presides over the tea urn, or gravely discuss, after her retirement, the matters that have pre-emi- nency in American history. It was while living at Newburgh that Washington narrowly escaped capture by an envoy of Sir Henry Clinton — at least, so the legend runs. A man named Ettrick lived with his daughter in a secluded valley to the south of head- quarters ; a place known as the Vale of Avoca. It was at the head of a long, narrow bay, but though only a short distance, as the bird flies, from the Hasbrouck cottage, it could only be reached by the road after making a detour of nearly two railes. Here the chief was in the habit of going upon occasion, and Ettrick had planned to seize him with the aid of several con- federates and take him out into the river before the alarm could be given. Fortunately, Ettrick 's daugh- ter betrayed her father's plan and preserved the tenor of history. The condition of the army so soon to be disbanded moved Washington to expressions of emotion that sound strange coming from one whose reserve and self- control were proverbial. His letter to the Secretary of War, wrung from him by his deep sense of the injury sustained by the army through the neglect of Congress, was, from such a pen as his, an epistle of singular intensity. Under present circumstances, when I see a number of men goaded by a thousand stings of reflections on the past and an- Digitized by Microsoft® The Fisher's Reach 413 ticipations of the future about to be turned on the world, forced by penury and by what they call the ingratitude of the public, involved in debt, without one farthing to carry them home, after spending the flower of their days, and many of them their patrimonies, in establishing the freedom of their country, and suffering everything this side death — I repeat it — when I con- sider these irritating circumstances, without one thing to soothe their feelings or dispel their prospects, I can not avoid appre- hending that a train of evils will follow of a very serious and distressing nature. . . . You may rely upon it the patriot- ism and long-suffering of this army is well-nigh exhausted, and there never was so great a spirit of discontent as at present. But however vehement his protest on behalf of his long-suffering soldiers, to them his counsels were tem- perate and charged with lofty dignity. To them he defended the rulers, and pledged his own word that right should be done. When the paper, drawn up and signed by officers who had stood at his side through the darkest of the conflict, informed this man of kingly nature that they would have him king in name and fact, grief and in- dignation contended for mastery in his breast. It is with a mixture of surprise and astonishment [so his answer ran] I have read the sentiments you have submitted for my perusal. Be assured, sir, no occurrences in the course of the war have given me more painful sensations than your informa- tion of there being such ideas existing in the army as you have expressed, and which 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- chief that can befall my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. Let me conjure Digitized by Microsoft® 414 The Hudson River you, then, as you have regard for your country, for yourself, or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind. Having, with infinite pains, kept in check the grow- ing discontent of the soldiers on the one side, and the ill-considered adulation of his officers on the other, Washington at last reached the day when the order disbanding the army must be given. It was issued on the loth of April, 1783, in these terms: The commander-in-chief orders the cessation of hostilities between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain to be publicly read to-morrow at 12 o'clock at the new building, and the proclamation which will be communicated herewith to be 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 men to His own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease among the nations. After noble admonitions addressed to