Washington's pursuit in life directed by his mother-Mary Washington's life one of general privacy-Letter from Washington to his motherAnother letter assuring deference to her wishes-Mary's estimate of human greatness-Her interest deep though not over-sanguine of the triumph of America in the struggle-Her thankfulness at the success in passage of the Delaware-Her fervent gratitude in the surrender of Lord Cornwallis-Her meeting her son after this eventful occurrence-The ball at Fredericksburg-Declines relinquishing her independent home-Her home happiness and abstemious life-Lafayette's visit-Washington's last visit and general submission to his mother. THE life of Mary Washington, for several years previous to the American Revolution, was passed almost in strict privacy. The incipient workings of the mighty spirit destined to achievements that should move the world, influenced, however, the youthful Washington, when only fourteen years of age, to form plans for his independent maintenance. He had actually taken the necessary steps preliminary to entering the English Navy, when the disapproval of his mother prevented the accomplishment of his design. Who shall say that the decisive interposition of his only parent did not save from a life of limited usefulness and comparative obscurity the embryo soldier and statesman? A few years later, when he had reached early manhood, the young Virginian commenced his initiatory military career in the service of his native State. 140 DEATH OF MRS. WASHINGTON'S ELDEST SONS. In 1774 occurred, successively, the deaths of Mrs. Washington's two eldest sons, the younger of whom was soon followed to the grave by her husband's only child by his first wife. The influence of this rapid and mournful diminution of her family circle upon the wounded affections of Mrs. Washington must have been most saddening. The only letters addressed to his mother, included in the published collection of General Washington's Correspondence, were written during the French War, in the earliest stages of which he served as adjutant of the northern division of Virginia militia, and as aide-de-camp to General Braddock. The first of these epistles was penned just after the memorable and disastrous battle of the Monongahela, at which nothing but the unconquerable determination, that not even severe illness could subdue, enabled the author to be present; and where, if he won some of his proudest laurels, he was perhaps exposed to greater personal danger than during any subsequent part of his military career. This letter conveys an idea of the dignified and confidential intercourse that was uninterruptedly maintained between these distinguished correspondents : "TO MRS. MARY WASHINGTON, NEAR FREDericksburg. "Fort Cumberland, 18th July, 1755.. "HONOURED MADAM,-As I doubt not but you have heard of our defeat, and, perhaps, had it represented in a worse light, if possible, than it deserves, I have taken this earliest opportunity to give you some account of the engagement as it happened, within ten miles of the French Fort, on Wednesday, the 9th instant. "We marched to that place, without any considerable loss, having only now and then a straggler picked up by the French and scouting Indians. When we came there, LETTERS FROM WASHINGTON TO HIS MOTHER. 141 we were attacked by a party of French and Indians, whose number, I am persuaded, did not exceed three hundred men; while ours consisted of about one thousand three hundred well-armed troops, chiefly regular soldiers, who were struck with such a panic, that they behaved with more cowardice than it is possible to conceive. The officers behaved gallantly, in order to encourage their men, for which they suffered greatly, there being near sixty killed and wounded a large portion of the number we had. "The Virginia troops showed a good deal of bravery, and were nearly all killed; for I believe out of three companies that were there, scarcely thirty men are left alive. Captain Peyrouny and all his officers, down to a corporal, were killed. Captain Polson had nearly as hard a fate, for only one of his was left. In short, the dastardly behaviour of those they call regulars exposed all others that were inclined to do their duty to almost certain death; and at last, in despite of all the efforts of the officers to the contrary, they ran, as sheep pursued by dogs, and it was impossible to rally them. “The General was wounded, of which he died three days after. Sir Peter Halkes was killed in the field, where died many other brave officers. I luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me. Captains Orme and Morris, two of the aides-de-camp, were wounded early in the engagement, which rendered the duty harder upon me, as I was the only one then left to distribute the General's orders, which I was scarcely able to do, as I was not half recovered from a violent illness that had confined me to my bed and a waggon for ten days. I am still in a weak and feeble condition, which induces me to halt here two or three days, in the hope of recovering a little strength, to enable me to proceed homewards; from whence I fear I shall not be able |
