ET. 26.] WASHINGTON LEAVES THE SERVICE. 285 Hanna he wrote a circular letter to the inhabitants of the frontier, urging them to take provisions and clothing to the men at the fort; and from the same place he addressed a letter to Governor Fauquier, in which he remarked: "Our men are in such a miserable condition, having hardly rags to cover their nakedness, and exposed to the inclemency of the weather in this rigorous season, that, unless provision is made by the country for supplying them immediately, they must perish." And now, for a time, the military career of Washington, after five years of laborious service, was ended. Having assisted in giving peace and security to his country, and abandoned all hope of obtaining rank in the regular army, he proceeded to Williamsburg, by way of Mount Vernon, to surrender his commission, and report to the civil authorities. General Forbes, in the meanwhile, led his troops back to Philadelphia; and in that city, worn out with sickness and the fatigues of the campaign, he lingered until the following March, when, on a quiet sabbath, he died.* * John Forbes was a native of Petincrief, Fifeshire, Scotland, and was educated for a physician. He entered the army in 1745, and advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was quartermastergeneral under the duke of Cumberland, and was appointed brigadier in 1757, and ordered to America. He died at Philadelphia, as above stated, on the thirteenth of March, 1759, at the age of fortynine years. CHAPTER XXVIII. WASHINGTON VISITS WILLIAMSBURG AND THE WHITE HOUSE RESIGNATION OF HIS COMMISSION ADDRESS OF HIS OFFICERS-VALUE OF HIS EXPERIENCEHIS. MARRIAGE-WASHINGTON IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES HIS RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC LIFE - CAMPAIGN OF 1759 - CAPTURE OF FORT NIAGARA - THE BRITISH ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN -EVENTS AT QUEBEC- DEATH OF WOLFE AND MONTCALM- CAPITULATION OF QUEBEC · ITS RECAPTURE ATTEMPTED SURRENDER OF MONTREAL COMPLETE CONQUEST OF CANADA END OF THE FRENCH DOMINION. WASHINGTON did not remain long at Mount Vernon. Sick and wearied, he coveted and obtained a few days of repose, and then hastened to Williamsburg on an errand of duty, and to the White House on an errand of affection. He went to the former to lay down his military rank at the feet of the civil power from which he received it, and to settle all matters pertaining to his command; and he went to the latter to meet his waiting bride, and to make arrangements for marriage at an early day. It was late in December when Colonel Washington arrived in Williamsburg. He was received with public and private greetings on every side; and never had young hero greater cause for being proud of well-earned fame than he. At an appointed time he formally resigned his commission to Governor Fauquier, when his officers, making that the occasion, presented him with a most affectionate address. After speaking of the value of his discipline, they remarked: "Judge, then, how sensibly we must be affected, with the loss of such an excellent commander, such a sincere friend, and so affable a companion. How rare is it to find these amiable qualities blended in one man! How great the loss of such a man!..... It gives us additional sorrow," they continued, "when we reflect, to find our unhappy country will receive a loss no less irreparable than ET. 27.] our own. WASHINGTON'S MARRIAGE. 287 Where will it meet a man so experienced in military affairs-one so renowned for patriotism, conduct, and courage? Who has so great a knowledge of the enemy we have to deal with? who so well acquainted with their situation and strength? who so much respected by the soldiery? who, in short, so able to support the military character of Virginia ?" Then requesting him to name a fit successor, they added in conclusion: "Frankness, sincerity, and a certain openness of soul, are the true characteristics of an officer, and we flatter ourselves that you do not think us capable of saying anything contrary to the purest dictates of our minds. Fully persuaded of this, we beg leave to assure you that, as you have hitherto been the actuating soul of our whole corps, we shall at all times pay the most invariable regard to your will and pleasure, and will always be happy to demonstrate by our actions how much we respect and esteem you."-"This opinion," says Marshall, "was not confined to the officers of his regiment. It was common to Virginia, and had been adopted by the British officers with whom he served. The duties he performed, though not splendid, were arduous; and were executed with zeal and with judgment. The exact discipline he established in his regiment, when the temper of Virginia was extremely hostile to discipline, does credit to his military character; and the gallantry his troops displayed, whenever called into action, manifests the spirit infused into them by their commander." And the knowledge, discipline, and experience, which the young soldier then acquired, were of vast benefit not only to himself, but to his country and to mankind. His five years' military service on the frontiera service most complicated and peculiar-were the school-days of the future commander of patriot armies-the liberator of his country-the champion of universal liberty. Colonel Washington was married to Mrs. Custis, at her residence in New Kent, on the sixth of January, 1759. Tradition alone has preserved a record of the festivities on that occasion. It was an event long to be remembered by those who participated in it. The beauty, accomplishments, and ample fortune of the bride, and the * Life of Washington, second edition, i., 27. |