USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Historical sketches of the ten miles square forming the District of Columbia : with a picture of Washington, describing objects of general interest or curiosity at the metropolis of the Union. > Part 9
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The spring of 1777, found Gen. St Clair occu- pying the extensive works of Ticonderoga, with on!y 5000 men, all the force that could be spared for the defence of that point.
On the first of July, Gen. Burgoyne appeared before the place, at the head of 8000 men, and im- mediately occupied Mount Hope, on the left of our position, distant about 1000 yards from the old French lines, so memorable for the defeat of
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Gen. Abercrombie, in 1757. He was thus mas- ter of the outlet of Lake George, and on the next night he occupied the summit of Sugar-loaf Hill, with several pieces of heavy artillery, and from that moment it became unavoidably necessary to abandon Ticonderoga; this was effected in the course of the following day, by Gen. St. Clair, with as little loss or disorder as could be expect- ed under such circumstances, and the troops com- menced their retreat, on the east side of the Lake, and after various skirmishes and some loss, fell back as far as Stillwater, on the North River, 20 miles above Albany; here they were met by rein- forcements, and halted, and Gen. Gates again as- sumed the command.
Gen. St. Clair was very severely censured for thus losing this important post. But his means were entirely inadequate to its defence, and he merited applause for having extricated himself with so little loss, from a very difficult situation, and for having saved the garrison, which formed the nucleus of that force which, before the close of the campaign, reversed its character.
Gen. Burgoyne followed up his success with great caution, advancing slowly, and bringing on his entire park of artillery, with all its attirail- and it was not until September that he approached Gen. Gates, at Stillwater, where a partial and in-
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decisive action took place on the 20th. On the 7th of October, a decisive affair took place at Beh- mus's heights. On the 8th Gen. Burgoyne found his situation so critical, that he abandoned his camp, and commenced a retreat towards Canaca; but înding bad roads-broken bridges-and hos- tile parties posted at every disputable point, and hovering around him on all sides, he halted, and took post at Saratoga, where, on the 17th, his ar- my surrendered to the American forces under Gen. Gates.
The painting represents Gen. Burgoyne, atten- ded by Gen. Philips, and followed by other offi- cers, arriving near the marquée of Gen. Gates.
Gen. Gates has advanced a few steps from the entrance, to meet his prisoner, who, with General Philips, has dismounted, and is in the act of offer- ing his sword, which Gen. Gates declines to re- ceive, and invites them to enter, and partake of refreshments. A number of the principal officers of the American Army are assembled near their General.
The confluence of Fish Creek and the North River, where the British left their arms, is shown in the distance, near the head of Col. Scammell; the troops are indistinctly seen crossing the creek, and the meadows, under the direction of Colonel (since Governor) Lewis, then quarter-master ge-
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neral, and advancing towards the fore ground- they disappear behind the wood, which serves to relieve the three principal figures; and again ap- pear (Grenadiers, without arms or accoutrements) under the left hand of Gen. Gates. Officers on horseback, American, British, and German, pre- cede the head of the column, and form an inter- esting cavalcade, following the two dismounted Generals, and connecting the different parts of the picture.
Portraits of the following Officers are introduced, the numbers refer to the outline heads in the key beginning on the left of the spectator.
1 Major Lithgow, of Mass.
2 Colonel Cilly, N. Hamp.
S General Starks, N. Hamp
4 Captain Seymour, Conn. of Sheldon's horse.
5 Major Hull, Massachusetts
6 C .tonel Greaton, Mass.
7 Major Dearborn. N. Hamp.
8 Colonel Seammell, N. H. (21 Major Haskell, Massetts.
9 Co! Lewis, Q M. G. N. Y. 22 Major Armstrong, Aid-de- Camp, now General.
10 Maj. Gen Phillips, Briti-h.
11 Lt. Gen. Bargovat, British. 23 Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler,
12 Gen. Baron Reid.sel, sier
13 Colonel Wilkinson, Deputy 4 Brig. Gen. Glover, Mass. Adjutant Cien. American. 125 Brig. Gen. Whipple, New 14 General Gates.
Hampshire Militia,
15 Col. Prescott, Massachu-26 Major Matthew Clarkson, setts Volunteer. And-de-Camp, N. York.
16 Colonel Morgan, Virginialer Major Ebenezer Stevens, Riflemen.
Mass. Com'dg the Arttry
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17 Brig. Gen. Rufus Putnam, Massachusetts.
18 Lat. Col. John Brooks, Jate Gov. of Massachusetts.
19 Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, Chap- lain. Rhode Island.
20 Major Robert Troup, Aid- de-Camp New York.
Albany.
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Panel No. S -- Surrender of the British Army, commanded by Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown, in Virginia, October 19, 1781.
The success of this Officer in the Southern States, during the years 1780 and 1781; the cap- ture of Charleston, the victory of Camden, and various minor su_cesses, by which almost every part of Georgia, and South and North Carolina, had been successively occupied by the British troops, had seriously threatened the ruin of Ame- rican Independence.
In 1781, Lord Cornwallis, regarding his pre- sence as no longer essential to the complete re- duction of the three Southern states, marched with the principal part of his force into Virginia, where for some time his success was almost equally ra- pid and complete; but the admirable combined movement of Gen. Washington, and our French allies, from the North, and of the Count de Grasse, with the fleet and army of France, from the West Indies, turned the scale, and rendered it neces- sary for him to shut himself up in Yorktown, and attempt to defend himself there, until he could receive relief from New York. This hope, how- ever, failed hun, and on the 19th of October he surrendered his forces to the combined armies of America and France.
The honour of marching out of the town, with
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colours flying, &c. &c. which had been refused to Gen. Lincoln, when during the preceding cam- paign he had surrendered Charleston, was now re- fused to Lord Cornwallis; the terms of the capi- tulation dictated at Charleston were now insisted on, and Gen. Lincoln was appointed to superin- tend the submission of the British at Yorktown. in the same manner as that of the American troops at Charleston had been conducted about eighteen months before.
The American troops were drawn up on the right of the road leading into York; Gen. Wash- ington and the American general officers on the right. The French troops on the opposite side of the road facing them; Gen. Rochambeau and the principal officers of the French Navy and Army on the left. The British troops marched out of town, " with shouldered arms, colours cased, and drums beating a British and German march," passed between the two lines of victorious troops. to a place appointed, where they grounded their arms, left them, and returned unarmed to their quarters in the town.
The painting represents the moment when the principal officers of the British army, conducted by Gen. Lincoln, are passing the two groups of .1- merican and French Generals, and entering be- tween the two lines of the victors; by this means the principal officers of the three nations are bro't
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near together, so as to admit of distinct portraits. In the centre of the painting, in the distance, are seen the entrance of the town, with the cap- tured troops marching out, following their officers: and also, a distant glimpse of York River, and the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, as seen from the spot.
The Portraits of the French officers were obtained in Paris in 1797, and were painted from the living men, in the house of .Mr. Jefferson, then Minister io France from the U. States. 1 Count Deuxponts, Col. of20 Baron Steuben. French Infantry.
2 Duke de Laval Montmo- rency, Col of French Intt. 22 Col. Trumbull, Secretary to General Washington.
3 Count Custine, Colonel of Freuch Infantry.
4 Duke de Lauzun, Col. of Cavalry, French.
5 General Choizy.
6 Viseonnt Viomenil.
7 Marquis de St. Simon.
& Conne Fersen, Aid-de-camp of Count Rochambeau.
9 Conmt Charles Damas, Aid- de-Camp of Count Ro- 29 Major Gen. Henry Knos, chambeau.
10 Marquis Chastellux.
11 Baron Vonmonil.
1. Count de Barras, Admiral.
1 Conatt de Grasse, Admiral. 30 Col. Timothy Pickering,
14 Count Rochambeau, Gen. en Chef des Francais.
15 General Lincola.
16 C.A. Ebenezer Stevens, of 32 Colonel John Laurens, of South Carolina,
the American Artillery.
17 General Washington, Com- 3g Colonel Walter Stuart, of mander in Cluet. Philadelphia.
IS Thomas Nelson, Governor 34 Colonel Nicholas Fish of of Virginia. New York.
19 Marquis La Fayette.
21 Col. Cobb, Aid-de-Camp to General Washington.
23 Major Gen. James Clinton, New York.
24 General Gist, Maryland.
25 General Anthony Wayne, Pennsylvania.
26 General Hand, Adjutant General, Pennsylvania.
27 Gen. Peter Muhlenburg, Pennsylvania.
Commander of Artilery.
29 Lt. Colonel E. Huntington, Acting Aid-de-Camp of General Lincoln.
Quarter Master General. 131 Col. Alexander Hamilton, Conddy Light Infantry.
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Panel No. 4 .- Resignation of General Washing- ton, at Annapolis, December 25, 1783.
After taking an affectionate leave of his old comrades, at New York, accompanied by only two of them, Gen. Washington proceeded to An- napolis, where Congress were then sitting, and there resigned his commission, into the hands of twenty-three powerless men, divested himself of all authority, and retired to private life.
The following impressive history of the scene, is copied from the Journal of Congress-and has been the basis of the picture. One further cir- cumstance deserves notice, not so much from its importance, as for its singularity. Thomas Mit- flin, then president of Congress, and into whose hands the General resigned his commission, had been in 1775, his first Aid-de-Camp, and he who painted the picture had been his second.
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Extract from the Journal of Congress, Dec. 23, 1783.
According to order, his excellency the cominan- der-in-chief was admitted to a public audience, and being seated, the President, after a pause, informed him, that the United States in Congress assembled, were prepared to receive his commu- nications; whereupon he arose, and addressed Congress as follows:
" .Mr. President, The great events on which my resigna- tion depended, having at length taken place, I have now the.
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honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to surendrer into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of re- tiring from the service of my country.
Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sove- reignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States, of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satis- faction the appointment f accepted with diffidence-a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task; which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the Supreme Power of the union, and the pa- trouage of Heaven.
The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest.
While Irepeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice of confidential officers to compose my family should have been more fortunate. ' Permit me, sir, to Ivcommend in particular, those who have continued in the ser- vice to the present moment, as worthy of the favourable notice and patronage of Congress.
I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest coun- try to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping.
Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I hwere offer my commission, and take my leave of all the ein- Morments of public life."
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He then advanced and delivered to the presi- dent his commission, with a copy of his address, and having resumed his place, the president re- turned him the following answer:
Sir, The United States in Congress assembled, receive with emotions too affecting for utterance, the solemn resigna- tion of the authorities under which you have led their troops with success, through a perilous and a doubtful war; called by your country to defend its invaded rights, you accepted the sacred charge, before it had formed alliances, and whilst it was without funds or a government to support you; you have conducted the great military contest with wisdom and forti- tude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil power through all disasters and changes. You have, by the love and couti- dence of your fellow citizens, enabled them to display their martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity. You have persevered, till these United States, aided by a maguan- imous king and nation, have been enabled, under a just Pro- vidence, to close the war in freedom, safety and independence; on which happy event we sincerely join you in congratulations.
Having defended the standard of liberty in this new world- having taught a lesson useful to those who inflict and to those who feel oppression -- you retire from the great theatre of ac- tion, with the blessings of your fellow citizens; but the glory of your virtues will not terminate with your military command -it will continue to animate remotest ages.
We feel, with you, our obligations to the army in general, and will particularly charge ourselves with the interests of those confidential officers, who have attended your person to this affecting moment.
We join you in commending the interest of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, beseeching him to dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the op-
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porfunity afforded them, of becoming a happy and respectable uation. And for you we address to him our earnest prayers, that a life so beloved may be fostered with all his care; that your days may be as happy as they have been illustrious; and that he will finally give you that reward which this world can- not give.
The following is a list of the Portraits which ure introduced, the numbers refer to the outline heads in the key.
1 Thomas MitHin, of Penn. 19 Jeremiah Townley Chase, -President, Member of Maryland. do
Congress. 9) S. Hardy, Virginia, do
2 Chs. Thompson, of Pa. do. 21 Charles Morriss, Pa. do
3 Elbridge Gerry, of Mass. do 22 General Washington, do & Hugh Williamson, of N. 23 Col. Benjamm Walker, Carolina, do. 24 Col. David Humphreys,
5 Samuel Osgood, of Mass. do Aid-de-Camps.
6 Ed. McComb, of Del. do 25 General Smallwood, Mary- land, Spectator.
7 George Partridge, Mass. do
8 Edward Lloyd, Md.
9 R. D. Spaight, N. Ca. do
do 26 Gen. Otho Holia, ;1-
liams, Maryland, do
10 Benj. Hawking, N. Ca. do 27 Col. Samuel Sunth, Md. do 11 A. Foster, N. H. do 28 Col. John E. Howard, Md. Baltimore, do
12 Thomas Jefferson, Va. do 13 Arthur Lee, Virginia, do 29 Charles Carroll-and two daughters, Md. do
14 David Howell, R. I do
15 James Monroe, Va. do 30 Mrs. Washington - and her
16 Jacob Rond, S. Ca. do three Grand Child.en, do 17 James Madison, Virginia- 31 Daniel, of St. Thomas Jen- (Spectator.}
uifer, Maryland, do
18 Willman Ellery, R. Island, Member of Congress.
The subjects which Col. Trumbull has selected for the pencil, as well as the masterly execution of these grand historical works, are of such a cha- racter as will bear a frequent examination. with- out becoming tedious to the spectator. New lights and shades-new attitudes, peculiarity of features, and expression of countenance, are dis- 10
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covered at each review, evincing the genius and skill of the artist.
The Declaration of Independence is certainly a very grand picture, and is said to be very accu- rate in its delineations of the numerous portraits it embraces. Col. Trumbull was himself a revo- lutionary officer, holding a rank and station which rendered him familiar with the countenances he has portrayed; and of the memorable events to which his pencil has added new lustre and still greater celebrity, he can say with the poet-
Queque ipse vidi, Et quorum pars magna fui.
Enjoying such peculiar advantages, and posses- sing all the other requisites for a historical pain- ter, Col. Trumbull has erected a monument which will perpetuate his own fame, and reflect credit upon the reputation of the country.
In January 1828, a resolution was introduced to the House of Representative of the United States, the object of which was to employ Mr. Alston, the painter, to make a picture of the bat- tle of New Orleans, for the use of the nation. - This gave rise to a debate, in which Mr. Ran- dolph took a part, and in the course of his re- marks he was very severe upon these national paintings. Col. Trumbull wasthen at Washing- ton. It is not surprising that he felt deeply injur-
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ed by the acrimony of the attack, especially as Mr. Randolph was a member of Congress at the time the resolution was passed, by which Col. Trumbull was employed to execute those splen- did works, and advocated the measure: and as the following letter is connected with their histo- ry, we subjoin it at large-
WASHINGTON, January 13th, 1828. T. Dwight, Esq. New York.
Dear Sir-The newspapers will have shewn you that in the memorable battle of the 9th, the mangled bodies of all the panters strewed the bloody field-Alstou, Morse, and my- self all fell; but we fell gloriously by the side of the immortal Hero of the Day :- You will see that I in particular was most barbarously tomahawked and scalped by the unrelenting hand of the half breed chief of Roanoake-and saddest of all to say, by the faithless band of him who had once been my friend. To speak seriously, it was my fate to be selected on that occasion, by the Hon. John Randolph, of Roanoke, as the butt of his merciless scarcasms.
But, when Mr. Randolph, in his exordium, assigned as the cause of his taking a part in the debate, " the misrepresenta- tions of some obscure annuary published in Philadelphia, in which it was erroneously stated, that he had been partly is- strumental in procuring those wretched specimens of the state of the Fine Arts in this country!" he unfortunately for himself gave demonstration of a fact of which the world was not before aware. It is evident that his body is in a state of decay ;- but it remained for himself to give the melancholy but irresistable evidence of mental decrepitude: the loss of memory is one of the most unhappy proof's of the rapid ap- proach of that said hour, " when he will be as it he had not buen, and been most witty."
The gentleman had forgotten that the National Intelligen- cer of the 25th January, 1917, after stating the arguments on the subject of the Four Paintings, records his name, Mr. Randolph, among those who spoke in favour of the work, as in favour of employing mc to perform it.
The gentleman forgot that persons are still living who heard that debate, and who retain a fresh and vivid recollection of
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the brilliant and beautiful eulogium which he then pronoun- oed upon the small picture of the Declaration of Inderen- dence, the prototype of that large one which he now so sneer- ingly abuses.
The gentleman forgot what some others most distinctly re- collect-that he then called the attention of the House to the portrait of Richard Henry Lee ( whose shins are the most con- spicuous shins in the picture,) and pointing to the figure he exclaimed-" Small as this picture is, I seem to see that ve- perable man sitting in person before me, in all the sober dig- uity of a Senator of ancient Rome, in that elegant attitude so habitual to him, and so well remembered by me : the right hand laid over the left, concealing so happily and so delicate- Jy its mutilated remains. "
Mr. Randolph forgot, that a copy of the National Intelli- gencer was at that moment in the Library of Congress- where it now lies open to the inspection of every one; convict- ing him either of loss of memory, or of something incompar- ably worse ;- that human memory should decay as age advan. ces, is the decree of Him who formed us, and though we may deplore, we cannot blame ;- but the alternative, maligni- ty, is the vile and voluntary production of a wicked heart-of that, I am reluctant to adinit the most remote suspicion .- When, however, a member of the House of Representatives stoops from his high estate, and, forgetting his duty, becomes, not the protector, but the sianderer of individual reputation. he should be reminded that although within these sacred walls, he is privileged to indulge in ample liberty of speech, and may ramble on for hours in all the licentious revellings of wit or of folly, if his colleagues, amused by his wanton eccen- tricities, are willing to endure hun; still there is a limit which is not wise to pass-for, happily, the Constitution reserves to every individual of us, the sovereign people, the same free and equal liberty of speech wherewith to defend our charac- ters out of doors, as any Representative can assume to abuse and villfy us within.
Generous minds will also recollect that the professional re- putation of an Artist, like the fair fame of woman, is a delicate plant, easily blighted by any pestilent breath-and that al- though it may be sport to some, to indulge in ribald criticisms at our expense-yet, it is death to us.
I make this reply to Mr. R welth with feelings of deep regent, for I had and aged the hope that his former friendly disposition towards me would have been continued through
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life ;-- and that his elegant education, his ample fortune, and bis retired mode of life, might have induced him to become an eminent patrou and protector of the Fine Arts.
I am dear Sir, Your obliged and faithful servant, JNO. TRUMBULL.
The liberality of Congress in purchasing these splendid ornaments for the Capitol, thereby com- memorating the achievements of the revolutionary patriarchs and soldiers, and at the same time af- fording a proper encouragement to the fine arts, is worthy of high commendation. More appro- priate embellishments for the halls of the nation- al legislature could not have been devised.
These paintings are very valuable for the faith- ful portraits they furnish. Some critics have found fault with the grouping of the figures; and the apparent stiffness of the principal officers; but there is a redeeming virtue in the design, sufficient to confer real and everlasting value on the paint- ing.
The noble gray of Gen. Lincoln is admirable. On breaking of the interview with Cornwallis and the British captured officers, as he reins in his war horse, it appears really to breathe and move onward.
In the Declaration of Independence. the por trait of Franklin is probably the best; but in the resignation at Annapolis, that of Gen. Washing- ton is thought by those who knew him in his life,
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to be an imperfect likeness. On the whole, pub- lic opinion, that was for some time wavering, is now fast setting in their favor.
In the small Rotundo of the south wing, there are columns of the Tobacco, and, in the vestibule in front of the Hall of Representatives, of the Cot. fon order; because these staples have been selec. ted as ornaments for their capitals, and are really not much inferior, in richness and beauty, to the Acanthus leaf of the Corinthian. It was the de- sign of Mr. Latrobe, the former architect, to make this edifice national, and to render it so, as far as possible, by the introduction of architectural or- naments derived from the principal native produc- tions of our country. Ile did intend, moreover, to support one of the galleries of the Senate Cham- ber with emblamatic figures of the thirteen old states, decorated with their peculiar insignia, and the models were actually made by one of those fine Italian artists whom he had engaged to be sent to this country; but a neglect or refusal on the part of Congress to make the necessary appre- priations, defeated his design.
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The Capitol-The Library.
THE LIBRARY.
Passing from the Rotundo, Westerly, along the gallery of the principal stairs, the Library room door presents itself. This room is 92 feet long, 34 wide, and 36 high. It is divided into twelve arched alcoves, ornamented with fluted pilasters, copied from the pillars in the celebrated Octagen Tower at Athens. At the entrance, in the cen- tre of the room, which is approached from the great central Rotundo, are two columns of stone, with capitals, corresponding with those of the pi- lasters, and immediately opposite and fronting the window which leads into the western colonnade, stand two similar columns of stone. These pil- lars, with alcoves, support two galleries, extend. ing nearly the whole length of the room on both sides, and divided into the same number of shel- ved recesses as the lower apartment. From these recesses springs the arch which forms the ceiling, elegantly ornamented with rich stucco borders, panels, and wreaths of flowers. On the roof, which is about ten feet above the ceiling. are three sky lights, the wells of which are beautifuli, de- corated with stucco ornaments. The principal apartments, as well as the committee rooms, on the north, attached to it, is handsomely furnished with sofas, mahogony tables, desks, Brussels car petting, &c.
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