a member of the executive committee of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Commis- 
 sion. He has just returned from Paris and is now busily 
 engaged in arranging to have appropiate furnishings and 
 other material sent from this country to be placed in 
 the duplicate of Mount Vernon on the Seine, and to have 
 the overseas possessions of the United States represented 
 by appropriate exhibits at the exposition. 
 
 The executive committee of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission has adopted a res- 
 olution officially endorsing the reproduction of Mount 
 Vernon in France. The building, in addition to being 
 the headquarters of the American Commission to the 
 French exposition, will be used as a museum in which 
 will be placed articles connected with Washington and 
 his time, loaned by the French and American Govern- 
 ments and citizens of both countries. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission is urging Americans to "join in this patri- 
 otic endeavor" by contributing Washingtoniana to be 
 exhibited in the Mount Vernon building. 
 
 Among the many articles which the French govern- 
 ment is lending to the United States Commission in Paris 
 are an original miniature of General Washington and 
 one of Martha Washington, a large topographic map 
 of Yorktown painted in 1830 on the spot by order of 
 Louis Philippe, a series of medals and documents per- 
 taining to American-French friendship, an original bust 
 
News Releases 135 
 
 of Lafayette, taken from Versailles and very little 
 known, autographed documents of Rochambeau, Louis 
 XVI and Marie Antoinette and numerous other articles 
 of historic interest. 
 
 The official hostess at the Mount Vernon building will 
 be Miss Anne Madison Washington, a descendant of 
 John Augustine Washington, nephew of George Wash- 
 ington. The building will be furnished as nearly as pos- 
 sible like Washington's home. Among the things which 
 Mr. Slemp is taking to Paris to place in the building are 
 the key to the Bastille and a copy of a picture of Louis 
 XVI, both given to Washington by Lafayette; repro- 
 ductions of silverware used at Mount Vernon, letters 
 and portraits of famous Frenchmen and American colo- 
 nists, and other articles appropriate to the time. 
 
 Plans Are Started For Action Abroad 
 
 In the summer of 1930, Honorable Sol Bloom, Rep- 
 resentative in Congress from New York and Associate 
 Director of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission, spent six weeks in Europe ini- 
 tiating the celebration abroad. 
 
 Mr. Bloom went to London as a United States dele- 
 gate to the Interparliamentary Union and later visited 
 Paris. He took advantage of the opportunity afforded 
 by this trip to bring to the attention of Americans re- 
 siding in England, France and other European countries, 
 the plans for the world-wide celebration of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington in 1932. 
 
 He talked before leading American clubs, chambers 
 
136 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of commerce and associations, as well as with many in- 
 dividual Americans about the plans for the celebration 
 and laid the foundation for the organization of com- 
 mittees in London and Paris to plan participation in the 
 Bicentennial events. He started movements for the or- 
 ganization of similar committees in Italy, Germany, 
 Poland and other countries. 
 
 In England, as in other countries, Mr. Bloom found 
 that George Washington is recognized as one of the 
 world's greatest men, whose memory is becoming more 
 illustrious with the passing years. He was enthusiastic 
 over the spontaneous appreciation of Washington in 
 France, which has been manifested ever since the days 
 of Lafayette and Rochambeau. 
 
 "I feel sure that all committees abroad will cooper- 
 ate," said Mr. Bloom, "so that every American living 
 in Europe as well as in other countries, will participate 
 in what will probably be the greatest celebration in 
 honor of one man that has ever been sponsored by any 
 nation." 
 
 Other Nations Will Join in Honoring Washington 
 
 While the people of the United States of America at 
 home and abroad are celebrating the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington next 
 year, during the nine months' period from Washing- 
 ton's Birthday, February 22, to Thanksgiving Day, No- 
 vember 24, 1932, it seems certain that the peoples and 
 governments of many other nations will join them in 
 honoring the memory of Washington. 
 
 Washington's place among the great figures of world 
 
News Releases 137 
 
 history was recognized very generally while he was still 
 alive. His world fame has grown steadily with the 
 passing of the years. 
 
 When the Congress of the United States authorized 
 the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of 
 the birth of George Washington, it recognized Wash- 
 ington's world status by giving the following instruc- 
 tions to the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission: 
 
 "If the participation of other nations in the com- 
 memoration be deemed advisable, to communicate with 
 the governments of such nations." 
 
 Without waiting for official invitations from the 
 Government of the United States, several governments 
 have already indicated a desire to participate in the 
 world-wide celebration next year. Diplomatic repre- 
 sentatives of these governments in Washington have 
 called at the offices of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission and conferred with the 
 Honorable Sol Bloom, Associate Director, with regard to 
 suitable methods of participation. 
 
 It is too soon to state definitely what form the par- 
 ticipation by various governments will take. Each gov- 
 ernment will decide that for itself. From preliminary 
 conferences it is learned, however, that this participa- 
 tion will probably be extremely varied in character. 
 
 As the celebration is to continue for nine months and 
 is not to be an exposition and not to be concentrated in 
 one place, the broadest scope is afforded not only to cit- 
 izens of the United States of America, but to other na- 
 tions in arranging for suitable participation. 
 
138 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Some nations may send special delegations to the City 
 of Washington and to the Tomb of Washington at 
 Mount Vernon. Others may present appropriate 
 statues or send paintings and other works of art, or col- 
 lections of rare manuscripts relating to the life and times 
 of Washington. Intimations have come from several 
 countries that their governments might sponsor trips of 
 large groups of teachers and students to the United 
 States in 1932 to visit historic places in this country and 
 study its development. Tributes to the life and achieve- 
 ments of Washington in addresses by foreign rulers to 
 be broadcast to the entire world by radio have also been 
 suggested by representatives of some nations. 
 
 Nations whose sons fought with George Washington's 
 army to win the independence of the United States are 
 taking a very special interest in the plans for the cele- 
 bration. But participation is not to be confined to such 
 nations. George Washington has been regarded through- 
 out the world as an inspiration to all lovers of liberty 
 and representative government. Present indications are 
 that many nations whose peoples had no part in the 
 American Revolution will participate in the world-wide 
 celebration. 
 
 Not only have various governments indicated a de- 
 sire to participate in the celebration in the United States, 
 but it is evident from unofficial conferences that some 
 of them are planning also to honor the memory of 
 Washington by ceremonies to be held at home. That 
 will be entirely in keeping with the world-wide char- 
 acter of the celebration as it has been planned by the 
 IJnited States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 
News Releases 139 
 
 mission in accordance with the desire of the Congress of 
 the United States. 
 
 It is not the purpose of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission to suggest to other 
 peoples either the extent or the form which their par- 
 ticipation shall take. The Commission aims to acquaint 
 them with the plans for the world-wide and nearly year- 
 long observance by the citizens of the United States at 
 home and abroad, with a cordial welcome to such par- 
 ticipation by other nations as seems to them fit. 
 
 Latin America to Pay Homage During 1932 
 Celebration 
 
 All the nations of Latin- America are expected to join 
 the people of the United States in celebrating the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington in 1932. 
 
 Among the plans that have been suggested for par- 
 ticipation by Latin-American countries is a proposal 
 for a Pageant of American Heroes, in which would ap- 
 pear allegorical groups of the great national heroes of 
 the independence period of the Republics of America. 
 
 A series of tableaux has also been suggested, to be pre- 
 sented at one of the large theatres in Washington and in 
 the capitals of other countries of the Western Hemis- 
 phere. These tableaux would dramatize the lives of 
 the heroes of the independence period of all the Repub- 
 lics of America and would be accompanied by appro- 
 priate national music of each Republic. 
 
 In arousing interest in these features and other phases 
 of Latin-American participation the Pan-American 
 
140 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Union, through Dr. L. S. Rowe, Director General, is 
 cooperating with the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The Republic of Chile will wholeheartedly join 
 America in rendering homage to George Washington 
 during the Bicentennial celebration in 1932, Carlos 
 Davila, Ambassador of Chile to the United States, has 
 informed the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 In speaking of South America's conception of George 
 Washington, Ambassador Davila said in a recent 
 address: 
 
 "In accomplishing the independence of the United 
 States, George Washington created a fulcrum which 
 the nascent organization of the countries of Latin 
 America would need to raise their own independence. 
 
 "Washington foresaw the exact shape that the polit- 
 ical structure of American nations would assume; he 
 was aware that new forms would evolve here, and he 
 had a sad presentment of the strife and turmoil that 
 this process would engender. The path which the de- 
 velopment of the culture in the Western Hemisphere 
 has followed may be perfectly traced in his work and 
 in his writings. 
 
 "He knew how to be heroic and how to be prudent; 
 great with simplicity, wise without arrogance, and the 
 democratic leader of a great mass with not one conces- 
 sion to vulgarity. 
 
 "In all his life and qualities there is a moving dignity, 
 a greatness which even today absorbs our spirits. And 
 these traits aggrandize his figure into a solemn charya- 
 
News Releases 141 
 
 tide standing on the threshhold of our history as the 
 symbol of a new civilization: the guardian of American 
 culture. 
 
 "Washington convinced with justice, he charmed 
 with the heroic, and captivated with his concept of dig- 
 nity and public welfare. 
 
 "In his life there is a continuing and iron logic; an 
 unswerving loyalty to his ideas, to his nation, and to his 
 conscience. His thought was truly the matrix of his 
 acts. Agitator, soldier, statesman or citizen, his method 
 is the same; loyalty, perseverance, order, boldness, and 
 passion, but all subordinated ever to the stern discipline 
 of the intellect and Christian morals. 
 
 "Of none was it truer than of him that 'the way of 
 duty is the way to glory.' 
 
 "When, upon accepting the presidency, he said that 
 all he could offer was rectitude and firmness, Washing- 
 ton sacrificed to his modesty all his other brilliant quali- 
 ties, but perhaps without imagining it he defined for 
 history the two fundamentals of his character. It may 
 be that he sought also to indicate what he considered 
 the essential requisites of the Chief Executive in his 
 epoch, and for the entire system of government which 
 he brought to life — a system destined to expand to 20 
 other republics in this hemisphere. 
 
 "Washington accomplished what from the very be- 
 ginning he set out to do. In his existence there is noth- 
 ing of those gifted personalities who arise from one or 
 a series of strokes of fortune. 
 
 "Neither can one find in him that element of tragedy 
 which so often allures the historian and deceives pos- 
 
142 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 terity as to the real merits of men. No; history has 
 found in Washington very little of the spectacular but 
 much, very much, of inward greatness. Even today one 
 may lose himself in the soul of Washington, with only 
 delight for the spirit. 
 
 "The heroes of our independence acted under very 
 different circumstances and conditions, but their funda- 
 mental characteristics were forged in the thought and 
 personality of Washington. This was a nation already 
 accustomed to liberty and even to self-government long 
 before obtaining its political emancipation. Our colo- 
 nies were oppressed nations without liberty or political 
 culture. That is why, although the trust to rebellion 
 was here and there identical, the process of stabilization 
 was among us slower, painful, and turbulent. 
 
 "The noble and majestic life of Washington is today 
 the perfect symbol of the nation to which he gave life. 
 There is in him something of lofty spirituality which 
 removes him from other great soldier-statesmen of the 
 past. He dignified men instead of oppressing them. 
 He served his nation and did not make his nation serve 
 him. 
 
 "He made war, but he made things greater than war; 
 he gave moral and political form to a republic. 
 
 "He would rather take injustice than do injustice. 
 
 "Always he did what he should, and not what he 
 could. 
 
 "For this, although his glory is great, his deeds are 
 greater. 
 
 "As Lord Byron so masterfully and beautifully has 
 said: 'The fields where fought Leonidas and Washing- 
 
News Releases 143 
 
 ton are a consecrated land that tells of nations saved 
 and not of worlds destroyed.' 
 
 "The great forerunner of South American independ- 
 ence, Gen. Francisco Miranda, on December 8, 1784, 
 witnessed the entrance of General Washington in this 
 city of Philadelphia. 'Children, men and women/ 
 Miranda said in his diary, which is one of the most nota- 
 ble historical documents of the Americas, 'expressed 
 such delight and satisfaction as though the Redeemer 
 had entered into Jerusalem.' 'Such is,' added Miranda, 
 'the sublime concept of this gifted and singular man 
 which prevails in all the Continent.' 
 
 "This concept remains in our South American coun- 
 tries even in these days and seems each day to be more 
 deeply rooted in the hearts of our people. 
 
 "Washington has never been discussed among us; we 
 want him to stand above the tribunal of our reason. 
 
 "The George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 may be certain that in 1932 our peoples will join in 
 rendering homage to this leader of men and founder of 
 nations." 
 
 Foreign Cities Will Name Streets and Squares For 
 Washington 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission has been informed by the State Department 
 that foreign cities in different parts of the world are 
 planning to name important streets and squares in honor 
 of George Washington during the celebration of the 
 two hundredth anniversary of his birth in 1932. 
 Definite word has been received of the gracious act by 
 
144 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 which two important cities of Latvia will honor Wash- 
 ington in this manner and official word of similar acts 
 on the part of other foreign cities is expected soon. 
 
 In a recent letter to the State Department, the Ameri- 
 can Minister at Riga, F. W. B. Coleman, reports being 
 advised by the Latvian Ministry for Foreign Affairs that 
 the municipality of Riga, capital of Latvia, has resolved 
 to change the name of "Hanza Square" to "Washing- 
 ton Square." Further, the municipality of Jelgava, Lat- 
 via, has determined to rename "Sluzu Square" to 
 "Washington Square," and "Dambja Street" to "Wash- 
 ington Street." 
 
 Minister Coleman quotes the letter of the Latvian 
 Foreign Minister as follows: 
 
 "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compli- 
 ments to the American Legation and has the honor to 
 advise that the Council of the Municipality of Riga — 
 the capital of Latvia — on the occasion of the 200th 
 anniversary of the great American statesman and the 
 first President of the United States, George Washing- 
 ton, who is 'highly esteemed also in Latvia as a defender 
 of the liberties of nations' — have resolved to name, in 
 honor of George Washington, 'Hanza Square' as 'Wash- 
 ington Square.' 
 
 "Further, the Council of the Municipality of Jelgava 
 (Mitsau) have resolved, on the same occasion, to name 
 'Sluzu Square' as 'Washington Square,' and 'Dambja 
 Iela' as 'Washington Iela.' " 
 
 In commenting on this graceful international gesture, 
 Minister Coleman observes to the State Department: 
 "It is worthy of attention that when this Legation's in- 
 
News Releases 14 J 
 
 quiry was made, there was neither any natural feature 
 in Latvia called Washington' nor any streets or squares 
 so named in Latvian cities." 
 
 In the name of the United States, and through the 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Coleman extended 
 thanks to these Latvian municipalities for their exceed- 
 ingly gracious act in honoring George Washington, 
 "whose name is esteemed wherever the liberties of na- 
 tions are cherished." 
 
 Every good American will echo that sentiment. Thus 
 the nations of the world respond in touching sincerity 
 to the invitation of our Government to join the Ameri- 
 can people in honoring next year a 'man recognized all 
 over the world not only as the greatest of Americans 
 but one of the great liberators of mankind. 
 
 Mount Vernon Walnut Seeds Planted Abroad 
 
 Planting of Mount Vernon black walnut seeds on 
 Government-owned grounds of American embassies and 
 legations throughout the world, in connection with the 
 celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the 
 birth of George Washington, is going forward with 
 enthusiasm, according to reports received by the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission 
 from the State Department. 
 
 Thomas H. Bevan, American consul general at Oslo, 
 Norway, writes that, in compliance with the State De- 
 partment's instruction, he has instructed the gardener 
 of the legation to plant the seeds in large individual pots. 
 He adds that the finest specimen of seedling resulting 
 
146 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 from these plantings will be set out next year with ap- 
 propriate ceremonies. 
 
 Minister Charles C. Eberhardt, at San Jose, Costa 
 Rica, writes that the Mount Vernon walnuts sent to 
 him by the State Department have been planted in pots, 
 and one of the young trees will be planted next year in 
 honor of George Washington on the grounds of the 
 legation. 
 
 Americans Residing Abroad Organize for 1932 
 
 Events 
 
 That the hundreds of thousands of Americans resid- 
 ing abroad are planning elaborate programs to honor 
 America's first President on the two hundredth an- 
 niversary of his birth, is indicated by letters being re- 
 ceived by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission. 
 
 As the opening of the nine months' period of the 
 celebration draws near, it is obvious that there is hardly 
 a corner of the globe in which Americans reside that 
 proper homage will not be paid to George Washington. 
 
 Literature published by the Commission, explaining 
 the purpose and scope of the celebration, is being sent 
 by the State Department to Ambassadors, Ministers and 
 Consular officers of the United States all over the world. 
 This literature is being made available to Americans 
 living in the various countries, and their interest is 
 thereby being aroused. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission is constantly receiving requests for addi- 
 tional information and for suggestions as to how Ameri- 
 
News Releases 147 
 
 cans living abroad may join with their fellow citizens at 
 home in honoring the memory of George Washington. 
 These requests are being answered as rapidly as possible. 
 
 George Washington Bicentennial Committees are be- 
 ing selected by United States Ambassadors and Minis- 
 ters and by American Clubs and Chambers of Com- 
 merce in other countries. It will be necessary, of course, 
 for these committees to plan the details of their own 
 local celebrations. The United States George Washing- 
 ton Bicentennial Commission in Washington, through 
 the literature which it is distributing, is explaining the 
 nature of the celebration in the United States in order 
 that Americans abroad may parallel it as nearly as prac- 
 ticable. 
 
 No attempt can be made in this limited space to de- 
 scribe everything that Americans are planning all over 
 the world. Complete information on this subject is not 
 available at this time either at the State Department or 
 the offices of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission. 
 
 As typical of what is being planned in various coun- 
 tries, however, the activity of United States Ambassa- 
 dor Frederic M. Sackett and Americans in Germany may 
 be cited. This will give to Americans residing in other 
 countries an idea of what may be done to carry out the 
 desire of Congress to make the celebration world-wide. 
 
 Ambassador Sackett, in a recent letter to the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission in 
 Washington, told how he launched the preparations for 
 carrying out the celebration in Germany in his Washing- 
 
148 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ton's Birthday address before the American Club of 
 Berlin. 
 
 "My address took the form of notifying the Ameri- 
 can population of Germany," wrote Ambassador Sack- 
 ett, "that the celebration would be held and that a com- 
 mittee was to be organized for the purpose of directing 
 and assisting the celebration not only of Berlin, but of 
 various points throughout Germany where Americans 
 are gathered. 
 
 "First, a resolution general in terms was proposed to 
 the Club to the effect that this organization should take 
 the lead and make the carrying through of the celebra- 
 tion its principal work the coming year. It approved 
 the action of the Congress in undertaking the general 
 celebration and declared that it would wholeheartedly 
 support the movement. 
 
 "A second resolution provided for the appointment 
 of a committee, which resolution was finally adopted, 
 carrying into effect the appointments as follows: 
 
 "Honorary President, the Ambassador of the United 
 States of America to Germany. 
 
 "Honorary Vice President the Supervising Consul 
 General of the United States of America at Berlin. 
 
 "Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Frederick Wirth, 
 Jr., President of the American Club of Berlin. Address: 
 Lutzow Ufer 17, Berlin. 
 
 "Arthur T. Dunning, Secretary of the American 
 Chamber of Commerce of Berlin. Address: Care of 
 American Chamber of Commerce, Friedrich and Leip- 
 ziger Strasse, Berlin. 
 
 "C. J. Warren, Secretary and Business Manager of the 
 
News Releases 149 
 
 American Church in Berlin. Address: Care of Ameri- 
 can Church, Motzstrasse 6, Berlin. 
 
 "Mrs. Claire Schandein Schlubeck, President of the 
 American Women's Club of Berlin. Address: Care of 
 American Women's Club, Bellevue Strasse 5, Berlin. 
 
 "Dr. Hans Draeger, Business Manager of the Carl 
 Schurz Vereinigung. Address: Care of Carl Schurz 
 Vereinigung, Schloss, Portal III, Berlin. (The Carl 
 Schurz Vereinigung is prepared to take over the activi- 
 ties of the General von Steuben Society and add the 
 name Von Steuben' to its corporate designation.) 
 
 "All communications for the committee should be 
 addressed to Dr. Frederick Wirth, Jr., the President of 
 the Club. 
 
 "This committee was directed to report and complete 
 plans for German celebrations at the meeting of the 
 Club to be held on Thanksgiving Day, 1931, and to in- 
 clude therein not only celebrations in the City of Ber- 
 lin, but in the headquarters of each Consular District in 
 Germany. It was given power to create the necessary 
 subcommittees, both in Berlin and in the Consular Dis- 
 trict headquarters, and to provide for the local celebra- 
 tions at each of these points. 
 
 "The committee began its work at once and is most 
 enthusiastic and will take in charge any matters that 
 the Washington Committee sees fit to promulgate. 
 
 "I would suggest that the names of the committee 
 above be placed upon the mailing list for literature com- 
 ing forth from the Washington organization, in order 
 that each member may be fully informed of what is 
 going on in the premises. 
 
150 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "If there is any other matter which your organiza- 
 tion desires to have acted upon, the committee is now 
 formed and functioning and is ready to give its full co- 
 operation and participation." 
 
 Soon after receiving Ambassador Sackett's letter, the 
 Commission received a letter from Dr. Wirth, chairman 
 of the American George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mittee in Berlin. In this letter Dr. Wirth says he is 
 "extremely anxious to bring about an early meeting of 
 the Executive Committee here." 
 
 "I should be very pleased if arrangements could be 
 made to forward to me a good supply of pamphlets, 
 literature, etc., already published and which may sub- 
 sequently be published," continues Dr. Wirth. 
 
 "It might interest you to know that the Berlin Ex- 
 ecutive Committee proposes arranging for the local 
 committees in the chief centers of Germany who will 
 arrange plans for local celebrations in addition to those 
 arranged by the Executive Committee in Berlin. Any 
 information and data which you can arrange to have 
 forwarded to me will be very helpful in formulating 
 our plans." 
 
 Washington's Love for His Mother 
 
 The approach of "Mothers' Day," with all of its 
 tender significance to each individual, turns the thoughts 
 also to the great men of the world in history, and the 
 tribute of love and honor the world owes to the mothers 
 who guided their uncertain steps through childhood and 
 youth and brought them to fine upstanding manhood. 
 
 Of all the mothers of America we owe unfailing 
 
News Releases 151 
 
 homage to the memory of Mary Ball Washington, the 
 mother of our great national hero, for the sterling 
 qualities she implanted in her son, according to the 
 Division of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 Together they gave to the world a beautiful example of 
 filial love and respect. While life lasted he gave his 
 mother loving homage, respected her wishes, obeyed her 
 commands, and did his best to gratify her requests. She 
 shared his triumphs, his troubles, and his disappoint- 
 ments. To the honors he gained her comment was: 
 "George deserves well of his country; he was always 
 a good boy." 
 
 No more beautiful picture can be found in the 
 annals of history than is presented by the Peace Ball of 
 Fredericksburg, Va., which General Washington at- 
 tended with his frail and aging mother on his arm, 
 garbed in her rich but simple black silk gown. Al- 
 though she had never participated in the brilliant social 
 functions of the courts of Europe, nor even the lesser 
 gayeties of the large cities of America, she received the 
 salutations of the elegant French generals with a poise 
 and queenly dignity. Her composure and quiet reserve 
 brought forth the tribute: "If such are the matrons of 
 America, well may she boast of illustrious sons." So 
 deep an impression did this colonial Virginia mother 
 make upon the distinguished Marquis de Lafayette that, 
 before departing for his own land, he journeyed again 
 to Fredericksburg to bid her farewell and seek her 
 blessing. 
 
 In the hour when General Washington received the 
 news of his election to the Presidency of the new Nation 
 
152 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 he had founded, he felt that he could not depart for 
 New York to be inducted into office as its first Presi- 
 dent until he had seen his mother. He traveled 60 miles 
 to share his new honor with her, and to bid her farewell 
 and get her blessing. He found her feeble in body and 
 wracked with pain but clear minded and full of loving 
 thoughts for him. This was indeed farewell, as her 
 death occurred four months later, August 25, 1789, 
 and at a time when her son, the President, was himself 
 ill and unable to attend her funeral. She was laid to 
 rest with all of the honors her towns-people could con- 
 fer. Members of Congress wore the conventional 
 mourning and orations and addresses sounded her virtues 
 and her praise for many days. 
 
 Her grave was long unmarked by any memorial. In 
 the National Gazette, of Washington, D. C, May 13, 
 1826, was published a moving tribute to her life and her 
 death by George Washington Parke Custis. This 
 aroused much attention and interest and a project was 
 started in Virginia to erect a monument over her grave, 
 but it was not until seven years later that any actual 
 progress was made, and then it was through the interest 
 of Silas M. Burroughs, of New York, who offered to 
 erect a monument to her memory at his own personal 
 expense. As a result of his interest, on May 1, 1833, 
 amid most elaborate ceremonies, the corner stone was 
 laid with Andrew Jackson, President of the United 
 States, officiating. Members of the Cabinet, of Con- 
 gress, and many distinguished citizens journeyed to 
 Fredericksburg to participate. The President made an 
 appropriate address as he deposited the inscribed plate 
 on the stone, and at the conclusion of the services a poem 
 
News Releases 153 
 
 written for the occasion was read by the author, Mrs. 
 Lydia H. Sigourney. 
 
 The base of the monument was completed and the 
 stone selected for the obelisk that was to complete the 
 design, when Mr. Burroughs suffered financial reverses 
 and went to China to recuperate them. He died 
 abroad and before he had accomplished his mission. For 
 more than 50 years thereafter Mary Washington's grave 
 with its unfinished and deteriorating monument was 
 neglected. 
 
 Then the women of Fredericksburg arose in their 
 united strength of purpose and interested the women 
 of the land far and wide and saved the spot where the 
 mother of Washington lay from auction sale. They set 
 to work to erect to her memory a monument that should 
 last to the end of time, and in 1894 the little city on the 
 Rappahannock was again thronged with thousands of 
 people who came to do honor to the mother of Wash- 
 ington in the dedication of the monument erected to her 
 memory by the women of America — the first monu- 
 ment by women to a woman. 
 
 President Grover Cleveland, Vice President Adlai 
 Stevenson, with the Cabinet and members of Congress, 
 the governor of Virginia and his staff were part of the 
 long procession which marched to the music of the 
 Marine Band. 
 
 Addresses by the President, by the mayor, the gover- 
 nor, and an oration by the gifted Senator Daniel, 
 with solemn Masonic ceremonies, comprised the cere- 
 monies that have given to the world, the Nation, Fred- 
 ericksburg, the family, and to the women of America 
 the right to point with pride at the shaft 50 feet high, 
 
154 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 similar to the one in the National Capital that honors 
 George Washington, which in its simplicity of white 
 marble expresses the simplicity, unwavering uprightness, 
 and Christian purity and fortitude of "Mary, the Mother 
 of Washington." 
 
 George Washington Had to Overcome Obstacles 
 
 as a Boy 
 
 It is an old story that George Washington, master of 
 Mount Vernon, Commander in Chief of the Revolu- 
 tionary Army, and first President of the United States, 
 was one of the richest men of his time. That is the 
 George Washington as pictured to American school- 
 boys in their history books. Most boys — and many of 
 their elders — will be surprised, and perhaps inspired, 
 by the reminder that as a boy George Washington was 
 poor. Not only that, he had little schooling, and very 
 early had to buckle down and prepare to earn his own 
 living. 
 
 His father, Augustine Washington, was a fairly rich 
 man, as men were rated in those days; that is, he 
 owned many acres of good Virginia land, but like nearly 
 all others of his kind, he was "property poor." In line 
 with the custom of the time, Augustine Washington, at 
 his death, left the bulk of his property to his eldest son. 
 Thus the estate passed into the hands of George's half- 
 brother, Lawrence, 14 years his senior. 
 
 George himself, a devoted son, willingly accepted 
 for the best whatever his father had devised. His half- 
 brother Lawrence came into possession of the now 
 famous estate on the Potomac known as Mount Vernon. 
 His other half-brother, Augustine, inherited "Wake- 
 
News Releases 155 
 
 field," the place where George himself was born. To 
 George was left the farm at Fredericksburg, but sub- 
 ject to his mother's control as long as he remained a 
 minor. The Widow Washington had also some property 
 of her own in the neighborhood, but she had little 
 money. George was but 11 years old when his father 
 died. There were five other children. And working 
 the farm meant hard work and close management for 
 Mary Ball Washington. 
 
 Fortunately for herself and for George, she was a 
 shrewd and able woman. Much of George's great char- 
 acter is thought to have come to him from his mother. 
 She early taught him to bear responsibility, and from 
 the beginning he faced the world with the idea of 
 earning his own living, if not the living of the family. 
 
 But, just as fortunately, George's brothers were also 
 men of unusual character. The younger of them, Au- 
 gustine, took George to live for a while at "Wakefield," 
 where tradition has it that George got some schooling 
 of a business nature to fit him for a life of self-support. 
 He turned out to be apt in a subject dreaded by most 
 boys — mathematics. But, above all, he became inter- 
 ested in surveying, an occupation which, it later turned 
 out, was to open to him his future career. 
 
 At the end of two years George returned to his 
 mother at Fredericksburg and is said to have received 
 a little more schooling at the hands of a Rev. Mr. 
 Marye, although this also is a matter of tradition. Cer- 
 tainly at this time he wrote out the famous "One Hun- 
 dred Rules of Civility." For a time George was credited 
 with having composed these rules himself, but it is 
 known now that they were a sort of standard copybook, 
 
156 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 first issued in French and later translated into English. 
 Whatever their origin, George faithfully copied them 
 into his book — and into his life. 
 
 The story of George's ambition to go to sea, and of 
 his manfully giving it up at the earnest wish of his 
 mother, is also well known. He set himself instead to 
 earn money by his surveying. And here again was a 
 test of his character, since George had been born into a 
 social circle which thought it undignified for a man to 
 earn his own living. 
 
 Meanwhile George's half-brother, Lawrence, had 
 taken a fancy to the boy and stood ready to help him 
 in every possible way. For a time George lived at Mount 
 Vernon, all the while devoting himself to his surveying. 
 This warm-hearted brother wisely let him have his way, 
 and did even better. He introduced George to Lord 
 Fairfax, a near neighbor, who also in turn took a strong 
 liking to George. Lord Fairfax at once employed the 
 1 6-year-old lad to survey his vast lands, and a year later 
 got him appointed official surveyor of Culpeper 
 County, an important job for a boy of 17. 
 
 Even before George had attained his majority he was 
 earning from $5 to $20 a day, a handsome rate of pay 
 for the time. But he seems to have earned it, for such 
 was the quality of his work that some of the lines he 
 ran became afterward the recognized boundaries of 
 counties and estates. 
 
 The ability and character of George soon brought 
 him to the attention of Dinwiddie, the governor of 
 Virginia, and from surveying he was drawn into his 
 first military excursions, first as a 21 -year-old major, 
 then as a colonel of militia, and his career as we know 
 
News Releases 157 
 
 it was well begun. The point is, nevertheless, that 
 George Washington as a boy was not afraid to face the 
 prospect of earning his own way in the world, and 
 that he never would have reached the door to his great 
 future career if he had not buckled down as a boy with 
 the determination of showing his mettle. 
 
 Sea Voyage of Washington and Hoover 
 
 President Hoover's visit to our island territories in 
 the Caribbean creates an historic parallel to another 
 voyage to those waters made 180 years ago by a young 
 man destined also to be President of the United States 
 and a world figure, although the young man was not 
 then aware of it. The young man in question, then 19 
 years of age, was George Washington. 
 
 Even at that early age Washington was the methodical 
 man that he remained through life, and faithfully kept 
 a day-to-day journal of this his first and only sea 
 voyage. Of all the voluminous papers of George Wash- 
 ington that have come down to us, this journal is the 
 most cut and mutilated, says the Division of Informa- 
 tion and Publication of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission. Whole pages of this 
 priceless record are missing, and many of the surviving 
 pages are mere shreds with but a word or a line of 
 writing. 
 
 What the young Washington does reveal of his 
 experiences, however, stands in dramatic contrast with 
 this voyage of the thirty-first President, whose day-to- 
 day acts are radioed from the battleship that in 10 days 
 will have taken him to the Virgin Islands and Porto 
 Rico and return. 
 
158 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The youthful George Washington set forth on a 
 sailing vessel from the Potomac River on September 28, 
 1751, and it took him a month and five days to reach 
 Bridgetown in the Barbados. His errand was to be a 
 companion to his half-brother, Lawrence, who had been 
 advised by medical counsel to try the climate of the 
 West Indies as a possible cure for tuberculosis. 
 
 The United States battleship which carried President 
 Hoover was almost as safe as dry land itself. Note the 
 difference in this experience of Washington who, in his 
 nineteenth year, was observant enough to jot down this 
 entry for October 19: "Hard squalls of wind and rain. 
 Sea jostling in heaps occasioned by wavering wind which 
 in 24 hours veered; the compass not remaining two 
 hours in any point. The seamen seemed disheartened, 
 confessing they never had seen such weather before. 
 It was universally surmised there had been a violent 
 hurricane not far distant. A prodigy in the west ap- 
 peared toward the sun's setting about six p. m. remark- 
 able for its extraordinary redness." 
 
 On November 2 land was sighted unexpectedly and 
 almost by accident, "when by our reckonings we should 
 have been near 150 leagues to the windward." Had the 
 land not been fortunately sighted, the vessel bearing 
 Washington might have been three weeks or more in 
 discovering the error. 
 
 On December 22, 1751, young George records: "Took 
 leave of my brother and embarked on the Industry, 
 Capt. John Saunders for Virginia." It was March 4 
 before he reached Pope's Creek, Westmoreland County, 
 near the place of his birth at "Wakefield." From there 
 he went to Fredericksburg, and arrived at Mount 
 
News Releases 159 
 
 Vernon, then the property of his half-brother, Law- 
 rence, with messages to Lawrence's wife. The doctors 
 had held out hope for Lawrence's recovery. 
 
 The hope was in vain. Lawrence Washington failed 
 to recover. And as he had always been as much father 
 as brother to George, he left Mount Vernon to his young 
 half-brother, who there was to nourish the mind and 
 spirit that dominated all discouragement during the 
 struggles of the Colonies and finally founded the Nation 
 and its line of Presidents, the present one of whom has 
 steamed over the sailing route of the youth who was 
 destined to be a maker of American Presidents. What 
 a rounding of the circle, and what a mass of history 
 and progress is enclosed within that ring of 180 years! 
 
 Washington Hunted Buffalo and Bear 
 
 Many people are under the impression that George 
 Washington's hunting experiences were confined to 
 foxes in the vicinity of his home in Virginia. 
 
 Such is not the case. In the autumn of 1770 he 
 hunted buffalo while on his trip to the Ohio with his 
 friend, Dr. Craik. In his diary of November 2 of that 
 year is found this interesting item on buffalo hunting: 
 
 "We proceeded up the River (Kanhawa) with the 
 Canoe about 4 Miles more, and then incamped and went 
 a Hunting; killed five Buffaloes and wounded some 
 others, three deer, etca. This Country abounds in Buf- 
 falo and Wild game of all kinds as also in all kinds of 
 wild fowl, there being in the Bottoms a great many small 
 grassy Ponds or Lakes which are full of Swans, Geese 
 and Ducks of different kinds." 
 
 It will be observed that Washington modestly refrains 
 
160 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 from stating how many of the five buffaloes fell from 
 bullets from his rifle. 
 
 On New Year's Day, 1772, some friends called on 
 Washington at Mount Vernon. Several days later he 
 entertained them with a little hunting trip in the nearby 
 forests which he tells about in his diary in this brief way: 
 
 "Went a-Hunting with the above Gentlemen. Found 
 both a Bear and Fox, but got neither." 
 
 Washington Hunted on Hoover Camp Site 
 
 George Washington, at the age of 16, often fished on 
 the banks of the Rapidan and hunted wild turkeys on 
 the ground now occupied by President Hoover's rest 
 camp and summer lodge, near Orange, Va. 
 
 In March, 1748, young Washington, in company with 
 George Fairfax, started on his first journey beyond the 
 Blue Ridge from Belvoir to help survey land owned by 
 Lord Fairfax. 
 
 They traveled 40 miles the first day, March 11, 1748. 
 Starting from Belvoir, they crossed the Occoquan 
 Ferry, striking into the old road leading from the head 
 of Quantico to Prince William Courthouse on Cedar 
 Run, and traveled west to George Neavil's small country 
 tavern. On the following day they met James Genn, 
 the surveyor of Prince William County, who was to 
 help them get started on their surveying expedition for 
 Lord Fairfax. 
 
 Accompanied by Mr. Genn, they rode over the Blue 
 Ridge, following the Shenandoah River to Capt. John 
 Ashby's place, who kept the original Shenandoah Ferry 
 where the Winchester road still crosses that river. From 
 here they worked their way to the headspring of the 
 
News Releases 161 
 
 Potomac River, following the trail through what is now 
 Fauquier over the route subsequently adopted for the 
 Winchester road, and crossed the river at Ashby's Run. 
 Washington's entire trip, including the surveying, 
 took only from March 11 to April 13, a few days over 
 a month. In his diary, describing the trip, numerous 
 mention is made of killing "wilde turkies," and the out- 
 door life is vividly portrayed. 
 
 Fort Necessity to be Rebuilt 
 
 Reconstruction of Fort Necessity, near Uniontown, 
 Pa., the scene of General Washington's only capitula- 
 tion, will be one of the features of the George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Celebration by the State of Penn- 
 sylvania in 1932. 
 
 A total of $50,000 has been appropriated for the 
 rebuilding of the fort and making it a national memo- 
 rial. The British Government has expressed great 
 interest in the project, and is expected to send an official 
 delegation to the exercises dedicating the memorial. 
 Officers of the famous Coldstream Guards, of which 
 Braddock was once commander, attended the dedica- 
 tion of Braddock's monument last July. 
 
 It was the capture of Fort Necessity by the French 
 on July 3, 1754, which brought on the Seven Years' 
 War, our French and Indian War, fought here and in 
 Europe, and which finally resulted in English domina- 
 tion of the new continent. 
 
 Washington was only 22 years old when he com- 
 manded this expedition against the French. On March 
 15, 1754, he had been commissioned a lieutenant colonel 
 of the Virginia regiment, whose colonel, Joshua Fry, 
 
162 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 was ordered to march to the fort of the Ohio Company, 
 situated where the Monongahela and Allegheny unite 
 to form the Ohio River. 
 
 Washington began his advance through the wilder- 
 ness, and at Great Meadows fortified a position which 
 he named Fort Necessity. Presently he learned that the 
 French were advancing against him. He did not wait 
 for the attack. Instead he "set out in a heavy rain, and, 
 in a night as dark as pitch," attacked a party of French 
 and Indians, killed 10, including the French com- 
 mander, Jumonville, and captured 21 prisoners. 
 
 He continued his advance until he learned that a large 
 force was moving against him. He returned to Great 
 Meadows and resumed work at Fort Necessity. Mean- 
 while Colonel Fry died at Will's Creek, and thus Wash- 
 ington came to command the Virginia regiment. The 
 enemy appeared before the fort on July 3. After fight- 
 ing all day, the French called for a parley. They pro- 
 posed that the Virginians should march out with their 
 arms, on condition that they would not return to the 
 Ohio for one year. As Washington was short of am- 
 munition, he agreed to these terms and returned to 
 Virginia with his troops. 
 
 For his services, he received the thanks of the House 
 of Burgesses. Despite the defeat, the youthful Wash- 
 ington learned a principle at Fort Necessity, which was 
 of decisive importance in the Revolution — he never 
 again allowed himself to be surrounded and besieged. 
 
 While it is not generally remembered, Washington, 
 on December 6, 1770, acquired a tract of land of about 
 240 acres in Great Meadows on the site of Fort Neces- 
 sity. This tract was the land in Pennsylvania retained 
 
News Releases 163 
 
 by Washington until his death, and is listed in the 
 schedule attached to his will at $6 per acre, or at a value 
 of $1,404. 
 
 Braddock's Defeat Brought Washington Fame As 
 
 Fighter 
 
 One of the significant dates to be observed next year 
 in connection with the Bicentennial Celebration of 
 George Washington's birth is July 9, the anniversary of 
 Braddock's defeat at the battle of the Monongahela. 
 The battle, says the Division of Information and Pub- 
 lication of the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission, materially affected the later history 
 of this country and was an important factor in the early 
 military life of its first President. 
 
 The people of Pennsylvania, especially those living in 
 Braddock on the actual site of the famous battlefield, 
 appreciate the great historical interest attached to the 
 place. In recognition of this, the 175th anniversary of 
 the event was observed a year ago with appropriate cere- 
 monies and a statue of George Washington as a young 
 Virginia militiaman was dedicated. 
 
 The battle of Braddock's Field, as the engagement is 
 sometimes called, really was the beginning of the Seven 
 Years War which cost France her possessions in Amer- 
 ica and considerably altered the subsequent history of 
 the New World. The question of taxation which helped 
 bring about the Revolutionary War grew out of Eng- 
 land's attempt to tax her colonies for revenue to pay 
 the costs of the French and Indian War, as it is known 
 iri American history. 
 
164 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 When General Braddock came to America to force 
 the French from the territory claimed by England he 
 brought an army of British regulars who were veterans 
 of European battlefields. He possessed the Englishman's 
 contempt for the fighting ability and methods of the 
 provincial militiamen and the Indians. However, he in- 
 vited Washington into his military family and his force 
 included Virginia riflemen, some of whom had been with 
 Washington at Fort Necessity the year before. Brad- 
 dock's arrogant confidence in the superiority of his own 
 men and European military tactics over the backwoods- 
 man's method of fighting cost him his life and the battle 
 of Monongahela. 
 
 As Braddock neared Fort Duquesne on that July day 
 of 1755, the French and Indians attacked his advance 
 troops, drove them back and encircled his main body. 
 The Britons in their battle formation of closed ranks 
 presented a solid target into which their foes, hidden be- 
 hind trees and in the underbrush, poured a leaden stream 
 with deadly effect. 
 
 There could be but one result. The redcoats, at- 
 tacked by an unseen enemy, faced an unfamiliar situa- 
 tion. Discharging their muskets at random they broke 
 ranks and fled precipitately despite the valiant attempts 
 of their officers to rally them. The indiscriminate fir- 
 ing of the panic-stricken troops, Washington wrote, 
 wrought havoc among their own companions and the 
 Virginians. 
 
 Young Colonel Washington was conspicuous in his 
 courageous efforts to rally the Britons. As he rode fran- 
 tically over the field he was an excellent target for the 
 
News Releases 165 
 
 bidden marksmen. That every effort was made to bring 
 him down is attested by the fact that two horses were 
 shot under him and his coat was pierced by four bul- 
 lets. His bravery and valor were ever after recognized 
 at home and abroad. 
 
 It has been said that this battle was, in a way, part 
 of the Revolutionary War. At any rate it was closely 
 connected with subsequent events which precipitated 
 that conflict. The war which commenced with Brad- 
 dock's defeat helped bring to a head the irritating ques- 
 tion of Britain's right to tax her American colonies. It 
 also brought to the front the name of George Washing- 
 ton — the man destined to lead the armies of his country 
 to victory. 
 
 When Washington Ran for Office 
 
 The vision of George Washington that always rises 
 before us at every mention of his name is the Washing- 
 ton of later years, the Commander in Chief of the Revo- 
 lutionary Army, the man who presided over the Con- 
 stitutional Convention, the first President of the United 
 States. We forget that even George Washington had 
 to pass through an early day of small beginnings, and 
 that there must have been a first occasion when George 
 Washington had to "carry his district," like any small- 
 town officeholder of today. 
 
 In 1755 Washington had rushed back from Brad- 
 dock's troops on an important errand. Braddock 
 needed cash with which to pay off his men. His aide, 
 Colonel Washington, volunteered to get the needed 
 money at the Virginia capital, Williamsburg. Inci- 
 dentally, he did obtain the 4,000 pounds needed, but he 
 
166 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 obtained it by borrowing, since the paymaster was 
 absent. 
 
 On his way back to Braddock he paused at Win- 
 chester, in the Shenandoah Valley, and there wrote a 
 letter to his brother, Jack, in which he toys with the 
 idea of running as representative of Fairfax County in 
 the Virginia House of Burgesses. Evidently a turn for 
 politics had overtaken him, as it had other members of 
 his family. 
 
 In this letter to Brother Jack he reports that Major 
 Carlyle had banteringly suggested that he run as burgess, 
 but, before he will do so, Jack must first learn whether 
 Colonel Fairfax has any intention of running for the 
 same office. 
 
 In December of that year Lieut. Col. Adam Stephen 
 wrote a letter to Washington from Fort Cumberland, 
 in which he refers to Washington having been "insulted" 
 at the Fairfax election, a reference which leads some 
 authorities to the conclusion that Washington may have 
 seen his way clear to run for the office — but lost. How- 
 ever, Washington's own poll list of the election for Fair- 
 fax County does not include his name; but it is among 
 those who did not succeed at the polls in Frederick 
 County, the frontier county with Winchester as its 
 courthouse. 
 
 In 1758 Washington again offered himself as burgess 
 from Frederick County, and this time he won by a count 
 of 310 to 45. 
 
 During both these elections Washington was away 
 from his home county on public business, but in the 
 final election this appears to have done no damage to 
 his interests. It may be, also, that he owed some of his 
 
News Releases 167 
 
 success to a capable manager, Col. James Wood, for 
 Washington wrote a letter to Wood in which he ex- 
 presses the warmest appreciation and gratitude for the 
 services rendered. Thereafter George Washington had 
 little opposition to the part he played in the Virginia 
 House of Burgesses. 
 
 Students of history will be quick to compare the 
 early political career of Washington with that of 
 Abraham Lincoln. Each seems to have gained his first 
 lesson in statesmanship from the chagrin of defeat. The 
 difference between them begins with the fact that 
 Lincoln was not the military man but almost wholly 
 the statesman. As such he suffered more defeat than 
 Washington, even though Washington was a candidate 
 for office more often. 
 
 The point is that both mastered the arts of statesman- 
 ship, and learned it first in the hard school of winning 
 votes against opposition. A simple operation in arith- 
 metic discloses the fact that Washington entered the 
 legislature of his State at the age of 27. Thus his 
 beginnings in statecraft are almost parallel with his first 
 military experiences. How quickly he grasped the prin- 
 ciples of war and state a thousand biographies relate in 
 the marvelous story of George Washington's after career. 
 It is the oak that grew from the acorn days when at 23 
 he was a colonel and commander in chief of the 
 military forces of his State and at 27 one of her 
 legislators. 
 
 George Washington Sees a Coal Mine 
 
 George Washington, in the autumn of 1770, rode 
 off to Pennsylvania with the primary purpose of in- 
 
168 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 specting a tract of 1,600 acres of land in that State, ob- 
 tained for him by his agent, Captain Crawford. In 
 his diary, Washington notes that on a certain Sunday, 
 during this visit, he and Captain Crawford peered into 
 a coal mine, out of idle curiosity. True to his love of 
 detail, Washington further observes the coal as "burning 
 freely, and abundance of it." 
 
 With that, Washington seems to have forgotten coal, 
 in the multiplicity of his other interests. Within five 
 years the War of the Revolution was to absorb all his 
 time and efforts; and after that, the building of the 
 United States Constitution and the establishment of a 
 permanent form of Government required his full at- 
 tention. He never lived to discover what a world of 
 meaning he unconsciously wrote into those final words 
 of his diary — "Abundance of it." 
 
 The world's reserves of all kinds of coal amounts to 
 nearly seven and a half trillion metric tons, we learn 
 from the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission. Of this mass of latent power, we have in the 
 United States nearly four trillion tons, or nearly 52 per 
 cent of all the known coal embedded in the earth. The 
 possession and the use of that coal have utterly trans- 
 formed the United States and the world since George 
 Washington's day. 
 
 In his time, America was a nation of farmers, small 
 traders, and hand manufacturers. It now is the great- 
 est and richest manufacturing Nation in all history. If, 
 during the honors we are to pay him in 1932, Wash- 
 ington could revisit the country that his labors in war 
 and statesmanship made possible, these 48 States of to- 
 
News Releases 169 
 
 day, grown so rich through business and industry, would 
 first amaze, and then delight him. It would take noth- 
 ing from his greatness that he cut short his notice of 
 the presence of coal in America with the brief words, 
 "abundance of it." 
 
 A few years after the death of Washington there oc- 
 curred a combination of events such as not the farthest- 
 sighted man could have foreseen. It was one of those 
 turns, like the discovery of fire or the invention of the 
 wheel, that almost overnight send humanity on new 
 and upward nights of progress. The eighteenth century 
 closed with Washington's death; the nineteenth imme- 
 diately began with Watt's invention of the steam en- 
 gine. The coal to fire it was there "in abundance." 
 Power machinery, the railroad, the steamship followed. 
 And within 25 years the world was a thing totally dif- 
 ferent from what it was when Washington closed his 
 eyes upon it. 
 
 The very mine that Washington visited on that Octo- 
 ber Sunday in 1770 was on the site of Connellsville, 
 Pa., soon to become the greatest coke producing center 
 in the world. Note, too, that he records having en- 
 tered a mine, an indication that even then coal had been 
 dug and used. But the steam engine had yet to be born 
 from the brain of Watt. Such coal as was mined 
 warmed a few houses round about, and Washington 
 turned his back on the vein with a casual notation prob- 
 ably reflecting his feeling that the people living near that 
 bed were rather in luck. 
 
 It happens that coal was in wider use during Wash- 
 ington's lifetime than is usually supposed. Elsewhere in 
 his diaries he records the purchase of this or that num- 
 
170 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ber of barrels of coal. But its real importance was a 
 secret of the future. 
 
 But what an importance now! Glance at these con- 
 trasts, and grasp, if you can, their meaning. 
 
 The first discovery of coal in America was reported 
 in 1 679 by a party of Jesuit explorers. They found it 
 near what is now Ottawa, in Illinois. They probably 
 cooked their venison with it. And over a recent 10- 
 year period we mined, according to the United States 
 Bureau of Mines, more than half a billion tons of bitu- 
 minous coal every year, much of it from Illinois. In 
 money it was worth a billion and a quarter dollars every 
 year. What it was worth beyond that, you may figure 
 for yourself, for it moved the industrial system of the 
 greatest manufacturing Nation in history. 
 
 Coal was known in Virginia as early as 1700. In 1750 
 a mine was opened 12 miles above Richmond, not much 
 above 75 miles from Washington's home at Mount Ver- 
 non. By 1789 this mine was shipping coal by water 
 to Philadelphia, New York, and even to Boston. It was 
 used to warm the homes and offices of human beings. 
 
 From 1920 to 1929, the mines of Pennsylvania turned 
 out every year nearly 80 million tons of anthracite. For 
 that item of personal comfort we paid, every year, 
 about 415 millions of dollars. The first Congress of the 
 United States, in the first administration of President 
 Washington, once appropriated a million and a quarter 
 dollars — and frightened the country with its extrava- 
 gance. Part of that appropriation was for fire-wood to 
 warm the offices of the Department of State. Not a 
 pound of coal was bought. 
 
 Anthracite was first discovered, by the way, in Rhode 
 
News Releases 171 
 
 Island, in 1760. The great beds about Wilkes-Barre 
 were first recorded in 1762. Since 1807, according to 
 United States Government records, we have mined 
 nearly four billion tons of it to warm Americans. In 
 the same period we mined nearly 1 6 billion tons of bitu- 
 minous coal to drive our machines, our ships, our rail- 
 roads — and ourselves. 
 
 Declaration of Independence Hailed With Joy by 
 Washington 
 
 Independence Day, in 1932, will be celebrated with 
 a pomp and splendor which has never before been 
 equaled in the United States since July 4, 1776, when 
 that solemn and sublime document, the "Declaration 
 of Independence," was enacted by the Continental Con- 
 gress in Philadelphia. 
 
 According to plans being completed by the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, the 
 glorious event will be one of the big features of the 
 celebration commemorating the two hundredth anni- 
 versary of the First President. 
 
 From one end of the continent to the other, programs 
 are being arranged by State, city, and town bicentennial 
 commissions, which will include Fourth of July parades, 
 military and naval pageants, patriotic music, games, 
 sports, fireworks, and illuminations. 
 
 Hundreds of prominent men and women, including 
 governors of the various States, Senators, and Congress- 
 men, mayors, and other city and town officials, have 
 shown an enthusiastic cooperation in making this day 
 one of the outstanding events in the history of 
 the Nation. 
 
172 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Tradition gives a dramatic effect to the announce- 
 ment of the Declaration of Independence. It was 
 known to be under discussion, but the closed doors of 
 Congress excluded the populace. They awaited, in 
 throngs, an appointed signal. In the steeple of the State 
 House was a bell imported 23 years previously from 
 London by the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. 
 It bore the portentous text from scripture: "Proclaim 
 liberty throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants 
 thereof." 
 
 It was late in the afternoon of July 4, 1776. John 
 Hancock, President of Congress, was seated in his place 
 before a plain mahogany table desk on which rested 
 a handsome silver inkstand. In a semi-circle in the 
 body of the room were seated the delegates. Charles 
 Thomson, the secretary, was seated near by at a similar 
 desk, where he kept the official journal. 
 
 The time had arrived for final action, and it was the 
 deciding vote of John Morton, of Pennsylvania, swing- 
 ing the Keystone State's delegation in favor of inde- 
 pendence, that was the turning point. 
 
 The manner in which the affirmative vote of Penn- 
 sylvania was secured is one of the most dramatic 
 episodes of the Revolution. The Pennsylvania delega- 
 tion was instructed by the State Assembly, of which 
 Morton was speaker, not to vote for independence. 
 In a test vote, on July 1, 1776, a majority of the Penn- 
 sylvania delegation followed these instructions, but not 
 John Morton. He still insisted on independence. 
 
 John Dickinson and Robert Morris, upright and 
 courageous men, who misjudged the crisis, stayed away 
 from the session. Morton, therefore, as chairman of 
 
News Releases 173 
 
 the delegation, agreed with Franklin and Wilson. The 
 turning point in the success of that movement so im- 
 portant for human liberty was Morton's casting his de- 
 ciding vote for independence. Morton is said to have 
 declared on his deathbed that "this was the most 
 glorious service I ever rendered my country." 
 
 A joyous peal from the Liberty Bell gave notice that 
 the bill had passed. Thus was the sovereignty of the 
 United States established and the knell of British domi- 
 nation sounded. However, it was not until July 8 that 
 the adoption by Congress of the Declaration was offi- 
 cially proclaimed. This ceremony took place in the 
 State House yard (Independence Square) at 12 o'clock 
 noon, which was the first public proclamation of the 
 document. On July 19, 1776, Congress ordered that 
 the Declaration be fairly engrossed, but it was not 
 until August 2, 1776, that it was signed as engrossed 
 by the members of Congress present. 
 
 No one felt the importance of the event more than 
 the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. 
 Washington hailed the Declaration with joy. It is true, 
 it was but a formal recognition of a state of things 
 which had long existed, but it put an end to all those 
 temporizing hopes of reconciliation which had clogged 
 the military actions of the country. On July 9, 1776, 
 he ordered it to be read at the head of each brigade of 
 the army. 
 
 "The general hopes," said he in his orders, "that this 
 important event will serve as a fresh incentive to every 
 officer and soldier, to act with fidelity and courage, as 
 knowing that now the peace and safety of his country 
 depend, under God, solely on the success of our arms; 
 
174 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 and that he is now in the service of a State, possessed 
 of sufficient power to reward his merit and advance him 
 to the highest honors of a free country." 
 
 The excitable populace of the city of New York 
 were not content with the ringing of bells to proclaim 
 their joy. There was a leaden statue of George III in 
 Bowling Green in front of the fort. Since kingly rule 
 was no more, why retain its effigy? On the same eve- 
 ning, therefore, the statue was pulled down amid the 
 shouts of the multitude, and broken up to be made 
 into bullets to be used in the cause of independence. 
 
 Some of the soldiers having been implicated in this 
 popular demonstration, Washington censured it in gen- 
 eral orders as having much the appearance of a riot and 
 a lack of discipline, and the army was forbidden to 
 indulge in any irregularity of this kind. It was his 
 constant effort to inspire his countrymen in arms with 
 his own elevated ideas of the cause in which they were 
 engaged, and to make them feel that it was no ordinary 
 warfare, admitting of vulgar passions and perturbations. 
 
 "The general hopes and trusts," said he, "that every 
 officer and man will endeavor so to live and act as be- 
 comes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights 
 and liberties of his country." 
 
 Washington Elected Commander in Chief 
 
 June 15, 1775, was a turning point in the affairs of 
 the thirteen Colonies and a red-letter day in the life 
 of George Washington, for on that day the Second 
 Continental Congress, meeting in the State House in 
 Philadelphia, unanimously chose George Washington 
 Commander in Chief of the Continental Armies. 
 
News Releases 17$ 
 
 Examining the original Journal of Congress of that 
 session, we read: 
 
 "Resolved, that a General be appointed to command 
 all the Continental Forces, raised or to be raised for the 
 defence of American liberty. 
 
 "That five hundred dollars per month be allowed for 
 the pay and expences of the General. 
 
 "The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a 
 General by ballot, and GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
 Esq., was unanimously elected." 
 
 John Adams, delegate from Massachusetts and 
 destined to succeed Washington as President of the 
 United States almost a quarter of a century later, was 
 the strongest advocate of making the "Gentleman of 
 Virginia" Commander in Chief. We have his own 
 words to prove this statement: 
 
 "I had no hesitation to declare that I had but one 
 gentleman in my mind for that important command, 
 and that was a gentleman from Virginia, who was 
 among us and very well known to all of us; a gentle- 
 man, whose skill and experience as an officer, whose 
 independent fortune, great talents, and excellent uni- 
 versal character would command the approbation of all 
 America, and unite the cordial exertions of all the 
 colonies better than any other person in the Union." 
 
 John Hancock, President of the Congress, officially 
 notified Washington of his election on the next day; 
 and the newly chosen General, standing in his place, 
 made the following speech of acceptance: 
 
 "Mr. President. 
 
 "Though I am truly sensible of the high honor done 
 me in this appointment, yet, I feel great distress from 
 
176 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 a consciousness, that my abilities and military experi- 
 ence may not be equal to the extensive and important 
 trust: However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter 
 upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I 
 possess in their service and for support of the glorious 
 cause. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks 
 for this distinguished testimony of their approbation. 
 
 "But, lest some unlucky event should happen un- 
 favourable to my reputation, I beg it may be remem- 
 bered by every Gentleman in the room, that I this day 
 declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself 
 equal to the command I am honored with. 
 
 "As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, 
 that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted 
 me to accept this arduous employment, at the expence 
 of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to 
 make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account 
 of my expences. Those, I doubt not they will discharge, 
 and that is all I desire." 
 
 Thus began eight arduous years of fighting with Inde- 
 pendence for the Colonies the prize. 
 
 Many States will celebrate June 15, 1932, as one of 
 the feature days of the nine -month celebration of the 
 two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 That Glorious Christmas of 76 
 
 In one of the greatest and most spectacular exploits 
 of his military career, Gen. George Washington, on 
 Christmas night, 1776, wrested a victory from the 
 forces of Great Britain and in a few short hours lifted 
 the spirits of his countrymen from the despair into 
 
News Releases 177 
 
 which they had been plunged by a series of defeats and 
 reverses. With a sure swiftness that inspired terror in 
 the hearts of his enemies, the American Commander in 
 Chief, at the head of a small force of 2,400 Continentals, 
 crossed the dangerous, ice-filled Delaware River, and, 
 in a fury of desperation, fell upon the Hessian troops 
 commanded by Colonel Rahl, at Trenton. The net re- 
 sult of Washington's action was a thousand prisoners of 
 war and a most convincing triumph for the Americans. 
 
 The incidents leading up to and connected with the 
 Battle of Trenton are recounted in a story of the ma- 
 neuvers by which George Washington saved the cause 
 of the Colonies at a time when all hope seemed to be lost. 
 It was this movement which restored the confidence of 
 the Americans and gave them the courage to continue 
 the struggle for liberty in the face of all odds. 
 
 The attack on Trenton had been planned by Wash- 
 ington as a means of bolstering the rapidly declining 
 hopes of his countrymen. The enlistment term of his 
 most valuable and experienced soldiers would expire at 
 the end of the year, and he knew that but few could 
 be prevailed upon to reenlist under the unpromising 
 conditions which then prevailed. It was not only im- 
 perative that these troops be reenlisted, but it was just 
 as essential that the morale of the entire population be 
 improved. The whole country needed the tonic of an 
 inspiring victory. 
 
 While General Howe occupied New York in the sum- 
 mer of 1776, he employed his army in inflicting a series 
 of minor defeats on the Colonials in that vicinity. At 
 Long Island, White Plains, Forts Washington and Lee 
 on the Hudson and in numerous skirmishes, the British 
 
178 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 had beaten and discouraged the Americans. As winter 
 approached and the weather became more and more dis- 
 agreeable, Howe became less inclined to fight and gave 
 most of his attention to preparing comfortable quarters 
 in which to plan the spring campaign. To the English 
 leader it appeared that the Revolution had been all but 
 crushed, and he seems to have expected what spirit re- 
 mained with the Colonists to wear itself out in the cold, 
 freezing snows of winter. At any rate, he had appar- 
 ently conquered New Jersey, and by the time spring 
 came he would be ready to capture Philadelphia, the 
 rebel capital. 
 
 The British commander had stationed troops at sev- 
 eral places in New Jersey to prevent the Americans from 
 retaking that territory should they make an attempt to 
 do so, although little concern was felt in this direction. 
 Washington was just across the Delaware River in Penn- 
 sylvania, but the condition of his men was such as to 
 arouse but little apprehension on the part of the British. 
 The entire Continental Army was suffering from a lack 
 of food, clothing, guns, ammunition — in fact, nearly 
 everything needed to maintain an army was lacking in 
 the American camp. No self-respecting European sol- 
 dier could entertain anything but contempt for such 
 a nondescript body of troops. 
 
 Among the soldiers which Howe had left in the Jer- 
 seys was a regiment of Hessians under the command of 
 Colonel Rahl. These troops numbered about 1,500, and 
 were stationed at Trenton but a very short distance 
 from the Delaware. They were hired out by their own 
 monarch, without their own consent, to fight for other 
 rulers. Many of these soldiers were used in the Revolu- 
 
News Releases 1 79 
 
 tion by Great Britain. Their lot was not a very happy 
 one. 
 
 Washington formed his plans with all possible secrecy 
 and Christmas was selected as the day for the attack on 
 Trenton, because it was believed that the Hessians would 
 be wholly unprepared to resist an assault at that time. 
 These suppositions proved to be correct, for the boister- 
 ous celebration of the Yuletide was at its height when 
 the Americans stormed the town in the dawn of that 
 cold December morning. 
 
 Washington assembled his men at McKonkey's Ferry, 
 on the bank of the Delaware, after a march of nine miles 
 through snow and biting sleet. The men were loaded 
 into boats which had been gathered and prepared for 
 the occasion, and the pitiful little army was soon moving 
 across the stream. It was a perilous undertaking, for 
 the river was filled with great blocks of ice which many 
 times threatened to overturn the crowded craft. But 
 the affair was so well planned and executed that not a 
 man or gun was lost. There was some delay in getting 
 the artillery up, so that by the time Washington was 
 ready to move on his objective the night was far gone. 
 The enterprise had progressed so far, however, that there 
 could be no thought of turning back. 
 
 From the ferry where the crossing had been made 
 there remained another nine-mile march to Trenton. By 
 this time the temperature had dropped far below freez- 
 ing and the troops were in a sorry plight, but they cheer- 
 fully resumed the march. The cold was so severe that 
 two men froze to death that night. The suffering was 
 intensified by the lack of suitable clothing, and a mes- 
 senger to Washington was able to find the General by 
 
180 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 following the bloody footprints which his army left in 
 the snow. Many of the muskets were so clogged with 
 ice that they could not be fired, but by the time Trenton 
 was reached the Americans, as one writer has suggested, 
 would have charged with nothing but broomsticks. As 
 it was, most of the fighting was done with the bayonet. 
 
 The battle did not last long. Colonel Rahl had un- 
 derestimated the mettle of his opponent and had failed 
 to erect fortifications or otherwise to prepare for an at- 
 tack. This mistake cost him his life and lost to Great 
 Britain the services of a thousand hirelings. The Hes- 
 sian commander bravely tried to form his men and re- 
 sist the attack, but it was made so suddenly and so cour- 
 ageously that his tardy efforts were of no avail. This 
 time Washington's victory was certain, and after only 
 a few minutes of fighting the Hessians surrendered. The 
 American casualties consisted of two or three men 
 wounded, one of whom was Lieutenant James Monroe, 
 later to become President of the United States. 
 
 Washington's hopes for the success of his enterprise 
 were fully realized. His strategy and the heroism of 
 his troops had the desired effect, for the waning spirits 
 of the Americans were revived and the Revolution was 
 saved. The British were forced to admit that they were 
 opposed by a worthy foeman and from this time for- 
 ward their respect for his ability increased. There is 
 no doubt that this was a strategic and masterful stroke 
 on the part of the American leader. No less an author- 
 ity than Frederick the Great, of Prussia, on one occasion 
 is supposed to have remarked that "Washington's cam- 
 paign in the Jerseys was the outstanding military ex- 
 ploit of the century." After his surrender at York- 
 
News Releases 181 
 
 town, Lord Cornwallis, while dining with General Wash- 
 ington, said: "Fame will gather your brightest laurels 
 rather on the banks of the Delaware than from those 
 of the Chesapeake." 
 
 It is entirely fitting that the American people should 
 turn for a moment from the holiday spirit of the season 
 and remember with gratitude the sacrifices made by 
 these courageous men of the Continental Army and the 
 genius of their indomitable leader in the Battle of Tren- 
 ton. Surely the nation is deeply indebted to George 
 Washington for what he accomplished on that cold, 
 stormy Christmas in 1776. 
 
 Washington's Only Fourth of July Address 
 
 The only Fourth of July address ever made by George 
 Washington was delivered at Lancaster, Pa., on Inde- 
 pendence Day, 1791. This place, at that time, was 
 the largest inland town in the United States. 
 
 Washington, in his diary, thus describes the incident: 
 
 "Monday, July 4, 1791. This being the Anniversary 
 of American Independence and being kindly requested 
 to do it, I agreed to halt here this day and partake of 
 the entertainment which was preparing for the cele- 
 bration of it. In the forenoon I walked about the 
 town — at half past 2 Oclock I received, and answered 
 an address from the Corporation and the complimts 
 of the Clergy of different denominations — dined be- 
 tween 3 and 4 Oclock — drank tea with Mrs. Hand." 
 
 The address from the corporation was as follows: 
 "To George Washington, President of the United States: 
 
 "Sir: On behalf of the inhabitants of the borough of 
 Lancaster, the members of the Corporation beg leave to 
 
182 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 congratulate you on your arrival at this place. On this 
 jovial occasion, they approach the First Magistrate of 
 the Union with hearts impressed with no less grateful 
 respect than their fellow-citizens of the East and South. 
 With them they have admired those talents, and that 
 firm prudence in the field, which finally ensured suc- 
 cess to the American arms. But at this time, reverence 
 forbids the language which would naturally flow from 
 the recapitulation of the events of the late glorious revo- 
 lution. The faithful page of history will record your 
 illustrious actions for posterity. Yet we cannot forbear 
 to mention what we, in our day, have beheld and wit- 
 nessed. We have seen you at the awful period, when 
 the storm was bursting around us, and our fertile plains 
 were deluged with the richest blood of America, rising 
 above adversity, and exerting all the talents of the 
 patriot and the hero, to save our country from the 
 threatened ruin; and when, by the will of Heaven, these 
 exertions had restored peace and prosperity to the United 
 States, and the great object for which you drew the 
 sword was accomplished, we have beheld you, adorned 
 with every private, social virtue mingling with your 
 fellow citizens. Yet that transcendent love of country, 
 by which you have always been actuated, did not suffer 
 you to rest here;— but when the united voice of myriads 
 of freemen (your fellow citizens) called you from the 
 repose of domestic life, actuated solely by the principles 
 of true glory — not seeking your own aggrandizement, 
 but sacrificing the sweets of retired life to the wishes 
 and happiness of your country, we have beheld you, 
 possessed of the confidence of a great people, presiding 
 over their councils, and, by your happy administration, 
 
News Releases 183 
 
 uniting them together by the great political bond of one 
 common interest. 
 
 "It is, therefore, that the inhabitants of this borough 
 seize with joy the only opportunity which has offered 
 to them, to testify their approbation of, and their 
 gratitude for, your services. 
 
 "Long, very long, sir, may you enjoy the affections 
 of your fellow-citizens. We pray for a long continu- 
 ance of your health and happiness, and the choicest 
 blessings of Heaven on our beloved Country — and on 
 You — its Father and its Friend." 
 
 Washington's reply to the above address was as 
 follows: 
 
 "To the Corporation and the Inhabitants of the Borough 
 of Lancaster. 
 
 "Gentlemen: Your congratulations on my arrival in 
 Lancaster are received with pleasure, and the flattering 
 expressions of your esteem are replied to with sincere 
 regard. 
 
 "While I confess my gratitude for the distinguished 
 estimation in which you are pleased to hold my public 
 service, a sense of justice to my fellow- citizens ascribes 
 to other causes the peace and prosperity of our highly 
 favored country. Her freedom and happiness are 
 founded in their patriotic exertions, and will, I trust, 
 be transmitted to distant ages through the same medium 
 of wisdom and virtue. With sincere wishes for your 
 social, I offer an earnest prayer for your individual 
 welfare." 
 
 At 3 o'clock the President and a very large number 
 of citizens "sat down to an elegant entertainment, pro- 
 vided for the occasion, in the Court House." 
 
184 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Fifteen regular toasts were given, and finally Presi- 
 dent Washington gave the toast, "The Governor and 
 State of Pennsylvania" and retired, when the company 
 arose and volunteered a toast, "The Illustrious President 
 of the United States." 
 
 Washington Assumed Command at Cambridge 
 
 The people of Massachusetts will have special reason 
 to celebrate the third and Fourth of July in connection 
 with the nation-wide observance next year of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington. Such is the statement of the Division of In- 
 formation and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission commemorating 
 the one hundred and fifty-sixth anniversary of the day 
 upon which General Washington assumed command of 
 the Army of the United Colonies at Cambridge, July 3, 
 1775. 
 
 That Washington was appointed Commander in 
 Chief of the American troops was due to the action of 
 John Adams, delegate from Massachusetts to the Con- 
 tinental Congress. Adams, in a speech before Congress, 
 said that the provincial troops then gathering around 
 Boston must be accepted as the national army and 
 Washington placed at their head, if the Colonies were 
 to have any hope of success against the arms of Great 
 Britain. It is to the lasting honor of the New Eng- 
 enders that they were able to recognize the ability, 
 experience, and availability of George Washington and 
 to accept him as leader of the armies over men of their 
 
News Releases 185 
 
 own locality who were justly entitled to consideration 
 for the post. 
 
 Washington received his commission from John 
 Hancock, another leader from Massachusetts and Presi- 
 dent of Congress, June 20, and the next day, accom- 
 panied by Gen. Charles Lee, started for Cambridge, 
 where the colonists were assembling. He stopped in 
 New York long enough to arrange the military affairs 
 of that colony, and then proceeded to Watertown, where 
 he was received by the Provincial Congress of Massa- 
 chusetts. He replied to the address of the congress in 
 the following terms recognizing the loyalty of 
 Massachusetts: 
 
 "Your kind congratulations on my appointment and 
 arrival, demand my warmest acknowledgments, and 
 will be ever retained in grateful remembrance. In ex- 
 changing the enjoyments of domestic life for the duties 
 of my present honorable but arduous situation, I only 
 emulate the virtue and public spirit of the whole 
 Province of Massachusetts Bay, which, with a firmness 
 and patriotism without example in modern history, 
 have sacrificed all the comforts of social and political 
 life, in the support of the rights of mankind, and the 
 welfare of our common country. My highest ambition 
 is to be the happy instrument of vindicating those 
 rights, and to see this devoted Province again restored 
 to peace, liberty, and safety." 
 
 Washington arrived at Cambridge Sunday afternoon, 
 July 2, and was received by General Ward, then in com- 
 mand of the Americans, with every expression of 
 friendship. That night a dinner was given in honor of 
 the new commander and General Lee, and Washington 
 
186 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 received the military records from General Ward. The 
 next day he formally took command of the troops, as 
 is indicated by the first order from Washington, which 
 is dated July 3, 1775. Significantly, this order was a 
 call for every colonel to make a detailed report of his 
 regiment and the ammunition in his possession. 
 
 It was the beginning of a long and bitter struggle. 
 No one realized this better than the new Commander in 
 Chief. Had there been any weakness in him when he 
 viewed the collection of farmers and militiamen that 
 made up his new army, he must have quailed at the 
 thought of confronting the military force of a great 
 nation with them. But there was no shrinking in his 
 acceptance of the trust his countrymen placed in him. 
 
 Washington knew that his untrained army would 
 fight for the liberty which was dearer than life. Given 
 this spirit, he felt that it would compensate for lack of 
 experience. In return, the men he was to lead gained 
 faith in their commander. It was the combining of 
 forces which were to win the freedom of this country 
 and establish the United States. 
 
 That Winter at Valley Forge 
 
 One of the saddest, and yet most glorious dramas in 
 the history of the American Revolution began 153 years 
 ago when, on December 19, 1777, General George 
 Washington established his winter camp at Valley 
 Forge. 
 
 Owing chiefly to the inefficiency of Congress, the or- 
 ganization of supply broke down. Washington's sol- 
 diers, steadily dwindling in numbers, marked their road 
 
News Releases 187 
 
 to Valley Forge by the blood from their naked feet. 
 They were destitute and in rags. Napoleon Bonaparte's 
 statement that "An army moves on its belly" was 
 known, through bitter experience, by Washington more 
 than 25 years before the "Little Corporal" made his fa- 
 mous remark. 
 
 In a letter to Governor Clinton, of New York, the 
 Commander in Chief wrote from Valley Forge: "For 
 some days past, there has been little less than a famine 
 in camp. A part of the army has been a week with- 
 out any kind of flesh, and the rest three or four days." 
 This letter followed a previous communication to Con- 
 gress, when, on December 23, 1777, Washington wrote: 
 
 "I am now convinced beyond a doubt, that, unless 
 some great and capital change suddenly takes in that 
 line, (the commissary department) this army must in- 
 evitably be reduced to one or other of these three things; 
 starve, dissolve, or disperse in order to obtain subsistence 
 in the best manner they can." 
 
 Notwithstanding this deplorable condition of the 
 army, the Pennsylvania Legislature remonstrated against 
 the army going into winter quarters, expecting Wash- 
 ington to keep to the open field, and even to attack the 
 British, with his starving, ragged army, in all the severity 
 of a northern winter. At this time, the whole num- 
 ber of men in camp was 11,098, of whom 2,898 were 
 unfit for duty "because they were barefoot and other- 
 wise naked." 
 
 In making this statement to Congress, and alluding 
 to the remonstrance of the Pennsylvania Legislature, 
 Washington said: "I can assure those gentlemen, that 
 it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw 
 
188 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fireside, 
 than to occupy a cold, bleak hill, and sleep under frost 
 and snow, without clothes or blankets. However, 
 although they seem to have little feeling for the naked 
 and distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for them, 
 and, from my soul, I pity those miseries, which it is 
 neither in my power to relieve or prevent." 
 
 General LaFayette, who had joined Washington's staff, 
 reported that "the unfortunate soldiers were in want 
 of everything; they had neither coats, hats, shirts, nor 
 shoes; that their feet and legs froze until they became 
 black, and it was often necessary to amputate them. 
 From want of money they could neither obtain provi- 
 sions, nor any means of transport; the colonials were 
 often reduced to two rations, and sometimes even one. 
 The army frequently remained whole days without pro- 
 visions, and the patient endurance of both soldiers and 
 officers was a miracle which each moment served to re- 
 new." 
 
 Even while struggling against cold and hunger and 
 destitution, General Washington was devising a new 
 system for the organization and permanence of his 
 forces. In his reports to Congress he kept insisting that 
 his officers must have better provisions, for they had 
 begun to resign, saying in effect: "You must appeal to 
 their interest as well as to their patriotism, and you must 
 give them half -pay and full pay in proper measure. 
 You must follow the same policy with the men; you 
 must have done with short enlistments." 
 
 There is no doubt but that through the misery and 
 suffering of that wretched winter, Washington felt su- 
 premely sure of securing victory and independence. 
 
News Releases 189 
 
 Had it not been for his strenuous labor and fervent ap- 
 peals, his army would have dissolved. He held it to- 
 gether and slowly improved it. That he appreciated 
 the hardships suffered by his soldiers is borne out by the 
 following in Washington's orderly book of March 1, 
 1778: 
 
 "The Commander in Chief again takes occasion to 
 return his warmest thanks to the virtuous officers and 
 soldiery of this army, for that persevering fidelity and 
 zeal which they have uniformly manifested in all their 
 conduct. Their fortitude, not only under the common 
 hardships incident to a military life, but also under the 
 additional sufferings to which the peculiar situation of 
 these states had exposed them, clearly proves them 
 worthy of the enviable privilege of contending for the 
 rights of human nature, the freedom and independence 
 of their country. The recent instance of uncomplain- 
 ing patience during the scarcity of provisions in Camp, 
 is a fresh proof that they possess in an eminent degree 
 the spirit of soldiers and the magnanimity of patriots." 
 
 The terrible breakdown of the commissary system 
 came at Valley Forge when Washington was passing 
 through the darkest hours of his military career. He 
 had been defeated at Brandywine and Germantown and 
 forced from the forts after a desperate struggle; he had 
 seen Philadelphia and the river fall completely into the 
 hands of the enemy; and, bitterest of all, he had been 
 obliged to hold back from another assault on the British 
 lines. And when the enemy withdrew, Washington was 
 left to face again the harsh winter and the problem of 
 existence, which will be remembered as one of the hard- 
 est experiences ever suffered by an army. 
 
190 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Where Washington Crossed the Delaware 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission notes with interest that the members of 
 Congress from Pennsylvania and New Jersey are plan- 
 ning to introduce a resolution for a Washington Me- 
 morial Bridge, to be erected over the Delaware River 
 above Trenton. This bridge would serve to commemo- 
 rate that spectacular exploit, "Washington Crossing the 
 Delaware," on Christmas night of 1776. If Congress 
 passes this resolution, every effort will be made for the 
 completion of the bridge by 1932, in time for the 
 celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the 
 birth of George Washington. 
 
 The last month of the year 1776 found General 
 Washington at the head of a thoroughly discouraged 
 and demoralized army. What was perhaps worse, the 
 enthusiasm of the Colonies had waned, and throughout 
 the land the hopes of the patriots were giving way to 
 despair. The Continental Army had but a few victories 
 to its credit, and a series of defeats had resulted in the 
 general depression now extending alike to the country's 
 citizens and soldiers. 
 
 Washington was confronted with the loss of the 
 greater part of his army by the termination of short- 
 term enlistments on the last day of December. It 
 appeared doubtful whether many of the men would 
 reenlist, and the Commander in Chief had already ex- 
 perienced the difficulty of obtaining new troops. With 
 his unerring judgment he saw that the only thing which 
 could save the cause of America in this dark hour would 
 be a complete and convincing victory achieved by the 
 American Army. He could not find it in his great 
 
News Releases 191 
 
 heart to shrink from any difficulty, so he set about to 
 accomplish the all-important triumph. 
 
 On the New Jersey side of the Delaware the British 
 commander had stationed General Rahl with his three 
 regiments of Hessian mercenaries. Washington cor- 
 rectly gauged the German plans for celebration, when 
 he supposed the Hessians would be enthusiastically ob- 
 serving Christmas. Rahl had no idea that the rebel 
 chieftain across the river would want to fight on such 
 a holiday and felt perfectly secure in his Yuletide 
 revelry. But he underestimated the abilities and de- 
 termination of his antagonist, and his sad mistake re- 
 sulted in the abrupt termination of his usefulness as a 
 hireling warrior and deprived Britain of a considerable 
 number of her Hessian troops. 
 
 Washington began his own Christmas festivities by 
 marching through deep snow and intense cold to a spot 
 on the Delaware River 9 miles above Trenton, known 
 as M'Konkey's Ferry. From this point the Continentals 
 embarked in boats of every description for the New 
 Jersey shore. It consumed 10 hours of soul- trying labor 
 to get the 2,500 troops, under the General's personal 
 command, across the storm-swept river in the inky 
 blackness of that Christmas night, but neither a man 
 nor a gun was lost in the crossing. 
 
 After successfully negotiating the river, the Ameri- 
 cans made an arduous march to Trenton. The Hessians 
 were totally unprepared for the attack which fol- 
 lowed and were able to offer but little resistance. 
 General Rahl was mortally wounded, and the little 
 patriot army captured 900 of the mercenaries, while 
 themselves suffering the trifling casualties of four 
 
192 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 wounded. Among these was James Monroe, the future 
 President of the United States. 
 
 Washington's hopes were justified. His signal victory 
 infused new hope into the Colonies, and the cause of 
 American freedom was once more saved. After Corn- 
 wallis had surrendered at Yorktown he paid tribute to 
 the sagacity of the American Commander in Chief in 
 effecting the downfall of the British Army, but he also 
 added that history would pluck Washington's brightest 
 laurels from the Jerseys. No less a personage than 
 Frederick of Germany delighted in the strategy em- 
 ployed by General Washington, and was said frequently 
 to have referred to it as the outstanding campaign of 
 the Revolutionary War. In the Battle of Trenton the 
 Britons realized the temper of the man they had to 
 fight. When they thought he was beaten, he wrested 
 a victory from them on his own account and admin- 
 istered a blow that convinced Howe that the war was 
 not yet ended. 
 
 The proposed project to memorialize this important 
 event by the erection of a bridge across the Delaware 
 River at the place of Washington's crossing is both 
 appropriate and timely. Although the States of Penn- 
 sylvania and New Jersey have built parks at the point 
 of transit on their respective banks of the river, little 
 else has been done adequately to mark this famous site. 
 The proposed bridge could be built at an approximate 
 cost of a million and a half dollars. 
 
 The Battle of Princeton 
 
 The name of George Washington is inseparably 
 associated in the minds of the people of New Jersey 
 
News Releases 193 
 
 with the date January 3, for it marks the anniversary 
 of the Battle of Princeton, which was personally planned 
 and carried out by the great Commander in Chief of 
 the American armies in the Revolutionary War. This 
 was the culminating stroke in that brilliant campaign 
 in New Jersey by which Washington drove the British 
 from the Garden State, completely reversed the fortunes 
 of the day, and established the fact that he was a mili- 
 tary strategist possessed of remarkable ability. The 
 very presence of such a famous battle ground within 
 the borders of this little State adds all the more to the 
 wealth of historic sites and mementoes of early Ameri- 
 can history for which New Jersey is renowned. 
 
 The Battle of Princeton, fought on January 3, 1777, 
 was one of the most important engagements of the 
 Revolutionary War, and as a stimulus to the fading 
 hopes of the Americans in the early part of that 
 struggle, its effect was invaluable. 
 
 After General Washington had surprised and 
 captured the Hessians at Trenton by his maneuver on 
 Christmas night, 1776, he retired across the Delaware 
 into Pennsylvania. Not content with this success, 
 however, he determined again to assume the offensive, 
 and on December 29 he once more crossed the Dela- 
 ware into New Jersey and stationed his men at Trenton. 
 Here he was joined by Generals Mifflin and Cadwal- 
 lader in command of 3,600 militiamen, but even with 
 this addition Washington's force did not exceed 5,000 
 troops. 
 
 At this point the position of the American 
 commander became critical, for on January 2 Lord 
 Cornwallis advanced upon him with a magnificent and 
 
194 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 well-trained army. The Continentals and militiamen 
 were, in everything but courage and determination, 
 inferior to the British. Washington realized that he 
 could not give battle at Trenton, and, as Cornwallis 
 approached, he withdrew his troops across the As- 
 sumpink Creek and placed his artillery so as to protect 
 the fords across this stream. The Briton made some 
 attempts to cross the creek, but the day was so far gone, 
 his troops were so tired, and the American cannon gaped 
 at him so discouragingly that he decided to postpone 
 the battle until the next day. However, he felt sure that 
 Washington could not escape him, and remarked to his 
 officers: "At last we have run down the old fox, and 
 we will bag him in the morning." 
 
 But the "old fox" was not to be so easily trapped 
 and immediately prepared to slip away. Leaving a few 
 men in camp with instructions to keep campfires burn- 
 ing and maintain a noisesome pretense of digging in- 
 trenchments, Washington quietly withdrew his troops 
 to the left of the redcoats and started in the night for 
 Princeton. It was believed that the British force at 
 this place was small enough to be quickly subdued, and, 
 after defeating them, Washington planned to continue 
 to Brunswick, where he intended to capture or destroy 
 the stores which General Howe had collected at that 
 place. This daring movement would place the enemy 
 on the defensive and would force him to change his 
 plan to attack Philadelphia. 
 
 Early in the morning of January 3, as the Ameri- 
 cans approached Princeton, they were seen by Colonel 
 Mawhood, who was just leaving to join Cornwallis at 
 Trenton. Mawhood, thinking the troops he saw were 
 
News Releases 195 
 
 a body of American stragglers, immediately attacked 
 the van, which consisted principally of militia com- 
 manded by General Mercer. In the sharp but brief 
 action which ensued, Mercer was killed and confusion 
 seized his troops. At this juncture Washington rode up 
 with the Continentals and, with utter disregard for his 
 own safety, he unhesitatingly assumed command and 
 exposed himself to the enemy's fire in order to rally the 
 militia. The Americans, taking heart, attacked with 
 spirit, and Mawhood was forced to retire. He did so 
 with alacrity, and continued on his way to join Corn- 
 wallis, although part of his troops had fled toward 
 Brunswick. 
 
 Washington pushed on into Princeton where an 
 enemy regiment was barricaded in the college. After 
 only a show of resistance these troops surrendered, and 
 the battle was over, having lasted less than 30 minutes. 
 The Americans, however, were completely fatigued. 
 Many of them had been without sleep for two nights. 
 They had no blankets, their clothes were mere rags, 
 and many of them were barefooted. Under these con- 
 ditions it was impossible to proceed to Brunswick, and 
 the attempt to capture the British stores at that city 
 was abandoned. 
 
 The weary soldiers had no opportunity to rest, 
 however, for Cornwallis had by this time discovered 
 Washington's plans and was already on his way to 
 Princeton with a force large enough to crush the Amer- 
 icans. Washington therefore immediately marched his 
 troops to Pluckamin, where they were allowed to re- 
 fresh themselves before moving on to Morristown. At 
 
196 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the latter place Washington established his winter 
 quarters. 
 
 Any doubt as to George Washington's military 
 ability that might have existed before this time was 
 completely dispelled by this short New Jersey campaign 
 of three weeks. The spectacle of an apparently beaten 
 leader of a forlorn and sorry army, suddenly turning 
 upon his pursuer and by superior strategy outgeneral- 
 ing and beating him in turn was well nigh unbelievable. 
 But it had actually happened, and Washington's daring 
 genius had nullified the effect of the recent British 
 victories. Nearly the whole of New Jersey was thus 
 regained, and as Fortescue, the historian of the British 
 Army has written, "the whole course of the revolution 
 in America was saved by Washington's very bold and 
 skillful action." 
 
 Washington Prevented Rout at Monmouth 
 
 George Washington is known to most people as a 
 cool, reserved person, incapable of exhibiting any degree 
 of emotion. That he was human enough, however, to 
 be justly angry is pointed out by the Division of In- 
 formation and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission in a story of the 
 Battle of Monmouth, which occurred on June 28, 153 
 years ago. On that occasion Washington displayed a 
 temper which marked him as a real human being. 
 
 In the celebration next year of George Washington's 
 two hundredth birthday anniversary, the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission intends to 
 portray the true character of the first President. He 
 
News Releases 197 
 
 was not perfect — he was human and possessed of faults 
 which in no wise detract from his greatness and the 
 reverence which is his due. The people of America will 
 honor the memory of a fellow man, not a demi-god. 
 
 The Battle of Monmouth took place on a day of 
 intense heat which affected both armies. The situation 
 was highly favorable to an American victory. What- 
 ever may have been the actual situation — and historians 
 have taken varying attitudes — the failure of the Con- 
 tinentals to secure the triumph which appeared within 
 their grasp undoubtedly was directly due to the actions 
 of Gen. Charles Lee. This officer did not carry out his 
 orders, and through inadequacy or treachery, caused the 
 retreat of the American troops, and was especially 
 guilty in not giving his Commander in Chief informa- 
 tion of the new conditions. 
 
 Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Philadelphia June 18, 
 and Washington was anxious to attack the entire British 
 force, which was encumbered and seriously hampered 
 by baggage. Lee opposed a general engagement, and 
 it was his vehemence in expressing his opinion that led 
 some of his fellow officers later to suspect him of will- 
 fully disobeying orders. 
 
 When Clinton left Philadelphia, General Washington 
 followed him closely, awaiting an opportunity to attack. 
 This opportunity appeared near Monmouth, and the 
 American commander issued orders to proceed against 
 the enemy on the morning of June 28. Lee, as senior 
 major general, was to command the advance troops, 
 and had explicit instructions from Washington to attack 
 and sustain the action. At the head of the main body 
 the Commander in Chief was to support the advance. 
 
198 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The booming of cannon had hardly conveyed to 
 Washington the fact that fighting had begun on the 
 front before a rider informed him that the Continentals 
 were retreating. The news seemed incredible, but con- 
 firmation was soon received from troops in flight. 
 Washington immediately started for the front, meeting 
 more and more retreating soldiers as he rode. He began 
 to suspect Lee's conduct, and his temper started to rise. 
 By the time he reached Lee it was apparent that the 
 latter had blundered or was guilty of misconduct, which 
 had almost turned certain victory into ignominious 
 defeat. 
 
 Lafayette later said that Washington's countenance 
 was terrible to behold. He took Lee to task in such 
 severe terms that even that blundering officer was taken 
 aback. Just what the Commander in Chief actually 
 said to Lee probably never will be known, for at a sub- 
 sequent trial so much conflicting testimony was sub- 
 mitted that the truth is difficult to obtain. It seemed 
 evident enough, however, that Washington spoke with 
 some heat, which, under the circumstances, was 
 entirely justified. 
 
 Although denied the victory, which seemed within 
 his grasp, Washington was able to stem the retreat and 
 halt the advancing British. Heroic work by Greene, 
 Wayne, Lafayette, and other officers was of immeasur- 
 able value in saving the American troops. Night ended 
 the battle, and before morning Clinton left the field and 
 was many miles away when day broke on the weary 
 Continentals. The British general had lost so many men 
 that he was glad to take refuge in New York, where he 
 remained for the rest of the year. 
 
News Releases 199 
 
 How Washington Observed Christmas 
 
 There seems to be an appeal, universal in its extent, 
 about Christmas which stirs in the heart of everyone 
 a desire to celebrate that day at home with his family. 
 It is an appeal which can be understood by all men for 
 it is experienced by all in common. As the Christmas 
 season approaches this year, with the celebration of the 
 Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of George 
 Washington so imminent, the thoughts of all Americans 
 are directed toward the founder of this country and the 
 manner in which he observed the Yuletide during his 
 lifetime. 
 
 No man ever had more love for his home or a keener 
 desire to be there with his family than George Washing- 
 ton, and yet his duties kept him from this enjoyment 
 to an extent, perhaps, experienced by few other men. 
 This was especially true of Christmas. There are com- 
 paratively few recorded instances after 1774 when the 
 Father of his Country was able to observe this occasion 
 in the happy quiet of his own home. On the contrary, 
 this day often found him far from his estate under con- 
 ditions hardly to be considered desirable. Once he was 
 in the cold cheerless wilderness near Fort le Boeuf on 
 the Ohio River when Christmas overtook him. Another 
 time he was at Boston laying siege to the British in that 
 city. Again he is found celebrating the day by attack- 
 ing the Redcoats at Trenton, and the following year in 
 Valley Forge, now one of America's dearest shrines. 
 
 But regardless of the circumstances in which he found 
 himself at Christmas time, Washington was always ready 
 to meet the exigencies which arose. If he had to treat 
 with the savages in their home, the forest, he did it; if 
 
200 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 a battle had to be fought as at Trenton, he unhesitat- 
 ingly accepted the task; if he was cold and poorly sup- 
 plied as at Valley Forge, he made the best of it and re- 
 fused to become discouraged. Whatever the demand, 
 Washington was prepared for it and he was never un- 
 equal to the occasion. 
 
 During his boyhood Washington experienced much 
 the same Christmas joys which usually make that occa- 
 sion so important to every young person, but the death 
 of his father when George was but 1 1 years old left the 
 boy with responsibilities which early developed and ma- 
 tured him. He was soon facing a man's problems, and 
 it may be assumed that many of these simple pleasures 
 were prematurely displaced by other and more weighty 
 considerations. 
 
 When George was 19 years old he made the journey 
 which took him out of this country the first and only 
 time he ever left it. This was when he accompanied his 
 brother Lawrence to the Barbadoes on the latter's futile 
 quest for health. Incidentally, it was at this time that 
 George Washington observed the only Christmas he ever 
 spent outside the United States, and it was celebrated on 
 the Atlantic Ocean aboard the ship "Industry," just 
 three days out from Barbadoes. His diary contains the 
 information that the dinner eaten that day consisted 
 of an Irish goose which had been fattened for the occa- 
 sion, "Beef &ca. &ca.," and states that all on board drank 
 toasts to their absent friends. This was a Christmas so 
 novel that it surely would have appealed to any youth, 
 and young George no doubt thoroughly enjoyed it. 
 
 Vastly different from this one was the Christmas 
 which two years later found Washington on his way 
 
News Releases 201 
 
 home from Fort le Boeuf , where he had gone as a mes- 
 senger to the French from Governor Dinwiddie of Vir- 
 ginia. Washington's record of this journey places his 
 little party in the forests of western Pennsylvania. The 
 journal makes no mention of what was eaten or what 
 festivities were observed this Christmas day, but certain 
 it is that there could have been very little to furnish the 
 men with Yuletide cheer. 
 
 Washington was married on January 6, 1759. He 
 had just returned from the expedition against Fort 
 Duquesne, and his time during the holidays of 1758 was 
 absorbed with the preparation of his report of the af- 
 fair and his resignation from the army. With the date 
 of his wedding so near it is not to be supposed that the 
 young Virginia colonel was anything but all too im- 
 patient to be with his fiancee to be very deeply con- 
 cerned over the celebration of this Christmas. It was 
 the last one he spent as a bachelor. 
 
 In the summer of 1758 Washington was elected to 
 the Virginia House of Burgesses and he took his seat the 
 following February. He served in this assembly until 
 the meeting of the first Continental Congress and must 
 have spent some Christmas days at Williamsburg or at 
 Fredericksburg with his mother. At least one Yuletide 
 found the young legislator together with Mrs. Washing- 
 ton and the Custis children taking Christmas dinner in 
 Fredericksburg with the Colonel's brother-in-law and 
 sister, Colonel Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington 
 Lewis, for Washington's diary records the event. This 
 was in 1769 when the Washington family was on the 
 way back to Mount Vernon from Williamsburg, where 
 the House of Burgesses had been in session. 
 
202 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 During this period Washington enjoyed the pleasures 
 of home life more fully than at any other time in his 
 entire career. His records are filled with notes which 
 reveal the interest he took in caring for his estate and 
 the satisfaction that he obtained from this labor. In 
 these years of comparative freedom from the cares of 
 public duty, Washington no doubt found his happiest 
 Christmas days. With a capable and efficient wife to 
 preside over his home and to entertain his many guests 
 he must have been superbly happy. But perhaps Christ- 
 mas as a day of pretentious celebration did not mean as 
 much then as it does now; or it may have been only be- 
 cause there were fewer visitors to Mount Vernon during 
 the Yuletide that Christmas Day itself was apparently 
 so quiet and Sabbath-like. His diaries during these years 
 merely state that he "Went to Pohick Church and re- 
 turned to Dinner," or "At home all day." The latter 
 entry was made in 1774. It was the last Christmas the 
 Father of his Country observed "At home" for eight 
 years. 
 
 In 1775 the ominously darkening clouds of conflict 
 between Great Britain and her Colonies broke in the 
 fury of the Revolutionary War, and George Washing- 
 ton left his beloved Mount Vernon to lead his country's 
 armies to victory. That year, as has been seen, Christ- 
 mas found him at the siege of Boston, holding the British 
 at bay with an undisciplined army so inadequately sup- 
 plied with ammunition that it would have been impos- 
 sible for them to repel an attack had one been made by 
 General Howe. 
 
 After this there followed the memorable Christmas 
 at Trenton when General Washington presented his 
 
News Releases 203 
 
 country with a victory that saved the Revolution. Then 
 came the unforgettable Christmas at Valley Forge — a 
 dark and gloomy day, heavy with suffering and priva- 
 tion — when the Commander in Chief dined with his 
 officers on a meagre supply of veal, mutton, "fowls" and 
 a small quantity of potatoes and turnips. The General's 
 baggage had not yet appeared, so that there was an in- 
 adequate supply of utensils and tableware. There was 
 nothing but water to drink at this dinner, and there was 
 no dessert. A cheerless Christmas it was. On subse- 
 quent Christmas days, at his winter quarters at Morris- 
 town, New Windsor and Newburgh, the Yuletide season 
 was undoubtedly brightened by the presence of Mrs. 
 Washington. Only twice during the eight years of the 
 war did General Washington enjoy a Christmas dinner 
 outside his own camp. Once in 1778, when he was at 
 Philadelphia; and again in 1781, when he and Mrs. 
 Washington dined with Robert Morris at the same city. 
 
 After the war was over, Washington returned to 
 Mount Vernon in 1783 just in time to celebrate Christ- 
 mas at home, and the happiness on that occasion must 
 have been great. The diaries then tell of some more 
 Christmas days "at home," and then comes his election 
 to the Presidency of the new Republic. After eight 
 years in this high office, George Washington in 1797 
 again returned to his estate. But his life was nearly 
 done — spent as it had been in the glorious service of his 
 country. Only two more Christmas days remained to 
 him, and these were quiet days for the weary old Gen- 
 eral. The last Christmas dinner he ate was shared by 
 Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney at Mount Vernon. 
 
 In the story of George Washington's Christmas days 
 
204 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 is written an account of supreme devotion to ideals of 
 freedom and liberty. The welfare of his country was 
 always foremost in his thoughts and no personal consid- 
 erations ever swerved him from what he conceived to 
 be his duty. In the light of this knowledge every Amer- 
 ican must feel grateful for the example of this great 
 man whose achievements have accomplished so much 
 for the United States. 
 
 British Fire Salute in Honor of Washington 
 
 The first complimentary salute fired by Great Britain 
 in honor of an officer of the United States, and virtually 
 the first salute to the Nation occurred on May 8, 1783. 
 
 This event took place at the conference between 
 Sir Guy Carlton and General Washington, following 
 the cessation of hostilities in regard to the evacuation 
 of the posts in the United States, in the position of the 
 British troops, and other arrangements. 
 
 On Thursday, May 8, the American party dined on 
 board a frigate, where they were received with mili- 
 tary honors and entertained with stately courtesy by 
 Sir Guy Carlton. When Washington and General 
 Clinton went on board the frigate, they were saluted 
 with the firing of a number of cannon. When they left 
 the boat, she fired 17 guns in honor of Washington's 
 exalted military rank. 
 
 Lee's Bravery Wins Washington's Praise 
 
 Among the most gallant and dashing heroes of the 
 
 American Revolution was a young Virginian, Capt. 
 
 Harry Lee (Light Horse Harry), for whom General 
 
 Washington had a great respect and admiration. Lee 
 
News Releases 205 
 
 was the father of Robert E. Lee, famous Confederate 
 general. 
 
 One of Captain Lee's brave exploits brought a per- 
 sonal letter from Washington, highly praising the dash- 
 ing Virginian. Lee had made himself very formidable 
 to the enemy by harassing their foraging parties. On 
 one occasion there was a flurry at the most advanced 
 outpost where he was stationed with a few of his troops. 
 An attempt was made to surprise him. A party of about 
 200 dragoons, taking a circuitous route in the night, 
 came upon him at daybreak. He had but a few men 
 with him at the time, and took a post in a large store- 
 house. His scanty force was not even large enough to 
 allow a soldier for each window. The dragoons at- 
 tempted to force their way into the house. 
 
 There was a warm contest. The dragoons were 
 bravely repulsed, and sheered off, leaving two killed and 
 four wounded. "So well directed was the opposition," 
 Lee wrote to Washington, "that we drove them from 
 the stables, and saved every horse. We have got the 
 arms, some cloaks, etc., of their wounded. The enter- 
 prise was certainly daring, though the issue of it was 
 very ignominious. I had not a soldier for each window." 
 
 Washington, whose heart evidently warmed more and 
 more to this young Virginian, not content with noticing 
 his exploit in general orders, wrote a note to Lee on the 
 subject, expressed with unusual warmth. 
 
 American Privateers Harass British During 
 Revolutionary War 
 
 As the two hundredth anniversary of George Wash- 
 ington's Birth approaches, every detail of our First Pres- 
 
206 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ident's military achievements becomes of interest and re- 
 ceives due notice from historians. 
 
 The winning of independence was not wholly 
 achieved on land, and George Washington owed some 
 measure of his final victor^ to the naval activities of 
 the Colonies during the Revolution. 
 
 No less an authority than Admiral Alfred T. Mahan 
 lays down the theorem in one of his masterly volumes 
 that the Battle of Saratoga and the surrender of Bur- 
 goyne constituted "the decisive event of the war," and 
 that the capture of Burgoyne's army was made possible 
 by the shrewd operations of a tiny American navy on 
 Lake Champlain. Most Americans will be astonished 
 at the reminder that the directing genius of that little 
 navy was, of all persons, Benedict Arnold. 
 
 As Admiral Mahan points out, Burgoyne's surrender 
 directly resulted in France's coming to the aid of the 
 Colonies. And it was our "navy" which helped bring 
 about this decisive British defeat. The British early 
 noted the strategic value of the Hudson River and Lake 
 Champlain. If the British could control both of these 
 waterways the Colonies would be divided. Two wedges 
 were to be driven into this natural barrier; one from the 
 south, from New York, the other from Canada, by way 
 of Champlain. 
 
 Benedict Arnold with his little fleet of three schooners, 
 a sloop, and five "gondolas," in 1776 delayed preparation 
 and advance from Canada so long that Carleton from 
 that end could not gain a position from which to co- 
 operate with Howe, and their synchronization was post- 
 poned for a year; a delay which proved fatal, and thus 
 the river was never allowed to divide the Colonies. 
 
News Releases 207 
 
 Meanwhile Revolutionary scourings of the seas con- 
 tributed greatly in the success of Washington's siege of 
 Boston in 1 77 5 - 1 776, So many supply ships heading for 
 the British garrison at Boston were captured, and their 
 precious cargoes diverted to the hard-pressed colonial 
 troops, that discouragement may easily have helped to 
 wear down the British morale. 
 
 On June 23, 1776, occurred the first battle of the 
 Revolution in which ships engaged. This was the at- 
 tempt of the British to take Fort Moultrie at Charles- 
 ton, S. C. According to Admiral Mahan's account, it 
 was Bunker Hill transferred to the sea, except that it 
 was a more clear-cut success for the Americans. No 
 British ships were sunk, but neither was the fortress 
 taken. Instead the British fleet sailed away a good deal 
 damaged, its commander persuaded that the Yankee 
 prize was not worth the heavy price to be paid for its 
 capture. 
 
 The real glory of the Revolutionary naval history be- 
 longs to the privateers that roved the sea in great num- 
 bers. A great page in our record remains to be writ- 
 ten. That page will deal with the important work of 
 these privateers, and the adventurous conditions under 
 which they operated. 
 
 Massachusetts alone put into commission more than 
 2,000 of these privately owned and operated war vessels. 
 And to most Americans their mission has been misin- 
 terpreted. These privateers were not pirate ships. They 
 were duly commissioned by the governments of the 
 Colonies. Their commanders were put under heavy 
 bond to maintain the customs of the seas as defined by 
 international law. They were empowered to capture 
 
208 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 or sink British merchantmen, but only after humane 
 treatment had been accorded to the crews. John Han- 
 cock later signed the commissions of the Massachusetts 
 privateersmen, and those of other Colonies did their 
 work under equally good authority. 
 
 During the eight years of the Revolution, privateers 
 were responsible for the capture of 3,057 British ships, 
 all with valuable prize cargoes. In fact, it became dif- 
 ficult to recruit seamen for the real navy of the Colo- 
 nies, because of this profitable business of privateering. 
 It was not unusual for a common seaman to receive 550 
 pounds as his share of the prize money of a successful 
 cruise, and the commanding officers shared accordingly. 
 It was good business mixed with patriotism. And the 
 embarrassment caused the British by these privateers 
 was indeed great. 
 
 The smaller privateers confined their operations to the 
 West Indies or to our own coastal waters, but larger 
 privateering vessels roamed in foreign seas to such good 
 effect that one report from Banff, Scotland, in 1777, 
 complains of the time as "so troublesome and our seas so 
 full of American privateers, that nothing can be trusted 
 upon this defenseless coast." 
 
 Battle of Kings Mountain 
 
 President Herbert Hoover will deliver the main 
 address at the sesquicentennial celebration of the Battle 
 of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, October 7 next. 
 The President is scheduled to open the American Legion 
 Convention at Boston on October 6, after which he 
 will immediately proceed to North Carolina and then 
 to Kings Mountain. 
 
News Releases 209 
 
 This news is particularly pleasing to the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, which is 
 now making arrangements for the celebration in 1932 
 of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of the 
 "Father of His Country." The Kings Mountain vic- 
 tory, minor as it appears to be, brought encouragement 
 to Washington and his followers when the spirits of the 
 Americans were at a low ebb. 
 
 Celebrations of this nature are appropriate fore- 
 runners for the nation-wide celebation in 1932, when 
 the American people will honor the memory of the 
 great leader of those gallant forces of 150 years ago. 
 
 The struggle on October 7, 1780, at Kings Mountain 
 was sanguinary. It has sometimes been referred to by 
 discerning historians as "the turning point of the Amer- 
 ican Revolution." In the early part of 1780 things 
 looked dark and discouraging for the Americans. Corn- 
 wallis and his followers, flushed with victory, were 
 marching through the South pretty much as they 
 pleased. This situation worried Washington consider- 
 ably. 
 
 Many loyalists had joined Cornwallis's forces, and the 
 South was being torn by the ravages of war, since the 
 British regulars were aided by loyalist militia. The 
 American forces, led by General Gates, had been com- 
 pletely routed by the British at Camden, S. C, and so 
 dispersed that it seemed as though Cornwallis might ac- 
 complish the subjugation of the entire South. As he 
 advanced, his flying forces, under Tarleton and Fer- 
 guson, pursued Sumter, who commanded the only 
 remaining organized body of colonial troops. 
 
 Col. Patrick Ferguson's force was entirely American; 
 
210 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 it had a nucleus of regulars of the Provincial Corps and 
 the rest were loyalist militia. He threatened to cross 
 the mountains and raid the settlements at Watauga in 
 present Tennessee and elsewhere. Under Shelby and 
 Sevier the backwoodsmen of Virginia assembled in Sep- 
 tember to protect their homes and families by an attack 
 on Ferguson east of the mountains. They were a motley 
 crew in frontier garb, but united by their determina- 
 tion, and sharpshooters to a man. 
 
 Ferguson, apprised of their purpose, took post on 
 Kings Mountain with a force of 1,104 men. He con- 
 sidered the position impregnable to an attack by an un- 
 organized horde which had never faced the bayonet. 
 The frontiersmen were reenforced by some Carolina 
 militia and an advance party numbering 900 men, after 
 an all-night ride, stormed up the four sides of the moun- 
 tain on October 7. Several times driven back, each wave 
 of the advance ran higher. Dodging behind rocks and 
 trees, fighting Indian fashion, they advanced, pouring 
 into the enemy's lines at the same time an accurate and 
 deadly fire. 
 
 The loyalists held out, in spite of their losses, until 
 their leader, Colonel Ferguson, was killed. Those that 
 remained immediately surrendered. The account for 
 the day showed: For the British partisans, 225 killed, 
 163 wounded, and 716 prisoners, not one escaped; for 
 the Americans, 28 killed and 62 wounded. It was a 
 striking victory for the American backwoodsmen. 
 
 This battle, though technically a minor event, had a 
 great psychological effect. It renewed the courage of 
 the Americans and helped demoralize the English. The 
 
News Releases 211 
 
 surrender at Yorktown a year later was the culmi- 
 nation. 
 
 Henry Cabot Lodge, in his book, "The English 
 Colonies in America," said of this engagement: "The 
 effect of this victory was electric. The Loyalist rising 
 in North Carolina was checked, the patriots elsewhere 
 began to take arms, the partisans under Sumter and 
 Marion increased in numbers and activity, while Corn- 
 wallis was forced to concentrate his army and move 
 more slowly and less confidently." 
 
 Well might the people of the Carolinas celebrate the 
 one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of this battle. That 
 the President of the United States should make a speech 
 for the occasion is a fitting honor to those men who 
 fought and died there. 
 
 Washington and the Thirteenth Colony 
 
 In the year of George Washington's birth, 1732, a 
 group of Englishmen, led by James Oglethorpe, secured 
 from King George II a charter to found a Colony on 
 the American territory belonging to the crown. The 
 land selected for this enterprise lay to the south of the 
 British Colonies and was north of the area claimed by 
 Spain as part of Florida. Oglethorpe secured the per- 
 mission of his sovereign to take as colonists deserving 
 people whose misfortunes had caused their imprison- 
 ment as debtors under the unjust laws of the time. 
 
 This was the beginning of the thirteenth and last 
 English Colony of the continental group in America. 
 Its birth was coincident with the birth of America's 
 Founder, and both were to take part in the great 
 
212 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 struggle which culminated in the establishment of the 
 United States. 
 
 In no Colony in America during the Revolution was 
 a more bitter partisan warfare waged. The royal 
 Governor Wright was able to command enough 
 loyalists and Tories at the outset to jeopardize the pro- 
 posed separation from England. By the time the Dec- 
 laration of Independence was signed in 1776, the 
 patriots had succeeded in driving out the obnoxious 
 governor and had taken over the government of the 
 Colony. However, the loyalists themselves were not 
 subdued and a sanguinary conflict was maintained to 
 the end of the war. 
 
 In May, 1775, a group of patriots, led by James 
 Habersham, Noble Jones, Edward Telfair, Joseph Clay, 
 John Milledge, and others, broke into the powder maga- 
 zine at Savannah and took powder, which was later put 
 to good use by the Americans. A story still persists 
 that part of this war-time commodity was sent to Mas- 
 sachusetts and used at Bunker Hill. But the first 
 armed clash in Georgia between the British and the 
 patriots occurred in March, 1776, when the former 
 attempted to seize rice-laden ships belonging to Ameri- 
 cans at Savannah. 
 
 At the beginning of the war military operations were 
 for the most part confined to the northern Colonies, 
 but, with the failure to secure a signal victory over 
 Washington's army, the British directed their attention 
 toward- the South. Charleston and Savannah were 
 taken, and the latter was used as a base of operations 
 against Virginia and the Carolinas. 
 
 With the inauguration of the southern campaign, the 
 
News Releases 213 
 
 partisan warfare, which was waged relentlessly, was 
 augmented by the well-directed movements of the 
 trained British regulars. Washington was unable to 
 weaken his own forces by detaching troops to the South, 
 and the militia and partisans, led by such men as Col. 
 John Baker, Maj. John Berrien, Gen. Elijah Clarke, Col. 
 Samuel Hammond, Gen. Stephen Heard, Gen. Lachlan 
 Mcintosh, and his nephew, Col. John Mcintosh, and 
 Col. James Jackson, were called upon to oppose the 
 enemy. These men were courageous and able fighters, 
 but, like the rest of the American Army, were suffering 
 from lack of supplies. As a result of such handicaps, 
 Georgia and her sister States of the South suffered con- 
 siderably from the ravages of the enemy before Corn- 
 wallis was forced to retire to Yorktown. 
 
 When the Constitutional Convention presented the 
 document it had framed in 1787, Georgia was one of 
 the first States to take action. With her ratification on 
 January 2, 1788, of the Federal Constitution, the Em- 
 pire State of the South became the fourth State to enter 
 the Union. 
 
 In April, 1791, when President George Washington 
 made his tour of the Southern States he was received 
 with great acclaim by the people of Georgia. Many of 
 the officers of the Continental Army were then filling 
 positions of responsibility, and they welcomed their 
 great leader with every indication of their admiration 
 and esteem for him. 
 
 That Georgia will take her part in the celebration 
 next year of the two hundredth anniversary of the 
 birth of George Washington is attested by her action 
 in appointing a Georgia State Bicentennial Commission, 
 
214 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 which is arranging and preparing to direct the program 
 for the occasion within the State. The committee is 
 composed of the following: 
 
 Mrs. Bun Wylie, chairman, Atlanta; Mrs. H. M. 
 Franklin, Tennille; Hon. W. M. Frances, Atlanta; Mrs. 
 Julius Talmadge, Athens; Mrs. J. W. Daniels, Savan- 
 nah; Dr. J. L. Buson, Milledgeville; Senator Walter F. 
 George; Representative W. W. Larsen; Dr. Thorn well 
 Jacobs, Oglethorpe; Judge James Maddux, Rome. 
 
 Six Washington Birthdays Spent Near British Lines 
 
 George Washington was permitted to celebrate but 
 few of his birthdays in the peaceful quiet of his beloved 
 home at Mount Vernon, especially during the latter 
 years of his life. He lived at a time when this country 
 was in the throes of its birth, and fate had decreed that 
 he should take an active part in its creation. His serv- 
 ices were needed and he was not the one to shirk when 
 duty called him into leadership of the armies or the Na- 
 tion. 
 
 During the Revolutionary War, Washington was 
 Commander in Chief of the American armies, and in 
 this capacity he faced the responsibility of defeating his 
 country's enemies. That this was no small job he fully 
 realized. On his shoulders rested the task of recruiting 
 and maintaining an army composed of men who were 
 untrained in warfare, and who only too often were with- 
 out the courage and inspiration which animated the 
 great General. 
 
 From the beginning of the Revolution in 1775 until 
 its close in 1783, when final articles of peace were signed, 
 George Washington commanded the American troops. 
 
News Releases 215 
 
 During this period he had eight birthdays, all of which, 
 except the last two, were spent in winter quarters but 
 a short distance from the British lines and at times when 
 he was in the midst of plans for spring campaigns. 
 
 The first of Washington's birthdays which found him 
 at the head of the Army was in 1776, and the General 
 was directing the American operations at the siege of 
 Boston. A trying time it was, for his soldiers were in- 
 adequately equipped and supplied, while the army under 
 General Howe was formidable in every respect. The 
 following year Washington was iri winter quarters with 
 the Army at Morristown, and from his correspondence 
 of that time the distressing condition of the troops may 
 be realized. The Commander in Chief was forced con- 
 stantly to ask for supplies which were not always forth- 
 coming. 
 
 Despite the terrible hardships of the following year 
 at Valley Forge, Washington's birthday did not pass un- 
 noticed. The band from Proctor's Artillery celebrated 
 the event by serenading their chief in front of his quar- 
 ters, and the compliment was graciously received as is 
 indicated by an item in Washington's expense book for 
 that date. The band, members of which were listed as 
 musicians, drummers and fifers, was rewarded with a 
 gift of one pound 1 shillings in hard money. This was 
 the first known public celebration of the event. 
 
 In 1779, General Washington was at Pluckamin or 
 Middlebrook, N. J., on his birthday, and the year fol- 
 lowing he was again in winter quarters at Morristown. 
 The year 1781 found him at New Windsor, Orange 
 County, New York, unable to attend the celebration 
 of his natal day which was held at Newport by the 
 
216 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 French allies under Count Rochambeau. The date of 
 this commemoration was February 12, it having been 
 postponed a day in the hopes that the man for whom 
 it was given might be able to get there. February 11 
 had been selected for the fete, for the French soldiers 
 seemed to prefer following the old style calendar. An- 
 other important event happened that year, for on Feb- 
 ruary 22, the date of Washington's birth according to 
 the Gregorian calendar adopted in 1752, the Marquis 
 de Lafayette left for Virginia on the campaign which 
 ended the war at Yorktown. A noteworthy coinci- 
 dence. 
 
 After the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, it 
 was generally believed that the war was virtually fin- 
 ished, but Washington did not propose to disband the 
 Army or relax into a state of carelessness as long as a 
 definitive peace had not been signed. He therefore re- 
 tained command of the troops and urged upon his coun- 
 trymen the necessity for continued preparedness until 
 peace was concluded at Paris in 1783. In 1782 he was 
 in Philadelphia actively engaged in maintaining the 
 American Army at as nearly its full strength as was pos- 
 sible. 
 
 The last birthday which Washington spent in the 
 Army found him at Newburgh in 1783. His troops, es- 
 pecially the officers, were almost in a state of revolt 
 which culminated in the famous Newburgh Resolutions. 
 The affair was favorably ended, however, in March 
 when the Commander in Chief called the dissatisfied 
 officers together and with an eloquent appeal to their 
 patriotism, averted the impending trouble. The follow- 
 ing December, Washington resigned his commission to 
 
News Releases 217 
 
 the Congress at Annapolis and retired to Mount Ver- 
 non for only a few years' rest from public cares before 
 being called to fill the office of first President of the 
 United States. 
 
 General Washington's Important Headquarters 
 
 During the eight years of the Revolutionary War, 
 Gen. George Washington used as his headquarters more 
 than 100 places, stretching through seven States. 
 
 These States are: Massachusetts, New York, New 
 Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. 
 New Jersey possesses the greatest number of these head- 
 quarters locations, with New York and Pennsylvania 
 next. 
 
 The first headquarters of the Commander in Chief 
 was the Wadsworth House at Cambridge, Mass., built 
 by Harvard College in 1726, for the use of its presi- 
 dents, and generally known as the "President's House." 
 At that time it was occupied by President Samuel Lang- 
 don. A short time later the house of John Vassall, then 
 a fugitive loyalist, was prepared for Washington's oc- 
 cupancy. The house is now known as the Craigie-Long- 
 f ellow House, from its owners, Dr. Andrew Craigie and 
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The headquarters re- 
 mained here until Washington left Cambridge. 
 
 Washington left Cambridge April 4, 1776, for New 
 York City and established headquarters there in a house 
 on Pearl Street. In June he moved his headquarters to 
 the Motier house, which stood at what is now the cor- 
 ner of Varick and Charlton Streets. 
 
 After the retreat from Long Island and the decision 
 to abandon New York, Washington's quarters were at 
 
218 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Robert Murray's house near Thirty-second Street and 
 Fourth Avenue. On September 15, he was at Mott's 
 Tavern, Harlem Plains. After the battle of Harlem 
 Heights, headquarters were established at the Roger 
 Morris house, now better known as the Jumel mansion. 
 Washington had numerous other headquarters in New 
 York State, including White Plains, and as far up the 
 Hudson as West Point. 
 
 Of this large number of locations, eight are best 
 
 known. Seven of these were winter quarters. They 
 
 were: Cambridge, Mass.; Morristown and Middlebrook, 
 
 • N. J.; Valley Forge, Pa.; New Windsor, West Point and 
 
 Newburgh, N. Y. 
 
 One of the most interesting of his headquarters was 
 that established at Moore's house, near West Point, where 
 Washington remained for four months. It is from this 
 house that we have a rare description, from Washing- 
 ton's own pen, of a dinner at headquarters. August 
 16, 1779, he wrote to Sur. Gen. John Cochran, invit- 
 ing Mrs. Cochran and another lady, Mrs. Livingston by 
 name, to dine with him, describing and apologizing in 
 advance for the meal that would be served. He wrote: 
 
 "I have asked Mrs. Cochran & Mrs. Livingston to 
 dine with me tomorrow; but am I not in honor bound 
 to apprize them of their fare? As I hate deception, even 
 where the imagination only is concerned; I will. It is 
 needless to premise that my table is large enough to hold 
 the ladies. Of this they had ocular proof yesterday. To 
 say how it is usually covered, is rather more essential; 
 and this shall be the purport of my Letter. 
 
 "Since our arrival at this happy spot, we have had a 
 ham, (sometimes a shoulder) of Bacon, to grace the 
 
News Releases 2i9 
 
 head of the Table; a piece of roast Beef adorns the foot; 
 and a dish of beans, or greens (almost imperceptible,) 
 decorates the center. When the cook has a mind to cut 
 a figure, (which I presume will be the case tomorrow,) 
 we have two Beef -steak pyes, or dishes of crabs, in addi- 
 tion, one on each side of the center dish, dividing the 
 space & reducing the distance between dish & dish to 
 about 6 feet, which without them would be 12 feet 
 apart. Of late he has had the surprising sagacity to dis- 
 cover, that apples will make pyes; and its a question, if, 
 in the violence of his efforts, we do not get one of apples, 
 instead of having both Beef -steaks. If the ladies can 
 put up with such entertainment, and will submit to 
 partake of it on plates, once Tin but now Iron — (not 
 become so by the labor of scouring) , I shall be happy 
 to see them." 
 
 When the British fleet sailed from New York finally 
 and into Chesapeake Bay, the Continentals hurried into 
 position between the head of the Bay and Philadelphia. 
 Washington's headquarters during these weeks of un- 
 certainty were at Quibbletown, Morristown, and Pomp- 
 ton Plains, N. J., and Smith's Tavern, Orange County, 
 N. Y.; then the Army started on its rapid march to 
 protect Philadelphia. 
 
 Headquarters on the march were again at Ramapo, 
 Pompton Plains, Morristown, and Coryell's Ferry, N. J., 
 and Wilmington, Del. The Battle of Brandywine was 
 fought on September 1 1 and the Army retreated by way 
 of Germantown and Chester and skirmished again with 
 the advancing British at Yellow Springs, Pa. From there 
 on the locations of the headquarters were at Reading 
 Furnace, Pottsgrove, Pennypacker's Mills, and Skippack. 
 
220 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 On October 4 came the action at Germantown in the 
 defense of Philadelphia. The next day headquarters 
 were at Perkiomen; next at Towamencin. 
 
 On December 3, headquarters were moved to Mor- 
 ristown, N. J., and remained there until the opening 
 of the campaign of 1780, which started with the British 
 raid on Springfield, June 7. Twenty-two headquarters 
 were established during this summer and fall, of which 
 the one at the house of Col. Theunis Day, at Preakness, 
 N. J., was of the longest duration. From Preakness, 
 which is now the city of Patterson, the headquarters 
 moved successively to Paramus, N. J.; Peekskill, Ver- 
 planck's Point and Stony Point, N. Y. 
 
 The American Armies crossed the Hudson at King's 
 Ferry, August 20, and between then and October 1, 
 when the Commander in Chief's quarters were estab- 
 lished before Yorktown, but seven headquarters were 
 created. Among these were Haverstraw, N. Y.; Ram- 
 apo, N. J.; Head of Elk, Md.; Williamsburg, Va.; and 
 in the fields before Yorktown, October 1. Cornwallis 
 surrendered October 19 and the next headquarters from 
 which military orders were issued were in Philadelphia 
 and Newburgh, N. Y., where Washington established 
 headquarters in the Johnathan Hasbrouck House, which 
 is still standing. It was here that Washington made his 
 famous address to the dissatisfied Revolutionary War 
 officers, and which has since been known in history as 
 the Newburgh address. 
 
 His last headquarters were established at Rocky Hill, 
 N. J., 4 miles north of Princeton. It was from here 
 that he issued his farewell orders to the armies of the 
 United States on Sunday, November 2, 1783. Head- 
 
News Releases 221 
 
 quarters were here broken up near the middle of that 
 month and Washington reached West Point November 
 14. Here he remained until, with about 1,000 troops, 
 he marched into New York on November 25, 1783. 
 
 Patriotic Farmers Eager to Join Army 
 
 When it is remembered that the entire population 
 of the thirteen Colonies was only about 2,600,000, it 
 is not hard to realize what a bold stand the little hand- 
 ful of Americans took when they declared their inde- 
 pendence of Great Britain. 
 
 It is all the more remarkable when it is taken into 
 consideration that the Colonists had not even been en- 
 tirely united, the men of New England having been 
 so eager and determined to begin the battle for freedom 
 that they had not waited for others to join them, but had 
 gone ahead on their own responsibility. 
 
 As soon as the result of the battle between the British 
 and the Minute Men was known, the angry and patriotic 
 Colonists rushed for Boston to join their bold fellow 
 patriots. Israel Putnam had been plowing in the fields 
 at Pomfret, Conn., when the report of the battle came 
 to him. Instantly abandoning his task, he left word for 
 the militia to follow him, and leaping upon the back 
 of his horse, he rode so swiftly on his journey of 100 
 miles that in about 18 hours he arrived in Cambridge, 
 where the Minute Men were assembled. At the same 
 time John Stark came down from New Hampshire with 
 the first company of men from that colony. Benedict 
 Arnold, who was then a captain, had taken 60 men from 
 the assembly of students and others from New Haven 
 and also joined the little patriot army. 
 
222 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 From the farms and hillsides, from the villages and 
 hamlets, the angry Colonists came, and so it was that 
 in a very brief time General Gage and his soldiers found 
 themselves besieged in Boston by an army that was made 
 up of 16,000 poorly equipped, but very determined men. 
 
 Apparently no one knew just what to do next. It 
 was determined to hold the redcoats in the city, but 
 what to expect, or what the next move was to be, there 
 was no one to decide. 
 
 On the 10th of May, two events occurred which did 
 much to decide the future of the Colonies and of the 
 war. One of these was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga 
 by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys; and the 
 other was the assembling of the Continental Congress 
 in Philadelphia, which was to decide among other prob- 
 lems the appointment of a Commander in Chief for the 
 Continental Armies. 
 
 Public Health in Washington's Day 
 
 By Sur. Gen. H. S. Cumming, United States Public 
 Health Service 
 
 While our present public health activities, with the 
 exception of vaccination against smallpox and the use 
 of quinine in the treatment of malaria, belong almost 
 wholly to the past 50 or 60 years, a comparison of the 
 prevalence and severity of disease and the state of the 
 public health during the lifetime of George Washing- 
 ton with such conditions of the present time is of in- 
 terest. Such a study is particularly timely because of 
 the arrangements being made by the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission for the 
 
News Releases 223 
 
 celebration of our first President's two hundredth birth- 
 day in 1932. 
 
 Historical records indicate that the principal obstacles 
 which the early American Colonists had to overcome 
 were starvation, disease, and the Indians. These three 
 things conspired to impose great hardships upon the 
 early settlers and constant hazards to life. In some in- 
 stances entire settlements were wiped out by disease and 
 starvation. Though school histories do not mention the 
 fact, it is on record that Jamestown was abandoned 
 "because of epidemicals." The more prevalent diseases 
 in the Colonies were smallpox, scurvy, intestinal condi- 
 tions — diarrheas, dysenteries — and what is now recog- 
 nized as typhoid fever. There were, of course, out- 
 breaks of influenza and colds; and tuberculosis was not 
 unknown. 
 
 Smallpox was one of the most fatal and most com- 
 mon diseases of the period. This disease was epidemic 
 in Philadelphia in 1730, two years before the birth of 
 Washington. Benjamin Franklin in his autobiography 
 relates that in 1736 he lost a son, "a fine boy of four 
 years old, by the smallpox." He adds that "I long re- 
 gretted him, and still regret that we had not given it 
 to him by inoculation." 
 
 It was not until the latter part of the eighteenth cen- 
 tury (1796) that Dr. Edward Jenner, an English physi- 
 cian, published his observations on the value of vaccina- 
 tion against smallpox and showed the world how the 
 disease could be prevented. The practice of vaccina- 
 tion was first introduced into the United States by Dr. 
 Benjamin Waterhouse, one of the early officers of the 
 United States Public Health Service (then called Ma- 
 
224 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 rine Hospital Service) , in Boston, in 1800. He obtained 
 some vaccine virus from England and vaccinated his 
 own son, thus performing the operation in this country 
 for the first time. Thomas Jefferson was greatly in- 
 terested in vaccination and endeavored to encourage its 
 widespread use. An act of Congress approved Febru- 
 ary 27, 1813, entitled "An act to Encourage Vaccina- 
 tion," provided for the distribution of vaccine virus 
 throughout the United States. Despite the fact that 
 more than a century has elapsed since the efficacy of 
 smallpox vaccination was proved, universal vaccination 
 is not yet practiced and the disease is still quite preva- 
 lent in this country, although less severe than formerly. 
 
 Measles seems at times to have raged very fatally in 
 some of the Colonial towns. In 1740 and 1741 Con- 
 necticut was swept by a severe epidemic of measles. In 
 1773 measles broke out in epidemic form in Philadel- 
 phia. A very malignant epidemic occurred in New 
 York in 1778. The type of measles which occurs now 
 is quite mild as compared with that period. 
 
 Epidemics of influenza prevailed throughout the Col- 
 onies at various times. In 1747 influenza raged over 
 North America, and again in 1761. A characteristic 
 description of the condition is given by a physician of 
 that time as follows: "It began with a severe pain in the 
 heads and limbs. A sensation of coldness, shivering, 
 succeeded by great heat, running at the nose and a 
 troublesome cough. It continued for 8 or 10 days, and 
 generally terminated by sweating." The disease was 
 epidemic throughout the country in the spring of 1781, 
 and was observed to leave a tendency to the develop- 
 ment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The recurrence of 
 
News Releases 225 
 
 severe epidemic outbreaks of influenza unfortunately 
 is still of common occurrence. 
 
 In 1735 and 1736, Boston was visited by an epidemic 
 of what was undoubtedly diphtheria, though the term 
 "angina maligna" was used. A similar outbreak is de- 
 scribed at about the same date as having occurred in 
 New York. Numerous other outbreaks are also re- 
 corded. The first aid to the control of this disease was 
 the discovery of diphtheria antitoxin in 1894. The de- 
 cline in the death rate from this disease has been very 
 marked, from about 116 per 100,000 population in 1890 
 to 6.6 per 100,000 in 1929. 
 
 At the beginning of the century prior to the birth 
 of Washington, one writer refers to "fluxes, fever and 
 the belly ache" as being common conditions. He re- 
 lates the above-mentioned conditions to improper eat- 
 ing. Dysentery appears to have been a rather common 
 summer-time complaint in the Colonies. It was not 
 until the beginning of the nineteenth century, however, 
 that typhoid fever and typhus fever were differentiated. 
 As late as 1 842 a writer on medical subjects in the United 
 States classified the fevers under four headings — typhus, 
 typhoid, periodic, and yellow fever. Today typhoid 
 fever is a vanishing disease. 
 
 Yellow fever visited the Colonies and States on sev- 
 eral occasions, an outbreak of particular severity having 
 occurred in Philadelphia in 1793. New York suffered 
 from a severe epidemic of yellow fever in 1795. On 
 the 19 th day of July, 1795, a ship, the Zephyr, arrived 
 at New York from the West Indies. A boy in her crew 
 died soon after she came into port. The health officer, 
 a physician, boarded the vessel and viewed the corpse. 
 
226 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 He developed the fever and died on the 29 th day of 
 July. Another ship which lay at anchor near the Zephyr 
 soon developed cases of fever among her crew. 
 
 Ten years before the birth of George Washington, 
 the State of Virginia passed an "Act to Oblige Ships 
 Coming from Places Infected with the Plague to Per- 
 form their Quarantine." 
 
 As early as 1716 a committee was appointed by the 
 legislative body of Massachusetts to select a site for an 
 isolation hospital for quarantine purposes. In 1730 an 
 act was passed empowering courts to adjourn and re- 
 move from towns appointed by law for holding courts, 
 in case of sickness by the smallpox. A year later an act 
 was passed "to Prevent persons Concealing Smallpox and 
 Requiring a Red Cloth to be Hung Out in all Infected 
 Places." 
 
 The practice of surgery during the time of Washing- 
 ton was in its early stages, and great advances have been 
 made in that field as well as in the control of commu- 
 nicable diseases. Blood letting and cupping were still 
 popular. In fact, the records show that in the last ill- 
 ness of Washington he was bled four times. 
 
 Scurvy, which we now know to be due to a dietary 
 deficiency, chiefly the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, 
 was common not only among persons on prolonged sea 
 voyages, but among the people in the settlements on 
 land. No doubt this condition was more prevalent dur- 
 ing the winter season. 
 
 The development of water purification as a practical 
 measure may be said to date from the beginning of the 
 present century, and the results of its application in 
 public health constitute one of the greatest public health 
 
News Releases 227 
 
 achievements of the century. The history of water 
 purification is clearly associated with the general prog- 
 ress in sanitation and public health of the present and 
 preceding centuries. Judged by our present-day stand- 
 ards, the sanitary quality of the water supplies of the 
 United States in Washington's time, or even as recent 
 as 50 years ago was low. 
 
 The great pestilences of Washington's time have either 
 been practically eradicated from countries which have 
 applied modern public health knowledge or have been 
 reduced to a minimum. In addition to the elimination 
 of the scourges of Colonial days, diseases which were 
 undiagnosed in Washington's time have now been iden- 
 tified, the source of the infection for man has been 
 learned, and measures of preventing the condition have 
 been made known. 
 
 If the Father of Our Country should return to earth 
 today, it may be that he would be most astounded and 
 perplexed by the developments in the field of mechanics, 
 because those developments would be at once the most 
 obvious; but later he could not fail to be equally amazed 
 at the new science of public health and at the modern 
 sanitary methods and safeguards of health that are em- 
 ployed in public health work and that have contributed 
 so much to the health, happiness, and prosperity of our 
 Nation. 
 
 Medical Care of Washington's Soldiers 
 
 How does the medical care received by George Wash- 
 ington's army look to a man in the position of Maj. Gen. 
 M. W. Ireland, surgeon general of the United States 
 Army? It might be supposed that the ranking officer 
 
228 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 in the medical service of today would look back with 
 a kind of sympathetic tolerance on the methods avail- 
 able to Washington's surgeons. 
 
 Quite the contrary is true. The sympathy is there, 
 but it is a sympathy of entire respect. If you ask Gen- 
 eral Ireland, you will find him full of admiration for 
 the manner in which the surgeons under Washington 
 met the problems with the means permitted by their 
 times. 
 
 "It is well to remember," says General Ireland, as 
 quoted by the Division of Information and Publica- 
 tion of the United States George Washington Bicenten- 
 nial Commission, "that Washington's surgeons were, for 
 their day, highly trained men. They stood in the fore- 
 front of their profession. Most of them had received 
 the finishing touches to their education at the best 
 schools of Europe. So far as the science of medicine 
 was then developed, they were masters, and bore them- 
 selves with credit before the difficulties they faced. 
 
 "In those days, we must remember, the handling of 
 food was primitive and without our resources in re- 
 frigeration. In addition to that, what food supply the 
 Revolutionary forces had was always meager. Often 
 Washington's soldiers were served with food badly 
 spoiled, which they were forced to eat because it was 
 that or nothing. No one can read without a wrench 
 of the heart of the quality of provender served to the 
 patriots at Valley Forge — when the garrison had any- 
 thing at all to eat! 
 
 "Under such conditions," said General Ireland, "di- 
 gestive disorders were inevitable. Washington had fre- 
 quently to complain of what was then called the 
 
News Releases 229 
 
 'bloody flux.' It was a term used then to cover what 
 today we divide into a dozen varieties of dysentery, to- 
 gether with ptomaine poisoning and appendicitis. To 
 Washington's surgeons they were all phases of a single 
 disorder. 
 
 "At that," the General continued, "I doubt if Wash- 
 ington lost a higher percentage of effectives through 
 illness than were lost to the Allies during the recent war. 
 If Washington had difficulties in his day, we have had 
 even greater ones in ours. He also enjoyed certain ad- 
 vantages. It must be remembered that Washington 
 recruited his army from a race of farmers and woods- 
 men, husky outdoor men, used to exposure, food short- 
 ages, and every variety of hardship. The millions we 
 drafted for the recent war were taken from the crowded 
 and badly-ventilated conditions of office and factory. 
 Against the epidemics of digestive troubles that raked 
 Washington's forces, our soldiers were swept by influ- 
 enza and meningitis. And I doubt if the future histo- 
 rian will find us coping with these problems much better 
 than Washington's surgeons handled their trials. 
 
 "Where the modern army surgeon is in luck," said 
 General Ireland, "is in the field of surgery itself. Dur- 
 ing the Revolution anaesthesia was of course unknown. 
 Operations were then almost as painful to the surgeon 
 as they were to his patient. Many a wound that would 
 be an easy problem to the modern surgeon was then 
 regarded as hopeless. Yet the surgical feats success- 
 fully attempted by Washington's medical corps were 
 really remarkable. They accomplished much in avoid- 
 ing septic poisoning. The germ theory was still many 
 years in the future, yet instinct warned Washington's 
 
230 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 surgeons of the dangers of toxic poisons. Their only 
 defense against them was the searing iron, but it did 
 its work in its crude way. And Napoleon's surgeons in 
 their day also used, for the purpose of controlling 
 hemorrhage, the hot oil employed by Washington's 
 surgical staff. 
 
 "All in all," General Ireland concluded, "Washing- 
 ton's doctors performed a splendid job. Of course they 
 had tough and excellent material to work with, but 
 with backward medical science what it then was, they 
 did exceedingly well in keeping the Revolutionary Army 
 in a condition that would match well with the armies 
 of today." — 
 
 Soldiers Placated by Washington 
 
 One of the most critical situations ever faced by 
 George Washington, either as a citizen or a soldier, oc- 
 curred a short time after the surrender of Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown and, strange as it may seem, it was with 
 his own army, and not that of the enemy. 
 
 In the leisure and idleness of the winter camp at New- 
 burgh, the discontents of the army had time to ferment. 
 The arrears of pay became a topic of constant and angry 
 comment, as well as the question, whether the resolution 
 of Congress, granting half pay to officers who should 
 serve to the end of the war, would be carried into effect. 
 Dissatisfactions rose to a great and alarming height, and 
 combinations among officers to resign at a given period 
 in a body were beginning to take place. 
 
 The outlook was so threatening that Washington, who 
 had intended to go to Mount Vernon, remained in camp, 
 and by management and unusual tact thwarted these 
 combinations and converted these dangerous movements 
 
News Releases 231 
 
 to an address to Congress from the officers, asking for 
 their half -pay arrearages, and some other equally proper 
 concessions. Still Congress did not stir. 
 
 In March, 1783, a call was issued for a meeting of 
 officers and an anonymous address, written with much 
 skill, was circulated through the camp. The address was 
 well calculated to inflame the passions of the troops; 
 it advised a resort to force and there was no question 
 but what the situation was full of peril. With cus- 
 tomary straightforwardness, Washington took control 
 of the whole movement himself. 
 
 In general orders he censured the call and the address 
 as irregular, and then appointed a time and place for 
 the meeting. Another anonymous address thereupon 
 appeared, quieter in tone, but congratulating the army 
 on the recognition accorded by the Commander in Chief. 
 
 When the officers assembled, Washington arose with 
 a manuscript in his hand, and as he took out his glasses 
 said simply: "You see, gentlemen, I have grown both 
 blind and gray, in your service." 
 
 The address was brief, calm and strong. The clear, 
 vigorous sentences were charged with meaning, and with 
 deep feeling. He exhorted them one and all, both of- 
 ficers and men, to remain loyal and obedient, true to 
 their glorious past and to their country. He appealed 
 to their patriotism and promised them that which they 
 had always had, his own earnest support in obtaining 
 justice from Congress. 
 
 Washington Was the Father of West Point 
 
 Another project dear to George Washington will take 
 on final form with the addition of 15,000 acres of land 
 
232 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 to the reservation of the United States Military Acad- 
 emy, at West Point, thus rounding out the scope of the 
 school as Washington desired it to be. The dedication 
 of this additional land, it has been learned by the Divi- 
 sion of Information and Publication of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, has been 
 most appropriately set for next year, 1932, the two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of Washington's birth. 
 
 Probably no military locality figured more often than 
 West Point in Washington's mind during the War for 
 Independence. He early had seen the importance of 
 the Hudson River. Control of that waterway by the 
 enemy would have cut the 13 warring Colonies in 
 two. Command of the river by the patriots meant 
 dominance of the military situation and was necessary 
 to victory in the war. And West Point was the key 
 position on the river. 
 
 In full appreciation of this fact, Kosciuszko was com- 
 missioned in 1778 to plan fortifications for West Point 
 that would make it "the Gibraltar of the Hudson." 
 
 Washington, however, saw in West Point a utility to 
 his army beyond its immediate strategic importance. 
 None knew better than the commanding general the 
 scarcity of well-trained officers in his ranks, and the 
 situation of West Point seems to have impressed him 
 even then as a good one for the establishment of the 
 needed military school. 
 
 On Washington's recommendation, Congress ap- 
 pointed a committee to draw up plans for such a school 
 and in 1777 a corps of officers not able to perform field 
 service was organized in Philadelphia. In 178 1 this body 
 was sent to West Point "to serve as a military school for 
 
News Releases 233 
 
 young gentlemen previously to their being appointed 
 to marching regiments." 
 
 Congress had thus found time to act upon Wash- 
 ington's idea, and such were the beginnings of West 
 Point. Three rough buildings had been erected, to house 
 a library, an engineers' school, and a laboratory. Pre- 
 liminary practice in gunnery also was set up. That 
 Washington had in mind the future development of 
 West Point is shown by the fact that at Newburgh, in 
 1783, he laid before his generals further plans for a more 
 extensive academy there, for artillerists, engineers, and 
 cadets. But not until after the war, when he was Presi- 
 dent, had he the time or the authority to give effect to 
 his ideas. 
 
 In 1794, during his administration, he recommended 
 to Congress suggestions for the upbuilding of a school 
 for thorough and complete military training at West 
 Point. The school was not without its vicissitudes, how- 
 ever. A fire destroyed what Congress had already ac- 
 complished and the academy, as it then was, was wiped 
 out and forgotten for six years. 
 
 Still, Washington's idea survived, and in 1802 Presi- 
 dent Jefferson took up the plan and rebuilt West Point. 
 True to his own sense of the fitness of things, President 
 Jefferson saw to it that July Fourth should be the date 
 of reopening. On that day West Point as we know it 
 today got down to its work with an enrollment of 10 
 cadets. Since then nothing has impeded its work but 
 cramped quarters and not always ample appropriations. 
 
 Certainly the American people have never lacked in- 
 terest in West Point. Each year it is visited by more 
 persons than any other Government military undertak- 
 
234 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing. Now the seventy-first Congress has authorized a 
 move long indicated and urged, in order to carry out 
 Washington's original purpose. General Washington 
 had placed training in gunnery foremost in its teaching. 
 At last, with 15,000 acres of additional land, the Acad- 
 emy is to have this needed artillery range, and also a 
 training field for aviation. And no one will question 
 the fitness of opening this new and larger West Point 
 during the year when the Nation pays its homage to 
 Washington. 
 
 Washington Grateful for Gifts to Soldiers 
 
 General Washington was highly pleased as well as 
 grateful when Mrs. Sarah Bache, daughter of Benjamin 
 Franklin, and other prominent women of Philadelphia 
 donated over 2,000 shirts and $300,634 in money for 
 the aid of soldiers of the Continental Army. 
 
 The Association of the Ladies of Philadelphia was 
 formed in the summer of 1780 for the purpose of col- 
 lecting contributions in aid of the soldiers. On July 
 4 of that year Mrs. Joseph Reed, then at the head of 
 the organization, but who died the following Septem- 
 ber, wrote to Washington that $200,580, and £625. 6. 
 8d., making the amount in paper money $300,634, had 
 been collected, and requested directions how best to dis- 
 pose of it. Of this sum the Marquis de Lafayette con- 
 tributed 100 guineas in specie, in the name of his wife, 
 and the Countess of Luzerne, $6,000 in paper money. 
 
 On January 15, 1781, General Washington wrote the 
 following letter to Mrs. Bache: 
 
 "I should have done myself the pleasure to acknowl- 
 edge the receipt of the letter you did me the favor to 
 
News Releases 23 5 
 
 write on the 20th of December, at the moment of its 
 receipt, had not some affairs of a very unusual nature, 
 which are too recent and notorious to require explana- 
 tion, engaged my whole attention. I pray you now to 
 be persuaded that a sense of the patriotic exertions of 
 yourself and the ladies who had furnished so handsome 
 and useful a gratuity for the army at so critical and 
 severe a season will not easily be effaced, and that the 
 value of the donations will be greatly enhanced by the 
 consideration of the hands by which it was made and 
 presented." 
 
 Tories Conspired to Kidnap Washington 
 
 "The unhappy Fate of Thomas Hickey, executed this 
 day for Mutiny, Sedition and Treachery; the General 
 hopes will be a warning to every Soldier, in the Army, 
 to avoid those crimes and all others, so disgraceful to 
 the character of a soldier and pernicious to his country, 
 whose pay he receives and Bread he eats." 
 
 The above quotation from Gen. George Washington's 
 orderly book on June 28, 1776, brought to an end a 
 conspiracy among the Tories in the City of New York 
 and Long Island, to murder American general officers 
 on the arrival of the British, and to capture General 
 Washington and deliver him to Sir William Howe. 
 
 A committee of the New York Congress, of which 
 John Jay was chairman, traced the plot up to Governor 
 Tryon, who, from his safe retreat on shipboard, acted 
 through agents on shore. The most important of these 
 was David Matthews, the Tory mayor of the city. He 
 was accused of disbursing money to enlist men, pur- 
 chase arms, and corrupt the soldiery. 
 
236 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Corbie's Tavern, near Washington's quarters, was a 
 rendezvous of the conspiators. It was here that Gilbert 
 Forbes, a gunsmith, enlisted men, gave them money, 
 and "swore them on the book to secrecy." From this 
 house a correspondence was kept up with Governor 
 Tryon on shipboard through a "mulatto colored negro 
 dressed in blue clothes." At this tavern it was supposed 
 Washington's bodyguard were tampered with. Thomas 
 Hickey, one of the guards, was said not only to be 
 enlisted, but to have aided in corrupting his comrades. 
 According to the mayor's own admission before the 
 committee, he had been cognizant of attempts to enlist 
 Tories and corrupt Washington's guards, though he de- 
 clared that he had discountenanced them. He had, on 
 one occasion, also at the request of Governor Tryon, 
 paid money for him to Gilbert Forbes, the gunsmith, 
 for rifles and round-bored guns which he had already 
 furnished, and for others he was to make. The mayor, 
 with a number of others, was detained in prison to 
 await trial. Thomas Hickey, the individual of Wash- 
 ington's guard, was tried before a court-martial which 
 found him guilty and sentenced him to be hanged. 
 
 The sentence was approved by Washington and 
 was carried promptly into effect in the most solemn 
 and impressive manner to serve as a warning and an 
 example in this time of treachery and danger. On the 
 morning of June 28, all the officers and men off duty 
 belonging to the brigade of Heath, Spencer, Sterling, 
 and Scott, assembled under arms at their respective bar- 
 racks at 10 o'clock and marched to the grounds. 
 Twenty men from each brigade with bayonets fixed 
 guarded the prisoner to the place of execution, which 
 
News Releases 237 
 
 was a field near the Bowery Lane. There he was hanged 
 in the presence of almost 20,000 persons. 
 
 Shortage of Powder 
 
 When the Continental Army lay before Boston in 
 1775 the supply of powder was so low that General 
 Washington became alarmed. 
 
 With the enemy strongly posted on what was 
 practically a 14-mile front, General Washington called 
 a council of war to discuss the startling fact that the 
 whole stock of powder in camp was only 9,937 pounds. 
 
 On August 4, 1775, while at Cambridge, Washington, 
 in a letter to Governor Cooke, of Rhode Island, said: 
 
 "I am now, sir, in strict confidence, to acquaint you, 
 that our necessities in the articles of powder and lead 
 are so great, as to require an immediate supply. I must 
 earnestly entreat, you will fall upon some measures to 
 forward every pound of each in the colony, which can 
 possibly be spared . . . No quantity, however small, is 
 beneath notice, and should any arrive, I beg it may be 
 forwarded as soon as possible." 
 
 According to Elias Boudinot, who was commissary 
 general of prisoners in 1777 and President of the Con- 
 tinental Congress in 1782, Washington ordered that the 
 firing of the evening and morning gun be discontinued. 
 In describing the situation, Boudinot wrote in part: 
 
 "One of the committee of safety for Massachusetts, 
 who was privy to the whole secret, deserted and went 
 over to Gen. Gage, and discovered our poverty to him. 
 The fact was so incredible that Gen. Gage treated it as 
 a strategem of war, and the informant as a spy, or 
 coming with the express purpose of deceiving him and 
 
238 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 drawing his army into a snare, by which means we were 
 saved from having our quarters beaten up. 
 
 "We have only 184 barrels of powder in all, includ- 
 ing the late supply from Philadelphia, which is not suffi- 
 cient to give 25 musket cartridges to each man, and 
 scarcely to serve the artillery in any brisk action one 
 single day." 
 
 Even as late as October 13, 1775, General Wash- 
 ington wrote to John Augustine Washington: 
 
 "Since finishing our own lines of defence, we, as well 
 as the enemy, have been busily employed in putting our 
 men under proper cover for the winter. Our advanced 
 works, and theirs, are within musket-shot of each other. 
 We are obliged to submit to an almost daily cannonade 
 without returning a shot, from our scarcity of powder, 
 which we are necessitated to keep for closer work than 
 cannon-distance, whenever the red-coat gentry please 
 to step out of their intrenchments." 
 
 The situation was greatly alleviated when the Amer- 
 ican schooner Lee, commanded by Capt. John Manley, 
 captured the Nancy, a large British brigantine, loaded 
 with ordnance and supplies for the British Army in 
 Boston. This cargo made it possible to continue the 
 siege and also prepared the way for the capture of 
 Boston. 
 
 Among other supplies of the captured vessel were 
 32 tons of leaden balls, 2,000 stands of arms, 100,000 
 flints, and a 1 5 -inch brass mortar. 
 
 Washington Had Many Narrow Escapes 
 
 From the time of his first mission to Fort Le Boeuf , 
 in 1753, to the Battle of York town, which practically 
 
News Releases 239 
 
 ended the Revolutionary War, Gen. George Washington 
 had many narrow escapes from death when under fire 
 from enemy guns. 
 
 Washington's war record may be said to have fairly 
 begun in 1753 when Robert Dinwiddie, then governor 
 of Virginia, assigned to him the task of warning the 
 French trespassers away from military posts they were 
 constructing on the Ohio, which involved a hazardous 
 trip through the depths of the wilderness. While suc- 
 cessful in this mission, he had a miraculous escape from 
 death when a traitorous Indian, who had seemed 
 friendly, fired point-blank at Washington from a dis- 
 tance of about a dozen yards — but missed the mark. 
 
 The Indians believed that the "Great White Chief" 
 led a charmed life, and this belief was further strength- 
 ened in the Battle of the Monongahela, where Braddock 
 and his army met such disastrous defeat at the hands 
 of the French and Indians at Fort Duquesne, near Pitts- 
 burgh, Pa. 
 
 In this battle Washington displayed incomparable 
 bravery. With most of Braddock's senior officers killed 
 or wounded, Washington galloped to and fro across the 
 little plateau, hemmed in by ambushed ravines and a 
 heavy timber growth, a shining mark for Indian bullets. 
 Two horses went down to death under him; four bullets 
 pierced his clothing; yet he remained unhurt. 
 
 In describing this critical part of the battle, Dr. James 
 Craik, Washington's personal friend and physician, who 
 ministered to the dying General Braddock, said: 
 
 "I expected any moment to see Washington fall; his 
 duty and situation exposed him to every danger. Noth- 
 
240 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing but the superintending care of Providence could 
 have saved him from the fate of all around him." 
 
 Washington also had many narrow escapes while 
 under fire at Princeton, Monmouth, Yorktown, and 
 when ambushed at Brandy wine. According to Joseph 
 Dillaway Sawyer's "Book on Washington," a bullet 
 passed between his fingers at the Battle of Trenton. 
 
 At the Battle of Princeton, Washington rode his horse 
 at full speed between the lines in the heavy crossfire 
 from both armies, ordering his men to charge. Colonel 
 Fitzgerald, his aide on the field, covered his eyes that 
 he might not see what he believed to the inevitable end 
 of his heroic chief. But Washington, dauntless and 
 resolute, rode unscathed along the line, while his falter- 
 ing troops, electrified by his act, forgot their panic, 
 plunged back into the fight with renewed ardor — and 
 won. 
 
 Washington's recklessness in times of peril was a 
 source of uneasiness to his fellow officers — even to Con- 
 gress, which received long-distance tidings of it now and 
 again — but to Washington himself it was nothing. He 
 gave no thought at any time to heroics; and his valorous 
 action at Princeton was "all in a day's work." 
 
 At Brandywine Washington had a narrow escape 
 from being shot from ambush. Reconnoitering the 
 enemy lines, with only one cavalryman in attendance, 
 his tall figure caught the eye of Major Ferguson, of the 
 Forty-third English Foot. Ferguson, seeing a Conti- 
 nental officer riding by with an attendant, ordered three 
 sharpshooters under cover to fire; but suddenly realiz- 
 ing the enormity of killing a fellow white man — and 
 an officer — from ambush* after the stealthy Indian 
 
News Releases 241 
 
 method, cancelled the order before the men could obey. 
 Not until several days afterward, so the story runs, did 
 Major Ferguson learn that it was the rebel chieftain 
 whose life he had humanly spared. 
 
 One escape is recorded at Trenton as a bullet struck 
 the hilt of his uplifted sword, just missing his fingers, 
 as he ordered his men to charge. 
 
 During the assault on Yorktown, Washington stood 
 in an embrasure of the grand battery, watching the ad- 
 vance of his men. As usual when fighting was going 
 on, he exposed himself recklessly. Here he was so much 
 exposed to the enemy's fire that one of his aides, anxious 
 and disturbed for his safety, told him that the place was 
 perilous. "If you think so," was the quiet answer, "you 
 are at liberty to step back." The old fighting spirit of 
 Braddock's field was again unchained. He would have 
 liked to head the American assault, sword in hand, and 
 as he could not do so he stood as near to his troops as 
 he could, utterly regardless of the bullets whistling in 
 the air about him. He could have no thought of danger 
 then, and when all was over he turned to General Knox 
 and said: "The work is done, and well done. Bring me 
 
 my horse." 
 
 && - ®s&» :-:-•'•"":: -* — 
 
 Washington's Victories Master Strokes 
 
 George Washington's victories, as Commander in 
 Chief of the Revolutionary armies, were outstanding 
 master strokes. A study of them will show that they 
 were not a matter of luck, but, on the contrary, dis- 
 play generalship of the first order. 
 
 Washington's mastery of the "element of surprise" 
 was remarkable, and every time he put his forces in ac- 
 
242 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 tion he stressed the importance to the officers under his 
 command of rapidity of execution, pointing out that it 
 was a most important factor in war. 
 
 One of the greatest and most spectacular exploits of 
 his military career took place on Christmas, 1776, when 
 he wrested a victory from the forces of Great Britain 
 at Trenton, N. J. In a few short hours George Wash- 
 ington lifted the spirits of his countrymen from the 
 despair in which they had been plunged by a series of 
 defeats and reverses, and sent fresh hopes and courage to 
 the entire country. 
 
 Frederick the Great is reported to have said that the 
 battles in Jersey marked the most brilliant campaign 
 of the century. Many historians now maintain that this 
 was the decisive moment of the war; and it was because 
 of the determined and fighting temper of Washington 
 that the tide was turned in the darkest hour and the 
 cause of the Revolution was saved. To the observant 
 and trained eyes of Europe, even the defeat at German- 
 town made it evident that there was fighting material 
 among the untrained colonists, and that there were be- 
 sides a powerful will and directing mind, capable on its 
 part in bringing this same material into the required 
 shape and condition. That mind was Washington's. 
 
 When General Braddock arrived in Virginia, Wash- 
 ington wrote him a diplomatically worded letter and 
 was soon made a member of the staff with the rank of 
 colonel. His personal relations with Braddock were 
 friendly throughout, and in the calamitous defeat Wash- 
 ington showed that fiery energy which always lay hidden 
 behind his calm and unruffled exterior. He ranged the 
 whole field on horseback, making himself the most con- 
 
News Releases 243 
 
 spicuous target for enemy bullets; and, in spite of what 
 he called the "dastardly behavior" of the regular troops, 
 he saved the expedition from annihilation and brought 
 the remnant of his Virginians out of action in good 
 order. In spite of his reckless exposure, he was one of 
 the few unwounded officers. 
 
 In August, after his return, he was commissioned 
 commander of the Virginia forces, being then only 23 
 years old. For about two years his task was that of "de- 
 fending a frontier of more than 350 miles with but 
 700 men." 
 
 In the winter of 1757 his health broke down, but 
 in the next year he had the pleasure of commanding 
 the advance guard of the expedition under Gen. John 
 Forbes, which captured Fort Duquesne, renaming it Fort 
 Pitt. At the end of the year he resigned his commis- 
 sion, the war in Virginia being at an end. 
 
 So closed the first period in Washington's public 
 career. It showed him an adventurous pioneer, a reck- 
 less frontier fighter, and a soldier of great promise. He 
 learned many things at this time, and was taught much 
 in the hard school of adversity. 
 
 He was commissioned Commander in Chief of the 
 Revolutionary Armies on June 17, 1775, and set out at 
 once for Cambridge, Mass., where, on July 3, he as- 
 sumed command of the levies assembled there for action 
 against the British garrison in Boston. The Battle of 
 Bunker Hill had already taken place, news of it reaching 
 Washington on his way North. 
 
 Until the following March his work was to bring 
 about some semblance of military organization and dis- 
 cipline, to collect ammunition and military stores, to 
 
244 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 correspond with Congress and the colonial authorities, 
 to guide military operations in widely settled parts of 
 the country, to create a military system for a people 
 entirely unaccustomed to such a thing, and impatient 
 and suspicious under it, and to bend the course of events 
 steadily towards driving the British out of Boston. 
 
 "Washington's retreat through the Jerseys, the manner 
 in which he turned and struck his pursuers at Trenton 
 and Princeton, and then established himself at Morris- 
 town, so as to make the way to Philadelphia impassable; 
 the vigor with which he handled his army at Brandy- 
 wine and Germantown, the persistence with which he 
 held the strategic position at Valley Forge through the 
 dreadful winter of 1777-78, in spite of the misery of 
 his men, the clamors of the people, and the impotence 
 and meddling of the fugitive Congress — all went to 
 show that the fiber of his public character had been 
 hardened to its permanent quality. 
 
 The prompt and vigorous pursuit of Sir Henry 
 Clinton across Jersey towards New York, and the Battle 
 of Monmouth, in which the plan of battle was thwarted 
 by Charles Lee, closed the military record of Wash- 
 ington, so far as active campaigning was concerned, 
 until the end of the war. The British confined their 
 operations to other parts of the continent, and Wash- 
 ington, alive as ever to the importance of keeping up 
 connections with New England, devoted himself to 
 watching the British in and about New York City. 
 
 It was in every way fitting, however, that Wash- 
 ington, who had been the mainspring of the war from 
 the beginning and had borne far more than his share 
 q£ its burdens and discouragements, should end it with 
 
News Releases 245 
 
 the campaign of Yorktown, conceived by himself, with 
 the surrender of Cornwallis in October, 1781. 
 
 Washington Indignant at Suggestion He Become 
 
 "King" 
 
 A remarkable episode of the Revolution, which Gen- 
 eral Washington looked upon with surprise and aston- 
 ishment, took place shortly after the Battle of York- 
 town. 
 
 It was while the Commander in Chief of the Conti- 
 nental Armies was at Newburgh that the astonishing 
 suggestion was made to him that a monarchial form 
 of government be established in the Colonies, with 
 Washington assuming the title of king. This startling 
 proposal was submitted to General Washington in a let- 
 ter written by Col. Lewis Nicola, a veteran officer, once 
 commandant of Fort Mifflin, and an intimate friend 
 of the Commander in Chief. 
 
 The letter was written at the height of the discontent 
 prevailing in the Army at that time, both among of- 
 ficers and men. The neglect of the States to furnish 
 their proportions of the sum voted by Congress for the 
 prosecution of the war had left the Army almost desti- 
 tute. There was scarce money sufficient to feed the 
 troops from day to day; indeed, there were days when 
 they were absolutely in want of provisions. The pay 
 of the officers, too, was greatly in arrears; many of them 
 doubted whether they would ever receive the half pay 
 decreed to them by Congress for a term of years after 
 the conclusion of the war, and fears began to be ex- 
 pressed that, in the event of peace, they would all be 
 disbanded with their claims unliquidated, and them- 
 
246 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 selves cast upon the community penniless and unfitted, 
 by long military habits, for the gainful pursuits of peace. 
 
 Underlying the general discontent there was a well- 
 defined movement, which saw a solution of all diffi- 
 culties, and a redress of all wrongs in a radical change 
 in the form of government, and in the elevation of 
 Washington to supreme power. This party was satisfied 
 that the existing form of government was a failure, 
 and that it was not, and could not, be made either 
 strong, honest, or respectable. The obvious relief was 
 in some kind of monarchy, with a large infusion of 
 one-man power, and it followed as a matter of course 
 that the one man would be the Commander in Chief. 
 
 Colonel Nicola's letter was forcible and well written. 
 He condemned a republican form of government as in- 
 compatible with national prosperity and advised a 
 mixed government like that of England. He set forth 
 very clearly the failure and shortcomings of the 
 existing government. 
 
 Washington realized that Colonel Nicola was a man 
 of character and standing, and that his letter could not 
 be passed over lightly or in silence. He saw that 
 Nicola was but the organ of a military faction, disposed 
 to make the army the basis of an energetic government 
 and to place him at the head. The suggestion, backed 
 by the opportunity, might have tempted a man of 
 selfish ambition, but from Washington it drew the 
 following indignant letter: 
 
 "With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, 
 I have read with attention the sentiments you have 
 submitted to my perusal. Be assured, Sir, no occur- 
 rence in the course of the war has given me more painful 
 
News Releases 247 
 
 sensations, than your information of there being such 
 ideas existing in the army, as you have expressed, and 
 I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with 
 severity. For the present the communicatn. of them 
 will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation 
 of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary. 
 
 "I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my 
 conduct could have given encouragement to an address, 
 which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that 
 can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the 
 knowledge of myself, you could not have found a per- 
 son to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. 
 At the same time, in justice to my own feelings, 
 I must add, that no man possesses a more sin- 
 cere wish to see ample justice done to the army than 
 I do; and, as far as my powers and influence, in a con- 
 stitutional way, extend, they shall be employed to the 
 utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any 
 occasion. Let me conjure you, then, as you have any 
 regard for your Country, concern for yourself or pos- 
 terity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts 
 from your mind, and never communicate, as from your- 
 self or anyone else, a sentiment of the like nature." 
 
 Famous Speech 
 
 In this famous speech, which went down into history 
 as Washington's Newburgh address, the Commander in 
 Chief, in part, said: 
 
 "If my conduct heretofore has not evinced to you, 
 that I have been a faithful friend to the army, my decla- 
 ration of it at this time would be equally unavailing and 
 
248 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 improper. But, as I was among the first, who embarked 
 in the cause of our common country; as I have never left 
 your side one moment, but when called from you on 
 public duty; as I have been a constant companion and 
 witness of your distresses, and not among the last to feel 
 and acknowledge your merits; as I have ever considered 
 my own military reputation as inseparably connected 
 with that of the army; as my heart has ever expanded 
 with joy, when I have heard its praises, and my indigna- 
 tion has arisen, when the mouth of detraction has been 
 opened against it; it can scarcely be supposed, at this 
 late stage of the war, that I am indifferent to its in- 
 terests." . . . 
 
 "While I give you these assurances," he observed in 
 another part of his address, "let me entreat you, Gentle- 
 men, on your part, not to take any measures, which, 
 viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity 
 and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained. Let 
 me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your 
 country, and place a full confidence in the purity of 
 the intentions of Congress, that, previous to your dis- 
 solution as an army, that they will cause all your ac- 
 counts to be fairly liquidated, as directed in their resolu- 
 tions, which were published to you two days ago, and 
 that they will adopt the most effectual measures in their 
 power to render ample justice to you for your faithful 
 and meritorious services. And let me conjure you in the 
 name of our common country, as you value your sacred 
 honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and as you 
 regard the military and national character of America, 
 to express your utmost horror and detestation of the 
 man, who wishes, under any specious pretences, to over- 
 
News Releases 249 
 
 turn the liberties of our country, and who wickedly 
 attempts to open the flood-gates of civil discord, and 
 deluge our rising empire in blood." . . . 
 
 When he had finished he quietly withdrew. The of- 
 ficers were deeply moved by his words, and his influence 
 prevailed. Resolutions were passed, reiterating the de- 
 mands of the army, but professing entire faith in the 
 Government. This time Congress listened, and the 
 measures granting half pay in commutation, and certain 
 other requests were passed. Thus this very serious dan- 
 ger was averted, not by the reluctant act of Congress, 
 but by the wisdom and strength of the General who was 
 loved by his soldiers after a fashion that few conquerors 
 could boast. 
 
 When the Revolution Ended 
 
 The cessation of hostilities between the United States 
 and Great Britain was proclaimed April 19, 1783, to 
 the soldiers of the Continental Army by order of Gen. 
 George Washington in headquarters at Newburgh. 
 Congress had issued, a few days before, the official notifi- 
 cation that the Revolutionary War was at an end. 
 
 The one hundred and forty-eighth anniversary of 
 Washington's proclamation is noted by the Division of 
 Information and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission in a statement 
 recalling the event. 
 
 The Revolution had practically ended with the 
 surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in October, 
 1781. It was generally realized throughout the two 
 countries that there would be no more extensive cam- 
 paigns, but both armies were retained under arms. A 
 
250 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 few skirmishes took place in 1782, occurring for the 
 most part between foraging or scouting parties. 
 
 In one of these minor fights in August some British 
 soldiers at Saint James Island, S. C, were defeated by 
 Captain Wilmott. At Fort Wheeling, Va., in the fol- 
 lowing month, the last skirmish of the war was fought. 
 It also was a victory for the Americans. 
 
 While there was little to be gained by either side from 
 this kind of fighting, it was an inevitable result of the 
 proximity of armed men representing the two nations. 
 It was unavoidable as long as Britain and the United 
 States were officially at war. 
 
 Despite this fact, Washington vigorously opposed 
 any reduction in the army until the conclusion of peace. 
 No one realized the cost of victory better than the man 
 who had led America's armies throughout the war. He 
 was unwilling that the fruits of victory should be lost 
 by a relaxation of vigilance which might encourage the 
 British ministry to continue the conflict. 
 
 Washington's feelings on receiving official notice that 
 hostilities were at an end may be seen in his proclamation 
 at Newburgh. Preliminary articles of peace had been 
 signed at Paris in November and January, and it was 
 beginning to be apparent that the permanent treaty 
 would be based on these stipulations. With consider- 
 able relief, therefore, General Washington issued the 
 following order: 
 
 "The Commander-in-chief orders the cessation of 
 hostilities, between the United States and the King 
 of Great Britain, to be publicly proclaimed tomor- 
 row at twelve at the New Building; and that the Proc- 
 lamation, which will be communicated herewith, be 
 
News Releases 251 
 
 read to-morrow evening at the head of every regiment 
 and corps of the army; after which the Chaplains with 
 the several brigades will render thanks to Almighty 
 God for all His mercies, particularly for His overruling 
 the wrath of man to His glory, and causing the rage 
 of war to cease among the nations. . . . 
 
 "On such a happy day, which is the harbinger of 
 peace, a day which completes the eighth year of the war, 
 it would be ingratitude not to rejoice, it would be in- 
 sensibility not to participate, in the general felicity. . . . 
 
 "Happy, thrice happy, shall they be pronounced 
 hereafter, who have contributed anything, who have 
 performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous 
 fabric of freedom and empire on the broad basis of in- 
 dependency, who have assisted in protecting the rights 
 of human nature, and establishing an asylum for the 
 poor and oppressed of all nations and religions." 
 
 When the British Left New York 
 
 It was a gala day for the people of New York City 
 when, on Tuesday afternoon, November 25, 1783, Sir 
 Guy Carleton and the British troops embarked from 
 that place to end an occupation of more than seven 
 years. As Gen. George Washington rode into the city 
 at the head of a great procession on that memorable 
 occasion his heart must have swelled with happiness at 
 the realization that his task had now reached its glorious 
 conclusion. From the time that the preliminary articles 
 of peace were signed in Paris several months before, 
 Washington had been waiting for Carleton to leave New 
 York. 
 
 As the Redcoats left their post in the Bowery, the 
 
252 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Americans, who had marched from Harlem, continued 
 on their way into the city. After the troops had taken 
 possession of the army posts, General Washington and 
 Governor Clinton rode into the metropolis at the head 
 of an imposing cavalcade composed of military and civil 
 authorities. In addition to the officials there were in 
 the parade a number of American citizens who had been 
 exiled from their homes in New York by reason of the 
 British occupation. These people were now returning 
 to repossess their property, and certainly none could 
 have been more happy on this occasion than they. 
 
 The newspapers of that day have described the Ameri- 
 can repossession of New York in colorful terms. Ac- 
 cording to an item in the Pennsylvania Packet, the tri- 
 umphal possession was marshalled in gallant array, with 
 General Washington and Governor Clinton and their 
 suites at the head on horseback. Then followed the 
 lieutenant governor and members of the council riding 
 four abreast. Following these dignitaries was Major 
 General Knox and the officers of the army, who rode 
 eight abreast. The Packet notes further that "The pro- 
 cession proceeded down Queen Street, and through the 
 Broad-way to Cape's Tavern. The governor gave a 
 public dinner at Fraunce's Tavern, at which the com- 
 mander-in-chief and other general officers were pres- 
 ent." 
 
 The celebration continued several days, and numerous 
 banquets were given — one of them by Governor Clinton 
 in honor of Luzerne, the French Ambassador to the 
 United States. The Remembrancer, a New York jour- 
 nal, records that "On Friday (Nov. 28) at Cape's Tav- 
 ern, the Citizens, who have lately returned from exile, 
 
News Releases 253 
 
 gave an elegant Entertainment to his Excellency the 
 Governor, and the Council for governing the city; his 
 Excellency General Washington, and the officers of the 
 Army; about three hundred Gentlemen graced the 
 feast." 
 
 Washington's Memorable Farewell 
 
 One of the most touching and picturesque events in 
 the life of George Washington as Commander in Chief 
 of the Continental Army, took place 148 years ago. 
 
 It was on December 4, 1783, that General Washing- 
 ton, with tears in his eyes, and a choke in his voice, bade 
 farewell to his officers and comrades-in-arms in the fa- 
 mous Fraunce's Tavern, which still stands at the lower 
 end of Manhattan, in New York City, before going to 
 Annapolis, where Congress was then in session, to lay 
 down his commission. 
 
 With the evacuation of New York by the British on 
 November 25, of that year, General Washington real- 
 ized that his military duties were about to terminate. 
 All was over now, and he could retire to Mount Vernon 
 to reap the rewards of the peace and quiet to which he 
 had always looked forward with joyful anticipation. 
 
 In a long, low-ceilinged room in Fraunce's Tavern, 
 his officers assembled to bid him farewell. As he looked 
 about on his faithful friends his usual self-command 
 and calm dignity deserted him, and he could not con- 
 trol his voice. 
 
 With glass in hand, he said simply: "With a heart full 
 of love and gratitude, I now take my leave of you, most 
 devoutly wishing that your latter days may be as pros- 
 perous and happy as your former ones have been glori- 
 
254 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ous and honorable." The toast was drunk in silence, 
 and then General Washington added, "I can not come 
 to each of you and take my leave, but shall be obliged 
 if you will come and take me by the hand." His dear 
 friend Gen. Henry Knox, being nearest, turned to him. 
 Washington, incapable of utterance, grasped his hand 
 and embraced him. In the same affectionate manner 
 he took leave of each succeeding officer. 
 
 Leaving the room, he passed the corps of light infan- 
 try, accompanied by his officers, walked to White Hall, 
 where a barge waited to convey him to Paulus Hook. 
 
 Entering the barge, the word was given, and as the 
 oars struck the water he stood up and lifted his hat. In 
 solemn silence his officers returned the salute, and 
 watched the noble and gracious figure of their beloved 
 chief until the boat disappeared from sight behind the 
 point of the battery. 
 
 An interesting article, describing Washington's fare- 
 well to his officers was published in Rivington's New 
 York Gazette, in its issue of December 6, 1783, which 
 follows in full: 
 
 "At New York: Last Thursday noon (December 4) 
 the principal officers of the army in town assembled at 
 Fraunce's Tavern to take final leave of their illustrious, 
 gracious and much loved commander, General Wash- 
 ington. The passions of human nature were never more 
 tenderly agitated than in this interesting and distressful 
 scene. His excellency having filled a glass thus addressed 
 his brave fellow-soldiers: 
 
 " 'With a heart full of love and gratitude I now take 
 leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter 
 
News Releases 255 
 
 days may be as prosperous and happy as your former 
 ones have been glorious and honorable.' 
 
 "These words produced extreme sensibility on both 
 sides; they were answered by warm expressions, and 
 fervent wishes, from the gentlemen of the army, whose 
 truly pathetic feelings it is not in our power to convey 
 to the reader. Soon after this scene was closed, his ex- 
 cellency the Governor, the honorable the Council and 
 citizens of the first distinction waited on the general and 
 in terms the most affectionate, took their leave. 
 
 "The corps of light infantry was drawn up in a line, 
 the commander-in-chief, about two o'clock passed 
 through them on his. way to Whitehall, where he em- 
 barked in his barge for Powles Hook, (Jersey City) . 
 He is attended by General le baron de Steuben; pro- 
 poses to make a short stay at Philadelphia; will thence 
 proceed to Annapolis, where he will resign his Commis- 
 sion as General of the American armies, into the hands 
 of the Continental Congress, from whom it was de- 
 rived, immediately after which his excellency will set 
 out for his seat, named Mount Vernon, in Virginia, 
 emulating the example of his model, the virtuous Roman 
 general, who, victorious, left the tented field, covered 
 with honors, and withdrew from public life, in otium 
 cum dignitate." 
 
 George Washington Resigns Commission 
 
 Gen. George Washington's surrender of his com- 
 mission as Commander in Chief of the Continental 
 Army on December 23, 1783, to Congress, which was 
 then sitting at Annapolis, Md., was one of the memo- 
 rable scenes connected with the Revolutionary War. 
 
256 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Washington had left New York City on December 4, 
 after bidding farewell to his officers at the famous 
 Fraunce's Tavern in that city. As he approached the 
 city of Annapolis, his coming was announced by the 
 discharge of cannon, the ringing of bells, and the cheers 
 of the inhabitants. 
 
 He arrived at Annapolis on December 19, and was 
 met on the outskirts of the city by Generals Gates and 
 Smallwood, accompanied by leading citizens of the town. 
 On the following day he dined with the President of 
 the Congress, Gen. Thomas Mifflin, in company with 
 members of that body and the principal military and 
 civil officers of the State. On December 22 Congress 
 tendered General Washington a public dinner, followed 
 by a ball at the State House. 
 
 The following day, December 23, 1783, George 
 Washington appeared in the congressional chamber and, 
 being seated, General Mifflin informed him that the 
 United States, in Congress assembled, were prepared 
 to receive his communication. General Washington 
 arose and said, in part: 
 
 "Mr. President: The great events upon which my 
 resignation depended, having at length taken place, I 
 have now the honor of offering sincere congratulations 
 to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to 
 surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, 
 and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service 
 of my country." 
 
 In this characteristically simple fashion did George 
 Washington lay down the reins of authority. These 
 few, simple lines marked the termination of eight and 
 a half years of devoted and unselfish service unsur- 
 
News Releases 257 
 
 passed in the history of the world. The storm and 
 stress of military campaigning was over. Victory and 
 independence had been won. The leader's task had 
 been successfully carried out. 
 
 Following the ceremonies at the State Capitol, 
 General Washington departed for Mount Vernon, 
 where he arrived on Christmas eve. It is not hard to 
 imagine with what satisfaction and gratitude he, to 
 whom home was the dearest place in the world, re- 
 turned to Mount Vernon, which he had seen only once 
 since the beginning of the Revolution more than eight 
 years before. 
 
 It must have been with a deep sigh of relief that he 
 sat down once again by his own fireside, for all through 
 the war the one longing that never left his mind was 
 for the banks of the Potomac. He liked its quiet oc- 
 cupations and wholesome sports, and the open-air 
 existence. He felt that he had earned his rest and all 
 the temperate pleasures and enjoyments that came with 
 it, and he fondly believed that he was about to renew 
 the habits which he had abandoned to become Com- 
 mander of the Continental Army. Four days after his 
 return he wrote to Governor Clinton, of New York: 
 "The scene is at last closed. I feel myself eased of a 
 load of public care. I hope to spend the remainder of 
 my days in cultivating the affections of good men and 
 in the practice of domestic virtues." 
 
 Into the old life of the proprietor of a large estate he 
 threw himself with zest and thankfulness, more than 
 happy to straighten out the affairs of the estate, much 
 disordered by his absence. In the midst of these em- 
 ployments, too, he attended closely to his domestic 
 
258 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 duties. At frequent intervals he journeyed to Fred- 
 ericksburg to visit his mother, to whom he was always 
 a dutiful and affectionate son. He watched over Mrs. 
 Martha Washington's grandchildren, and two or three 
 nephews of his own, whose education he had under- 
 taken, with all the solicitude of a father, and at the 
 expense of much thought and time. 
 
 However, with all his longing for repose and privacy, 
 General Washington could not separate himself from 
 the great problems which he had solved, or from the 
 solution of the still greater problems, which he, more 
 than any other man, had brought into existence. The 
 new Nation needed the counsel and service of George 
 Washington too much to allow him to remain in re- 
 tirement. After only three and a half years of blissful 
 happiness at Mount Vernon the country again called 
 George Washington to preside at the Constitutional 
 Convention at Philadelphia. And shortly after the 
 electors unanimously chose him to be the first President 
 of the United States. Thus began eight more years of 
 arduous labor and intense devotion to his country. 
 
 When Washington Became President 
 
 When the people of the United States turned to 
 George Washington with the universal demand that he 
 stand at the head of the new Government and fill the 
 great office of first President of the Republic, he evi- 
 denced the same diffidence which weighed upon him 
 when he took command of the armies. 
 
 In response to the suggestion that he be a candidate, 
 he recognized the fact that he was likely to be again 
 called upon to render public service, and added simply 
 
News Releases 259 
 
 that at his age it would involve a sacrifice which ad- 
 mitted of no compensation. He maintained this tone 
 whenever he alluded to the subject in replying to 
 numerous letters urging him to accept. But, although 
 he declined to announce any decision, he had resigned 
 himself to the inevitable. 
 
 Washington made it clear that he was not pursuing 
 the office, and would only leave his farm to take it from 
 a sense of duty. The electoral college gave him its 
 unanimous vote on February 4, 1789. Neither the 
 animosity of parties, nor the large number of enemies 
 of the new Government in some of the States could 
 deprive him of a single vote. 
 
 The reluctance with which General Washington 
 assumed his new position and that genuine modesty 
 which was a distinguished feature of his character, are 
 further illustrated by the following extract from a 
 letter to Gen. Henry Knox: "I feel for those members 
 of the new Congress, who hitherto have given an un- 
 availing attendance at the theater of action. For my- 
 self the delay may be compared to a reprieve; for in 
 confidence I tell you, (with the world it would obtain 
 little credit,) that my movements to the chair of gov- 
 ernment will be accompanied by feelings not unlike 
 those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execu- 
 tion; so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly 
 consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for 
 an ocean of difficulties, without that competency of 
 political skill, abilities, and inclination, which are nec- 
 essary to manage the helm. I am sensible that I am 
 embarking, the voice of the people, and a good name 
 of my own, on this voyage; but what returns will 
 
260 "Washington Bicentennial 
 
 be made for them, Heaven alone can foretell. Integrity 
 and firmness are all I can promise. These, be the 
 voyage long or short, shall never forsake me, although 
 I may be deserted by all men; for of the consolations, 
 which are to be derived from these, under any circum- 
 stances, the world can not deprive me." 
 
 The official announcement of his election as Chief 
 Magistrate of the United States was made to him at 
 Mount Vernon on April 14, 1789, by Charles Thomson, 
 the secretary of the Continental Congress. Accus- 
 tomed to respect the wishes of his fellow citizens, 
 Washington did not think himself at liberty to decline 
 an appointment conferred upon him by the suffrage of 
 an entire people. His acceptance of it, and his expres- 
 sion of gratitude for this fresh proof of the esteem and 
 confidence of his country were connected with declara- 
 tions of diffidence in himself. 
 
 "I wish," he said, "that there may not be reason for 
 regretting the choice; for, indeed, all I can promise is 
 only to accomplish that, which can be done by an honest 
 zeal." 
 
 As the public business required the immediate 
 attendance of the President at the seat of the Govern- 
 ment, he hastened his departure, and on the second day 
 after receiving notice of his election, he took leave of 
 Mount Vernon. In an entry in his diary, the feelings 
 inspired by an occasion so affecting to his mind are thus 
 described: "About ten o'clock I bade adieu to Mount 
 Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity, and 
 with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful 
 sensations than I have words to express, set out for New 
 York in company with Mr. Thompson and Colo. Hum- 
 
News Releases 261 
 
 phreys, with the best disposition to render service to my 
 country in obedience to its calls, but with less hope of 
 answering its expectations." 
 
 On his journey from Alexandria to New York 
 Washington was everywhere received with the greatest 
 demonstrations of affection by all classes of his fellow 
 citizens, which were manifested by the most flattering 
 marks of heartfelt respect and by addresses which 
 evinced the unlimited confidence reposed in his virtues 
 and his ability. 
 
 At Philadelphia he was received with unusual 
 splendor. In imitation of the triumphal exhibitions of 
 ancient Rome an arch was erected at the bridge over 
 the Schuylkill River, and on each side was placed laurel 
 shrubbery. As Washington passed under the arch, a 
 civic crown was let down upon him. The fields and 
 avenues were crowded with people, through whom he 
 was conducted into the city by a body of leading 
 citizens. At night the town was illuminated. 
 
 The next day, at Trenton, he was welcomed in a 
 manner as new as it was pleasing. In addition to the 
 usual discharge of cannon and the demonstrations of 
 respect and attachment by military corps, and by pri- 
 vate persons of distinction, the women of the city ar- 
 ranged a tribute indicative of gratitude for their deliv- 
 erance 12 years before from a formidable enemy. On 
 a bridge over the creek which passes through the town 
 was a triumphal arch, decorated with laurel and flowers 
 and supported by 13 pillars. On the front of this arch 
 was inscribed in large gilt letters, "December 26, 1776," 
 and beneath, formed in the flowers, "The defender of 
 the mothers will be the protector of the daughters." 
 
262 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 As Washington passed under the arch he was met by 
 a party of matrons leading their daughters, dressed in 
 white, who carried baskets of flowers in their hands 
 and sang an ode composed for the occasion. At Bruns- 
 wick he was joined by the governor of New Jersey, 
 who accompanied him to Elizabethtown Point. A com- 
 mittee of Congress received him on the road and con- 
 ducted him with a military parade to the point, where 
 he embarked for New York in an elegant 13 -oar barge, 
 prepared for the purpose by the citizens of New York, 
 and manned by 13 pilots. 
 
 "The display of boats," said Washington in his private 
 journal, "which was attended and joined on this occa- 
 sion, some with vocal, and others with instrumental 
 music on board, the decorations of the ships, the roar of 
 the cannon, and the loud acclamations of the people, 
 which rent the sky as I passed along the wharves, filled 
 my mind with sensations as painful (contemplating the 
 reverse of this scene, which may be the case after all my 
 labors to do good) as they were pleasing." 
 
 At the stairs of Murray's Wharf, which had been 
 prepared and decorated for the purpose, he was received 
 by the governor of New York, and was conducted, with 
 military honors, through an immense concourse of 
 people, to the apartments prepared for him. Wash- 
 ington arrived in New York on April 23 and on the 
 30th the constitutional Government of the United 
 States began with his inauguration as the first President. 
 
 Washington's Last Visit to His Mother 
 When George Washington was elected the first Presi- 
 dent of the United States, one of the last things he did 
 
News Releases 263 
 
 before leaving for his inauguration in New York City 
 was to visit his mother at her home in Fredericksburg. 
 This was an indication of the filial devotion which 
 Washington always exhibited, and had its foundation in 
 his respect and love for the woman to whom he owed 
 so much. Mary Washington gave to her children the 
 best of training, and to these early teachings may be 
 traced much of the firmness of character which was 
 later shown by the Commander in Chief of the Ameri- 
 can Armies and the Nation's greatest leader. 
 
 As a boy, Washington was anxious to enter the 
 British Navy. His aspirations were viewed with favor 
 by his elder brother Lawrence, and an appointment was 
 procured for him. Mrs. Washington frowned upon 
 the project, but reluctantly gave her consent when the 
 boys persisted. It is said that George's chest had been 
 placed on a boat in the Potomac, and the boy was all 
 ready to follow, when his mother received a letter 
 from her brother in England which discouraged a 
 career in the navy or in the merchant service. That 
 settled the matter as far as Mrs. Washington was con- 
 cerned, and she requested her son to have his things 
 brought off the boat. It was a serious blow to the lad's 
 hopes, but he complied with his mother's wishes. 
 
 Mary Washington is represented as being an austere 
 woman, whose attitude was somewhat awe-inspiring 
 to the children. She was deeply religious, and during 
 the years before her own children were placed in school 
 she saw to it that they received proper training. George 
 must have inherited some of her character, for through- 
 out his life he manifested the same repression which 
 characterized his mother. 
 
264 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The mother of Washington was known for her 
 aversion to a demonstration of deep emotion, and her 
 illustrious son was of the same temperament. Accord- 
 ing to one story, Washington was sitting for a portrait 
 when despatches were hurriedly handed to him. He 
 merely glanced at them and went ahead with the busi- 
 ness of the moment. The letter contained news of the 
 capture of Burgoyne. 
 
 An anecdote similar to the one above has it that a 
 messenger rode at top speed for some distance to deliver 
 a letter from Washington to his mother in the latter 
 part of the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Washington was 
 found in her garden busily at work among her vege- 
 tables. She interrupted her work long enough to take 
 the letter, but made no move to open it. The rider 
 waited until his impatience caused him to exclaim, 
 "Madam, this whole community is interested in that 
 letter." At that, she opened the letter which proved to 
 be an announcement of a recent victory; but all the 
 news she gave the messenger was the remark, "George 
 generally carries through anything he undertakes." 
 
 Tradition has it that Mary Washington could think 
 of George only as "her boy." On one occasion her 
 servant is supposed to have told her that "Mars George" 
 had put up at the tavern. This so displeased his mother 
 that she at once exclaimed, "Go and tell George to come 
 here instantly!" In a few moments the general ap- 
 peared, somewhat abashed, and explained that he could 
 not feel sure that his stay with her would prove 
 convenient. 
 
 Mrs. Washington has been thought by some to have 
 been a Tory because of her frequent plaints regarding 
 
News Releases 265 
 
 the Revolution. Her petulant outbursts, however, were 
 due to the fact that she disliked George's neglect of his 
 own affairs, which was occasioned by the war. She had 
 never approved of his militaristic predilections and had 
 ever sought to dissuade him from entering the army. As 
 one writer has pointed out, the spirit which animated 
 her utterances was Washington's best inheritance from 
 his mother. "It is a fine omen on the world's horizon 
 that its great commander was a man of peace." 
 
 Although Washington urged his mother to come and 
 live at Mount Vernon, she persisted in her desire to re- 
 main at her home in Fredericksburg. Washington 
 visited her there whenever it was possible for him to do 
 so, and he saw to it that she was supplied with whatever 
 she needed. At the time of Washington's election to 
 the Presidency, his mother was suffering from a disease 
 from which it was realized she could never recover. 
 Knowing that it would be a long time before he could 
 see her again under any circumstances, he was desirous 
 of visiting her before taking up his residence in New 
 York. 
 
 On March 7, 1789, Washington was in Fredericks- 
 burg with his mother. He knew that she would rejoice 
 in the honor which had been conferred on her son, and 
 with his characteristic respect for her feelings he called 
 on her before assuming his position as the executive 
 of the Nation. 
 
 This was the last time Washington saw his mother, 
 for the following summer she succumbed to the ravages 
 of the disease from which she had been suffering for so 
 long. Her death occurred on August 25, and Wash- 
 ington mourned in her death the loss of one whose 
 
266 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 teachings, example, and encouragement had contributed 
 so much to his success. 
 
 The First Thanksgiving Proclamation 
 
 Few Americans know that the original Presidential 
 Thanksgiving Proclamation was lost for over a hundred 
 years; that it was found at an auction sale in 1921; that 
 it was bought by the Library of Congress for $300.00; 
 and that it now reposes in the archives of that institu- 
 tion — one of the most valuable documents in the world. 
 
 On September 25, 1789, Elias Boudinot introduced 
 the following resolution in the House of Representa- 
 tives: 
 
 "Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses 
 be directed to wait upon the President of the United 
 States, to request that he would recommend to the 
 people of the United States a day of public Thanksgiv- 
 ing and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging, with 
 grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty 
 God, especially by affording them an opportunity to es- 
 tablish a Constitution of government for their safety 
 and happiness." 
 
 Harmless as this resolution seems, there were objec- 
 tions to it. In reading the Annals of Congress of that 
 period, we find that Representative Aedanus Burke, of 
 South Carolina, thought we should not mimic Europe 
 "where they made a mere mockery of thanksgiving." 
 
 Representative Thomas Tudor Tucker, also of South 
 Carolina, argued that it was not the business of Con- 
 gress to ask for a national day of Thanksgiving. 
 
 "They (the people) may not be inclined to return 
 
News Releases 267 
 
 thanks for a Constitution until they have experienced 
 that it promotes their safety and happiness." 
 
 These objections, however, were overruled; the reso- 
 lution was passed and sent to the Senate for concurrence. 
 The Senate approved and appointed its committee to 
 wait on the President. The joint committee was made 
 up of Ralph Izard, of South Carolina, and William S. 
 Johnson, of Connecticut, from the Senate; Elias Bou- 
 dinot, of New Jersey, Roger Sherman, of Connecticut, 
 and Peter Sylvester, of New York, from the House. 
 
 Washington complied with the request and on Octo- 
 ber 3, 1789, issued his proclamation, calling for a Na- 
 tional day of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. 
 
 And then the document dropped out of sight. It 
 apparently was misplaced or attached to some private 
 papers in the process of moving official records from one 
 city to another when the Capital was changed. How- 
 ever it happened, the original manuscript was not in 
 the official archives until 1921, when Dr. J. C. Fitz- 
 patrick, then Assistant Chief of the Manuscripts Divi- 
 sion of the Library of Congress, and now Editor of the 
 forthcoming United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission series of Washington's Writings, 
 "found" the proclamation. It was at an auction sale 
 being held in the American Art Galleries of New York 
 City. Dr. Fitzpatrick, an expert in Washingtoniana, ex- 
 amined the document and found it to be authentic. It 
 was written in long hand by William Jackson, Secretary 
 to President Washington at the time, and was signed in 
 George Washington's bold hand. Dr. Fitzpatrick pur- 
 chased the document for $300.00 for the Library of 
 
268 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Congress, where it is now kept as a treasure. And no 
 amount of money could remove it. 
 
 The original Proclamation of Thanksgiving, and, in- 
 deed, the first Presidential proclamation ever issued in 
 the United States, reads as follows: 
 
 "By the President of the United States of America. 
 
 "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge 
 the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to 
 be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his 
 protection and favor — and Whereas both Houses of 
 Congress have by their joint committee requested me c to 
 recommend to the People of the United States a day of 
 public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by ac- 
 knowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors 
 of Almighty God, especially by affording them an op- 
 portunity to establish a form of government for their 
 safety and happiness.' 
 
 "Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thurs- 
 day, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by 
 the People of these States to the service of that great 
 and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all 
 the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may 
 then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and 
 humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of 
 the People of this country previous to their becoming 
 a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies and the 
 favorable interpositions of his providence, which we ex- 
 perienced in the course and conclusion of the late war — 
 for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, 
 which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and 
 rational manner in which we have been enabled to es- 
 
News Releases 269 
 
 tablish constitutions of government for our safety and 
 happiness, and particularly the national One now lately 
 instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which 
 we are blessed and the means we have of acquiring and 
 diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the 
 great and various favors which he hath been pleased to 
 confer upon us. 
 
 "And also that we may then unite in most humbly 
 offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord 
 and Ruler of Nations, and beseech him to pardon our 
 national and other transgressions — to enable us all, 
 whether in public or private stations, to perform our 
 several and relative duties properly and punctually — to 
 render our national government a blessing to all the 
 People by constantly being a Government of wise, just, 
 and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully exe- 
 cuted and obeyed — to protect and guide all Sovereigns 
 and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness to 
 us) and to bless them with good Government, peace, and 
 concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of 
 true religion and virtue, and the increase of science 
 among them and us — and generally to grant unto all 
 mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he 
 alone knows to be best. 
 
 "Given under my hand at the City of New York the 
 third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. 
 
 (signed) George Washington" 
 
 Celebration of Thanksgiving Day in America can be 
 traced back to the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay 
 Colony. From there the custom spread to all parts of 
 the United States. 
 
270 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 First President Did Not Fear Operation 
 
 George Washington, during his first year as President 
 of the United States, was attacked by a severe illness that 
 required a surgical operation. 
 
 Great anxiety was felt in New York, the capital at 
 that time, as the President's case was considered ex- 
 tremely dangerous. He was attended by Dr. Samuel 
 Bard and his son, who was also a physician. The elder 
 Bard, being somewhat doubtful of his nerves, gave the 
 knife to his son, bidding him "cut away — deeper, deeper 
 still; don't be afraid; you see how well he bears it." This 
 story appears in the memoirs of George Washington 
 Parke Custis. 
 
 The President was suffering from a malignant car- 
 buncle, which, at one time, seemed to be incurable. He 
 was attended day and night by Dr. Bard, who was con- 
 sidered one of the most skillful physicians and surgeons 
 of that day. The painful tumor was upon his thigh, 
 and was brought on by the excitement and labor which 
 he had undergone since his inauguration. 
 
 To the suggestion of his friend, James McHenry, of 
 Baltimore, that Dr. Craik be sent for, Washington re- 
 plied that it would be a source of gratification to have 
 his old friend with him, but since he could not enjoy 
 that benefit he thought himself "fortunate in having 
 fallen into such good hands" as Dr. Bard's. Dr. Mc- 
 Vicker, in his "Life of Bard," alludes to the illness of 
 the President and relates that, on one occasion, being 
 left alone with him, the patient, looking the physician 
 straight in the eye, desired his candid opinion as to the 
 probable termination of his illness, adding with perfect 
 
News Releases 271 
 
 composure, "Don't flatter me with vain hopes; I am not 
 afraid to die, and can bear the worst." 
 
 Dr. Bard expressed a hope, but acknowledged his ap- 
 prehension. Washington replied, with the same cool- 
 ness, "Whether tonight or 20 years hence makes no dif- 
 ference; I know that I am in the care of a good Provi- 
 dence." 
 
 Happily, the operation proved successful and the 
 President's recovery removed all cause for alarm. Dur- 
 ing the President's illness a chain was stretched across 
 the street on which his residence stood, and the side- 
 walks were laid with straw, to subdue any noise. 
 
 Corner Stone of the Capitol 
 
 On September 18, 1793, Washington, clothed in the 
 symbolic regalia of the Ancient Order of Free Masons, 
 and wearing the Masonic apron, made for him by the 
 Marchioness de Lafayette, laid the corner stone at the 
 southeast corner of the edifice which became the 
 National Capitol of the United States. 
 
 The ceremonies were attended with much pomp and 
 rejoicing. The official opening of the event was 
 announced by a discharge of artillery. Then a large 
 silver plate was presented by the grand master. The 
 plate bore the following inscription: 
 
 "This southeast corner stone of the Capitol of the 
 United States of America, in the city of Washington, 
 was laid on the 18 th day of September, 1793, in the 
 thirteenth year of American Independence, in the first 
 year of the second term of the Presidency of GEORGE 
 WASHINGTON, whose virtues in the civil adminis- 
 tration of his country have been as conspicuous and 
 
272 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 beneficial as his military valor and prudence have been 
 useful in establishing her liberties, and in the year of 
 Masonry 5793, by the President of the United States, 
 in concert with the Grand Lodge of Maryland, several 
 lodges under its jurisdiction, and Lodge No. 22, from 
 Alexandria, Va.; THOMAS JOHNSON, DAVID 
 STEUART, and DANIEL CARROLL, Commission- 
 ers; JOSEPH CLARK, Right Worshipful Grand Master 
 pro tempore; JAMES HOB AN and STEPHEN HAL- 
 LETTE, architects; COLLIN WILLIAMSON, master 
 mason." 
 
 This inscription was read to the audience after which 
 the artillery discharged another volley. A compilation 
 from the original records of the Alexandria Lodge of 
 Masons describes what followed: 
 
 "The plate was then delivered to the President, who, 
 attended by the Grand Master pro tempore and three 
 Most Worshipful Masters, descended to the cavazion 
 trench and deposited the plate and laid it on the corner 
 stone of the Capitol of the United States of America, on 
 which were deposited corn, wine, and oil, when the 
 whole congregation joined in reverential prayer, which 
 was succeeded by Masonic chanting honors and a volley 
 from the artillery. 
 
 "The President of the United States and his attendent 
 brethren ascended from the cavazion to the east of the 
 corner stone, and there the Grand Master pro tempore, 
 elevated on a triple rostrum, delivered an oration fitting 
 the occasion, which was received with brotherly love 
 and commendation. At intervals during the delivery 
 of the oration several volleys were discharged by the 
 artillery. The ceremony ended in prayer, Masonic 
 
News Releases 273 
 
 chanting honors, and a fifteen volley from the artillery. 
 
 "The whole company retired to an extensive booth, 
 where an ox of 500 pounds' weight was barbecued, of 
 which the company generally partook, with every abun- 
 dance of other recreation. The festival concluded with 
 fifteen successive volleys from the artillery, whose mili- 
 tary discipline and maneuvers merit every commenda- 
 tion. Before dark the whole company departed with 
 joyful hopes of the production of their labor." 
 
 It was in this spirit of festivity and devotion that 
 the corner stone of the National Capitol was laid. The 
 spirit of festivity was occasioned by the progress of the 
 American Republic. It was not so long ago that Amer- 
 icans were still colonists of England and in 1793 Amer- 
 ica stood as a free and independent Republic, a symbol 
 of liberty and freedom. Devotion was occasioned by 
 the spirit of thanksgiving for these bounties, the like 
 of which no other nation enjoyed at that time. 
 
 On June 10, 1929, Herbert Hoover laid the corner 
 stone of the new Department of Commerce Building. 
 In doing so the President used the same trowel that 
 George Washington used when he laid the corner stone 
 of the Federal Capitol in 1793, thereby linking up 136 
 years of American history. 
 
 Only Two Bills Vetoed by Washington 
 
 George Washington, during his two terms as President 
 of the United States, used his power of veto on only 
 two occasions. 
 
 The first use of the President's veto was exercised by 
 Washington in his disapproval of a bill providing for 
 
274 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the apportionment of Representatives among the sev- 
 eral States, according to the first enumeration. 
 
 This measure was passed at the meeting of the Second 
 Congress of the United States in 1791. 
 
 The proposed legislation was based on a provision 
 contained in the Constitution that the number of Rep- 
 resentatives should not exceed 1 for every 30,000 per- 
 sons. Accordingly the House passed a bill which allotted 
 to every State one member for that amount of popula- 
 tion. This ratio would leave a fraction of the popula- 
 tion of each State unrepresented in the House. Inas- 
 much as this would affect a State's representation in the 
 popular chamber of Congress, it was felt that the 
 situation must be remedied. 
 
 The Senate sought to obviate this difficulty by 
 adopting a new principle of apportionment. The 
 entire population of the United States rather than the 
 population of each State, was accepted as a basis upon 
 which the number of Representatives should be deter- 
 mined. Dividing this by 30,000, the quotient, 120, was 
 obtained, and this was accepted as the number of Repre- 
 sentatives of which the House should consist. This 
 number was apportioned among the several States ac- 
 cording to their population. After allowing one mem- 
 ber for each 30,000, it was found that there were some 
 eight residuary members. These were apportioned to 
 the States having the largest fractions. 
 
 When the bill came to President Washington for his 
 approval, he took into consideration the constitutional- 
 ity of it. Although the act advocated a new principle, 
 yet it was believed by some to be entirely compatible 
 with the Constitution. Washington submitted the mat- 
 
News Releases 275 
 
 ter to his Cabinet. Jefferson and Randolph considered 
 the proposal unconstitutional. Knox was undecided and 
 Hamilton approved the construction which Congress 
 had given it. After thoroughly considering the matter, 
 Washington decided to veto the bill on the grounds that 
 it was unconstitutional. The reasons for his action which 
 settled this important question pertaining to the Con- 
 stitution were given by Washington in the following 
 letter to the members of the House of Representatives: 
 
 "I have maturely considered the act passed by the two 
 Houses entitled 'An act for an apportionment of Rep- 
 resentatives among the several States according to the 
 first enumeration,' and I return it to your House, 
 wherein it originated, with the following objections: 
 
 "First. The Constitution has prescribed that Repre- 
 sentatives shall be apportioned among the several States 
 according to their respective numbers, and there is no 
 one proportion or divisor which, applied to the respec- 
 tive numbers of the States, will yield the number and 
 allotment of representatives proposed by the bill. 
 
 Second. The Constitution has also provided that 
 the number of representatives shall not exceed 1 for 
 every 30,000, which restriction is by the context and by 
 fair and obvious construction to be applied to the 
 separate and respective numbers of the States; and the 
 bill has allotted to eight of the States more than 1 for 
 every 30,000." 
 
 President Washington used the veto power for the sec- 
 ond and last time on February 28, 1797, to disapprove 
 "an act to ascertain and fix the military establishment 
 of the United States." This measure originated in the 
 
276 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 House and had as its object the reduction of the cavalry- 
 force of the Army. 
 
 In his veto message, Washington pointed out the im- 
 portant reasons for maintaining this branch of the mili- 
 tary establishment, among which was the value of cav- 
 alry in the frontier service against the Indians. 
 
 Muscle Shoals Worried Washington 
 
 The problem of Muscle Shoals is as old as the United 
 States. George Washington, the first President, wrestled 
 with it. In a letter to his Attorney General, in 1791, 
 he said: 
 
 "It is my wish and desire, that you would examine 
 the laws of the general government, which have rela- 
 tion to Indian affairs, that is, for the purpose of secur- 
 ing their lands to them, restraining States or individuals 
 from purchasing their lands, and forbidding unauthor- 
 ized intercourse in their dealings with them; and, more- 
 over, that you would suggest such auxiliary laws, as 
 will supply the defects of those, which are in being, 
 thereby enabling the executive to enforce obedience. 
 
 "If Congress expect to live in peace with the neigh- 
 boring Indians, and to avoid the expenses and horrors 
 of continual hostilities, such a measure will be found 
 indispensably necessary; for, unless adequate penalties 
 are provided, that will check the spirit of speculation 
 in lands, and will enable the executive to carry them 
 into effect, this country will be constantly embroiled 
 with and appear faithless in the eyes not only of the In- 
 dians, but of the neighboring powers also. For, not- 
 withstanding the existing laws, solemn treaties, and 
 proclamations, which have been issued to enforce a com- 
 
News Releases 277 
 
 pliance with both, and some attempts of the govern- 
 ment southwest of the Ohio to restrain their proceed- 
 ings, yet the agents for the Tennessee Company are at 
 this moment, by public advertisements under the sig- 
 nature of a Zachariah Cox, encouraging by offers of 
 land and other inducements a settlement at the Muscle 
 Shoals, and is likely to obtain emigrants for that pur- 
 pose, although there is good evidence, that the measure 
 is disapproved by the Creeks and Cherokees; and it is 
 presumed it is so likewise by the Chickasaws and Choc- 
 taws, unless they have been imposed upon by assurances, 
 that trade is the only object in view by the establish- 
 ment." 
 
 Government Printing in Washington's Time , 
 and Now 
 
 Facing the Union Station in Washington is a great 
 brick building which must take the eye of every visitor 
 to the National Capital. If the visitor inquires what it 
 is, he will be told that it is the Government Printing 
 Office, that here is printed the Congressional Record, 
 all public documents, stationery for all the Government 
 Departments and for Members of Congress. As be- 
 fits a work so important, this printing is done in the 
 largest and best equipped establishment and with the 
 largest number of linotype and monotype machines in 
 the world. That is Government printing as it is done 
 today. 
 
 With the Nation's celebration of George Washing- 
 ton's two hundredth birthday imminent, it becomes 
 of interest to inquire how the Government got its print- 
 ing done during Washington's Administration when the 
 
278 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 United States began its career as a republic. On the au- 
 thority of the Public Printer, George H. Carter, the Di- 
 vision of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission is 
 able to present some interesting facts on the origin and 
 growth of Government publication and printing. 
 
 The first mention of printing for the Government of 
 the United States occurs in the very first session of Con- 
 gress in 1789, in the form of recommendations to Con- 
 gress that proposals be invited "for printing the laws and 
 other proceedings of congress," both Houses having en- 
 tered into an agreement to have their journals and acts 
 printed. But not until 1794 do we find Congress or- 
 dering an expenditure of $10,000 for "firewood, sta- 
 tionery, and printing." Prior to this act, the cost of 
 printing was paid out of the general contingent fund. 
 
 In 1804 we find Congress instructing the clerk to ad- 
 vertise for its printing and to award the contract to the 
 lowest bidder, and for five years this contract system 
 prevailed, with no great satisfaction, however. In 1818 
 the Senate and House appointed a joint committee to 
 inquire into a better method. This committee reported 
 unanimously and emphatically in favor of a govern- 
 mental printing establishment, as the most economical 
 and satisfactory, yet for more than forty years the re- 
 port was ignored and Senate and House ballotted each 
 year on the choice of a printer to handle its work. 
 
 Finally the expense and impracticality of this policy 
 led to an Act of Congress on June 23, 1860, which au- 
 thorized governmental printing under a "Superintend- 
 ent of Public Printing." In 1861, $135,000 was appro- 
 priated for the purchase of an established printery. 
 
News Releases 279 
 
 Evidently this was, for the time, a modern plant, em- 
 ploying 350 people, and there for the first time the Gov- 
 ernment became its own publisher. President Lincoln 
 appointed John D. Defrees of Indiana as Superintend- 
 ent, who promptly reported decreasing the cost of our 
 national printing at least 1 5 per cent below the old con- 
 tract price. As the business of governing the nation 
 grew, the government printery was enlarged, until 1899, 
 when the present great building, to cost $2,430,000 was 
 authorized. In the meantime the "Superintendent of 
 Public Printing" had been named simply the Public 
 Printer. 
 
 Now this model plant employs 4,000 people, with an 
 annual payroll of $7,647,000 and a total yearly expendi- 
 ture of $1 1,834,000. Surely George Washington would 
 approve the growth and efficiency of this institution and 
 the immense advance it represents over the primitive 
 methods of printing and handling Government docu- 
 ments in use during his first presidency. 
 
 University of Pennsylvania Conferred Honorary 
 Degree on George Washington 
 
 When the average American citizen thinks of George 
 Washington, he has a conception of a great soldier and 
 a great statesman, but rarely does he think of Wash- 
 ington's other noble achievements and interests. 
 
 George Washington was intensely interested in 
 education. He was responsible for the founding of the 
 Alexandria Academy in Alexandria, Va., and endowed 
 it with a fund for free instruction; he left a bequest to 
 what is now Washington and Lee University, and that 
 institution, in honor of its benefactor, changed its name 
 
280 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 from Liberty Hall Academy to Washington Academy; 
 many institutions for the promotion of knowledge 
 elected him as an honorary member; and five of our 
 oldest institutions of higher learning conferred on him 
 honorary degrees. 
 
 On July 4, 148 years ago, the University of Pennsyl- 
 vania honored George Washington with the degree of 
 LL.D. This event took place in 1783, the year which 
 marked the end of hostilities between Great Britain 
 and the American States. 
 
 Unfortunately, George Washington either did not 
 keep a diary at that time, or it has disappeared. We 
 know, however, that the General did not receive the 
 degree in person, for on that date he was at his head- 
 quarters at Newburgh, N. Y. 
 
 On June 26, 1783, the trustees of the university 
 voted to award the degree of LL.D. to George Wash- 
 ington; the formal award was made on Commencement 
 Day, July 4, and the parchment was presented to Wash- 
 ington in November, following his farewell address to 
 his officers at Fraunce's Tavern in New York. 
 
 George Washington had several contacts with the 
 University of Pennsylvania. In 1781 the university 
 sent him a message of congratulation on the Yorktown 
 victory. Washington was present at the commence- 
 ment exercises of the university in 1775 and 1782. In 
 1787, during the Constitutional Convention, he accom- 
 panied his hostess, Mrs. Robert Morris, to the charity 
 ball in College Hall, and in 1790 he was present when 
 the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania was 
 opened. 
 
 July 4, 1932, therefore, should be a special day in 
 
News Releases 281 
 
 Pennsylvania for ceremonies in connection with the bi- 
 centennial celebration of George Washington, for it not 
 only marks the anniversary of America's Declaration 
 of Independence, but it also marks the day when Penn- 
 sylvania's leading educational institution honored him 
 with an honorary degree. 
 
 Washington Received Degrees From Five Colleges 
 
 Impressive ceremonies paying homage to George 
 Washington as a pioneer in education will feature the 
 graduation exercises to be held in America's schools and 
 colleges in June, 1932, as a part of their celebration of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of the first 
 President, according to plans being completed by 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. 
 
 In this connection it is recalled that George Wash- 
 ington received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws 
 from five of the country's oldest colleges. 
 
 The first of such degrees was conferred upon him 
 by Harvard in 1776, which action was followed by 
 Yale in 1781, the University of Pennsylvania in 1783, 
 Washington College (Chester town, Md.) in 1789, and 
 Brown University in 1790. 
 
 George Washington was one of the original con- 
 tributors to the fund which made the existence of 
 Washington College possible, and also gave permission 
 to call the college by his name. This is one of the few 
 educational institutions to be given his name with his 
 personal consent. 
 
 At the commencement exercises on June 24, 1789, 
 while Washington was President of the United States, 
 
282 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 he was made a Doctor of Laws by this college. His 
 letter of acknowledgment and appreciation, dated from 
 New York, July 11, 1789, follows: 
 
 rr To the Corporation of Visitors and Governors and the 
 Principal and Vacuity of Professors of Washing- 
 ton College in the State of Maryland, 
 
 "Gentlemen: Your very affectionate Address, and 
 the honorary Testimony to your regard which accom- 
 panied it, will call forth my grateful acknowledgment. 
 
 "A recollection of past events, and the happy termi- 
 nation of our glorious struggle for the establishment of 
 the rights of Man cannot fail to inspire every feeling 
 heart with veneration and gratitude toward the Great 
 Ruler of Events, who has so manifestly interposed in 
 our behalf. 
 
 "Among the numerous blessings which are attendant 
 upon Peace, and as one whose consequences are of the 
 most important and extensive kind, may be reckoned 
 the prosperity of Colleges and Seminaries of Learning. 
 
 "As, in civilized societies, the welfare of the state 
 and happiness of the people are advanced or retarded, 
 in proportion as the morals and education of the youth 
 are attended to; I cannot forbear, on this occasion to 
 express the satisfaction which I feel on seeing the in- 
 crease of our seminaries of learning through this exten- 
 sive country, and the general wish which seems to pre- 
 vail for establishing and maintaining these valuable 
 institutions. 
 
 "It affords me peculiar pleasure to know that the 
 Seat of Learning under your direction hath attained to 
 such proficiency in the Sciences since the Peace; and 
 I sincerely pray the great Author of the Universe may 
 
News Releases 283 
 
 smile upon the Institution, and make it an extensive 
 blessing to this country. 
 
 "George Washington." 
 
 George Washington was greatly interested in educa- 
 tion, as is shown by the way in which he spent money, 
 time, and thought upon the education of the young 
 people for whom he was responsible, among them being 
 the children and grandchildren of Martha Washington. 
 He was a pioneer in the interests of universal education, 
 primary, secondary, and collegiate. It engaged his at- 
 tention and constructive thought even in his will; fully 
 six pages of that historic document is devoted to setting 
 forth his ideas in regard to it. 
 
 One of the first free schools in America was founded 
 by him and some other public-spirited men in Alex- 
 andria, Va. This school was known as the Alexandria 
 Academy, and was for the education of orphaned or 
 poor children of that city. This building still stands, 
 and is at present included in the school system of the 
 State. In his will, among other gifts for educational 
 purposes, he left a bequest to Liberty Hall Academy, 
 now Washington and Lee University, thus showing that 
 he was a patron of education in a material way. 
 
 Washington's Tour of Southern States 
 
 One hundred and forty years ago, on the morning 
 of April 7, 1791, President George Washington left 
 Mount Vernon on a tour of the Southern States. On 
 this journey, the longest during his administration and 
 perhaps the most extensive land trip he ever made, the 
 first President covered a distance of 1,887 miles. The 
 
284 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 entire journey was made in his own coach and con- 
 sumed a little more than two months. When he re- 
 turned to Mount Vernon June 12, he noted in his diary 
 that the same horses had been used throughout the 
 entire journey. 
 
 In calling attention to the anniversary of this tour, 
 the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission notes that the journey which Washington made 
 more than a century ago was not the simple matter 
 such a trip would be under modern conditions. Today 
 the same tour would take no more than three weeks, 
 including the same delays incident to the celebrations 
 which were held in honor of the President. 
 
 Not only would modern travel facilities have increased 
 the speed with which Washington journeyed — they also 
 would have enabled him to make the trip with greater 
 ease and comfort. Something of the hardships he ex- 
 perienced may be seen from his diary record of the 
 tour. The day he left Mount Vernon, while crossing 
 the ferry at Colchester, Washington nearly lost his 
 horses when they became excited and plunged into the 
 water from the boat. 
 
 The roads over which Washington traveled were 
 rough and dusty in dry weather or seemingly bottom- 
 less pits of mud after a storm. Many times both men 
 and horses suffered from the effects of dust stirred up 
 by beating hoofs and grinding wheels. Progress was so 
 slow that to travel more than 40 miles a day was 
 considered unusual. 
 
 The story of Washington's journey is an account of 
 continued ovation. Most of the people who attended 
 
News Releases 285 
 
 the functions held in honor of the President were see- 
 ing Washington for the first time. By these he was 
 received as enthusiastically as by his old friends. 
 Admiration and esteem for him were universal. 
 
 An interesting sidelight is thrown on the journey by 
 Washington's comments in his journal. He nearly al- 
 ways noted the number of ladies present at the social 
 functions in his honor, and that their charms were not 
 lost on the President is indicated by his references to 
 their elegant gowns and handsome appearance. 
 
 At most of the cities Washington was received by 
 the military organizations and was greeted with a 
 "Federal salute." In one small community, however, 
 the people did not possess guns enough for this ostenta- 
 tious welcome, and Washington somewhat dryly notes 
 in his diary that "We were received by as good a salute 
 as could be given by one piece of artillery." 
 
 Washington considered his trip a success, and some 
 time after his return to Philadelphia wrote of it: 
 
 "I am much pleased that I have taken this journey, 
 as it has enabled me to see with my own eyes the situa- 
 tion of the country through which we travelled, and to 
 learn more accurately the disposition of the people than 
 I could have done by any information. 
 
 "The country appears to be in a very improving state, 
 and industry and frugality are becoming much more 
 fashionable than they have hitherto been there. Tran- 
 quillity reigns among the people, with that disposition 
 towards the general government, which is likely to pre- 
 serve it. They begin to feel the good effects of equal 
 laws and equal protection * * * Each day's ex- 
 perience of the government of the United States seems 
 
286 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 to confirm its establishment, and to render it more 
 popular." 
 
 "See America First" Was Washington's Advice 
 
 "See America first!" This, in effect, was what George 
 Washington said as early as 1771. 
 
 Washington was well aware of the educational value 
 of broad travel, and few Americans of his time saw 
 more of this country than he did, according to the 
 Division of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 He was also aware of the educational value of trips 
 abroad, but expressed the opinion, which holds good 
 even to today, "that every man who travels with a view 
 of observing the laws and customs of other countries 
 should be able to give some description of the situation 
 and government of his own." 
 
 The above quotation is from a letter he wrote on 
 July 9, 1771, to Dr. Boucher, in regard to a trip to 
 England, which had been planned by John Parke Custis, 
 Washington's stepson, whom Dr. Boucher was tutoring. 
 In this letter Washington, in part, said: 
 
 "My own inclinations were still as strong as ever for 
 Mr. Custis's pursuing his travelling scheme . . . pro- 
 vided, that it should appear, when his judgment is a little 
 more matured, that he is desirous of undertaking this 
 tour upon a plan of improvement, rather than a vague 
 desire of gratifying an idle curiosity, or spending his 
 money wantonly. For by the bye, if his mother does 
 not speak her sentiments, rather than his, he is abun- 
 dantly luke-warm in the scheme; and I can not help 
 giving it as my opinion, that his education, from what I 
 
News Releases 287 
 
 have understood of his improvements, (however ad- 
 vanced it may be for a youth of his age,) is by no 
 means ripe enough for a tour of travelling; not that I 
 think his becoming a mere scholar is a desirable edu- 
 cation for a gentleman, but I conceive a knowledge 
 of books as the basis upon which other knowledge is 
 to be built, and that it is men and things more than 
 books he is to be acquainted with by travelling. At 
 present, however well versed he may be in the prin- 
 ciples of the Latin language (which is not to be at all 
 wondered at, as he began the study of it as soon as he 
 could speak) , he is unacquainted with several of their 
 classical authors, which might be useful to him to read. 
 He is ignorant of the Greek, (which the advantages of 
 understanding I do not pretend to judge) , knows noth- 
 ing of French, which is absolutely necessary to him as 
 a traveller; little or nothing acquainted with arithmetic, 
 and totally ignorant of the mathematics, than which, 
 so much of it at least relates to surveying, nothing can 
 be more essentially necessary to any person possessed of 
 a large landed estate, the bounds of some part or other 
 is always in controversy. 
 
 "Now, whether he has time between this and next 
 spring to acquire a sufficient knowledge of these, or so 
 much of them as are requisite, I leave you to judge of; 
 and whether a boy of seventeen years old, which will be 
 his age the last of November next, can have any just 
 notions of the end and design of travelling? I have 
 already given it as my opinion, that it would be pre- 
 cipitating this event, unless he was to go immediately to 
 the university for a couple of years, and in this case he 
 could see nothing of America; which might be a dis- 
 
288 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 advantage to him, as it is to be expected that every man, 
 who travels with a view of observing the laws and cus- 
 toms of other countries, should be able to give some de- 
 scription of the situation and government of his own." 
 
 George Washington and Peace 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission feels that the coming celebration of the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Wash- 
 ington will act as an impetus to the establishment of 
 that world peace and security which all intelligent 
 people hope and strive for. With the observance of 
 Armistice Day, the Commission urges that George 
 Washington be presented to the people of America as 
 the lover of peace that he was. It points out that history 
 has over-stressed Washington's war activities, and that 
 his work toward making America the land of peace has 
 been underestimated. 
 
 The associate directors of the Commission have 
 repeatedly emphasized, in their articles and speeches, 
 that George Washington was an exponent of peace and 
 not of war. They feel that the fame of George Wash- 
 ington rests as much, if not more, on his activities dur- 
 ing times of peace as it does on his war record. 
 
 War did not hold the glamor for Washington, 
 particularly in his later life, that is generally believed. 
 He anxiously awaited the coming of peace and the time 
 when he could retire to his home and reap the enjoy- 
 ment afforded by security and quiet. His writings show 
 the constant longing to return to his family and friends 
 and to devote himself to the pursuits of peace. 
 
News Releases 289 
 
 As much as Washington loved peace, however, he 
 loved his country more. As a last resort he would and 
 did appeal to arms. Washington left his home for eight 
 long years to win independence for the American 
 Colonies and to give to the people of the United States 
 their ideals of liberty and toleration. While President, 
 in September, 1794, Washington sent troops to put 
 down the "Whisky Rebellion" in western Pennsylvania. 
 As late as 1798, a year before his death, at the age of 66, 
 Washington once again left his beloved Mount Vernon, 
 the place which for him meant peace and happiness, 
 to go to Philadelphia to assume the duties of Com- 
 mander in Chief of the United States Army. Luckily, 
 the ill wind which almost brought war between France 
 and America passed over and Washington could return 
 home. But he was ready to fight, if necessary, for his 
 country. 
 
 In spite, however, of a long list of military achieve- 
 ments George Washington, more than anyone else, kept 
 the new Nation at peace. As soon as the war was over, 
 Washington counseled peace. For eight years, as Presi- 
 dent of the United States, he steered a course which 
 avoided war. Throughout his correspondence we find 
 him cautioning his fellow citizens to keep out of entan- 
 glements which might lead to bloodshed. 
 
 Early in 1782, when the Revolutionary War was 
 coming to a close, Washington, by the slightest sign, 
 could have become dictator of America. Not only did 
 he refuse to do this, but, when the subject was broached 
 to him, his indignation was so great and his denuncia- 
 tion of the plot was so emphatic, that the conspiracy 
 was scotched before it was well hatched. 
 
290 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 In answer to Col. Lewis Nicola, who hinted to Wash- 
 ington that the General could become dictator, Wash- 
 ington, on May 22, 1782, replied: 
 
 "With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment, 
 I have read with attention the sentiments you have 
 submitted to my perusal. Be assured, Sir, no occurrence 
 in the course of the war has given me more painful 
 sensations, than your information of there being such 
 ideas existing in the army, as you have expressed, and 
 I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with 
 severity. 
 
 "... I am much at a loss to conceive what part of 
 my conduct could have given encouragement to an 
 address, which to me seems big with the greatest mis- 
 chiefs, that can befall my Country. If I am not de- 
 ceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have 
 found a person to whom your schemes are more 
 disagreeable." 
 
 By this reply Washington saved America from 
 internecine war. We need but to glance over the his- 
 tory of revolutions in foreign countries — in France, 
 Russia, China, Mexico, and others too numerous to men- 
 tion — to realize what America was spared because of 
 George Washington's love for peace. 
 
 When Washington bade farewell to his army on 
 November 2, 1783, he warned his soldiers against war 
 and pictured to them the blessings of peace: 
 
 ". . . it is earnestly recommended to all the troops, 
 that, with strong attachments to the Union, they should 
 carry with them into civil society the most conciliating 
 dispositions, and that they should prove themselves not 
 less virtuous and useful as citizens, than they have been 
 
News Releases 291 
 
 persevering and victorious as soldiers . . . and let a con- 
 sciousness of their achievements and fame still incite 
 the men, who composed them, to honorable actions; 
 under the persuasion that the private virtues of econ- 
 omy, prudence, and industry, will not be less amiable in 
 civil life, than the more splendid qualities of valor, 
 perseverance, and enterprise were in the field." 
 
 In his now famous Proclamation of Neutrality on 
 April 22, 1793, Washington, as leader of America, 
 bluntly told the world that America did not want war, 
 by saying: 
 
 "I have therefore thought fit by these presents to 
 declare the disposition of the United States to observe 
 the conduct aforesaid (neutrality) towards those powers 
 respectively, and to exhort and warn the citizens of 
 the United States carefully to avoid all acts and pro- 
 ceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend 
 to contravene such disposition." 
 
 These words certainly showed Washington to be a man 
 of peace. Whether or not America would have assumed 
 this attitude if another man had been Chief Executive 
 of the Nation, we can not say; but we can say that 
 America was fortunate in having a man for its leader 
 who abhorred war. 
 
 And, finally, in his Farewell Address, issued on 
 September 17, 1796, Washington sounded the note of 
 peace, internal peace, as well as peace with foreign 
 powers. In that message, which has since become a 
 political classic, Washington said: 
 
 *\ . . nothing is more essential than that permanent, 
 inveterate antipathies against particular nations and pas- 
 sionate attachments for others should be excluded; and 
 
292 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward 
 all should be cultivated. — The Nation, which indulges 
 towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fond- 
 ness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its ani- 
 mosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to 
 lead it astray from its duty and its interest. — Antip- 
 athy in one nation against another disposes each more 
 readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight 
 causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, 
 when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. — 
 Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed and 
 bloody contests." 
 
 And so, when we of today pay our respects to the 
 Father of His Country, we are justified in claiming that, 
 while George Washington was a soldier of the highest 
 grade, he was even greater as a real leader for peace, a 
 leader in teaching and practising the ideal that man's 
 best self-expression and man's highest achievements 
 come in times of peace. Beneath George Washington's 
 military cloak flamed the idealism of peace. 
 
 An Indissoluble Union 
 
 One of Gen. George Washington's most outstanding 
 acts, which again demonstrated his remarkable fore- 
 sight, was his circular letter addressed to the governors 
 of the States, urging the necessity of a better central 
 government. 
 
 The letter, which was as eloquent as it was forcible, 
 was written on June 8, 1783, and was one of Washing- 
 ton's last official acts before resigning the commission 
 as Commander in Chief of the Continental Armies. 
 
News Releases 293 
 
 The letter was remarkable for its ability, the deep 
 interest it manifested for the officers and soldiers who 
 had fought the battles of their country, the soundness 
 of its principles, and the wisdom of its counsels. 
 
 He had learned by bitter experience, as no other man 
 had learned, the vital need and value of union, the lack 
 of which meant, to his mind, disaster. It was his wish 
 to see a union of the States established upon liberal 
 and permanent principles. In his letter to the governors, 
 he said: 
 
 "... There are four things, which, I humbly conceive, 
 are essential to the well-being, I may even venture to say, 
 to the existence of the United States, as an independent 
 power. 
 
 "First. An indissoluble union of the States under one 
 federal head. 
 
 "Secondly. A sacred regard to public justice. 
 
 "Thirdly. The adoption of a proper peace establish- 
 ment; and, 
 
 "Fourthly. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly 
 disposition among the people of the United States, which 
 will induce them to forget their local prejudices and 
 policies; to make those mutual concessions, which are 
 requisite to the general prosperity; and, in some in- 
 stances, to sacrifice their individual advantages to the 
 interest of the community." 
 
 The same appeal went forth again in his last address 
 to the army when he said: 
 
 "And, although the General has so frequently given it 
 as his opinion in the most public and explicit manner, 
 that, unless the principles of the Federal Government 
 were properly supported, and the powers of the Union 
 
294 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 increased, the honor, dignity, and justice of the nation 
 would be lost forever ; yet he can not help repeating, on 
 this occasion, so interesting a sentiment, and leaving it 
 as a last injunction to every officer and every soldier, who 
 may view the subject in the same sensible point of light, 
 to add his best endeavors to those of his worthy fellow 
 citizens towards effecting these great and valuable pur- 
 poses, on which our very existence as a nation so mate- 
 rially depends." 
 
 Origin of "Father of Country" 
 
 The honor of having originated Washington's famous 
 title the "Father of the Country" belongs to an old 
 Pennsylvania German almanac, according to the Divi- 
 sion of Information and Publication of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The name of the almanac was "Nord Americanische 
 Kalender," and was printed in Lancaster, Pa., in 1779. 
 The frontispiece — the full size of the page, small quarto, 
 an emblematic design — presents in the upper portion of 
 it a figure of Fame, with a trumpet in her right hand and 
 in her left a medallion portrait laureated, inscribed 
 "Waschington." From the trumpet proceed the words 
 et Des Landes Vater" — the Father of the Country. 
 
 Count Dumas, an officer of Rochambeau's army, 
 leaves an additional record of the title. The General had 
 appointed him as escort to attend Washington on his 
 journey from Newport to Providence in March, 1781. 
 He writes in his memoirs: 
 
 "After having conferred with Count Rochambeau, 
 as he [Washington] was leaving us to return to his 
 headquarters near West Point, I received the welcome 
 
News Releases 295 
 
 order to accompany him as far as Providence. We ar- 
 rived there at night [March 13] ; the whole of the pop- 
 ulation had assembled from the suburbs, we were sur- 
 rounded by a crowd of children carrying torches, re- 
 iterating the acclamation of the citizens, all were eager 
 to approach the person of him whom they called their 
 father, and pressed so closely around us that they hin- 
 dered us from proceeding. General Washington was 
 much affected, stopped a few moments, and pressing 
 my hand said, 'We may be beaten by the English; it is 
 the chance of war; but behold an army which they can 
 never conquer.' " 
 
 Washington Twice Commander in Chief 
 
 July 4, 1932, will have a special significance in the 
 George Washington Bicentennial Celebration, for it was 
 on that day in 1798 that George Washington, for the 
 second time in his colorful career, was chosen Com- 
 mander in Chief of the American Army. General 
 Washington was the only man in the history of the 
 United States to hold the commission as Commander 
 in Chief twice. 
 
 Trouble had been brewing with the French Republic 
 ever since 1793, due to her resentment over Washing- 
 ton's policy of neutrality, and especially over the Jay 
 Treaty with Great Britain. The depredations com- 
 mitted by her privateers and public vessels on Ameri- 
 can commerce were as persistent, within their more lim- 
 ited opportunity, as those of Great Britain; and when 
 Washington in 1796 recalled Minister Monroe and ap- 
 pointed Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, the French di- 
 rectory not only refused to receive him officially but or- 
 
296 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 dered him out of its territory. President Adams, in a 
 final effort for peace in 1797, sent a special mission of 
 three — Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry — 
 of whom a bribe was demanded as preliminary to their 
 recognition. Pinckney's spirited "not a sixpence" was 
 later transformed by some unknown author into the 
 phrase "Millions for defence but not one cent for trib- 
 ute." 
 
 As a crisis approached, all eyes were turned upon 
 Washington, who for more than a year had been devot- 
 ing his efforts to agriculture and who seemed quite con- 
 tent with his life as a planter at Mount Vernon. 
 
 Once the American Government had decided upon 
 vigorous measures, Congress authorized President Adams 
 to enroll 10,000 men as a provisional army, to be called 
 by him into actual service, in case of hostilities. The 
 American Nation demanded that General Washington 
 take command of the army in this new crisis. 
 
 On July 3, 1798, the Senate approved of the nomi- 
 nation of General Washington as Commander in Chief 
 of all the armies raised, or to be raised, and on the next 
 day official appointment was made by President Adams. 
 It was determined that Secretary of War, James Mc- 
 Henry, should be the bearer of the commission to Mount 
 Vernon, accompanied by a letter from the President. 
 
 "The reasons and motives," wrote Mr. Adams in his 
 instructions to the Secretary of War, "which prevailed 
 with me to venture upon such a step as the nomination 
 of this great and illustrious character, whose voluntary 
 resignation alone occasioned my introduction to the 
 office which I now hold, were too numerous to be de- 
 tailed in this letter, and are too obvious and important 
 
News Releases 297 
 
 to escape the observance of any part of America or 
 Europe. But as it is a movement of great delicacy, it 
 will require all your address to communicate the sub- 
 ject in a manner that shall be inoffensive to his feelings, 
 and consistent with all the respect that is due from me 
 to him. 
 
 "If the General should decline the appointment, all 
 the world will be silent and respectfully acquiesce. If 
 he should accept it, all the world, except the enemies 
 of this country, will rejoice." 
 
 When Secretary McHenry delivered to the veteran 
 commander his new commission as "Lieutenant General 
 and Commander-in-Chief," Washington said that, so 
 long as he was able he could never refuse to answer the 
 call of duty. He accepted the appointment with two 
 reservations; first, that the principal officers to be ap- 
 pointed should meet with his approval; secondly, that 
 he should not be called into the field until the army 
 was in a condition to require his presence or until it be- 
 came necessary by the urgency of circumstances. 
 
 He immediately set about organizing his army and 
 planning his campaign, with all the zest and eagerness 
 of the Washington of yore. He advised the appoint- 
 ment as major general, of Alexander Hamilton, who 
 was to be inspector general and second in command. 
 He also selected as major generals, Charles Cotesworth 
 Pinckney and Henry Knox, both of whom had served 
 with him in the Revolution, but General Knox declined 
 his commission. 
 
 The military measures taken in America caused the 
 French rulers to assume a more pacific temper. They 
 indicated a willingness to cooperate in affecting a 
 
298 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 friendly and equitable adjustment of existing differ- 
 ences. Listening to these overtures, President Adams 
 appointed three envoys extraordinary, and invested them 
 with full powers to negotiate with the French govern- 
 ment. When they arrived in Paris they found Napoleon 
 Bonaparte at the head of affairs, who, having taken no 
 part in the preceding disputes, and perceiving no ad- 
 vantage in continuing them, readily assented to an ac- 
 commodation. 
 
 No event was more desired by Washington, but he 
 did not live to participate in the joy with which the in- 
 telligence was received by his countrymen. 
 
 Washington and the Constitution 
 
 One of the most momentous gatherings ever to con- 
 vene in this continent assembled in Philadelphia May 
 25, 1787. It was the Constitutional Convention, which 
 was called by the Continental Congress to consider the 
 amendment of the Articles of Confederation or the 
 creation of a new instrument of government by which 
 the United States might be better consolidated and the 
 public affairs more efficiently administered. 
 
 The foremost men of the country were there, but 
 conspicuous above all the rest was George Washington, 
 the former Commander in Chief of the Continental 
 Armies under whose leadership independence had been 
 won. It was inevitable that he should take a leading 
 part in erecting a suitable government for the country 
 he had saved, and as soon as the convention could 
 organize he was unanimously "called up to the chair 
 as President .of the body." 
 
News Releases 299 
 
 The Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission notes the importance of this date in the history 
 of this country, and calls attention to the fact that it 
 is to be the occasion for suitable ceremonies in con- 
 nection with the nation-wide celebration next year of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 The bicentenary observance of the birth of the first 
 President has been planned to extend to every corner 
 of the United States. It will begin on February 22 and 
 continue until the following Thanksgiving Day. It will 
 embrace every phase of Washington's life and include 
 in its program the recognition of his great services to 
 this country. 
 
 The records of the convention, consisting of the 
 official journal and the unofficial shorthand notes made 
 by James Madison, record only one occasion when 
 Washington made a suggestion in the convention as to 
 a point in the Constitution. There can be no doubt, 
 however, that he was in constant touch with the lead- 
 ers of the convention and that his counsel was taken 
 upon many important clauses of the document as 
 finally completed. 
 
 It is impossible to overestimate the influence George 
 Washington wielded in the framing of the Constitution. 
 The part he played in the creation of this great instru- 
 ment of Government did not consist of impassioned 
 oratory or specious argument. It was solely the silent 
 influence of an unassailable character. 
 
 When the delegates came to the convention many 
 of them were determined not to surrender the author- 
 
300 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ity of the separate States to any form of central gov- 
 ernment, but the realization that George Washington 
 would be the first Executive under the Constitution 
 led them to abandon their objection and confer on the 
 President more power than they at first had any idea 
 of granting. It may be said that the Presidency of the 
 United States was created with George Washington as 
 the ideal type of man who should fill that office. 
 
 First Law Under the Constitution 
 
 Critical Americans who profess to be troubled by the 
 multiplicity of our laws have consolation within easy 
 reach. They have only to turn back, either in imagina- 
 tion or in real research, to the day when our Nation had, 
 not simply few laws, but no laws at all. The experience 
 of turning back is guaranteed to furnish either a sigh 
 of relief or a thrill of pleasure; for there was a day when 
 the first Congress of the United States, at its first ses- 
 sion, had to pass a first law, to be approved by the first 
 President of the United States — George Washington. 
 
 A representative of the Division of Information and 
 Publication of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission has had the privilege and the 
 thrill of reading the text of the first law ever passed 
 under the Constitution of the United States, which 
 Washington signed on June 1, 1789, as printed in a first 
 volume of these laws that belonged to George Washing- 
 ton himself. And very fitting you will find this first 
 of our national laws. It lays down the form and the 
 method of administering the oath of allegiance to the 
 Constitution of the United States, to be required of 
 
News Releases 301 
 
 every officer of the Government, elected or appointed, 
 high or low. 
 
 Incidentally, this first law ever passed by the United 
 States Congress authorized and justified Calvin Coolidge 
 in having himself sworn in as President by his father, a 
 justice of the peace in a village in Vermont. 
 
 This thin little calf -bound volume of 1 8 5 pages con- 
 taining these acts of the First Congress, and bearing the 
 flowing signature of "G. Washington," in token of his 
 ownership, is one of the rare possessions of the Library 
 of Congress. It bears on its title page, "Acts Passed at 
 a Congress of the United States of America, Begun and 
 Held in the City of New York the Fourth Day of March 
 in the year 1789 and of the Independence of the United 
 States the Eleventh." It was published by the firm of 
 Hodge, Allen and Campbell, of New York, 1789. 
 
 As a further incident of interest, this is probably the 
 first observance of what is now fixed custom in dating 
 Presidential proclamations and other state papers — that 
 of adding the calendar date, A. D., also the years since 
 American Independence. 
 
 This volume of the first laws of the United States 
 opens with the full text of the Constitution itself. Then 
 follows the first law, under the caption of "Chapter I." 
 The provision reads: 
 
 "An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of Admin- 
 istering certain Oaths 
 
 "Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and Repre- 
 sentatives of the United States of America in Congress 
 assembled. That the Oath or Affirmation required by the 
 sixth article of the Constitution of the United States, 
 
302 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 shall be administered in the form following, to wit, e I, 
 A. B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) 
 that I will support the Constitution of the United 
 States.' The said oath or affirmation shall be adminis- 
 tered within three days after the passing of this act, by 
 any one member of the Senate, to the President of the 
 Senate, and by him to all the members, and to the Secre- 
 tary; and by the Speaker of the House of Representa- 
 tives to all members who have not taken a similar oath, 
 by virtue of a particular resolution of the said House, 
 and to the Clerk: And in case of the absence of any 
 member from the service of either House, at the same 
 time prescribed for taking said oath or affirmation, the 
 same shall be administered to such member when he shall 
 appear to take his seat. 
 
 "Section 2. And be it further enacted, That at the 
 first session of Congress after every general election of 
 Representatives, the oath or affirmation aforesaid, shall 
 be administered by any one member of the House of 
 Representatives to the Speaker; and by him to all the 
 members present, and to the Clerk, previous to entering 
 on any other business; and to the members who shall 
 afterward appear, previous to taking their seats. The 
 President of the Senate, for the time being, shall also 
 administer the said oath or affirmation to each Senator 
 who shall hereafter be elected, previous to taking his 
 seat; and in any future case of a President of the Senate, 
 who shall not have taken said oath or affirmation, the 
 same shall be administered to him by any one member 
 of the Senate. 
 
 "Section 3. And be it further enacted. That the mem- 
 bers of the several State legislatures, at the next session 
 
News Releases 303 
 
 of the said legislature respectively, and all executive and 
 judicial officers of the several States, who have been here- 
 tofore chosen or appointed, or who shall be chosen or 
 appointed, before the first day of August next, and who 
 shall then be in office, shall, within one month thereafter, 
 take the same oath or affirmation, except where they 
 shall have taken it before; which may be administered 
 by any person authorized by the law of the State in 
 which such office shall be holden, to administer oaths. 
 And the members of the several State legislatures, and 
 all executive and judicial officers of the several States, 
 who shall be chosen or appointed after the said first day 
 of August, shall, before they proceed to execute the 
 duties of their respective offices, take the foregoing oath 
 or affirmation, which shall be administered by the per- 
 son or persons who by the law of the State shall be au- 
 thorized to administer the oath of office; and the person 
 or persons so administering the oath hereby required to 
 be taken, shall cause a record or certificate thereof to 
 be made in the same manner as, by the law of the State, 
 he or they shall be directed to record or certify the oath 
 of office. 
 
 "Section 4. And be it further enacted, That all offi- 
 cers appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, under the 
 authority of the United States, shall, before they act in 
 their respective offices, take the same oath or affirma- 
 tion, which shall be administered by the person or per- 
 sons who shall be authorized by law to administer to 
 such officers their respective oaths of office; and such 
 officers shall incur the same penalties in case of failure, 
 as shall be imposed by law in case of failure in taking 
 their respective oaths of office. 
 
304 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "Section 5. And be it further enacted, That the Sec- 
 retary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of 
 Representatives for the time being, shall, at the time of 
 taking the oath or affirmation aforesaid, each take an 
 oath or affirmation in the words following, to wit, % 
 A. B., Secretary of the Senate, or Clerk of the House of 
 Representatives (as the case may be) of the United 
 States of America, do solemnly swear or affirm that I 
 will truly and faithfully discharge the duties of my 
 office, to the best of my knowledge and abilities.' 
 
 "Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 "John Adams, 
 
 Vice President of the United States 
 
 and President of the Senate. 
 
 "Approved, June 1, 1789, 
 
 George Washington, 
 
 President of the United States." 
 
 Thus stands the first recorded law of our country. It 
 originated in the House of Representatives and was pro- 
 posed by Representative Daniel Carroll, of Maryland. 
 With little debate, the Senate concurred and George 
 Washington, President of the United States, signed the 
 billon June 1, 1789. 
 
 Letter From Monroe to Washington 
 
 A hitherto unpublished letter written by James 
 Monroe when he was minister to France and addressed 
 to President George Washington, has just come into the 
 
News Releases 305 
 
 possession of officials of the James Monroe Shrine of 
 Fredericksburg, Va. 
 
 The letter, which is a rather lengthy one, was written 
 from Paris January 3, 1795. It refers to money, which 
 General Washington, out of his own purse, had placed 
 at the disposal of Madame Lafayette, against which 
 Monroe had already advanced her $2,000; of his efforts 
 to aid Count Lafayette, who was in an Austrian prison 
 at Olmutz; and a vivid description of existing condi- 
 tions of the French Revolution. 
 
 Monroe had reached Paris during the Revolution just 
 after the fall of Robespierre, and he learned the day 
 after his arrival of the plight of the Lafayette family. 
 Madame Lafayette, who was confined in the prison of 
 La Force in Paris, was hourly expecting to be guillotined. 
 Her grandmother, her mother, and her sister had been 
 beheaded the day before. Through the energetic ef- 
 forts of Mrs. Monroe, Madame Lafayette was released, 
 and, accompanied by her two daughters, left almost 
 immediately for Olmutz, in order to be near her 
 husband. 
 
 Declaring that Madame Lafayette "readily and with 
 pleasure accepted" the money President Washington 
 had sent, Minister Monroe wrote, in part: 
 
 "I assured her when she left France that there was 
 no service within my power to render her and her hus- 
 band and family that I do not with pleasure render 
 them; to count upon my utmost efforts and command 
 them in their favor; that it was your wish and the 
 wish of America that I should do so; to consult her 
 husband as to the modes and means and to apprise me 
 
306 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of his opinion thereon. She departed grateful to you 
 and our country, and since I have not heard from 
 her. . . . 
 
 "What may be the ultimate disposition of France 
 toward Lafayette it is impossible now to say. ... It 
 is more than probable I may be able to serve him with 
 those by whom he is confined and that I may do this 
 without injury to the United States here; acting with 
 candor and avowing the motive, since it is impossible 
 that motive can be otherwise than approved, especially 
 if the step be taken when their affairs are in great pros- 
 perity. For this, however, I shall be happy to have an 
 approbation, since if I do anything with the Emperor, 
 it must be done in your name, if not explicitly, yet in 
 a manner to make known to him the interest you take 
 in the welfare of Mr. Lafayette." 
 
 Referring to the French Revolution, Monroe says: 
 "Both armies are in the neighborhood of Maylene, where 
 the country is almost entirely devastated. In Italy the 
 Austrians are completely routed, and their whole army 
 nearly demolished." 
 
 In this letter Monroe takes occasion to ask Wash- 
 ington if he desired a table or some other articles of 
 curiosity sent to him from Paris. In a postscript he 
 added: 
 
 "There are many articles of tapestry, the most beau- 
 tiful that can be conceived, and which are intended for 
 the walls of rooms, for chair bottoms, etc., some of 
 which perhaps would be acceptable to the Commission- 
 ers of the Federal Town, and which if permitted by 
 you or them, I would immediately procure and 
 forward." 
 
News Releases 307 
 
 Money in Washington's Day 
 
 Most of us are so absorbed in collecting the coins of 
 today that we take it for granted that money has al- 
 ways existed in the United States. Currency of various 
 sorts did early supplant our first settlers' methods of 
 barter, but what, for example, was the sort of money 
 in circulation during George Washington's Presidency? 
 
 Many will be surprised to learn from the Division of 
 Information and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission that the then 
 new United States Government issued only what the 
 people of that day called "hard money"; that is, cur- 
 rency in gold, silver, and copper. 
 
 They had good reason for this preference. The 
 paper money issued by the Continental Congress during 
 the Revolution had become deflated to the point where 
 General Washington complained that it "took a wagon- 
 load of money to purchase a wagon-load of provisions." 
 
 In the day of deliverance, when the country was free 
 and the new Government of the United States was 
 set up, the people wanted no more of paper money. 
 Curiously enough, these early "shin-plasters" of the 
 Colonies has now, in the eyes of collectors, a value un- 
 heard of in the days of its actual use. This modern 
 value further grows from the fact that some of it came 
 from the presses of Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere, 
 who had been commissioned by their respective Colonies 
 to strike off such money. 
 
 A typical specimen of this paper, issued by Connecti- 
 cut during the Revolution, reads: "ONE POUND. The 
 possessor of this Bill shall be paid by the Treasurer of 
 
308 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the Colony of Connecticut TWENTY SHILLINGS, 
 Lawful Money, by the First Day of January, A. D. 
 1781. By Order of the Assembly, Hartford, June 7th, 
 1776." In a word, it was a promissory note, and 
 popular faith in the promise early waned, as probably 
 none was ever redeemed in specie. 
 
 By 1780 this paper had been issued in denominations 
 of dollars and cents, as well as in shillings and pounds. 
 This early dollar, by the way, was the Spanish peso, the 
 silver "piece of eight" made famous in pirate yarns. 
 
 Visitors to Washington during the George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Celebration will see in the Smith- 
 sonian Institution a full display of this early paper, 
 along with the "hard money" of the Washington admin- 
 istration. About three specimens are preserved from 
 each of the Colonies, each specimen with its character- 
 istic, "vignette" from which developed the conventional 
 designs on the paper money of today. 
 
 The mottoes on some of these decorations some- 
 times expressed refreshing political candor. One three- 
 dollar Continental bill carries the frank statement, 
 "Exitus in dubio est." And so that the holder himself 
 need be in no fog in the matter, an English translation 
 was added: "The issue is in doubt." The holder was 
 left in doubt, nevertheless, as to which issue was shaky, 
 the War of Independence or the value of that particular 
 bill. 
 
 As to the "hard money" that officially replaced this 
 paper, Robert Morris was ordered by Congress in 1782 
 to report on the foreign coins circulating in the United 
 States, with a plan for an American coinage. Through 
 the efforts of Morris, Jefferson and Hamilton a mint was 
 
News Releases 309 
 
 authorized, and in 1792, President Washington approved 
 a bill establishing such a mint, the first in the United 
 States, located in Philadelphia. 
 
 The smallest coin then issued was the copper half- 
 cent, with the figure of Liberty on one side, a wreath 
 on the other. Next came the cent, a silver half-dime, 
 the dime, quarter, half, and dollar as we know them to- 
 day. On the silver coins an eagle was placed within 
 the wreath on the back. Indeed visitors will be struck 
 by the fact that our metal coins of today have changed 
 so little from these first designs. 
 
 The gold coins, by the way, the quarter-eagle, half- 
 eagle, and eagle, took the name "eagle" from this first 
 use of the national bird as a decoration or symbol. 
 
 Communication in Washington's Day 
 
 In 1753, Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, wished 
 to communicate with the French commandant at Fort 
 Le Boeuf, on the Ohio River. The distance between 
 Virginia and the Ohio at this point is not considered 
 very great today. A message can now be sent from the 
 one place to the other in a minute or two. But in the 
 middle of the eighteenth century the same happy con- 
 ditions did not prevail. There was only one way for 
 the governor to send his message — by a bearer who 
 would have to make his way through a practically un- 
 known wilderness as best he might. Dinwiddie asked 
 George Washington, then 21 years old, to make the 
 journey. The young man accepted the commission and 
 started for the French outpost. Seventy-seven days 
 later he was back in Virginia with the commandant's 
 
310 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 reply to the British governor. And it had been no pleas- 
 ure trip for young Washington, either. In those two 
 and a half months he had suffered numerous hardships 
 and was constantly exposed to danger — in fact, his es- 
 cape from death was in itself a great achievement. 
 
 This is only one example of the difficulty with which 
 messages were delivered in those days. It must be re- 
 membered that a message, no matter how trivial, could 
 be transmitted only by a personal call or by means of 
 a letter sent by messenger, even if the communication 
 was intended for a person in the same city. Today, 
 when it is only necessary for a man to remove the re- 
 ceiver from his desk telephone to communicate with 
 any telephone subscriber in the city, or almost anywhere 
 , else, it is difficult to realize the inconvenience which at- 
 tended communication 200 years ago. 
 
 The convenience of modern telephonic communica- 
 tion is not limited to any localized area. Any part of 
 the country may be reached by telephone within a few 
 minutes. Long distance calls within the United States 
 are completed in an average of two minutes. Indeed, 
 the recent development of radio telephony now makes 
 it possible to talk from any large city to nearly every 
 other metropolis in the world. This stupendous achieve- 
 ment allows a rapidity of communication which was 
 not even dreamed of in Washington's day. 
 
 Until the establishment of a postal system there was 
 no agency other than the personal messenger by which 
 communications could be transmitted. Before a man 
 could get a letter to relative or acquaintance in some 
 distant city it was sometimes necessary to wait until 
 some friend who happened to be traveling to that city 
 
News Releases 311 
 
 could carry the missive. Even after the coming of the 
 postal service, one could never be sure that his letter 
 would be speedily delivered. In fact, there was no cer- 
 tainty that it would ever reach the person to whom it 
 was addressed. On one occasion a letter sent from Bos- 
 ton to Washington at Mount Vernon on March 21, 
 1797, did not reach its destination until the early part 
 of the following June. That such delay was not an 
 uncommon occurrence is attested by Washington's own 
 letters. In these he frequently accounts for his apparent 
 neglect in answering some particular letter by the fact 
 that it had been delayed in reaching him. 
 
 Difficult as it was to communicate with people in 
 the same country, it was even more difficult to send a 
 message across the ocean. Many letters were entrusted 
 to merchants or agents who traveled on slow sailboats. 
 Today the undersea cable and the radio telephone have 
 annihilated both time and distance. The world is no 
 longer the appallingly large sphere it seemed to be to 
 Washington and his contemporaries. 
 
 Were the first President to return to the United 
 States today he would find no occasion to regret his own 
 efforts in establishing this country. He might well be 
 proud of it as it is proud of him. The forthcoming 
 celebration in his honor will demonstrate the love and 
 esteem which all Americans hold for their illustrious 
 countryman. 
 
 George Washington's Wedding 
 
 So much has been written on the more spectacular 
 phases of George Washington's life that it is sometimes 
 
312 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 difficult to appreciate the really human qualities of the 
 man. One of the finest stories ever told of Washing- 
 ton is that of his courtship of Martha Custis and their 
 subsequent marriage. In this story are revealed some 
 of the best and most attractive qualities of America's 
 greatest hero. The firm, strong-willed leader of men 
 who unflinchingly would face death on the battle field 
 found that he needed the companionship and helpful 
 counsel of a woman. Fortunately, he met the sort of 
 woman he wanted to preside in his home, and they were 
 married on January 6, 1759. 
 
 George Washington first met the Widow Custis at 
 the home of Major Chamberlayne in May, 1758. The 
 lady had then been a widow for about a year. She had 
 married Col. Daniel Parke Custis when she was 17 years 
 old, and was left at his death eight years later, with two 
 small children and a considerable fortune. Although 
 it is said that Washington was formally presented to Mrs. 
 Custis for the first time by Chamberlayne, it is almost 
 certain that the famous soldier and the charming widow 
 had at least heard of each other before that time. 
 
 Fate must have taken a hand in the events of that 
 day in May when Colonel Washington was detained 
 at William's Ferry over the Pamunkey River by his 
 friend, Major Chamberlayne, who earnestly pressed upon 
 the young man an invitation to stay his journey and 
 enjoy the hospitality of the plantation. But Washing- 
 ton was hastening to Williamsburg, where he intended 
 to ask the governor in person for men and supplies for 
 the frontier, which previous urgent letters had failed 
 to obtain. Chamberlayne was insistent, however, and 
 when it appeared that all his importunities must fail 
 
News Releases 313 
 
 to alter the plans of the Colonel, he informed the latter 
 that he was then entertaining the charming Mrs. Custis. 
 This argument, apparently, was potent enough to con- 
 vince the young warrior where all others had been vain, 
 and Washington consented to remain only long enough 
 to partake of the meal which was then being prepared. 
 
 Bishop, the personal servant of Washington, who had 
 served under Braddock, was instructed to hold the Colo- 
 nel's horse in readiness for a speedy departure as soon 
 as dinner was over. The old soldier knew very well his 
 master's reputation for punctuality, and since the busi- 
 ness at Williamsburg was important, he fully expected 
 that this wait would be a brief one. But the dinner hour 
 passed, the sun sank lower into the west, and still Wash- 
 ington lingered. At last in the warm dusk of the May 
 evening, the faithful Bishop received orders to stable the 
 horses for the night and the journey was postponed until 
 the next day. 
 
 There is something amusing in this scene of budding 
 romance, although it is no wonder that Washington tar- 
 ried. Martha Custis was beautiful, attractive and ac- 
 complished. She has been described as being short, 
 slightly plump and of engaging personality. Certainly 
 the Colonel's interest in the lady was matched by her 
 own interest in the renowned young soldier, and such 
 mutual agreeableness was surely sufficient to crowd pro- 
 saic business into the background. 
 
 However, the governor had to be visited, so the next 
 day found Washington on his way to Williamsburg. 
 But as soon as the business which took him there was 
 taken care of, the now fully smitten Colonel proceeded 
 to the White House, the Custis home on the Pamunkey, 
 
314 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 where it appears Mrs. Custis expected him. When he 
 left there he must have been in high spirits, for he took 
 with him the lady's promise to marry him as soon as 
 he should finish his military service on the Ohio. 
 
 Washington did not see his betrothed again for sev- 
 eral months, for it was December before he returned 
 from this expedition. His duties fulfilled, the Colonel 
 resigned from the army and hastened plans for the wed- 
 ding. It was during Washington's absence on the fron- 
 tier that he wrote the only letter to Martha which alone 
 remains of his prenuptial correspondence with her. This 
 dignified and gravely tender note is dated Fort Cumber- 
 land, July 20, 1758: 
 
 "We have begun our march to the Ohio. A courier 
 is starting for Williamsburg, and I embrace the oppor- 
 tunity to send a few words to one whose life is now in- 
 separable from mine. Since that happy hour when we 
 made our pledges to each other, my thoughts have been 
 continually going to you as to another self. That All- 
 powerful Providence may keep us both in safety, is the 
 prayer of your faithful and ever affectionate friend, 
 
 G. Washington." 
 
 It still is uncertain whether the marriage occurred in 
 Saint Peter's Church or at the bride's home, the White 
 House. At any rate, the Reverend Mr. Mossom, rector 
 of Saint Peter's, officiated at the ceremony. Jared 
 Sparks, one of Washington's earliest biographers, is the 
 authority for the date of the wedding, which he estab- 
 lished as January 6. But no matter whether the wedding 
 took place at the White House or in the Church, it was 
 a notable event and was attended by a great number of 
 Virginia's prominent people. The governor himself was 
 
News Releases 315 
 
 there with civil and military authorities, and many of 
 the socially elite. Only a traditional account of the fes- 
 tivities on that occasion exists today, but certainly the 
 celebration left nothing lacking. 
 
 Martha's wedding gown has been thus described by 
 one writer: ". . . . a satin quilt, over which a heavy 
 white silk, inter-woven with threads of silver, was looped 
 back with white satin ribbons, richly brocaded in a leaf 
 pattern. Her bodice was of plain satin, and the brocade 
 was fastened on the bust with a stiff butterfly bow of 
 the ribbon. Delicate lace finished the low, square neck. 
 There were close elbow sleeves revealing a puff and frill 
 of lace. Strings of pearls were woven in and out of her 
 powdered hair. Her high-heeled slippers were of white 
 satin, with brilliant buckles." 
 
 The attractive appearance of the bride was equalled 
 by that of the tall, well-built bridegroom. Always par- 
 ticular over his dress, Washington, on this occasion, was 
 elegantly arrayed and, according to all accounts, was 
 the most gallantly magnificent figure in all that assem- 
 blage. 
 
 At last Mount Vernon had a mistress, but months 
 elapsed after the wedding before the young bride saw 
 her future home. Washington had just been elected to 
 the House of Burgesses so the young couple remained 
 in Williamsburg while that Chamber remained in ses- 
 sion until May. When Washington did return with his 
 wife to his beautiful estate on the Potomac, the place 
 became home to both of them for the remainder of their 
 lives. 
 
 Washington's marriage was a singularly happy one. 
 In Martha he found all those womanly qualities which 
 
316 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 were needed to supplement those of his own character. 
 Who can measure the value of the encouragement she 
 must have given him during the weary days of the Revo- 
 lution? Certainly she was always a faithful and de- 
 voted wife, and the Father of his Country owed a great 
 deal to her for the measure of success he attained. 
 Among the anniversaries of the many important dates 
 in the life of George Washington, this one of his wed- 
 ding holds an element of human interest which no doubt 
 is appreciated by all his countrymen. 
 
 Martha Washington Gave Full Measure 
 in Patriotic Service 
 
 Martha Washington deserves the homage of the people 
 of the United States to the end of time for the gracious 
 poise and calm, womanly dignity with which she con- 
 ducted her own full measure of patriotic service as the 
 wife of the Commander in Chief of the Continental 
 Army and of the first President of the new republic. 
 
 As the very first "First Lady of the Land" she set a 
 wonderful example of tact, diplomacy, wisdom, kindli- 
 ness, zealous patriotism, industry and economy for her 
 successors to follow. Never was she known to blunder, 
 possessing a perfect mastery of every situation, her poise 
 and dignity never left her. History carries no record 
 of any national, international or local embarrassment or 
 complication ever caused by Martha Washington's act 
 or speech. Never did she handicap her husband's efforts 
 or interfere with his plans. 
 
 Just as each stage in George Washington's colorful 
 career seemed to eventuate for the purpose of prepar- 
 
News Releases 317 
 
 ing him for the more important service he was to per- 
 form, so the pattern of his wife's life unfolded and 
 adapted itself to support and supplement his own activi- 
 ties, and their union of 40 years presents to the world 
 a delightful picture of marital partnership and mutual 
 devotion. 
 
 Historians seem to differ as to her birthdate. Some 
 say she was born in May, 1732, the same year that Wash- 
 ington was born, while others give the date as June 2, 
 1731. However, she was the eldest of a family of sev- 
 eral boys and girls born to Colonel John Dandridge and 
 his wife. 
 
 At the time Martha Dandridge was growing up, "Wil- 
 liamsburg, Va., was the social center of the colony. Wil- 
 liam and Mary College, the governor's mansion, Bruton 
 Church and the Capitol building being the main points 
 of attraction around which swept the social and cultural 
 tides of the most aristocratic and most typically English 
 social circle of America, made up of rich planters, many 
 of whom sent their sons to England to be educated, had 
 their daughters tutored at home and lived as became the 
 King's most loyal subjects. In this atmosphere Martha 
 Dandridge was reared. 
 
 She is said to have been vivacious, impetuous, witty, 
 and to have through life drawn to herself deep and dis- 
 interested affection. Small and slender, like the women 
 of her family, with light brown hair and hazel eyes, she 
 presented a petite and dainty figure at the age of 15, in 
 her debutante dress with its stiff bodice and flowered 
 silken petticoat as she courtsied to the gentlemen and 
 ladies of Governor Gooch's official family. 
 
 She was a good dancer, played the spinet, was well 
 
318 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 versed in all of the intricacies of needlework and was 
 trained to manage a substantial and well-ordered home 
 with its slaves. In addition to being a fine horsewoman, 
 she enjoyed the sports and frolics prevalent in social 
 circles. 
 
 Natural and gracious in manner, she enjoyed a belle- 
 ship, with many suitors, that was crowned by her mar- 
 riage at 17 to the wealthy Daniel Custis, 20 years her 
 senior, who, according to the gossip of the day, was the 
 most desirable matrimonial prize in the colony because 
 of his great wealth and the importance of his family. 
 Four children were born to them, two of whom died in 
 infancy, and in 1757 death claimed the never robust 
 Daniel Custis. He left his young wife, of 26 years, with 
 two little children, John Parke and Martha, and one of 
 the largest estates of the colony. 
 
 A year later she met Col. George Washington at 
 the home of a neighbor, Major Chamberlayne. It was a 
 case of love at first sight for both of them, and soon 
 after their betrothal was announced. They were mar- 
 ried January 6, 1759, the wedding being one of the 
 smartest social events of the colony. 
 
 From the day of their marriage to the day of his death, 
 Martha Washington devoted her life to the promotion 
 of the comfort and welfare of her husband. His wishes 
 were her law, and when harassed and driven to the 
 breaking point by the problems of his official life, she 
 was his confidant. In her calm sympathy and warm 
 partisanship he found just the comfort and inspiration 
 he needed and her ever-present practical common sense 
 helped to clarify many complexities for him. 
 
 Washington's appreciation of her never waned and, 
 
News Releases 319 
 
 after his death his servant removed her miniature from 
 his neck. He had worn it for 40 years. 
 
 George Washington, Fisherman 
 
 The newspapers recently announced the publication 
 of "A Remedy for Disappearing Game Fish," a book 
 describing the delights of fishing, by our President, Her- 
 bert Hoover. 
 
 The Division of Information of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, the Com- 
 mission established for the purpose of formulating plans 
 for the National Celebration in 1932 of the Two Hun- 
 dredth Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington, 
 points out that the first President of the United States 
 was also an ardent fisherman. 
 
 Washington fished both as a sport, and as a business. 
 While at Mount Vernon, he supervised the fishing for 
 herring, white fish and shad. The Potomac River of- 
 fered up these fish in great quantities. After removing 
 a sufficient amount for the people on his plantation, 
 Washington bartered the rest for other goods or sent 
 them to market. 
 
 But it was fishing as a sport which furnished Wash- 
 ington with pleasure and relaxation. In his diaries we 
 find numerous references to fishing parties. Under the 
 date of August 29, 1768, we read: "Went into Macho- 
 dack Ck. fishing." Again, on September 3, 1770, he 
 records: "Went in the Evening a fishing with my Broth- 
 ers Saml. and Charles." 
 
 In September of 1784, Washington left Mount Ver- 
 non on a business trip to his lands west of the Appa- 
 
320 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 lachian Mountains. As it was an extremely arduous 
 journey, only the bare necessities for the trip were taken. 
 But we find that his fishing lines were included in the 
 equipment. 
 
 When the Federal Convention, meeting in the sum- 
 mer of 1787 in Philadelphia, recessed from July 26 to 
 August 6, to give the special committee a chance to 
 draft the Constitution as proposed in the Convention, 
 Washington made plans for a fishing trip. 
 
 Washington was President of the Federal Convention. 
 For weeks the debates were heated and the wrangling 
 was distressing. Washington's position as President was 
 indeed a difficult and tiring one. Fishing would provide 
 the necessary relaxation. 
 
 So, we find in Washington's diary, of July 30, 1787: 
 "In company with Mr. Govr. (Gouverneur). Morris 
 and in his Phaeton with my horses, went up to one, Jane 
 Moore's, [in whose house we lodged] in the vicinity of 
 Valley Forge to get Trout." 
 
 Again, on August 3: "In company with Mr. Robt. 
 Morris and his Lady, and Mr. Gouvr. Morris I went up 
 to Trenton on another Fishing party. In the Evening 
 fished, not very successfully." 
 
 In the fall of 1789, Washington was making a Presi- 
 dential good-will tour of the Eastern States. On his 
 way to view the harbor at Portsmouth, Washington was 
 thinking of fishing, for he said in his diary: 
 
 "Having lines, we proceeded to the Fishing banks a 
 little without the Harbour, and fished for Cod; but it 
 not being a proper time of tide, we only caught two, 
 with w'ch, about 1 o'clock, we returned to Town." 
 
 On May 10, 1790, Washington was taken with a se- 
 
News Releases 321 
 
 vere illness, due most likely, to excessive work. For a 
 time it was not expected that he would live. Even the 
 doctors had given up hope. But Washington once again 
 showed his tremendous resistance power, and he "pulled 
 through." A short vacation was mandatory, and what 
 could be better for a convalescent than a sailing trip 
 combined with the sport of fishing? On June 7, Wash- 
 ington, accompanied by Thomas Jefferson and several 
 other friends, set out. 
 
 The Pennsylvania Packet, of June 12, 1790, reports 
 the trip as follows: 
 
 "Yesterday afternoon the President of the United 
 States returned from Sandy Hook and the fishing banks, 
 where he had been for the benefit of the sea air, and to 
 amuse himself in the delightful recreation of fishing. 
 We are told he has had excellent sport, having himself 
 caught a great number of sea-bass and black fish — the 
 weather proved remarkably fine, which, together with 
 the salubrity of the air and wholesome exercise, rendered 
 this little voyage extremely agreeable, and cannot fail, 
 we hope, of being very serviceable to a speedy and com- 
 plete restoration of his health." 
 
 Washington Sent Money to Madame Lafayette 
 in 1793 
 
 Of all the men whom the fortunes of war brought 
 across George Washington's path there was none who 
 became nearer to him than Lafayette. The generous, 
 high-spirited young Frenchman, full of fresh enthu- 
 siasm and brave as a lion, appealed at once to Washing- 
 ton's heart. 
 
322 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Washington quickly admitted the gallant Frenchman 
 to his confidence, and the excellent service of Lafayette 
 in the field, together with his invaluable help in securing 
 the French alliance, deepened and strengthened the sym- 
 pathy and affection which were entirely reciprocal. 
 After Lafayette departed, a constant correspondence 
 was maintained, and when the Bastille fell, it was to 
 Washington that Lafayette sent its key, which still hangs 
 on the wall of one of the rooms at Mount Vernon. 
 
 As Lafayette rose rapidly to the dangerous heights 
 of leadership in the French Revolution, he had at every 
 step Washington's advice and sympathy. When the tide 
 turned and Lafayette fell headlong from power, ending 
 up in an Austrian prison, Washington spared no pains 
 to help him, although his own position was one of ex- 
 treme difficulty. Lafayette was not only the proscribed 
 exile of one country, but also the political prisoner of 
 another, and President Washington could not compro- 
 mise the United States at that critical moment by show- 
 ing too much interest in the fate of his unhappy friend. 
 He nevertheless went to the very edge of prudence in 
 trying to save him, and the ministers of the United 
 States were instructed to use every private effort to se- 
 cue Lafayette's release, or at least the mitigation of his 
 confinement. All these attempts failed, but Washing- 
 ton was more successful in other directions. 
 
 Washington sent money to Madam de Lafayette who 
 was absolutely without funds at the time, and repre- 
 sented to her that it was in settlement of an account 
 which he owed the Marquis. On January 31, 1793, he 
 wrote to her, saying: 
 
 "If I had words that could convey to you an adequate 
 
News Releases 323 
 
 idea of my feeling on the present situation of the Mar- 
 quis de Lafayette, this letter would appear to you in a 
 different garb. The sole object in writing to you now 
 is, to inform you that I have deposited in the hands of 
 Mr. Nicholas Van Staphorst, of Amsterdam, two thou- 
 sand three hundred and ten guilders, Holland currency, 
 equal to two hundred guineas, subject to your order. 
 
 "This sum is, I am certain, the least I am indebted for 
 services rendered to me by the Marquis de Lafayette, 
 of which I never yet have received the account. I could 
 add much, but it is best perhaps that I should say little 
 on this subject. Your goodness will supply my defi- 
 ciency. 
 
 "The uncertainty of your situation, after all the in- 
 quiries I have made, has occasioned a delay in this address 
 and remittance; and even now the measure adopted is 
 more the effect of a desire to find where you are, than 
 from any knowledge I have obtained of your residence." 
 
 When Lafayette's son and his own namesake, George 
 Washington Lafayette, came to this country for a haven 
 of safety, President Washington had him cared for in 
 Boston and New York by his personal friends; George 
 Cabot in the one case, and Alexander Hamilton in the 
 other. As soon as public affairs made it appear proper 
 for him to do it, he took the lad into his own household, 
 treated him as a son, and kept him near him until events 
 permitted the boy to return to Europe and rejoin his 
 father. 
 
 The sufferings and dangers of Lafayette and his fam- 
 ily were indeed a source of great unhappiness to Wash- 
 ington, and it is said upon the authority of Attorney 
 
324 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 General Bradford, that when the President attempted 
 to talk about Lafayette, he was so much affected that he 
 shed tears — a very rare exhibition of emotion in a man 
 so intensely reserved. 
 
 Washington Bought a Chariot by Mail 
 
 "President Washington, with a team of horses and a 
 chariot, visited more States than some Presidents have 
 in automobiles," smiled Congressman Daniel A. Reed, 
 of New York, while lunching with a group of news- 
 papermen at the National Press Club in Washington. 
 
 "What a traveler he would have been if he had had 
 an auto!" 
 
 Representative Reed is the man who gained fame 
 some years ago as the coach of the Cornell football team, 
 and also as the champion heavyweight amateur wrestler 
 of the United States. 
 
 "All of this newspaper material sent throughout the 
 land by the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission telling about the celebration of 
 Washington's two hundredth birthday next year, from 
 February 22 to Thanksgiving Day, has aroused my in- 
 terest in that great man," continued Reed. "Fve been 
 reading everything I can find about him. Yesterday I 
 found this letter written by him in 1768 ordering a 
 chariot from London: 
 
 " To Robert Cary & Co. 
 
 " 'Gentlemen: My old chariot having run its race, 
 and gone through as many stages as I could conveniently 
 make it travel, is now rendered incapable of any further 
 service. The intent of this letter, therefore, is to de- 
 
News Releases 325 
 
 sire you will bespeak me a new one, time enough to come 
 out with the goods (I shall hereafter write for) by 
 Captn. Johnston, or some other ship. 
 
 " 'As these are kind of articles that last with care 
 against number of years, I would willingly have the 
 chariot you may now send me made in the newest taste, 
 handsome, genteel and light; yet not slight, and conse- 
 quently unserviceable; to be made of the best seasoned 
 wood, and by a celebrated workman. The last importa- 
 tion which I have seen, besides the customary steel 
 springs, have others that play in a brass barrel and con- 
 tribute at one and the same time to the ease and orna- 
 ment of the carriage. One of this kind, therefore, would 
 be my choice; and green being a color little apt, as I 
 apprehend, to fade, and grateful to the eye, I would 
 give it the preference, unless any other color more in 
 vogue and equally lasting is entitled to precedency. In 
 that case I would be governed by fashion. A light gild- 
 ing on the mouldings (that is, round the panels) and 
 any other ornaments, that may not have a heavy and 
 tawdry look (together with my arms agreeable to the 
 impression here sent) might be added, by way of deco- 
 ration. A lining of handsome, lively colored leather of 
 good quality I should also prefer, such as green, blue, or 
 &c, as may best suit the color of the outside. Let the 
 box that slips under the seat be as large as it conveniently 
 can be made (for the benefit of storage upon a journey) , 
 and to have a pole (not shafts) for the wheel horses to 
 draw by; together with a handsome set of harness for 
 four middle sized horses ordered in such a manner as 
 to suit either two postilions (without a box) , or a box 
 and a postilion. The box being made to fix on, and take 
 
326 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 off occasionally, with a hammel cloth &c, suitable to 
 the lining. On the harness let my crest be engraved. 
 
 " l If such a chariot as I have here described could be 
 got at second hand, little or nothing the worse for wear, 
 but at the same time a good deal under the first cost 
 of a new one (and sometimes though perhaps rarely it 
 happens so) , it would be very desirable, but if I am 
 obliged to go near to the original cost, I would even have 
 one made, and have been thus particular in hopes of get- 
 ting a handsome chariot through your direction, good 
 taste and management — not of copper, however, for 
 these do not stand the powerful heat of our sun.' " 
 
 Secretary Hyde Tells About Washington's Plows 
 
 "The modern farmer, who is always trying new farm 
 methods, can certainly claim kinship of spirit with 
 George Washington," Secretary of Agriculture Hyde 
 remarked with conviction. 
 
 The Secretary had been consulted by a representa- 
 tive of the Division of Information and Publication of 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, for light on the workings of a certain plow 
 which Washington mentions in his Diaries as of his own 
 invention. The query had set Secretary Hyde to a new 
 reading of Washington's journals and correspondence, 
 with the result of convincing him that scientific re- 
 search in agriculture had a firm friend and constant 
 practitioner in the Nation's first President. 
 
 "Washington," said Secretary Hyde, "was apparently 
 moved to experiment on his broad acres partly because 
 of dissatisfaction with farm practice then prevailing, 
 and partly because he wanted so to farm his lands as 
 
News Releases 327 
 
 to leave them in better shape than when he acquired 
 them. I find that in 1786 he wrote to Arthur Young, 
 editor of the English Annals" of Agriculture, as follows: 
 
 " 'The system of agriculture, if it deserves the epithet 
 of system, which is in use in this part of the United 
 States, is as unproductive to the practitioners as it is 
 ruinous to landholders. Yet it is pertinaciously adhered 
 to. To forsake it; to pursue a course of husbandry, 
 which is altogether different, and new to the gazing 
 multitude, ever averse to novelty in matters of this sort, 
 and much attached to the customs of their forefathers, 
 requires resolution, and, without a good practical guide, 
 may be dangerous; because, of the many volumes which 
 have been written on this subject, few have been founded 
 on experimental knowledge; are verbose, contradictory, 
 and bewildering. Your Annals, therefore, shall be this 
 guide.' 
 
 "Feeling as he did," Secretary Hyde continued, "and 
 having no State or Federal agricultural research bodies 
 to turn to, Washington conducted his own research, 
 with his own farm as a laboratory. What he wanted 
 to know about this or that new crop of machine or cul- 
 tural method, he had to find out mainly for himself. 
 From the Annals, and from a few other such sources, 
 Washington derived many suggestions, but he accepted 
 them with reservations, subject to actual test on his own 
 farm. 
 
 "Thus we find him, in the fall of 1764, sowing f a few 
 Oats' to see if they would stand the 'winter,' and find- 
 ing, of course, that they wouldn't. He made many 
 experiments with Lucerne — which we know as alfalfa. 
 He tried winter wheat and barley and spelt. He at- 
 
328 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 tempted to utilize marie, mud from the river bottoms, 
 and composts of various sorts, as fertilizer. 
 
 "But plows especially drew his attention, for the 
 plows of Washington's day were cumbersome, inefficient, 
 and altogether exasperating. In March, 1760, Wash- 
 ington jotted down, for example, 'Fitted a two Eyed 
 Plow instead of a Duck Bill Plow.' But this new model 
 was on the whole a failure, so a little later we find him 
 recording, 'Spent the greater part of the day in mak- 
 ing a plow of my own invention.' The next day he 
 tried the plow 'and found She answered very well.' 
 
 "But a greater difficulty for Washington," Secretary 
 Hyde went on, "was finding a machine to do what the 
 modern grain drill does at planting time. Washington 
 finally developed, evidently from hints gathered from 
 his reading and correspondence with Arthur Young and 
 others what he called a barrel plow. 
 
 "At that time all grain seed had to be sown by hand, 
 then covered with a harrow or a hoe. Washington 
 wanted a machine for this purpose, both to save labor 
 and to do the job more efficiently. His barrel plow con- 
 sisted of a hollow cylinder of wood, mounted on a wheel 
 plow, so arranged that as the plow moved forward the 
 barrel turned. In this barrel Washington cut holes for 
 the seed to run down the tubes into the ground. The 
 thickness or thinning of the sowing he could determine, 
 roughly, by the number of holes left open in the barrel. 
 
 "Much experiment with this crude drill convinced 
 Washington that it was necessary to make these holes 
 larger on the outside than on the inside of the barrel, 
 and that the barrel worked better if not kept too full 
 
News Releases 329 
 
 of seed. A harrow followed the drill, to cover the seed 
 with soil. 
 
 "The drill must have worked fairly well," Secretary 
 Hyde smiled as he called up the picture of Washington's 
 "own Invention," "even though at times it must have 
 acted up and prompted the operator to indulge in a few 
 expletives. Washington wrote to a friend that the drill 
 would not 'work to good effect in land that is very full 
 of either stumps, stones, or large clods; but, where the 
 ground is tolerably free from these and in good tilth, 
 and particularly in light land, I am certain you will find 
 it equal to your most sanguine expectations, for Indian 
 corn, wheat, barley, pease, or any other tolerably round 
 grain, that you may wish to sow or plant in this man- 
 ner.' 
 
 "Though the modern farmer knows many things that 
 Washington could not know," Secretary Hyde ended, 
 "a rereading of his life and experiments as a farmer must 
 be of constant interest and inspiration." 
 
 Senator Capper Discusses Washington's Farm 
 Problems 
 
 Senator Capper pushed back his chair from a desk 
 heaped with papers and repeated the question asked 
 him: "What does the American farmer of today owe 
 to George Washington, the farmer?" 
 
 Few members of the Senate are better qualified to 
 answer a question that should interest every farmer in 
 the country, for Senator Capper is acquainted first hand 
 with farmers and their problems and has been deeply 
 interested in the legislation of the past two years in the 
 farmer's interest. 
 
330 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "Well," the farmer-legislator thought for a moment, 
 "if you think of it, Washington did set the first example 
 in American farming. The farmers of today, as I know 
 them, are too everlastingly busy with current history 
 to look back a century or two. I know that's the case 
 with me. And yet," the Senator thought on, "they 
 should do that. 
 
 "The American farmer of today," he settled back to 
 say, "has every reason to feel toward Washington, the 
 farmer, an almost filial respect and duty. In his occu- 
 pation, at least, he's a lineal descendant of the foremost 
 farmer of a century and more ago. If modern inven- 
 tion enables the farmer of today to improve on the 
 methods of Washington's time, nevertheless Washing- 
 ton's example in experiment and pioneering remains the 
 same. It could hardly be improved upon," the Senator 
 smilingly asserted, "but the modern farmer has carried 
 on that pioneering spirit unabated." 
 
 As his thought on the subject shaped itself, the Sena- 
 tor went on, "The modern farmer can feel a sympathy 
 for Washington because Washington's problems as a 
 farmer sound like the problems, the aims of every farmer 
 of the present. If memory serves me, Washington's ex- 
 periences with one of the great farms of his time was 
 not an unbroken record of successes. 
 
 "To begin with, Washington's land was not the finest 
 soil in the young country. Many a farmer of today 
 has to face the same discouragement. And like Wash- 
 ington, he does struggle against the handicap. That is 
 one bond of sympathy between them. 
 
 "But perhaps the closest parallel between Washing- 
 ton and the modern American farmer is the fact that 
 
News Releases 331 
 
 both knew the worries and vexations of declining prices 
 as the result of a production above the capacity of the 
 market to consume. It sounds very modern to read in 
 Washington's diary his complaints at the falling returns 
 from his tobacco. His problems and those of the pres- 
 ent day farmer may differ in technical detail, but in es- 
 sentials they are the same. 
 
 "After all, the farmer of today buys with his wheat 
 or his corn what he wants and needs. He may first con- 
 vert his grain into money; still, whatever the means of 
 purchase, it's the farmer's product that supplies him 
 with buying power. In Washington's day that was 
 more directly the case. The Nation was then undevel- 
 oped and without an efficient monetary system, and to- 
 bacco itself had to serve in place of cash. So Washing- 
 ton, as he himself complains, felt it when the value of 
 his crops shrank, and he had to offer more of it 
 for goods or for cash in return. If Washington were 
 to return today, he and a hundred thousand of our 
 farmers could talk in terms of perfect understanding. 
 
 "Yes," the Senator said, to emphasize the point, 
 "Washington would understand our farmers perfectly. 
 Thousands of them may never have had time to read 
 of Washington's farming experience, but they are go- 
 ing through the same experiences today. As I recall 
 it, Washington was a tireless experimenter. He sent to 
 Europe for the newest books on the science and practice 
 of agriculture. He imported new and better seeds and 
 cuttings. He read up on new and better formulas for 
 fertilizer. He even mixed experimental varieties of 
 compost with his own hands. In every sense of the 
 word he was a dirt farmer. 
 
332 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "And today," the Senator brought out with convic- 
 tion, "Washington would find his successors on the 
 American farm just as progressive. The farmer of the 
 present is just as eager and quick to adopt new and bet- 
 ter methods. He no longer reads European authorities, 
 because his own periodicals are as good or better. But 
 the point is, he reads them. He forever experiments 
 with the means to produce better crops. And in one 
 respect he has an advantage that Washington never 
 knew — the advantage of time and labor-saving ma- 
 chinery." 
 
 A new turn to his thinking amused the Senator. 
 "Washington's efforts at advanced farming were not 
 unvaryingly successful. The fact is, he had to com- 
 plain of a rather high percentage of disappointments. 
 It was only natural, of course. In Washington's day 
 agriculture was still somewhat primitive. In the light 
 of modern practice it was without benefit of the ac- 
 cumulation of broad scientific knowledge and experi- 
 ence that we enjoy today. If Washington were to re- 
 turn today, the average American farmer could show 
 him a thing or two — probably to Washington's mingled 
 envy and delight. He might regret that he could not 
 have profited by what we now know, but he would be 
 the first to rejoice at the progress made. 
 
 "But the thing that would most please Washington," 
 said Senator Capper, "would be our epic conquest of 
 the great West and the reduction of its wonderful soil 
 to production. To me," the Senator mused, "there is 
 something infinitely touching in Washington's hunger 
 for as much of that fertile Western soil as he could pos- 
 sess. The continental West as we know it he never saw, 
 
News Releases 333 
 
 but he had more than glimpsed the Ohio Valley, and 
 sensed what lay beyond. He sent his agents to lay claim 
 to as much as he could handle of the better land beyond 
 the Alleghenies, and throughout his correspondence dur- 
 ing the Revolution he returns again and again to his 
 anxiety to safeguard his holdings. His heart and his 
 business sense both lured him in that direction, in the 
 conviction that there the great development of the 
 country would center. 
 
 "Today," the Senator observed with satisfaction, "the 
 people of my section of the country would convince 
 Washington that he was right! For every reason and 
 in every sense of the word they would make him feel 
 at home. He would be among people, too, who are after 
 his own kind. As farmers, at least, they have had every 
 experience that fell to Washington. 
 
 "You have only to glance through Washington's 
 diaries to see how quickly they would understand each 
 other. Out of those intimate jottings speaks the real 
 George Washington, farmer, and what a modern lan- 
 guage he speaks!" 
 
 The Senator referred to one of the volumes, price- 
 less because so revealing, and read: "June 16, 1768. Be- 
 gan to cut my Timothy Meadow at Doeg Run and did 
 not finish it till the 8 th July — the weather being Rainy 
 and bad — which almost spoiled 30,000 weight of Hay. 
 
 "On July 25th he records that he found rust in a 28- 
 acre field of wheat, and adds this note: Trom the most 
 accurate experiments I could make this year upon Wheat 
 seized with the Rust before it is fully formd and be- 
 ginning to Harden, it appears to be a matter of very 
 little consequence whether it is cut down so soon as it 
 
334 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 is seized with this distemper (I mean the parts of the 
 field that are so) or suffered to stand; for in either case 
 the grain perishes and has little or no flower in it.' He 
 meant flour," the Senator interpolated, with a smile for 
 Washington's spelling, and finished the quotation, 
 
 'That indeed which is suffered to stand may gain a 
 little, and but a little, in respect to the grain, and the 
 other in respect to the straw; so that I think it is nearly 
 equal wch. of the two methods is followed.' 
 
 "Many a farmer of today is as close a student," the 
 Senator said, smiling as he leafed through the book. 
 "And many a modern farmer will listen with sympathy 
 to such a passage as this: 'Eliab Roberts, William Acres, 
 Joseph Wilson and Azel Martin set into work today and 
 I think worked but indifferently.' So Washington had 
 his complaints against farmhands, too. But here, I 
 think," Senator Capper exulted over his finds, "are two 
 entries that reveal the man that Washington the farmer 
 must have been — shrewd, observant, the instinctive busi- 
 ness man, forever trying what would best serve his ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 " 'Noted,' " Senator Capper quoted from the book, 
 
 ' 'that when Pease are sown the ground should be rolled 
 smooth so that the pods can be raked up, with time 
 saved from picking them up by hand.' There is the 
 great man watchful of the minutest details. And here 
 in another small detail is the inveterate experimenter. 
 In an entry dated December 6, 1787, Washington re- 
 cords: 'Three plows at work. In one I put the she mule 
 which worked very well. The horse mule is intended 
 also for this plantation.' 
 
 "It's just such homely touches," the Senator leaned 
 
News Releases 33 5 
 
 back to say in concluding, "that would make Washing- 
 ton a man among men if he could return today among 
 the people of my section. When you think of it," Sena- 
 tor Capper lighted up with sudden feeling, "what bet- 
 ter tribute coulo! we pay the man than in saying so 
 often to ourselves, 'If Washington could return today'? 
 Isn't it a new measure of our respect and affection for 
 the man that we wish so much he could come again, 
 so that we might show him what we, as stewards, have 
 done with the great trust he built up and placed in our 
 hands. 
 
 "We may have made mistakes in judgment," the Sena- 
 tor finished, "we may not always wisely control the 
 great economic forces we have unloosed with our mod- 
 ern science and invention; but on the whole I believe 
 Washington would approve what we have made of the 
 country he fathered." 
 
 George Washington Branded His Cattle 
 
 Senator Tom Connally, who hails from Texas, the 
 greatest cattle State in the country, has made, accord- 
 ing to the Division of Information and Publication of 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, an exhaustive study of George Washing- 
 ton's experiences in producing and handling cattle. 
 
 Recently while chatting on this subject with a group 
 of Senators and Representatives, Connally declared that 
 Washington in his day branded his cattle just as do the 
 cattlemen of Texas and other sections of the West at 
 the present time. 
 
 A Representative from the East smiled at this state- 
 
336 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ment and said he would like to have a little proof before 
 he could swallow any Washington cattle-branding story. 
 
 "Well," smiled the handsome six-footer from the Lone 
 Star State, "I might know that a man from the effete 
 East, whose knowledge of cattle is limited to the little 
 jug of diluted cream on his breakfast table, would have 
 no knowledge of matters of this kind." 
 
 Walking over to his bookcase, Connally pulled down 
 a volume of Washington's Diaries and read the follow- 
 ing items as recorded by the hand of the famous Mount 
 Vernon farmer and cattleman. 
 
 " 'Nov. 1, 1765 — Sent one bull, 18 cows and 5 calves 
 to Doeg Run in all — 24 head branded on ye but- 
 tock GW. 
 
 " 'Sent 5 cows and 29 yearlings and calves to the Mill, 
 which with 4 there makes 27 head in all viz. 5 cows and 
 22 calves and yearlings branded on the right shoul- 
 der GW. 
 
 " 'Out of the Frederick cattle made the stock in the 
 Neck up to 100 head — these branded on the right but- 
 tock GW. 
 
 " 'Muddy Hole cattle branded on the left shoul- 
 der GW.' " 
 
 "Butter," said Senator Connally, "always seemed to 
 be a problem with Washington. Despite the fact that 
 there were always several hundred cows roaming his pas- 
 tures it was frequently necessary for him to buy butter. 
 I notice from his diary that during the winter of 1760 
 he was often short of that important article. On Janu- 
 ary 7th he writes: 'Accompanied Mrs. Bassett to Alex- 
 andria and engaged a keg of butter of Mr. Kirkpatrick, 
 
News Releases 337 
 
 being quite out of that article.' And the next day he 
 says: 'Got a little butter from Mr. Dalton.' On Sun- 
 day, January 20, he not only received more butter but 
 other supplies. Listen to this: 'My wagon, after leav- 
 ing two hogsheads of tobacco at Alexandria, arrived 
 here with three sides of sole leather and four of upper 
 leather, two kegs of butter, one of which for Colonel 
 Fairfax, and fifteen bushels of salt.' 
 
 "Of course it must be remembered that they really 
 used butter in Washington's time. They did not put 
 a little dab of it on a piece of bread — they slathered it 
 on in generous quantities. 
 
 "Washington, I am convinced, was just as shrewd a 
 trader in cattle as are any cattlemen of the present time. 
 I note from his diary that in 1760 he 'went down to 
 Occoquan, by appointment, to look at Colonel Cock's 
 cattle, but Mr. Peake's being from home I made no 
 agreement for them, not caring to give the price he 
 asked for them/ 
 
 "Twenty-six years later in 1786 he made a trade in 
 which I am convinced he got a shade the best of the 
 bargain. His diary tells the story in these words: 'Sent 
 up to Abingdon for a young bull of extraordinary make, 
 for which I have exchanged and given a young heifer 
 of the same age.' " 
 
 Farmer Washington Also Suffered From Drought 
 
 Senator Morris Sheppard, of Texas, happened to fall 
 into conversation the other day with a representative 
 of the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission. The Senator represents the largest agricultural 
 
338 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 State in the Union, and quite naturally the subject of 
 George Washington as a farmer came to his mind. 
 
 "We're all inclined to look on our burdens as the first 
 and worst of their kind," said the Senator. "And no 
 doubt the disastrous drought of last year, that laid a 
 blight over a great section of the country and caused 
 distress and loss, might be set down as one of the out- 
 standing afflictions in our history. But the records show 
 that these cycles of rain deficiency are of fairly regu- 
 lar recurrence. George Washington himself was a suf- 
 ferer from these periodic failures in what the weather 
 man calls precipitation. 
 
 "He took a mighty hard blow," Senator Sheppard 
 reflected. "The other day I came across a letter that 
 Washington wrote from Mount Vernon to a friend of 
 his. The letter was dated April 4, 1788, and it impressed 
 me so that I had it copied. Here it is." The Senator 
 drew from his pocket a typewritten sheet. "In this 
 letter Washington discloses that he knew very well what 
 it was to lose nearly the whole of his crops. It's an in- 
 teresting revelation of the man and his trials. He says," 
 the Senator read: 
 
 " 'Dear Sir: I am very sorry I have not yet been able 
 to discharge my account with the James River Com- 
 pany, for the amount of which you presented me with 
 an order. 
 
 " 'The almost total loss of my crop last year by the 
 drought, which has obliged me to purchase upwards of 
 eight hundred barrels of corn, and my other numerous 
 and necessary demands for cash, when I find it impos- 
 sible to obtain what is due to me by any means, have 
 caused me more perplexity and given me more uneasi- 
 
News Releases 339 
 
 ness than I ever experienced before from want of money. 
 In addition of these disappointments which I have met 
 with from those who are indebted to me, I have in my 
 hand a number of indents and other public securities, 
 which I have received from time to time as the inter- 
 est of some Continental loan-office certificates, which 
 are in my possession. . . 
 
 "That was in 1788," the Senator continued. "Exactly 
 eleven years later, in 1799, the last year of Washington's ' 
 life, he suffered again from drought. What he has to 
 say of that experience will interest every farmer of to- 
 day. I had copied for me this letter that Washington 
 wrote to a friend, dated Aug. 17, 1799." The Senator 
 read it as follows: 
 
 'The drought has been so excessive on this estate 
 that I have made no oats — and if it continues a few days 
 longer, I shall make no corn. I have cut little or no 
 grass; and my meadows, at this time, are as bare as the 
 pavements; of consequence no second crop can be ex- 
 pected. These things will compel me, I expect, to re- 
 duce the mouths that feed on my hay.' 
 
 "Doesn't that sound as if written last year?" Senator 
 Sheppard remarked. "That last line in Washington's 
 letter completes the parallel between his experience and 
 the loss of our farmers who were compelled to sell their 
 livestock for lack of the means to feed them. 
 
 "So even George Washington, one of the wealthiest 
 men of his time," the Senator reflected, "knew what it 
 was to take a crippling loss at the hands of Nature. And 
 in the first letter I read you," the Senator smiled, "Wash- 
 ington sounds a note that will make him understandable 
 to many a present-day American outside the farming 
 
340 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 circle. Even the Father of His Country knew what it 
 was to be behind with his bills, and had to put up his 
 own equivalent of a modern hard-luck story to ac- 
 count for his lack of cash. It's just another one of those 
 homely touches," the Senator ended, "that should en- 
 dear George Washington to every American, and arouse 
 deep interest in the celebration of his two hundredth 
 birthday which will extend from February 22 until 
 Thanksgiving Day of next year. 
 
 Washington Tried Siberian and South African Wheat 
 
 That George Washington remained at heart a farmer 
 throughout his life we know from no less an authority 
 than Washington himself, says the Division of Informa- 
 tion and Publication of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The evidence exists on nearly every page of the long 
 row of diaries in which Washington covered all his per- 
 sonal activities almost without a break from young man- 
 hood to the final days. 
 
 He was not simply any kind of farmer, either, but 
 an alert and progressive one. Even during the Revolu- 
 tionary War he appears to have kept his eyes open to 
 farming methods in various sections of the country, 
 and came home with the belief that Virginia farming 
 had much to learn from methods in use in other States. 
 
 In more than one of his letters to friends he comments 
 on the Virginia habit of working farms to death, and 
 notes the Virginia farmer's failure to devote some of 
 his land to meadow and grazing, for the raising of cattle, 
 as he had seen this done in the northern regions. 
 
 On his own plantations Washington was forever 
 
News Releases 341 
 
 reaching out for new and better seeds for planting. He 
 imported new types of fruit trees and vines, even rare 
 trees for the beautification of his grounds. He tried 
 alfalfa, then known as Lucerne. But of chief interest 
 was his effort to improve the quality of wheat grown 
 in the United States. He reached into far quarters of 
 the globe for experimental seeds. 
 
 Thus, in an entry in his Diaries on April 10, 1768, 
 we find: "Began also to sow the Siberian Wheat which 
 I had obtained from Baltimore by means of Colo. Tilgh- 
 man, at the Ferry Plantation in the ground laid apart 
 there for experiments." This, by the way, he sowed 
 with the famous "barrel plow" of his own invention, a 
 combined plow, drill, and harrow. And he gives a mi- 
 nute account of the care he used in giving this seed from 
 far Siberia a chance to show what it could do in Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 In 1785, after the Revolution, when he had returned 
 to Mount Vernon and to his beloved farming, this zeal 
 for experiment was with him still. In an entry in his 
 Diary for August 30, that year, he records that "I 
 planted in a small piece of ground which I had prepared 
 below the stable (vineyard) about 1,000 grains of the 
 Cape of Good Hope wheat (which was given to me by 
 Colo. Spaight) , in Rows 2 feet apart, and 5 inches dis- 
 tant in the Rows." 
 
 On Saturday, August 31, 1785, he notes: "The Cape 
 of Good Hope Wheat, which I sowed on Saturday, was 
 perceived to be coming up today." On September 1, 
 the following day, he "planted the remainder of the 
 Wheat from the Cape of Good Hope, leaving 230 grains 
 to replant the missing seeds, and some that had been 
 
342 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 washed up by the rain; the whole number of grains 
 given me by Colo. Spaight amounting to 2476; which 
 in measure, might be about half a Gill." The painstak- 
 ing Farmer Washington had even counted the number 
 of these rare grains of his gift! 
 
 On October, 1785, he sowed about a pint of Cape of 
 Good Hope wheat, this time sent him by Mr. Powell, 
 of Philadelphia. By early November Washington "per- 
 ceived that the Cape of Good Hope Wheat which I 
 sowed on the 19th of last March had come up very well." 
 For nearly two years he had his eye on this South Af- 
 rican wheat. By September, 1786, "the hands at Dogue 
 Run had been employed in putting in about a bushel 
 and a half of the Cape Wheat raised below my Stables" — 
 proving that the seeds there planted in August the year 
 before had delivered the goods. 
 
 What became of the new brand of wheat we do not 
 know, for in not very long Washington was again called 
 to the cares of state when a devoted people unanimously 
 chose him to be their first President. But the evidence 
 remains that when the destiny that directed his eventful 
 and dramatic life did grant him the opportunity to farm 
 his beloved fields, he was among the most progressive 
 agriculturists of his day. 
 
 Mount Vernon Named for British Admiral 
 
 Mount Vernon, the home and estate of George 
 Washington, undoubtedly the most famous shrine in 
 American history, was named after Admiral Edward 
 Vernon, of the British Navy, according to the Division 
 of Information and Publication of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
News Releases 343 
 
 Lawrence Washington, half-brother of George, and 
 owner of the estate, served in the British Army before 
 Carthagena, where Admiral Vernon was naval com- 
 mander. His admiration for the English admiral in- 
 duced him to call his estate Mount Vernon. Lawrence 
 Washington died in July, 1752, at the early age of 34 
 years, leaving a wife and infant daughter. The Mount 
 Vernon estate was bequeathed to that daughter, and in 
 the event of her decease without issue the property was 
 to pass into the absolute possession of George, to whom, 
 in his will, Lawrence had entrusted the chief care of 
 his affairs, although he was the youngest executor. He 
 was then only 20 years of age. 
 
 The daughter did not long survive her father, and 
 Mount Vernon became the property of George Wash- 
 ington. In a letter to a friend in London, Washington 
 wrote of his estate in 1793: 
 
 "No estate in United America, is more pleasantly 
 situated than this. It lies in a high, dry and healthy 
 country * * * on one of the finest rivers in the 
 world. Its margin is washed by more than ten miles of 
 tide water. * * * It is situated in a latitude between 
 the extremes of heat and cold. * * * Several valu- 
 able fisheries appertain to the estate; the whole shore, in 
 short, is one entire fishery." 
 
 Washington as a Manufacturer 
 While much has been written about George Wash- 
 ington's ability as a farmer and agriculturalist, it is not 
 generally known that on the vast estate at Mount Ver- 
 non, housing more than 300 persons, he was also classed 
 as a manufacturer and, incidentally, marketed large 
 
344 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 quantities of fish, according to the Division of Informa- 
 tion and Publication of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The magnitude of the charge of such an estate can 
 be better understood when the condition of a Virginia 
 planter is realized. Before the Revolution, practically 
 everything the plantation could not produce was or- 
 dered yearly from Great Britain, and after the annual 
 delivery of the invoices, the estate could look for little 
 outside help. This system compelled each plantation 
 to be a little world unto itself; indeed, the 300 persons 
 on the Mount Vernon estate went far to make it an in- 
 dependent and self-supporting community, and one of 
 Washington's standing orders to his overseers was to 
 "buy nothing you can make yourselves." Thus the 
 planting and gathering of the crops were but a small 
 part of the work to be done. 
 
 A corp of workmen — some Negroes, some indentured 
 servants, and some hired laborers — were kept on the es- 
 tate. A blacksmith shop occupied some of them, do- 
 ing not merely the work of the plantation, but what- 
 ever business was brought to them from outside; and 
 a wood burner kept them and the mansion-house sup- 
 plied with charcoal. A gang of carpenters were kept 
 busy, and their spare time was utilized in framing houses 
 to be put up in Alexandria, Va., or in the "Federal City," 
 as the City of Washington was called before the death 
 of its namesake. A brickmaker, too, was kept con- 
 stantly employed, and masons utilized the product of 
 his labor. The gardener's gang had charge of the 
 kitchen garden, and set out thousands of grapevines, 
 fruit trees and hedge plants. 
 
News Releases 345 
 
 A water mill with its staff, not merely ground meal 
 for the hands, but produced a fine flour that com- 
 manded extra price in the market. In 1786 Washing- 
 ton asserted that his flour was "equal in quality to any 
 made in this country," and the Mount Vernon brand 
 was of such value that some money was made by buy- 
 ing outside wheat and grinding it into flour. The coop- 
 ers of the estate made the barrels in which it was packed, 
 and Washington's schooner carried it to the market. 
 
 The estate had its own shoemaker and in time a staff 
 of weavers were trained. Before this was obtained in 
 1760, though with only a modicum of the force he pres- 
 ently had, Washington ordered from London "450 ells 
 of Osnabrig, 4 pieces of Brown Wools, 350 yards of 
 Kendall cotton and 100 yards of Dutch Blanket." By 
 1768 he was manufacturing the chief part of his re- 
 quirements, for in that year his weavers produced 815 
 yards of linen, 365 yards of woolen, 144 yards of linsey 
 and 40 yards of cotton, a total of 1,365 yards, one man 
 and five Negro girls having been employed. 
 
 When once the looms were well organized, an in- 
 finite variety of cloths was produced, the accounts men- 
 tioning "Striped woolen, woolen plaided, cotton striped, 
 linen, wool-birdseye, cotton filled with wool, linsey, 
 l M's and O's,' cotton India dimity, cotton jump striped, 
 linen filled with tow, cotton striped with silk, Roman 
 M., Janes twilled, huccabac, broadcloth, counterpane, 
 birdseye diaper, kirsey wool, barragon, fustian, bed- 
 ticking, herring box and shalloon." 
 
 One of the most important features of the estate was 
 its fishery, for the catch, salted down, largely served in 
 place of meat in feeding some of the help. Of this ad- 
 
346 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 vantage Washington wrote: "This river (the Potomac) 
 is well supplied with various kinds of fish at all seasons 
 of the year; and, in the spring, with the greatest pro- 
 fusion of shad, herring, bass, carp, perch, sturgeon, etc. 
 Several valuable fisheries appertain to the estate; the 
 whole shore, in short, is one entire fishery." 
 
 Whenever there was a run of fish, the seine was drawn, 
 chiefly for herring and shad, and in good years this not 
 merely amply supplied the home requirements, but al- 
 lowed of sales; four or five shillings the thousand for 
 herring, and ten shillings the hundred for shad were 
 the average prices, and sales of as high as 85,000 herring 
 were made in a single year. 
 
 Washington's Fish Business 
 
 In one of his business-like ledgers, George Washing- 
 ton records an entry for August 11, 1772: "Went with 
 those Gentlemn. (naming certain guests at Mount Ver- 
 non) a fishing, and dined under the bank at Colo. Fair- 
 fax's near his White House." 
 
 Near that White House formerly owned and occu- 
 pied by "Colo." Fairfax now stands one of the important 
 hatcheries of the United States Fish Commission, re- 
 stocking the Potomac with the shad that formed a staple 
 of George Washington's business of selling the catch of 
 his "seins." And perhaps nothing would please Wash- 
 ington more, could he return today, than this visible 
 evidence of the development of the Nation's fishery in- 
 dustry since his day. 
 
 The business that Washington did in the sale of fish 
 caught from his several landings will surprise those who 
 carefully read his published ledgers and diaries, says the 
 
News Releases 347 
 
 Division of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. He 
 made every inch of his extensive property yield its due, 
 and he turned to the Potomac River which edged his 
 lands, for all that it had to give up in salable products. 
 Thus during the latter part of April and the beginning 
 of May, in 1772, he sold over 11,000 fish, mainly her- 
 ring. One page of his diary, that of July 10, 1772, re- 
 cords the sale to James Tilghman of 30 barrels of shad, 
 for which Washington received 40 pounds and 10 shil- 
 lings. 
 
 By 1758 he seems to have developed the trade so that 
 we find an entry for April 6 that year: "Sent my Shad 
 Sein and Hands to the Ferry to commence Fishing for 
 Messrs. Douglas & Smith, who had engaged to take all 
 the Shad and Herring I can catch in Season, the first at 
 fifteen shillings a hundred, and the other at four shillings 
 a thousand." 
 
 Interested as he was in the industry of fishing, Wash- 
 ington would be the first to take pride in the growth of 
 American fisheries to the point where the annual catch 
 for the United States and Alaska is now three billion 
 pounds, or a value of $116,000,000 to the fishermen. 
 
 Commissioner of Fisheries, Henry O'Malley, took 
 great pride in laying before a representative of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission some of the totals marking the contrast between 
 fishing in Washington's day and the vast industry that 
 has now been built up by private enterprise, with 
 scientific Government help in conservation arid 
 replacement. 
 
348 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 For example the Chesapeake crab, in Washington's 
 day ignored, but now a prized delicacy and article of 
 diet, was caught, sold, and eaten to the tune of 60,000,- 
 000 in 1929. More recently still there has come into 
 being the brine freezing process which has enormously 
 expanded even the fishery industry of the past few 
 years. This brine freezing process has made possible 
 a package trade of 85,000,000 pounds annually. For 
 not only has the annual sale of fish grown steadily, but 
 the trade has taken on refinements unthought of even 
 a few years ago. 
 
 One such development is the filleting of haddock 
 which began on a broad scale in 1921. The larger fish, 
 such as cod and salmon, are steaked. Wrapped in treated 
 paper, and subjected to the rapid brine freezing, these 
 fillets and steaks can now be kept in perfect condition 
 indefinitely, and so can be shipped to points where salt- 
 water fish have never been used before. 
 
 A man of Washington's prudence might be alarmed 
 as well as pleased by this rise of fisheries to be one of 
 our major indtistries. Our streams of coastal waters can 
 not be farmed on any such scale unless fish are sown 
 to furnish new crops. One of the chief activities of 
 the Bureau of Fisheries is this very business of conserva- 
 tion. In 1930 this Bureau stocked our streams with 
 more than seven and a half billion fish and eggs, includ- 
 ing both food and game species. At the Fort Hum- 
 phreys hatchery, on the spot where George Washing- 
 ton once dined after fishing, 70,000,000 young shad 
 have been bred and released in the river. 
 
 "All in all," says Commissioner O'Malley, "I think 
 Washington would approve what we are doing to 
 
News Releases 349 
 
 broaden and enrich an industry in which he himself 
 was so much interested." 
 
 George Washington the Bookman 
 
 Visitors to Mount Vernon, if they make the usual 
 cursory tour of the house, come away with the belief 
 that they have seen in the library the books of George 
 Washington precisely as he left them. If they later 
 learn that these books are, in many cases, simply other 
 copies of volumes Washington is known to have pos- 
 sessed, they are deeply disappointed and wonder why 
 the Boston Athenaeum should own and keep such a 
 large number of the original books from Washington's 
 library. 
 
 How many books did Washington really own, and 
 how did he stand as a bookman among men of his day? 
 This was the question asked of Dr. Herbert Putnam, 
 librarian of the Library of Congress, by a representa- 
 tive of the Division of Information and Publication of 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. 
 
 "Ah, you must not expect me to give you an offhand 
 answer to a question of that importance," said Dr. 
 Putnam. 
 
 "Of course, Washington, man of action and affairs, 
 was no such reader as Thomas Jefferson, and had no such 
 collection of books as Jefferson's library, now safe in 
 the Library of Congress. It is fortunate that we have 
 had preserved for us the considerable remnants of Wash- 
 ington's collection saved by a popular subscription 
 raised in Boston to prevent their being scattered." 
 
 In answer to the inquiry as to how this act of venera- 
 
350 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 tion came about, Dr. Putnam referred the interviewer 
 to a learned assistant, who quickly placed him in touch 
 with the authorities on this subject. 
 
 These authorities show how many volumes went to 
 Boston, but it is doubtful if posterity will know 
 exactly how many books Washington did possess. It 
 is known that he lent books, and doubtless he had the 
 luck of the lender. That is, many a book borrowed 
 was never returned. The curious may find on file in 
 the Orphan's Court of Fairfax County, Va., the ap- 
 praisers' exact list of the Washington library as it was 
 after his death and probation of his will. But even 
 these thousand or so titles represent but a part of the 
 books Washington is thought to have owned. 
 
 Volumes have been written on this question of 
 Washington's inclinations as a reader. Most of these 
 authorities give themselves up to rhapsody and specu- 
 lation. The one fact that is indisputable is that on the 
 death of Justice Bushrod Washington a number of books 
 formerly belonging to the first President were be- 
 queathed by him to his nephew, and from that nephew 
 were bought by a Mr. Henry Stevens, of London, who 
 meant to place them in the hands of the British Museum. 
 There the Washington books might now be, but that a 
 group of Boston patriots, members of the private 
 library known as the Boston Athenaeum, clubbed 
 together and bought for $3,750 this collection from time 
 to time. 
 
 Incidentally it was this same Boston institution 
 which, in 1831, bought the most famed Stuart portraits 
 of George and Martha Washington. These were ac- 
 quired from the family of the artist for the sum of 
 
News Releases 351 
 
 $1,500, which stands recorded in the official records of 
 the Athenaeum as "an absurdly small sum it now seems 
 for these invaluable pictures." As every visitor to 
 Boston knows, this pair of portraits, perhaps the best 
 known in the country, has been lent by the Athenaeum 
 authorities to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, so that 
 they may be seen by thousands of admirers every year, 
 where otherwise they would be visible only to the users 
 of a private library. 
 
 Returning to the known books of Washington, just 
 what did he read? By the infallible test of the ap- 
 praisers' list, he bought chiefly books of information. 
 Naturally authorities on military science interested him. 
 Next in importance he seems to have rated books on 
 agriculture and husbandry. At the head of the ap- 
 praisers' list stands the "American Encyclopedia" of 
 that period in 1 volumes. One volume with a title cal- 
 culated to amuse the sophisticates of the present day is 
 a "Royal Grammer, for young Gentlemen and Ladies." 
 Another striking title in the list is "Jefferies Aerial 
 Voyages." 
 
 Washington read Shakespeare and occasionally quoted 
 him. He read Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" in the 
 Pope translation. He owned the "Letters of Junius," 
 Gibbons' "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," the 
 "Letters of Voltaire," "Chesterfield's Letters," Seneca's 
 "Moral Essays," and the prose of Swift, Sterne, and 
 Addison. 
 
 Fiction seems to have entered very sparingly into 
 Washington's reading. To repeat, he read for informa- 
 tion rather than for entertainment. Nevertheless, we 
 find among his books "Don Quixote," "Gulliver's 
 
3 52 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Travels," "Hudibras," "Peregrine Pickle," and a book 
 called "The History of a Foundling," which sounds very 
 much like "Tom Jones." 
 
 Whatever Washington did read, he regarded books as 
 of sufficient importance to warrant the building of a 
 wing to his house to serve as a library, and visitors to 
 Mount Vernon come away with the opinion that it was 
 the most interesting and attractive room in the house. 
 And Washington is known to have passed much of his 
 life at his work there. 
 
 Washington Pleased by "Home Town" Ball 
 
 The people of Alexandria, Va., George Washington's 
 "home town," were never negligent in observing the 
 birthday of their illustrious fellow citizen. 
 
 After Washington returned to Mount Vernon upon 
 his retirement from the office of Presidency of the 
 United States, his natal day was fittingly observed in 
 the little Virginia city on the two occasions that it 
 occurred before the General's death in December, 1799. 
 The date upon which these commemorations were held, 
 however, was February 11, because of the hesitance of 
 the people in fully accepting the Gregorian calendar, 
 which had been adopted by most countries over 40 
 years before. 
 
 In Washington's diaries, which were never volumi- 
 nous, the entry for February 12, 1798, reads: 
 
 "Went with the family to a ball in Alexandria given 
 by the citizens of it and its vicinity in commemoration 
 of the anniversary of my birthday." The 11th had 
 fallen on Sunday, so the celebration was held on the 
 12 th of February. 
 
News Releases 353 
 
 In 1799, the year of Washington's death, his birthday 
 was celebrated twice — once by the citizens of Alex- 
 andria on February 11, and again at Mount Vernon on 
 February 22, when Nellie Custis, Mrs. Washington's 
 granddaughter, became the bride of Washington's 
 nephew, Lawrence Lewis. Both events are briefly 
 chronicled in the diaries. 
 
 However reticent Washington himself may have been 
 regarding his birthday, his admirers throughout the 
 country were not restrained by the same diffidence. An 
 interesting, quaintly written account of Alexandria's 
 commemoration of the late President's birthday in 1799 
 is contained in the files of the Federal Gazette, of Balti- 
 more, in the issue appearing on February 1 5 of that year. 
 
 This item was dated "Alexandria, February 11," and 
 after dwelling on the beauty of the day, tells of the 
 salute fired at sunrise, the assembling of the militia which 
 was to take part in the ceremonies and an enumeration 
 of the companies participating. At 11 o'clock in the 
 morning Washington himself rode into the town, 
 escorted by three companies of dragoons. 
 
 "Shortly after the general came into town, he passed 
 the line in review, accompanied by several gentlemen. 
 Agreeable to arrangements previously made, three com- 
 panies of infantry were embarked on board the Nep- 
 tune, the Trial and Mercury, in order to act as an invad- 
 ing enemy. The remaining troops marched to the Mall, 
 when the rifie men and a detachment of artillery were 
 dispatched to protect the fort and act against the foe. 
 When the Neptune came abreast of the fort, she re- 
 ceived three rounds, which she returned, silenced the 
 guns and passed up the river in order to effect a land- 
 
354 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing — the riflemen in the meantime running along shore 
 endeavouring to pick the men off the shrouds, and the 
 artillery keeping up a fire at her. When she came op- 
 posite to Keith's wharf, the troops were landed on it, 
 the Neptune covering the debarkation, where they were 
 opposed by those on shore, and were eventually obliged 
 to take to their boats. A landing was afterward effected 
 on Ramsay's wharf, and the 'supposed' enemy marched 
 up King Street, in which street, at the intersection of 
 Fairfax Street, they were again opposed; and a heavy 
 and continued street-firing kept up; until by an excel- 
 lent maneuvre of the horse, who came upon their rear, 
 they were obliged to surrender." 
 
 At the end of this sham battle, which the former 
 Commander in Chief watched with interest, the partici- 
 pants disbanded to the several inns maintained in the 
 town and partook of dinners which "were perfectly 
 satisfactory to the guests," and at which "a number of 
 toasts were drank by each party." The paper then 
 notes: 
 
 "The evening was concluded by a ball and supper 
 given at Mr. Gadsby's which was much superior to any- 
 thing of the kind ever known here. The company was 
 numerous and brilliant; and beauty of person and excel- 
 lency of taste, in the ladies, seemed to vie for a prefer- 
 ence. The house was elegantly illuminated; and the 
 ball room was adorned with a transparent likeness of 
 General Washington, executed in masterly style." 
 
 Mount Vernon Became a Mecca at End of War 
 
 With the completion of the great Memorial high- 
 way from the National Capital to Mount Vernon, 12 
 
News Releases 35 5 
 
 miles south of Washington, in ample time for the 
 beginning of the George Washington Bicentennial Cele- 
 bration in 1932, it is anticipated that Mount Vernon 
 will become a Mecca for the millions of visitors expected 
 from every section of the United States. 
 
 Mount Vernon has always been the outstanding 
 shrine of the country and has been visited every year 
 by many thousands of people, but record breaking 
 figures are looked for during the nine months of the 
 Bicentennial Celebration. 
 
 Even when Gen. George Washington resigned his 
 commission as Commander in Chief of the Continental 
 Army and returned to Mount Vernon, his estate on the 
 banks of the Potomac became an objective for every 
 foreigner of any position who came to this country, as 
 well as for prominent Americans. 
 
 Although he had left his home eight years before as 
 a distinguished Virginian, he had returned one of the 
 most famous men in the world, and such celebrity 
 brought its usual penalties. Hundreds of persons made 
 the pilgrimage to Mount Vernon to visit America's 
 greatest hero, and all were hospitably received, although 
 they consumed many hours of Washington's time. 
 
 In addition he was besieged by portrait painters and 
 sculptors, and it was then that Peale, Gilbert Stuart, 
 Savage, Pine, Sharpies, Trumbull, and other painters, as 
 well as sculptors, such as Houdon and Ceracchi, came 
 into their own to the upbuilding of their undying fame 
 and the great enrichment of the world. Washington, in 
 1785, in a letter to Francis Hopkinson, somewhat 
 quaintly writes: 
 
356 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 rf In for a penny, in for a pound, is an old adage. I 
 am so hackneyed to the touches of the painter's pencil, 
 that I am now altogether at their beck; and sit like Pa- 
 tience on a monument,' whilst they are delineating the 
 lines of my face. It is a proof, among many others, of 
 what habit and custom can accomplish. At first I was 
 as impatient at the request, and as restive under the op- 
 eration, as a colt is of the saddle. The next time I sub- 
 mitted very reluctantly, but with less flouncing. Now. 
 no dray-horse moves more readily to his thill than I to 
 the painter's chair." 
 
 Friends Sent Washington Numerous Gifts 
 
 The custom of sending gifts to the President of the 
 United States by friends and admirers may well be said 
 to have originated with the first inauguration of George 
 Washington. 
 
 Among the gifts received by our first President were 
 dogs, jackasses, pigs, jennets, Chinese geese, golden pheas- 
 ants, and many other feathered or furred creatures. In 
 fact, toward the end of his life, George Washington had 
 the nucleus for a small sized 200. 
 
 A most interesting gift was sent to Washington by 
 the Earl of Buchan, of Scotland. It consisted of a box 
 made from an oak tree that sheltered the great Sir 
 William Wallace, at the battle of Falkirk, with the re- 
 quest to pass it to the man in the United States who 
 should appear to merit it best. With characteristic 
 modesty Washington, in his will, ordered this gift re- 
 turned to the original owner, saying: 
 
 "Whether easy or not to select the man who might 
 
News Releases 3 57 
 
 comport with his Lordship's opinion in this respect, it 
 is not for me to say; but, conceiving that no disposi- 
 tion of this valuable curiosity can be more eligible than 
 the recommitment of it to his own cabinet, agreeably 
 to the original design of the Goldsmith's Company of 
 Edinburg, who presented it to him, and, at his request, 
 consented that it should be transferred to me, I do give 
 and bequeath the same to his Lordship; and, in case of 
 his decease, to his heir, with my grateful thanks for the 
 distinguished honor of presenting it to me, and in es- 
 pecial for the favorable sentiments with which he ac- 
 companied it." 
 
 Washington, in his will, also disposed of another gift. 
 This was a golden-headed cane left him by Benjamin 
 Franklin. This cane Washington bequeathed to his 
 brother Charles. 
 
 Shortly after the Revolution the King of Spain gen- 
 erously sent the American hero two jackasses and two 
 jennets. One of the jacks died on the way over, but the 
 other animals reached Mount Vernon safely. In 1786 
 Lafayette sent Washington from the island of Malta an- 
 other jack and two jennets, besides some Chinese pheas- 
 ants and partridges. A short time later, Gouverneur 
 Morris sent him two Chinese pigs and two Chinese geese 9 
 which he referred to in his diary as "the foolishest geese 
 I ever beheld, for they choose all times for setting but 
 in the Spring, and one of them is even now (November) 
 actually engaged in this business." 
 
 In 1786 the King of France sent him 75 pyramidal 
 cypress trees, while a short time before, Governor Clin- 
 ton sent him ivy, limes and lindens. "Light Horse 
 
3 58 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Harry" Lee sent him for his gardens some lilacs, oranges, 
 aspen, mulberries, magnolia and horse chestnut trees. 
 In addition to these, the key to the Bastille, a hunting 
 horn, brass fire-dogs, and other gifts were given by La- 
 fayette, who also sent a pack of French hounds of enor- 
 mous size. 
 
 Washington received a cane from King Louis the 1 6th 
 of France, a cup and saucer from Count de Rocham- 
 beau, a liqueur case from Lord Fairfax, and many other 
 gifts too numerous to mention. 
 
 Washington's Last Birthday 
 
 Of all George Washington's 67 birthdays he seemed 
 to have experienced enough real pleasure on that of Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1799, his last one, to make up amply for the 
 hardships, privations and anxieties that marked some of 
 his previous birth anniversaries. 
 
 While his birthday had been publicly observed with 
 varying degrees of enthusiasm from the year 1784, every 
 circumstance combined to make of February 22, 1799, 
 a day of more than usual festivity. 
 
 The principal factor in the joy of this birthday was 
 that he was at home — at Mount Vernon — and enjoy- 
 ing there the domestic life for which he had longed so 
 earnestly while engaged in military and presidential 
 duties. 
 
 On retirement from public life, he expressed to a 
 friend the desire never again to be more than 20 miles 
 distant from his own beloved home. 
 
 Congratulations and good wishes poured in from all 
 parts of the United States and from many friends abroad 
 
News Releases 359 
 
 on this last birthday. Contentment must have absorbed 
 his soul. He had won fame as Commander in Chief of 
 the American Army. His victories had changed the 
 map of the world as well as its history; and, as the Na- 
 tion's founder and first President, he had tided the 
 youthful republic through the uncertainties of its in- 
 fancy into a national recognition by the world. He had 
 established firmly the principles and rights of a people 
 to self government and the tributes of the world were 
 ringing in his ears. With the cares of State behind him, 
 he was free at last to enjoy his life and to revel in the 
 satisfaction of seeing the marriage of the two young 
 people he loved so dearly. 
 
 This he had brought about, although unaware of the 
 fact that a romance between Nellie Custis, the belle of 
 Mount Vernon, his beloved adopted daughter, and his 
 young secretary and nephew, Lawrence Lewis, son of 
 his sister, Betty Lewis, had gotten to the point of be- 
 trothal. A letter from him to Bartholomew Dandridge, 
 a nephew of Mrs. Washington, under date of January 
 25, 1799, indicates very plainly that he had not been 
 consulted or even informed of the romance in his family 
 circle. If the General felt that the betrothed pair had 
 been at all remiss with their confidences he gave no sign, 
 but proceeded at once to aid their plans. The follow- 
 ing letter authorizing the license is copied from the orig- 
 inal, which is addressed: 
 
 "To Captain George Deneale, 
 
 Clerk of Fairfax County Court" — 
 
 Mt. Vernon 19th Feb., 1799. 
 "Sir: You will please to grant a license for the mar- 
 
360 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 riage of Eleanor Parke Custis with Lawrence Lewis, and 
 this shall be your authority for so doing. 
 "From Sir 
 
 Your very humble servant 
 
 "G. Washington 
 "Witness 
 
 "Thomas Peter 
 "George W. P. Custis." 
 
 While documentary evidence is lacking to stamp its 
 truth upon some one of the many legends that cluster 
 around this love idyl of Mount Vernon, the standards, 
 habits, customs, and prestige of the Washington, Custis, 
 and Lewis families was such as to give quite naturally 
 this wedding of Mrs. Washington's adored granddaugh- 
 ter all of the beauty of setting and detail demanded of 
 the social code of their day. 
 
 Family tradition describes the lovely bride as gowned 
 in elegant white satin brocaded in silver, her filmy veil 
 held in place with a cluster of flowers and the handsome 
 white plumes sent to General Washington from France. 
 As the French fashions were just beginning to be popu- 
 lar in America, the belief is that her wedding dress was 
 of this short-waisted style with long straight lines to 
 the skirt without hoop or heavy quilted petticoats such 
 as was the mode when her grandmother married the 
 General. Slippers, hose, and flowers naturally followed 
 the proper order, and the General, distinguished, and 
 majestic, attended her wearing — not the splendid new 
 uniform recently ordered for his military service at 
 President Adams' appointment — as commanding Gen- 
 eral of the American Army, when war threatened, but 
 
News Releases 361 
 
 his beloved and famous old buff and blue Continental 
 uniform. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Davis tied the nuptial knot, accord- 
 ing to the day's entry of February 22, 1799, in the Gen- 
 eral's diary. Consistent with his lifetime habit, this en- 
 try recorded the weather conditions in detail, but only 
 the barest facts of the wedding. It reads: 
 
 "Feb. 22 Morning raining. Mer at 30. Wind a little 
 more to the Northward. Afterwards very strong from 
 the No.Wt. and turning clear and cold. The Revd. Mr. 
 Davis and Mr. Geo. Calvert came to dinner and Miss 
 Custis was married abt. Candle light to Mr. Lawe. 
 Lewis." 
 
 The wedding was witnessed by a large group of 
 friends and relatives. The wedding supper in the ban- 
 quet hall of the mansion was the extreme of perfection 
 and elegance in silver, china, linen, and crystal. Cakes, 
 bonbons, and all the dainties that comprised the menu 
 of a wedding banquet of the day were supplied in abun- 
 dance, and many toasts were drunk to the health and 
 happiness of the young couple. 
 
 Many stories have found publication regarding this 
 romance which, after all, came about most logically. 
 After General and Mrs. Washington returned to Mount 
 Vernon upon his retirement from public life, they found 
 the many social demands upon them too arduous; and, 
 to help them entertain the many visitors, most of whom 
 remained over night George Washington sent for his 
 nephew, Lawrence Lewis, a son of his sister, Mrs. Betty 
 Lewis, of Fredericksburg, Va. 
 
 Lawrence was tall, like his distinguished uncle, good 
 looking, and at once fell in love with Nelly. 
 
362 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Many suitors had come, tarried and paid court to the 
 belle of Mount Vernon, who loved all the graces of 
 the Republican court. Legend accredits Mrs. Wash- 
 ington with favoring the suit of a titled Englishman 
 in Philadelphia, who sought Miss Custis' hand. Her 
 brother, George Washington Parke Custis, is said to have 
 favored Charles Carroll, of Maryland. Under the spell 
 of Lawrence's presence, time acquired wings and car- 
 ried romance upon them to their wedding, to the great 
 happiness of the General, who had adopted the little 
 two-year-old Nellie and her infant brother at the death 
 of their father, his aide-de-camp and step-son, John 
 Parke Custis, whose life flickered out as a result of camp 
 fever just after the surrender of Cornwallis at York- 
 town. 
 
 Nellie was his favorite. She met his moods as no one 
 else could do. Her beauty and grace satisfied his aes- 
 thetic sense. Her nimble wit charmed and delighted 
 him and her sweetness of disposition and graces of mind 
 were a constant delight. She could divert, amuse, and 
 send him into shouts of laughter with her gift of mim- 
 icry and pantomime, soothe and cheer him with her 
 music and songs in his darkest hours. 
 
 Washington Wrote Will Without Legal Aid 
 
 George Washington did not consult a lawyer when 
 he decided it was time for him to make his will. It was 
 a voluminous document, and he wrote every line of it 
 himself, according to the Division of Information and 
 Publication of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 In the last paragraph of that interesting document 
 
News Releases 363 
 
 he makes reference to the legal profession and the 
 possibilities of disputes. It reads: 
 
 "I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife 
 Martha Washington, my nephews, William Augustine 
 Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe 
 Washington, Samuel Washington & Lawrence Lewis, 
 & my ward, George Washington Parke Custis (when he 
 shall have arr rived at the age of 20 years) , Executrix & 
 Executors of this Will and testament, — In the construc- 
 tion of which it will readily be perceived that no profes- 
 sional character has been consulted or has had any agency 
 in the draught — and that, although it has occupied many 
 of my leisure hours to digest; & to through it into its 
 present form, it may, notwithstanding, appear crude 
 and incorrect — But having endeavored to be plain, and 
 explicit in all its Devises — even at the expense of 
 prolixity, perhaps of tautology, I hope, and trust, that 
 no disputes will arise concerning them; but if, contrary 
 to expectation, the case should be otherwise from the 
 want of legal expression, or the usual technical terms, or 
 because too much or too little has been said on any of 
 the Devises to be consonant with law, my Will and 
 direction expressly is, that all disputes (if unhappily 
 any should arise) shall be decided by three impartial 
 and intelligent men, known for their probity and good 
 understanding; — two to be chosen by the disputants — 
 each having the choice of one — and the third by those 
 two. — Which three men thus chosen, shall unfettered by 
 Law, or legal constructions, declare their sense of the 
 Testators intention; — and such decision is, to all intents 
 and purposes to be as binding on the Parties as if it had 
 been given in the Supreme Court of the United States." 
 
364 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Service Ships Toll Bells as They Pass Mount Vernon 
 
 The precedent of ships tolling their bells when they 
 pass the historic shrine of Mount Vernon goes back to 
 the year 1814. 
 
 In August of 1814, during our second war with 
 England, seven British ships steamed up the Potomac 
 River. What was their objective? Was Mount Vernon 
 to be destroyed in retaliation for the English defeat by 
 General Washington? 
 
 Judge Bushrod Washington, the nephew to whom 
 George Washington bequeathed his home at Mount 
 Vernon, was entertaining a group of jurists and their 
 wives at the time. Would they be injured? Would 
 they be taken prisoners. 
 
 Bushrod Washington anxiously watched the ships 
 through large field glasses. Their home took on a 
 deathly quiet. All was doubt. 
 
 The ships kept up their steady approach. They were 
 nearing Mount Vernon. They were now opposite 
 Mount Vernon. The occupants of the house were 
 resigned to their fate. 
 
 A roar of guns was heard. But the guns were not 
 pointed at the house. The boats kept sailing up the 
 river. The English ships, General Gordon of the Royal 
 Fleet commanding, had fired a salute in respect to our 
 Commander in Chief, the first President of the United 
 States. 
 
 That incident set the precedent of saluting the home 
 of George Washington whenever a service ship passes 
 Mount Vernon. A bell is tolled and the colors are 
 lowered to half mast. The bugle sounds "taps," and, 
 while the guard presents arms, the officers and men on 
 
News Releases 365 
 
 board deck stand at attention and salute as the ship 
 passes the hallowed spot. This spot is America's spiritual 
 symbol of liberty! 
 
 The Coat From Washington's Own Back 
 
 Crowds of visitors to the National Capital have 
 discovered the drawing power of six certain glass cases 
 in the Smithsonian Institution. If this is a harbinger 
 of the interest in relics of George Washington, sure to 
 be more and more evidenced at the approach of the year 
 of the two hundredth anniversary of Washington's 
 birth, the six cases at the Smithsonian will have to be 
 moved to a space where larger crowds can be 
 accommodated. 
 
 Recently a representative of the Division of Infor- 
 mation and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission watched the 
 throng one morning gathered about these glass walls 
 through which all eyes were staring at the china that 
 once graced Washington's dinner table, at his Sheraton 
 and Heppelwhite dining chairs, at the extra-faced watch 
 that he presented to his wife Martha, at all that the 
 Smithsonian Institution possesses that once was inti- 
 mately associated with the first President. These crowds 
 on the outside of the cases were almost as much of a 
 study as the objects within. They were a sign that the 
 power of George Washington to capture the interest and 
 the respect of these Americans of today, far from 
 waning, is rapidly on the increase. 
 
 In one case off by itself in another corner of the mu- 
 seum, it might be said for the benefit of future visitors 
 to the city of Washington, hangs the famed buff-and- 
 
366 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 blue uniform habitually worn by Washington and por- 
 trayed in so many of his portraits. In this particular 
 uniform he must have taken especial pride, for it was 
 the one he donned for the occasion of his historic res- 
 ignation as General of the Army. 
 
 In the same case will be seen the flag of Washington's 
 time as represented in this one of his ownership, con- 
 sisting of the usual bars of red and white, but with the 
 1 3 stars in a circle in the blue of the "Union Jack." Also 
 here are a gold-headed blackthorn cane, Washington's 
 service sword, the sleeping tent he used during the Revo- 
 lutionary War (presented to the institution by George 
 Washington Parke Custis) , a larger field tent, and the 
 poles, pegs and ropes that held them in position. 
 
 But of an importance and an interest greater even 
 than that of these strictly personal mementoes of Wash- 
 ington, is a document that confronts the visitor to the 
 Smithsonian Institution as he enters the very door. This 
 is Washington's commission as General in Chief of the 
 Revolutionary forces, awarded him by the Continental 
 Congress and signed with the flourish of John Hancock, 
 its president, and other officials. That not over-large 
 slip of engrossed paper is almost as priceless as the Dec- 
 laration of Independence itself, for it was this commis- 
 sion which placed in power the one man of the time 
 who was capable of putting the Declaration into prac- 
 tical effect. 
 
 If the awed visitor has attention for anything else 
 in the same case that contains this article, he or she will 
 see something almost as important to history. This is 
 the white brocade robe in which the infant George 
 Washington was christened, not long after his birth in 
 
News Releases 367 
 
 1732. Along with these two outstanding articles are 
 the compass used by Washington as a surveyor in lay- 
 ing out his lands about Mount Vernon, his shaving mir- 
 ror and razor case, his medicine scales, his leather writ- 
 ing case (used during the Revolutionary War and look- 
 ing very much like a modern lawyer's briefcase) , trays 
 of Sheffield silver from Washington's dining table, and 
 various portraits, miniatures and medals. 
 
 Here also are the spyglass and the larger field glass 
 used by General Washington in his battles and his recon- 
 noitering, the brass of both of them now battered and 
 tarnished. With them, in the same case, is an object sure 
 to attract, especially, the feminine eye — a piece of em- 
 broidered velvet that once was the ornamented sleeve 
 of one of Martha Washington's gowns. 
 
 In a companion case adjoining is an array of the china 
 service used by Washington and Martha, and by the un- 
 ending line of guests entertained at their table. And 
 with the dining chairs from the shops of Sheraton and 
 Heppelwhite in another case are tables and a large wing 
 chair which, the attendants at the Smithsonian will tell 
 you, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association would give 
 much money to possess and restore to their former places 
 in Washington's historic home beside the Potomac. 
 
 Washington Spent Much Time in Independence Hall 
 
 The life of George Washington was strangely inter- 
 twined with Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In this 
 building he served as a member of the Continental 
 Congress. 
 
 It was in this building that Congress received the news 
 
368 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 from General Washington of the defeat of Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown, which practically ended the war. 
 
 It was in this building that Washington served as 
 president of the convention which framed the Consti- 
 tution of the United States. 
 
 It was in this building that Washington spent the 
 latter part of his first presidential administration and 
 all of his second one. 
 
 He was inaugurated President in this building March 
 4, 1793, for his second term. His first inauguration, it 
 will be recalled, was in New York, April 30, 1789. 
 
 It was in this building that Washington delivered his 
 famous "Farewell Address" to the American people. 
 
 It was in this building that Congress received official 
 announcement of the death, of Washington. John 
 Marshall, then a member of Congress from Virginia, 
 offered the following resolution: "That a committee in 
 connection with one from the Senate be appointed to 
 consider the most suitable manner of paying honor to 
 the memory of the man, first in war, first in peace, and 
 first in the hearts of his country." Marshall later 
 amended the word "country" to read "countrymen." 
 These famous words were incorporated in Richard 
 Henry Lee's funeral oration in honor of Washington. 
 
 Dramatic History of Independence Hall 
 
 Independence Hall, which will be the scene of 
 impressive ceremonies during the George Washington 
 Bicentennial Celebrations in 1932, is, aside from its his- 
 torical interest, one of the most outstanding archi- 
 tectural monuments in the United States. 
 
News Releases 369 
 
 Independence Hall and its wings were designed and 
 built by Andrew Hamilton, a lawyer of Philadelphia. 
 After the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania had been 
 compelled to "hire a house annually" in which to hold 
 its meetings, the Journal records the fact that on the 
 1st of May, 1729, "the House took into consideration 
 the necessity of a house of the Assembly for this Province 
 to meet in, and it was unanimously resolved that £2,000 
 of the £30,000 then to be emitted in paper currency, 
 should be appropriated towards building such a House." 
 
 The State House was first occupied by the legisla- 
 ture in October, 1736, when Andrew Hamilton was 
 elected speaker for the seventh term and Benjamin 
 Franklin was a clerk. 
 
 It was not until 1750, however, that the assembly 
 ordered a tower to be erected in which the famous old 
 Liberty Bell was later placed. 
 
 In 1759 a clock was also placed in the tower. 
 
 Of the notable events that have taken place in Inde- 
 pendence Hall, the following are of especial interest: 
 
 On June 16, 1775, Washington accepted his appoint- 
 ment as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. 
 
 On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence 
 was adopted. 
 
 The convention to form a new constitution for 
 Pennsylvania met from July 15 to September 28, 1776, 
 and unanimously approved the Declaration of 
 Independence. 
 
 The American officers taken by the British at the 
 Battles of Brandy wine (September 11, 1777) and Ger- 
 mantown (October 4, 1777) were held in the declara- 
 tion chambers as prisoners of war. 
 
370 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Continental Congress, which had left Philadelphia in 
 December, 1776, reconvened in the east room March 4, 
 1777; they left again September 18, returned July 2, 
 1778, and continued to sit there until the close of the 
 Revolution. 
 
 On July 9, 1778, the Articles of Confederation and 
 perpetual union between the States were signed in the 
 declaration chamber by eight States. The five remain- 
 ing signed later, the last (Maryland) on March 1, 1781. 
 
 The Federal convention met there to frame a con- 
 stitution for the United States from May 14 to Sep- 
 tember 14, 1787, and, after final action and engrossing 
 of the Constitution, those present affixed to it their 
 signatures. 
 
 The convention for the State of Pennsylvania ratified 
 the Federal Constitution here on December 13, 1787. 
 
 In 1802 the whole of the second floor of the State 
 House was used as a museum by Charles Willson Peale, 
 the portrait painter, he having been granted the use of* 
 it free by the legislature. 
 
 In 1824 Lafayette visited Philadelphia and was given 
 a reception in the independence chamber. 
 
 The bodies of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the 
 United States Supreme Court; Henry Clay (1852); 
 Elisha Kent Kane, the Arctic explorer (1857) ; and 
 Abraham Lincoln (1865) were among those which lay 
 in state in Independence Hall. 
 
 Independence Voted July 2, 1776 
 
 July 2 has been neglected as an anniversary date of 
 importance by the American people, yet it is one of the 
 most significant dates of our history, for it was on 
 
News Releases 371 
 
 July 2, and not on July 4, 1776, that American inde- 
 pendence was really voted by the Continental Congress 
 then in session. 
 
 The United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission calls the attention of the Nation to this 
 fact and suggests that, when the people throughout the 
 land celebrate Independence Day in 1932, during the 
 celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the 
 birth of George Washington, July 2, as well as July 4, 
 be recognized in the merry-making and thanksgiving 
 which the anniversary of that great document brings 
 forth. 
 
 The story of how independence was voted is here 
 briefly told. Before 1775, independence was not 
 thought of by most of the American leaders or by the 
 American public at large. The colonists were inter- 
 ested in righting the wrongs inflicted by the British 
 but not in breaking away completely from the mother 
 country. 
 
 Several attempts at conciliation were made, all with- 
 out result. But many of the colonists were still anxious 
 to close the breach rather than widen it. As late as 
 January, 1776, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
 and Maryland instructed their members in Congress to 
 vote against independence. 
 
 As the months went on, led by the more radical colo- 
 nial statesmen, the demand for independence began to 
 crystallize. Soon it became the goal. Complete inde- 
 pendence from England was to be the reward for 
 American sacrifices. 
 
 January, 1776, brought to Congress news of the 
 burning of Norfolk, Va., by the order of Lord Dun- 
 
372 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 more. About that time Thomas Paine's "Common 
 Sense" stirred the colonists to fever pitch. Also reports 
 reached Philadelphia in May that England was hiring 
 Hessians to coerce the Colonies. There was also the 
 stigma of being proclaimed "rebels" and treated as such. 
 All these events and conditions had their effect in 
 arousing public opinion to the point of demanding 
 independence. 
 
 George Washington, at the head of the Continental 
 forces, was urging the Colonies to declare independence. 
 He thought that the time for parleying and compro- 
 mises was past. Complete severance and independence 
 from the mother country, he thought, would help 
 bring the struggle to a successful end. 
 
 On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced in 
 Congress three famous resolutions. The first of these 
 declared the United Colonies free and independent 
 States, one of the most momentous resolutions ever 
 introduced in Congress. 
 
 Lee's resolution was tabled for the time being, but 
 Congress created a committee, with Thomas Jefferson 
 at its head, to draw up a declaration of independence. 
 Lee's resolution for independence was brought up in 
 Congress for debate on July 1. On the next day, July 2, 
 1776, the vote was taken and it showed 12 States in 
 favor of independence, New York not voting. 
 
 It was, therefore, on July 2, 1776, that independence 
 was really declared. Thomas Jefferson's declaration of 
 independence was then taken up and, after several 
 changes were made, the Declaration of Independence 
 as we know it was adopted by Congress on July 4, 1 77 G. 
 
 The suggestion of the United States George Wash- 
 
News Releases 373 
 
 ington Bicentennial Commission that July 2, as well as 
 July 4, be celebrated is a good one. Let the Nation 
 prepare to have a three-day celebration next year instead 
 of the usual one-day event. It will be particularly ap- 
 propriate during the year when the man who made the 
 Declaration of Independence a reality is being honored 
 on the two hundredth anniversary of his birth. 
 
 Liberty Bell May Ring Again 
 The famous old Liberty Bell, which so joyously rang 
 to announce the Declaration of Independence and which 
 tolled so sadly when George Washington died at Mount 
 Vernon, may again ring forth from Independence Hall 
 in Philadelphia on Washington's next birthday, Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1932. 
 
 Efforts are being made by officials of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission to 
 arrange for a nation-wide radio hook-up on this date 
 and have President Hoover press an electric button in 
 Washington which will start the Nation's most historic 
 bell ringing again after a silence of almost 100 years. 
 It is proposed to have the bell strike 13 times, once for 
 each of the thirteen original States. 
 
 According to noted Philadelphia historians, the last 
 ringing of the bell was on July 8, 1835, in honor of the 
 funeral services of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the 
 United States, who died in Philadelphia on July 6, 183 5. 
 While the bell was being solemnly tolled it suddenly 
 cracked. An attempt was made to repair it in 1846 
 for the celebration of Washington's Birthday cere- 
 monies, but this attempt failed. It is believed, however, 
 that while the cracked bell will not give forth its once 
 
374 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 famous clarion notes, it will, nevertheless, ring suffi- 
 ciently loud to be heard by all radio listeners, if it is 
 tapped 13 times on the anniversary of Washington's 
 birth next year. 
 
 Before it cracked, the Liberty Bell had lived a life of 
 82 useful years and had become one of the most famous 
 bells in the world. All through the Revolutionary War 
 the Liberty Bell was used for the purpose of calling 
 together the inhabitants of the city to learn news from 
 the battle fields. At one time during the war, how- 
 ever, it became necessary to remove the bell hastily from 
 its fastenings and take it out of the city. This exciting 
 event took place on September 18, 1777, when the news 
 came that the British Army was about to occupy Phila- 
 delphia. The bell was carefully loaded on a wagon and 
 conveyed along with the heavy baggage of the Ameri- 
 can Army in a supply train of 700 wagons, guarded 
 by 200 North Carlina and Virginia Cavalry, to Allen- 
 town, Pa., where it was hidden in Zion's Church until 
 June 27, 1778, when it was taken back to Philadelphia 
 and again placed in Independence Hall. 
 
 Never from that time until 1835 did anything of 
 importance happen that was not announced by the 
 ringing of this historic bell. It was joyously rung when 
 the news came of the surrender of Cornwallis to Gen- 
 eral Washington, which ended the Revolution. 
 
 The old bell is reverently preserved. It stands on 
 the ground floor of Independence Hall, where it is 
 viewed daily by thousands of visitors from all sections 
 of this country. 
 
 The Liberty Bell has been a great traveler in its day. 
 In fact, it has seen more of the United States than a 
 
News Releases 375 
 
 vast majority of the people. In addition to its war- 
 time trip to Allentown, it has made the following peace- 
 time journeys: 
 
 July 23, 1885: To New Orleans for the World's In- 
 dustrial and Cotton Exposition. 
 
 July 25, 1893: To the World's Columbian Exposi- 
 tion at Chicago. 
 
 October 24, 1895: To the Cotton States and Atlantic 
 Exposition, Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 January 6, 1902: Interstate and West India Exposi- 
 tion, Charleston, S. C. 
 
 June 15, 1903: Bunker Hill Celebration, Boston, 
 Mass. 
 
 June 15, 1904: Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. 
 Louis, Mo. 
 
 October 23, 1913: Historical Street Parade, Founders' 
 Week Celebration, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 July 4, 1915: To the Panama-Pacific Exposition at 
 San Francisco, Calif. 
 
 George Washington very often heard the ringing of 
 the Liberty Bell, due to the fact that he spent more time 
 in Philadelphia than in any other place, except his home 
 State of Virginia. He first went there as a member of 
 the Continental Congress. His next official visit was 
 as the presiding officer of the convention which framed 
 our Constitution. His longest stay in the City of 
 Brotherly Love was as President of the United States 
 from 1790 to 1797. 
 
 The history of the Liberty Bell, even before the 
 American Revolution, is an interesting one. In the year 
 1751 the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania 
 
376 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 decided that the State House at Philadelphia (Inde- 
 pendence Hall) needed a new bell. A resolution was 
 passed instructing the superintendents of the building 
 to secure one. The superintendents, Isaac Norris, 
 Thomas Leech, and Edward Warner, wrote the follow- 
 ing quaint letter to Robert Charles, the colonial agent 
 at London: 
 
 "Respected Friend, Robert Charles: 
 
 "The Assembly having ordered us (the Superinten- 
 dents of the State House) to procure a bell from Eng- 
 land to be purchased for their use, we take the 
 liberty to apply ourselves to thee to get us a good 
 bell, of about two thousand pounds weight, the cost of 
 which we assume may amount to one hundred pounds, 
 sterling, or perhaps with the charges something more. 
 
 "We hope and rely on thy care and assistance in this 
 affair, and that thou wilt procure and forward it by 
 the first good opportunity, as our workmen inform us 
 it will be much less trouble to hang the bell before the 
 scaffolds are struck from the building where we intend 
 to place it, which will not be done 'till the end of next 
 summer or beginning of the fall. 
 
 "Let the bell be cast by the best workmen, and ex- 
 amined carefully before it is shipped, with the following 
 words, well shapen in large letters round it, viz: 
 
 " 'By order of the Assembly of the Province of Penn- 
 sylvania for the State House in the City of Philadel- 
 phia, 1752/ 
 
 "And underneath: 'Proclaim Liberty throughout all 
 the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. — Lev. 
 XXV. 10/ 
 
News Releases 377 
 
 "As we have experienced thy readiness to serve this 
 province on all occasions, we desire it may be our excuse 
 for this additional trouble, from thy assured friends, 
 
 "Isaac Norris 
 "Thomas Leech 
 "Edward Warner 
 
 "Let the package for transportation be examined with 
 particular care and the full value insured thereon." 
 
 The careful directions by the superintendents were 
 duly carried out by the colonial agent at London. The 
 bell was cast by Thomas Lister, of Whitechapel, Lon- 
 don, and reached Philadelphia in August, 1752. It, 
 however, was not a success. When placed on trusses in 
 the State House yard for a trial ringing it was soon 
 cracked. 
 
 An American firm was now given a chance to see 
 what it could do in the way of producing a satisfac- 
 tory bell. The name of this firm was Pass & Stow, "two 
 ingenious workmen" of Philadelphia. These two young 
 men broke up the English-made bell, melted the mate- 
 rial, added an ounce and a half of American copper to 
 each pound of the old metal to make it less brittle, and 
 recast it with all the original inscriptions on it, with 
 the exception of the substitution of their own names 
 for that of the London manufacturer and the date and 
 place of manufacture. Certain defects made a second 
 casting necessary. The bell as it now stands is the result 
 of this second casting. 
 
 The bell is considerably larger than most people 
 imagine, it being 12 feet in circumference and with a 
 clapper 3 feet 2 inches long. 
 
378 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The early official ringers of this famous bell were 
 Edward Kelly, from 1753 to 1755; David Edward, from 
 1755 to 1758; and Andrew McNair, from 1758 to 
 1776. It was McNair who had the honor of ringing 
 the bell announcing the Declaration of Independence. 
 
 Richard Henry Lee's Independence Resolution 
 
 January 20, 1931, marks the one hundred and ninety- 
 ninth anniversary of the birth of Richard Henry Lee, a 
 leading statesman of America during and after the 
 Revolutionary War, and a close personal friend of 
 George Washington. 
 
 It was Lee's famous resolution, introduced in Con- 
 gress on June 7, 1776, that paved the way for the Decla- 
 ration of Independence. His address to the people of 
 British America, and the second address to the people 
 of Great Britain, were also considered among the most 
 effective papers of the time. 
 
 In accordance with instructions given by the Virginia 
 House of Burgesses, Lee introduced in Congress, the fol- 
 lowing resolutions: (1) "That these united colonies are, 
 and of right ought to be, free and independent states, 
 that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British 
 Crown, and that all political connection between them 
 and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally 
 dissolved;" (2) "that it is expedient to take the most 
 effectual measures for forming foreign alliances," and 
 ( 3 ) "that a plan of confederation be prepared and trans- 
 mitted to the respective colonies for their consideration 
 and approbation." 
 
 After debating the first of these resolutions for three 
 days, Congress resolved that further considerations 
 
News Releases 379 
 
 should be postponed until the first of July; but that 
 a committee should be appointed to prepare a declara- 
 tion of independence. The illness of Lee's wife pre- 
 vented him from being a member of the committee, 
 but his first resolution was adopted on the 2nd of July; 
 and the Declaration of Independence, drafted princi- 
 pally by Thomas Jefferson, was officially adopted two 
 days later. 
 
 Lee spent many years of his life as a member of the 
 Virginia House of Burgesses and as a delegate from the 
 old Dominion State to the Continental Congress. He 
 distinguished himself both as an orator and statesman 
 in both bodies. From 1784-86, he served as president 
 of the Congress. 
 
 When the Federal Constitution came up for ratifi- 
 cation in the Virginia Legislature, Lee opposed it. In 
 the bitter fight which ensued Lee sided with Patrick 
 Henry against George Washington, James Madison, 
 John Marshall, and other advocates of a strong federal 
 government. Lee and Patrick Henry both fought the 
 document on the grounds that it would infringe ma- 
 terially on the independent powers of the several States. 
 
 When Lee's side lost and the Constitution was ratified, 
 he accepted the nomination for United States Senator 
 with the hope of bringing about amendments to the 
 Constitution which would limit the power of the United 
 States Government. It was Richard Henry Lee, as Sen- 
 ator from Virginia, who was responsible for the now 
 famous Tenth Amendment which, in substance, re- 
 served to the States, all power not specifically granted 
 to Congress. 
 
 As time went on, Lee became a warm supporter of 
 
380 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Washington's administration, and his prejudices against 
 the Constitution were largely removed. 
 
 Although Lee was often on the other side of the po- 
 litical fence, he was one of Washington's closest friends. 
 He was a frequent guest at the Washington home and 
 was one of the very few men who was really on intimate 
 terms with the Father of his Country. 
 
 Richard Henry Lee received an academic education 
 in England and returned to Virginia in 1752, having 
 come into possession of a fine estate left him by his 
 father. When twenty-five years old, he was appointed 
 Justice of the Peace of Westmoreland County. In the 
 same year, he began his long and distinguished career 
 in the Virginia House of Burgesses. 
 
 Richard Henry Lee early allied himself with the Pa- 
 triotic or Whig element in Virginia, and in the years 
 immediately preceding the Revolutionary War was con- 
 spicuous as an opponent of the arbitrary measures of 
 the British ministry. In 1768 in a letter to John Dick- 
 inson, of Pennsylvania, he suggested a private corre- 
 spondence among the friends of liberty in different colo- 
 nies, and in 1773 he became a member of the Virginia 
 Committee of Correspondence. 
 
 His distinguished services in Congress and in the Sen- 
 ate mark him as one of the outstanding Americans 
 of the eighteenth century. He retired from public life 
 in 1792 and died at Chantilly, in Westmoreland County, 
 on June 19, 1794. 
 
 French Colonial Patriots 
 
 To attempt to measure how much we Americans 
 owe to France for the Independence of the United 
 
News Releases 381 
 
 States would be like trying to estimate the inestimable. 
 
 The value of the help that France gave to the Ameri- 
 can Colonies at the most critical period of their exist- 
 ence — when that great question was being determined 
 whether they would remain a chastised portion of the 
 British Empire, and whether George Washington and 
 his compatriots would be adjudged traitors or the patri- 
 otic founders of a new Nation — can never be measured. 
 
 What would have happened to the English Colonies 
 in America, if France had not taken the part of the 
 Americans with her friendship, her gallant army and 
 her powerful fleet, no one is qualified to state. It is 
 practically certain, however, that the Revolution would 
 have been prolonged, and the outcome might possibly 
 have been doubtful. 
 
 France's help was of two kinds. She sent us volun- 
 teer officers like Lafayette, who had been trained in the 
 art of warfare far beyond anything that had been taught 
 on this continent. Then the French Government de- 
 cided to aid us with a trained army under Count de 
 Rochambeau and with a fleet under Count de Grasse, 
 without which it is probable Cornwallis and his Euro- 
 pean veterans could have escaped across the narrow 
 waters of the York River, and the decisive battle at 
 famous little York town, Va., which practically ended 
 the war, would not have been a victory for General 
 Washington. 
 
 Few Americans would probably admit that in the 
 end they could not alone have somehow succeeded — 
 as the British say of themselves, "blundered through," — 
 but how and when, and at what cost of money, lives, 
 and territory, no one can say. 
 
382 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Let the figures of the Allied Army under General 
 Washington speak for themselves: 
 
 The besieging army at Yorktown consisted of an 
 American wing and a French wing, both under the com- 
 mand of General Washington as Commander in Chief. 
 Marquis de Lafayette, having come across the Atlantic 
 at his own expense long before France sent an army over 
 to aid us, had been appointed a volunteer officer at once 
 by Congress, even though he was then but a boy less 
 than 20 years old, and at the siege of Yorktown he com- 
 manded the Light Infantry Division of the American 
 wing with the rank of Major General. He was then 
 only 25 years old. 
 
 The official rolls and registers show that the Conti- 
 nental wing — that is, the American soldiers at the bat- 
 tle of Yorktown, including 3,200 militia who were well 
 known for their bravery but also for inability to with- 
 stand the veteran troops of Europe that composed the 
 British Army — amounted in all to 8,945; while the 
 French wing, under Count de Rochambeau, with the 
 rank of Lieutenant General, totaled 7,800 trained sol- 
 diers. 
 
 This force was besieging approximately 7,500 British 
 regulars who had seen service on some of the severest 
 battlefields of Europe. That number included some 
 2,000 German mercenaries, well known for their pro- 
 fessional fighting qualities. The British also had elab- 
 orate earthworks around the towns well manned with 
 guns. 
 
 These figures, which are not easily accessible in ordi- 
 nary historical works, indicate in a startling manner 
 what might have happened at Yorktown, if Rocham- 
 
News Releases 383 
 
 beau with his trained French Army had not been there 
 to assist General Washington's Continentals, and the 
 3,200 militiamen, many of whom were raw recruits. 
 
 These plain facts show how much the American peo- 
 ple owe to French assistance in winning the battle that 
 virtually gave them independence, especially when it 
 is also taken into consideration that, had not the French 
 fleet of the Count de Grasse bottled up the army of 
 Cornwallis on the water side of the besieged town, the 
 British army could easily have escaped and carried out 
 its previous tactics, leading the army of Washington 
 another merry chase through Virginia, Pennsylvania, 
 New Jersey, and the other Colonies, with no end in 
 sight. 
 
 It is small wonder that the American troops that went 
 to France in 1917 to help the Allies after the World 
 War had been going on since August, 1914, had the name 
 of Lafayette on their lips. To them Lafayette repre- 
 sented the French help in the Revolution, because La- 
 fayette was a romantic figure, and then, too, General 
 Washington loved him and treated him as a son. Later, 
 when Lafayette had a son of his own, he named him 
 George Washington Lafayette, so close was the bond 
 of friendship between the two men. 
 
 When Lafayette visited the United States for the last 
 time in 1824 — an old man, 77 years of age — he traveled 
 through all parts of the Republic that he did so much 
 to found, and he was given ovations such as had never 
 before been equaled and seldom, if ever, have been 
 equaled since, in this country. Unashamed, the veteran 
 felt the tears roll down his face as he visited Mount Ver- 
 non with his son — the home of his once beloved Gen- 
 
384 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 eral — and other places that he remembered so well, but 
 which had already begun to take on the semblance of 
 more civilized and closely built communities. To Amer- 
 ica Lafayette on that visit represented all that was 
 friendly to Americans in France and his name will al- 
 ways be one to conjure with in the United States. 
 
 But it is the story of the gallant army of Count de 
 Rochambeau, and the timely arrival of the fleet of 
 Count de Grasse that must not be forgotten in telling 
 of the real aid that France as a Nation gave to the Colo- 
 nies struggling to become a Nation. 
 
 It was not hatred of the English that brought French- 
 men into the American War of Independence. It was 
 love of liberty. Although still a monarchy, France was 
 on the brink of the French Revolution, the catch words 
 of which were "liberty and equality." That is the 
 reason largely why Benjamin Franklin was given such 
 splendid receptions as the envoy of the new Republic 
 in France — that, and his own unique and winning per- 
 sonality. 
 
 Many eager and able young Frenchmen went with 
 Rochambeau when the King placed him at the head of 
 the army that was to go to the other side of the At- 
 lantic and fight for liberty — as J. J. Jusserand, recently 
 and for so many years the popular Ambassador from 
 France to the United States, put it — "Brothers in Arms" 
 with the American Colonists. 
 
 Volumes are required to tell in detail all of the ex- 
 ploits in America of Rochambeau and his men, of La- 
 fayette and other Frenchmen, including Maj. Pierre 
 Charles L'Enfant, the brilliant French army engineer, 
 who, under the supervision of General, then President, 
 
News Releases 385 
 
 Washington, drew the plans for Washington City, the 
 Capital of the Nation — plans that are still being fol- 
 lowed and are today making it one of the most beautiful 
 capitals in the world. 
 
 Rochambeau, after several successful campaigns in 
 Europe, was sent in 1780 to help the American Colo- 
 nists against the English. He was given 6,000 French 
 troops and the rank of Lieutenant General. Landing 
 at Newport, R. I., July 10, he was held there inactive 
 for a year, owing to his reluctance to abandon the 
 French fleet, which at that time was blockaded by the 
 British in Narragansett Bay. 
 
 In the next July Rochambeau joined Washington on 
 the Hudson. That September the celebrated march of 
 the combined forces began to the Virginia peninsula, 
 where they formed a junction with the troops of La- 
 fayette. General Washington decided upon this fa- 
 mous movement when he learned that the French fleet 
 under Count de Grasse was sailing for Chesapeake Bay 
 and would be able to aid the army in the autumn. The 
 result was the surrender of the British under Cornwallis 
 at Yorktown, near the mouth of the York River, Va. 5 
 October 19, 1781, just 150 years ago next October. 
 
 This surrender, which brought about peace, will be 
 celebrated at a sesquicentennial celebration at Yorktown 
 in October, 1931, which will be in a measure a fore- 
 runner of the great bicentennial celebration of Wash- 
 ington's birth that will begin February 22, 1932. 
 
 Throughout the entire campaign Rochambeau dis- 
 played admirable spirit, placing himself entirely under 
 General Washington's command and handling his troops 
 as a part of the American Army. Congress was so much 
 
386 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 impressed with the value of his services that it voted 
 him and his troops the thanks of the Nation and pre- 
 sented him formally with two cannon taken from the 
 British. 
 
 On his return to France Rochambeau was loaded with 
 favors by King Louis XVI and was made governor of 
 Picardy. In the French Revolution Rochambeau com- 
 manded the Army of the North in 1790, but resigned 
 two years later. Subsequently he was pensioned by 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, having narrowly escaped the guil- 
 lotine during the Reign of Terror. He died honorably 
 at Thore May 10, 1807. Americans have never for- 
 gotten his great assistance at the birth of their Nation. 
 His statue stands at one corner of Lafayette Square, the 
 beautiful park which faces the White House, in Wash- 
 ington City, residence of the Presidents. 
 
 The news that Count de Grasse was bringing his fleet 
 to the Chesapeake to help the Colonists spread like wild- 
 fire among the American soldiers and increased their 
 morale tremendously. Their camps were merry with 
 songs and the joy in Philadelphia was manifested by the 
 crowds that passed before La Luzerne, representative 
 of the French Government in the new Republic. He 
 and France were cheered to the echo. 
 
 "You have," wrote Rochambeau to Admiral de 
 Grasse, "spread universal joy throughout America, with 
 which she is wild." 
 
 De Grasse, before leaving the West Indies, had great 
 difficulty in obtaining the money needed for the naval 
 campaign, although he offered to mortgage for it his 
 castle of Tilly, and the Chevalier de Charitte, in com- 
 mand of the man-of-war Bourgogne, made a like offer. 
 
News Releases 387 
 
 At last, with the aid of the Spanish governor of Havana, 
 he obtained the desired amount of 1,200,000 francs. 
 
 "It can truly be said," wrote the former French Am- 
 bassador to the United States, J. J. Jusserand, in 1916, 
 "that no single man risked more, or did more, for the 
 United States than de Grasse, the single one of the lead- 
 ers to whom no memorial has been dedicated." 
 
 The chapter of the Daughters of the American Revo- 
 lution located at and near Yorktown, is however, known 
 as the "De Grasse Chapter," which is evidence that the 
 American people never forgot his great services to their 
 country. 
 
 De Grasse brought more than his ships and sailors. 
 With him came the Marquis de Saint-Simon with 3,000 
 regular French troops under his command. 
 
 Marquis de Lafayette, for whom the American people 
 have always had great affection that represents in large 
 measure their love for France, was 19 and a captain of 
 dragoons in France when the English Colonies in Amer- 
 ica proclaimed their independence. 
 
 "At the first news of this quarrel," he wrote after- 
 ward in his memoirs, "my heart was enrolled in it." 
 
 Through Silas Deane, then the American representa- 
 tive in Paris, Lafayette arranged to enter the American 
 military service as a major general in December, 1776. 
 At the time that the young marquis was ready to sail 
 for America news was received of grave reverses to the 
 American arms — and even the American envoys, Benja- 
 min Franklin and Arthur Lee, who had superseded 
 Deane, withheld further encouragement, and the French 
 king himself forbade his leaving. 
 
 But finally, after many vicissitudes, the ardent young 
 
388 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 soldier and lover of liberty succeeded in evading British 
 ships that had been ordered to capture him and landed 
 at Georgetown, S. C. When this boy of 19 presented 
 himself to Congress at Philadelphia with authority from 
 Deane to demand the highest rank in the Continental 
 Army next to the Commander in Chief, it must be ad- 
 mitted that for a time his reception was somewhat 
 chilly. Appreciating the difficulties of the new Gov- 
 ernment, Lafayette offered to serve without pay and 
 act as a volunteer. So different were these conditions 
 from those asked by some other foreign officers who 
 wanted to serve in the American Army that Congress 
 hesitated no longer, but passed a resolution July 31, 
 1777, accepting his services, praising his zeal and mak- 
 ing him a major general of the Continental Army. 
 
 It was next day that the lad met General Washing- 
 ton, whose lifelong friend he became. Congress had in- 
 tended his rank to be purely honorary, but this did not 
 suit the young French officer. 
 
 In his first battle at Brandywine he showed great 
 courage and was wounded. Soon thereafter Washing- 
 ton gave him what he most desired, the command of a 
 division of troops. He fought in numerous engage- 
 ments and received the thanks of Congress for his brav- 
 ery and zeal. 
 
 After a mission to France in 1779 on behalf of the 
 Colonies, which consumed about six months, he re- 
 turned to America and was given charge of the defense 
 of Virginia. He borrowed money on his own account 
 to provide necessities for his soldiers. His part in the 
 decisive battle of Yorktown was a very important and 
 an honorable one. Thereafter he obtained leave from 
 
News Releases 389 
 
 the army and returned to France to use his influence 
 in favor of a general peace, in which the Independence 
 of the United States would be recognized by Great 
 Britain and the other nations of Europe. 
 
 The dramatic story of Lafayette's part in the events 
 of the French Revolution, his military campaigns in 
 Europe and his five years' confinement in Prussian and 
 Austrian prisons is too well known to require repetition. 
 After his memorable visit to the United States in 1824, 
 he took his seat in the French Chamber of Deputies, 
 a place which he held until his death at Paris, May 20, 
 1834. 
 
 Lafayette's services to the United States and the love 
 which the American people bore him is manifested in 
 numerous statues throughout the land and the naming 
 of many towns and cities for him. 
 
 Like his distinguished father, his son, George Wash- 
 ington de Lafayette, became a soldier and had a dis- 
 tinguished military career in Europe. 
 
 The French people, like those of so many other coun- 
 tries, have always had a profound admiration for George 
 Washington. On account of the close, father- and-son 
 attitude of Washington and Lafayette, the aid of the 
 French army of Rochambeau and of the French fleet 
 under de Grasse, there has always been a closer relation- 
 ship with France in commemorating George Washing- 
 ton, than in the case of any other foreign nation. 
 
 When the French Bastille fell — taken by the people 
 at the beginning of the French Revolution — Lafayette 
 sent the key of that notorious old prison as a present to 
 George Washington. 
 
 "It is a tribute," wrote Lafayette, "which I owe as a 
 
390 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 son to my adopted father, as an aide-de-camp to my 
 general, as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch." 
 
 The key — symbol of the downfall of despotism and 
 the rise of freedom in France — is still at Mount Ver- 
 non, where George Washington placed it. 
 
 Polish Colonial Patriots 
 
 The names of two great Poles will be associated with 
 the name of George Washington and the founding of 
 the American Republic, as long as history endures. They 
 are: Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Kazimierz Pulaski. Kos- 
 ciuszko was the first of that noted galaxy of foreign 
 officers who volunteered for the cause of the Colonies. 
 Of this noted group, only Pulaski and DeKalb gave their 
 lives in the Revolution. 
 
 Kosciuszko and Pulaski, while imbued with the same 
 ideals, differed widely in their personalities and in their 
 military specialties. Kosciuszko was a highly trained 
 technician, while Pulaski, although regarded as a mili- 
 tary genius, was more of the dashing type whom men 
 would follow cheerfully to their deaths. Both men are 
 credited, at different times, with saving the American 
 cause. 
 
 The beginning of the year 1777 was a dark period 
 for the Continental Army. The troops were ill-clad, ill- 
 fed, and had suffered one defeat after another. On top 
 of this it was learned that General Burgoyne was coming 
 down through New York State from the north. Gen. 
 Horatio Gates commanded the American Army of the 
 North. Kosciuszko, who had already demonstrated his 
 ability in the fortification of Philadelphia, was con- 
 
News Releases 391 
 
 nected with Gates' army as an engineer. Kosciuszko 
 recommended that a battery be placed on the summit 
 of Sugar Loaf Hill. Unfortunately for the Colonial 
 officers, General Gates was relieved of this command, 
 after he had approved the Kosciuszko plan of defense. 
 His successor vetoed the plan, with disastrous results. 
 After the commander who relieved Gates began to sus- 
 pect that he had made a mistake, he sent the same Colo- 
 nel Wilkinson who later carried to Congress the report 
 of the capture of Burgoyne to inspect the defenses. Wil- 
 kinson promptly wrote: "For the love of God let Kos- 
 ciuszko return here, and as quickly as possible." Un- 
 fortunately, this belated recommendation of Kosciusz- 
 ko's plan of defense was too late. The English, already 
 on Lake Champlain, themselves followed Kosciuszko's 
 idea. 
 
 When Gates was restored to his command, he com- 
 missioned Kosciuszko to devise a plan for the defense 
 of Saratoga and to check the British advance. Kos- 
 ciuszko fortified Bemis Heights. The Americans crushed 
 Burgoyne's force in the Saratoga valley, and hope flamed 
 anew in the hearts of the Colonists. Following this vic- 
 tory at Saratoga, one of the decisive engagements of 
 history, many European powers recognized the inde- 
 pendence of the United States, even though the war had 
 not been concluded. 
 
 Historians point to Kosciuszko's part in this battle 
 and in the preparation for it as showing his astounding 
 worth to the American forces. A victory by Burgoyne 
 at that time might easily have brought in its train com- 
 plete defeat for the Colonists and might have placed an 
 entirely new face upon subsequent world history. Gen- 
 
392 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 eral Gates eagerly acknowledged his indebtedness to Kos- 
 ciuszko in his official report to Congress. 
 
 Kosciuszko's next task was the fortification of the 
 heights of West Point. Radiere, described as an "im- 
 patient, petulant officer," was originally entrusted with 
 the task. He planned it on too large a scale, accom- 
 plished little, and Kosciuszko was dispatched to the 
 scene. The young Polish military engineer made many 
 changes in the original plans and the work was pushed 
 rapidly, to the satisfaction of all. By 1778 Kosciuszko 
 had finished the gigantic task, and military men re- 
 garded West Point as impregnable. The importance of 
 the fortification was that the Hudson River was the 
 only passage by which the British could cooperate with 
 an army from Canada, and General Washington re- 
 garded this position as indispensable. He pointed out 
 that upon its security depended America's chief supplies 
 of flour for the armies. 
 
 In 1780 Tadeusz Kosciuszko was appointed chief en- 
 gineer of the Army of the South, then commanded by 
 Gen. Nathanael Greene. Greene found this army lacked 
 clothing, food and resources generally. He sent Kos- 
 ciuszko to select a camp site. The Polish engineer picked 
 out a spot at the head of navigation on the Pedee, in 
 fertile country unspoiled by war. There the army rested 
 and discipline and spirits were revived. 
 
 Kosciuszko retained this post until the end of the 
 war. His duties generally were to survey the field of 
 operations, determine sources of water and food sup- 
 ply, indicate strategic points of defense and attack, and 
 devise means for rapid movement of troops and provi- 
 sions. The difficulties of this assignment may be im- 
 
News Releases 393 
 
 agined when it is remembered that the army was operat- 
 ing in marshy regions, frequently encountering great 
 swamps. The fighting often of necessity became guerilla 
 warfare, and at those times, despite his rank, the bril- 
 liant young Polish engineer fought with the rest as a 
 common soldier. Kosciuszko was not a soldier of for- 
 tune by any means. He did not present himself to 
 Washington under any assumed title, although that was 
 frequently done at that time. He asked for no rank, 
 demanded no pay. He was given the rank of Colonel- 
 Engineer. Washington termed him "a gentleman of 
 science and merit." 
 
 Kosciuszko 's will, which he left with his friend 
 Thomas Jefferson on his second and last departure from 
 America, displayed a love of liberty extending to all 
 peoples everywhere. While in Virginia he had seen 
 slavery in all its phases. In his will he evidently fore- 
 saw a broader scope of human freedom in America than 
 that for which he was himself disinterestedly battling 
 in an alien land. The famous Kosciuszko will is re- 
 corded as one of the torches lighting the path of human 
 progress. It follows: "I, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, being 
 just on my departure from America, do hereby declare 
 and direct that, should I make no other testimentary 
 disposition of my property in the United States, I hereby 
 authorize my friend, Thomas Jefferson, to employ the 
 whole thereof in purchasing negroes from among his 
 own slaves or any others, and giving them liberty in 
 my name; in giving them an education in trade or other- 
 wise; in having them instructed for their new condi- 
 tion in the duties of morality, which may make them 
 good neighbors, good fathers and mothers, husbands and 
 
394 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 wives, in their duty as citizens, teaching them to be de- 
 fenders of their liberty and country, of the good order 
 of society, and in whatsoever may make them happy 
 and useful; and I make the said Thomas Jefferson execu- 
 tor of this. 
 5th of May, 1798. 
 
 " (Signed) T. Kosciuszko." 
 
 After the war closed, on the recommendation of 
 Washington, Kosciuszko was given the rank of Brigadier 
 General for "long, faithful and honorable services." 
 Ranking with the class of officers second only to Wash- 
 ington and Greene, he with others was given a tract of 
 land where the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, now 
 stands. Tributes and expressions of gratitude too nu- 
 merous to detail were showered upon this foreign hero. 
 Of the many foreign officers who fought in Washing- 
 ton's army, Kosciuszko was one of three selected as a 
 member of the Society of Cincinnati. 
 
 Kosciuszko returned to his own country and in 1794 
 led a revolt to try to strike the shackles of alien gov- 
 ernments from his own people, but failed, and spent his 
 declining years, after a second visit to America, in 
 Switzerland. 
 
 Kazimierz Pulaski came to America with a record 
 of military daring already established in Europe, al- 
 though still a very young man. Before he reached his 
 majority he was a member of the Guard of Duke Charles 
 of Curland. When the Polish throne was vacant, Rus- 
 sian forces moved toward Warsaw, and many Poles re- 
 sented this means of intimidation. They found a leader 
 in Count Joseph Pulaski, who, in 1768, organized the 
 Confederation of Bar, whose object was to vindicate 
 
News Releases 395 
 
 the sovereign rights of Poland. The armed forces of 
 the Confederation actively opposed the puppet king 
 placed on the throne, but the leader of this revolt, the 
 father of Kazimierz Pulaski, was betrayed by treachery 
 and died in prison in 1769. 
 
 Young Kazimierz had entered this fight at the age 
 of 20 and on his father's death the chief command de- 
 volved upon him. The forces under Pulaski finally went 
 down to defeat and in 1772 Russia, Austria, and Prus- 
 sia undertook the first partition of Poland. 
 
 Although he emerged defeated from this long cam- 
 paign, young Kazimierz Pulaski had established an 
 enviable reputation as a soldier and leader of men. 
 Hounded from his own country by alien enemies, Pu- 
 laski sought out Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane in 
 Paris and engaged to enter the American cause to fight 
 for the freedom denied his own people. A year 
 passed before arrangements could be perfected, but in 
 June, 1777, with Lieut. Col. Kotkowski, another Polish 
 patriot, he sailed for America. Franklin wrote General 
 Washington as follows: "Count Pulaski of Poland, an 
 officer famous throughout Europe for his bravery and 
 conduct in defense of liberties of his country against the 
 three great invading powers of Russia, Austria and Prus- 
 sia, will have the honor of delivering this note to Your 
 Excellency's hands." 
 
 Pulaski landed at Marblehead on July 23, 1777. When 
 Pulaski first met Washington, the fortunes of the Colo- 
 nists were at a low ebb. New York had been lost the 
 previous year; a series of defeats, desertions and lapsing 
 of enlistments had reduced Washington's forces to a 
 pitiful ragged handful to oppose Lord Howe's army of 
 
396 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 30,000 thoroughly equipped and well supplied soldiers. 
 
 Washington sent a letter introducing Count Pulaski 
 to the Continental Congress, urging that he be given a 
 commission. Delays held up Congressional action, 
 which did not at all suit the dashing Polish officer. 
 Washington's army had gone to meet the enemy, so Pu- 
 laski went also, although having no official standing. 
 Washington wrote Hancock, introducing Pulaski's plan 
 for a mounted corps. Two weeks later, before the letter 
 could be considered by Congress, Count Pulaski received 
 his American baptism of fire at the battle of Brandy- 
 wine, although holding no command or commission. 
 
 Howe, at the head of 20,000 troops, was marching to 
 capture Philadelphia. Washington drew his poorly 
 equipped and poorly trained men, numbering half as 
 many, across the British advance. Howe and Corn- 
 wallis flanked the Continental army, routing one wing, 
 and forced Washington to retreat. The absence of a 
 mounted force had left Washington in the dark so far 
 as reliable and prompt information of British move- 
 ments was concerned. In this engagement, at a critical 
 time, Washington gave Pulaski command of his own 
 bodyguard of 30 horses. Although this was a pitifully 
 inadequate weapon, with his small detachment Pulaski 
 charged the oncoming British, retarded their advance 
 and checkmated an effort to cut off the American ave- 
 nue of retreat and capture the American baggage. Four 
 days after this, Congress named Pulaski "Commander 
 of the horse, with the rank of Brigadier." In short, this 
 dashing young Polish fighter was the first American 
 chief of cavalry. 
 
 Five days after the battle of Brandywine, on Septem- 
 
News Releases 397 
 
 ber 16, 1777, Pulaski saved the army of Washington 
 from a surprise attack that might have proven disas- 
 trous. Reconnoitering with his cavalry, he found a 
 British army near Warren Tavern. Hastily apprising 
 Washington of the situation, he harassed the enemy, im- 
 peding their progress sufficiently to give Washington 
 time to complete his preparations for battle. 
 
 Pulaski saw little of the terrible winter at Valley 
 Forge. The last day of 1777 he was ordered to Trenton 
 to establish a camp to instruct and condition the soldiers 
 for the next campaign. The latter part of February 
 of the next year Pulaski with 50 men joined Gen. An- 
 thony Wayne, who had 250 New Jersey militiamen. 
 The combined forces, small though they were in num- 
 bers, were ordered to thwart an attack by which the 
 British planned to secure supplies from Philadelphia. 
 On March 3, 1778, the British were met at Haddon- 
 field, N. J. In this encounter Pulaski's horse was shot 
 dead under him and he personally took seven prisoners. 
 General Wayne, reporting the battle, said that "Pulaski 
 behaved with his usual bravery." 
 
 Pulaski was dissatisfied with the condition of the cav- 
 alry he commanded, and also with the inadequate at- 
 tention given his pleas for reorganization and strength- 
 ening of this arm of the service. As he also felt the 
 lack of cooperation on the part of some of his officers 
 who objected to a leader relatively unacquainted with 
 English, Pulaski resigned his command in March, 1778. 
 He then requested Washington and the Continental 
 Congress to permit him to organize an independent 
 force which became famous later as the "Pulaski Le- 
 gion." To the credit of the Continental Congress, it 
 
398 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 adopted a resolution retaining for Count Pulaski his 
 rank of Brigadier General and giving him the permis- 
 sion he desired. 
 
 The next month Pulaski opened a recruiting office 
 in Baltimore and by July of 1778 had raised, organized, 
 and disciplined an independent corps made up of three 
 companies of cavalry and three of infantry. The officers 
 were chiefly Polish and French. Pulaski's Legion served 
 as the model upon which General Lee's independent le- 
 gions were organized in the following century during 
 the Civil War. The famous banner made for his legion 
 by the Moravian Nuns is still preserved by the Mary- 
 land Historical Society of Baltimore. 
 
 Far from seeking to enhance his own fortunes at the 
 expense of the struggling Colonists, Pulaski spent a 
 great deal of his own money in raising and equipping 
 his own legion. Addressing Congress in September, 
 1778, he said he had expended at least $16,000 of his 
 own money. This was only a few months after the in- 
 dependent corps began its existence. Later Captain 
 Baldesquin, paymaster of the Legion, told Congress 
 Pulaski had spent for it at least $50,000 of his own 
 money. In the fall of 1778 the Legion took the field, 
 its first operations being at Egg Harbor, N. J., to pro- 
 tect a privateer base. The infantry portion of the Le- 
 gion was surprised there by the British on October 15, 
 and Lieut. Col. Baron DeBose, a Pole, was slain. Pu- 
 laski's cavalry rescued the infantry and drove back the 
 invaders. 
 
 After further service in Minisink region in New Jer- 
 sey, Pulaski, with part of his force moved South, reach- 
 ing Charleston, S. C, on May 8. Three days later the 
 
News Releases 399 
 
 remainder of the Legion arrived. The same day a Brit- 
 ish force under General Provost crossed the Ashley River 
 with 900 men and was sharply attacked by Pulaski's 
 men. This engagement was of little importance except 
 for the fact that this prompt and bold attack greatly 
 raised the spirits of the people and inspired the inex- 
 perienced troops then in the city with confidence. 
 
 When the governor and council of Charleston were 
 ready to surrender the city to the British, Pulaski, sec- 
 onded by General Moultrie and Colonel Laurens, per- 
 suaded them to reject the plan and that same night Gen- 
 eral Provost retreated across the river, having learned 
 that General Lincoln was marching toward Charleston 
 with a force of 4,000 men. 
 
 Savannah was a British stronghold and General Lin- 
 coln intended to besiege it. Count Pulaski and General 
 Mcintosh preceded the main army, to attack and harass 
 British outposts. The siege of Savannah started Sep- 
 tember 16, with Count d'Estaing with a French fleet 
 aiding the siege from the sea. The French commander 
 finally requested that the city be attacked by storm, 
 to which plan General Lincoln consented after some 
 hesitation. Accordingly, on October 9 the order went 
 forth that the British ramparts were to be stormed. The 
 cavalry of the French and the Americans was com- 
 manded by Pulaski. He was to charge the embattle- 
 ments and the infantry were ordered to storm the right 
 of the British line. 
 
 The well laid plans went wrong due to the treachery 
 of an American soldier who deserted after the orders 
 were announced. Consequently enemy troops were 
 massed at point of attack and deadly fire repulsed the 
 
400 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 assailants. Count d'Estaing tried to advance directly 
 across a swamp, but a deadly cross-fire wrought havoc 
 among his men. Seeing the confusion and knowing that 
 something had gone wrong with the plans, Pulaski, at 
 the head of his cavalry, dashed to reinforce and en- 
 courage the French, at the same time hoping to find an 
 opening through which he could slip to the rear of the 
 British. Riding through a withering flame of enemy 
 shells, he was struck in the groin and fell to the ground 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 The heroic Polish commander was carried away by his 
 own soldiers, placed on the American brig Wasp under 
 the care of skilled French surgeons. However, gangrene 
 had set in and two days later, on October 11, 1779, he 
 was buried at sea. When the Wasp sailed into Charles- 
 ton harbor with her flag at half mast and it became 
 known that the gallant Pulaski was dead, the city went 
 into general mourning. High honors were paid to the 
 memory of the dashing cavalryman by the city, the 
 State, and the Continental Congress. 
 
 Thus ended, at the age of 31 years, the career of a 
 gallant soldier who had made himself an heroic figure 
 both in America and in Europe. 
 
 On the 150th anniversary of the siege of Savannah, 
 October 9-11, 1929, nation-wide tribute was paid to 
 the memory of this fighter for freedom. President 
 Hoover and the Congress of the United States designated 
 a committee to head the national observance of the an- 
 niversary of Pulaski's death, and cities and States from 
 coast to coast united in paying the highest honors to 
 the memory of this distinguished Pole who laid down 
 
News Releases 401 
 
 his life in the cause of the American Independence led 
 by George Washington. 
 
 German Colonial Patriots 
 
 The part played by the Germans both in the Colo- 
 nial wars and in the War of the Revolution is notable, 
 not alone in the fact that practically all Germans liv- 
 ing in America were loyal to the cause of American In- 
 dependence, and that in the matter of bravery, disci- 
 pline and military knowledge they contributed to sup- 
 ply the important deficiencies that the Continental 
 Army so sadly lacked, but the German element in all 
 of the Colonies represented a solid leadership that gave 
 confidence to the general public. 
 
 The French and Indian War constituted the great 
 school of military training for the Colonies. It was the 
 experience gained in these operations that furnished the 
 training and the skill which were the bases of Wash- 
 ington's qualifications for military leadership and for 
 the thousands of Colonists who, at one time or another, 
 were brought into this service. 
 
 It is true there existed in the Colonies a large number 
 of German Sectarians — Mennonites, Quakers, Dunkards, 
 Seventh-Day Baptists, and others whose religion forbade 
 the use of arms. They, like the English Quakers, rep- 
 resented the spirit of non-resistance which brought 
 much suffering upon the frontier settlers during the 
 French and Indian Wars. But if these religious groups 
 did not bear arms, they were nevertheless beneficient 
 cooperators in the cause of American Independence 
 through generous money contributions and the willing 
 
402 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 payment of extra taxes imposed upon them in lieu of 
 military service. 
 
 The splendid achievements of the Germans of the 
 Mohawk Valley in their resistance to the hostile advances 
 of the French and Indian allies in the frontier campaigns 
 is an epic in heroism and achievement. These opera- 
 tions were under the direction of that staunch and 
 courageous man, General Herkimer, and no other cam- 
 paign in all the long list of Colonial exploits rivals for 
 sheer heroism these engagements of the Germans of that 
 great Valley. 
 
 In like manner the large German population of the 
 Valley of Virginia rose in militant defense of the cause 
 of liberty. I can not let this occasion pass without ref- 
 erence to that dramatic and effective gesture that was 
 made by Peter Muhlenberg, the militant preacher of 
 Woodstock, Va. He was most active in all the affairs 
 of the Colonists in relation to the growing spirit of lib- 
 erty, and it was his last sermon at Woodstock in Janu- 
 ary, 1776, that Muhlenberg ended his sermon which 
 was notable, by declaring that "there was a time for 
 preaching and praying, but also a time for battle, and 
 that such a time had now come." He pronounced the 
 benediction, then threw off his clerical robes and be- 
 hold, minister no more, he stood in the uniform of a 
 Colonel of the Continental Army. As he slowly de- 
 scended from the pulpit the drums were beaten outside 
 the church for the mustering of soldiers in the cause of 
 freedom. Four hundred men responded to that call. 
 Colonel Muhlenberg served throughout the war with 
 great distinction and effect. It is an interesting fact 
 that the great State of Pennsylvania, of which Peter 
 
News Releases 403 
 
 Muhlenberg was a native, so signally honored his mem- 
 ory as to give to him one of the two places assigned that 
 State in Statuary Hall of the National Capitol. This 
 beautiful marble statue depicts Muhlenberg in the act 
 of throwing off his clerical robes and stepping from 
 the pulpit, a Colonel of the Revolutionary Army. 
 
 Let us consider, for a moment, the case of a more 
 humble, but none the less patriotic man, one Christopher 
 Ludwig, of Philadelphia, an aggressive patriot. He was 
 a baker, but was early made a member of the "Powder 
 Committee" and did effective work. When Governor 
 Mifflin made a motion in a Philadelphia mass meeting 
 that a collection be taken for the purchase of arms and 
 ammunition and several voices were heard in opposi- 
 tion, Ludwig rose and said in broken English: "Mr. 
 President, I am of course only a poor gingerbread baker, 
 but write me down for two hundred pounds." Later, 
 after he had served energetically on the "Powder Com- 
 mittee," he was put in charge of all the baking of the 
 entire army. It was demanded of him that he furnish 
 100 pounds of bread for every 100 pounds of flour. 
 "No," said he, "Christopher Ludwig does not wish to 
 become rich by the war. He has enough. Out of one 
 hundred pounds of flour one gets one hundred and 
 thirty-five pounds of bread and so many will I give." 
 Immediately after the surrender of Yorktown, Ludwig 
 was ordered to bake bread for the army of Cornwallis. 
 Ludwig baked 6,000 pounds of bread in one day. 
 
 After it was discovered that treachery existed in the 
 troops immediately surrounding the person of George 
 Washington, it was decided to form a bodyguard for 
 him, and this bodyguard was made up almost exclu- 
 
404 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 sively of Germans. Later Washington paid a signal 
 tribute to these guardsmen for their fidelity and their 
 courage. 
 
 Before considering the outstanding services of Baron 
 Steuben, I would like to recall the names of only some 
 of that luminous list of heroes of the German race, 
 whose services and sacrifices are written brilliantly upon 
 the scroll of America's roll of fame. In the Valley of 
 Virginia there were such men as H. M. Muhlenberg 
 and his son Peter, before mentioned, Schlatter, and in 
 Pennsylvania there were a few German Tories, but 
 practically the whole mass of the great German element 
 in that State were sympathetic with the cause of free- 
 dom. Among the Philadelphia leaders mention has been 
 made of the picturesque Christopher Ludwig. There 
 were Schlosser, Engel, Hillegas, Hubley, Barge, Ross, 
 Ferree, Slough, Erwin, Schultz, Potts, Kuchlein, Arndt, 
 Weitzel, Hasenclever, Melcher, Wagner, and scores of 
 others. In Georgia there were John Stirk, John Adam 
 Treutlen, Jacob Waldhauer, John Fieri, and Christopher 
 Cramer. Others leaders of the South were Samuel 
 Stirk, William Holsendorf, and John Stork, who were 
 officers under Wayne. 
 
 There were several German battalions, commanded 
 by German officers, and in almost every regiment there 
 were entire companies of Germans, who acquitted them- 
 selves in a manner that found commendation at the 
 hands of General Washington. 
 
 Of all the distinguished foreigners who aided the 
 American cause none did more real service than Baron 
 von Steuben, the drillmaster of the American forces. 
 In the words of Hamilton: "He benefited the country 
 
News Releases 405 
 
 of his adoption by introducing into the army a regular 
 formation and exact discipline, and by establishing a 
 spirit of order and economy in the interior adminis- 
 tration of the regiments." He had had long and 
 arduous training in many Prussian campaigns and as 
 aide of Frederick the Great. When on a visit to Paris 
 he found a stirring atmosphere of sympathy with the 
 American cause. He met many persons who were fired 
 by enthusiasm, and finally had a talk with Benjamin 
 Franklin, who was then in Paris representing the 
 Colonies. Steuben was, perhaps, the greatest profes- 
 sional soldier of his time. That he chose to give up his 
 promising connections, his large income, and chances 
 of advancement in Europe to come to America and 
 enlist as a volunteer "for any duty which the Com- 
 mander in Chief might assign him," and for no other 
 pay than his actual expenses, speaks most eloquently of 
 his love of liberty and devotion to the American cause. 
 It happened that no greater need existed in the 
 American Army than that which von Steuben could 
 and did supply. The Americans were, for the most 
 part, wholly inexperienced in military affairs. They 
 were merely groups of patriots, undrilled, badly armed, 
 almost unclothed, and utterly unfit to meet the cream 
 of the British veterans. It was indeed a pitiful "army" 
 that von Steuben saw when he came here. As one com- 
 mentator put it, it was merely a "disspirited mob, with- 
 out cohesion or discipline." The army was at the lowest 
 ebb. Washington was at Valley Forge with little more 
 than 5,000 effective men, and these poorly armed and 
 clothed in rags. But Steuben saw possibilities in these 
 men. He at once took charge and "created an army 
 
406 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 out of a mob, transferred farmers and tradesmen into 
 soldiers," so that after infinite patience and the hardest 
 kind of work, the American Army finally emerged 
 from under his hand an organized, disciplined, and 
 mobile body. His service can not be overpraised. Not 
 only did he drill, drill, drill these men, but he effected 
 economies that saved vast sums of money. One instance 
 of the latter service will illustrate the point. The war 
 office, instead of having to count upon an annual loss 
 of from five to eight thousand muskets, could enter 
 upon its records in one year of Steuben's inspectorship 
 only three muskets missing, and even these three were 
 accounted for. 
 
 At Yorktown Steuben was the only American officer 
 who had ever been present at a siege. His experience 
 was of great value. He was actually in command at 
 the time that overtures for surrender were made and 
 when the enemy's flag was lowered. During the last 
 two years of the war the discipline of the regular Amer- 
 ican troops could well be compared to that of European 
 soldiery. 
 
 After the war von Steuben continued to serve this 
 country in placing its military establishment upon a 
 firm foundation. "If," says the Historian Faust, "men 
 are classed according to their services, no one in the 
 military history of the Revolution, after Washington 
 and Greene, stands so high as Steuben." 
 
 Another of the great fighting generals that Germany 
 supplied in the Revolutionary forces was John Kalb, 
 referred to as Baron de Kalb. He was a Bavarian and 
 born soldier. He was employed as secret agent of the 
 French Government in 1768 to inspect the condition of 
 
News Releases 407 
 
 the English Colonies. After his return to Europe he 
 married a wealthy Dutch lady. Nevertheless, he de- 
 cided to come to America again with Lafayette in 1777. 
 He offered his services to Congress, saying that he would 
 be willing to take any employment that General Wash- 
 ington might give him. He rose rapidly because of his 
 great ability. Indeed, fate seemed to have taken a hand 
 in the languishing affairs of the Colonies, and for each 
 particular need there arose a man fully qualified to meet 
 it. In time of stress and dire necessity no men per- 
 formed more heroically or were their performances more 
 timely than those of the Germans. We in America to- 
 day are proud to do them that high honor to which 
 their noble and unselfish deeds entitle them. 
 
 The Swedes in the American Revolution 
 
 The observance next year of the two hundredth an- 
 niversary of the birth of George Washington should 
 appeal to all the people in the United States because it 
 has been planned that this be a people's celebration. This 
 celebration will be taken to the people — a procedure dif- 
 fering from that of the usual celebration. To this end 
 there has been no provision for a national exposition 
 or any other similarly spectacular and localized display. 
 The purpose behind the entire program is to create in 
 the hearts of everyone who enjoys the liberty which pre- 
 vails in this Nation, a greater appreciation for George 
 Washington, the ideals typified in him and the ines- 
 timable service he rendered in establishing the inde- 
 pendence and prosperity of the United States. 
 
 To direct and effect suitable plans for this nation-wide 
 observance, the Congress of the United States created 
 
408 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission. Actuated by the motive stated above, this 
 Commission has constantly stressed the ideals involved 
 and has prepared a great program entirely in harmony 
 with the instructions of Congress to create adequate 
 plans for the event in 1932. The projects now au- 
 thorized and under way are designed for the participa- 
 tion of every individual and every State, city and town 
 in the country. 
 
 George Washington belongs to all Americans whether 
 native born or adopted. The country which he founded 
 is now made up of men and women who themselves have 
 come here from other countries, or whose ancestors, 
 immediate or remote, left the lands of their birth to 
 make homes in America. 
 
 Among the finest citizens of the United States to- 
 day are descendants of those hardy Vikings whose dis- 
 covery of this continent antedated by several hundred 
 years the journey and exploration made by the immortal 
 Columbus. However, the first Swedish people who 
 came to settle in America did not arrive until 1638 when 
 New Sweden, a little colony on the Delaware, was es- 
 tablished under the direction of Peter Minuit. The 
 descendants of these people, together with those of later 
 immigrants, have contributed many notable names to 
 America's history. 
 
 Among the heroes of the American Revolution were 
 men who left their own homes to fight for the inde- 
 pendence of a foreign country. The Frenchmen, Poles, 
 Irish, and Germans who served in this manner have long 
 been celebrated and acclaimed, but the Swedish volun- 
 teers in the conflict have been neglected or confused 
 
News Releases 409 
 
 with the French. It was perhaps only natural that the 
 identity of the Swedes should be lost in the forces of 
 France, for it was under the flag of that country that 
 most of them served. Many times the names of the 
 Swedish officers were changed by the French, and this 
 only added to the confusion. 
 
 Despite the scrambled condition of old records, re- 
 cent investigations have revealed the fact that Sweden 
 contributed many officers to the French expeditionary 
 forces during the Revolutionary War. Most of these 
 men served in the navy, and that is perhaps another 
 reason why they have not been given the recognition 
 to which they are entitled; for only in the land service 
 could a man hope for advancement and distinction. No 
 foreigner could legally command a warship in the 
 French service, and the Colonies had no navy of their 
 own in which merit might be rewarded, previous to 
 the Revolutionary War. In the army it was different. 
 Here the Colonies had rank and position to offer, and 
 many foreign officers secured enviable commissions in 
 the Continental army. Those few who did enter the 
 naval service deserve to be commended for their willing 
 participation in a branch in which the subordinates of 
 John Paul Jones and other naval heroes did not secure 
 high rank. 
 
 Although the army afforded the means for the more 
 spectacular service, the successes which were won on 
 land might never have been secured had it not been for 
 the French navy. It has been the custom to narrow 
 the entire Revolution to the battles which were fought 
 on the American continent, but while these were cer- 
 tainly important factors in the final outcome, it must 
 
410 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 not be supposed that the great conflict was confined 
 to this restricted theater. 
 
 Much of the foreign aid which the Colonies received 
 was obtained through the French navy, which was re- 
 sponsible for conveying men and supplies across the 
 ocean to America. 
 
 Whenever a British battleship was captured, disabled 
 or sunk in any part of the world, the loss reduced by 
 just that much England's chances to dominate the sea. 
 Thus many of the Swedish officers who never saw Amer- 
 ican soil, rendered no less heroic and valuable service 
 than did other foreigners who participated in the im- 
 portant military campaign in the Colonies. Something 
 of the importance of the naval engagements is shown 
 by the fact that the victory which de Suff ren won from 
 the British in Far Eastern waters at the time peace ne- 
 gotiations were being conducted in Paris, contributed 
 not a little toward the favorable terms upon which 
 peace was finally concluded. 
 
 When France became the avowed ally of the Colonies 
 and openly arrayed herself against England, the French 
 were besieged with requests from other governments 
 for commissions in the army destined for America. All 
 these applications could not be accepted, but the French 
 king did want men for his navy, as was indicated by 
 a letter from the Swedish Minister at the court of Louis 
 to his monarch, Gustavus III. This epistle states that 
 Swedish naval officers "have distinguished themselves in 
 such a marked way and shown such evident talent that 
 they are eagerly sought, by preference, in all fields of 
 naval activity." The fact that several of these Swedes 
 who served in the Revolution later became admirals in 
 
News Releases 411 
 
 the Swedish navy may be taken as an indication of their 
 abilities. 
 
 Besides the assistance rendered the Colonies by these 
 Swedish officers, there was the unofficial aid given by 
 Sweden herself. Some historians have held that the 
 geographical position of that nation proved the most 
 serious obstacle to her entrance into the Revolution as 
 an ally of France and America. As it was, the ships 
 of the Colonies, whether privateers, warships or freight- 
 ers, were allowed the use of Swedish ports, where they 
 frequently sought shelter or refreshment. This assist- 
 ance was valuable to the Americans, not only because 
 of the material good enjoyed directly by the crews of 
 these ships, but also because of the effect it produced on 
 Great Britain. Despite Sweden's strong friendship for 
 France, Swedish neutrality had to be maintained, al- 
 though it was merely nominal most of the time. Swe- 
 den was the first neutral country to recognize the inde- 
 pendence of the United States, and, on April 3, 1783, 
 signed a treaty of amity and commerce with the new 
 Nation. 
 
 In addition to the assistance which the Colonies re- 
 ceived through these channels, there was the not incon- 
 siderable factor which was supplied by the presence in 
 the Continental Army, under the command of George 
 Washington and his generals, of officers and men who 
 were descendants of the Swedes of Delaware. Although 
 it is difficult to fix definitely the nationality of many 
 of these soldiers, yet there can be no reasonable doubt 
 that the Swedish Americans furnished proportionately 
 as many patriot volunteers as did any other group in 
 the country at that time. A research conducted re- 
 
412 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 cently by a professor of a prominent university has dis- 
 closed the fact that unmistakably Swedish names are 
 noticably absent from the lists of deserters which were 
 published by the newspapers during the Revolution. 
 
 From all records now accessible, it appears that about 
 70 Swedish officers took some part in the American 
 Revolution. The majority of these saw service in the 
 United States or in North American waters. One of 
 these, Count von Fersen, distinguished himself as an 
 aide to Rochambeau, and took an active and responsible 
 part in the preparations for the siege at Yorktown. This 
 young nobleman, together with his countryman, Col. 
 Curt von Stedingk, later made a count, were elected 
 to the Order of the Cincinnati, of which society George 
 Washington was the first president. Alongside these 
 illustrious names are those of many Swedes who served 
 in lesser capacities but whose contributions entitle them 
 to recognition. Among these are Baron von Fock who 
 distinguished himself at Yorktown; Baron Nordensk- 
 jold, who participated in the siege at Savannah and later 
 became vice admiral in the Swedish Navy; Magnus Dan- 
 iel Palmquist, who fought at Pensacola and Yorktown; 
 Carl Raab, killed at Savannah, and many more who 
 can not here be named for lack of space. 
 
 Among the descendants of the early Delaware Swedes 
 who figured prominently in the Revolutionary War are 
 John Hanson, president of Congress in 1781, and John 
 Morton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. It 
 was Hanson's signature, with that of Daniel Carroll, 
 on the Articles of Confederation which put that docu- 
 ment into effect in 1781. Oddly enough, it was John 
 Morton who later cast the vote which made the neces- 
 
News Releases 413 
 
 sary majority in the Pennsylvania delegation for the 
 Declaration of Independence. He placed his own name 
 on that immortal instrument and earned for his State 
 the soubriquet "Keystone State." Later, while Hanson 
 was "President of the United States in Congress As- 
 sembled," it became his duty to felicitate General Wash- 
 ington on behalf of his country directly after the Brit- 
 ish surrender at Yorktown. 
 
 These facts indicate that Swedish subjects and de- 
 scendants of Swedish immigrants to this country par- 
 ticipated in a commendable manner in the American 
 Revolution — that great struggle to which George Wash- 
 ington gave his best, and to which the United States 
 owes its freedom. That the achievements of the Swedish 
 officers were less spectacular and not of as momentous 
 consequence as those of some other participants, is 
 agreed. The Swedes were men of valor and ability who 
 contributed to the American cause all that was possible 
 under the circumstances, and the Swedish people today 
 may well be proud of the records made by their coun- 
 trymen. 
 
 Irish Colonial Patriots 
 
 Throughout America, in the Colonial Wars and in 
 the War of the Revolution, the Irish displayed a most 
 notable and courageous loyalty in their fight for Amer- 
 ican independence. 
 
 The first of the Irish to reach America came over 
 in 1621, landing in Massachusetts. In later periods, up 
 until 1718, they came in scattered but large groups and 
 thence on and during the War of the Revolution. Many 
 of them found their way into the New England States, 
 
414 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 into Pennsylvania, and the Middle States, and then into 
 the South. The American Colonies were almost wholly 
 planted with the Irish as they came from Ulster. The 
 disastrous circumstances of Irish history continued to 
 drive great bodies of them to America to seek a home 
 and to fight for the cause of liberty. Many of these 
 Irish had military training and had seen service in other 
 countries, which made them a valuable aid to the cause. 
 The Irish from their circumstances were a very military 
 body. They were eminently brave and susceptible to 
 discipline. Records show that they furnished much of 
 the military skill and training so badly needed at that 
 time. It was generally conceded that the army of 
 General Washington was at least 40 per cent Irish. 
 
 One of the significant facts of the Revolutionary 
 War is that the French and Irish troops sent here came 
 upon their own request. The Irish regiments in the 
 French Army, and more particularly the ones under 
 command of Count Dillon, addressed a petition to the 
 French war office asking to be sent to America to fight 
 their so-called hereditary enemy. The request seems to 
 have been willingly and quickly granted. Their first 
 battle was at the siege of Savannah in 1779, where they 
 fought with much heroism and sacrifice under Count 
 Dillon, who was wounded and refused to leave the field. 
 
 The Irish through their different societies contributed 
 largely and generously of money in aid of the patriotic 
 cause. So eager were they to fight in the cause of 
 liberty that many large families of 6, 8 and 10 sons 
 went with their father to battle. Conspicuous among 
 these were the 10 sons of Judge Gaston, of the 
 Carolinas. 
 
News Releases 415 
 
 General Washington, in 1776, expressed grave fear 
 that, in any unfavorable turn in American affairs, the 
 enemy might recruit soldiers faster than the Revolu- 
 tionists. The enemy entertained a like expectation. 
 But in the face of attempts of coercion and bribery, the 
 Irish remained entirely loyal to the new country of 
 their adoption. It was the hope of the enemy to sup- 
 press the rebellion by sowing seeds of disaffection 
 among the American troops. In this they were doomed 
 to disappointment by the large desertion of many of 
 the Irish from their ranks, who joined later the great 
 army of Irish already here. 
 
 In their native land the Irish manifested much 
 sympathy for the American cause, not only welcoming 
 the American privateers to their seaports and supplying 
 them with provisions, but throwing every obstacle in 
 the way of the enemy in raising troops to fight the 
 American Revolutionists. 
 
 It is true there existed in the Colonies many of other 
 lands, but a very large part of the rank and file of 
 the patriotic army was of Irish birth or descent. Sev- 
 eral of the more prominent generals were of this blood, 
 while Irish regimental commanders, minor officers, and 
 privates ran well into the thousands. One-fourth of 
 the commissioned officers in the army and navy were 
 Irish or of Irish descent. The first general officer ap- 
 pointed, General Montgomery, was killed in battle; the 
 first officer of artillery; the first commodore commis- 
 sioned, John Barry, to whom the British flag was struck 
 at sea; and the first officer who surprised a fort by land, 
 were all Irishmen. And with such enthusiasm did these 
 emigrants from the Emerald Isle carry on the fight 
 
416 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 and espouse the cause of liberty that Lord Mountjoy 
 declared in English Parliament, "You lost America by 
 the Irish." 
 
 The whole history of Irish participation in the Revo- 
 lutionary War is replete with noble deeds, courage, and 
 sacrifices. Commodore John Barry offered his services 
 to Congress at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, 
 giving up at that time one of the finest ships afloat to 
 espouse the cause. He commanded an American 
 cruiser in the first sea capture of the war. So highly 
 creditable did General Washington think this exploit 
 that he received the warmest commendation from him. 
 Barry's conduct won him admiration from friend and 
 foe alike. Sir William Howe, then commander in chief 
 of the British forces, offered the daring officer 20,000 
 guineas and command of a British frigate if he would 
 desert the service of the American Navy. Barry re- 
 plied: "Not the value and command of the whole British 
 fleet, can seduce me from the cause of my country." 
 Throughout Barry's entire career in the navy his actions 
 were filled with glorious deeds of heroism. 
 
 Of the first four generals of the army to be 
 appointed by General Washington, two of them were 
 Irish. The first, General Montgomery, fell mortally 
 wounded at the Battle of Quebec; the other, General 
 Sullivan, one of the bravest of them all, fought at the 
 Battle of Long Island, where the Hessians contended 
 desperately against him, telling their men that the 
 Americans would not suffer one of them to live and 
 their sentiment was total extinction. General Wash- 
 ington viewed this battle from the hills in South Brook- 
 lyn and witnessed the slaughter of his troops. Wring- 
 
News Releases 417 
 
 ing his hands at sight of this, he cried: "Good God, 
 what brave fellows I must this day lose." General 
 Sullivan also participated in the Battles of Brandywine, 
 Germantown, and at Trenton. Right here it would be 
 well to mention that Col. Henry Knox, an Irishman, a 
 warm friend of General Washington, should share 
 equally with General Washington and General Sullivan 
 the glory of Trenton. Colonel Knox also superin- 
 tended bravely the passage of the army of General Wash- 
 ington in the famous crossing of the Delaware River 
 through darkness and floating ice, causing General 
 Washington to enthusiastically refer to Knox as "a man 
 of great military reading, sound judgment, and clear 
 conception, and one of the most valuable officers in 
 the service." 
 
 The Moores, Rutledges, Jacksons, Polks, Calhouns, 
 and many other able Irishmen distinguished themselves 
 in the Carolinas. They became leaders of high reputa- 
 tion, two of them becoming Presidents of the United 
 States, and the others governors, Senators, and chiefs 
 of the army and navy. Others of the Irish at that time 
 in many sections of the country played important and 
 daring parts in American history — Fitzgerald, Fitz- 
 simmon, Shields, Sheridan, Emmett, O'Connor, Gilmor, 
 Logan, Fulton, Gorman, Geary, Cavanagh, and Lynchs 
 and Moores innumerable — all helped to establish and 
 maintain the American Republic. 
 
 The splendid achievements of the army at the Battle 
 of Bunker Hill was largely due to the loyal spirit shown 
 by the Irish, who comprised a large part of the Amer- 
 ican Army. Poorly armed, undisciplined, without sup- 
 plies, they took no time to consider chances of success, 
 
418 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 but rushed eagerly into the fray, without hope of pay 
 for their dangerous service. They were kept together 
 solely by virtuous patriotism. 
 
 At the Battle of Fort Washington a humble woman, 
 married to a young Virginian, who joined Col. Thomas 
 Proctor's regiment, saw her husband fall in battle. He 
 was killed at his gun. She was serving in the regiment 
 as a volunteer nurse and jumped into his place, and so 
 well did she serve his gun she is said to have caused 
 terrible havoc among the enemy. General Washington 
 at that time had been an interested spectator on the 
 opposite side of the Hudson. Nothing encouraged him 
 more than this gallant deed, and the style in which the 
 troops fought, and that against a much superior force. 
 But when this force was being cut down and bayoneted 
 while begging quarter, he wept like a child. 
 
 All during the War of the Revolution the women 
 vied with the men in doing their share of the fighting 
 and taking places in the fight for liberty. They, like 
 the men, showed absolute indifference to danger. 
 
 Virginia produced one of the most eloquent men of 
 the entire Revolutionary period, Patrick Henry, who 
 is entitled to a place of much honor in the part played 
 by the Irish. He was of noble Irish birth and was one 
 of the most powerful influences in the Revolution. 
 His masterly eloquence, his words of fire, found their 
 way into the most remote settlements, giving to the 
 people the confidence they needed. Many credit him 
 today, for the speech he made at the Virginia Conven- 
 tion in March, 1775, with contributing more to inde- 
 pendence than any battle of the Revolution. 
 
 Foremost among the Irishmen who threw their 
 
News Releases 419 
 
 influences and fortunes on the side of independence 
 was Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one of the signers 
 of the Declaration of Independence. Like all great 
 men, he never put forward his personality except in 
 cases of emergency. While he was in the act of sign- 
 ing the Declaration of Independence he was taunted 
 with the remark that there were so many Carrolls he 
 could sign his name with impunity. Stung by this 
 remark, he immediately signed two additional words, 
 "of Carrollton," after his name, thereby committing 
 his whole life and fortune to the Revolution. 
 
 Of what more gallant spirits in American annals 
 than Capt. John Brady, the famous scout; Timothy 
 Murphy, who turned the tide of battle at Saratoga; 
 Maj. John Kelley, who destroyed the bridge over 
 Assunpink Creek at the Battle of Trenton, preventing 
 the capture of Washington's Army in its retreat across 
 the Delaware; James Gibbons, who commanded the 
 forlorn hope at the storming of Stony Point; Capt. 
 William O'Neill and his gallant band, who held in check 
 an entire regiment at the Battle of Brandywine. At this 
 battle General Washington tearfully said: "God bless 
 you boys; I thought I should never see you again." Here 
 may be mentioned Matthew Lyon, who was one of the 
 real fathers of this Republic. He helped plant, not only 
 in Connecticut and Vermont, where he first settled, but 
 throughout the Nation, the undying principles of liberty 
 on which the institutions of our country are founded. 
 
 Probably one of the most daring feats of arms of 
 the Revolution was the release by Sergt. William Jasper, 
 of South Carolina, of 12 American prisoners held by 
 the guard of the enemy. The circumstances surround- 
 
420 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing this exploit were romantic in the extreme, and spoke 
 warmly of the days of chivalry. Sergeant Jasper, 
 being apprised of the capture of these soldiers by a 
 Mrs. Jones, whose husband was among the captured and 
 who was distracted over the incident, so appealed to 
 the heart of this Irish lad, that he immediately took 
 with him a private by the name of Newton and fol- 
 lowed the enemy unarmed towards Savannah. When 
 the enemy stopped at what is now known as Jasper 
 Springs for water, they rested their firearms against the 
 trees. By this time Jasper and Newton had seen them 
 and hit in the brush. When some of them lay down 
 for a rest, Jasper and Newton jumped from the brush, 
 grabbed the guns, killed two with shot, and clubbed 
 two to death with their guns. The others surrendered. 
 He escorted them to the American Army at Purysburg 
 and safely returned Jones to his wife and child. This, 
 with another incident at the Battle of Fort Moultrie, 
 brought Jasper's daring to the attention of the officers. 
 He planted anew the Stars and Stripes after it had 
 been shot from the fort, walking through a veritable 
 hell of fire. This won for him the admiration of officers 
 and his comrades, and inspired the brave defenders with 
 more courage and loftier heroism. He was offered a 
 commission by Governor Rutledge, but Jasper, being 
 a poor scholar and of humble birth, replied: "Nay sir, 
 I am not worthy of the trust, adversity has been my 
 school-master and liberty my only school-mistress; I 
 cannot mingle with those who are superior to my edu- 
 cation and manners without exposing myself to de- 
 served contempt. Let me alone; let me serve my coun- 
 try in the way that suits me best, as an humble and 
 
News Releases 421 
 
 devoted laborer in the cause of liberty and freedom." 
 Governor Rutledge, very much moved, yielded to this 
 refusal, but presented him with the sword which he 
 wore on his own person. 
 
 During the latter days of the Revolution, the people 
 of Vermont were deeply agitated by the progress of the 
 enemy. Their Committee of Safety had already sent 
 a most pressing demand on New Hampshire for assist- 
 ance, and most heartily did that State, so largely settled 
 by Irish, respond. The legislature, which had ad- 
 journed, quickly assembled and took decisive steps for 
 the defense of the country. Gloomy prospects pre- 
 vailed, as there was no money in the treasury to raise 
 or support troops and the enemy not many miles away. 
 The forts were even dismantled. John Langdon met 
 the situation when the legislature quickly convened. 
 Arising from his seat, and speaking in a loud voice, he 
 said: "I have three thousand dollars in hard money. I 
 will pledge my plate for three thousand more. I have 
 seventy hogsheads of Tobago rum. I will have the rum 
 sold for what amount it will bring. These are at the 
 service of the State. If we succeed in defending our 
 firesides and our homes, I may be remunerated. If not, 
 the property will be of no value to me. Our old friend, 
 Stark, who so nobly maintained the honor of the State 
 at Bunker Hill, may be safely entrusted with the con- 
 duct of the enterprise, and we will check the progress 
 of Burgoyne." 
 
 These stirring words were received with acclaim and 
 put new life into the members of the assembly. Gen. 
 John Stark accepted the command of the forces and 
 went in search of the enemy, meeting them close by. 
 
422 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 He said to his men: "Now, my men, there are the red 
 coats! Before night they must be ours or Molly Stark 
 will be a widow." The conflict was a hot one, Stark 
 inspiring his men with his bravery led them to victory. 
 
 Glowing through all the pages of American history in 
 the early days of the Revolution are significant incidents 
 of wonderful loyalty and devotion to the cause of Amer- 
 ica. Rev. Dr. Hugh Knox, an Irishman who emigrated 
 to America in 1751, after a few years went to the Island 
 of Nevis, in the West Indies, on a pastoral duty. There 
 he met young Alexander Hamilton. He became inter- 
 ested in the boy, who at that time was almost penniless, 
 due to his father's failure in business. Mr. Knox took 
 him under his charge and personally taught him, and 
 sent him to the schools in New Jersey and New York 
 for further training and education. Hamilton speedily 
 made his mark. Reverend Knox, taking further inter- 
 est, interceded in having him made an aide-de-camp to 
 General Washington. 
 
 When Franklin gave up hope of the passage of the 
 Stamp Act in 1784, an Irishman by the name of 
 Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Con- 
 gress from its inception to its close, cheered Franklin 
 on and invigorated him with new life. Franklin wrote 
 Thompson on one occasion saying: "The Sun of Liberty 
 is set, and Americans must now light the lamps of In- 
 dustry and Economy." Thompson replied: "Be assured, 
 we shall light torches of another kind." 
 
 At the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, 
 Lieutenant Wilson, one of the seven sons of Robert 
 Wilson in the American Army, received the surrendered 
 flags. He was a nephew of Captain Gregg, the famous 
 
News Releases 423 
 
 Irishman, well known in the history of the Mohawk 
 Valley. The surrender at Yorktown brought out 
 vividly the achievements of a fighting race of people, 
 the Irish. Their activities are vivid with deeds of 
 courage, valor, loyalty, and sacrifice. Soon after the 
 close of the war the Irish began to merge with others, 
 who, in common, had ideas of building up a vast nation 
 and immediately began contributing to the common 
 stock of our citizenship. 
 
 The late President Roosevelt so well said: "The 
 immigrants, from Ireland and those alone, boldly pushed 
 through the settled districts and planted themselves as 
 the advance guard of the conquering civilization on 
 the border of the Indian-haunted wilderness. The Irish 
 people here proved themselves a masterful race of rugged 
 character — a race the qualities of whose womanhood 
 have become proverbial, while its men have the ele- 
 mental, the indispensable virtues of working hard in 
 times of peace and fighting hard in time of war." 
 
 Jewish Colonial Patriots 
 
 Upholding the hands of General Washington through 
 the darkest and most discouraging years of the Revolu- 
 tionary War as soldiers, financiers, and diplomats, the 
 Jews in the American Colonies did their full share 
 toward winning the independence of the United States. 
 
 From the very beginning of the protests against the 
 British Parliament's methods of dealing with the Col- 
 onies, the American Jews were found in great majority 
 on the side of the Colonials. When the contest became 
 keen, and actual war broke out with the mother coun- 
 
424 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 try, the Jews on this side of the Atlantic were over- 
 whelmingly on the side of the Revolution. 
 
 As far back as 1765 on the Non- Importation Reso- 
 lutions appear the following names of leading Jewish 
 merchants: Benjamin Levy, Sampson Levy, Joseph 
 Jacobs, Hayman Levy, Jr., David Franks, Matthias 
 Bush, Michael Gratz, Bernard Gratz, and Moses 
 Mordecai. The Jewish communities in America had 
 been the dependent children of English Jewry, but when 
 the break came their patriotism overcame their natural 
 feelings toward their mother community on the other 
 side of the Atlantic. 
 
 During the Revolutionary War the service of the 
 Jews covered many fields. There were many Jewish 
 soldiers and officers in the Continental Army. They 
 helped to finance the Continental Congress and the 
 great political leaders of those days, often without 
 thought of gain. They joined in the boycott of Eng- 
 lish goods before the war began. Most of the American 
 Jews came from the more educated and wealthier classes, 
 and they furnished a number of efficient officers for 
 Washington's Army. Among these Jewish Continental 
 officers were four lieutenant colonels, three majors, and 
 at least six captains. A few of these Jewish officers 
 were outstanding figures, and received recognition for 
 their services in a more public manner than often falls 
 to the lot of patriots. 
 
 Maj. Benjamin Nones has been called "the Jewish 
 Lafayette." In 1777 he left France and came to Phila- 
 delphia, enlisting at once in the Revolutionary cause 
 as a volunteer private. He rapidly rose to the rank of 
 an officer and eventually became a major. Major Nones 
 
News Releases 425 
 
 served on the staffs both of General Lafayette and of 
 General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Con- 
 tinental Army. At a later period in the war, at the 
 head of 400 men, he was attached to the command of 
 Baron de Kalb, in which there were a number of Jews. 
 Three Jews carried de Kalb from the field when he fell. 
 They were Major Nones, Capt. Jacob de la Motta, and 
 Capt. Jacob de Leon. 
 
 There was a Jewish family named Pinto in Connecti- 
 cut, which had three, and probably four, brothers who 
 took active parts in the Revolution. Abraham Pinto 
 joined as a private Company Y of the Seventh Con- 
 necticut Regiment. Solomon Pinto was a Revolutionary 
 officer, and in the British attack on New Haven he was 
 wounded. In the Revolutionary records William Pinto 
 appears as a volunteer both in 1779 and in 1781. It has 
 not been determined whether these were two different 
 men. 
 
 There was then a larger proportion of Jews in the 
 South then there is today. The Jews of that section 
 furnished their share of active Jewish soldiers against 
 King George III. A corps of volunteer infantry, com- 
 posed largely of Jews, took the field in Charleston, S. C. 
 The officer in command of these soldiers was Captain 
 Lushington. They saw service later at Beaufort under 
 General Moultrie. 
 
 One of the outstanding Jewish heroes of the Revolu- 
 tion was Mordecai Sheftal, who was one of the first 
 white children born in the Colony of Georgia. When 
 hostilities began, he organized what was called the 
 Parochial Committee, and as chairman of that body he 
 regulated the internal affairs of Savannah. In July, 
 
426 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 1777, Sheftal was appointed commissary general to the 
 colonial troops of Georgia. 
 
 The British captured Savannah and Sheftal was taken 
 prisoner. He was placed on board one of the terrible 
 prison ships of that period, where more than one patriot 
 met his death. Sheftal was regarded as one of the most 
 "dangerous" rebels by the British authorities. His name 
 in 1780 was placed close to the top of the list of those 
 who were anathematized by the British Government in 
 the Disqualifying Act. Two years later Sheftal was in 
 Philadelphia and the next year he received a grant of 
 land in recognition of his services to the Colonies in the 
 Revolution. Sheftal was active in several fields after 
 the close of the war. He figured prominently in the 
 early history of Freemasonry in the United States. He 
 was one of the founders of the Union Society of Savan- 
 nah, organized in 1786, which was one of Savannah's 
 most representative organizations. 
 
 Another American Jew who attained considerable 
 rank in the Revolutionary Army was Isaac Franks. He 
 enlisted at the age of 17. He was captured, and after 
 three months made a daring escape. After he had been 
 in the army two years he was made a f oragemaster, and 
 three years after that he was appointed ensign in the 
 Seventh Massachusetts Infantry. Isaac Franks was a 
 friend of General Washington. The General stayed at 
 his house in Germantown when yellow fever broke out 
 in that vicinity in 1793. His portrait was painted by 
 his friend, Gilbert Stuart, and was placed in the Gibson 
 collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 
 in Philadelphia. 
 
 Another member of the same family who rose to 
 
News Releases 427 
 
 considerable prominence in the Revolution was Maj. 
 David Franks, whose residence was in Montreal. In 
 1775 he was arrested for "speaking disrespectfully" of 
 King George III. His was one of the names on a list 
 of 29 prisoners, which was sent to the British ministry, 
 "being the principal persons settled in the province 
 who very zealously served the rebels in the winter of 
 1775-1776 and fled upon their leaving it." 
 
 Because Maj. David Franks was an aide-de-camp to 
 Benedict Arnold some persons sought to implicate him 
 in Arnold's treachery to the revolutionary cause. He 
 was not only completely exonerated, but was promoted 
 in the public service. Robert Morris sent him in 1781 
 with dispatches to Jay at Madrid and to Franklin at 
 Paris. Besides taking dispatches to these two famous 
 diplomatic representatives of the colonies in Europe, 
 David Franks on other occasions served the United 
 States as a diplomatic agent in a confidential capacity. 
 
 The records of the Jewish officers and men on the bat- 
 tlefields of the Revolutionary War show the same 
 energy, bravery, and enthusiasm for the new Nation as 
 that displayed by any other racial group in the colonies. 
 
 In supplying the sinews of war the aid of the Ameri- 
 can Jews was of enormous value. Many American Jews 
 gave freely to their country in the form of loans and 
 voluntary contributions. One of these was Haym Salo- 
 mon, a Polish immigrant Jew, who never received one 
 penny in compensation for the fortune he generously 
 placed at the disposal of the infant Republic. 
 
 Haym Salomon was born in 1740 in Lissa, Poland. 
 He had come to the American colonies four years be- 
 fore the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He was 
 
428 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 a man of considerable education, speaking a number of 
 languages, including German, French, Italian and Rus- 
 sian, besides his native Polish. In 1776 he was arrested 
 by the British on a charge of espionage, but he managed 
 to escape punishment, and on account of his linguistic 
 accomplishments he was placed in the British Commis- 
 sariat. This position he used to bring about the escape 
 of a number of Americans who had been captured by 
 the British Army. He himself escaped later and went 
 to Philadelphia, where he became associated with Robert 
 Morris, superintendent of finance for the colonies. Ac- 
 cording to the documents afterward submitted to Con- 
 gress he advanced to the Government $658,007.13, 
 which was considered an enormous sum of money for 
 that period, especially when commerce and business was 
 largely prostrated. 
 
 Salomon did not confine his financial aid to the Gov- 
 ernment as such, but he financed some of the men who 
 played leading parts in the formation of the new Nation. 
 Jefferson, Madison, Lee, Steuben, Monroe, Mercer and 
 others were released by Salomon from the worries of 
 procuring a livelihood at the very time when their serv- 
 ices were most needed by the public. Writing in 1783, 
 Robert Morris declared that many of the Revolutionary 
 leaders would have gone to jail for debt if they had not 
 received financial assistance from private sources. 
 
 Madison, in a letter written to the Virginia authori- 
 ties, said: "I have for some time been a pensioner in the 
 favor of Haym Salomon, a Jew Broker." Again Madi- 
 son wrote: "The kindness of our little friend in Front 
 Street (Haym Salomon) ... is a fund that will pre- 
 serve me from extramities, but I never resort to it with- 
 
News Releases 429 
 
 out great mortification, as he obstinately rejects all re- 
 compense." 
 
 Haym Salomon had a way of giving his help "with 
 equal generosity and delicacy," as one of the men of 
 the time express it. It was the expressed opinion of 
 Henry Wheaton that James Wilson, another of the dele- 
 gates to the Continental Congress, and other men in- 
 strumental in founding the Republic, would have been 
 forced to retire from public service entirely, if they had 
 not been helped in this gracious manner by Salomon. 
 
 But it was not only Salomon's purse that was avail- 
 able to aid the Republic at this critical time. He placed 
 at the disposal of his adopted country all his financial 
 acumen. It was largely due to his ability that the nego- 
 tiations were successfully completed with France and 
 Holland for war subsidies. The French Government 
 showed the confidence it placed in him by making him 
 treasurer of the French Army which came to the 
 colonies to aid General Washington. He filled this po- 
 sition without compensation. 
 
 Salomon helped to win the secret support of King 
 Charles III of Spain for the cause of the American 
 colonies through Don Francisco Renton, secret Am- 
 bassador of King Charles, whom he aided for several 
 years. Salomon was the "financial link" between the 
 United States and France. First he was broker to the 
 French consul and afterward became fiscal agent to the 
 French Minister to the United States, Chevalier de la 
 Luzerne. He was also the principal depositor of the 
 Bank of North America. 
 
 Robert Morris kept a record of the financial trans- 
 actions engaged in by Salomon that enabled the credit 
 
430 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of the new Government to be maintained. There were 
 no less than 75 separate transactions in this record. 
 Neither Salomon nor his heirs ever received one penny 
 in compensation. 
 
 Because of their education and knowledge of Euro- 
 pean languages, as well as their financial relations 
 abroad, many American Jews were able to render in- 
 valuable aid to the struggling country and the records 
 show that they did so with enthusiastic patriotism. The 
 list of Jewish financial sacrifices for the freedom of the 
 Republic would contain many other names besides that 
 of Haym Salomon. For instance, Benjamin Levy and 
 Benjamin Jacobs are signers of the bill of credit for the 
 Continental Congress. Isaac Moses, of Philadelphia, out 
 of his private pocket donated $15,000 toward the 
 colonial treasury. Another contributor was Herman 
 Levy, of Philadelphia. In addition to serving as an 
 assistant to General Washington, Manuel Mordecai gave 
 $100,000 to help put the new Nation on its feet, and 
 permit it to hold up its head before the world without 
 shame. 
 
 Von Steuben Revived Ragged Continentals 
 
 One of the most remarkable achievements of the Rev- 
 olutionary War was that of transforming a ragged, 
 starving, and discouraged army into a well- drilled and 
 effective fighting force. 
 
 This feat was performed by Baron Frederick William 
 von Steuben, who arrived in America to join the strug- 
 gling colonists at a time when the outlook was indeed 
 gloomy, according to the Division of Information and 
 
News Releases 431 
 
 Publication of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 On February 23, 1778, a day after General Washing- 
 ton's birthday, he reported at Valley Forge. It required 
 but a few days for Von Steuben to demonstrate his abil- 
 ity as a soldier and drillmaster, and he so impressed 
 Washington that, on March 28, he was made Inspector 
 General of the Continental Army. 
 
 The Prussian nobleman was a soldier by birth. For 
 many generations his fathers before him had been mili- 
 tary men. Before coming to America, von Steuben, 
 trained in the rigorous school of Frederick the Great, 
 won military distinction on the Continent during the 
 Seven Years War. 
 
 When he reported for duty at Valley Forge he found 
 conditions deplorable and the morale of the Army at its 
 lowest possible ebb. These conditions are best described 
 in a letter which von Steuben wrote from the camp: 
 
 "The arms at Valley Forge were in a horrible condi- 
 tion, covered with rust, half of them without bayonets, 
 many from which a single shot could not be fired. The 
 pouches were quite as bad as the arms. A great many 
 of the men had tin boxes instead of pouches, others had 
 cowhorns and muskets; carbines, fowling-pieces, and 
 rifles were to be seen in the same company. The de- 
 scription of the dress is most easily given. The men 
 were literally naked, some of them in the fullest extent 
 of the word. The officers, who had coats, had them of 
 every color and make. I saw officers, at a grand parade 
 at Valley Forge, mounting guard in a sort of dressing- 
 gown, made of an old blanket or woolen bed cover. 
 
432 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 With regard to their military discipline, I may safely 
 say no such thing existed." 
 
 Honoring Von Steuben's Memory 
 
 Wherever patriotic citizens will gather on November 
 15 of this year their thoughts should turn to Baron 
 Frederick William Von Steuben. For that date marks 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of the fa- 
 mous drillmaster of the American Army during the 
 Revolutionary War. 
 
 In 1777, Baron Von Steuben came to our shores to 
 throw in his lot with a struggling army and a struggling 
 Nation. What he accomplished in that momentous con- 
 test is well known to everyone who is at all acquainted 
 with our history. It is only proper and fitting for Amer- 
 icans of today to honor him who did so much for Amer- 
 ica 150 years ago. 
 
 Many local Steuben societies are planning celebrations 
 for November 15. The United States Government has 
 signified its intention to cooperate. The Postmaster 
 General has issued a commemorative stamp for the oc- 
 casion. Representative Sol Bloom, associate director of 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, today issued this statement: 
 
 "We of the United States George Washington Bi- 
 centennial Commission will do everything we possibly 
 can to aid in the celebration of the two hundredth anni- 
 versary of the birth of Baron Von Steuben. He was one 
 of the great leaders of the Revolutionary War and one of 
 the men who helped establish American independence. 
 It was men like Von Steuben, Lafayette, Kosciusko, Pu- 
 laski, Rochambeau, De Kalb, Fersen and other gallant 
 
News Releases 433 
 
 soldiers from across the seas who won for the American 
 cause that international sympathy and assistance which 
 did so much to hasten victory. These heroes were ready 
 to die for the American ideal, and we of today have not 
 forgotten." 
 
 Baron Von Steuben was born in Magdeburg, Prus- 
 sia, on November 15, 1730. He was a soldier by birth; 
 his fathers, for generations before him, were all military 
 men. Trained in the rigorous school of Frederick the 
 Great, he won distinction on the Continent during the 
 Seven Years' War. When Baron Von Steuben arrived 
 in Portsmouth, N. H., on December 1, 1777, to join his 
 fortunes with those of the fighting Colonists, he was one 
 of the best trained tacticians in the world. 
 
 On February 23, 1778, Von Steuben arrived at Val- 
 ley Forge, where the American Army was encamped. 
 His coming brought forth from Washington, in a letter 
 to the president of the Congress, these observations: 
 "Baron Steuben has arrived at camp. He appears to be 
 much of a gentleman, and, as far as I have had an op- 
 portunity of judging, a man of military knowledge, and 
 acquainted with the world." 
 
 Von Steuben apparently more than lived up to this 
 impression, for on March 28 he was made inspector gen- 
 eral or drillmaster of the American Army. Steuben's 
 task, to make disciplined soldiers of these raw Ameri- 
 can troops, was stupendous. The obstacles in his path 
 were innumerable. But let Steuben tell the story him- 
 self. In a letter written by him shortly after assum- 
 ing control, he has the following to say: 
 
 "The arms at Valley Forge were in a horrible condi- 
 tion, covered with rust, half of them without bayonets, 
 
434 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 many from which a single shot could not be fired. The 
 pouches were quite as bad as the arms. A great many 
 of the men had tin boxes instead of pouches, others had 
 cow-horns and muskets; carbines, fowling-pieces, and 
 rifles were to be seen in the same company. The de- 
 scription of the dress is most easily given. The men were 
 literally naked, some of them in the fullest extent of 
 the word. The officers, who had coats, had them of every 
 color and make. I saw officers, at a grand parade at 
 Valley Forge, mounting guard in a sort of dressing- 
 gown, made of an old blanket or woolen bed- cover. 
 With regard to their military discipline, I may safely say 
 no such thing existed." 
 
 How far Steuben succeeded in his new position is 
 attested by the results of the fighting after that disas- 
 trous winter at Valley Forge. Besides drilling the men, 
 Von Steuben played an active role in some of the major 
 events of the war. He participated in the Battle of 
 Monmouth; he was a member of the court martial which 
 tried and convicted Major Andre as a spy; he com- 
 manded in Virginia, later giving way to Lafayette; and, 
 finally, he was one of the leaders in the siege of York- 
 town, that great victory which, to all intents and pur- 
 poses, ended the war. 
 
 After the war, Major General Von Steuben retired to 
 a tract of land now known as Steubenville, N. Y., which 
 was presented to him as a gift, in recognition of the ap- 
 preciation for his services, by the State of New York. 
 In 1784, Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a pres- 
 ent of a gold hilt sword. For the rest of his life, Von 
 Steuben kept up a friendly relationship with George 
 Washington. From Washington's diary we learn that 
 
News Releases 43 5 
 
 on November 30, 1789, the President sent Von Steuben 
 a theater ticket; on December 3, December 31, 1789, 
 and on April 1, 1790, Von Steuben dined at the home 
 of George Washington, in New York City. In 1790, 
 Congress authorized an annual pension of $2,500 a year 
 to be paid to Steuben. His superior officer, George 
 Washington, as President of the United States, signed 
 that bill on June 4, 1790. 
 
 Major General Von Steuben died on November 28, 
 1794, at his home in Steubenville, and another Revo- 
 lutionary War hero passed from the scene. As the years 
 go by, Von Steuben is constantly growing in the es- 
 teem of the American people; and, now, at the two hun 
 dredth anniversary of his birth, the whole Nation might 
 very well honor his memory. 
 
 American Patriotism Amazed Rochambeau 
 
 In his memoirs of his sojourn in America during the 
 last year of the Revolution, Rochambeau relates an in- 
 teresting incident of a patriotic American wheelwright 
 who got out of a sick-bed to repair Rochambeau's car- 
 riage when informed that the Count had an engagement 
 with General Washington. 
 
 After Rochambeau had landed at Newport, R. I., in 
 July, 1781, he made an engagement to confer with Gen- 
 eral Washington. Both commanders were anxious to 
 perfect plans for a concerted movement against the 
 British, which, it was hoped, would result in a decisive 
 triumph for the allies, but the military situation was 
 such that neither could leave his army for the length 
 of time required to effect the meeting. However, as 
 the need for such a conference became imperative, a 
 
436 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 meeting was arranged to be held at Hartford, Conn., 
 on September 20. 
 
 The Count left Newport in a carriage which broke 
 down when he was within a short distance of his desti- 
 nation. An aide was dispatched to bring a wheelwright 
 who lived about a mile from where the accident oc- 
 curred. The man was found sick with the ague, and 
 he informed the officer that he would not work that 
 night for his hat full of guineas. Upon hearing this, 
 Rochambeau asked to be taken to the man's shop. Upon 
 arriving there he told the wheelwright that unless the 
 carriage was repaired, it would be impossible for him 
 to keep his appointment the following day with Gen- 
 eral Washington. This argument proved effective, for 
 the mechanic replied, "You are no liars, at any rate, for 
 I read in the Connecticut papers that Washington was 
 to be there to confer with you. As it is for the public 
 service, I will take care that your carriage shall be ready 
 for you at 6 o'clock in the morning." 
 
 The wheelwright kept his word, and the party pro- 
 ceeded to the conference with General Washington. 
 After the meeting with General Washington, Rocham- 
 beau started on his return to Newport. As he neared 
 the locality of his previous mishap, another wheel on 
 the carriage gave way. It seemed that the patriotism 
 of the wheelwright whose name is unknown, was to be 
 tried to the limit, for he was called upon to work in the 
 night. The unsung hero was equal to the occasion, how- 
 ever, and the Count able to resume his journey at an 
 early hour the next morning. 
 
 "I do not mean to compare all Americans with this 
 good man," concludes Rochambeau, "but almost all the 
 
News Releases 437 
 
 inland cultivators and all the land owners of Connecti- 
 cut are animated with that patriotic spirit which many 
 other people would do well to imitate." 
 
 Polish Hero's Birthday Recalls War Exploits 
 
 One of the most picturesque and spectacular figures 
 of the Revolutionary War was the Polish hero, Thad- 
 deus Kosciuszko, who served in the American Army 
 under Gen. George Washington. The one hundred and 
 eighty-fifth anniversary of the birth of Kosciuszko will 
 occur on February 12. 
 
 When the Revolution began there were a number of 
 foreign officers who wished to enlist in the American 
 Army, if they could secure the rank to which they felt 
 themselves entitled. A number of these men were ac- 
 cepted on their merits and upon recommendations of 
 Benjamin Franklin and other prominent Americans 
 abroad. In 1776 many applied, but they could not 
 all be accepted, because Washington did not want to 
 officer his army with too many foreigners and because, 
 in some cases, they were unable to speak English. 
 
 At this juncture Kosciuszko appeared on the scene 
 with a letter of recommendation from Franklin. When 
 he presented this to Washington, the general asked him 
 what he wanted. Kosciuszko replied that he had come 
 to fight as a volunteer for American independence. 
 "What can you do?" asked Washington. "Try me and 
 see," replied the youthful Pole. 
 
 Commissioned a colonel of engineers on October 18, 
 1776, Kosciuszko was assigned to the army under com- 
 mand of General Gates. Here his remarkable ability 
 as an engineer was soon in evidence, and he was charged 
 
438 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 with the responsibility of fortifying Bemis Heights near 
 Saratoga. So well was this work done that General 
 Burgoyne was unable to dislodge the Americans from 
 this place after two well-fought actions. Subsequently, 
 Kosciuszko was the principal engineer in executing the 
 works at West Point. Later in the war, he became one 
 of Washington's adjutants and was with Gen. Nathanael 
 Greene during many of his southern operations. 
 
 In October, 1783, Congress rewarded Kosciuszko with 
 the brevet of brigadier general, and he was voted the 
 thanks of that body. This action was taken upon the 
 suggestion of Washington, whose intercession with Con- 
 gress in the matter was one of his last official acts as 
 Commander in Chief. The gallant Pole was also made 
 a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. 
 
 After the Revolution, Kosciuszko returned to his 
 native country, where he lived in retirement for a few 
 years before being appointed major general in the Polish 
 Army which moved against the Russians. He was en- 
 listed in a forlorn hope, however, and after gallant re- 
 sistance for a few years he was defeated and imprisoned 
 by the Russian Empress. Later he was released, and 
 in 1797 returned to the United States for a short visit. 
 While in this country he was received with every mark 
 of esteem and was given a grant of land by Congress. 
 However, he soon returned to France, where he lived 
 until he moved to Switzerland in 1816. A year later 
 he was killed in a fall from his horse. 
 
 A gallant soldier of marked ability, Kosciuszko was 
 one of the outstanding foreign officers to serve in the 
 American Army during the Revolution. Admired and 
 esteemed by Washington, he enjoyed the friendship of 
 
News Releases 439 
 
 the great general until the latter's death. His services 
 in the war were such that America is still indebted to 
 him, and his name is remembered with honor and 
 respect. 
 
 First Flag Was Not "Stars and Stripes" 
 
 The first flag of this country was not the stars and 
 stripes. 
 
 General Washington felt keenly the lack of national 
 colors on land and sea when he took command of the 
 national forces. He had urged the adoption of a stand- 
 ard flag, and as events swept on toward complete sever- 
 ance from Great Britain, the need became more acute. 
 
 Every military instinct told the Commander in Chief 
 the need of a standard emblem for the new nation that 
 was about to come into being. From the beginning of 
 history, he knew that in all their struggles for dominion 
 or against tyranny men had followed the flag. 
 
 Facing his own tremendous problems, Washington 
 was well aware of the influence of a flag on the mind 
 of every soldier — its stimulus toward patriotism and loy- 
 alty, its inspiration in the face of danger, privation, and 
 discouragement . 
 
 Many* Striking Designs 
 
 At the start of the Revolution, different Colonies or 
 sections had their own colors — and some of these dis- 
 played such striking designs and mottoes that they con- 
 tinued in service with modifications through a great part 
 of the war. One was the "Pine Tree Flag" of New Eng- 
 land, with the red cross of St. George and a green pine 
 tree in the upper corner. Another was the "Rattlesnake 
 
440 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Flag," which appeared in several designs — the most com- 
 mon being a rattlesnake in the center, coiled and ready 
 to strike, and under it the words, "Don't Tread on Me." 
 
 A third was the flag designed by Col. William Moul- 
 trie, of South Carolina — a large blue banner with a 
 silver crescent in one corner. New York had a flag 
 showing a black beaver on a white field. Rhode Island's 
 design was a white field with a blue anchor, over which 
 was the word "Hope," and occasionally a cluster of 
 stars in the corner. 
 
 On January 2, 1776, the "Grand Union" or "Cam- 
 bridge" flag was hoisted over the camp before Boston. 
 It consisted of 13 stripes with the British Union Jack 
 in the corner. For 150 years the Colonies had been faith- 
 ful to the mother country. The retention of the King's 
 colors or Union Jack with its blended crosses of St. 
 George and St. Andrew, represented the theory that 
 the sovereign of England was not responsible for the 
 acts of "wicked ministers." The alternate red and white 
 stripes symbolized the union of the thirteen Colonies 
 against the tyranny and oppression reflected by the 
 action of Parliament. 
 
 When Washington left New York and hurried to 
 Philadelphia in response to the request of Congress, 
 the flag problem was still on his mind. The Grand 
 Union flag was not working out satisfactorily. Evi- 
 dently the thoughts of the Colonies were concentrating 
 too strongly on separation from England to permit the 
 retention of the King's colors. Ship captains, in par- 
 ticular, disliked them. 
 
 Washington also was not satisfied with the Grand 
 Union flag, and when he arrived in Philadelphia in 1776, 
 
News Releases 441 
 
 in response to the request of Congress, he sought oppor- 
 tunity to discuss the question of a flag with individual 
 delegates outside. 
 
 Call on Betsy Ross 
 
 Legend has it that to Robert Morris, the financier, and 
 George Ross, a native of New Castle, Del., and a mem- 
 ber of the Continental Congress, the Commander in 
 Chief is believed to have confided his anxiety about a 
 fitting national emblem to be used by the Army and 
 Navy — and enlisted their aid. As a result this trio one 
 day walked to the shop of Betsy Ross, the upholsterer, 
 at Fourth and Arch Streets, only a square away. They 
 were in quest of assistance which, they felt sure, she 
 could render. George Ross had told his associates that 
 if there was one woman in the city qualified more than 
 another to help them in this emergency, it was his capa- 
 ble niece. 
 
 Washington showed Mrs. Ross a rough design of a 
 flag with 13 stripes and 13 stars, asking her if she 
 thought she could reproduce the same in bunting and 
 secure an effective arrangement of the red, the white, 
 and the blue. She inspected it for an instant and replied 
 that she did not know, but would gladly try. 
 
 On the following day she had finished the first sample 
 of Old Glory, which was officially declared the national 
 emblem by Congress, June 14, 1777. 
 
 Our Flag Is 154 Years Old! 
 
 June 14, Flag Day, will this year direct the thoughts 
 of every good American to the future as well as to the 
 
442 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 past. The patriotic citizen will be reminded that June 
 14, 1931, marks the 154th anniversary of the day when 
 the Continental Congress passed the resolution officially 
 establishing, as the emblem of the United States, a flag 
 "of thirteen stripes alternate red and white," and "that 
 the union be 13 stars white in a blue field representing 
 a new constellation." 
 
 But every patriot will also look forward to next year, 
 when Flag Day will take on a still deeper meaning as 
 one of the key days in the 1 months' nation-wide cele- 
 bration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of George Washington. According to the plans of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Commis- 
 sion, every American, in every State and city of the 
 country, will then be encouraged to honor the flag with 
 appropriate ceremonies and with a new devotion, linked 
 as it is with the life and labors of George Washington. 
 
 Historians may regard as unsupported by fact the 
 story of Betsy Ross' stitching the first American flag, 
 but no one disputes the fact that the legend has become 
 part and parcel of American folklore. In any case it 
 is known that Washington had an intense personal in- 
 terest in the creation of a national flag, and may have 
 had a part in its design. And no one disputes the fact 
 that he accomplished more than any other American 
 in giving that flag a meaning and in unfurling it over 
 a strong and united nation. In 1932 it will be the coun- 
 try's privilege to render new honors to George Wash- 
 ington's memory, and new loyalty to this immortal sym- 
 bol of his greatness. 
 
 Meanwhile, this year, it is well to recall some of the 
 great dates in the flag's history. Its first display by the 
 
News Releases 443 
 
 Continental Army was on August 3, 1777, at Fort Stan- 
 wix, the present city of Rome, N. Y., during an at- 
 tack by the British. It was first carried into battle by 
 George Washington's troops at Brandywine on Septem- 
 ber 11, 1777. It was first saluted by the British at the 
 surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. 
 
 For the navy, John Paul Jones took the first salute 
 to the Stars and Stripes on February 14, 1778, when 
 he sailed his ship Ranger into the harbor of Quiberon, 
 France. In the same ship he forced the first striking 
 of colors to our flag by the British ship Drake on April 
 24, 1778. The ship Bedford, of Massachusetts, carried 
 the first American flag into a British port on February 
 3, 1783. It was first carried round the world by the 
 ship Columbia, sailing from Boston in September, 1787. 
 Captain John Greene, in the Empress of China, had 
 previously taken it to China in 1784. 
 
 It was first flown in battle in the Pacific by the U. S. 
 Frigate Essex, in 1813. The next year Francis Scott 
 Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner." In 1818 Con- 
 gress decreed that henceforth a new star should be added 
 on the admission of each new State to the Union; but, 
 before that, on January 13, 1794, after Vermont and 
 Kentucky had been admitted to the Union, the stars 
 and stripes were increased to 15. The 1818 Act re- 
 duced the stripes to 13 and decreed a new star for each 
 new State, which made a jump at once to 20 stars. 
 
 On April 6, 1909, Admiral Peary planted the first 
 American flag at the North Pole. Within the last dec- 
 ade, Admiral Byrd has carried it to both the Poles. 
 
 Wherever it has gone it has meant achievement and 
 new honors to our Nation. But next year Old Glory 
 
444 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 will float over the achievements of the greatest Ameri- 
 can of all, the man who made both the flag and the Na- 
 tion that flies it — George Washington. 
 
 London Excited by First View of Ship Flying 
 "Old Glory" 
 
 In February, 1783, the inhabitants of London were 
 greeted by a strange sight. There on the historic Thames 
 River, docked at the London custom house, was a ship 
 flying a flag which most people had never seen before 
 but which was easily recognizable. It was "Old Glory," 
 with its "thirteen rebellious stripes." The ship's cargo 
 was whale oil and its captain was requesting the right of 
 entry, to dispose of his merchandise and to load his ship 
 with English goods for the folks back home. 
 
 Ordinarily a strange ship on the Thames would not 
 be a startling sight. Ships kept bobbing up there from 
 all corners of the world. But when we consider that 
 a definitive peace had not yet been signed, that the coun- 
 tries were technically at war with each other, that feel- 
 ing between the Americans and Englishmen was still 
 strong and tense, then the appearance of the "rebel flag" 
 in London was indeed a startling sight. 
 
 King George III had recognized the independence of 
 America in December of 1782. Upon hearing the news, 
 American merchants and traders began fitting out their 
 ships again. For eight long years the traders of the 
 northern Colonies had been prevented from sending out 
 their vessels. Now, not being versed in the technique 
 of treaty making, and knowing only that King George 
 had recognized and acknowledged the Independence of 
 
News Releases 445 
 
 America, they sent their ships out to all ports of the 
 world. 
 
 To set out for friendly though distant ports in France, 
 Spain or Holland was natural enough; but to make a 
 trip to the heart of the enemy's land was, to say the least, 
 daring and surprising. Yet that is exactly what hap- 
 pened in the case of one Yankee ship. The Bedford, 
 fitted out in Massachusetts and commanded by Captain 
 Moores, flying the stars and stripes, started straight 
 across the Atlantic, headed for England. 
 
 On February 4, 1783, the Bedford was sighted off the 
 coast of Gravesend and two days later, on February 6, 
 she reported with her heavy cargo of whale oil to the 
 London custom house. To add to the incongruity of 
 the situation, the Bedford was within view of the fa- 
 mous Tower of London, where Henry Laurens and other 
 Americans had languished as prisoners during the war. 
 
 To say that the Londoners were surprised and could 
 hardly believe their eyes would be putting it mildly. 
 Here was a rebel ship, proudly flying the rebel flag, in 
 their own port, while the British and American envoys 
 were still wrangling in Paris over the terms of the peace 
 treaty. For days the Bedford was the talk of the town. 
 
 One magazine described the ship in this fashion: 
 
 "She is American-built, manned wholly by American 
 seamen, wears the rebel colors and belongs to Massachu- 
 setts. This is the first vessel which has displayed the 
 thirteen stripes of America in any British port." 
 
 The number 1 3 in connection with American events 
 was material for much English humor, 13 Colonies, 13 
 stripes, 1 3 this and that. The London Chronicle of Feb- 
 
446 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ruary 7, 1783, surpassed itself with its humorous de- 
 scription of the rebel ship. 
 
 "There is a vessel in the harbor with a very strange 
 flag. Thirteen is a number peculiar to rebels. A party 
 of prisoners, lately returned from Jersey, say that rations 
 among the rebels are thirteen dried clams a day. Sachem 
 Schuyler has a topknot of thirteen stiff hairs which erect 
 themselves on the crown of his head when he gets mad. 
 It takes thirteen Congress paper dollars to equal one 
 shilling sterling * * * 
 
 "Every well-organized rebel household has thirteen 
 children, all of whom expect to be major generals or 
 members of the high and mighty Congress of the thir- 
 teen United States when they attain the age of thirteen 
 years * * * and Mrs. Washington has a tomcat with 
 thirteen yellow rings around its tail. His flaunting it 
 suggested to Congress the same number of stripes for 
 the rebel flag." 
 
 Robert Morris Helped War of 76 With Own Money 
 
 Robert Morris, financier of the American Revolution 
 and intimate friend of George Washington, Alexander 
 Hamilton, John Hancock and other leaders in early 
 American history, was one of the most brilliant and 
 romantic figures in the War of Independence. 
 
 This patriot, a signer of the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence, helped to keep the Continental Army in the field 
 out of his own purse and by pledging his private credit. 
 It was through requisitions on the States, loans from 
 France, and in a large measure through his own money 
 advanced for the purpose, that the means was furnished 
 
News Releases 447 
 
 to transfer Washington's army from Dobb's Ferry, New 
 York, to Yorktown, Va., in 1781. 
 
 Robert Morris was the only man in the history of 
 the Revolution who bore the title of "Superintendent 
 of Finance." Born in Liverpool, England, January 31, 
 1734, he emigrated to America at the age of 14 to join 
 his father at Oxford, Md. The elder Morris was the 
 agent of a large firm of tobacco merchants, Foster Cun- 
 liffe and Sons, of Liverpool. He was accidentally killed 
 three years later, leaving Robert an orphan at the age 
 of 17. Before his father's death, young Morris went to 
 work in the mercantile house which two Englishmen, 
 Charles and Thomas Willing, had established in Phila- 
 delphia in 1726. He was put to work in the counting 
 room and soon exhibited an adaptability for business 
 which won the favorable attention of his employers, and 
 resulted in his becoming a member of the firm in 1754. 
 
 Morris first appeared active in public affairs in 
 connection with the resistance to the Stamp Act. He 
 signed the nonimportation agreement in 1765, and was 
 on a committee of citizens to force John Hughes, col- 
 lector of the stamp tax, to desist from the administra- 
 tion of his office in October of that year. A year later, 
 in 1766, Morris was made warden of the Port of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 When the Revolution began, he was 41 years old. He 
 took part in all of the great enterprises of the United 
 States which were not military, and even in those his 
 opinion was considered with profound respect. 
 
 He was vice president of the Pennsylvania Com- 
 mittee of Safety during 1775 and 1776, and a member 
 of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778. He 
 
448 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 retired from Congress in 1778, but was at once sent 
 to the State legislature, serving from 1778 to 1781. His 
 greatest public service was the financing of the War of 
 Independence. As chairman of various committees, he 
 was in close touch with the financial operations of Con- 
 gress, and in 1781 he was chosen by Congress to be 
 superintendent of finance. With the able cooperation 
 of his assistant, Gouverneur Morris (who was in no 
 way related to him) , he filled this position with great 
 efficiency during the trying years of 1781 to 1784. For 
 the same period he was also agent of marine, and hence 
 head of the infant Navy Department. 
 
 There are times in the experience of every army when 
 money is absolutely necessary to facilitate a military 
 movement, and although General Washington relied 
 upon the enthusiasm and patriotic ardor of his troops 
 to a larger extent than any other great commander the 
 world has ever seen, he found the military chest all 
 but empty at Trenton in 1776. When a rider came in 
 from the Commander in Chief's camp asking for a large 
 sum of money which was required for immediate use, 
 Morris was confronted with the task of his life. 
 
 Washington had crossed the Delaware a second time 
 with that unflinching courage that served him so well 
 in the darkest hours. He prevailed upon the troops, 
 who had not received any pay for some time, to remain 
 six weeks longer on the promise of a bounty of $10 for 
 each soldier. Washington wrote to Morris for the 
 money to make this promise good, and the next day 
 $50,000 was sent to the Commander in Chief. This 
 money, it is said, Morris personally borrowed from 
 
News Releases 449 
 
 wealthy Quakers of Philadelphia, many of whom were 
 his most intimate friends. 
 
 When the Federal Government was formed in 1789, 
 Morris was offered the secretaryship of the Treasury, but 
 this he declined and urged the appointment of Alex- 
 ander Hamilton instead. As United States Senator, he 
 supported the Federalist policies and gave Hamilton 
 considerable assistance in carrying out his financial 
 plans. 
 
 During this time he gradually disposed of his mer- 
 cantile and banking interests and engaged extensively 
 in land speculation. At one time or another he owned, 
 wholly or in part, nearly the entire western half of 
 New York State, 2,000,000 acres in Georgia, and about 
 1,000,000 acres in Pennsylvania, Virginia and South 
 Carolina. 
 
 The slow development of this property, the failure 
 of the London bank in which he had funds invested, 
 and other unfortunate investments finally drove him 
 into bankruptcy, and he was confined in a debtor's 
 prison for more than three years. At that time the 
 imprisonment of debtors was a common practice. 
 When, in 1800, Congress passed an act by which, on 
 the petition of his creditors, a man could be adjudicated 
 a bankrupt and thereupon released from prison, Morris 
 was released after much formality and delay. He 
 gained his freedom on August 26, 1801, when proof 
 was brought into court of unpaid debts amounting to 
 about $3,000,000. He became a not very cheerful 
 pensioner upon his family and his friends, a humiliated 
 and broken man. 
 
 He spent the summer of 1802 at Morrisania with 
 
450 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Gouverneur Morris, who was now a United States Sena- 
 tor from New York. "He came to me, lean, low 
 spirited, and as poor as a commission of bankruptcy can 
 make a man whose effects will, it is said, not pay a 
 shilling on the pound," Gouverneur wrote to a friend. 
 "Indeed, the asisgnees will not take the trouble of look- 
 ing after them. I sent him home fat, sleek, in good 
 spirits and possessed of the means of living comfortably 
 for the rest of his days." 
 
 On May 7, 1806, not quite five years after his dis- 
 charge from prison, Robert Morris died in Philadelphia, 
 in a small house on Twelfth Street between Market and 
 Chestnut Streets, where he had resided with his family. 
 He was buried quietly in the family vault in Christ 
 Church Yard. 
 
 Alexander Hamilton's Achievements 
 
 It is given to but few men to impress their 
 individuality indelibly upon the history of a great 
 nation, but Alexander Hamilton achieved even more 
 than this. 
 
 In calling attention to the one hundred and seventy- 
 fourth anniversary of his birthday on January 11, 1931, 
 the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Commis- 
 sion points out the extraordinary versatility of the man 
 whom Chief Justice Marshall ranked next to George 
 Washington in importance during those critical years 
 of our history. 
 
 The senseless sacrifice of this brilliant man, who was 
 killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, caused an outburst of 
 
News Releases 451 
 
 bitter and indignant grief among men of all parties 
 throughout the Nation that has seldom been equaled in 
 the history of the country. 
 
 Alexander Hamilton was born, as a British subject, 
 on the island of Nevis, in the West Indies, on January 
 11,1757. At the age of 12, following his father's bank- 
 ruptcy and his mother's death, he was thrown upon the 
 care of maternal relatives at St. Croix, where he entered 
 the counting house of Nicholas Cruger. In 1772 friends 
 impressed by his astonishing poise and maturity of mind 
 made it possible for him to go to New York to continue 
 his education. Arriving there in the autumn of that 
 year, he prepared for college at Elizabethtown, N. J., 
 and in 1774 entered King's College, now Columbia Uni- 
 versity, in New York City. His studies were inter- 
 rupted by the Revolution. 
 
 A visit to Boston seems to have thoroughly confirmed 
 the conclusion to which reason had already led him, 
 that he should cast his fortunes with the patriots rather 
 than with the Tories. Into the cause he threw himself 
 with ardor. Early in 1776 the New York Convention 
 ordered a company of artillery to be raised. Hamilton 
 applied for the command, and his examination quickly 
 dispelled doubts of his fitness in those who suspected 
 mere youthful presumption. 
 
 The artillery company quickly showed the talent of 
 its commander, who, by his proficiency and bravery 
 in the campaign of 1776 around New York City, won 
 the admiration of Generals Washington and Greene. 
 Hamilton shared in the brilliant campaign of Trenton 
 and Princeton and so distinguished himself as a dashing 
 and gallant officer that, although he was barely 20 years 
 
452 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 old, Washington appointed him his aide de camp with 
 the rank of lieutenant colonel. 
 
 Hamilton, despite his other remarkable qualities, was 
 unusually ambitious for military glory — an ambition he 
 never lost. As a member of Washington's staff, his 
 duties were various and highly responsible, but he longed 
 for the field and firing line with an independent com- 
 mand. In February, 1781, he seized upon a slight 
 reprimand administered by Washington as an excuse for 
 abandoning his staff position and later secured a field 
 command, through Washington, and won laurels at 
 Yorktown, where he led his column in the final assault 
 against the British works. 
 
 Whether as a soldier, lawyer, or statesman he was a 
 master in every field that he entered. Hamilton, beyond 
 a doubt, had an inborn genius for finance, and was be- 
 yond question a pioneer in what has since become the 
 most important department of practical government. 
 
 He founded the financial system of the United States 
 and converted the barren clauses of the Constitution 
 into a living organism. 
 
 When he became Secretary of the Treasury, he found 
 there was a great mass of work to be done in organizing 
 the collecting and disbursing force throughout the 
 country. Congress immediately submitted to him a 
 number of queries and problems for solution, and there 
 came forth from his pen a succession of papers that have 
 left their strong imprint on the administrative organi- 
 zation of the National Government. 
 
 Among them were two reports on the public credit, 
 upholding an ideal of national honor higher than the 
 prevalent popular principles; a report on manufactures, 
 
News Releases 45 3 
 
 advocating their encouragement; a report favoring the 
 establishment of a national bank, the arguments being 
 based on "implied powers" in the Constitution and on 
 the applications that Congress can do anything that can 
 be made, through the medium of money, to subserve 
 the "general welfare" of the United States. Hamilton's 
 doctrines, through judicial interpretations, have revo- 
 lutionized the Constitution. The success of his financial 
 measures was immediate and remarkable. 
 
 Hamilton's plan to establish a national bank resem- 
 bling in great measure the Bank of England aroused as 
 great an interest in Congress as the proposal to assume 
 the State debts had brought forth. The project was 
 finally passed by both Houses in practically the form 
 that Hamilton had suggested and came before President 
 Washington for approval on February 14, 1.791. 
 
 So heated had been the debates in the House on the 
 constitutionality of a United States bank that the 
 President felt doubts as to the power of Congress to 
 incorporate such an institution. He called upon his four 
 cabinet members for their opinions. Hamilton and 
 Kn6x, Secretary of War, favored the bank; Jefferson 
 and Randolph, Attorney General, opposed. Hamilton, 
 Jefferson, and Randolph submitted written reports to 
 the President. 
 
 Those written by Jefferson and Hamilton remain to 
 this day among the most important expositions of our 
 constitutional law and practice. Hamilton's arguments 
 convinced Washington of the constitutional propriety 
 of the measure, which he approved on February 25, 
 1791. 
 
 The subscription books were opened on July 4 follow- 
 
454 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing, and within two hours the whole capital was sub- 
 scribed for, and many persons who had hoped to buy 
 stock found themselves left out. Never in the course 
 of history has there been so immediate and permanent 
 a financial foundation laid for any country's prosperity 
 as that which was built by Hamilton, the men of the 
 First Congress, and President Washington. 
 
 Gen. Israel Putnam's Exploits 
 
 Among the leaders of the American forces during the 
 Revolutionary War, the name of Israel Putnam is promi- 
 nent as one of the officers who served under Gen. 
 George Washington. Coming into the Continental 
 Army with years of military campaigning behind him, 
 "Old Put," as Washington affectionately referred to 
 him, brought into the service an invaluable fund of 
 experience in warfare. He was 57 years old when Con- 
 gress commissioned him major general, but his advanced 
 age in no wise impaired his patriotism, which called him 
 to the field of battle when his country's freedom was 
 at stake. 
 
 The two hundred and thirteenth anniversary of 
 General Putnam's birth, on January 7, 1931, is a most 
 appropriate occasion for the people of Connecticut to 
 honor the name of this man who brought renown to his 
 adopted State, for, although he was born in Salem, 
 Mass., Putnam rather early in life moved to the Nutmeg 
 State, where he made his home until his death. 
 
 Putnam was born in 1718, the tenth in a family of 
 1 1 children. His great-grandparents had come to Salem 
 from England in 1634. This was the beginning of a 
 large and prominent family from which came many 
 
News Releases 45 5 
 
 influential men and women. When Israel was 20 years 
 old he married Hannah Pope, and some time later, with 
 his brother-in-law, bought 514 acres in what is now 
 Windham County, Conn. By 1741 Putnam had pur- 
 chased Pope's interest in the tract, so that he became 
 the sole owner of Mortlake Manor, as it was called. 
 This farm, which was then considered one of the finest 
 in New England, became the township of Brooklyn. 
 
 At the time Putnam came to this place the vicinity 
 abounded in wolves, which considerably annoyed the 
 people by their frequent raids on the farmyards. It 
 appears that all of these animals had been killed except 
 an old female that continued her depredations. One 
 night she killed 60 or 70 of Putnam's sheep. This so 
 aroused the ire of the farmer that he determined to 
 hunt down and destroy the beast. The hunt ended, 
 according to an oft-told story, when the wolf was cor- 
 nered in a dark, narrow cave into which Putnam imme- 
 diately plunged to shoot the killer at close range and 
 drag her forth in triumph. 
 
 When Connecticut was asked for a thousand men to 
 protect the northern approaches against an expected 
 French invasion from Canada, Putnam was one of those 
 who enlisted. As a captain in the British Army, he 
 served with distinction and was promoted to the rank 
 of major. He was a member of the Rangers who so 
 seriously embarrassed the enemy. Noted for his per- 
 sonal bravery, Putnam figured in several courageous 
 exploits, one of which was the saving of Fort Edward 
 from destruction by fire at the risk of his own life. His 
 ability and courage were recognized, and he was ad- 
 vanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1762 he 
 
456 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 participated in the arduous operations in the West 
 Indies, at the end of which he was sent to the relief of 
 Detroit. At the close of 1764 he returned to his home 
 to end a 10 -year period of rough campaigning, with 
 the rank of colonel. 
 
 At this time Putnam joined the Sons of Liberty in 
 Connecticut and became active in this organization. 
 When General Gage was closing all entries to Boston 
 as a punitive measure against the people of that city 
 for their resistance to the authority of Parliament, Put- 
 nam drove 130 head of sheep across the Neck to relieve 
 the distress in that place occasioned by the British 
 occupation and blockade. 
 
 Immediately after the fight at Concord, a dispatch 
 was sent to Pomf ret with news of the battle. The mes- 
 sage reached Putnam on the afternoon of April 20 as 
 he was plowing one of his fields. Leaving his plow in 
 the furrow, the patriot mounted a horse without even 
 waiting to put on his uniform, and early the next morn- 
 ing rode into Cambridge, where he offered his services 
 to the colonial army then forming. The same day he 
 sent word to Pomf ret, directing the organization of the 
 militia there, and then went to Hartford to confer with 
 the Legislature of Connecticut. This body commis- 
 sioned him brigadier and placed him in command of 
 the forces of that State. 
 
 At Bunker Hill Putnam was given his first oppor- 
 tunity to face the British troops. Due to the action of 
 Warren, who was the ranking officer on the field, in 
 declining the command that day, Putnam himself be- 
 came the ranking officer, although Stark and Prescott 
 seem to have acted on their own initiative. However, 
 
News Releases 457 
 
 the question as to who was in command on that occasion 
 has not the importance which some controversialists 
 have attached to it, since no particular generalship was 
 involved and the significance of the battle lay wholly 
 in the moral effect it produced. 
 
 When Congress organized the Continental Army in 
 June, 1775, George Washington was appointed Com- 
 mander in Chief and Putnam was named one of the four 
 major generals. Following the capture of Boston, Gen- 
 eral Washington sent the doughty Connecticut farmer 
 to New York, where he assumed command. When 
 Greene became ill, Putnam was placed in command at 
 Brooklyn Heights just two days before the British at- 
 tacked at that point. For the disastrous defeat of the 
 Americans which followed, General Putnam has been 
 blamed by some, but in justice to the man it should be 
 pointed out that there is no need of blaming anyone for 
 the defeat of 5,000 half-trained troops by 20,000 vet- 
 erans. The wonder is that the colonists were able to 
 make it so interesting for General Howe that he was 
 forced to pause long enough to allow Washington to 
 plan the successful withdrawal of his troops. By his 
 stubborn resistance to the enemy both here and at Kip's 
 Bay, General Putnam signally distinguished himself. It 
 was about this time that Washington in a letter to the 
 President of Congress wrote: "General Putnam is a most 
 valuable man and a fine executive officer." 
 
 In May, 1777, the Connecticut general was placed in 
 charge of the defense of the highlands on the Hudson. 
 Here an incident occurred which was characteristic of 
 Putnam. A lieutenant in the loyalist regiment named 
 Edmund Palmer was discovered in the American camp. 
 
458 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death as a spy. 
 The British seemed to think that the Americans repre- 
 sented no sovereignty and hence had no right to inflict 
 the death penalty on anyone. Sir Henry Clinton ac- 
 cordingly sent a flag of truce from New York and 
 threatened dire punishment if Putnam dared injure 
 Edmund Palmer, liege subject of the king. The old 
 hero's reply was characteristically laconic: 
 
 "Edmund Palmer, an officer in the enemy's service, 
 was taken as a spy lurking within our lines; he has been 
 tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, and shall be executed 
 as a spy, and the flag is ordered to depart immediately. — 
 Israel Putnam. P. S. He has accordingly been executed." 
 
 At the end of the year 1777 Putnam went to Con- 
 necticut to hasten the work of securing recruits. For 
 the next two years he was engaged in the western part 
 of the State and was cooperating with the troops in the 
 highlands. The old general made a short visit to his 
 family at Pomfret in December, 1779, when the army 
 went into winter quarters at Morristown. Soon after 
 starting for camp he had a stroke of paralysis, which 
 forced him to return to his home, where he spent the 
 remaining years of his life, succumbing to his illness at 
 last on May 19, 1790. 
 
 Fearless, loyal, and able, General Putnam was one of 
 the leading commanders of the patriot army. As long 
 as he was able, he devoted himself to his country's strug- 
 gle for freedom. General Washington considered him a 
 personal friend and always entertained the highest re- 
 gard for the old soldier's abilities and patriotism. Al- 
 though an adopted son, he is one of whom Connecticut 
 may well be proud. 
 
News Releases 459 
 
 The Patriotic Thomas Paine 
 
 In all the history of the American Revolution no 
 other man, perhaps, occupies so singular a position as 
 that held by Thomas Paine, prolific pamphleteer of 
 the War of Independence. During the years of that 
 bitter struggle, no pen in this country was more potent 
 than his and none more definitely crystallized popular 
 feeling behind the American leaders in the conflict. He 
 has been credited with supplying the impetus to the 
 movement toward separation from England which 
 wrought its culmination in the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, and there can be no doubt that the forceful 
 appeal to the people contained in his pamphlets aroused 
 hope and courage throughout the country. 
 
 Thomas Paine was born in Thetford, England, on 
 January 29, 1737, the son of a Quaker corseter, who 
 taught him the art of stay-making. This trade did not 
 appeal to the youth, however, and he soon left home to 
 enter the excise service. This occupation likewise failed 
 to hold him, and he went to sea. But the life of a sailor 
 was entirely too unattractive, and Paine soon returned 
 to England and once more became an exciseman. It 
 was while he was in this service that he gained the first- 
 hand knowledge of official corruption which made him 
 the implacable foe of privileged officialdom. 
 
 Paine 's skill as a writer early came into evidence, and 
 he was selected by his associates to prepare a criticism 
 of the British excise system and suggestions for its im- 
 provement. This paper attracted the attention of 
 Franklin, who immediately recognized the ability of 
 its author and suggested that Paine might find America 
 a more desirable field for his writings. Accordingly, 
 
460 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Paine came to this country with letters from Franklin 
 and soon became connected with Pennsylvania publica- 
 tions. Shortly after his arrival here in 1774, the Penn- 
 sylvania Journal printed a strong anti-slavery essay 
 which he had written. 
 
 In England Paine had been so consistently radical in 
 his criticism of British governmental and political cus- 
 toms that he seemed almost to hate his native land. In 
 America he continued his attacks on King George, and 
 early in 1776 was published his pamphlet, "Common 
 Sense," in which he stated with singular clearness and 
 force all the arguments that had been made in favor of 
 the separation of the Colonies from the mother country. 
 The effect this pamphlet had on the Americans was 
 instant and electrifying. It was accorded a stupendous 
 circulation both here and in Europe, where it was trans- 
 lated into different languages and eagerly read by repub- 
 licans in all nations. Contemporary colonial news- 
 papers claimed that it influenced thousands of dubious 
 Americans to embrace the cause of independence. 
 Washington himself was impressed with the brochure, 
 and some have gone so far as to say that the great gen- 
 eral became converted to separation from England only 
 after reading "Common Sense." 
 
 Although Paine was opposed to war — his attitude 
 being due in some measure to his early Quaker train- 
 ing — he felt that America had been driven into an 
 armed conflict by the tyranny and oppression of 
 George III, and the name of Thomas Paine was early 
 enrolled on the roster of the colonial forces as a protest 
 against the policies of Britain's king. In the army Paine 
 served under Gen. Nathanael Greene, another Quaker, 
 
News Releases 461 
 
 and he proved to be a courageous soldier and valorous 
 patriot. Here the fiery writer was an eye-witness to 
 the sufferings of the "ragged Continentals" — in fact, 
 he suffered privation and hardship with the rest of these 
 heroic troops. 
 
 During the national depression, which became so 
 acute in the winter of 1776, Paine produced his first 
 "Crisis." This pamphlet, beginning with the famous 
 words, "These are the times that try men's souls," was 
 written by firelight on a drumhead which served as a 
 desk. The demand upon Paine at this time was great, 
 for by day he faced the enemy with his gun and by 
 night brought into play the genius of his pen. He wrote 
 this first pamphlet of the series on his own initiative with 
 the purpose of proving that the Americans were in 
 reality successfully resisting General Howe, and that 
 this country was entirely too large for the British to 
 run over. 
 
 The "Crisis," written in Paine's characteristic, plain, 
 forceful style, accomplished much of the purpose for 
 which its author prepared it. His arguments were 
 stated clearly and to the point. George Washington 
 and the rest of the revolutionary leaders recognized the 
 value of utilizing Paine's powerful pen, and the fiery 
 little writer became the official propagandist of the 
 revolt. At regular intervals other pamphlets appeared, 
 and it is certain that they went far to create the public 
 morale which supported the revolutionary soldiers. 
 
 Throughout the entire war Paine proved to be one of 
 the most loyal and devoted of all the patriots. Vigorous 
 and active always, his great contribution to American 
 independence can not be questioned. Even when hope 
 
462 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 seemed dim, he never gave up to despair. He con- 
 tinually assailed King George and the policies of his gov- 
 ernment. In one of his pamphlets directed at the Eng- 
 lish monarch, Paine used the expression "United States 
 of America," supposedly the first time this appellation 
 was ever employed. His services were appreciated by 
 the country, and New York gave him a large tract of 
 land and Congress voted him $3,000. The congressional 
 bequest was largely a result of the efforts of Washington, 
 who had always admired Paine. Previously the Legis- 
 lature of Pennsylvania had voted the author 500 pounds. 
 
 After the Revolution, Paine turned his attention to 
 science, for his ever- active mind could not allow him 
 to be idle. He invented an iron bridge, which he tried 
 to have adopted in this country. Meeting only with 
 discouragement here, he took his model to Europe with 
 the hope of greater success. But he had barely arrived 
 in England when he became engaged in a verbal duel 
 with Burke, to whose "Reflections on the French Revo- 
 lution" Paine replied with his "Rights of Man." It 
 created a stir among the government officials, who con- 
 sidered the book seditious, and Paine was convicted of 
 treason. But he escaped to France a few minutes before 
 the officers sent to arrest him arrived on the scene. 
 
 In France Paine found a situation which seemed to 
 have been made expressly for him. Here were people 
 struggling for their rights, and the champion of human 
 liberty immediately plunged into the fight whole- 
 heartedly. He was very popular with the revolutionists 
 in France and several departments would have elected 
 him to the National Convention. He chose to repre- 
 sent Calais, and as a deputy from that place he op- 
 
News Releases 463 
 
 posed the execution of Louis XVI. This action aroused 
 the distrust of the extremists in the Revolutionary Party 
 and when Robespierre came into power he had Paine 
 thrown into the Luxembourg Prison, where he was held 
 for 11 months. 
 
 During this time Gouverneur Morris, the American 
 Minister to France, refused to claim Paine as an Ameri- 
 can citizen, although the latter had become naturalized 
 soon after coming to the United States. This unfortu- 
 nate experience so embittered Paine that he was never 
 able to forget it. When Monroe succeeded Morris, one 
 of his first acts was to request his countryman's free- 
 dom. Paine was set free, but was forced by the hos- 
 tility of the British to remain in France until he was 
 given protected passage to this country on an American 
 gunboat. 
 
 Once more in the United States, Paine found himself 
 alienated from many of his old friends because of his 
 "Age of Reason," which he had written in France, and 
 which to many people appeared as an atheistic attack 
 on all belief in God. He retired to his farm near New 
 Rochelle, N. Y., and there spent the remainder of his 
 days in seclusion. His life came to an end on June 8, 
 1809. 
 
 Thomas Paine has been both praised and anathema- 
 tized by biographers. Perhaps he never fully deserved 
 the condemnation w^iich was heaped upon him during 
 the later years of his life. Whatever his faults and mis- 
 takes, lack of patriotism was not among them. Most 
 certainly the United States still is indebted to him for his 
 great service in moulding public opinion during the 
 Revolutionary War. 
 
464 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Versatile Benjamin Franklin 
 
 Next to George Washington, Benjamin Franklin was 
 the best known American of the eighteenth century. 
 He was renowned wherever civilized men gathered, in 
 the circles of philosophy, science, and politics, as one 
 of the foremost men of his time. His personality was 
 so delightful that everyone who met him was charmed. 
 His versatility seems to have known no bounds, but it 
 was through his sound judgment, common sense, and 
 clear thinking that he was able to attain his striking 
 success. So great and varied are his achievements that 
 only a comprehensive work could do justice to his many 
 accomplishments. 
 
 This great hero of the Revolutionary War and warm 
 friend of Washington was born in Boston on January 
 17, 1706. The service which Franklin rendered to his 
 country during the struggle for liberty is invaluable. 
 The aid which he obtained from France insured to the 
 United States the lasting benefits of the victories which 
 Washington won on the battle field. In fact, if Frank- 
 lin had not been able to persuade the French to come to 
 the assistance of the Colonies, perhaps Yorktown never 
 would have taken place. 
 
 When young Benjamin was 8 years old, his father 
 sent him to a grammar school and later to a somewhat 
 technical institution in Boston where he learned arith- 
 metic. This was the extent of the boy's schooling, for 
 when he was 10 his father set him to making candles. 
 This was so distasteful to the lad that the elder Franklin 
 became apprehensive lest he run away to sea. To fore- 
 stall anything of this sort, Benjamin was apprenticed 
 to his half-brother, James, who was a printer. Here his 
 
News Releases 465 
 
 mind developed rapidly. At his brother's shop he came 
 in contact with the liberal element of Boston, and from 
 his reading of Locke, Bunyan, Plutarch, Defoe, and 
 Mather he imbibed a broadening philosophy. The New 
 England Courant, published by James and Benjamin, 
 was called the "first sensational newspaper in America." 
 
 But trouble was brewing, and in 1723 the 17-year- 
 old Benjamin quarreled with his brother and went to 
 Philadelphia. Everyone is familiar with the story of 
 Franklin's entrance into that city, which has been pic- 
 tured in school books to the great amusement of many 
 young readers. As he walked down the street eating 
 from a loaf of bread carried under his arm, he must 
 have presented an appearance far from suggestive of the 
 famous man he was destined to become. 
 
 Obtaining employment in the Quaker City, Franklin 
 soon attracted the attention of William Keith, the gov- 
 ernor of Pennsylvania, who persuaded him to go to 
 London to study and to purchase equipment for a print- 
 ing office. Keith promised the boy letters of introduc- 
 tion and credit, but when Franklin arrived in London 
 he found that the governor had not kept his word. Al- 
 most penniless and without friends in that city, his 
 condition was acute, but he soon obtained employment 
 and made many friends. One of these was a wealthy 
 Quaker merchant named Denham, who offered the 
 youth a position in a store he was opening in Philadel- 
 phia. Accordingly, Franklin returned to that city in 
 1726, after having spent nearly two years in London. 
 Within a short time Denham died, and Franklin found 
 himself out of a job, but this may have been a good 
 
466 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 thing for the youth, because his next step was an 
 important one. 
 
 In 1728 Franklin established a printing house with 
 Hugh Meredith, and in 10 years had made it the most 
 successful business of its kind in America. At this time 
 he also purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette, a moribund 
 newspaper, which under his management gained a cir- 
 culation of about 10,000 and became one of the most 
 prominent papers in the country. Soon afterward he 
 began to publish his famous "Poor Richard's Almanac," 
 containing the pithy maxims which retain their popu- 
 larity to this day, and from which he made his fortune. 
 He also became public printer of Pennsylvania, which 
 added to his prestige, and in 1730 he married Deborah 
 Read, with whom he had fallen in love some years 
 before. 
 
 During the next 20 years Franklin's popularity and 
 activity steadily increased. He organized and became 
 prominent in the Leathernapron Club, which he called 
 the Junto and in which he learned the essentials of lead- 
 ership. He organized the first fire company in Phila- 
 delphia, founded the American Philosophical Society, 
 became postmaster of Philadelphia, invented a stove, 
 acquired interests in several of the Continental Colonies 
 and in Jamaica, and became clerk of the Pennsylvania 
 Assembly. 
 
 In 1745 he began to experiment with a Ley den jar 
 sent to him from England, and his investigations in this 
 field led to the discovery which made him famous as a 
 scientist. Every schoolboy is familiar with Franklin's 
 experiments with a kite and key by which he made the 
 identification of lightning and electricity, and which 
 
News Releases 467 
 
 he was the first to prove. He also framed the theory 
 of two kinds of electricity, which he called negative and 
 positive — a theory which still holds. With the lightning 
 rod which he invented he was able to overcome to some 
 extent the devastating effects of lightning, and this made 
 him the best known scientist of the day. 
 
 In the Pennsylvania Assembly Franklin had been 
 prominent in the fight to obtain taxes from the pro- 
 prietary interest of the Penns, and in 1757 he was sent 
 to England to lay the case before the throne. Here he 
 was received cordially by his old friends and he made 
 many new ones. After five years he returned to the 
 Colonies, only to be sent back to England to protest the 
 imposition of the Stamp Act. He was called to testify 
 in a famous examination before the House of Commons 
 in which his tact and ability was largely responsible in 
 having the obnoxious act repealed. He became the best 
 known American in Europe and was popular every- 
 where. 
 
 Franklin returned to America in time to attend the 
 First Continental Congress as a delegate from Pennsyl- 
 vania. As a member of that body, he was appointed to 
 the committee which drafted the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence. He was made Postmaster General of the 
 Colonies, and soon afterward went to France to secure 
 the aid of that nation. By the French he was received 
 enthusiastically, and they regarded him as one of the 
 four greatest men in all history. This popularity was 
 so great that the British were irked by it, but it enabled 
 him to obtain the much-needed money for the Ameri- 
 can Treasury. When the war was over, he was called 
 upon to act as one of the peace commissioners, and in 
 
468 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 framing the Treaty of Paris Franklin's activities were 
 most eminent and useful. In 1785 he returned to Phila- 
 delphia, but he had one more important service to per- 
 form for his country. This was his participation, as a 
 delegate from Pennsylvania, in the Constitutional Con- 
 vention of 1787. Franklin was then 81 years old, and 
 his age prevented him from taking part in the debates 
 of that body. The influence he wielded in keeping the 
 convention in order, however, is immeasurable. 
 
 On April 17, 1790, three years after he had seen the 
 government of his country firmly established, the life of 
 Benjamin Franklin came to a close. Philosopher, states- 
 man, philanthropist, writer, patriot, and scientist he was 
 one of the most remarkable men of the age. He ad- 
 mired and loved Washington, whose measure he seems 
 to have accurately taken, for in his will he wrote: "My 
 fine crab-tree- walking stick, with a gold head curiously 
 wrought in the form of the cap of liberty, I give to my 
 friend and the friend of mankind, General Washington. 
 If it were a sceptre, he has merited it and would 
 become it." 
 
 Activities of Thomas Jefferson 
 
 In the picturesque and dramatic period just before, 
 during, and immediately after the Revolutionary War, 
 there are probably but few figures who stand out in 
 American history as does Thomas Jefferson, third Presi- 
 dent of the United States, and the most conspicuous 
 apostle of democracy in America. 
 
 He was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Va., 
 April 13, 1743. By a strange coincidence he died on July 
 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the 
 
News Releases 469 
 
 Declaration of Independence, on the same day as John 
 Adams, the second President of the United States, and 
 (with one interruption from 1795 to 1809) life-long 
 friends. 
 
 No American of this time had such versatility or such 
 diversified interests. Jefferson was asked to draft the 
 Declaration of Independence because of his reputation 
 as a writer. Adams thus tells the story: "He brought 
 with him a reputation for literary science and the happy 
 talent for composition. Writings of his were handed 
 about, remarkable for their peculiar felicity of expres- 
 sion. It was the 'Summary View' which elicited the 
 admiration of Edmund Burke." 
 
 Jefferson was a student of William and Mary College 
 at Williamsburg, Va. In addition to excelling in other 
 studies, he had a good knowledge of Latin, Greek, and 
 French, to which he soon added Italian and Spanish. 
 He had an artistic temperament, loved music, and was 
 an exceptionally good violinist. He was proficient in 
 outdoor sports and an excellent horseman. Thorough- 
 bred horses to him were a necessary luxury. 
 
 Soon after leaving college, he entered a law office, and 
 after five years of close study was admitted to the bar 
 in 1767. His thorough preparation enabled him to 
 compete from the first with the leading lawyers of the 
 Colony. 
 
 On January 1, 1772, he married Martha Wayles 
 Skelton, a childless widow of 23, very handsome, accom- 
 plished, and very fond of music. Their married life was 
 exceedingly happy, and Jefferson never remarried after 
 her early death. Of six children, two daughters alone 
 survived infancy. Jefferson was emotional and very af- 
 
470 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 fectionate at home, and his generous and devoted rela- 
 tions with his children and grandchildren are among 
 the finest phases of his character. 
 
 In 1779, at almost the gloomiest stage of the war in 
 the Southern States, Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry 
 as governor of Virginia, being the second to hold that 
 office after the organization of the Government. In his 
 second term the State was overrun by British troops, 
 and Jefferson, a civilian, was blamed for the ineffectual 
 resistance. Most of the criticism of his administration 
 was grossly unjust. His conduct being attacked, he 
 declined reelection to the governorship, but was unani- 
 mously returned by Albemarle as a delegate to the State 
 legislature. 
 
 From 1784 to 1789 Jefferson was in France, first 
 under an appointment to collaborate with Benjamin 
 Franklin and John Adams in negotiating treaties of 
 commerce with European countries, and then as Frank- 
 lin's successor as minister to France. He was exceed- 
 ingly popular as a minister. During this time he as- 
 sisted in negotiating a treaty of amity and commerce 
 with Prussia and one with Morocco, and negotiated 
 with France a "convention defining and establishing 
 the rights and privileges of consuls and vice consuls." 
 
 When Jefferson left France it was with the intention 
 of soon returning, but President Washington tendered 
 him the Secretaryship of State, and he reluctantly ac- 
 cepted. Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of the 
 Treasury. These two men, antipodal in temperament 
 and political beliefs, clashed with irreconcilable hostility, 
 first on the financial proposals of Hamilton, which were 
 adopted by Congress against the protests of Jefferson, 
 
News Releases 471 
 
 then on the questions with regard to France and Great 
 Britain, Jefferson's sympathies being predominantly with 
 the former, Hamilton's with the latter. They formed 
 about themselves two great parties, which took the 
 names of Republican and Federalist. The schools of 
 thought for which they stood have since contended for 
 mastery in American politics. The name "Republican" 
 was dropped at the time of the War of 1812. In 1853 
 it was revived for a new party of very different political 
 principles. 
 
 Jefferson was elected President, entering upon his 
 duties March 4, 1801, and reelected in 1804. His ad- 
 ministration was distinguished by the simplicity that 
 marked his conduct in private life. 
 
 When on March 4, 1809, he retired from the Presi- 
 dency, he had been almost continuously in the public 
 service for 40 years. He refused to be reelected for the 
 third time, though requested by the legislatures of five 
 States to be a candidate. Thus, following Washington's 
 example, he helped to establish a precedent deemed by 
 him of great importance for preserving a democratic 
 spirit in the Presidency. 
 
 When he died, he chose for his tomb the epitaph: 
 "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Dec- 
 laration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for 
 Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of 
 Virginia." 
 
 Story of "Mad Anthony" Wayne 
 
 To the people of Pennsylvania January 1 means more 
 than the beginning of the New Year, for on that date 
 in 1745 a baby boy was born in the Keystone State who 
 
472 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 was destined to achieve honor for himself and his com- 
 monwealth by his distinguished service to the United 
 States in the Revolutionary War. Anthony Wayne 
 was the name given to the infant at his christening, but 
 by the time he was 35 years old his exploits on many 
 battle fields had earned for him the soubriquet of "Mad 
 Anthony," and he was acclaimed by his countrymen 
 as a national hero. 
 
 Anthony Wayne was born in East town, Pa., on 
 January 1, 1745. His father was the son of Anthony 
 Wayne, an Englishman who had lived for some years in 
 Ireland before coming to America. After removing to 
 this country the family seems to have done very well, 
 and young Anthony's father had built up a comfortable, 
 if moderate, fortune by the time his only son was born. 
 
 Fighting blood seems to have characterized the 
 Wayne's, for the grandfather of young Anthony had 
 served gallantly under the banner of William III, and 
 the boy's father had taken an active part in the con- 
 flict between France and England in America. In fact, 
 this military ardor was so strong in the future hero of 
 Stony Point that it nearly ruined his academic educa- 
 tion. His uncle, who was Anthony's first school master, 
 complained to the boy's father that his son would have 
 to give more attention to his studies or leave the school. 
 Anthony was more interested in playing soldier than he 
 was in studying. 
 
 From this school young Anthony was sent to the 
 academy at Philadelphia which later became the Uni- 
 versity of Pennsylvania. Here he showed remarkable 
 ability in mathematics and at the age of 18 he became 
 a surveyor. Already he was following in the footsteps 
 
News Releases 473 
 
 of George Washington under whose military leadership 
 he later served so brilliantly. 
 
 Wayne was a member with Benjamin Franklin of the 
 Pennsylvania Committee of Safety in 1775, and in that 
 year he organized and drilled the Fourth Pennsylvania 
 Regiment. He was commissioned colonel on January 
 3, 1776, and the following June was sent with the Penn- 
 sylvania troops to reenforce the northern army before 
 Quebec. At Three Rivers he impetuously attacked a 
 superior British force and in this engagement received 
 his first wound. From here he went to Ticonderoga, 
 where he was placed in command. Chafing under the 
 inactivity of this service, he wrote to Washington urging 
 that he be assigned to active duty in the field. 
 
 Wayne was commissioned brigadier general in 
 February, 1777, and two months later joined Wash- 
 ington in New Jersey. During the summer of that year 
 he proved a constant threat to the British in that State 
 and was commended for his bravery and good conduct 
 by the Commander in Chief. At the Battle of Brandy- 
 wine Wayne was charged with the defense of Chad's 
 Ford, where his spirited resistance checked the advance 
 of Knyphausen's Hessians and was largely responsible 
 for preventing a rout. A short time later he was at- 
 tacked at Paoli by a superior British force, and here he 
 suffered a severe defeat, although he succeeded in bring- 
 ing off his men. 
 
 During the winter at Valley Forge Wayne was 
 charged with a great deal of the responsibility of ob- 
 taining supplies for the Continental Army. Much of 
 this was obtained from raids into the British lines, and 
 in these Mad Anthony was a sore trial to the enemy. 
 
474 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 When Clinton led his army from Philadelphia, Wayne 
 hung on the rear of the English and wherever he went 
 there was always a fight. This impetuous and cour- 
 ageous young officer was indeed a dangerous foeman. 
 In the heated engagement at Monmouth, Wayne's ef- 
 forts, perhaps more than those of any other man except 
 Washington, saved the Americans from disaster. 
 
 The most daring and spectacular exploit of Mad 
 Anthony's career occurred at midnight on July 15, 
 1779, when he stormed the British garrison at Stony 
 Point, and at the bayonet point forced the surrender 
 of a fort which had been considered impregnable. This 
 Hudson River post, strongly fortified, commanded 
 King's Ferry and was naturally protected by a marsh, 
 which at high tide was covered by water so deep that 
 the place became an island. 
 
 General Wayne led his troops to within a mile and 
 a half of the fort and there waited for midnight. At 
 the appointed time the Americans moved forward in 
 two columns. In order to insure absolute secrecy, the 
 muskets were unloaded except for a few belonging to 
 the men who were to distract the attention of the British 
 from the attacking columns. It was a perilous under- 
 taking, and, from letters which Wayne wrote before 
 the attack, it is evident that he was determined to take 
 Stony Point or die in the attempt. 
 
 Mad Anthony led the charge up the slope until he 
 was struck in the head by a ball which inflicted a severe 
 wound and knocked him senseless. He soon regained 
 consciousness, however, and directed the movements of 
 his troops until the British surrendered. It was a glori- 
 ous triumph and even the Redcoats paid tribute to the 
 
News Releases 475 
 
 valor and courage of the American soldiers and the gen- 
 erosity toward the vanquished which was shown by the 
 victors. General Wayne was warmly commended by 
 Washington, Lafayette, Steuben, and all the rest of his 
 fellow officers, and General Charles Lee called the affair 
 the "most brilliant assault in history." 
 
 In the disturbances among the American troops oc- 
 casioned by the failure of Congress to provide them with 
 money and supplies, Wayne proved that he could be 
 diplomatic as well as impetuous. His influence with 
 the men at this time was but an indication of the re- 
 spect which the soldiers held for their leader, and his 
 efforts secured a settlement of the difficulties. 
 
 Early in 1781 Wayne was ordered to join Lafayette 
 in Virginia, where he refused to be intimidated by Lord 
 Cornwallis. Mad Anthony seriously hampered the 
 Briton's movements, and in the engagement at Green 
 Springs in which he was opposed by the entire British 
 force he demonstrated his great ability as a general. At 
 the siege of Yorktown, he opened the first parallel in 
 the cordon which enclosed Cornwallis and was actively 
 engaged during the entire investiture. 
 
 Wayne received six wounds during his military ca- 
 reer, one being inflicted by a shot from the gun of an 
 American sentry at the camp of Lafayette. The guard 
 was evidently nervous because of the proximity of the 
 enemy and as Wayne approached his post on a dark 
 night the man fired. The bullet struck the General in 
 the thigh, glanced off the bone and lodged in the flesh. 
 Mad Anthony excused the soldier, but his ire was aroused 
 at the American commissary which had failed to put 
 enough powder in the cartridge. "If the damned car- 
 
476 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 tridge had a sufficiency of powder the ball would have 
 gone quite through in place of lodging," he expostulated. 
 
 Following Yorktown, General Wayne was sent to the 
 South, where he continued active until the British had 
 been driven out. After the war he returned to Penn- 
 sylvania and resumed his civil life. He was a member 
 of the convention which ratified the Constitution. 
 
 In 1792 President Washington commissioned Wayne 
 General in Chief of the American Army with the rank 
 of Major General, and he was sent to the northwest to 
 subjugate the Indians, a task in which both Harmar and 
 St. Clair had failed. He marched into a hostile terri- 
 tory, built three forts and offered the Indians peace. 
 The savages refused to lay down their arms and on Au- 
 gust 20, 1794, they met Mad Anthony in the Battle of 
 Fallen Timbers. Wayne defeated the redskins, and de- 
 stroyed their villages for miles around. It was a chasten- 
 ing the Indians long remembered and they gave the 
 white warrior the name of "Black Snake," because that 
 reptile will attack any other species and nearly always 
 emerges victorious from its encounters. 
 
 Mad Anthony returned to Pennsylvania from his last 
 battle with "both body and mind fatigued by congest," 
 but was soon appointed by Washington as commissioner 
 to treat with the Indians. While on this mission he be- 
 came ill and died at Presque Isle, now Erie, Pa., on De- 
 cember 15, 1796. 
 
 Loved and esteemed by all his countrymen, a warm 
 and lifelong friend of George Washington, no man ren- 
 dered more brilliant and distinguished service to his land 
 than did this dashing, impetuous, fearless Pennsylvanian. 
 Many times the Commander in Chief commended him 
 
News Releases 477 
 
 for his bravery and ability. This esteem and admiration 
 was mutual, for during the long association of Wash- 
 ington and Wayne, they often conferred and each re- 
 spected the judgment of the other. Mad Anthony is 
 said to have remarked on one occasion that he would 
 storm the gates of hell if Washington would plan the 
 assault. 
 
 Paul Revere's Midnight Ride 
 
 "Listen, my children, and you shall hear 
 Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere." 
 
 In these famous words the beloved poet, Longfellow, 
 began his own account of an important and colorful 
 incident in American history. This excellent story- 
 poem is universally known among the school children 
 of the country, but it seems that the venerable bard al- 
 lowed his sense of the dramatic to obscure the facts in 
 the case, with the result that a somewhat fictitious story 
 has been perpetuated in an interesting but inaccurate 
 epic. For, instead of reaching Concord, as Longfellow 
 relates, Paul Revere was captured by the English just 
 outside of Lexington. 
 
 The year 1775 opened upon a very critical situation 
 in the American Colonies, and even the most hopeful 
 were becoming convinced that an armed conflict with 
 the mother country was inevitable. British troops were 
 stationed in Boston, which was considered the hot bed 
 of rebellion, but the presence of these soldiers only made 
 worse an already hopeless condition. The citizens of 
 Boston vigorously protested England's action in station- 
 ing an army there, and committees were formed to keep 
 
478 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 a vigilant eye on the redcoats and all their movements. 
 One purpose of these committees was to prevent the 
 capture of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, whom 
 the English regarded as seditionists and who were at that 
 time really the leaders of the Massachusetts resistance 
 to the authority of Parliament. 
 
 Paul Revere, a Boston silversmith, whose father was 
 a Huguenot refugee to the colonies, was a member of 
 one of these committees which reported directly to 
 Adams and Hancock. In the early part of April, 1775, 
 the movements of the British troops aroused the suspi- 
 cions of the patriot vigilantes, who became convinced 
 that the capture of their leaders was intended. Revere 
 had visited Lexington a few days before his memorable 
 ride took place and on his way back to Boston had 
 stopped in Charlestown to arrange with a friend the 
 means to be employed in apprising the latter of the 
 movements of the soldiers. Adams and Hancock were 
 in Lexington and if their capture were intended the men 
 had to be informed beforehand. 
 
 On the night of April 18, Dr. Joseph Warren learned 
 that 800 troops under Lieut. Col. Francis Smith were 
 leaving with the double objective of capturing Hancock 
 and Adams and destroying the military stores at Con- 
 cord which the patriots had been collecting. The fu- 
 ture hero of Bunker Hill immediately dispatched Wil- 
 liam Dawes for Lexington, from which place he was 
 to proceed to Concord. Warren then sent for Revere, 
 whom he instructed to ride to these villages by another 
 route. The patriot silversmith sought out a friend and 
 requested him to place two lanterns in the tower of 
 North Church as a signal to the watchers in Charles- 
 
News Releases 479 
 
 town, then proceeded to the Charles River, where a boat 
 awaited him. In this craft, with muffled oar-locks, he 
 was rowed to the opposite shore, passing under the guns 
 of the British man-of-war, Somerset, and avoiding by- 
 five minutes the soldiers who had been sent to detain 
 him. 
 
 In Charlestown Revere found that his signals had been 
 seen, and procuring a horse, he immediately set off for 
 Lexington. He had just passed Charlestown Neck when 
 he saw two mounted British officers waiting under a 
 tree. As these men rode toward him, Revere took flight 
 and succeeded in eluding his would-be captors after one 
 of them had been caught in a clay pond. In a letter 
 written to a friend sometime later, Revere, describing 
 his ride, said that from here on he "alarmed almost every 
 House" until he reached Lexington. 
 
 When he arrived at this place the courier patriot rode 
 directly to the house of Rev. Jonas Clark, where Han- 
 cock and Adams were staying. He apprised these men 
 of their danger and after partaking of refreshments he 
 started for Concord with Mr. Dawes, who arrived in 
 the meantime, to warn the militia there of the British 
 plans to capture the stores collected in that city. They 
 were joined by Dr. Prescott, a young patriot of that vi- 
 cinity, but after proceeding only a short distance the 
 three Americans were accosted by a body of English 
 soldiers. Prescott escaped by jumping his horse over 
 a stone wall, but his two companions were captured and 
 in this abrupt manner the "midnight ride of Paul Re- 
 vere" was rudely terminated. Prescott alone of the 
 three riders was able to reach Concord. 
 
 Revere was not detained long by his captors, who re- 
 
480 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 turned with him to Lexington, where he was relieved 
 of his horse. He then assisted Adams and Hancock to 
 a more secluded retreat, after which he probably re- 
 turned to his home in Boston. 
 
 Despite the difference between the facts in the case 
 and the picture drawn in Longfellow's immortal poem, 
 Paul Revere remains none the less a patriot hero. 
 Throughout the entire Revolution he was prominent 
 in his service to his country. At first he acted as a mes- 
 senger and made several trips from Boston to New York 
 and Philadelphia to carry word to Congress of the situa- 
 tion in Massachusetts. He was one of the leaders in the 
 Boston Tea Party. But his most famous exploit was, 
 of course, his ride to Lexington. 
 
 A fact perhaps too little known is that Revere was 
 "the most remarkable man to develop American indus- 
 tries that the first 200 years of American history pro- 
 duced." He was an expert gold-and-silversmith; he 
 rolled copper for use on the Constitution; he was an 
 engraver, a dentist and an iron molder. He manufac- 
 tured bells which were among the finest in the country 
 and over 75 of these bells are still in use in New England. 
 The copper rolling industry he established in Canton, 
 Mass., in 1801, is still in existence and is conducted to- 
 day by direct descendants of its founder. 
 
 When Paul Revere died on May 10, 1818, he was 83 
 years old and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all his 
 countrymen. He had served his country well and hon- 
 orably — his life had been long and useful. Today Amer- 
 ica honors his memory in gratitude for his loyalty to 
 the cause of independence. 
 
News Releases 481 
 
 The Story of Nathan Hale 
 
 On September 22, 1776, there was enacted in the 
 City of New York, then in the hands of the British, a 
 scene which ended the life of one of America's most 
 revered patriots. On that day, alone in the presence 
 of enemies, with no friend to lend strength and courage 
 in his last hours, young Nathan Hale, condemned as a 
 spy, went to his death on a British gallows. In com- 
 memoration of the one hundred and fifty-fourth anni- 
 versary of this courageous youth's sacrifice to his coun- 
 try the Information Division of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, organ- 
 ized for the celebration in 1932 of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington, calls 
 attention to the facts connected with Hale's heroic 
 mission, which terminated so unhappily. 
 
 It will be recalled that after the British had 
 evacuated Boston in the spring of 1776, the next place 
 which became the point of dispute was New York City. 
 Gen. George Washington correctly divined the plans 
 of Lord Howe, who intended to capture that city and 
 use it as a base for future operations against the so- 
 called rebel army. In an effort to defend the metropolis, 
 Washington endeavored to strongly fortify the place 
 against attack, but as yet the Continental Army was 
 little more than an untrained crowd, and the Com- 
 mander in Chief was unable to obtain even the neces- 
 sary supplies for the soldiers. Hampered by the lack 
 of munitions and the neglect of Congress to supply his 
 needs, Washington could hardly fail to appreciate the 
 precariousness of his position. 
 
 If the American Army was to be successful in the 
 
482 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 coming conflict, then it was of vital importance that 
 no opportunity to gain the advantage of the enemy be 
 lost. Howe seemed content to move warily, and Wash- 
 ington felt that a secret service system of some kind 
 would work to good advantage in obtaining advance 
 information of the British plans. By being forewarned, 
 the Americans could move in such a way that their own 
 military inferiority would not be so serious a handicap. 
 
 The Britons had won a victory at the Battle of Long 
 Island, and Washington was forced to withdraw from 
 New York. However, he was not content to leave the 
 field entirely to his foe and determined to make it warm 
 for the Redcoats. He felt the imperative need of intelli- 
 gence from the enemy camp, and at this juncture called 
 for a volunteer to enter the British lines and obtain the 
 important information. The man who answered this 
 call was the 21 -year-old Capt. Nathan Hale. 
 
 Hale had enlisted in July, 1775, as a lieutenant. His 
 first military experience had been gained at the siege 
 of Boston, where he was advanced by a congressional 
 commission to a captaincy. From here he accompanied 
 the victorious army to New York, where he assisted in 
 the preparations for the defense of that city. After 
 serving for a time in his regular capacity, he became 
 attached to Knowlton's Rangers, a body of light horse 
 already becoming famous as scouts. 
 
 When General Washington asked for some one to 
 accept the dangerous mission of a spy, it is said that 
 Captain Hale at first declined to volunteer because of 
 a recent illness, but after considering the matter de- 
 cided to offer his services. Although a brother officer 
 sought to dissuade him upon the grounds that he had so 
 
News Releases 483 
 
 slight a chance for success and that failure meant only 
 an ignominious death, the young patriot was not to be 
 shaken when once his decision had been reached. 
 
 From the Commander in Chief, Hale received his 
 instructions and an order directing the boatmen along 
 the East River to place themselves at his disposal. One 
 of these, a Captain Pond, conveyed him across the 
 stream, and Hale found himself, disguised as a Dutch 
 schoolmaster, in the territory of the enemy. Naturally, 
 the utmost secrecy attended his departure, but informa- 
 tion later brought to light has fixed it at about Septem- 
 ber 10 or 12. 
 
 Only meager details have been discovered as to the 
 activities of the youth from this time until the night 
 of September 21, when he was apprehended and taken 
 before Lord Howe. That he inspected the British forti- 
 fications, made drawings, and recorded data concerning 
 them is certain, because it was these papers, found on 
 his person, that led the English commander to sum- 
 marily order his execution as a spy. He was denied 
 the formality of a trial, for, as if the papers in his 
 possession were not evidence enough, he proudly stated 
 to his captors that he was an American captain fighting 
 for the freedom of his country, and without hesitation 
 admitted the object of his mission. A story which 
 gained credence among his associates laid his capture to 
 betrayal by one of his Tory relatives, who, it is said, 
 recognized him as he was about to return to the Amer- 
 ican lines. But historians have since discredited this 
 supposition. 
 
 Hale was turned over to the provost marshal, an 
 inhuman loyalist named Cunningham, whose cruelties 
 
484 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 had already marked him with infamy. The execution 
 was to take place before sunrise and was to be effected 
 in the mode usually accorded spies — by hanging. From 
 subsequent reports given by the British it is certain 
 that Hale received his sentence calmly and with that 
 same courage which had long before made him a valu- 
 able officer in Washington's army. Even the English- 
 men were impressed with the unflinching bravery of 
 their youthful prisoner, who so cheerfully offered his 
 life for his country's liberty. 
 
 The provost marshal, determined to make the hated 
 patriot's death as shameful as possible, allowed no mili- 
 tary dignity to be accorded him. The condemned man 
 was denied the services of a chaplain, or even the solace 
 of a Bible. He wrote letters to his sweetheart and 
 brother, which were promptly destroyed before his very 
 eyes by the despicable Cunningham. Even this in- 
 human treatment failed to daunt the boy, and, as he 
 mounted the scaffold, he said, "You are shedding the 
 blood of the innocent; if I had ten thousand lives, I 
 would lay them down in defence of my injured, bleed- 
 ing country." With the immortal words, "I only regret 
 that I have but one life to lose for my country," Nathan 
 Hale, patriot, went to his death in the performance of 
 his duty. 
 
 It was the spirit manifested here by Nathan Hale 
 which lived in his countrymen and enabled them to 
 triumph over the despotism of a misguided king. Only 
 men of this indomitable character, united under the 
 leadership of the incomparable Washington, could have 
 achieved the ultimate victory. Although Nathan Hale 
 met a tragic and miserable fate, his service, devotion, 
 
News Releases 485 
 
 and patriotism will never be forgotten. His name 
 belongs with the immortals of the American Revolution. 
 
 John Jay — First Chief Justice 
 
 Many a man in official life has tried honestly to serve 
 his country's interests only to find his action disapproved 
 and misunderstood by the general public. It may de- 
 velop later that his vision was far-sighted, and then he 
 may receive belated approbation from his countrymen; 
 or, perhaps, appreciation for him may even be left to 
 another generation. 
 
 One such man lived in America during the Revolu- 
 tionary War period. This man was John Jay, the first 
 Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Jay 
 is remembered by most Americans as the man who ne- 
 gotiated the treaty agreement with England which has 
 since been known by his name. It was this treaty, ne- 
 cessitated by the British and American misunderstand- 
 ings growing out of the Treaty of Paris, which made 
 Jay so unpopular in this country for some time. Many 
 Americans thought that the treaty made too many con- 
 cessions to Great Britain, although it was approved by 
 Washington and other officials of that time. An inter- 
 esting fact in the matter is that Lord Grenville, who 
 signed the papers on behalf of Great Britain, was also 
 denounced by his countrymen as having been duped by 
 the American minister. 
 
 Jay was born in New York December 12, 1745. His 
 father, a wealthy merchant of Huguenot descent, see- 
 ing that the boy was of a serious-minded nature, sent 
 young John to a private school for three years. At the 
 end of that time the youth was placed under a tutor 
 
486 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 until he entered King's College, now Columbia Univer- 
 sity, at the age of 14. In 1764 he graduated from that 
 institution and immediately entered the office of Ben- 
 jamin Kissam, a prominent lawyer of New York City. 
 Young Jay agreed to work in this firm as an apprentice, 
 bound for a service of five years. He was admitted to 
 the bar in 1768, and soon became a prominent attorney 
 and a partner of Robert R. Livingston. 
 
 The public career of John Jay began in 1773 when 
 he was appointed secretary to the Royal Commission 
 to determine the boundary between New York and 
 Canada. At this time he was 28 years old, and for the 
 next 28 years he was to be active in his country's serv- 
 ice. Oddly enough, Jay's life was thus divided into three 
 periods of 28 years each, for when he retired from office 
 in 1801 at the end of his second term as governor of 
 New York, he enjoyed 28 years of private life until his 
 death in 1829. 
 
 When difficulties first began between England and her 
 Colonies, Jay was opposed to separation from the mother 
 country. However, when it was decided that a change 
 of government was necessary, Jay was found to be as 
 staunch and aggressive as any other patriot. He drafted 
 the suggestion for the meeting of the Continental Con- 
 gress, and was a member of that body when it first con- 
 vened. A committee was appointed to "state the rights 
 of the colonies in general," and Jay was designated to 
 prepare an address to the people of Great Britain. He 
 did this so well that the address was at once reported 
 to and approved by Congress. When Jefferson read the 
 paper, without knowing its authorship, he declared it 
 "a production certainly of the finest pen in America." 
 
News Releases 487 
 
 At this time Jay was serving on so many congressional 
 committees that his associates marvelled at his ability 
 to perform the duties involved. Despite this activity, 
 he still found time to write a great deal, and many look 
 upon him as the most effective molder of public opinion 
 of that period. 
 
 Jay's life is lacking in the military exploits which have 
 added such lustre to the names of Warren, Morgan, 
 Greene, Sullivan, Knox, Wayne, .and all the other great 
 soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The service he ren- 
 dered was not on the field of battle but in the halls of 
 Congress, in the field of foreign relations and on the 
 bench of the judiciary. In these offices he served his 
 country with as great distinction and honor as if he had 
 been a warrior. 
 
 It was because of his loyal response to the demands 
 of his colony that the name of John Jay does not appear 
 among those affixed to the Declaration of Independence. 
 He was prevented from signing that great document 
 because New York called him home to aid in the organi- 
 zation of a government there. In 1777 he wrote the 
 constitution which was adopted by the legislature with 
 very few changes, and under the government thus 
 formed, Jay was appointed chief justice of New York. 
 
 In 1779 Jay served as President of Congress until Oc- 
 tober of that year, when he became minister to Spain. 
 In this position he confronted a difficult task. The 
 Spanish government feared the ambitious new country 
 and was reluctant to jeopardize her own interests in 
 Europe and elsewhere by an open encouragement of the 
 course of the colonies. 
 
 While still in Spain, Jay was appointed to the commis- 
 
488 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 sion for general peace along with Franklin, Jefferson, 
 John Adams, and Henry Laurens. Congress instructed 
 these peace commissioners not to conclude a separate 
 peace with Britain, for it was supposed that France 
 would approve all the claims of the United States. Jay 
 soon felt, however, that Talleyrand so feared the grow- 
 ing power of the new nation that he was opposed to 
 many of the American claims. Jay took the lead in the 
 peace negotiations, and although he was at first opposed 
 by Franklin, he negotiated a separate treaty with Eng- 
 land which secured concessions that were far more 
 liberal than had been hoped for by even the most san- 
 guine. 
 
 Returning to America, Jay was active in his advocacy 
 of a strong Federal Government under a constitution. 
 This activity was one of the factors which influenced 
 New York to approve the Constitution. When Wash- 
 ington was elected President, it is said that he offered 
 Jay his choice of office in the new government. Jay 
 selected the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 
 to which position he was appointed. In notifying him 
 of the nomination, Washington said: 
 
 "I not only acted in conformity with my best judg- 
 ment, but I trust I did a grateful thing to the good citi- 
 zens of these United States." 
 
 It was in 1794 that Jay accepted the mission he knew 
 would be so difficult and unpopular. Relations with 
 Great Britain were strained at the time due to the fact 
 that certain stipulations of the Treaty of Paris had never 
 been carried out by that country. With a desire to avoid 
 a rupture, Washington sent Jay to England as special 
 minister to adjust the differences between the two coun- 
 
News Releases 489 
 
 tries. The result of these negotiations with Grenville, 
 British secretary of foreign affairs, was the famous Jay's 
 Treaty which Congress accepted. War sentiment was 
 at such a height in this country, however, that Jay was 
 everywhere denounced. It has already been noted that 
 the people of England believed Grenville to have been 
 inveigled by the American into making altogether too 
 many concessions in the same treaty. 
 
 When Jay returned to the United States again, it was 
 to find that he had been elected governor of New York, 
 the election having taken place before the results of his 
 mission to England were known. As evidence that his 
 undeserved unpopularity did not long remain, in New 
 York at any rate, Jay was reelected to the gubernatorial 
 chair by so large a majority as to constitute a personal 
 triumph. 
 
 During his occupancy of the Supreme Court bench 
 as its first Chief Justice, Jay's services were invaluable 
 in shaping the foreign policies of the new country and 
 establishing the dignity and independence of the Fed- 
 eral judiciary. Daniel Webster once said of him, "When 
 the spotless ermine of the judicial robe fell on John Jay, 
 it touched nothing less spotless than itself." To the end 
 of the First President's life, Jay enjoyed the esteem 
 and friendship of George Washington, who frequently 
 sought and heeded his counsel. His long and useful life 
 ended on May 17, 1829, at his home in Bedford, N. Y. 
 
 Anniversary of Patrick Henry's Birth 
 
 "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Crom- 
 well, and George the Third— may profit by their 
 example. If this be treason, make the most of it." 
 
490 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 What schoolboy is not familiar with these immortal 
 words? Who has not read them and visualized the fiery 
 and eloquent Patrick Henry making this irresistible 
 appeal to his countrymen to resist the oppressive meas- 
 ures of the British ministry, The undying fame that 
 came to the young Virginia lawyer because of this 
 speech was well deserved, as his later life proved, for 
 no one in all the American Colonies was a stauncher 
 patriot or more ardent advocate of liberty. 
 
 Patrick Henry was born in Hanover County, Va., 
 May 26, 1736, and the Division of Information and 
 Publication of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission has issued a statement com- 
 memorating the one hundred and ninety-fifth anniver- 
 sary of his birth. This birthday is marked by the Bi- 
 centennial Commission as one of the dates to be ob- 
 served in connection with the nation-wide celebration 
 next year of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of George Washington, which will begin on February 22 
 and continue until the following Thanksgiving Day. 
 
 Henry was one of the leaders of the patriot cause 
 during the Revolutionary War. In fact, he was per- 
 haps responsible, more than any other one man, except 
 George Washington, for directing the sentiment of 
 Virginia in favor of the complete separation of the 
 Colonies from the mother country. 
 
 Henry was always an admirer and personal friend of 
 George Washington, although the two men differed 
 widely in their political beliefs. Washington favored a 
 strong central government, while Henry was decidedly 
 averse to any serious encroachments on the authority of 
 the States. While Washington advocated the adoption 
 
News Releases 491 
 
 of the Federal Constitution, Henry vigorously opposed 
 its ratification in Virginia. He had served several terms 
 as governor of the Old Dominion, and his influence in 
 that State was so great that he was able to prevent the 
 election of James Madison to the United States Senate. 
 He opposed Madison because of his part in framing the 
 Constitution. 
 
 Despite the political differences between them, 
 Washington always entertained the highest regard for 
 Patrick Henry. In fact, Washington frequently ex- 
 pressed himself as feeling greatly indebted to his fellow 
 Virginian because of the personal friendliness he dis- 
 played during the Revolutionary War. "When Wash- 
 ington was at Valley Forge, with the Conway Cabal at 
 its most threatening stage, Henry forwarded to the 
 general letters he had received from some of the con- 
 spirators. It was a friendly act by which he hoped to 
 put Washington on his guard. 
 
 Because of his devotion to the welfare of his country 
 during the most trying period of her early existence, 
 Patrick Henry rightly occupies a place of prominence 
 on her roll of honor. He ardently desired the independ- 
 ence of the United States, and to this end his whole- 
 hearted efforts were fearlessly engaged. The esteem in 
 which he was held by his associates in Virginia is attested 
 by the many terms he was called to serve as governor of 
 that State. When he died on June 6, 1799, he had just 
 been elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. 
 
 Virginia's regard for the great orator is today shared 
 by the entire Nation. In the hearts of his countrymen 
 will always burn his immortal statement: "Give me 
 liberty or give me death!" 
 
492 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Hamilton and Jefferson Traded Votes in Selecting 
 Capital Site 
 
 It is not easy to realize today the significance of the 
 compromise which located the Capital of the United 
 States on the banks of the Potomac and placed on the 
 Federal Government the responsibility of paying the 
 State debts incurred during the Revolution. Alexander 
 Hamilton was the foremost advocate of the Federal 
 assumption of State debts. It was linked up with the 
 establishment of a national bank, the project most vital 
 to his dreams of a great Union, and he was backed by 
 the sentiment of the North. On the other hand, Jef- 
 ferson and the agricultural South looked with abhor- 
 rence upon what appeared to them the beginning of an 
 oligarchy of wealth. 
 
 The differences between these factions grew into an 
 ever-widening division which threatened to wreck the 
 Union before it was really under way, and a compromise 
 became imperative. The leading parts in the closing 
 of this rift were taken by Hamilton and Jefferson. 
 
 The bill providing for the Federal Government's 
 assumption of State debts had been defeated by a nar- 
 row margin. Hamilton felt that the cause was not 
 entirely lost. He believed that this rejection could be 
 rescinded, and he set about securing the votes neces- 
 sary to accomplish his purpose. Some of the Congress- 
 men were threatening secession and dissolution, thoughts 
 of which Hamilton was unable to tolerate. He went to 
 Jefferson, who recorded the incident in his diary. 
 
 "Hamilton was in despair," wrote Jefferson. "As I 
 was going to the President's one day, I met him in the 
 street. He walked me backwards and forwards before 
 
News Releases 493 
 
 the President's door for half an hour. He painted 
 pathetically the temper into which the legislature had 
 been wrought; the disgust of those who were called the 
 creditor States, the danger of the secession of their mem- 
 bers, and the separation of the States." 
 
 Hamilton encouraged Jefferson to use his influence 
 with his friends to secure the votes. In return he prom- 
 ised to get enough votes to locate the Capital on the 
 Potomac. Jefferson's diary continues: 
 
 "But it was observed that this pill would be peculiarly 
 bitter to the Southern States and that some concomitant 
 measures should be adopted to sweeten it a little to them. 
 There had been before a proposition to fix the Seat of 
 Government either at Philadelphia or at Georgetown 
 on the Potomac; and it was thotight by giving it to 
 Philadelphia for 10 years and to Georgetown perma- 
 nently afterwards, this might, as an anodyne, calm in 
 some degree the ferment which might be excited by 
 the other measure alone. So two of the Potomac mem- 
 bers (White and Lee, but White with a revulsion of 
 stomach almost convulsive) agreed to change their 
 votes and Hamilton undertook to carry the other point. 
 In doing this the influence he had established over the 
 eastern members, with the agency of Robert Morris, 
 with those of the Middle States, effected his side of the 
 agreement, and so the assumption was passed." 
 
 In the compromise thus effected the Union, so dear 
 to the hearts of Hamilton and Jefferson, was perpetu- 
 ated. Controversy, .of proportions difficult to appre- 
 ciate today, was settled not only by the sagacity and 
 patience of these two men, but by their shrewd knowl- 
 
494 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 edge of the political minds of their constituents and 
 their personal desire to make the Union permanent. 
 
 James Monroe Wounded at Trenton 
 
 Overshadowed perhaps by his great accomplishments 
 in later life, it is not generally known that James Monroe, 
 the fifth President of the United States, was seriously 
 wounded at the Battle of Trenton while serving under 
 Gen. George Washington, and that he carried the bullet 
 in his left shoulder during the rest of his life. 
 
 James Monroe possessed all the requisites of the 
 soldier, including courage, strength, skill, and robust 
 health. Although barely out of his teens, this famous 
 American patriot participated in the furious Battles of 
 Harlem Heights, White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, 
 Germantown, and Monmouth, and took a leading part 
 in each of them. 
 
 It was at the age of 17 that he left his home in West- 
 moreland County, Va., for William and Mary College, 
 at which time, it is stated, there were only about 60 
 students there. Most of them, however, represented the 
 most distinguished families of colonial Virginia, and 
 they shared with each other the never to be forgotten 
 experiences of the spring and winter of 1775 and the 
 first half of the year 1776. 
 
 James Monroe joined the Third Virginia Regiment 
 on June 24, 1776. Two months later he marched North 
 under the command of Capt. William Washington, a 
 kinsman of the Commander in Chief of the Continental 
 Army. At this time Monroe, who was barely 18 years 
 old, acted as a first lieutenant. 
 
News Releases 495 
 
 The march to New York was a long one, and the 
 Third Virginia Regiment arrived just in time to par- 
 ticipate in the Battle o£ Harlem Heights. This was 
 Monroe's "baptism of fire," fought in what is now the 
 very heart of New York City, and it was the begin- 
 ning for him of a series of battles at the rate of one a 
 month. 
 
 At the Battle of Trenton he played a highly creditable 
 and even heroic part. It was on this memorable 
 Christmas Eve that the American troops under the com- 
 mand of General Washington crossed the Delaware 
 during a severe snowstorm. Col. William Washington's 
 men from time to time had been used for scout duty, 
 and it is generally conceded by historians that his young 
 lieutenant, James Monroe, was the first man to cross the 
 Delaware. There is a record in existence which states 
 that "Lieutenant Monroe, with a piece of artillery, was 
 sent across the river to Pennington's Road, but joined 
 the army the next morning." After rejoining his com- 
 pany, he found himself among the first in the fight. In 
 capturing some Hessian guns both Captain Washing- 
 ton and Lieutenant Monroe were wounded, the captain 
 being shot in both hands, and Monroe in the shoulder 
 by a ball which cut an artery. It was his left shoulder, 
 and the ball remained there as long as he lived. This 
 gallant act on the part of these two officers helped 
 materially to demoralize the enemy at a most critical 
 time, and materially hastened the victory of the Amer- 
 icans at the battle of Trenton. For "bravery under 
 fire" Monroe was promoted by Gen. George Washington 
 on the field to the rank of captain. 
 
 Elaborate ceremonies will mark the unveiling of 
 
496 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Monroe's statue on April 28, 1931, the one hundred and 
 seventy-third anniversary of his birth, at Ash Lawn, 
 Va., where he spent 26 years of his life. 
 
 This is the famous "lost" statue of President Monroe, 
 a titanic figure 11 feet high, carved from a solid block 
 of marble 3 3 years ago for Venezuela. 
 
 When it is erected it will be the first statue of Monroe, 
 the original isolationist, author of the Monroe Doctrine 
 and thrice an ambassador of the United States to foreign 
 lands, to be erected in his native State. It will also be 
 the largest figure of any statue now in Virginia. 
 
 The gigantic figure of Monroe weighs 3 tons and 
 was made by Attillio Piccirilli, New York sculptor, on 
 the order of President Crespo, president of Venezuela, 
 following a controversy between England and the Latin- 
 American Republic, in which President Cleveland in- 
 tervened under the Monroe Doctrine. President Crespo 
 planned to place the statue before the capitol at 
 Caracas, but before it could be shipped a revolution 
 resulted in the overthrow of the government and 
 Crespo died in jail. 
 
 Birthday Anniversary of Madison 
 
 One of the significant dates in the month of March 
 is the birthday of James Madison, the "Father of the 
 Constitution." Madison was born on March 16, 1751, 
 at Port Conway, Va. 
 
 Unlike the military services of Washington and his 
 army officers, Madison's contribution to the establish- 
 ment of the United States was spectacular in no respect. 
 He was essentially a statesman and in the field of gov- 
 
News Releases 497 
 
 ernment and politics he had few superiors. In this 
 sphere his services have proved to be of everlasting bene- 
 fit to this country. 
 
 At the College of New Jersey, now Princeton, Madi- 
 son demonstrated a prodigious capacity for work, and 
 he was graduated at an early age. He was deeply inter- 
 ested in history and religion, and his studies along these 
 lines formed a broad basis for the sound judgment which 
 characterized his participation in public life. 
 
 Madison's first venture in politics came with his elec- 
 tion to the legislature of his own state. Here he revealed 
 the results of his previous study. He evinced a pro- 
 nounced antagonism toward any kind of religious in- 
 tolerance and advocated the absolute separation of 
 church and state. When a bill was introduced provid- 
 ing that "all men should enjoy the fullest toleration in 
 the exercise of religion," Madison so effectively opposed 
 it that the clause was changed to read, "all men are 
 equally entitled to the free exercise of religion." 
 
 As a member of the Continental Congress in 1780, 
 Madison strongly advocated the establishment of an 
 impost law as part of a Federal tax system. No one real- 
 ized better than he the need of a strong central govern- 
 ment. He recognized that the weakness of the Confed- 
 eration lay in its inability to raise money, and he was 
 among the foremost to urge the adoption of efficient 
 revenue measures. He opposed the issuance of paper 
 money and his masterly reasoning against the evil was 
 responsible for Virginia's escape from the craze which 
 swept the country in 1786. 
 
 The Annapolis Convention which resulted later in 
 the Constitutional Convention in 1787, was Madison's 
 
498 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 proposal. Of all the delegates to the latter, Madison 
 was perhaps the best informed. He had made an ex- 
 haustive study of the history of confederacies and fed- 
 eral unions, and he was ready with his own suggestion, 
 which was known as the Virginia Plan. This was 
 adopted as the basis of the Federal Government which 
 was outlined in the Constitution. 
 
 When the Constitution was ready, Madison worked 
 with Hamilton and Jay in the preparation of the series 
 of pamphlets called "The Federalist." These brochures 
 were written to overcome the prejudice against the Con- 
 stitution and to secure its adoption by the states. In 
 Virginia, this great instrument was vigorously opposed 
 by Henry Lee and Patrick Henry, but Madison argued 
 so strongly in favor of it that he secured the old Domin- 
 ion's ratification. Madison was defeated in his bid for 
 the Senate largely because of the efforts of Henry. He 
 was, however, elected to the House, where he offered 
 12 amendments to the Constitution embodying the sa- 
 lient points of a bill of rights. The first 10 of these 
 amendments were adopted in 1791. 
 
 Madison left the House of Representatives and retired 
 from public life at the close of Washington's second ad- 
 ministration. Retirement in the strictest sense, how- 
 ever, was impossible for him, and he attacked the ad- 
 ministration's neutrality in the war between France and 
 England. The Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 led to 
 the fall of the Federalist party and brought about the 
 election of Jefferson to the Presidency. Madison had 
 been Jefferson's friend for years, and now he accepted 
 the portfolio of Secretary of State. 
 
 After serving in complete harmony with Jefferson, 
 
News Releases 499 
 
 Madison, as the logical successor to the Sage of Monti- 
 cello, was elected to the Presidency. 
 
 Madison's career was one of illustrious service to his 
 country, and Americans everywhere may well recall his 
 
 contribution to the United States. 
 
 mm _^___ 
 
 President Adams First to Occupy White House 
 
 The whimsical suggestion of Francis Hopkinson, one 
 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and 
 a member of the Continental Congress, that the "per- 
 manent" capital of the new Nation be placed on wheels, 
 so that it could be moved from place to place, is not 
 hard to understand when it is realized that the Conti- 
 nental Congress, from September 4, 1774, to October 
 21, 1788, was in session in no less than eight towns. 
 
 The towns were Philadelphia, Pa.; Baltimore, Md.; 
 Lancaster, Pa.; York, Pa.; Princeton, N. J.; Annapolis, 
 Md.; Trenton, N. J., and New York City. 
 
 The selection of a permanent capital for the United 
 States proved to be one of the most vexatious problems 
 that was, for more than 17 years, before both the Con- 
 tinental and the United States Congress, and the matter 
 was brought up and debated at practically every ses- 
 sion until the District of Columbia was finally decided 
 upon. 
 
 The first meeting place of the new Congress was New 
 York City, and the temporary capitol was the old city 
 hall, which was renamed Federal Hall. Subscriptions 
 amounting to $32,000 provided for the refurnishing 
 of the building. It was a fine structure and a grand 
 vestibule, paved with marble, prepared one for the Sen- 
 
500 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ate Chamber with its azure ceiling from which shone 
 the sun and 13 stars. From this room three windows 
 opened upon a balcony whereon the oath of office was 
 administered to George Washington by Chancellor Liv- 
 ingston in full view of the people. Due to the short no- 
 tice and bad traveling conditions, there were only a few 
 Congressmen present on March 4, 1789, and it was a 
 month afterward before there was a quorum to transact 
 business. 
 
 In July, 1790, Congress decided that for the next 10 
 years the seat of Government should be located at Phila- 
 delphia. The executive officers moved to that city, and 
 by December they were established in residence. George 
 Washington lived at No. 190 High Street, near the 
 southeast corner of Sixth Street, which house had been 
 built by William Penn and in turn had been occupied 
 by General Howe, Benedict Arnold and Robert Morris. 
 Thomas Jefferson lived on the same street. 
 
 It was while Congress was meeting in Philadelphia 
 that the District of Columbia was settled upon as the 
 permanent capital of the United States. On January 
 24, 1791, the President sent a message to Congress stat- 
 ing that "in mature consideration of the advantages and 
 disadvantages of the several positions within the limits 
 described" he had by proclamation on the same date 
 directed commissioners to "survey and limit a part of 
 the territory of the ten-mile square on both sides of the 
 river Potomac so as to comprehend Georgetown in 
 Maryland and extend to the Eastern Branch." 
 
 When the removal of the seat of the Government 
 from Philadelphia to the city of Washington was be- 
 
News Releases 501 
 
 gun, more than one million dollars had been expended 
 during the nine years of preparation and was apparently 
 an event that attracted little attention. A few brief 
 paragraphs in Philadelphia newspapers confined to an- 
 nouncements about the change in address of mail mat- 
 ter intended to reach the executive departments were 
 practically all the contemporary notice given to the 
 removal. 
 
 The newcomers arrived before all the work of prepa- 
 ration had been completed. The new city's streets and 
 parks existed on paper only. New arrivals saw gangs 
 of laborers making the first improvements since the 
 clearing away of the forest trees on what has become the 
 most famous historic street in the country, the broad 
 stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue west of the Capitol to 
 the President's house. 
 
 The Capitol had been begun, but the Executive Man- 
 sion was unfinished and the wife of President Adams 
 used the audience room as a drying room for clothes. 
 Congress could hardly find lodgings and sanitary condi- 
 tions were bad. 
 
 President Adams came to the city on November 1, 
 1880, and went at once to the partially finished Presi- 
 dent's house. There were no bells in the house, a scarcity 
 of firewood, and not a single apartment finished. 
 
 Although the 17th of November was the date fixed 
 upon for the meeting of Congress in the new city, when 
 that day arrived a quorum of neither house was pres- 
 ent. On the next day the House had a quorum, but 
 the Senate did not have such a quota until the twenty- 
 first. The following day the President met both Houses 
 
502 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 in the Senate Chamber and read his message, thus open- 
 ing the first formal meeting of Congress in the Nation's 
 new capital. 
 
 George Washington Was Interested in Orphans 
 
 Perhaps no one ever felt more keenly than George 
 Washington the need for relief measures designed to 
 ameliorate the distressing circumstances of orphans and 
 children of parents who were too poor to provide for 
 their families. He was always especially interested in 
 the creation of educational facilities for this class of 
 people, and his life furnishes many examples of worthy 
 efforts in this field. 
 
 The Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, now completing plans for the celebration next 
 year of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth 
 of George Washington, which will begin on February 22 
 and end on the following Thanksgiving Day, cites three 
 instances of the first President's interest in and sym- 
 pathy for orphans. His beneficence is nowhere better 
 displayed than in this respect. 
 
 Perhaps the most notable of George Washington's 
 contributions to orphans and children of the poor was 
 his endowment of the Alexandria Academy. This 
 school was founded in his home town by himself and 
 other public-spirited men who wished to give unfortu- 
 nate children the opportunity of obtaining an educa- 
 tion. Washington laid the corner stone of the academy 
 in September, 1785. The building still stands and is 
 used by the public-school system of Alexandria. 
 
 Washington established a fund for the school, the 
 
News Releases 503 
 
 interest only of which was to be used. His will provided 
 for the permanent endowment of the institution in the 
 bequest of 20 shares of stock in the Bank of Alexandria, 
 then worth $4,000. At one time Washington main- 
 tained in the school, in addition to the regular pupils, 
 about 20 boys whose fathers had been killed in the 
 Revolutionary War. 
 
 In his diary for December 17, 1785, Washington 
 wrote: 
 
 "Went to Alexandria to meet the Trustees of the 
 Academy at that place, and offered to vest in the hands 
 of the said Trustees, when they are permanently estab- 
 lished by Charter, the Sum of One Thousand pounds, 
 the Interest of which only, to be applied towards the 
 establishment of a charity School for the education of 
 Orphan and other poor Children, which offer was 
 accepted." 
 
 During the first year of his initial term in the 
 Presidency, Washington, then in New York City, wrote 
 in his diary, November 22, 1789: "Went to St. Paul's 
 Chapel in the forenoon — heard a charity sermon for the 
 benefit of the Orphan's School of this city." 
 
 Again, during his tour of the Southern States in the 
 spring of 1791, he recorded a visit to the orphanage at 
 Charleston, S. C. 
 
 "Before Break (fast)," Washington wrote, "I visited 
 the Orphan House at which there were one hundred 
 and seven boys and girls. This appears to be a charitable 
 institution and under good management." 
 
 Never in his life did Washington turn a deaf ear 
 toward the pleas which came from or in behalf of the 
 orphans. He always responded to such requests for help 
 
504 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 with whatever assistance he could render. His benev- 
 olence no less than his spectacular achievements on the 
 field of battle or in the chair of government mark him 
 as one of the world's truly great. 
 
 Washington Was Pioneer in Public Schools 
 
 George Washington's foresight and clear thinking is, 
 perhaps, nowhere more definitely shown than in his 
 attitude toward education. 
 
 Realizing the important part education must play 
 in a Republic, he was a pioneer in the interests of uni- 
 versal education, primary, secondary, and collegiate. It 
 engaged his attention and constructive thought even in 
 his will, fully six pages of that historic document being 
 devoted to setting forth his ideas in regard to it. 
 
 Immediately after the Revolutionary War the 
 problem of education became acute, and in 1785 Wash- 
 ington and some other public-spirited men established 
 the Alexandria Academy in Alexandria, Va., for the 
 free education of orphaned or poor children of that 
 city, and on September 7, 1785, he laid the corner stone 
 of a modest building with the aid of the Alexandria 
 Lodge of Freemasons, of which he was a member. 
 
 This school was one of the first free schools in 
 America, and is today included in the school system of 
 the State. 
 
 The idea of establishing such a school was not a new 
 one with Washington. It had first taken form in his 
 mind as a school for the orphans of those men who had 
 been killed in the Revolutionary War, and it was his 
 intention to make a gift to help maintain a school for 
 these children. With the establishment of the Alex- 
 
News Releases 505 
 
 andria Academy, Washington thought that his purpose 
 might best be served if he gave an endowment to that 
 school and provided for its administration in behalf 
 of the children who had first inspired his benevolence. 
 He refers to this in his diary of December 17, 1785, as 
 follows: 
 
 "Went to Alexandria to meet the trustees of the 
 Academy in that place, and offered to vest in the hands 
 of the said trustees, when they were permanently 
 established by charter, the sum of £l,000, the interest 
 of which was only to be applied towards the establish- 
 ment of a charity school for the education of orphans 
 and other poor children, which offer was accepted." 
 
 Washington's interest in education is shown in many 
 ways. His daily records of his acts, as found in his 
 diaries, give concrete evidence of some of the things he 
 did to further educational enterprises in his day. His 
 library is a living testimony to his interest in education. 
 His own example of self -education is an inspiration to 
 every youth and adult alike. 
 
 The following appears in Washington's Diaries under 
 date of July 25, 1769: 
 
 "At home all day writing Letters and Invoices for 
 England." Research shows that, "A long letter and 
 several invoices of goods needed were written to Robert 
 Cary & Co., London. Among the usual supplies for 
 the plantation was included a rather formidable list of 
 books for Master Custis, which included Greek and 
 Latin classics as well as text books of geography, mathe- 
 matics, and history." 
 
 Here are other extracts from his Diaries which refer 
 to education: 
 
506 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "Wednesday, 31st, [Aug. 1785]. This day I told 
 Doctr. Craik that I would contribute one hundred 
 Dollars pr. ann. as long as it was necessary towards the 
 Education of His Son, George Washington, either in 
 this Country or in Scotland." 
 
 It is further shown that Washington contributed to 
 the education of several children of his various friends. 
 Thomas Posey, son of a neighbor, was one of these. 
 
 "Tuesday, 21st, [Feb. 1786]. A Mr. McPherson, of 
 Alexandria, came and returned before dinner. His 
 business was, to communicate the desires of a Neigh- 
 bourhood in Berkeley County, to build a School and 
 Meeting House on some Land of mine there, leased to 
 one [ ]. My answer was, that if the tenant's 
 
 consent could be obtained, and the spot chosen was upon 
 the exterior of my Land, so as that no damage would 
 result from Roads, etca., to it, mine should not be 
 wanting." 
 
 "Monday, 13th, [Nov. 1786]. Agreed to let the 
 Widow Alton have the House used for a School by my 
 Mill, if the school should be discontinued; . . ." 
 
 Washington's library was outstanding in the number 
 of volumes on education, such as: "Chesterfield's Let- 
 ters," "Graham on Education," Locke on "Human Un- 
 derstanding," Seneca's "Morals," and Chapman on "Edu- 
 cation." When the last-named book was received by 
 Washington, he wrote the author: "My sentiments are 
 perfectly in unison with yours, Sir, that the best means 
 of forming a manly, virtuous and happy people will be 
 found in the right education of youth — without this 
 foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must 
 fail." 
 
News Releases 507 
 
 Washington was a careful reader of the best current 
 literature of his time and subscribed to the new books 
 and periodicals. He wrote a Philadelphia publisher, 
 Mathew Carey, in 1788: "I entertain a high idea of 
 the utility of periodical publications; insomuch that I 
 could heartily desire copies of the Museum and Maga- 
 zines, as well as common Gazettes, might be spread 
 through every city, town and village in America. I 
 consider such easy vehicles of knowledge more happily 
 calculated than any other to preserve the liberty, stimu- 
 late the industry, and meliorate the morals of an enlight- 
 ened and free people." 
 
 In his will he made a number of bequests for 
 education as the following abstracts show: 
 
 "Item. — To the trustees ... of the Academy in the 
 town of Alexandria, I give and bequeath, in trust, four 
 thousand dollars, or in other words, twenty of the 
 shares which I hold in the bank of Alexandria, towards 
 the support of a free school, established at and annexed 
 to, the said Academy. . . ." 
 
 "Item. — I give and bequeath, in perpetuity, the fifty 
 shares which I hold in the Potomac company . . . towards 
 the endowment of a University, to be established within 
 the limits of the district of Columbia, under the auspices 
 of the general government, if that government should 
 incline to extend a fostering hand toward it." 
 
 "Item. — The hundred shares which I hold in the 
 James River Company, I have given and now confirm 
 in perpetuity, to and for the use and benefit of Liberty 
 Hall Academy, in the County of Rockbridge in the 
 Commonwealth of Virginia." 
 
 Thus it will be seen that Washington was a patron 
 
508 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of education in a most material way, and the encour- 
 agement he gave to it during his lifetime and the gen- 
 erous gifts he left at his death should be an example 
 and stimulation for all American educators of today. 
 
 Washington's Belief in a Supreme Being 
 
 Occasionally statements are made that George 
 Washington was not a religious man. Such statements, 
 usually emanating from obscure sources, are easily re- 
 futed by reading Washington's own writings, according 
 to the Division of Information and Publication of the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission. 
 
 George Washington was reared in a religious home. 
 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when 
 he is old, he will not depart from it," was an injunction 
 believed in and practiced by the parents of our first 
 President. 
 
 John Marshall, the great Chief Justice of the United 
 States, said of Washington: "Without making ostenta- 
 tious professions of religion, he was a sincere believer in 
 the Christian faith, and truly a devout man." 
 
 At the age of 22, Washington, in a letter to Governor 
 Dinwiddie, of Virginia, dated at Great Meadows, said: 
 "We have been six days without flour, and there is none 
 upon the road for our relief that we know of. We have 
 not provisions of any sort enough in camp to serve us 
 two days. Once before we would have been four days 
 without provisions, if Providence had not sent a trader 
 from the Ohio to our relief." 
 
 All through his illustrious life Washington referred 
 
News Releases 509 
 
 to the providence of God. In a letter to his brother, 
 written a few days after Braddock's defeat, he said: 
 
 "By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence I 
 have been protected beyond all human probability, or 
 expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, 
 and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, al- 
 though death was levelling my companions on every side 
 of me." 
 
 In a letter to Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, 
 in 1775, he said: 
 
 "As the cause of our common country calls us both 
 to an active and dangerous duty, I trust that Divine 
 Providence, which wisely orders the affairs of men, will 
 enable us to discharge it with fidelity and success." 
 
 About the same time he wrote General Gage, of the 
 British Army, in answer to a letter from him: "May 
 that God, to whom you then appealed, judge between 
 America and you. Under his providence, those who 
 influence the councils of America, and all the other 
 inhabitants of the United Colonies, at the hazard of 
 their lives, are determined to hand down to posterity 
 those just and invaluable privileges, which they received 
 from their ancestors." 
 
 In a circular to his officers in 1775, Washington said: 
 "* * * The success of such an enterprise depends, 
 I well know, upon the All-Wise Disposer of events, and 
 it is not within the reach of human wisdom to foretell 
 the issue." 
 
 A letter to Joseph Reed January, 1776, reads: 
 "* * * How it will end, God, in His great good- 
 ness, will direct. I am thankful for His protection to 
 this time." 
 
510 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 During the same month he wrote General Schuyler: 
 «* * * That the Supreme Disposer of every good 
 may bestow health, strength, and spirit, on you and your 
 army, is the fervent wish of your most affectionate and 
 obedient servant." 
 
 Replying to a communication from the General 
 Assembly of Massachusetts, after the evacuation of 
 Boston, he said: M * * * May that Being, who is 
 powerful to save, and in whose hands is the fate of 
 nations, look down with an eye of tender pity and 
 compassion upon the whole of the United Colonies; may 
 He continue to smile upon their councils and arms, and 
 crown them with success, whilst employed in the cause 
 of virtue and mankind. May this distressed colony 
 and its capital, and every part of this wide extended 
 continent, through His divine favor, be restored to more 
 than their former lustre and once happy state, and have 
 peace, liberty, and safety secured upon a solid, perma- 
 nent, and lasting foundation." 
 
 In expectation of an attack by the combined British 
 forces, Washington, on July 2, 1776, issued the follow- 
 ing order: "The time is now near at hand which must 
 probably determine, whether Americans are to be Free- 
 men, or Slaves, whether they are to have any property 
 they can call their own, whether their Houses, and 
 Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they con- 
 signed to a state of wretchedness from which no human 
 efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of un- 
 known millions will now depend, under God, on the 
 Courage and Conduct of this Army. Our cruel and 
 unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave re- 
 sistance, or the most Abject Submission; this is all we 
 
News Releases 511 
 
 can expect — We have therefore to resolve to conquer or 
 die. Our own Country's Honor, All call upon us for a 
 vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully 
 fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world — Let 
 us therefore rely upon the goodness of the cause, and 
 the Aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory 
 is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble 
 Actions." 
 
 From Morris town, N. J., July 4, 1777, he wrote to 
 General Armstrong: "The evacuation of Jersey at this 
 time is a peculiar mark of Providence as the inhabitants 
 have an opportunity of securing their harvests of hay 
 and grain, the latter of which would, in all probability, 
 have undergone the same fate with many farm houses, 
 had it been ripe enough to take fire. The distress of 
 many of the inhabitants, who were plundered not only 
 of their effects, but of their provisions of every kind, 
 was such that I sent down wagonloads of meat and flour 
 to supply their present wants." 
 
 Commenting on the surrender of Burgoyne, he wrote: 
 "Should Providence be pleased to crown our arms in the 
 course of the campaign with one more fortunate stroke, 
 I think we shall have no great cause for anxiety respect- 
 ing the future designs of Britain. I trust all will be well 
 in His good time." 
 
 Writing to Landon Carter, of Virginia, he uttered 
 this trusting prophecy: "I flatter myself that a Superin- 
 tending Providence is ordering everything for the best — 
 and that, in due time, all will end well." 
 
 Valley Forge, May 30, 1778, was the date line of a 
 letter which read: "To paint the distresses and perilous 
 situation of this army in the course of last winter, for 
 
512 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 want of cloaths, provisions, and almost every other nec- 
 essary, essential to the well-being, (I may say existence,) 
 of an army, would require more time and an abler pen 
 than mine; nor, since our prospects have so miraculously 
 brightened, shall I attempt it, or even bear it in remem- 
 brance, further than as a memento of what is due to the 
 great Author of all the care and good, that have been 
 extended in relieving us in difficulties and distress." 
 
 To Benjamin Harrison, Virginia, December 30, 1778, 
 he wrote: 
 
 "Providence has heretofore taken me up when all 
 other means and hope seemed to be departing from me 
 in this." 
 
 In acknowledging the congratulations of the Conti- 
 nental Congress on his success at Yorktown, Washing- 
 ton said: "I take particular pleasure in acknowledging, 
 that the interposing hand of Heaven, in the various in- 
 stances of our extensive preparations for this operation, 
 has been most conspicuous and remarkable." 
 
 In his farewell address to the armies of the United 
 States, the old warrior said: "A contemplation of the 
 complete attainment (at a period earlier than could have 
 been expected) of the object, for which we contended 
 against so formidable a power, cannot but inspire us 
 with astonishment and gratitude. The disadvantageous 
 circumstances on our part, under which the war was 
 undertaken, can never be forgotten. The singular in- 
 terpositions of Providence in our feeble condition were 
 such, as could scarcely escape the attention of the most 
 unobserving." 
 
 Washington was inaugurated President of the United 
 
News Releases 513 
 
 States, April 30, 1789. In his inaugural address made 
 in New York, he said, among other things: 
 
 "Such being the impressions under which I have, in 
 obedience to the public summons, repaired to the pres- 
 ent station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, 
 in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that 
 Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who pre- 
 sides in the councils of nations, and whose providential 
 aids can supply every human defect, that his benedic- 
 tion may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the 
 people of the United States a government instituted 
 by themselves for these essential purposes, and may en- 
 able every instrument employed in its administration, to 
 execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. 
 In tendering this homage to the great Author of every 
 public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses 
 your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my 
 fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No people can 
 be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, 
 which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people 
 of the United States. Every step, by which they have 
 advanced to the character of an independent nation, 
 seems to have been distinguished by some token of provi- 
 dential agency. And, in the important revolution just 
 accomplished in the system of their united government, 
 the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so 
 many distinct communities, from which the event has 
 resulted, cannot be compared with the means by which 
 most governments have been established, without some 
 return of pious gratitude, along with an humble antici- 
 pation of the future blessings which the past seem to 
 presage. These reflections, arising out of the present 
 
514 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind 
 to be suppressed. * * * 
 
 "Having thus imparted to you my sentiments, as they 
 have been awakened by the occasion which brings us 
 together, I shall take my present leave; but not without 
 resorting once more to the benign Parent of the human 
 race, in humble supplication, that, since he has been 
 pleased to favor the American people with opportuni- 
 ties for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispo- 
 sitions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a 
 form of government for the security of their union, 
 and the advancement of their happiness; so his divine 
 blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged 
 views, the temperate consultations, and the wise meas- 
 ures, on which the success of this government must 
 depend." 
 
 Washington's Religious Attitude 
 
 As a boy, George Washington probably thought as 
 much about religion as did the average normal, healthy 
 boy of that age. As he grew older, he steadily devel- 
 oped a deeply religious turn of mind, according to the 
 Division of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 At the age of 23 he counted the bullet holes in his 
 coat after Braddock's defeat, and acknowledged, with 
 common-sense practicality, that a power higher than 
 man had saved him. The Revolutionary War taught 
 him lessons he was too honest to deny, and, as a result, 
 Washington's belief in God became the simple faith of 
 a child, confirmed and strengthened by the actual living 
 experience of a man. 
 
News Releases 515 
 
 The personal record of church attendance, his 
 estimate of the value of religious practices among the 
 people at large, his desire and effort to encourage and 
 to inculcate in the people a spirit of gratitude toward 
 the Deity, and his own expressions of opinion respecting 
 God give concrete evidence of his faith. 
 
 His religious record practically starts with the time 
 when he was commanding the Virginia troops on the 
 western frontier after Braddock's defeat. At Fort 
 Loudoun, Winchester, at the age of 24, this colonel of 
 Virginia militia, on Saturday, September 18, 1756, or- 
 dered that "the men parade tomorrow morning at beat- 
 ing the long roll, with their arms and ammunitions 
 clean and in good order, and to be marched by the 
 Sergeants of the respective companies to the Fort, there 
 to remain until prayers are over." 
 
 After his marriage, Washington attended Pohick 
 Church, at Pohick, Va., and later Christ Church, Alex- 
 andria, Va. Both churches were distant from Mount 
 Vernon, so that it was something of a journey to reach 
 them by coach. An important point established by a 
 close check-up of Washington's church attendance is 
 that throughout his public life, in times of political stress 
 and strain, he went to church of tener than he did in 
 times of national calm and quiet. 
 
 On October 19, 1765, there is record of his taking 
 the oath to conform to the doctrine and discipline of 
 the Church of England "as by law established," and 
 during the year 1774, when political relations with the 
 mother country were becoming dangerously strained, 
 and no one in the Colonies was able to foresee the out- 
 come, he went to church twice and sometimes three 
 
516 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 times a month. It was on June 1, 1774, the day the 
 Boston Port Bill went into effect, that he "went to 
 church and fasted all day." 
 
 In the hectic days of the outbreak of the Revolu- 
 tionary War, Washington, in the letter to his wife, 
 stated that he "relied confidently on that providence 
 which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful 
 to me." 
 
 In the manly speech with which he accepted the 
 appointment of Commander in Chief of the Army he 
 made no reference to God or to heaven; but one month 
 after taking command of the army the matter of pray- 
 ers and church service appears in the general orders for 
 August 5, 1775, at Cambridge. These orders directed 
 that "the Church be cleaned tomorrow and the Revd. 
 Mr. Doyle will perform Divine Service therein at ten 
 o'clock." 
 
 Then comes a personal note of soul humility in his 
 letter to Joseph Reed in January, 1776: "I have 
 scarcely emerged from one difficulty," wrote Washing- 
 ton, "before I have plunged into another. How it will 
 end, God in His great goodness will direct. I am thank- 
 ful for His protection to this time." One thing that 
 speedily became clear in the mind of George Washing- 
 ton was that the military and governmental difficulties 
 of America were not, and could not, be properly met 
 without the help of God. They were too great, and 
 America was too feeble, in Washington's judgment, to 
 admit of their successful solution without help from 
 on high, and certainly the verdict of history as to the 
 magnitude of these difficulties has confirmed Washing- 
 ton's political judgment. And, also, instead of becom- 
 
News Releases 517 
 
 ing opinionated, instead of developing an ego, instead 
 of becoming confident of his abilities, as he succeeded 
 in surmounting one difficulty after another, George 
 Washington became more and more convinced that the 
 hand of God was in those triumphs, and greater and 
 greater became his spiritual humility. 
 
 This humility in success and willingness to accept 
 failure without complaint is exemplified at the end of 
 the siege of Boston. The seizure and fortification of 
 Dorchester Heights are recalled, and how the British 
 prepared for another Bunker Hill, for they attempted 
 to cross the bay in order to storm the works, and Bunker 
 Hill would have been child's play to the slaughter that 
 would have ensued. It is also recalled that the red coats 
 were prevented from crossing the water by a sudden 
 and violent storm, which lasted so long that by the 
 time it was over Howe felt that the works had become 
 too strong for him, gave over the attempt, and evacuated 
 the town. Here is Washington's comment to his 
 brother, John, on the occurrence: "That this remark- 
 able interposition of Providence is for some wise pur- 
 pose, I have not a doubt." And this was rather an ex- 
 traordinary thing to say, for with the preparations made, 
 all contingencies provided for, and with a sufficiency of 
 ammunition, none of which things were present at the 
 affair of Bunker Hill, it is quite reasonable to assume 
 that Howe's attempt would have resulted in the com- 
 plete annihilation of the British Army. 
 
 The setting up of the actual machinery of religion 
 in the Continental Army is important as a part of 
 Washington's religious record. The Congress author- 
 ized the employment of chaplains, after Washington 
 
518 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 had urged it, and the general orders of July 9, 1776, 
 when the army was in New York City, directed: "That 
 Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are 
 directed to procure for Chaplains accordingly, persons 
 of good character and exemplary lives. To see that all 
 inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect 
 and attend carefully upon religious exercises. The bless- 
 ing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, 
 but especially so in times of public distress and danger. 
 The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man 
 will endeavor so to live and act as becomes a Christian 
 Soldier defending the dearest rights and Liberties of 
 his country." 
 
 In January, 1777, the Continental Army for the first 
 time since the siege of Boston, established a permanent 
 encampment base. This was at Morristown, N. J., and 
 among the early things attended to was the practice of 
 regular Sunday worship for the troops. On April 12, a 
 Saturday, it was ordered that "All the troops in Morris- 
 town except the guards, are to attend divine worship 
 tomorrow at the second Bell; the Officers commanding 
 the Corps, are to take special care to have their men 
 clean and decent, and that they are to march in proper 
 order to the place of worship." Next week it was or- 
 dered: "All the troops in town (not on duty) to attend 
 divine service tomorrow agreeable to the orders of the 
 12th instant." The convenience of a church building 
 was an element in Morristown and the army paid due 
 observance to Sunday. It may be noted, however, that 
 only the troops in the town itself were ordered to 
 church, for no building would have been large enough 
 to hold the army encamped in the vicinity. 
 
News Releases 519 
 
 When the encampment was shifted to Middlebrook, 
 the well-known order against profanity was issued on 
 May 31. Washington characterized it as the "foolish 
 and scandalous practice of profane swearing," and 
 added: "As a means to abolish this and every other 
 species of immorality Brigadiers are enjoyned to take 
 effectual care, to have divine service duly performed 
 in their respective brigades." At Middlebrook, also, on 
 June 28, the orders were as follows: "All Chaplains are 
 to perform divine service tomorrow and on every suc- 
 ceeding Sunday, with their respective brigades and regi- 
 ments, where the situation will possibly admit of it. 
 And the Commanding officers of corps are to see that 
 they attend themselves with officers of all ranks setting 
 the example. The Commander in chief expects an 
 exact compliance with this order, and that it be ob- 
 served in the future as an invariable rule of practice. 
 And every neglect will be considered not only as a 
 breach of orders, but a disregard to decency, virtue and 
 religion." 
 
 On the day .after the surrender of Cornwallis, 
 October 20, 1781, Washington's greatest military 
 triumph of the war, he issued this order: "Divine serv- 
 ice is to be performed tomorrow in the several brigades 
 and divisions. The Commander-in-Chief earnestly rec- 
 ommends that the troops not on duty should univer- 
 sally attend with that seriousness of deportment and 
 gratitude of heart which the recognition of such reiter- 
 ated and astonishing interpositions of Providence 
 demands of us." 
 
 Here are Washington's words on the connection 
 between religion and government as taken from his 
 
520 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Farewell Address: "Morality is a necessary spring of 
 popular government ... let us with caution indulge 
 the supposition, that morality can be maintained with- 
 out religion. Whatever may be conceded to the in- 
 fluence of refined education on minds of peculiar struc- 
 ture, reason and experience both forbid us to expect 
 that national morality can prevail in exclusion of 
 religious principle." 
 
 On his deathbed, after nearly 24 hours of struggle 
 for breath, he placed the final seal of courageous man- 
 hood upon his life and went to his Maker with his brave 
 faith unshaken. "I felt from the first," he whispered, 
 "that the disorder would prove fatal . . . but I am not 
 afraid to go." 
 
 Washington Worshiped in 34 Churches 
 
 With the churches of America, of every denomina- 
 tion, preparing to take a leading part in the George 
 Washington Bicentennial Celebration in 1932, it is re- 
 called that George Washington attended services in at 
 least 34 different churches of various denominations, ac- 
 cording to a research just completed by the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 He was exceptionally broadminded as to sectarian views, 
 attending with equal reverence the services in the Dutch, 
 Catholic, Quaker, Presbyterian and Congregational 
 faith as well as his own, the Episcopalian. 
 
 Every crisis in Washington's life found him turning 
 to Divine Providence for help and guidance, and in 
 thankfulness for the benefits he had received. He ex- 
 pressed, on numerous occasions in his diary his thank- 
 fulness for success in military exploits, and for preser- 
 
News Releases 521 
 
 vation from disaster. He attended church services 
 wherever he happened to be, unless he was prevented 
 from doing so by the press of official duties or by bad 
 weather and worse roads. 
 
 As vestryman, church warden and trustee, he ren- 
 dered many practical services to the four churches in 
 the parish of Truro. These were Pohick, Falls Church, 
 Payne's Church and Christ Church, Alexandria, all in 
 Virginia. His duties as vestryman were faithfully and 
 conscientiously discharged. He made surveys, drew 
 plans, interested himself in building estimates and costs, 
 in church design, location and equipment. He attended 
 23 vestry meetings in 11 years and missed eight due to 
 illness or absence from the vicinity. 
 
 Beginning in 1785 he was a worshipper at Christ 
 Church, Alexandria, where he bought a large family 
 pew the day the church was turned over to the vestry. 
 
 During his 16 years as a member of the House of 
 Burgesses, he attended divine services with Mrs. Wash- 
 ington and the family chiefly at Pohick Church, and 
 Christ Church, Alexandria. When in Williamsburg, 
 Va., during the sessions of the Burgesses, he attended 
 Bruton Church, and sometimes went to St. Peter's at 
 New Kent with Mrs. Washington. 
 
 When visiting his mother, and his sister, Mrs. Fielding 
 Lewis, at Fredericksburg, Va., he attended St. George's 
 Church principally, as it was a church of tender memo- 
 ries through childhood. His father had been vestryman 
 and his parents and family had always been regular at- 
 tendants. His wife's father and, later on, other of his 
 relatives were buried in the churchyard. 
 
 Among other churches of Virginia attended by Gen- 
 
522 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 eral Washington at various periods during both public 
 and private life were: St. John's, at Richmond, where 
 he also went to listen to the fiery oration of Patrick 
 Henry; Yeocomico Church, the home church of his 
 mother and known to her from childhood; Lamb's 
 Creek Church, and St. Paul's of King George County; 
 and Nomini of Westmoreland County, in addition to 
 the four in Truro Parish. 
 
 During the frequent visits to Annapolis, Md., he at- 
 tended the services conducted by the Rev. Jonathan 
 Boucher, who was a tutor for a time to Jacky Custis, 
 and at times worshiped at St. John's, Broad Creek, Md. 
 
 While President of the United States, during the time 
 he lived in New York, he and the family seemed to di- 
 vide their time between St. Paul's Church and Trinity, 
 both Episcopal. 
 
 During his travels through New England, which he 
 started on October 15, 1789, he not only attended 
 church whenever possible, but he noted in his diary the 
 churches in the towns he visited. For example, of Stam- 
 ford, Conn., he wrote: 
 
 "In this town are an Episcopal Church and a meet- 
 ing house. At Norwalk, which is 10 miles further, we 
 made a halt to feed our horses. To the lower end of 
 this town sea vessels come, and at the other end are mills, 
 stores, and an Episcopal and Presbyterian Church." He 
 also recorded of Fairfield: "two decent looking churches 
 in this place, though small vis: and Episcopal and Pres- 
 byterian or Congregationalist as they call themselves." 
 
 While in New Haven he attended, October 18, 1789, 
 two churches, Trinity, Episcopal, in the forenoon, and 
 in the afternoon one of the Congregational Meeting 
 
News Releases 523 
 
 Houses. During this visit and his previous stay in this 
 section during the Revolutionary War, he attended 
 Queen Chaple of St. John's at Portsmouth; Trinity 
 Church, and Christ Church, Boston; Christ Church, 
 Cambridge; Trinity Church, Newport, and St. Michael's 
 Church, Litchfield. 
 
 General Washington's deep regard for church edifices, 
 no matter how humble, was shown during the war when 
 passing through Litchfield, he reprimanded some soldiers 
 who had thrown stones at the Old Litchfield Church, 
 by saying: "I am a churchman, and wish not to see the 
 church dishonored and desolated in this manner." 
 
 During his Presidency while living in Philadelphia, 
 he attended Christ Church and St. Peter's, and also at- 
 tended St. John's in York, Pa. 
 
 While on his famous Southern tour he noted the 
 churches, as well as the factories, all industries, schools 
 and other contributing elements in the communities 
 through which he passed or where he stopped. The prin- 
 cipal churches which have found definite mention in 
 his own record at attending Divine Service on this re- 
 markable journey of 1,187 miles were St. Philip's and 
 St. Michael's Church, in Charleston, S. C, and Christ 
 Church, in Savannah, Ga. 
 
 Frequent references are made by him in his corre- 
 spondence as having gone to church without the desig- 
 nation of the specific church being made. Thus while 
 research has disclosed his presence at service on Sundays 
 in 34 different churches, it is believed that the interest 
 aroused in all of General Washington's movements by 
 the United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission in its plans for the coming celebration in 
 
524 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 1932 will bring to light authentic proof of other 
 churches in which he worshiped at different periods 
 during his busy life. 
 
 George Washington's Advice to A Young Lady 
 
 Senator Simeon D. Fess, of Ohio, who is the vice chair- 
 man of the United States Commission for the Celebra- 
 tion of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of 
 George Washington, has long been a student of the writ- 
 ings of our first President. He has read practically 
 everything written by that great man. When asked 
 what he considered the most interesting letter Washing- 
 ton ever wrote, the Senator smiled for a moment and 
 said: 
 
 "That is a difficult question to answer. Practically 
 every letter he wrote was interesting. But the one he 
 wrote to Harriot Washington, his niece, has always ap- 
 pealed to me. You must remember that when Wash- 
 ington took the time to write that kindly letter of ad- 
 vice he was serving as President of the struggling young 
 Republic and had more serious problems on his hands 
 than any man in the country. I wish that every young 
 woman in our fair land would read it. It is full of ex- 
 cellent advice, that has a present-day appeal." 
 
 The famous letter to which the Senator referred reads 
 as follows: 
 
 "Philadelphia, 30 October, 1791. 
 "Dear Harriot, 
 
 "I have received your letter of the 21st instant, and 
 shall always be glad to hear from you. When my business 
 will permit, inclination will not be wanting in me to 
 
News Releases 525 
 
 acknowledge the receipt of your letters; and this I shall 
 do more cheerfully, as it will afford me opportunities 
 at those times of giving you such occasional advice, as 
 your situation may require. 
 
 "At present I could plead a better excuse for cur- 
 tailing my letter to you, than you had for shortening 
 of yours to me, having a multitude of occupations 
 before me, while you have nothing to do; consequently 
 you might with equal convenience to yourself have sat 
 down to write your letter an hour or two or even a day 
 sooner, as to have delayed it until your cousin was on 
 the point of sending to the post-office. I make this 
 remark for no other reason, than to show you it is better 
 to offer no excuse than a bad one, if at any time you 
 should happen to fall into an error. 
 
 "Occupied as my time now is, and must be during 
 the sitting of Congress, I nevertheless will endeavor to 
 inculcate upon your mind the delicacy and danger of 
 that period, to which you are now arrived under 
 peculiar circumstances. You are just entering into the 
 state of womanhood, without the watchful eye of a 
 mother to admonish, or the protecting aid of a father to 
 advise and defend you; you may not be sensible, that 
 you are at this moment about to be stamped with that 
 character, which will adhere to you through life; the 
 consequences of which you have not perhaps attended 
 to, but be assured it is of the utmost importance that 
 you should. 
 
 "Your cousins, with whom you live, are well qualified 
 to give you advice; and I am sure they will, if you are 
 disposed to receive it. But, if you are disobliging, self- 
 willed, and untowardly, it is hardly to be expected that 
 
526 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 they will engage themselves in unpleasant disputes with 
 you, especially Fanny, whose mild and placid temper 
 will not permit her to exceed the limits of wholesome 
 admonition or gentle rebuke. Think, then, to what 
 dangers a giddy girl of fifteen or sixteen must be exposed 
 in circumstances like these. To be under but little or 
 no control may be pleasing to a mind that does not 
 reflect, but this pleasure cannot be of long duration; 
 and reason, too late perhaps, may convince you of the 
 folly of misspending time. You are not to learn, I 
 am certain, that your fortune is small. Supply the want 
 of it, then, with a well cultivated mind, with dispositions 
 to industry and frugality, with gentleness of manners, 
 obliging temper, and such qualifications as will attract 
 notice, and recommend you to a happy establishment 
 for life. 
 
 "You might, instead of associating with those from 
 whom you can derive nothing that is good, but may 
 have observed everything that is deceitful, lying, and 
 bad, become the intimate companion of, and aid to, your 
 cousin in the domestic concerns of the family. Many 
 girls, before they have arrived at your age, have been 
 found so trustworthy as to take the whole trouble of 
 a family from their mothers; but it is by a steady and 
 rigid attention to the rules of propriety, that such con- 
 fidence is obtained, and nothing would give me more 
 pleasure than to hear that you had acquired it. The 
 merits and benefits of it would redound more to your 
 advantage in your progress through life, and to the 
 person with whom you may in due time form a matri- 
 monial connexion, than to any others; but to none would 
 
News Releases 527 
 
 such a circumstance afford more real satisfaction, than 
 to your affectionate uncle." 
 
 George Washington, Road Builder 
 
 One more tribute to the many-sided character and 
 solid achievements of George Washington will be paid 
 by delegates from 62 nations, Colonies, and dependencies 
 throughout the world, including also representation 
 from the League of Nations, who will assemble in Wash- 
 ington, D. C, on October 6 to hold the Sixth Session 
 of the Permanent International Association of Road 
 Congresses and the first World Highway Congress to 
 be held on the Western Hemisphere. 
 
 The tribute to George Washington as a road builder 
 will take the form of an inspection trip over the Wash- 
 ington Memorial Highway, now under construction be- 
 tween the Capital City which bears his illustrious name 
 and his beloved Mount Vernon. The trip will include 
 a visit to Mount Vernon and the Washington Tomb. 
 
 It is remarkable, indeed, says a statement from the 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, in how many ways the founder of the Ameri- 
 can Republic ranks first. In the matter of roads, we 
 know that he began making land surveys at the age of 
 16, but it is not so well known that he was among the 
 first to visualize and have connection with the general 
 route which later became the great highway called the 
 National Pike, or the National Old Trails Road, which 
 is one of the most extensively used transcontinental 
 routes today, and is embraced as No. 30 in the United 
 States Highway System. 
 
 During all of his travels in laying a permanent 
 
528 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 foundation for our country, the eyes of Washington 
 often turned prophetically toward the West, and he 
 used to refer to roads as "the channels of conveyance of 
 the versatile and valuable trade of a rising empire." 
 The National Road, utilizing sections of roads laid out 
 by the first engineer President of the United States, has 
 been in nation-building service for considerably more 
 than a century, and entitles him to take high rank 
 among the first civil engineers of America. 
 
 A box of Washington's surveying instruments is said 
 to be now in possession of the Department of Educa- 
 tion, State of New York, on which appears a pen- 
 written statement as follows: 
 
 "The instruments contained in this box together with 
 a case of protracting instruments in a shagreen case, 
 two surveyors' chains and the wooden pins used with 
 the same, were the property of General Washington, 
 and used by him when a very young man. 
 
 "These instruments descended to my father, Colonel 
 William A. Washington (the General's oldest nephew), 
 and from him to me, and by me presented to my son, 
 Lewis W. Washington, February 10, 1854. 
 
 "(Signed) G. C. Washington. 
 
 "Georgetown, D. C., February 10, 1854. 
 
 "This box contained compass, various instruments all 
 of brass, surveyor's tripod, measuring iron chains and 
 six oak marking pins." 
 
 George Washington was not only a great general and 
 a great statesman, but he was a great road builder in 
 the sense that his plans, though perhaps not visualized in 
 blue print, reached far into the future. In roads as in 
 statecraft, and in so many other ways, we are only just 
 
News Releases 529 
 
 now beginning to touch the depths of his practical 
 wisdom, and it is eminently fitting that delegates to the 
 forthcoming World Highway Congress should pay 
 homage at his tomb. 
 
 Painters and Paintings of George Washington 
 
 For the past 130 years artists, critics and historians 
 have been interested in this question: which of the nu- 
 merous paintings of George Washington, executed by 
 his contemporaries, bears the closest resemblance to the 
 man himself? This question has recently been revived 
 with the appointment by the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission of a Portrait 
 Committee, for the express purpose of deciding on the 
 best picture. As this committee is expected to arrive 
 at a decision in the fall, and because of the eminence 
 of the members, the whole country is anxiously looking 
 forward to its selection. Will they decide on the popu- 
 lar Athenaeum picture by Gilbert Stuart? Will Rem- 
 brandt Peale receive the award? Will it be the picture 
 of Edward Savage, John Trumbull or Charles Willson 
 Peale? Will a "dark horse" win? Each artist has his 
 devoted followers. Everybody is waiting for the de- 
 cision of the Portrait Committee. 
 
 Washington sacrificed much of his time sitting for 
 painters. It can safely be said that there have been some 
 150 portraits of Washington, taken from life and repli- 
 cas made by the original artists. More than 20 artists 
 worked on this subject. In those days, photography was 
 an unknown art. An artist had to produce quantity 
 as well as quality. If a man made a good picture of a 
 distinguished person, requests were made for likenesses 
 
530 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 or replicas from that person's friends. The rates varied 
 with the eminence of the artist. For in those days, por- 
 traiture combined the commercial with the artistic. It 
 is alleged that Rembrandt Peale made 39 copies of his 
 father's (Charles Willson Peale) pictures, and 79 of his 
 own. 
 
 Painting was in its infancy in America in Washing- 
 ton's time. The two best known American artists were 
 John Singleton Copley, of Boston, and Benjamin West, a 
 transplanted American, living in London. While neither 
 of these artists ever painted Washington, their influence 
 on Washington's portraits is in evidence. Practically 
 all the American artists who painted Washington studied 
 with either Copley or West or with both. 
 
 In view of the approaching decision of the Portrait 
 Committee and in view of the heated discussion now 
 being waged by art critics throughout the country, the 
 associate directors of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission, Representative Sol 
 Bloom, of New York, and Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant 3d, 
 thought it advisable to present, in sketchy form, the 
 stories of the men who painted these pictures, and the 
 circumstances surrounding each. 
 
 The heretofore most popular painting of Washing- 
 ton is the one known as the "Athenaeum Portrait" exe- 
 cuted by Gilbert Stuart in 1796, only three years before 
 the General's death. 
 
 Stuart was born in Narragansett, R. I., on December 
 3, 1755. He received his first instructions in painting 
 from Cosmo Alexander, a Scotchman living in America. 
 When Alexander was ready to return to Edinburgh he 
 took Stuart, then 18 years of age, with him. Alexander 
 
News Releases 531 
 
 soon died and Stuart returned to America, where he 
 painted pictures in Newport and Boston. 
 
 At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Stuart 
 moved to London where, like so many of his American 
 contemporaries, he received kindly assistance and en- 
 couragement from Benjamin West. Soon Stuart was 
 doing very well in London, but his desire to paint a por- 
 trait of George Washington was uppermost and so he 
 again returned to America. 
 
 Stuart made three, now famous, pictures of Wash- 
 ington. The first was executed in September of 1795. 
 This picture, however, was not to Stuart's liking. It 
 eventually found its way into the hands of Samuel 
 Vaughan, of London, and has since been known as the 
 "Vaughan Painting" of Washington. 
 
 On April 12, 1796, at the request of the famous 
 beauty, Mrs. Bingham, Washington again consented to 
 sit for Stuart. This picture, a full-length portrait, was 
 made for the Marquis of Lansdowne, and has since been 
 known as the "Lansdowne Portrait." Stuart, however, 
 was still not satisfied. 
 
 Stuart had his third opportunity the same year when 
 Washington personally commissioned him to paint the 
 pictures of both Mrs. Washington and himself. The 
 picture of the General satisfied Stuart, so much so that 
 he hated to part with it. He purposely left the back- 
 ground unfinished so that he could make copies before 
 presenting the original to Washington. Washington, 
 somewhat impatient, informed Stuart that he would ac- 
 cept a copy rather than wait so long for the completion 
 of the original. So the original treasure remained with 
 
532 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Stuart and upon his death, on July 27, 1828, it came 
 into the possession of his wife. 
 
 In October, 1831, this picture was sold by his widow 
 for $1,500 to the Washington Association of Boston and 
 was in turn presented to the Boston Athenaeum, where 
 it is still housed. This is the picture which is known 
 throughout the world as the "Athenaeum Portrait" of 
 George Washington. It can unqualifiedly be said that 
 this portrait is and always has been the best known and 
 most popular painting of George Washington. 
 
 The first painting of George Washington was made 
 in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale. The elder Peale was 
 one of the most colorful of all Colonial artists. Peale 
 was born in Chestertown, Md., on April 15, 1741. As 
 a boy he was apprenticed to a saddler. When he reached 
 2 1 years of age, he went into business for himself, com- 
 bining with "saddling," coach making, clock and watch 
 making, silversmithing and dentistry. Soon he gave up 
 the whole repertoire for painting. 
 
 He visited the renowned Copley, in Boston, and in the 
 summer of 1768 he arrived in London, where he studied 
 with Benjamin West for the next year. Upon his re- 
 turn to the States in June, 1770, he settled in Mary- 
 land, executing portraits in Annapolis and Baltimore. 
 Soon Peale achieved a reputation which, at any rate, 
 reached as far as Mount Vernon. For in May of 1772, 
 we find Peale at Washington's home working on a three- 
 quarter-length portrait of George Washington, dressed 
 in the uniform of a colonel of the Virginia Militia. 
 
 At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Charles 
 Willson Peale joined the American Army as a captain 
 of volunteers. During the war his easel was as impor- 
 
News Releases 533 
 
 tant as his rifle, for he executed many pictures between 
 battles. In the summer of 1776 he painted a half-length 
 portrait of Washington for John Hancock; in 1777 he 
 did a miniature for Mrs. Washington; in 1778 he started 
 another portrait at Valley Forge which was finally com- 
 pleted at Philadelphia; in 1778 he did another miniature, 
 this one for Lafayette; and in 1778-79 he painted a full- 
 length portrait of the General for the State of Pennsyl- 
 vania. Peale painted his last picture of Washington in 
 1795, which portrait now hangs in the gallery of the 
 New York Historical Society. This prolific artist died 
 in Philadelphia on February 22, 1827. 
 
 The Peale family is famous in relation to Washing- 
 ton's portraits. Not only did Charles Willson Peale and 
 his brother James work on the subject, but also his son, 
 Rembrandt Peale. It is generally maintained that the 
 son excelled both the father and the uncle as an artist. 
 
 Rembrandt Peale, the second son of Charles Willson 
 Peale, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1778. 
 Naturally he grew up with a great reverence for the 
 General. At eight, he stood behind his father's chair 
 while Peale senior was painting Washington. That Rem- 
 brandt Peale soon developed a controlling desire to paint 
 his hero himself was only normal. 
 
 At the request of the elder Peale, Washington con- 
 sented to sit for his son in September, of 1795. So nerv- 
 ous was Rembrandt — he was then a mere boy — that his 
 father went with him and painted a picture of the Gen- 
 eral at the same time. On the other side of Rembrandt 
 was his uncle James, who was executing a miniature. 
 This experience of sitting for three artists at one time 
 
534 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 led to the alleged remark by the sitter that he was being 
 "Peeled" from all sides. 
 
 While Rembrandt Peale's picture gained some popu- 
 larity — ten copies were sold in Charleston alone — it did 
 not satisfy the artist. Nor was he satisfied with any 
 other existing portraits of Washington. That Rem- 
 brandt Peale's taste was higher than the average is evi- 
 denced by this remark: "I had made during several years, 
 sixteen of these attempts and tho' not equal to my own 
 expectation, they all found satisfied possessors." 
 
 In 1823, he finally succeeded in making a painting 
 of Washington to his own liking. This picture was a 
 composite of his own paintings and others. So pleased 
 was he with it that he took it to Europe and exhibited 
 it in London, Paris, Naples, Rome and Florence. He 
 made and sold many copies of this picture. In 1832 
 the original was bought by the United States Govern- 
 ment and found its final resting place in the capitoL 
 Rembrandt Peale died on October 3, 1860 , having 
 painted more pictures of George Washington than any 
 other artist. 
 
 John Trumbull was one of the most interesting of 
 all of Washington's painters. Born in Lebanon, Conn., 
 on June 6, 1756, the son of the Revolutionary War gov- 
 ernor, Jonathan Trumbull, John entered Harvard Col- 
 lege while still a boy. Leaving Harvard in 1773, he 
 immediately began his career as a painter. When the 
 war broke out he entered the army as adjutant of the 
 First Connecticut Regiment. 
 
 Dissatisfied with his rank, he left the army and in 
 1780 we hear of him in Paris. In 1781, he arrived in 
 London to study with Benjamin West. There he was 
 
News Releases 535 
 
 imprisoned and, for a time, it looked as if serious trouble 
 might develop for him. After seven months of confine- 
 ment he was released, went to Amsterdam for a short 
 stay and returned home in 1782. However, in 1783, 
 he again went to London, where he stayed until 1789. 
 
 In February of 1790 Trumbull painted a picture of 
 Washington for the City of New York. That is the 
 picture which shows Washington in full uniform stand- 
 ing by a white horse. In 1792 he also did a picture for 
 the City of New Haven. Later Trumbull fitted these 
 pictures into historical settings. Such pictures as "Sur- 
 render of Cornwallis," and "Washington's Resignation 
 at Annapolis" are very well known. Trumbull held the 
 post of President of the American Academy of Fine Arts 
 from 1816 to 1825. He died in New York on Novem- 
 ber 10, 1843. 
 
 Another interesting portrait painter of the time was 
 Joseph Wright. He was born in Bordentown, N. J., on 
 July 16, 1756. His father died when he was a boy and 
 his mother, who earned a livelihood by making wax 
 figures, took him to London. Wright received a good 
 education and also instructions in painting from Benja- 
 min West. In 1782 he was in Paris and in 1783 he ar- 
 rived in Boston with a letter of recommendation to 
 Washington from Benjamin Franklin. Before Wright 
 left London he had painted the Prince of Wales, which 
 had "boosted his stock" considerably. 
 
 In the fall of 1783 he painted Washington at his head- 
 quarters at Rocky Hill, N. J. In 1783-84 Wright made 
 another picture of Washington for the Count de Solms, 
 paid for by Washington. Besides, Wright made several 
 etchings of Washington which were remarkable for their 
 
536 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 likeness to the subject. It is said that Wright made an 
 etching unknown to Washington, while the latter was 
 attending services at St. Pauls Church in New York 
 City. Wright was appointed draughtsman and die- 
 sinker when the United States mint was established. He 
 died soon after in 1793, from the fever which was then 
 raging in Philadelphia. 
 
 A fascinating portrait of Washington is the one by 
 Adolph Ulric Wertmueller, a native of Sweden. He 
 was born in Stockholm about the year 1750 and, while 
 still a young man, he had gained an enviable reputation 
 in Europe. The Royal Academies of sculpture and 
 painting of Paris and Stockholm both honored him with 
 membership. 
 
 Wertmueller came to America in 1794. The next 
 year Washington sat for him and Wertmueller is said 
 to have made three pictures from those sittings. One 
 of these, considered a remarkable likeness by those who 
 have seen it, is in the possession of the Swedish Govern- 
 ment at Stockholm. A photograph of this painting is 
 owned by Dr. A. B. Hart, historian of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission. Wert- 
 mueller went back to Sweden, but returned to the 
 United States in 1800. He married and settled in Dela- 
 ware, where he lived until his death, which occurred 
 on October 5, 1811. 
 
 Robert Edge Pine was born in London in 1742 and 
 came to the United States to paint portraits of the 
 heroes of the American Revolution. His plan was later 
 to incorporate these into historical settings. Unfortu- 
 nately, death frustrated these plans. 
 
 The Hon. Francis Hopkinson, of Philadelphia, wrote 
 
News Releases 5 37 
 
 to Washington requesting a setting for Pine. It was in 
 answer to this request that Washington wrote his 
 famous letter on May 16, 1785: "In for a penny, in 
 for a pound, is an old adage. I am so hackneyed to 
 the touches of the painter's pencil, that I am now alto- 
 gether at their beck, and sit 'like patience on a monu- 
 ment,' whilst they are delineating the lines of my face. 
 ... At first I was as . . . restive under the operation, 
 as a colt is of the saddle. The next time I submitted 
 very reluctantly, but with less flouncing. Now, no dray 
 moves more readily to his thill than I do to the painter's 
 chair." 
 
 Pine, however, was granted permission to paint 
 Washington's portrait. He stayed at Mount Vernon 
 for three weeks, where, besides painting the General, 
 he also did the grandchildren of Mrs. Washington. 
 Pine remained in the United States until his death in 
 Philadelphia in 1788. 
 
 Edward Savage made a painting of Washington 
 which continues to this day to be very popular. Born 
 in Princeton, Mass., in 1761, his first calling was that 
 of a goldsmith. Washington sat for Savage, at the 
 request of the president and governors of Harvard Col- 
 lege in December of 1789 and January of 1790. This 
 portrait was donated by the artist to Harvard in 1792, 
 where it still remains. Later Savage went abroad and 
 studied in London and Italy. He returned to the United 
 States and died in his native State of Massachusetts in 
 1817. 
 
 James Sharpless was born in England and educated 
 in France. He came to America towards the end of the 
 eighteenth century, where he traveled through the land 
 
538 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 making small-sized profiles of the leading people of 
 his day. In Philadelphia, in 1796, Sharpless made a 
 profile of Washington, which has received much favor- 
 able criticism. Many people regard it as the best like- 
 ness of George Washington ever executed. 
 
 Perhaps the most significant portrait ever made was 
 done by Jean Antoine Houdon, a sculptor and not a 
 painter. So remarkable is his bust of Washington that 
 it has been copied by painters and sculptors alike for 
 more than a hundred years. Made late in life from 
 direct sittings and, being in the round, Washington's 
 countenance is fully portrayed. Stuart himself an- 
 nounced that Houdon 's bust was the best head ever 
 made of Washington, better even than his own 
 "Athenaeum Portrait." 
 
 In 1784 the General Assembly of Virginia passed 
 the following resolution: "That the Executive be re- 
 quested to take measures for procuring a statue of 
 General Washington, to be made of the finest marble 
 and best workmanship." Governor Harrison commis- 
 sioned Charles Willson Peale to make a full-length 
 portrait of Washington and send it to Thomas Jeffer- 
 son, who was then stationed at Paris. Jefferson had 
 made arrangements with Houdon to fashion the statue 
 from this picture, but when the sculptor saw it he had 
 a change of heart and decided to come to the United 
 States himself to see his subject in the flesh. 
 
 Houdon arrived in 1785 and stayed at Mount Vernon 
 for two weeks. He made a cast of the face and took 
 meticulous measurements of the body. Returning to 
 France, he finished the statue in 1788. It remained in 
 
News Releases 539 
 
 France until the new capitol at Richmond was finished. 
 The statue was finally placed in Richmond on May 
 14, 1796, where it still remains. This statue is life 
 size — measuring 6 feet 2 inches in height. It is made 
 of Italian marble and pictures Washington in the mili- 
 tary dress of the Revolution. The original bust is at 
 Mount Vernon. Houdon died in Paris in 1828 at the 
 ripe old age of 87. His bust, always regarded as one of 
 the best likenesses ever reproduced of George Wash- 
 ington, is constantly gaining in popularity. 
 
 It is from the above mentioned that the Portrait 
 Committee of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission will make its selection. Be- 
 cause of the caliber of the members of this committee, 
 their decision will most likely be accepted as final. The 
 portrait chosen will receive the widest distribution ever 
 accorded a picture. Hundreds of thousands will be 
 printed by the Commission in connection with the two 
 hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington. 
 
 The members of the Portrait Committee of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission are: 
 Charles Moore, chairman of the Fine Arts Commission 
 of the District of Columbia; Dr. Leicester B. Holland, 
 chief of the Division of Fine Arts, Library of Congress; 
 Dr. John C. Fitzpatrick, Manuscripts Division, Library 
 of Congress; Ezra Winter, Fine Arts Commission of 
 New York; Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart, historian, of 
 Cambridge; Col. Harrison H. Dodge, superintendent of 
 Mount Vernon; and Gari Melcher, artist, of Fal- 
 mouth, Va. 
 
540 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 A Rare Bust of George Washington 
 
 A rare bust of George Washington has found its way 
 into the United States after an unknown existence of 
 130 years in England. 
 
 When Representative Sol Bloom, associate director of 
 the United States George Wasington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission, returned from Europe last summer, he brought 
 back with him an art rarity. It is a marble bust of 
 George Washington by the great English sculptor of 
 the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, 
 Joseph Nollekens. This bust was not executed from 
 life, but from an original painting by Gilbert Stuart; 
 and, in the 130 years or so of its existence, has been 
 viewed by but few Americans. As a matter of fact, 
 many American art critics have never even heard of it. 
 
 Joseph Nollekens, one of the best known sculptors 
 in all of Europe at the turn of the nineteenth century, 
 was born in London, of Dutch parents, on August 11, 
 1737. In 1760 he went to Rome, where he soon made 
 his mark in the world of art. Twelve years later, in 
 1772, at the early age of 3 5, Joseph Nollekens became 
 a member of the London Royal Academy. 
 
 His reputation rose steadily. He made busts of the 
 leading people of his day. Included in his long list of 
 patrons, to mention just a few, are: King George III, 
 the Prince of Wales, Lord Grenville, Charles James Fox, 
 Samuel Johnson, and Oliver Goldsmith. 
 
 Washington's busts were even then commanding 
 large prices both in America and in England. Allured 
 by the prospect of a handsome profit and intrigued by 
 the personality and reputation of General Washington, 
 
News Releases 541 
 
 Nollekens set to work and produced his bust, which 
 is now coming into prominence. 
 
 Representative Bloom is the possessor of the original 
 Nollekens bust and hundreds of replicas have already 
 found their way to all parts of the United States. 
 Every United States Senator and Representative has 
 been presented with one of these busts, and the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission is 
 now making arrangements to present one to each of the 
 48 governors of the States. 
 
 The original Nollekens bust of George Washington is 
 now open to view at the headquarters of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 Washington Building, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington 
 
 When looking at the picture of George Washington 
 which adorns the dollar bill, few people know the in- 
 teresting story connected with the famous portrait from 
 which this picture is copied, or of the fascinating biog- 
 raphy of the artist. 
 
 According to the Division of Information and Pub- 
 lication of the United States George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Commission, Gilbert Stuart was one of the lead- 
 ing portrait painters of the eighteenth century. This 
 colorful artist was born in Narragansett, R. I., on De- 
 cember 3, 1755, and seemed destined, from the very 
 first, to become a great artist. 
 
 At the age of 20, Stuart found himself in London. 
 His rise was rapid. Soon he was painting portraits of 
 King George III of England, Louis XVI of France, the 
 
542 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 famous English actress, Mrs. Siddons, and many other 
 notables of the day. 
 
 His fame preceding him, Gilbert Stuart returned to 
 his native land in 1790. As George Washington was 
 one of the ranking figures of the world, and as Gilbert 
 Stuart was one of the ranking portrait painters of the 
 world, it was only natural that the latter should execute 
 a portrait of the former. 
 
 Gilbert Stuart made three, now famous, pictures of 
 George Washington. The first was painted in Septem- 
 ber of 1795, and turned out not to the artist's liking. 
 This picture found its way into the hands of Samuel 
 Vaughan, of London, and has since been known as the 
 "Vaughan Painting" of George Washington. 
 
 In April of 1796, Stuart had a second chance to paint 
 the Father of His Country. This picture, a full-length 
 portrait, was made for the Marquis of Lansdowne, and 
 has come down in history as the "Lansdowne Portrait." 
 Stuart, however, was still not satisfied. 
 
 Stuart had his third and last opportunity that same 
 year when the President personally commissioned him 
 to paint the pictures of both Mrs. Washington and him- 
 self. This picture of the General satisfied Stuart, to 
 say the least. So pleased was he with this creation that 
 he hated to part with it. He purposely left the back- 
 ground unfinished so that he could make copies, and 
 sell them, before presenting the original to the President. 
 Washington, somewhat impatient, informed Stuart that 
 he would accept a copy rather than wait so long for the 
 original. So the original treasure remained with Stuart, 
 and, upon his death, on July 27, 1828, it came into the 
 possession of his wife. 
 
News Releases 543 
 
 In October of 1831, this picture was sold by Stuart's 
 widow, for $1,500, to the Washington Association of 
 Boston, which society presented it to the Boston Athe- 
 naeum. There it has been housed ever since, and has 
 come to be known as the "Athenaeum Portrait" of 
 George Washington. 
 
 It can unqualifiedly be said that the "Athenaeum Por- 
 trait" is and always has been the best known and most 
 popular painting of George Washington. 
 
 Houdon Bust Formally Dedicated in Virginia 
 
 Formal dedication of the famous Houdon statue of 
 George Washington featured simple but impressive cere- 
 monies held in the State capitol at Richmond, Va., hon- 
 oring the first President of the United States. This was 
 the first of a series of public exercises arranged to honor 
 Virginia-born Presidents. 
 
 Although this famous statue of Washington has stood 
 in or near the capitol of Virginia for 13 5 years, this was 
 the first official dedication. 
 
 Dr. Albert Bushnell Hart, for many years a professor 
 of history at Harvard and now historian of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 was selected by Governor Pollard and the committee 
 arranging today's ceremonies, as orator for the occasion. 
 
 He preferred to assume that the dedication of the 
 statue had not been delayed for 135 years but was tak- 
 ing place on the original date of May 14, 1796, by a 
 Massachusetts man, appropriately dressed for that pe- 
 riod. 
 
 The interesting history of the statue was related by 
 Dr. Hart. This marble statue of Washington was pro- 
 
544 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 vided for by an act of the Virginia legislature in 1784. 
 Thomas Jefferson, then diplomatic representative of the 
 United States in Paris, procured the services of Jean 
 Antoine Houdon to carry out the wishes of the State 
 legislature. 
 
 The famous sculptor insisted that he must come over 
 and make the necessary statue from life. He was cor- 
 dially received by Washington at Mount Vernon, spent 
 a busy fortnight with the great American hero and car- 
 ried away with him measurements and the model of 
 Washington's bust of which the original is now believed 
 to be in the hands of Mr. J. P. Morgan, of New York. 
 It is also the source of the round bust of Washington, at 
 present in Mount Vernon. 
 
 Referring to the role he was playing, Dr. Hart as- 
 sumed that Washington was at the moment in Phila- 
 delphia as President of the United States, and that the 
 great Virginians of the period were men engaged in the 
 government of State and Nation, or were overseas as 
 representatives of the United States. He praised the 
 statue from the point of view of the leading men of Mas- 
 sachusetts at that time headed by John Adams, Vice 
 President of the United States, and deplored the fact 
 that Washington himself was not present because of the 
 weight of public duties. He highly praised the statue 
 as a work of art and saw in it, not the General at the 
 head of his troops, but the civilian Washington who had 
 hung his sword upon the marble fasces which Houdon 
 added, as an indication that Washington was a man of 
 peace as well as war. 
 
 The speaker quoted from letters and addresses of the 
 year 1796. He pictured Washington as engaging at 
 
News Releases 545 
 
 that moment upon his farewell address and quoted a 
 letter of Hamilton's of May 9, 1796, written "five days 
 ago." The speaker laid great stress on Washington's 
 interest in the West and as a landholder in Kentucky, 
 separated from Virginia only four years ago. He char- 
 acterized Washington as the first great Westerner, for 
 he had in his mind in 1796 and in his correspondence 
 such key places as Detroit at the head of Lake Michigan, 
 the Lake of the Woods, the lower Mississippi River, and 
 even a far distant land called California. 
 
 He reminded the Virginians of the undeviating in- 
 terest of Washington in his native State. At the same 
 time he claimed for New England the right to look on 
 Washington as their President and their hero. 
 
 At the end, the speaker quoted from an early address 
 of Abraham Lincoln, closing with the sentence "and 
 that we improved to the last, that we remained free to 
 the last, that we revered his name to the last, that dur- 
 ing his long sleep we permitted no hostile foot to pass 
 over or desecrate his resting place, shall be that which 
 to learn the last trump shall awaken our Washington." 
 
 First Congress Urged to Feed on "Wild Pigeons" 
 
 A motion that the members of the first Continental 
 Congress be fed on "wild pigeons," apparently the 
 cheapest food on the market at that time, was made by 
 a Virginia delegate in 1774 in a desire to put the country 
 to the least possible expense in the maintenance of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 The motion was made by Richard Henry Lee, whose 
 famous resolution in 1776 "that these united colonies 
 are, and of a right ought to be free and independent 
 
546 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 states," paved the way for the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence, according to his son, Ludwell Lee. 
 
 When the first Continental Congress assembled in 
 Philadelphia in September, 1774, there had been no pro- 
 vision made for the maintenance of the members while 
 in the discharge of their public duties. A council be- 
 ing held to determine the ways and means of affecting 
 such an arrangement, Richard Henry Lee rose and ob- 
 served that as he was assured that every member present 
 was desirous of putting the country to the least pos- 
 sible expense, in the maintenance of Congress, he would 
 move, that, during the session, the honorable members 
 be fed on "wild pigeons," that article appearing to be 
 in very great abundance and certainly the very cheap- 
 est food that could be purchased. 
 
 It is said that Lee, in later life, often congratulated 
 himself upon this motion, declaring it to have been, in 
 purity of patriotism, not second even to his immortal 
 resolve in 1776. 
 
 Twenty Lexingtons and Fifteen Concords 
 
 "By the rude bridge which arched the flood, 
 Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, 
 
 Here once the embattled farmers stood, 
 
 And fired the shot heard round the world." 
 
 America's beloved Emerson, inspired by the courage 
 and determination of the immortal Minutemen, thus 
 began his great tribute to those heroes who, on the morn- 
 ing of April 19, 1775, so dramatically ushered in the 
 Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord. 
 
 The Division of Information and Publication of the 
 
News Releases 547 
 
 United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- 
 mission recalls that just as Massachusetts had been the 
 starting place for much of the agitation which preceded 
 the Revolutionary War, so the future Bay State was the 
 scene of the opening conflict of that great struggle. 
 
 In connection with the anniversary this year of this 
 important event the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission suggests that plans may be 
 started for special observances of this day throughout 
 the United States next year as part of the celebration 
 of Washington's birth. 
 
 There are in the United States 15 cities and towns 
 named Concord and 20 named Lexington. These com- 
 munities could appropriately hold special ceremonies in 
 commemoration of the events which had occurred more 
 than 150 years ago. Without a doubt, the State of Mas- 
 sachusetts, as the home of the original Lexington and 
 Concord, will observe the anniversary by the reenact- 
 ment of the famous battles. 
 
 Kansas City has planned, as part of the bicentennial 
 observance next year, to stage a ride of Paul Revere from 
 that city to Lexington, Mo. This is an excellent sug- 
 gestion which might also be carried out by other com- 
 munities named after the renowned towns in Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
 In this connection it is interesting to note that of the 
 26 States with a town named either Lexington or Con- 
 cord, nine have both. If in some of these States the two 
 cities happen to be near each other the entire affair may 
 be reenacted by using some nearby city as Boston, the 
 starting place of Revere's famous ride as well as the 
 march of the British soldiers. Where this is impossible, 
 
548 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 each town may hold its own celebration based on the 
 events which took place in 1775. 
 
 The clashes at Lexington and Concord were the final 
 episode in the series of difficulties between England and 
 her colonies which brought on the Revolution. They 
 were the factors which convinced George Washington 
 that war with the Mother Country was inevitable and 
 caused him to enlist unequivocally in the cause of com- 
 plete separation from Britain. Writing of the battles 
 to a friend in England he said, "Unhappy it is to reflect 
 that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's 
 breast; and that the once happy and peaceful plains of 
 America are to be either drenched with blood or in- 
 habited by slaves. Sad alternative! But can a virtuous 
 man hesitate in his choice?" 
 
 Army Officers Made "Naval Commanders" in First 
 United States Fleet 
 
 The extraordinary process of creating a naval force 
 by giving army commissions to commanders of ships 
 and putting on board detachments from the army as 
 crews was resorted to by Gen. George Washington in 
 1775. 
 
 During the siege of Boston in 1775-76, when Congress 
 was still undecided as to the expediency of fitting out 
 ships against the British, General Washington, with 
 characteristic resourcefulness, took the matter into his 
 own hands and created a force of public armed ships. 
 He found in the Continental Army a regiment made 
 up of trained sailors. This was the Essex County Regi- 
 ment, commanded by Col. John Glover, of Marblehead, 
 
News Releases 549 
 
 which was composed chiefly of sailors and fishermen and 
 the so-called amphibious. With this element to draw 
 upon, Washington fitted out armed ships manned, as 
 he himself wrote, by "soldiers who have been bred to 
 the sea." 
 
 The first of this fleet was the schooner, Hannah, com- 
 manded by Capt. Nicholson Broughton, of Marblehead, 
 and manned by a detachment from Colonel Glover's 
 regiment. The status of this vessel was fixed beyond 
 any question by Washington's order to Captain Brough- 
 ton on September 2, 1775, to fit out and equip the ship 
 with arms, ammunition, and provisions at continental 
 expense. 
 
 This became the first warship regularly commissioned 
 by authority derived from the United Colonies and 
 given definite orders to attack the enemy. Washing- 
 ton's letter of instructions to Captain Broughton estab- 
 lishing the status of the Hannah beyond any question 
 reads as follows: 
 
 "1. You being appointed a captain in the Army of the 
 United Colonies of North America, are hereby directed 
 to take command of a detachment of said Army and 
 proceed on board the schooner Hannah, at Beverly, 
 lately fitted out and equipped with arms, ammunition, 
 and provisions at Continental expense. 
 
 "2. You are to proceed as commander of said 
 schooner immediately on a cruise against such vessels as 
 may be found on the high seas or elsewhere bound in- 
 wards or outwards, to and from Boston, in the service 
 of the Ministerial Army, and to take and seize all such 
 vessels laden with soldiers, arms, ammunition, or pro- 
 
5 50 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 visions, for or from such Army, or which you shall have 
 good reason to suspect are in such service." 
 
 The sequence of events made this act of Washington 
 unquestionably the beginning of the United States 
 Navy. He commissioned other armed ships in the same 
 way, with the result that Congress was aroused, and on 
 October 5, 1775, instructed Washington to fit out 
 armed vessels. In addition a committee of Congress, 
 called the "Naval Committee," consisting of John 
 Adams, Silas Deane, and John Langdon, was appointed. 
 
 The schooners Lynch, Lee, Warren, Washington, and 
 Harrison were immediately equipped as armed vessels, 
 and the little fleet proved of real value in the siege of 
 Boston, capturing over 30 vessels. The first of these 
 was the British vessel Unity, taken by the Hannah on 
 September 6, 1775, the day after Captain Broughton 
 and his crew sailed on the first cruise. 
 
 The schooner Lee was the most successful of these 
 vessels, with Capt. John Manley as captain. His ability 
 won the esteem of Washington, who made him com- 
 modore of the fleet on January 1, 1776. Among its 
 prizes the Lee captured the Nancy, a large brigantine 
 loaded with ordnance and supplies for the British Army 
 in Boston. This cargo made it possible to continue the 
 siege, and also prepared the way for the capture of 
 Boston. 
 
 Three Presidents Died on July 4 
 
 One historic fact relating to July 4 is seldom 
 remembered in our usual observance of Independence 
 Day, we are informed by the Division of Information 
 and Publication of the United States George Washing- 
 
News Releases .551 
 
 ton Bicentennial Commission. This is especially strange 
 because this historic fact has touching and dramatic 
 meaning. July 4 is the day on which three Presidents 
 of the United States died. Each of these three early 
 Presidents played a prominent part in the formation 
 of our Government, and each received, as a reward from 
 the people, elevation to their highest office. Having 
 performed great labors in planning the theory of our 
 government, it fell to their lot to set noble examples in 
 putting the theory into practical effect. 
 
 These three Presidents were John Adams, Thomas 
 Jefferson, and James Monroe. Indeed John Adams and 
 Thomas Jefferson died almost at the same hour on July 4, 
 1826. After many sharp differences of opinion, which 
 had divided them during a part of their lives, Adams 
 and Jefferson became not only reconciled but closely 
 attached friends. The correspondence of their final 
 years is one of the glories of American letters. Adams 
 lived to be 90, Jefferson 83. Neither knew how close 
 to death was the other, and Adams' last words, when 
 conscious that death was near, are said to have been, 
 "Thomas Jefferson still lives." But Thomas Jefferson 
 was already dead. 
 
 Before their Presidency both these great men served 
 as Vice President, and one of them as Vice President 
 while the other was President. The older man, John 
 Adams, was Vice President under George Washington 
 himself. All three were closely associated with Wash- 
 ington during our formative days, and to one of them, 
 John Adams, goes the credit for playing a major part 
 in throwing George Washington into the arms of 
 destiny. 
 
552- Washington Bicentennial 
 
 It was largely the action of John Adams that led the 
 Continental Congress to appoint George Washington as 
 Commander in Chief of the revolutionary forces. Be- 
 fore that time Washington had been an outstanding sec- 
 tional figure, a man of the South. In command of the 
 continental forces, he became a man of the country, 
 and history knows full well how he played the part. 
 
 James Monroe, a younger man, appeared on the scene 
 of action after the great political groundwork of found- 
 ing the Nation had been accomplished. But as a young 
 man he played a gallant part on the field of battle as a 
 follower of Washington. 
 
 Strange to say, he at first opposed the Constitution 
 of the United States and, as a member of the Virginia 
 Convention, elected to act on adoption of the Consti- 
 tution, he voted against it. Yet he lived to become the 
 President who enunciated a doctrine that statesmen 
 regard as no less a settled rule of American policy than 
 the Constitution itself. James Monroe died on July 4, 
 1831, but the "Monroe Doctrine" is immortal. 
 
 The older men, Adams and Jefferson, are forever 
 linked with George Washington as leaders in the move- 
 ment that made America independent. Washington 
 was distinctly the man of action, the soldier, the director 
 of affairs, and without him the Revolution might never 
 have moved to victory. But just as necessary were the 
 philosophy of Jefferson in shaping our principles of gov- 
 ernment, and the abilities of Adams in waking and 
 training popular opinion, a labor in which he had few 
 peers. Both Adams and Jefferson served on the com- 
 mittee to draft the Declaration of Independence. Both 
 signed the Declaration, and to one of them, Thomas 
 
News Releases 553 
 
 Jefferson, belongs the immortal honor of having written 
 that timeless instrument. 
 
 In spite of their passing differences, these two giants 
 of intellect and manhood were partners throughout 
 their lives in one of the greatest achievements for the 
 progress of humanity. On the very birthday of the 
 new charter they had brought to mankind, when the 
 entire Nation was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, 
 they died within a few hours of each other. Had they 
 been allowed to select the day of their passing, neither 
 could have picked one more to his liking, or more fitting 
 to the record they have left on American history. 
 
 As Independence Day is celebrated this year, the 
 American people should spare a thought or two to this 
 striking historic fact. In honoring the day as the begin- 
 ning of their liberties and privileges, they should also 
 honor the memories of these three men who died, full of 
 years and full of honors, on this birthday of a govern- 
 ment that has enriched the records of the past as it has 
 enriched the lives of a living people. 
 
 The "Old North State" in the Revolution 
 
 To all North Carolinians April 12 is a significant date, 
 for it marks the one hundred and fifty-fifth anniver- 
 sary of the Old North State's resolution in favor of 
 declaring the independence of the Colonies. This reso- 
 lution, providing "that the delegates for this Colony in 
 the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with 
 the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Inde- 
 pendency," anticipated by three months the complete 
 break with the mother country proclaimed by the Con- 
 tinental Congress on July 4, and was the first action 
 
554 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 of the kind to be taken by the legislature of any colony. 
 
 The Old North State played an important part in the 
 events leading up to the Revolution, as well as in that 
 great struggle itself, and many of her sons were among 
 the leaders of the time. The names of Caswell, Davie, 
 Iredell, Rutherford, Davidson, Ashe, Moore, and nu- 
 merous others are conspicuous on that immortal roll of 
 honor headed by the greatest of all, George Washington. 
 
 That the sentiment of North Carolinians was early 
 crystallizing in favor of complete separation from Eng- 
 land is indicated in the famous Mecklenburg resolves of 
 May 31, 1775. This proclamation, framed by the Meck- 
 lenburg County Committee, assembled at Charlotte 
 Town, stated "that all Laws and Commissions confirmed 
 by, or derived from the authority of the King or parlia- 
 ment, are annulled and vacated," and the "former civil 
 Constitution of these Colonies" was declared suspended. 
 Provision was made for the creation of a new civil gov- 
 ernment and military organization. A committee was 
 appointed to purchase powder and ammunition and the 
 militiamen were ordered to equip themselves and stand 
 in readiness for immediate service. 
 
 The first clash of the Revolution on North Carolina 
 soil occurred February 27, 1776, at Moore's Creek Bridge 
 between a force of British loyalists and a body of Amer- 
 ican militia. This skirmish is called the "Concord and 
 Lexington of the South," for it aroused the colony to 
 definite action as nothing else had done. It was a com- 
 plete victory for the Americans, who killed or cap- 
 tured the leaders of the Tories and dispersed the men. 
 The patriots also captured 350 muskets, 150 swords, 
 1,500 new rifles, supplies of medicine, and a box of gold 
 
News Releases 555 
 
 containing 15,000 pounds sterling. The American 
 commanders were Colonel Caswell and Colonel Lilling- 
 ton, both of whom were to serve with conspicuous 
 gallantry on other fields. 
 
 Two of the Old North State's soldiers who attained 
 particular eminence were Gen. James Moore and Gen. 
 Robert Howe, each of whom served for a time in com- 
 mand of the Department of the South. Moore was 
 considered one of the outstanding leaders of the early 
 part of the war, and his death at the age of 40 in Jan- 
 uary, 1777, cut short a career which gave promise of 
 brilliant achievement. 
 
 Much of the warfare in the South was carried on by 
 militia and partisan troops, commanded by men like 
 Rutherford, Davie, Davidson, and Dixon. It would be 
 difficult to overestimate the benefit to the American 
 cause derived from the services of these men. They 
 hung on the flanks of Clinton and Cornwallis to harass 
 and destroy so that the movements of the British were 
 seriously hampered. 
 
 At Brandy wine and Germantown Nash led North 
 Carolinians with distinguished bravery. Although 
 Nash gave his life on the latter field, his men continued 
 as a unit and were with Washington at Monmouth. 
 Dixon and his corps of North Carolina Militia gave an 
 excellent account of themselves at Camden, and, to- 
 gether with the militia of other Southern States, struck 
 the fatal blow at King's Mountain which dashed the 
 hopes Cornwallis had of subjugating the South. 
 
 In the great struggle for freedom which brought this 
 Nation into existence the soil of North Carolina was 
 drenched with the blood of her manhood, but the 
 
556 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 greatest engagement fought within the bounds of the 
 Old North State took place at Guilford Court House. 
 The details of that battle need no retelling, for its im- 
 portance has been appreciated from the first. Corn- 
 wallis rightly claimed the victory, but it cost him so 
 dearly that he was obliged to withdraw immediately to 
 a position of greater security. 
 
 Besides those whose military achievements rank high, 
 North Carolina produced men like James Iredell who, 
 with Davie, led the fight for ratification of the Consti- 
 tution and who was later appointed to the bench of 
 the Supreme Court by President Washington; Joseph 
 Hewes, legislator and shipper, who signed the Declara- 
 tion of Independence, and whose ships were used to bring 
 supplies from abroad; John Penn and William Hooper, 
 also signers of the Declaration of Independence; and 
 William Blount, Hugh Williamson, and Richard D. 
 Spaight, who were delegates to the Constitutional Con- 
 vention. It should be remarked that William R. Davie 
 also contributed much to the framing of the Constitu- 
 tion, but was prevented from signing that great instru- 
 ment when called back to his State. 
 
 As the twelfth State to ratify the Constitution, North 
 Carolina was too late to vote for Washington in the 
 first presidential election, but once in the Federal Union 
 the old North State gave him the support which was 
 inspired by the admiration and respect in which the 
 first President was universally held by his countrymen. 
 When Washington made his southern tour in April, 
 1791, he was received with great acclaim, and his 
 progress through North Carolina was accompanied by 
 enthusiastic ovations. 
 
News Releases 5 57 
 
 In preparation for the nation-wide celebration next 
 year of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of 
 George Washington, North Carolina has appointed a 
 State Bicentennial Commission to cooperate with the 
 National Commission to carry out the great program 
 which has been prepared. The men and women who are 
 to organize the Old North State's tribute to the Father 
 of His Country are: 
 
 Gov. Angus W. McLean; Judge Francis D. Winston, 
 of Windsor; Mrs. Sidney Cooper, of Henderson; Joshua 
 L. Home, Jr., of Rocky Mount; Mrs. B. Frank Mebane, 
 of Spray; Mrs. David H. Blair, of Winston-Salem; Clyde 
 R. Hoey, of Shelby; Mrs. E. D. Broadhurst, of Greens- 
 boro; Col. Wade H. Harris, of Charlotte; John D. 
 Bellamy, of Wilmington; and J. F. Hurley, of Salisbury. 
 
 Anniversary of Vermont's Statehood 
 
 The State of Vermont was admitted to the Union 
 on March 4, 1791, as the fourteenth State in the federa- 
 tion, and the first one to enter after the adoption of 
 the Constitution. 
 
 When George Washington became the first President 
 of the United States in 1789 he found himself at the 
 head of thirteen States, which before the Revolutionary 
 War had been the Colonies of Great Britain. For a long 
 time the people of Vermont had been seeking recog- 
 nition on the same basis as the other commonwealths, 
 but this had been denied them, due to the fact that the 
 land controversy with New York over the New Hamp- 
 shire grants had not been settled. At last the conflicting 
 claims of the Empire State and the Green Mountain 
 
558 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 people were adjusted, and Vermont became the first 
 State to enter the Union after it had been formed. 
 
 In the Revolutionary War the people of this State 
 figured prominently, and they contributed many 
 patriots to the cause of independence. Something of 
 the character of those who settled there may be realized 
 from the statement of General Burgoyne, who called 
 them "the most active and rebellious race on the con- 
 tinent, that hangs like a gathering storm on my left." 
 
 Among the early leaders of the people of Vermont, 
 perhaps the most spectacular was Ethan Allen, the hero 
 of Ticonderoga. In the disputes with New York over 
 the land grants, Allen took a prominent part, and when 
 it appeared that hostilities might develop, he helped to 
 form a military establishment of which he was the 
 leader with the rank of colonel. This regiment took 
 the name of "Green Mountain Boys," in defiance of 
 Governor Tryon, of New York, who later became a 
 leader of the Tories. Tryon had threatened to drive 
 back into the Green Mountains all who held their lands 
 against the claims of New York. Allen had formed 
 plans for the creation of a new colony in the disputed 
 territory, when the Revolution commenced and put an 
 end temporarily to his activities in that direction. 
 
 As soon as hostilities broke out at Lexington and 
 Concord, Colonel Allen immediately conceived the idea 
 of capturing Ticonderoga, then held by the British. At 
 the head of the mountaineers he commenced his march 
 against the English post, but before arriving there he 
 was overtaken by Benedict Arnold, who held a com- 
 mission from the Committee of Safety. Arnold joined 
 
News Releases 559 
 
 the force as a volunteer and accompanied Allen at the 
 head of the troops. 
 
 When the Americans arrived at Lake Champlain 
 opposite Ticonderoga on the night of May 9, they found 
 there were not enough boats to transport the entire 
 body across. As the morning of May 10 began to dawn, 
 Allen found that he had only 83 men with him — the 
 rest remained on the Vermont shore. There was no 
 time to be lost, however, so he drew up his men, told 
 them it was to be a desperate undertaking, and gave 
 everyone who wished it a chance to withdraw. Every 
 man remained. 
 
 When the Americans reached the gate to the fort, 
 they surprised the sentry there, who, it is said, aimed 
 his rifle at Colonel Allen and pulled the trigger. Fortu- 
 nately the gun failed to fire. The sentry was seized, 
 and would have been put to death immediately had it 
 not been for the intervention of Allen, who promised 
 him his life on condition that he lead the attackers to 
 the quarters of the commanding officer. Proceeding to 
 these quarters, they found De La Place not yet dressed, 
 and he was called upon to surrender. At first he re- 
 fused, demanding upon what authority such a request 
 was made. Colonel Allen stepped closer to him and in 
 an imperious manner hurled at the Briton the immortal 
 statement, "In the name of the great Jehovah and the 
 Continental Congress." La Place concluded this was 
 authority enough, and he turned the fort over to the 
 Americans. 
 
 This coup netted the Americans a not inconsiderable 
 supply of guns and ammunition — articles of which they 
 were in serious need. Later in the year the cannon which 
 
560 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Allen captured were carried over the mountains and 
 were used by General Washington at the siege of Boston. 
 The success of this spectacular exploit convinced 
 Ethan Allen that Canada might be entirely subjugated 
 by the Americans if they were to take immediate action. 
 Although he urged the plan on Congress and the mili- 
 tary leaders, he received no encouragement. On his 
 own initiative, he planned an attack on Montreal. Maj. 
 John Brown was to cooperate with him in this enter- 
 prise, but for some reason never explained the junction 
 was not completed. Finding himself unsupported be- 
 fore Montreal, Allen had either to fight or withdraw. 
 The latter course appeared as dangerous as the former, 
 so he determined to hold his ground as long as possible. 
 The odds were overwhelming, however, and he was 
 forced to surrender. 
 
 Had it not been for this unfortunate affair, the name 
 of Ethan Allen might have been placed among those of 
 the leading generals of the American Army. Wash- 
 ington wrote of him after their first interview, "There 
 is an original something in him that commands atten- 
 tion." As it was, his military career which promised 
 so much was cut short in its beginning. He was taken 
 to England, where he was offered various proposals to 
 forsake his countrymen and serve under the British flag. 
 Nothing, however, could induce him to change his 
 allegiance, and at last, after a captivity of nearly three 
 years, 'he was sent back to New York, where he was 
 exchanged for Col. Alexander Campbell. Upon being 
 released by the British, Allen proceeded to Valley Forge 
 to meet Washington. He wrote a letter to Congress in 
 which he offered his services in any capacity and re- 
 
News Releases 561 
 
 turned to Bennington. Thereafter his military activi- 
 ties were confined to his own State. 
 
 When Burgoyne attempted his invasion of the 
 Colonies from Canada in the late summer and fall of 
 1777, he was opposed by troops consisting of a large 
 number of militia from Vermont. At Bennington, the 
 battle which contributed not a little toward Burgoyne 's 
 ultimate defeat at Saratoga, one of the heroes was Col. 
 Seth Warner, who had been at Ticonderoga with Allen. 
 Warner continued in the army throughout the war as 
 one of its outstanding officers. In addition to Allen and 
 Warner, other men of Vermont took an active part in 
 the Revolutionary War. Among these are such names 
 as Robinson, Fay, Baker, Clark, Bayley, Carpenter, 
 Safford, and Fletcher. All these men were active in the 
 early history of the United States, and each one con- 
 tributed to the greatness which this country has 
 attained. 
 
 On the anniversary of Vermont's entrance into the 
 Union, the people of the Green Mountain State should 
 remember with pride the achievements of those who 
 helped form this commonwealth. From the beginning 
 of her statehood, Vermont has been an important unit in 
 the United States. Founded by freedom-loving pioneers, 
 Vermont's constitution was the first instrument of that 
 nature in modern times to put a ban on slavery. 
 
 Unable to vote in the first presidential election, the* 
 people of Vermont demonstrated their regard for George 
 Washington by adding their electoral votes to those of 
 the other states to make his second election unanimous 
 also. The memory of that great man and the inestima- 
 ble service he rendered his country can not but reawaken 
 
562 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 the spirit of patriotism that existed in the "Green Moun- 
 tain Boys" of 1775 and inspire the tribute to Washing- 
 ton's memory which he so eminently deserves. 
 
 Virginia Ratified Constitution 143 Years Ago 
 
 June 26 brings the 143rd anniversary of Virginia's 
 ratification of the Constitution of the United States. 
 And along with the rejoicings it justifies in George 
 Washington's own State, the anniversary calls to mind 
 the startling development of our country. 
 
 Within this comparatively brief period of years the 
 United States has executed one of the most dramatic 
 changes in all history. In less than a century and a half 
 our country has passed from a population of three and a 
 quarter millions of farmers, mechanics, and small traders 
 to become a world-power of 125 million people, organ- 
 ized as the richest and most highly productive nation in 
 the record of human progress. 
 
 If, through all this sweeping alteration of life itself, 
 any one thing among us has remained untouched in 
 principle, it is the Constitution of the United States. 
 With its guarantee of equal opportunity to every citi- 
 zen, the instrument is widely credited with having made 
 possible this tremendous material development. As a 
 purely political document, Gladstone called it the great- 
 est effort ever struck off from the human mind. Every 
 American agrees with him. Nothing in our life is so 
 profoundly revered today. 
 
 Despite the solidity of this legal foundation, and the 
 vast structure we have built upon it, the historic fact re- 
 mains that when the Constitution was placed before the 
 States for ratification, it was viewed, in many quarters, 
 
News Releases 563 
 
 as dangerous, risky, and unwanted. In Virginia it was 
 bitterly fought by men like Patrick Henry, James Mon- 
 roe, and George Mason— himself a member of the Con- 
 vention in Philadelphia that drafted the document. 
 
 We of today find it hard to believe that this tried and 
 successful system of government so nearly failed of ap- 
 proval in several of the States. Harder still to swallow 
 is the fact that the Constitution itself was regarded as 
 "unconstitutional." We assume that while the Phila- 
 delphia Convention deliberated, an eager and single- 
 minded American populace waited to hail and accept 
 the product of its labors. Historic truth is exactly the 
 opposite. 
 
 The Philadelphia Convention, presided over by George 
 Washington himself, had been authorized only to amend 
 the original Articles of Confederation that bound the 
 Colonies together. There was no public urge to organ- 
 ize the States into a strong political Union. The States 
 were all jealous of their rights and powers, and nothing 
 further was wanted in the way of a central government 
 beyond some stabilization that might facilitate the re- 
 vival of trade and commerce in the war-shattered com- 
 munities. It was largely business interests that led to 
 the Philadelphia Convention. 
 
 In drafting a wholly new political constitution for 
 the States, the Convention vastly exceeded its powers. 
 It met in secret; its records were given in custody to 
 George Washington; and they remained unpublished for 
 years. Hence at the time there was ample and logical 
 reason why the Constitution it brought forth was re- 
 ceived with surprise and misgiving. 
 
 In due time Virginia elected a convention to deter- 
 
564 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 mine whether this "new plan" of government should 
 be ratified. But the Old Dominion, a leading State in 
 the Revolution, was nearly the last of the States to act 
 on the Constitution. She did so then only after a battle 
 of her intellectual giants. Jefferson was away, as Am- 
 bassador to Paris, Washington was at Mount Vernon; 
 but the little wooden hall in the new State capital of 
 Richmond rang with the eloquence of every other Vir- 
 ginian of importance. James Madison, James Monroe, 
 Governor Edmund Randolph, John Marshall, George 
 Mason, George Wythe, Patrick Henry — all were there, 
 on one side or the other. 
 
 For more than two weeks of continuous debate the 
 issue hung in the balance. The Virginia Convention 
 met on June 1, 1788. On June 26 the vote was taken, 
 and the Constitutionalists won, after a titanic struggle. 
 Eight members of the Convention flatly voted against 
 the will of their constituents, and two ignored their in- 
 structions. Patrick Henry rose to one of his heights of 
 oratory in opposition. But a hundred miles away was a 
 man whose weight ultimately settled the issue. When 
 the decision to ratify had been made, William Grayson, 
 himself in opposition, said from the floor that the vote 
 was the result of the quiet pressure of George Wash- 
 ington. "I think," said Grayson, "that were it not for 
 one great character in America, so many men would 
 not be for this (new) government." 
 
 So George Washington, having fought through the 
 Revolution, having seen the Constitution written, saw 
 to it that his native State adopted the plan that has since 
 lifted the United States to historic preeminence. Within 
 a short time he was destined to be elected its first Presi- 
 
News Releases 565 
 
 dent, and finished his work by starting the new ma- 
 chinery of government on its way. 
 
 Next year, when again June 26 brings round the date 
 of her ratifying the Constitution, Virginia will have a 
 double reason for participating in the two hundredth 
 anniversary of George Washington's birth, which occurs 
 in 1932. There will be no division of opinion in Vir- 
 ginia as to her part when the entire nation devotes 10 
 months of the year 1932 to honor her foremost son. 
 
 Under the active and helpful leadership of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 Virginia is rapidly shaping plans for the great com- 
 memoration next year. As the birth State and the life- 
 long home of America's greatest and best-loved man, 
 Virginia will be, in a sense, the hostess to the Nation. It 
 goes without saying that her people will nobly rise to 
 the occasion. 
 
 Already the State has given guarantee of that in form- 
 ing a United States George Washington Bicentennial 
 Commission, headed by Governor John Garland Pol- 
 lard, and composed of such names as: James H. Price, 
 President of the Senate, Richmond; J. Sinclair Brown, 
 Speaker, Salem; John H. Williams, Clerk of the House 
 of Delegates, Richmond; Robert Lecky, Jr., Richmond; 
 Robert O. Norris, Jr., Lively, Va. ; A. E. Shumate, Pear- 
 isburg; Robert Gilliam, Jr., Petersburg; Ashton Dovell, 
 Williamsburg; Charles E. Stuart, Montross; Charles W. 
 Moss, Richmond. 
 
 Granite State Revolutionary Heroes 
 
 To the people of New Hampshire the names of John 
 Stark and John Sullivan stand as symbols of patriotic 
 
566 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 service and achievement unexcelled in the annals of 
 American history. Both of these men figured conspicu- 
 ously in the Revolutionary War as officers of honor and 
 merit, and they deservedly enjoyed the friendship and 
 esteem of George Washington under whose leadership 
 they assisted so materially in the establishment of Amer- 
 ican independence. 
 
 One of the factors which proved embarrassing to the 
 leaders of the patriot cause was the existence through- 
 out the Colonies of a tory or loyalist element which at 
 first opposed separation from England and after inde- 
 pendence had been declared, refused to forsake the 
 mother country. No colony was entirely free from this 
 element, and it continued to be a problem in one way 
 or another for the duration of the war. 
 
 There were perhaps fewer loyalists in New Hamp- 
 shire than in any other Colony. One of the reasons for 
 this was no doubt the fact that a vigorous, freedom- 
 loving people had settled there, but certainly the action 
 of the Colony itself was a factor in the situation. Fol- 
 lowing the Declaration of Independence the inhabitants 
 of New Hampshire were required by legislative edict 
 to commit themselves in writing either in favor of or 
 opposed to separation from England. As a result of 
 this requirement toryism never was the problem in New 
 Hampshire that it became Jn other Colonies. 
 
 Even before the battles of Lexington and Concord, 
 New Hampshire had signified her opposition to the 
 measures of coercion which the British ministry had 
 adopted against the American Colonies. In 1774, John 
 Langdon and John Sullivan seized Fort William and 
 Mary, at Portsmouth, together with the stores which 
 
News Releases 567 
 
 the English had collected at that place. The powder 
 and ammunition taken in this exploit were later used 
 to a good advantage by the Americans at Bunker Hill. 
 
 After the Revolution formally began with General 
 Washington's siege of Boston, which commenced in the 
 summer of 1775, New Hampshire entered whole-heart- 
 edly into the conflict and none of the Colonies was more 
 loyal to the cause of liberty. Early in 1775 three regi- 
 ments were formed under the command of John Stark, 
 James Reed and Enoch Poor. Those commanded by 
 the first two were at Bunker Hill — in fact, it is said 
 that about half of the troops which took part in that 
 historic battle were from New Hampshire. General 
 Stark was one of the heroes of that occasion, and he ac- 
 quitted himself with honor. 
 
 In 1777, New Hampshire maintained in the field 17 
 regiments numbering 16,710 troops which, it is esti- 
 mated, comprised all the able-bodied men of military 
 age in the State. No other Colony could boast a better 
 military record in the Revolution than this. 
 
 Perhaps the most conspicuous service of the New 
 Hampshire militia and troops of the line in any one cam- 
 paign was their participation in the action against Gen- 
 eral Burgoyne on the latter's invasion of the northern 
 Colonies. At Freeman's Farm, known also as Bemis 
 Heights, Poor's brigade was especially effective against 
 the British. Two engagements occurred at this place 
 in each of which Burgoyne suffered considerable loss. 
 It was at Bennington, however, that the Briton received 
 his most serious check in the blow which more than any 
 other single incident brought about his capitulation at 
 Saratoga. Again it was General Stark and men of New 
 
568 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Hampshire who secured the victory. The old hero of 
 Bunker Hill threw himself in Baum's rear and cut off 
 all avenues of escape so that surrender became inevitable. 
 Washington later referred to it as "the great stroke 
 struck by General Stark near Bennington." 
 
 Gen. John Sullivan, as famous as his compatriot, 
 General Stark, was a son of New Hampshire by adop- 
 tion, but his loyalty and devotion to the Granite State 
 never wavered. In 1776 he assumed command of the 
 army in Canada. He found the military establishment 
 there in a deplorable condition and immediately set him- 
 self to work improving it. Supplies of all kinds were al- 
 most totally lacking and had to be obtained in a more 
 or less hostile territory. Sullivan was equal to the task, 
 however, and succeeded in bringing off the entire army 
 without loss. For this remarkable exploit he was com- 
 missioned major general. 
 
 At the unfortunate engagement at Long Island, Gen- 
 eral Sullivan held an important part of the line. Despite 
 his gallant efforts he was surrounded and captured by 
 the British. A short time later he was exchanged and 
 Washington sent him on a punitive expedition against 
 the Six Nations. Sullivan burned the Indians' villages, 
 destroyed their crops and wrought a terrible vengeance 
 for their depredations against the western New England 
 settlers so that the danger of savage incursions was ended. 
 
 Throughout the war New Hampshire troops con- 
 tinued their service under General Washington. They 
 were with the Commander in Chief in his battles at 
 Trenton, Germantown and Monmouth, and spent the 
 winter with him at Valley Forge. At Yorktown, men 
 from the Granite State saw the finish of the war. One 
 
News Releases 569 
 
 of them, Alexander Scammell, then adjutant general 
 under Washington, gave his life in one of the brave 
 charges on the British redoubts. 
 
 A noteworthy fact which is not universally known 
 is that John Paul Jones, naval hero of the Revolution, 
 outfitted and sailed one of his ships, the Ranger, from 
 Portsmouth. In this craft the gallant American sea 
 fighter met and defeated the British war ship Drake 
 in an encounter off the coast of Ireland, and preyed upon 
 English shipping with telling effect. Other ships were 
 fitted out and commissioned as privateers in New 
 Hampshire. Among these were the Enterprise and 
 the McClary. 
 
 From New Hampshire came Josiah Bartlett, William 
 Whipple and Matthew Thornton, signers of the Decla- 
 ration of Independence, and John Langdon and Nicholas 
 Gilman, members of the Constitutional Convention. 
 Other prominent men held positions of responsibility in 
 the new government and their counsels in matters of 
 state were of great value in shaping the early course of 
 this Nation. Following the Revolution came Jeremiah 
 Mason and Daniel Webster, two of America's foremost 
 statesmen, and Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the 
 United States — all sons of New Hampshire. 
 
 It was New Hampshire's ratification of the Consti- 
 tution that made that instrument effective. When the 
 Constitutional Convention completed its work in the 
 summer of 1787 it was provided that the Constitution 
 would go into effect upon its acceptance by nine of the 
 States. New Hampshire was the ninth State to ratify, 
 and thus her vote made the fundamental law of the 
 United States immediately operative. 
 
570 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 At the time of Washington's first election, John Lang- 
 don was president of Congress. In this capacity he 
 wrote Washington the letter of notification which was 
 taken to Mount Vernon by Charles Thomson, then sec- 
 retary of Congress. Washington's certificate of elec- 
 tion also was signed by Langdon. 
 
 When Washington made his good will tour of the 
 New England States in 1789, he visited New Hamp- 
 shire. The President arrived in Portsmouth on Saturday, 
 October 31, and left there Wednesday morning, No- 
 vember 4. During his stay in the city he was favorably 
 impressed with the people, and records in his journal 
 that he was "received with every token of respect and 
 appearance of cordiality." His old friend and com- 
 panion in arms, John Sullivan, was then president of the 
 State. While in Portsmouth, President Washington in- 
 spected the harbor and was surprised at its admirable 
 situation. In his diary he notes that, "Having Lines, 
 we proceeded to the Fishing banks a little without the 
 Harbour, and fished for Cod; but it not being a proper 
 time of tide, we only caught two." 
 
 Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War 
 
 In the churchyard of the Old Presbyterian Meeting 
 House of Alexandria, Va., lies the tomb of the Unknown 
 Soldier of the Revolutionary War. Few people out- 
 side of the immediate vicinity of Alexandria know of 
 the existence of this tomb or of the interesting story 
 connected with it. But with the commemorating exer- 
 cises, which are scheduled for Sunday afternoon, 
 October 19, 1930, on the one hundred and forty-ninth 
 
News Releases 571 
 
 anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to the 
 French and American troops at Yorktown, this hitherto 
 almost unknown tomb will receive the attention and 
 recognition of America. 
 
 It will be a notable gathering that will assemble this 
 Sunday afternoon to honor the memory of the Revo- 
 lutionary War dead by the outward manifestation of 
 respect and reverence at the tomb of the Unknown 
 Soldier of the Revolution. Patriotic societies of France 
 and America, and officials from both countries, will 
 participate in the ceremonies honoring this unknown 
 follower of George Washington. 
 
 The French Republic will be represented. In the 
 name of France, our sister Republic, her representative 
 will place a wreath on the tomb of this unknown hero 
 of the Revolutionary War. This act will serve to com- 
 memorate that glorious French-American alliance of 
 150 years ago, the alliance which aided so much in estab- 
 lishing American independence. 
 
 On behalf of the Children of the American Revo- 
 lution, who raised the funds to erect the tomb of this 
 Unknown Soldier, Ann Carter Waller, of the Ann 
 McCarty Ramsay Chapter of the society, will also place 
 a wreath on the grave. 
 
 The Washington Society of Alexandria will be 
 represented by a committee which includes the Hon. 
 R. Walton Moore, Representative from Virginia and 
 a member of the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission by presidental appointment; 
 William B. McGroarty, president of the Washington 
 Society of Alexandria; and Charles H. Callahan, past 
 grand master of the Masons of the State of Virginia. 
 
572 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 The Washington Society was formed by personal 
 friends of George Washington soon after his death, 
 and many of its members today are direct descendants 
 of its founders. 
 
 The grave of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution 
 has a thrilling history. The Division of Information 
 and Publication of the United States George Wash- 
 ington Bicentennial Commission presents here the high- 
 lights of the story. St. Mary's Catholic Church bought 
 some land adjoining the Presbyterian burial ground in 
 Alexandria. In excavating to lay a foundation for an 
 edifice, the workers unwittingly extended the line of 
 excavation to include a small strip of the Presbyterian 
 churchyard. While digging, workmen struck some- 
 thing which obviously was not a rock. Examination 
 showed that they had unearthed a wooden ammunition 
 box the size of a coffin. Upon opening the box, to the 
 great astonishment of the workmen, they found the 
 body of a soldier dressed in the uniform of the 
 Continental Army. 
 
 Who was this soldier? How did he get there? The 
 church had no record of such a burial. The remnants 
 of his clothing revealed no mark of identification. All 
 that was known was that he died wearing the uniform 
 of the Continental Army. Here was an Unknown 
 Soldier of the American Revolutionary War! 
 
 Alexandria had been a hospitalization point during 
 the Revolutionary War. The wounded were brought 
 there either to recover or die. This soldier probably 
 had been wounded and sent to Alexandria for treat- 
 ment, where he died. Apparently he was buried 
 hurriedly, an ammunition box being used for a coffin. 
 
News Releases 573 
 
 This Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution 
 was reverently reintered near the spot from which his 
 body had been exhumed. An entry marking the exact 
 location of burial was made in the records of the Old 
 Presbyterian Church, and thereafter it became the 
 custom of the community to decorate the grave from 
 time to time. 
 
 A hundred years after the discovering of the body, 
 the National Society of the Children of the American 
 Revolution, under the leadership of Mrs. Josiah Van 
 Orsdel, undertook to raise funds to erect a permanent 
 monument over the grave of the Unknown Soldier of 
 the Revolution. This monument was erected in April 
 of 1929. The late James W. Good, then Secretary of 
 War, delivered the dedicatory address. Thus 101 years 
 after the discovery of the body, and some 150 years 
 after the soldier's death, the grave and memory of this 
 unknown hero were honored. 
 
 Unlike the Unknown Soldier's tomb of the World 
 War at Arlington, this tomb of the Unknown Soldier 
 of the Revolution in Alexandria bears an inscription. 
 This inscription, composed by the Hon. William Tyler 
 Page, is an inspired sentiment, which reads as follows: 
 
 "Here lies a soldier hero of the Revolution whose 
 identity is known but to God. 
 
 "His was an idealism that recognized a Supreme 
 Being, that planted religious liberty on our shores, that 
 overthrew despotism, that established a people's govern- 
 ment, that wrote a Constitution setting metes and 
 bounds of delegated authority, that fixed a standard of 
 value upon men above gold, and that lifted high the 
 torch of civil liberty along the pathway of mankind. 
 
574 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 "In ourselves his soul exists as a part of ours, his 
 Memory's Mansion." 
 
 A movement is now under way by the District of 
 Columbia Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution to 
 create a colonial environment for this tomb in order 
 that it may stand as a national shrine for all time. It 
 is expected to complete the final stages of this work in 
 time for the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of 
 George Washington in 1932. 
 
 Maine in the Revolutionary War 
 
 The story of Maine's participation in the Revolu- 
 tionary War is an account of the devotion and 
 patriotism of a people determined to be free. The 
 future Pine Tree State, then a part of Massachusetts, 
 responded to the call to arms with no hesitancy or 
 delay, and many of her sons gave their lives on distant 
 battle fields. 
 
 Henry Knox, one of the most distinguished patriots 
 of the Revolutionary War period, was born in Boston, 
 but became a son of Maine by adoption. It was in 
 Thomaston that he made his home upon retirement 
 from public life. 
 
 Engaged in his profession of bookseller in Boston, 
 Knox was among the first to take up arms at the begin- 
 ning of the war, and at Bunker Hill rendered distin- 
 guished service as a private in the defense of the Ameri- 
 can position. When Washington, with his commission 
 as Commander in Chief of the Continental Armies, 
 came to Boston to assume the leadership of the troops, 
 Knox was there to offer his services in any capacity in 
 which he was needed. 
 
News Releases 575 
 
 Perhaps the most spectacular exploit of the entire 
 military career of the former bookseller was his trans- 
 portation to Boston of the cannon taken by Allen and 
 Arnold at Ticonderoga. Washington was seriously 
 handicapped throughout the entire siege by lack of 
 powder and artillery, and the value of the cannon he 
 thus received can not be overestimated. The enterprise 
 and courage which Knox displayed in dragging the 
 captured guns over the snow-covered mountains and 
 frozen Lake Champlain earned the respect and admira- 
 tion of the Commander in Chief, and he was placed in 
 command of the artillery. Knox may justly be con- 
 sidered the father of this branch of the army. 
 
 From Boston Knox accompanied the army to New 
 York. After the defeats which the Americans suf- 
 fered in the New York campaign, including the loss 
 of Forts Washington and Lee, the American Army re- 
 treated across the Jerseys and seemed likely to dissolve. 
 Washington planned and carried out the attack on 
 Trenton and Princeton as a means of bolstering the 
 waning morale of the entire country. In these suc- 
 cessful raids Knox was an important factor, for, with 
 Glover, he supervised the transportation of the troops 
 across the ice- jammed Delaware. 
 
 His services were recognized by Congress, and he 
 was advanced to the rank of brigadier general. At 
 Monmouth Knox further distinguished himself, and at 
 Yorktown, the final great battle of the war, he was in 
 charge of the American artillery, which did so much 
 damage to the town in which Lord Cornwallis had 
 fortified himself. It was the well-directed bombard- 
 ment, by both the French and Americans, of the British 
 
576 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 stronghold there that battered down the fortifications 
 and made the place untenable. 
 
 After the war General Knox was among the fore- 
 most to advocate the establishment of a strong central 
 government. His views were clearly expressed in a 
 letter to Washington, in which he pointed out the 
 inefficiency of a confederation such as the one under 
 which the war had been carried on. When the Con- 
 stitution was completed and presented to the States 
 for ratification, Knox was one of its most earnest 
 supporters. 
 
 When Washington became the head of the new 
 Government as its first President, he proceeded to the 
 formation of hft Cabinet. Knox had been acting as 
 the head of the War Department, and in that capacity 
 he was retained by the President. In the controversies 
 which divided the Cabinet he stood with Hamilton in 
 the support of a national bank and other projects which 
 came to be regarded as particular interests of the Fed- 
 eralist Party. He was, however a friend of Jefferson, 
 and, with him, helped to establish the United States 
 Navy to put an end to the piracy which was seriously 
 injuring American shipping in the Mediterranean. 
 Knox may also be said to be the father of the present 
 militia system of this country. 
 
 From the moment of their first acquaintance a 
 friendship sprang up between Washington and Knox, 
 which terminated only with the death of the first Presi- 
 dent. Their mutual esteem and admiration may be 
 seen in the many letters which passed between them. 
 
 Another son of the Pine Tree State, which till 1820 
 was a part of Massachusetts, who attained eminence in 
 
News Releases 577 
 
 the service of his country, although in a different 
 sphere, was William Cushing, prominent lawyer of 
 Lincoln County. Judge Cushing was appointed Asso- 
 ciate Justice of the Supreme Court by Washington in 
 1789. He held this position until his death in 1810. 
 
 From the bays and harbors of Maine many ships were 
 built or equipped and sent out as privateers to wreak 
 havoc on the British shipping. It is said, indeed, that 
 the first English naval officer to lose his life in the Revo- 
 lution was Captain Moore, killed in the harbor at 
 Machias in a fight between the Margaritta and the 
 American sloop afterward* known as the Liberty. 
 
 It is impossible in a limited space to name all the 
 sons of Maine who took part in various capacities in 
 the Revolutionary War, but, if assembled, they would 
 present an imposing list. They all combined their efforts 
 under the leadership of George Washington to win 
 the freedom of their country and establish its 
 independence. 
 
 In the celebration next year of the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the birth of George Washington a 
 prominent part may, and undoubtedly will, be played 
 by the great Pine Tree State. Her people rallied to 
 the support of the man commissioned to lead the Revo- 
 lutionary armies and the cooperation was continued 
 when he was called to fill the presidential chair. The 
 same spirit which actuated the country at that time, 
 and which is the inspiration of the forthcoming com- 
 memoration, can not but make itself evident in Maine 
 as well as in all the other States of the Nation founded 
 by George Washington. 
 
578 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Anniversary of Ticonderoga 
 
 Early in the morning of May 10, 1775, the "Green 
 Mountain Boys" of Vermont, numbering less than 90 
 and led by Ethan Allen, surprised and captured the 
 British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga. Included in the 
 capture were 200 cannon, which Henry Knox later 
 dragged over the mountains to Boston, where they were 
 used to good advantage by General Washington in his 
 siege of that city. 
 
 The spectacular attack on Ticonderoga occurred less 
 than a month after the opening gun of the Revolu- 
 tionary War was fired at Lexington. It was carried 
 out by men who appreciated the grim significance of 
 the event, and who were determined not to turn back 
 until independence had been won. The spirit which 
 actuated the attackers was clearly shown in their re- 
 fusal to forsake the enterprise when Allen gave each 
 one the opportunity to withdraw just before the attack 
 was made. 
 
 When the Americans had forced their way into the 
 fort, they proceeded to the quarters of the commandant, 
 De La Place. Colonel Allen confronted the Briton 
 with the demand for his surrender. According to 
 Washington Irving in his "Life of Washington," La 
 Place wished to know by what authority the demand 
 was made and received the now immortal reply, "In the 
 name of the great Jehovah and the Continental Con- 
 gress." Resistance appearing futile, the garrison sur- 
 rendered and Ticonderoga passed into the possession of 
 the Americans. 
 
News Releases 579 
 
 Kentucky's Admission to the Union 
 
 Kentucky, admitted to the Union June 1, 1792, was 
 the second of three States to gain statehood during the 
 administrations of President George Washington. It is, 
 therefore, a matter of pride to the people of the Blue 
 Grass State that Kentucky was one of those common- 
 wealths which came into the Union in the first great 
 expansion of the United States after the adoption of the 
 Constitution. 
 
 The bicentenary observance of Washington's birth 
 will begin officially on February 22, next, and will con- 
 tinue until Thanksgiving Day. During that time the 
 most important dates in the history of this country will 
 be signalized by special commemorative programs which 
 will be linked up with the George Washington Bicen- 
 tennial Celebration. It is in this connection that the 
 anniversary of Kentucky's admission to statehood as- 
 sumes its peculiar significance next year. The 140th 
 anniversary of the entrance of the Blue Grass State into 
 the Union thus coincides with the 200th anniversary 
 of George Washington's birth, and will be a most ap- 
 propriate occasion for the people of Kentucky to cele- 
 brate. 
 
 In the period preceding the Revolution and during 
 the war itself, Kentucky was hardly more than an out- 
 post on the edge of this country's western frontier. It 
 formed a part of Virginia's possessions, and was roamed 
 by trapper, hunter, and redskin, although settlers were 
 streaming in from Virginia. 
 
 At the close of the Revolution, the territory now in- 
 cluded in the boundaries of the Blue Grass State was 
 part of Virginia and was known as the Kentucky dis- 
 
580 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 trict. After the Constitution was approved and the 
 United States adopted a full-fledged Federal Govern- 
 ment, the people of Kentucky began to seek admission 
 as a State. An agreement was made with Virginia in 
 compliance with law, and Kentucky formally presented 
 her petition for statehood in the closing months of 1790. 
 
 In his message to Congress, December 8, 1790, Presi- 
 dent Washington said: 
 
 "Since your last session I have received communica- 
 tions by which it appears that the district of Kentucky, 
 at present a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain 
 propositions contained in a law of that State, in con- 
 sequence of which the district is to become a distinct 
 member of the Union, in case the requisite sanction of 
 Congress be added. For this sanction application is now 
 made. I shall cause the papers on this very important 
 transaction to be laid before you. The liberality and 
 harmony with which it has been conducted will be found 
 to do great honor to both parties, and the sentiments 
 of warm attachment to the Union and its present Gov- 
 ernment expressed by our fellow-citizens of Kentucky 
 can not fail to add an affectionate concern for their par- 
 ticular welfare to the great national impressions under 
 which you will decide on the case submitted to you." 
 
 The celebration next year of the two hundredth an- 
 niversary of the birth of George Washington will be 
 nation-wide in every sense of the word. It has been 
 planned to include every person in the United States 
 and will provide suitable programs for various occasions 
 to be held in all schoolhouses, churches and other meet- 
 ing places. It will not be concentrated in any form, 
 in any locality. 
 
News Releases 581 
 
 In the Act of Congress which created the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 every State was invited to name its own local group to 
 cooperate with the national body. Kentucky has as- 
 sured the success of the commemoration of Washing- 
 ton's birth so far as the people of the Blue Grass State 
 are concerned by creating an executive committee con- 
 sisting of: Hon. W. A. Thommason, Paris; Hon. W. B. 
 Ardery, Paris; Judge John F. Hagar, Ashland; Col. 
 Lorain Whiteley, Owensboro; Mrs. A. T. Hert, Louis- 
 ville; Mrs. Stella Star key, Pikeville; Editor Woods, Mt. 
 Sterling; Editor Thomas, Liberty; Colonel Forgey, Ash- 
 land; Editor Chandler, Barbourville; Editor Alex B. 
 Combs, Hazard; Col. Noel Gaines, Frankfort; Mrs. 
 Hugh L. Rose, Louisville; and Mrs. Stanley Reed, Mays- 
 ville. 
 
 In addition, there is a citizens' committee of: R. C. 
 Ballard Thruston, Louisville; Mrs. James Darnell, Frank- 
 fort; Hon. John Deidrich, Ashland; Mrs. W. T. Laf- 
 ferty, Lexington; Mrs. Jouett Cannon, Frankfort; Dr. 
 William H. Townsend, Lexington; Miss Mary Mason 
 Scott, Frankfort; Mrs. William L. Lyons, Louisville; 
 Adm. Hugh Rodman, Washington, D. C; James L. 
 Isenberg, Harrodsburg; Temple Bodley, Louisville; Mrs. 
 George R. Hunt, Lexington; Mrs. W. T. Fowler, Lex- 
 ington; Mrs. Edmond Post, Paducah; Mrs. Clyde E. 
 Purcell, Paducah; Mrs. William Rhodes, Lexington; Mrs. 
 Graham Lawrence, Shelbyville; Mrs. George Madden 
 Martin, Louisville; Mrs. Mary Stallins Ray, St. Mat- 
 thews; Rev. James D. Gibson, Covington; Ernest B. 
 Dunkie, Covington; Dean Martha Tull, Georgetown; 
 Frank L. McVey, Lexington; Mrs. Bos well Pierce, New 
 
582 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Castle; C. Frank Dunn, Frankfort; H. H. Fuson, Har- 
 lan; Col. William Monroe Wright, Lexington; Capt. 
 Martin Rice, Carrollton. 
 
 Tennessee's Admission to the Union 
 
 Tennessee was one of the three States to enter the 
 Union in the first expansion of the United States fol- 
 lowing the adoption of the Federal Constitution, and 
 therefore enjoys the distinction of being admitted under 
 an enabling act approved by President George Wash- 
 ington. The Volunteer State became a full-fledged unit 
 of this Nation June 1, 1796. 
 
 The great nation-wide commemoration in honor of 
 George Washington, which will commence next year 
 on February 22 and continue until Thanksgiving Day, 
 has been planned to include every person in the United 
 States and to reach even the remotest hamlet in the 
 country. It will not be concentrated as an exposition 
 or similar affair in any community, but will be the out- 
 pouring of a nation's gratitude for its founder. 
 
 The Volunteer State was formed out of the western 
 part of North Carolina, and was settled before the Revo- 
 lutionary War by pioneers, who, being far from the 
 mother State, set up their own government under John 
 Sevier, the most colorful figure in the early history of 
 Tennessee. When the Revolution began, the territory 
 was named Washington District, and the people pledged 
 themselves for their share of the war expenses of the 
 United Colonies. 
 
 The battle of King's Mountain, which some histo- 
 rians have termed the turning point of the war, was 
 fought by a detachment consisting mainly of Tennes- 
 
News Releases 583 
 
 seans under the leadership of Sevier, Isaac Shelby, and 
 William Campbell, against a force of loyalists com- 
 manded by Col. Patrick Ferguson. The engagement 
 was one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the entire 
 war, and resulted in the death of Ferguson and the com- 
 plete destruction of his command. Cornwallis was se- 
 riously crippled by this loss of men who were counted 
 on to augment the British regular army. 
 
 Ferguson's sword and sash are now among the relics 
 of the Tennessee Historical Society, at Nashville, to- 
 gether with the gun with which he was killed. 
 
 In 1784 North Carolina ceded to the United States 
 all the territory now embraced in the State of Tennes- 
 see, but no arrangements for government satisfactory 
 to the frontiersmen being made, the people decided to 
 take the matter in their own hands. There were then 
 three counties in the district and each one sent delegates 
 to a convention at Jamesborough. John Sevier was 
 elected president of the body and another convention 
 was called to form a constitution and put the machinery 
 of the new government in motion. The constitution of 
 North Carolina was adopted for the time and the new 
 State was called Franklin. Sevier was named governor, 
 and all other necessary officers were elected. 
 
 At this point North Carolina took a hand in affairs 
 and the people were ordered to return to the allegiance 
 of the mother State. Sevier tried to persuade North 
 Carolina to recognize the independence of the new State, 
 and sought the approval of Congress. In both attempts 
 he failed, and in 1788 his arrest resulted in the collapse 
 of his government. A pardon was soon granted to all 
 who had taken part in the formation of Franklin, and 
 
584 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Sevier was elected to the North Carolina senate and re- 
 stored to his former military rank. 
 
 When North Carolina became a State, Tennessee was 
 again ceded to the national government. After consid- 
 erable difficulty with the Indians and Spanish traders, 
 a constitution was formed, and the people asked admis- 
 sion to the Union. Andrew Jackson was a member of 
 the constitution committee, and is said to have suggested 
 the name of Tennessee for the new State. 
 
 President George Washington approved the enabling 
 act admitting Tennessee to statehood on June 1, 1796. 
 John Sevier was again selected to head the government, 
 and became the first governor of the State. 
 
 First Washington's Birthday Celebration West of 
 the Mississippi 
 
 The first public celebration of George Washington's 
 birthday west of the Mississippi River took place in 
 Saint Louis, Mo., 114 years ago. 
 
 Although Washington's birthday was not made a 
 legal holiday in the State of Missouri until 1879, public 
 celebrations were held throughout the State every year 
 as far back as 1817, the year of the first public celebra- 
 tion. Floyd C. Shoemaker, of the Missouri State His- 
 torical Society, is authority for this claim. 
 
 Missouri was a territory in 1817; St. Louis was the 
 leading city. On February 22 of that year the lead- 
 ing citizens of the city met to honor the birthday of 
 the Father of His Country. 
 
 The master of ceremonies was William Clark, the man 
 who, with Meriwether Lewis in 1804, made the famous 
 expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, thereby 
 
News Releases 585 
 
 establishing the claim of the United States to the great 
 Northwest. 
 
 All the prominent men of St. Louis participated in 
 the ceremonies. Henry S. Geyer, who played a promi- 
 nent part as counsel in the historic Dred Scott Case, and 
 who, in 1851, defeated Thomas Hart Benton for a seat 
 in the United States Senate, was one of the toastmasters. 
 Wilburn W. Boggs, who became governor of Missouri 
 in 1836, also took part in the toasting exercises on that 
 day. 
 
 The building in which the public dinner was held was 
 located on the southwest corner of Main and Pine 
 Streets. This building was erected the year before, in 
 1816, and was the first brick building of St. Louis for 
 public use. 
 
 The "edifice" was two stories high. On the ground 
 floor were store rooms; and the upper floor was occu- 
 pied by a "hotel" or, what one writer referred to as 
 "Kibby's new boarding house." It was in the rooms 
 of this hotel or boarding house, have it which way you 
 will, that George Washington's birthday was first cele- 
 brated west of the Mississippi. 
 
 Mary Alicia Owen, authority of Missouri social cus- 
 toms, tells us how early Missourians celebrated Washing- 
 ton's birthday. She wrote: 
 
 "The Father of His Country, who was a great dandy 
 in his time, . . . would feel honored if he knew how 
 many hundreds of balls this State has given in his honor, 
 and how many thousands of young Missourians have, for 
 such revels, arrayed themselves in costumes which were 
 copies of his and his Martha." 
 
5 $6 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 When Delaware Ratified 
 
 To the people of the State of Delaware the date 
 December 7 is of particular significance, for it is the 
 anniversary of Delaware's ratification of the United 
 States Constitution. The event assumes added impor- 
 tance in the light of the fact that the Diamond State 
 was the first of the original thirteen States to ap- 
 prove this great document. Despite her small size, 
 Delaware had loyally contributed to the Revolution in 
 men and money. In the person of John Dickinson she 
 presented one of the great statesmen of the period whose 
 influence was to be felt throughout the Nation. 
 
 After the War of Independence, when the erstwhile 
 Colonies of Great Britain found themselves free from 
 the mother country, they discovered that all their prob- 
 lems were not yet settled. In fact, the question of what 
 to do with their independence now appeared as a per- 
 plexity, which, for a time, threatened to plunge the new 
 Nation into the chaos of anarchy — a prospect far less 
 inviting than subjection to the British crown. The 
 leaders of political thought and philosophy were divided 
 in opinion as to the form of government which should 
 be attempted, although it was apparent to all that the 
 old Articles of Confederation were wholly inadequate 
 to meet the needs of the new Nation. The people them- 
 selves were influenced in their opinions by sectional in- 
 terests, while the States, with their jealousies and re- 
 stricted ideas of local sovereignty, presented anything 
 but an appearance of national unity. 
 
 Men talked /much in those days of democracy, 
 republics, and the rule of the people. America's 
 enemies abroad, seeing the disorder, confidently pre- 
 
News Releases 587 
 
 dieted the collapse of what political structures the 
 country did possess, and then sat back to await the 
 crash. Some prominent statesmen here talked of 
 monarchy and an American nobility. At one time, 
 before the close of the war, George Washington was 
 approached with a proposal to make him king, a sug- 
 gestion so repugnant to him that he replied to it in 
 such indignant terms as to leave no doubt with regard 
 to his position in the matter. At last the situation 
 became so acute that a convention was called to con- 
 sider and effect a revision of the Articles of 
 Confederation. 
 
 This convention, growing out of the Annapolis 
 Convention, which had been called by Virginia to settle 
 trade disputes in 1786, met in Philadelphia in the sum- 
 mer of 1787. It comprised in its personnel most of 
 the luminaries of the country — it was a noteworthy 
 assemblage of America's foremost talent and ability. 
 George Washington, the great Commander in Chief of 
 the Revolutionary forces, was elected President, and 
 the momentous discussion was soon under way. Among 
 the members of this great body were Benjamin Franklin 
 from Pennsylvania, James Madison from Virginia, Alex- 
 ander Hamilton from New York, William Patterson 
 from New Jersey, Luther Martin from Maryland, and 
 Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from South Carolina. 
 Deleware sent the following delegates: George Read, 
 Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Basset t, 
 and Jacob Broom. 
 
 The story of that summer of bitter debate, of 
 proposals, and compromises is so well known as to need 
 no review. The convention was held behind closed 
 
588 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 doors, so that no one except the delegates themselves 
 knew what was going on. It was taken for granted by 
 the people that the Articles of Confederation were to 
 be revised, and no one expected the formulation of an 
 entirely new Constitution. But, after the deliberations 
 began, the delegates soon realized that the strong cen- 
 tral power now so definitely needed could never be 
 built on the foundation of the old Confederation. Thus 
 it was that out of the long weeks of mighty effort ap- 
 peared the Federal Constitution — an innovation and an 
 experiment in government. 
 
 The completed document was sent to the States for 
 ratification on September 28, 1787, and then began 
 another great struggle, this time to secure the approval 
 of at least nine of the States, which constituted the 
 necessary majority to put the Constitution into effect. 
 It was not at all certain that this approval could be 
 readily obtained, for although the Constitution had been 
 signed by delegates from 12 of the States, it was gen- 
 erally known that opposition would be encountered in 
 many localities. Therefore most of the men who had 
 been members of the convention returned to their 
 homes to battle for ratification. 
 
 One of these delegates, as has been seen, was 
 Delaware's own John Dickinson, who had taken a 
 prominent part in the convention. He wrote a series 
 of nine pamphlets, signed "Fabius," in which he dis- 
 cussed the Constitution and urged its adoption. When 
 George Washington read these pamphlets and before 
 he knew the identity of their author, he wrote his ap- 
 proval of the sound political thought and argument 
 which they contained. Dickinson's efforts were an out- 
 
News Releases 589 
 
 standing contribution to the political literature of the 
 time and undoubtedly went far to influence the popular 
 mind in favor of the Constitution. 
 
 There was some opposition to the work of the 
 convention in all of the States, but it seems to have been 
 negligible in Delaware, where the legislature met on 
 October 24 and immediately adopted measures to call 
 a convention for the purpose of adopting the Consti- 
 tution. This conclave met at Dover the first week in 
 December and acted with surprising dispatch. The 
 resolution of ratification was unanimously passed on 
 December 7, 1787, and Delaware became the first 
 state to adopt the Federal Constitution. Only two 
 other states, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, took action 
 that year. Delaware's notification of approval read as 
 follows: 
 
 "We the deputation of the people of Delaware State 
 in convention met, having taken into serious considera- 
 tion the Federal Constitution proposed and agreed upon 
 by the deputies of the United States in a general con- 
 vention held at the city of Philadelphia on the seven- 
 teenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1787, 
 have approved, assented to, ratified and confirmed, and 
 by these presents do, in virtue of the power and author- 
 ity to us given for that purpose for and on behalf of 
 our constituents, fully, freely, and entirely approve of, 
 assent to, ratify, and affirm the said convention." 
 
 Delaware, known as the Diamond State because of 
 its small size and great value, held the first election 
 under the new Constitution in January, 1789. At this 
 time the presidential electors, Gunning Bedford, George 
 Mitchell, and John Mitchell, were chosen. All three of 
 
590 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 these men cast their votes for Washington and John Jay. 
 At the same election John Vining was selected Repre- 
 sentative and George Read and Richard Bassett became 
 the first Senators from Delaware. 
 
 Always progressive and public spirited, Delaware 
 was one of the first States to fall in line with the pro- 
 gram outlined by the United States George Washington 
 Bicentennial Commission for the great celebration in 
 1932 of the two hundredth anniversary of George 
 Washington's birth. Acting on the invitation of Con- 
 gress to appoint a State commission, Gov. C. Douglas 
 Buck appointed the following to the Diamond State 
 Commission: Hon. Robert P. Robinson, of Wilmington; 
 Hon. Charles H. Grantland, of Dover; W. A. Speak- 
 man, of Wilmington; D. M. Wilson, of Dover; Herman 
 C. Taylor, of Dover; W. F. Allen, of Seaford; Leroy 
 Cramer, of Wilmington; J. Gilpin Highfield, of Wil- 
 mington; Hervey P. Hall, of Smyrna, Joseph H. Cox, 
 of Seaford; William Winthrup, of Wilmington; Wm. 
 E. Virden, of Wilmington; James W. Carrow, of 
 Dover; W. O. Cubbage, of Wyoming; and Thomas C. 
 Curry, of Greenwood. 
 
 In order to effect the plans for State participation, 
 the Legislature of Delaware authorized an appropria- 
 tion of $5,000, again pointing the way, for this was 
 one of the first instances of definite action on the part 
 of any of the States. 
 
 The history of Delaware is a source of pride to all 
 her people. From the very first, this little State on 
 the Atlantic seaboard played an active and important 
 part in the forming of the United States. George 
 Washington was a frequent visitor there during his long 
 
News Releases 591 
 
 career of public service, and his diaries contain particu- 
 lar references to entertainments held in his honor in 
 Wilmington and other cities. The significance of Dela- 
 ware's prompt approval of the great instrument of 
 government, which was framed under the direction of 
 the Father of His Country, is noted with satisfaction on 
 the occasion of the one hundred and forty-third anni- 
 versary of that event. 
 
 South Carolina's Heroes of the Revolution 
 
 When Charles II granted to some of his nobles a 
 great area south of Virginia, the recipients of this mag- 
 nificent gift evinced their appreciation by naming the 
 territory Carolina in honor of their monarch. If the 
 unfortuate king could have foreseen the defiance of 
 royal authority by some of the people of this new 
 Colony in the American Revolution, perhaps he would 
 have held back his charter. The vast territory included 
 in this original Carolina grant has since been formed 
 into several States of the Union, two of which, North 
 and South Carolina, still bear the name first given in 
 honor of the sovereign. 
 
 The State of South Carolina contributed to the cause 
 of independence some of the most active patriots of the 
 Revolutionary period. Among those from the Palmetto 
 State who were associated with George Washington in 
 the establishment of this country were officers of merit 
 and ability, statesmen of sagacity and foresight, and 
 numerous loyal, devoted patriots who contributed their 
 best in lesser capacities. 
 
 Separation from the mother country was an issue 
 upon which the people of South Carolina were divided. 
 
592 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Along the coasts and in the larger communities senti- 
 ment was generally in favor of a break with England, 
 while in the interior such action was opposed. The 
 patriots were so determined, however, that no obstacle 
 could stop them. Despite the prevalent toryism the 
 Palmetto State finally emerged, battered but trium- 
 phant, from the bitter struggle of the Revolution. 
 
 For some years prior to the Revolution, the govern- 
 ment of South Carolina had been administered by a 
 series of royal governors, the last of whom was Lord 
 William Campbell. This official found his position diffi- 
 cult, for the Colony was virtually in rebellion when he 
 arrived in Charleston June 18, 1775. In November of 
 the previous year the citizens of Charleston had held 
 a tea party of their own similar to the celebrated affair 
 in the harbor at Boston. On April 21, two days after 
 the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and long before 
 the news could reach the southern Colonies, when it 
 appeared that hostilities were inevitable, the patriots 
 seized public stores consisting largely of guns and am- 
 munition. A short time later the Carolinians captured 
 a British ship loaded with powder intended for the 
 Indians, and part of this much needed article was sent 
 to aid the patriots in the siege of Boston. 
 
 When Governor Campbell attempted to execute the 
 orders that he received from England, he encountered 
 such intense opposition that he was forced to take refuge 
 on a British warship. From this point he attempted to 
 incite the Indians and Tories to form a combination 
 against the patriots. September 15, 1775, Fort Johnson 
 was occupied by the patriots and South Carolina had 
 gone too far to turn back. In this exploit was displayed 
 
News Releases 593 
 
 the first American flag used in South Carolina — a silver 
 crescent on a blue field. 
 
 To the First Continental Congress the Palmetto 
 State sent a very able delegation, including such leaders 
 as John Rutledge, Henry Middleton, Thomas Lynch, 
 Christopher Gadsden, and Edward Rutledge. Middle- 
 ton was elected president of Congress after Randolph, 
 of Virginia, had been forced to retire because of his 
 illness. Of John Rutledge, Patrick Henry wrote that 
 he was by far the best orator in the assemblage. Each 
 of these men took a prominent and active part in the 
 Congress, and Gadsden was one of the first to advocate 
 drastic action against the forces of General Gage in 
 Boston. 
 
 Not until the latter part of the Revolution did the 
 military situation in South Carolina become acute. 
 During the earlier years of the war the British were 
 kept at bay, but when operations were transferred to 
 the southern Colonies, with the idea of striking a de- 
 cisive blow in that quarters, affairs became critical in 
 the Palmetto State. Charleston, after successfully re- 
 sisting several attacks, was finally forced to surrender 
 to the British in May, 1780, the year when hopes were 
 darkest for the southerners. 
 
 The royalists and Tories, emboldened by Clinton's 
 success, took up arms against the patriots. The British 
 and partisan troops of Lord Rawdon and Tarleton were 
 left to maraud and plunder the country, and there was 
 reason to fear that the South was doomed to subjugation. 
 
 However, the situation soon changed. The success 
 of the British was short-lived, for the exploits of 
 Marion and Sumter soon turned the tide. No more 
 
594 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 gallant soldiers took part in the Revolution, and to their 
 efforts must be given much of the credit for the failure 
 of the English campaign in the South. 
 
 Francis Marion is one of the most spectacular and 
 romantic figures of the Revolution. He was universally 
 admired for his integrity, ability, courage, and rare 
 sweetness of disposition. From the commencement of 
 hostilities he took an active part in the armies of South 
 Carolina. He had learned military strategy in rough 
 country as an Indian fighter. Later this experience 
 was to prove exceedingly valuable to his State and to 
 his country. 
 
 Before the investment of Charleston was completed 
 by the British in May, 1780, Colonel Marion was attend- 
 ing a party with a number of friends, when the host 
 turned the key on his guests in order that none might 
 leave as long as the wine held out. The Colonel did not 
 drink and, not wishing to disturb the party, he decided 
 to leave quietly. When no one was looking, he opened 
 the window and leaped from the room. In the dark- 
 ness he was unable to gauge the distance to the ground 
 and, as a result of his leap, he sustained a broken ankle. 
 This proved a most fortunate occurrence, for it caused 
 Marion's removal from the beleaguered city while there 
 was yet a way out. Hence he was not captured, and his 
 future services were saved for his country. 
 
 Tarleton called Marion the "Swamp Fox," and this 
 sobriquet stuck with him throughout the war. The 
 Briton used this appellation because of Marion's meth- 
 ods of fighting. He usually commanded a force which, 
 if worsted in a fight, had the faculty of disappearing 
 completely, only to reassemble at a point somewhat dis- 
 
News Releases 595 
 
 tant from the fray. It was this peculiar quality of 
 rapidly disbanding and reorganizing that made Marion's 
 corps so effective against the British. 
 
 On one occasion, after having led the indefatigable 
 Tarleton a long and fruitless chase, the British cavalry 
 leader is said to have remarked: "Come, boys, let us go 
 back and find the gamecock (Sumter) ; as for this 
 
 d d swamp fox, the devil himself could not catch 
 
 him." 
 
 Marion continued in active service throughout the 
 entire war and had a hand in nearly all the major battles 
 in the southern Colonies. At the close of the Revolu- 
 tion he was elected to the South Carolina State Senate 
 and took part in framing a constitution for South 
 Carolina. However, his private affairs had suffered 
 severely during the war, and he was forced to retire 
 from public life. Before he left the senate he was con- 
 spicuous for his advocacy of humane measures toward 
 the Tories, and he was energetic in his condemnation 
 of the confiscation act of 1782. Marion's character 
 was spotless, and he enjoyed the respect and admiration 
 of all who knew him. An intrepid fighter, he was un- 
 failingly kind and considerate, and no instance of 
 cruelty or rapacity has ever been cited against him. He 
 was an excellent example of American manhood. 
 
 One of the most heroic military figures of South 
 Carolina during the Revolutionary War was William 
 Moultrie, the gallant defender of Fort Sullivan. 
 Moultrie was one of the first to realize the important 
 strategic position of this island outside of Charleston 
 and was responsible for its fortification. In a great 
 battle, June 28, 1776, Moultrie repulsed, with but a 
 
596 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 handful of men, an attack by a British fleet, which was 
 badly damaged. 
 
 It was this successful defense of Fort Sullivan that 
 kept the South free from invasion until the later years 
 of the war. The post was renamed Fort Moultrie in 
 honor of its brave defender, who was also voted the 
 thanks of Congress. 
 
 Thomas Sumter, the "Carolina gamecock," was 
 another partisan from the Palmetto State whose activi- 
 ties distressed the British in the South. His methods 
 were similar to those employed by Marion, and his 
 spectacular exploits kept Cornwallis and Tarleton in 
 continual difficulty. He lived to be 98, and at his death 
 in 1832 was the last surviving officer of the Revolu- 
 tionary War. 
 
 One of the most important and spectacular battles 
 of the Revolutionary War was the engagement at Kings 
 Mountain on October 7, 1780. This battle has some- 
 times been called the turning point of the American 
 Revolution. Certainly it was one of the most potent 
 factors in the withdrawal of Cornwallis to Yorktown, 
 where the war practically ended. The American force 
 was chiefly composed of men from the new West, later 
 the State of Tennessee, under Shelby, Sevier, and Camp- 
 bell. Their assault on the strong position held by the 
 loyalist militia, commanded by Ferguson, is a striking 
 example of American valor and courage. Ferguson 
 himself was killed, and so severe was the loss sustained 
 by the loyalists that they never again were able seriously 
 to threaten affairs in South Carolina. 
 
 No consideration of South Carolina in the Revolution 
 would be complete without mention of the Pinkneys, 
 
News Releases 597 
 
 the Middletons, and Henry and John Laurens. The 
 latter was the son of Henry Laurens, and his exploits 
 earned him the title of the "Bayard of the Revolution." 
 Washington once wrote of this young man: "He had 
 not a fault that I could discover unless it were intrepid- 
 ity bordering upon rashness." He served with com- 
 mendable gallantry throughout the Revolution, but his 
 life came to a tragic end in a minor skirmish with the 
 British in 1782. 
 
 Charles Cotesworth Pinkney also should be mentioned 
 as one of the outstanding patriots of the Palmetto State. 
 His character is indicated in the remark he made when 
 the Directory of France intimated that trouble with 
 that country might be averted if the United States were 
 willing to pay. Pinkney's terse reply to this ignominious 
 suggestion is said to have been: "Millions for defense 
 but not one cent for tribute." Again he showed his true 
 caliber when he received an appointment as major gen- 
 eral next to Alexander Hamilton in the army which 
 Washington was forming in 1798 for use against the 
 French in case hostilities developed. When reminded 
 that Hamilton had been his junior in the Revolution, 
 Pinkey replied: "Let us first dispose of our enemies; we 
 shall then have the leisure to settle the case of rank." 
 
 It would be impossible to name and consider all the 
 distinguished men from South Carolina who so admir- 
 ably served the interests of their country in the Revolu- 
 tion, but the name of John Rutledge, appointed by 
 Washington to the highest tribunal in the Nation, must 
 be mentioned. Certain it is that the people of the 
 Palmetto State have every justification for pride in their 
 
598 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 contribution to their country in that great struggle for 
 liberty. 
 
 Acting on the invitation of the Congress of the 
 United States in the statute creating the National Com- 
 mission to all the States and territories to create State 
 and local bicentennial commissions South Carolina, in 
 1930, appointed a commission, thus evincing the interest 
 of the Palmetto State in the celebration of George Wash- 
 ington's two hundredth birthday anniversary and 
 promising cooperation from this southern common- 
 wealth. 
 
 The men who came from South Carolina to serve in 
 various capacities associated with George Washington 
 in the Revolution were respected and admired by the 
 great first President. They greatly contributed to the 
 establishment of this country and deservedly occupy 
 prominent places in the annals of American history. 
 
 New Hampshire Ratifies 
 
 June 21 is a date of patriotic interest to New Hamp- 
 shire and of importance to the whole United States, 
 for on that date the Granite State ratified the new Con- 
 stitution of the United States, thus making it the legal 
 groundwork of the new American Government. Rati- 
 fication by nine States was necessary before the Con- 
 stitution could be put into effect and New Hampshire 
 was the ninth State to come into the fold. 
 
 By June 21, 1788, eight of the States of the original 
 13 had ratified the Constitution. New Hampshire was 
 the ninth to hold its convention for its adoption or 
 rejection, and all eyes were focused on the little New 
 England State to see what her decision would be. If 
 
News Releases 599 
 
 New Hampshire ratified it, the Constitution would 
 become the law of the land; if not, the situation would 
 remain unsettled. 
 
 When the New Hampshire Convention at last voted 
 to ratify, it did so with a suggested set of amendments 
 that were quite characteristic of the State. Prominent 
 among these amendments was one vigorously opposing 
 the creation of a standing army. At the end of the 
 Revolution New Hampshire had had enough of blood- 
 shed and warfare, and wanted no national government 
 to keep itself in power by means of an armed force. 
 
 Like the people of the other States in 1788, those 
 of New Hampshire were greatly stirred up over the 
 Constitution. They were aware that its fate, in a sense, 
 rested in their hands, and they watched with keen atten- 
 tion the proceedings of the State convention elected to 
 consider the instrument. 
 
 The convention met at Exeter on the second Wednes- 
 day of February, 1788. It was presided over by Gen. 
 John Sullivan, of Revolutionary War fame, and among 
 the delegates were such well-known Revolutionary 
 figures as John Langdon, Josiah Bartlett, John Taylor 
 Gilman, John Pickering, Samuel Livermore, Joshua 
 Atherton, and Joseph Badger. 
 
 Joshua Atherton delivered a historic speech on the 
 slavery clause of the Constitution, bitterly denouncing 
 the traffic in human beings, in what was undoubtedly 
 one of the earliest abolitionist utterances in a public 
 body, nearly a hundred years before the outbreak of the 
 Civil War. 
 
 The delegates to the New Hampshire Constitutional 
 Convention knew that in eight other States the instru- 
 
600 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ment had passed, though by small majorities, and its 
 deliberations were conducted with the utmost care. In- 
 deed, so scrupulous were the State's representatives that 
 by common consent they adjourned the convention 
 from February to June of the same year, so that the 
 decision arrived at might be one of cool judgment and 
 to give the people time to weigh the Constitution and 
 discuss it among themselves from every angle. 
 
 When the convention did reconvene in June, four 
 days were then enough to settle the issue. On June 21 
 the final vote was taken. By the count of 57 to 46 
 New Hampshire resolved to adopt, and the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States thereupon became formally 
 operative. 
 
 Thus June 21 becomes an outstanding date in New 
 Hampshire history. Next year, says the Division of 
 Information and Publication of the United States 
 George Washington Bicentennial Commission, June 21 
 will be a date to be noticed by the entire United States. 
 For then, in 1932, the two hundredth anniversary of 
 the birth of George Washington, who presided over the 
 Federal convention that wrote the Constitution will be 
 in progress. Just as Washington's courage and char- 
 acter had carried through the Revolution itself, so his 
 weight and influence directed the shaping of the Con- 
 stitution and its final adoption by the States. In this 
 adoption New Hampshire played the pivotal part, and 
 a Nation that has risen to greatness on the basis of this 
 charter of our liberties owes a thought of gratitude to 
 the State that insured the full fruition of Washington's 
 labors. 
 
News Releases 601 
 
 "Molly Pitcher" To Be Honored in '32 
 
 June 28 will mark the 153rd anniversary of the battle 
 of Monmouth, which brought into prominence a color- 
 ful and heroic character of the Revolutionary War, 
 "Molly Pitcher." 
 
 When the nation-wide, nine-months' celebration of 
 the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George 
 Washington takes place in 1932, the name of "Molly 
 Pitcher" will be remembered and honored as one of the 
 picturesque women of the Revolution. This tribute 
 will be paid her not only in her native State of Penn- 
 sylvania and in the State of New Jersey where she dis- 
 tinguished herself as a "soldier" but throughout the en- 
 tire Nation. 
 
 "Sergeant" or "Captain Molly" was a nom de guerre 
 given to the wife of a soldier whom she had followed 
 to the war, which was not unusual at that time. This 
 soldier was named John Caspar Hayes. Private Hayes 
 was probably detailed on the battle field of Monmouth 
 from infantry service to help with one of the batteries. 
 His wife was aiding the cause by carrying pitchers of 
 water to the hot and thirsty patriots. 
 
 When John Hayes was wounded at the side of the 
 cannon where he was serving, his wife rushed to the 
 cannon, grasped the ramrod and sent home the charge, 
 calling to the gunners to prime and fire. It was done. 
 Then, plugging the ramrod into the smoking muzzle of 
 the cannon, she performed admirably the duties of an 
 artilleryman while loud shouts and cheers from the sol- 
 diers rang along the line, and the fire of the battery be- 
 came more vivid than ever. 
 
 "Captain Molly" kept her post until night closed the 
 
602 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 action. There is a tradition that after the battle, Gen. 
 Nathanael Greene complimented her upon her courage 
 and conduct, and the next morning he presented her 
 to General Washington, who received her graciously and 
 assured the heroine that her services were appreciated, 
 and would not be forgotten. 
 
 This remarkable and intrepid woman long survived 
 the Revolution* dying at Carlisle, Pa., in 1832. On the 
 death of John Hayes after the war she married John Mc- 
 Cauley, but until she died she never laid aside the appel- 
 lation of "Captain Molly," which she had so nobly 
 won. 
 
 On February 27, 1822, the Pennsylvania Legislature 
 granted her the sum of $40 and an annuity of the same 
 amount. She died January 22, 1832, and is buried in 
 the old Carlisle cemetery. On the 100th anniversary 
 of the Declaration of Independence, the city of Carlisle 
 erected a monument over the heroine's grave. 
 
 Ancient Bell Clapper for Christ Church in Alexandria 
 
 An ancient 14-pound bell clapper, which called 
 people to services during the rectorship of Lawrence 
 Washington, great great grandfather of George Wash- 
 ington, when he served as rector of All Saints Purleigh 
 Church, Chelensford Essex, England, from 1633 to 
 1643, will be presented to Christ Church, Alexandria, 
 Va., it was announced by the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 The presentation to the famous Virginia Church of 
 which congregation George Washington was a member, 
 was made by William Proctor Remington, Bishop of 
 
News Releases 603 
 
 Eastern Oregon, who brought the clapper from Eng- 
 land last summer. 
 
 Bishop Remington was given the clapper by Frederick 
 MacDonald, the present Rector of All Saints Purleigh 
 Church. In a letter, accompanying the gift, Rector 
 MacDonald said: 
 
 "The clapper is certainly 294 years old, for it came 
 out of the largest bell but one which was put up in the 
 tower here in 1630. We had new clappers put in all 
 five bells two years ago when we discovered that the 
 smallest bell, (the treble) which bears the date of 1765, 
 must have been the old treble bell recast, as it had a 
 clapper exactly like the others which are still in their 
 original condition. 
 
 "If you look at the clapper which I am giving you, 
 you will see on two places a polished surface where the 
 clapper has struck the bell through three centuries. 
 This information is to recall the almost certain fact 
 that this old clapper has helped to ring joyous bells at 
 the coronation of no less than thirteen sovereigns." 
 
 Upon bringing this historic clapper to the United 
 States, Bishop Remington wrote to Dr. William J. Mor- 
 ton, present rector of Christ Church, expressing the 
 sentiment that he would be glad to present it to Christ 
 Church, in view of its historic as well as sentimental 
 value in George Washington's family history. 
 
 Christ Church was built in 1767, and the unaltered 
 pew of George Washington brings back the plainer days 
 when the great hero, after religious services, mingled 
 with fellow worshipers and friends. It was here one 
 Sunday morning in the summer of 1774, after services, 
 surrounded by the congregation, every one of whom 
 
604 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 he well knew, that Washington advocated withdrawing 
 allegiance to King George. Nine years after, when in- 
 dependence had been established, he arrived at Mount 
 Vernon on Christmas Eve. The next day found him 
 once more in his accustomed seat in Christ Church to 
 hear the tender message of good will and peace that was 
 proclaimed like liberty throughout the land, and no 
 one bowed in deeper gratitude than the great General 
 who came as humbly as a little child to this, his Father's 
 House. 
 
 First "Sub" Used in Revolution 
 
 What might be regarded as the nearest approach to 
 the present-day submarine was used by the American 
 forces during the Revolutionary War, when an attempt 
 was made to blow up Admial Howe's flagship, the Eagle, 
 which was anchored off the shore of Governor's Island. 
 
 A young mechanic named David Bushnell, of Con- 
 necticut, had invented what he called a "marine turtle," 
 by which he was confident that a daring man could 
 move under water, approach the hull of a ship and, by 
 fastening his contrivance to the bottom and arranging 
 the clockwork of the "turtle," have ample time to es- 
 cape himself before the explosion followed, which it 
 was confidently believed would blow the largest man- 
 of-war into flinders. 
 
 The plan approved, a daring patriot named Ezra Lee 
 was selected to make the attempt. One midnight he 
 entered the machine, left the dock at the foot of White- 
 hall, and started on his perilous venture. Washington 
 and several other officers who were in the secret waited 
 all night long on the dock for the outcome of the at- 
 
News Releases 605 
 
 tempt, no one of them being hopeful of success, and, 
 as the gray of dawn appeared, not even daring to 
 believe that young Ezra would ever be seen again. 
 
 Just at that time, however, suddenly a column of 
 water was thrown into the air near the dim outline of 
 the Eagle, and it was apparent that there was a great 
 commotion both on board the flagship and on the 
 near-by shore. No great damage had been done, that 
 was evident, but what had become of Ezra Lee? For 
 a long time the American officers waited, and, just as 
 they were about to go back to their men, convinced 
 that the attempt had failed and that the young man 
 was drowned, he was discovered in the water near the 
 dock. Friendly hands speedily drew him forth, and 
 warm were the words of praise bestowed on him. The 
 attempt had indeed failed, for the bottom of the flag- 
 ship was covered with copper. It had been impossible 
 to find a place to which the turtle could be fastened. 
 Ezra's spirit and daring had appealed to Washington 
 so strongly, however, that he was chosen by the Com- 
 mander as one of his most trusty scouts and had an 
 active part afterwards in the Battles of Trenton, 
 Brandywine, and Monmouth. 
 
 Visitors Interested in Washington's Swords 
 
 It is doubtful if any of George Washington's posses- 
 sions are as highly prized as his swords — symbols of his 
 military leadership, according to the Division of Infor- 
 mation and Publication of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission. 
 
 According to officials at Mount Vernon, Va., and at 
 the National Museum at Washington, D. C, the thou- 
 
606 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 sands of persons who annually visit the two places al- 
 ways pay unusual attention to these mute emblems of 
 the weary years of patient and skillful service which 
 the great Commander in Chief gave, without monetary 
 reward, to make the dream of independence come true 
 to the American Colonies. 
 
 When General "Washington made his will, the bequest 
 of his precious swords was a matter of careful thought, 
 especially in view of the fact that he had several 
 nephews. 
 
 The children of Col. Fielding Lewis, who married 
 Betty, Washington's only sister, were Fielding, George, 
 Elizabeth, Lawrence, Robert, and Howell. George 
 Lewis was one of the favorite nephews of Washington, 
 and in his will he bequeathed to him one of his swords. 
 The bequest was in these words: 
 
 "To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Wash- 
 ington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, — 
 Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington, I give 
 one of the Swords or Cutteaux of which I may die pos- 
 sessed, and they are to chuse in the order they are 
 named." The bequest was accompanied by an injunc- 
 tion that the swords were not to be unsheathed for the 
 purpose of shedding blood "except it be for self defence, 
 or in defence of their Country and its rights; and in the 
 latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling 
 with them in their hands, to the relinquishment 
 thereof." 
 
 Speculation and Worthless Money 
 
 "War Profiteers" were numerous during the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, and a rising tide of extravagance, dis- 
 
News Releases 607 
 
 sipation and folly became so pronounced as to draw 
 caustic comment from Gen. George Washington. 
 
 In December, 1778, Washington made a visit to Phila- 
 delphia and was astounded at its luxury. He had in 
 mind, no doubt, the underfed and ragged army at Val- 
 ley Forge, when he wrote to Benjamin Harrison, one 
 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the 
 father of William Henry Harrison, the ninth President 
 of the United States, and the great-grandfather of Ben- 
 jamin Harrison, the 23d President of the United States, 
 describing conditions in Philadelphia. In this letter, 
 dated December 30, 1778, Washington said: 
 
 "If I was to be called upon to draw a picture of the 
 times and of Men, from what I have seen, and heard, 
 and in part know, I should in one wprd say that idle- 
 ness, dissipation & extravagance seems to have laid 
 fast hold of most of them. — That speculation — pecula- 
 tion — and an insatiable thirst for riches seems to have got 
 the better of every other consideration and almost of 
 every order of Men. — That party disputes and personal 
 quarrels are the great business of the day whilst the mo- 
 mentous concerns of an empire — a great and accumu- 
 lated debt — ruined finances — depreciated money — and 
 want of credit (which in their consequences is the want 
 of everything) are but secondary considerations and 
 postponed from day to day — from week to week — as if 
 our affairs wear the most promising aspect — after draw- 
 ing this picture, which from my Soul I believe to be a 
 true one, I need not repeat to you that I am alarmed 
 and wish to see my Countrymen roused." 
 
 That the matter of stock-jobbing and speculation 
 weighed heavily on the mind of the Commander in 
 
608 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 Chief is further shown in a letter Washington wrote on 
 March 31, 1779, to James Warren, president of the Pro- 
 vincial Congress of Massachusetts. 
 
 "Speculation, Peculation, Engrossing, forestalling, 
 with all their concomitants, afford too many melancholy 
 proofs of the decay of public virtue, and too glaring 
 instances of its being the interest and desire of too many, 
 who would wish to be thought friends, to continue the 
 war. Nothing, I am convinced, but the depreciation 
 of our currency, proceeding in a great measure from 
 the foregoing causes, aided by stockjobbing and party 
 dissensions, has fed the hopes of the Enemy, and kept 
 the B. arms in America to this day. They do not 
 scruple to declare this themselves, and add, that we shall 
 be our own conquerors." 
 
 The depreciation of Continental paper money was a 
 source of great concern to Washington. This type of 
 money began to depreciate early in 1777. On the first 
 of January of that year the value of $100 in specie was 
 $105 in Continental money, and so rapid was the de- 
 pression that by May, 1779, it took $1,215 in paper to 
 represent $100 in specie. In a communication to John 
 Jay, April 23, 1779, Washington said: 
 
 "Is there anything doing, or that can be done, to re- 
 store the credit of our currency? The depreciation of 
 it is got to so alarming a point, that a wagon-load of 
 money will scarcely purchase a wagon-load of provi- 
 sions." In a letter to Gouverneur Morris, on May 8, 
 1779, he said: 
 
 "The rapid decay of our currency, the extinction of 
 public spirit, the increasing rapacity of the times, the 
 want of harmony in our councils, the declining zeal of 
 
News Releases 609 
 
 the people, the discontents and distresses of the officers 
 of the army, and I may add, the prevailing security and 
 insensibility to danger, are symptoms, in my eye, of a 
 most alarming nature. If the enemy have it in their 
 power to press us hard this campaign, I know not what 
 may be the consequence. Our army, as it now stands, 
 is but little more than the skeleton of an army; and I 
 hear of no steps that are taking to give it strength and 
 substance." 
 
 However, it must be taken into consideration that 
 these letters were written when Washington was passing 
 through the darkest hours of his military career, and 
 was particularly anxious for Congress and the public 
 to awaken to the distresses of the army and the tremen- 
 dous problems yet to be faced in accomplishing the glo- 
 rious victory which was eventually to be theirs. 
 
 George Washington and Aviation 
 
 "While all the world is rejoicing at the wonderful ex- 
 ploit of Dioudonne Costes and Maurice Bellonte in fly- 
 ing from Paris to New York, we must not forget that 
 this is not the fulfillment of a modern dream," said Hon. 
 Sol Bloom, associate director of the United States George 
 Washington Bicentennial Commission, today. "That 
 dream is almost as old as our country. George Wash- 
 ington himself had a distinct vision of this great achieve- 
 ment although he did not, of course, envisage the char- 
 acter of the modern airplane. It was as early as 1794 
 that our first President, in a prophetic letter to Major 
 General Duportail, friend of Lafayette, said: 
 
 " 'Our friends in Paris in a little time will come fly- 
 
610 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 ing through the air, instead of ploughing the ocean to 
 get to America!' 
 
 "That prophecy was based upon the sensational aerial 
 experiments in ballooning which were conducted in 
 France by the Montgolfier brothers and other great 
 French pioneer airmen. 
 
 "George Washington was a man of most remarkable 
 vision," continued Mr. Bloom. "He had a habit of look- 
 ing far into the future. His was no reactionary spirit, 
 but one of rational speculation and development. We 
 are given to think of George Washington as a remote 
 historical figure, without contact or relationship with 
 Americans of the present day. Yet not only our Gov- 
 ernment and political institutions, but almost every 
 phase of modern life, is stamped by his influence. 
 
 "Few of us know that George Washington was keenly 
 interested in the development of the steamboat and 
 wrote understandingly of the probabilities of steam 
 navigation, although he did not live to see the success- 
 ful demonstration of that great experiment. In many 
 fields of progress he saw possibilities of advancement 
 that were truly astonishing. 
 
 "In order to realize what his prediction of trans- 
 Atlantic flight meant, we must consider the time in 
 which it was made. The only aerial experiments of a 
 successful nature then were by hot-air balloons. But 
 they appealed to the popular imagination to the same 
 extent as did the Wright Brothers' trial flights at Kitty 
 Hawk with the first successful airplane. George Wash- 
 ington was not a mere enthusiast. He was not given 
 to idle dreaming or fantastic forecasting. He had a 
 sound and practical mind and when he predicted a 
 
News Releases 611 
 
 Paris-American air flight, it was not the result of ir- 
 responsible exuberance which possesed most people of 
 that time. He thought it out. He weighed all the ele- 
 ments of success and failure as he saw them. And when 
 he wrote that 'our friends in Paris in a little time will 
 come flying through the air, instead of ploughing the 
 ocean to get to America,' he expressed that amazing 
 quality of a mind that knew no boundaries of achieve- 
 ment either of time, place or character. How truly 
 great was this First Citizen of our Republic! How well 
 does everything he did and said stand the test of his- 
 tory! And in 1932, upon the occasion of the two hun- 
 dredth anniversary of his birth, no doubt further ad- 
 vancement in the art of flying will show added sensa- 
 tional accomplishments to confirm George Washington's 
 beliefs and predictions." 
 
 United States Army's Two Washington Regiments 
 It will surprise most Americans to learn that in their 
 regular army of today there are two regiments which 
 have come down intact from their organization during 
 the lifetime of George Washington. According to the 
 Division of Information and Publication of the United 
 States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 
 both these regiments were formed undoubtedly with 
 Washington's advice and counsel, and the establishment 
 of one of them must have had his official signature as 
 first President of the United States. 
 
 What is now the Third United States Infantry was 
 formed in 1784 as a Pennsylvania regiment, authorized 
 by an act of the Continental Congress on June 7, 1784, 
 and designated as "the Regiment of Infantry." This 
 
612 Washington Bicentennial 
 
 was six months or more after Washington's formal resig- 
 nation as Commander in Chief of the Armies. But dur- 
 ing his subsequent Presidency his hand may have left its 
 imprint on the destiny of the regiment, in its official re- 
 designations in 1789 and 1796, when it became the First 
 Infantry. Afterward in its history it went through 
 other redesignations, but it still was the same organiza- 
 tion. 
 
 As the Third Infantry in the United States Army of 
 today, it is stationed at Fort Snelling, in Minnesota, be- 
 tween Minneapolis and St. Paul. And are its officers 
 proud of the ancient history of their outfit? The word 
 Yes can hardly be expressed with sufficient emphasis 
 for an answer. As a regiment of the United States 
 Army is entitled to decorate its flagstaff with a silver 
 band for every battle in which it has fought, the staff 
 of the Third Infantry must be thickly plated with them, 
 for the list of its battle honors tells a story of partici- 
 pation in nearly all the heaviest fighting of our history. 
 
 What is now the First Regiment of Infantry in the 
 present United States Army was authorized by the new 
 Congress of the United States in 1791, under Washing- 
 ton's Presidency, and has another long list of battle 
 honors to its credit in the Official Army Register. Its 
 glories were chiefly acquired in early wars with the In- 
 dians. 
 
 Not an officer, not a man of these regiments but looks 
 with justifiable pride, now and then, at its silver-banded 
 staff, and at the streamer which, with the flag, floats 
 from it as a marker to its ancient and honorable history 
 of service. 
 
 Form No. 200 P.B. CM— 1-13-32— B. L 
 
 TBS LIBRARY SF TS5 
 
 ! Z 1 3 1932 
 
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION 
 
 CLIP SHEET 
 
 Submitted to the Editors of newspapers with a request for thiir cooperation in making the Two Hundredth Anniversary 
 of the Birth of George Washington in 1932 the j'reatest event of its kind ever held in America. 
 
 shinglon Building 
 
 II iSHTNGTON, D. C. 
 
 1CENTENNIAL COMMISSION'S 
 
 PROGRAMMERS WIDE RANGE 
 
 aborate Plan* Arranged Which Will Enable Etery Stale, City 
 
 and Town in the Uniled Stales lo Take Part in 
 
 Celebration Next Year 
 
 RESTORATION OF WAKEFIELD 
 
 IS GOINGJFORWARD RAPIDLY 
 
 Washington's Birthplace is Being Reproduced as Nearly as Pos- 
 sible to the Conditions of Two Centuries Ago 
 
 First Flag Was Not 
 "Stars and Stripes"