CHAPTER XXVII.

The discharge of the American army-The evacuation of New York-The resignation of General Washington.

WHILE the citizens of the United States were anticipating the blessings of peace, their army, which had successfully stemmed the tide of British victories, was unrewarded for its services. The States, which had been rescued by their exertions from slavery, were in no condition to pay them their stipulated compensation. To dismiss officers and soldiers, who had spent the prime of their days, in serving their country, without an equivalent for their labours, or even a sufficiency to enable them to gain a decent living, was a hard but unavoidable case.

An attempt was made, by anonymous and seditious publications, to inflame the minds of the officers and soldiers, and induce them to unite in redressing their own grievances, while they had arms in their hands As soon as Washington was informed of the nature of these papers, he requested the general and field officers, with one officer from each company, and a proper representation from the staff of the army, to assemble on an early day. He rightly judged that it would be much easier to divert from a wrong to a right path, than to recal fatal and hasty steps, after they had once been taken. The period, previous to the meeting of the officers, was improved in preparing them, for the adoption of moderate measures. Washington sent for one officer after another, and enlarged, in private, on the fatal consequences, and, particularly, on the loss of character to the whole army, which would result from intemperate resolutions. When the officers were convened, the commander in chief addressed them in a speech well calculated to calm their minds. He also pledged himself,

to exert all his abilities and influence in their favour, requested them to rely on the faith of their country, and conjured them, as they valued their honour, as they respected the rights of humanity, and as they regarded the military and national character of America, to express their utmost detestation of the man, who was attempting to open the floodgates of civil discord, and deluge their rising empire with blood." Washington then retired. The minds of those who had heard him, were in such an irritable state, that nothing but their most ardent patriotism and his unbounded influence prevented the proposal of rash resolutions, which, if adopted, would have sullied the glory of seven years service. No reply whatever was made to his speech.

The happy moment was seized, while the minds of the offi cers, softened by the eloquence of their beloved commander, were in a yielding state, and a resolution was proposed, and unanimously adopted, by which they declared, "that no circumstances of distress, or danger, should induce a conduct, that might tend to sully the reputation and glory they had acquired; that the army continued to have an unshaken confidence, in the justice of congress and their country; that they viewed with abhorrence, and rejected with disdain, the infamous propositions, in the late anonymous address, to the officers of the army." Too much praise cannot be given to Washington, for the patriotism and decision which marked his conduct, in the whole of this serious transaction. Perhaps, in no instance, did the United States receive from heaven a more signal deliverance, through the hands of the commander in chief.

Soon after these events, congress adopted a resolution, which had been for some time pending, that the officers of the army, who preferred a sum in gross to an annuity, should be entitled to receive the amount of five years full pay, in money or securities at six per cent. per annum, instead of the half pay for life, which had been previously promised them.

To avoid the inconveniences of dismissing a great number of soldiers in a body, furloughs were freely granted to individuals; and after their dispersion, they were not enjoined to

return. By this arrangement, a critical moment was passed by in safety. A great part of an unpaid army was disbanded, and dispersed over the states, without tumult or disorder. The privates generally betook themselves to labour, and crowned the merit of being good soldiers, by becoming good citizens. Several of the American officers, who had been bred mechanics, resumed their trades. In old countries, the disbanding a single regiment, even though fully paid, has often produced serious consequences; but in America, where arms had been taken up for self-defence, they were peaceably laid down, as soon as they became unnecessary. As soldiers had been easily and speedily formed, in 1775, out of farmers, planters, and mechanics; with equal ease and expedition, in the year 1783, they dropped their adventitious character, and resumed their former occupations.

About eighty of the Pennsylvania levies formed an exception to the prevailing peaccable disposition of the army. These, in defiance of their officers, set out from Lancaster, and marched to Philadelphia, to seek redress of their grievances, from the executive council of the state. The mutineers, in opposition to advice and intreaties, persisted in their march, till they arrived at Philadelphia. They were there joined by some other troops, who were quartered in the barracks. The whole, amounting to upwards of three hundred men, marched with fixed bayonets, and drums, to the state-house, in which congress, and the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, held their sessions. They placed guards at every door, sent in a written message to the president and council of the state, and threatened to let loose an enraged soldiery upon them, if they were not satisfied as to their demand within twenty minutes. The situation of congress, though they were not the particular object of the soldiers' resentment, was far from agreeable. After being about three hours in duresse, they retired; but previously resolved, that the authority of the United States had been grossly insulted. They left Philadelphia, and fixed on Princeton, as the place of their next meeting. Washington immediately ordered a large detachment of his army, to march

for Philadelphia. Previously to their arrival, the disturbances were quieted without bloodshed. Several of the mutineers were tried and condemned, two to suffer death, and four to receive corporal punishment: but they were all afterwards pardoned.

Towards the close of the year 1783, congress issued a proclamation, in which the armies of the United States were applauded, “ for having displayed, in the progress of an arduous and difficult war, every military and patriotic virtue,” and in which, the thanks of their country were given them, "for their long, eminent, and faithful services." Congress then declared it to be their pleasure, that such part of their federal armies, as stood engaged to serve during the war, should, from and after the third day of November next, be absolutely discharged from the said service." On the day preceding their dismission, Washington issued his farewell orders, in the most endearing language. After giving them his advice respecting their future conduct, and bidding them an affectionate farewell, he concluded with these words: "May ample justice be done them here, and may the choicest of Heaven's favours, both here and hereafter, attend those, who, under the divine auspices, have secured innumerable blessings for others. With these wishes, and this benediction, the commander in chief is about to retire from service. The curtain of separation will soon be drawn, and the military scene, to him, will be closed forever."

With great exertions of the superintendant of finance, four months pay, in part of several years arrearages, was given to the army. This sum, though trifling, was all the immediate recompense the States were able to make to those brave men, who had conducted their country through an eight years war, to peace and independence.

The evacuation of New York took place, in about three weeks after the American army was discharged. For a twelvemonth preceding, there had been an unrestrained communication between that city, though a British garrison, and the adjacent country. The bitterness of war passed away'; and civilities were freely interchanged between those, who had

lately sought for opportunities to destroy each other. Washington and governor Clinton, with their suites, made a public entry into the city of New York, as soon as the royal army was withdrawn. The lieutenant-governor, and members of the council, the officers of the American army, and the citi zens, followed in elegant procession. It was remarked, that an unusual proportion of those, who, in 1776, had fled from New York, were by death cut off from partaking of the general joy, which flowed in upon the survivors, on returning to their ancient habitations. The ease and affluence, which they enjoyed in the days of their prosperity, made the severities of exile inconvenient to all, and fatal to many, particularly to such as were advanced in life. The survivors felt and expressed the overflowings of joy, on finding their sufferings and services rewarded, with the recovery of their country, the expulsion of their enemies, and the establishment of their independence. In the evening, there was a display of fireworks, which exceeded every thing of the kind before seen in the United States. They commenced by a dove's descending with an olive branch, and setting fire to a marron battery.

The hour now approached, in which Washington was to take leave of his officers, endeared to him by a long series of common sufferings and dangers. This was done in a solemn manner. The officers, having previously assembled for the purpose, Washington joined them, and, calling for a glass of wine, thus addressed them: « With an heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish, that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honourable." The offi cers came up successively, and he took an affectionate leave of each of them. When this affecting scene was over, Washington left the room, and passed through the corps of light infantry, to the place of embarkation. The officers followed in a solemn mute procession, with dejected countenances. On his entering the barge, to cross the north river, he turned towards the companions of his glory, and, by waving his hat, bid them a silent adieu. Some of them answered this last signal of respect and affection with tears: and all of them