The Bees Knees Daily

Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 1795, Credit: Library of Congress

Columbian Museum & Savannah Advertiser, Tuesday, January 24, 1797, Page Three Hundred Seventy Eight

Died, on Wednesday night, the 14^th ult. at Presqu’Isle, his Excellency Anthony Wayne, Commander in Chief of the Federal Army.

Extract of a letter from Captain Henry De Butts, to the Secretary of War, dated Presqu’Isle, December 15

It is with extreme concern I discharge the melancholy duty of announcing to you the death of Major General Anthony Wayne, who, after an exceeding painful visitation of the gout, expired this morning between the hours of 2 and 3 o’clock.

This disorder attacked him about the 17^th ultimo, during a very favorable passage from Detroit hither, where we arrived on the evening of the succeeding day – it by turns affected his feet, knees and hands, with a considerable degree of inflammation and a great degree of pain, until about the 30^th, when the violence of both beginning gradually to abate, inspired flattering hopes of his speedy recovery; Alas! these were of short duration, for on the morning of the 2d inst. it appeared that the gout had taken possession of his stomach, where it remained with unconquerable obstinacy and extreme torture, until it put a period to his existence.  His remains will be interred to morrow, within the fort, with military honors.

GENERAL ORDERS

Philadelphia, Dec. 31^st, 1796

The officers of the army are to respect the memory of the late Major General Wayne, commander in chief of the troops of the United States, by wearing the usual morning of black crape, around the left arm and the hilt of the sword, for the term of 30 days after the receipt of this order.

James Wilkinson, Brigade General

Attest – Campbell Smith, Lieut. and Major of Brigade

Columbian Museum & Savannah Advertiser, Tuesday, February 14, 1797, Page Four Hundred Two

From The Philadelphia Gazette, Memoirs of General Wayne

He died of an acute disease, at Presqu’isle, in the service of his country, on the 15^th of December, 1796.

Reader! Whoever thou art, remember that the man whose name is hereby revived in the public mind, was thy friend. He endured hunger, cold, pain, watchfulness and fatigue, and he fought and bled, that thou mightiest enjoy Liberty and independence.  He died in a hut in the wilderness, remote from his friends, that his countrymen might enjoy in safety beneath domestic shades and in cultivated society, the peaceable fruits of their labours.  Traveller! whoever thou art, that shall visit the shores of the lake, on which his body is interred, stop, and drop a tear in behalf of his country over his grave.  Plant near it a willow, which shall convey to it the dew of Heaven, and cut upon its bark in letters that shall grow with time, the name of WAYNE, with the precious epithets, of PATRIOT, HERO, and FRIEND.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012