I found this article on 21 May 2022 at https://yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com/tag/benjamin-eaton/
This article reads as:
BENJAMIN EATON.
One of the two surviving Life Guards of George Washington.
NEWBURGH, N.Y. Aug. 28, 1840
From the Newburgh New York Telegraph.
Gratitude, gallantry and Feeling.
This article reads as:
To record the incidents connected with the "old soldiers" of Washington - those few falling leaves of the tree of the revolution - is ever pleasing. But few of them remain. In a few brief years, the "last soldier of the revolution" will have died.
The following little incident, interesting and touching in its way, occurred here last week during the visit of that highly disciplined and soldier-like corps, the National Greys, of New York city.
One of their numerous marches, in the neighbourhood of our village, to receive the well-deserved hospitality of our citizens, was to Ettrick Grove, the beautiful seat of Mr. Hale, a mile below the village, taking in their way "Washington's Head Quarters," to which the company wished to pay a last visit before departure. The entire march was over consecrated before departure. The entire march was over consecrated ground. - Washington himself had known and traversed every foot of it - in the neighbourhood was the ground where the army was stationed, and in the ravine below, was the revolutionary cannon foundry traces of which are still visible.
These were all pointed out, as also the remaining portion of the house (now Mr. H
ale's kitchen) to which Washington was invited to an entertainment, in order to his betrayal by a band of conspirators against his life and his country's hopes. These several reminiscences had each its interest; but the crowning incident of the march, and the one likely to live long in recollection was this:
On the outward march of the company, at a little distance in advance in the porch of a cottage, was observed the bowed and bleached head and wasted form of one of those immortals on earth, who shared the toils of war with Washington - it was BENJAMIN EATON, the last but one (Robert Blair, also of this village,) of Washington's Life Guard.
The fact being announced to the officers of the corps, they eagerly advanced, in person, while the company uncovered, and thus all testified, in passing, their respect for the noble old Roman. On their return, the old soldier was escorted out, supported on either side by the Captain and Lieutenant, and the corps passed in review before him, uncovered, and with as profound respect and nice observance of military order as the old soldier in other days would have passed in review before his venerated Washington.
He was then escorted to the front and introduced personally to each member of the corps - and as each seized him by the hand and uttered the heart-felt "God bless you, General," the gathering tear in the eye of each young soldier told the glow of gratitude and patriotism enkindled in his bosom. It was a moment and a scene to excite deep feeling. The eye of the veteran, dimmed by age, brightened again with pride and joy. The scenes and the forms of other days seemed reanimated and again brought to his view. But it was a transient vision, and came but for a moment to gladden the veteran's heart.
Recollection but too soon recalled the realities of the present; and he was heard to murmur, "Alas I have lived to be useless to myself and to the world!"
He told them, however, as a parting advice of an old soldier, to "remember the Great Commander." He said he had been present in sixteen battles of the Revolution, and amid the dangers of them all had sought aid from above in prayer for himself, his country and his companions; and was himself a living witness, with the frosts of eighty-two winters upon his head, that these prayers were not in vain.
Benjamin Eaton has seen much service, and his country owes him much. He was in the battles and shared the dangers of Lexington, Monmouth, Flatbush, Brandywine, Harlaem Heights, &c., and served under the gallant Sullivan, in 1779, in his expedition against the "Six Nations" of Indians. Poor in everything but spirit and merit, he has lived for years upon that evidence of coldest ingratitude - a pension of ninety-six dollars!!
The above plaque reads:
TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF
BENJAMIN EATON
WHO SERVED IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
AS A MEMBER OF THE BODY GUARD OF
GENERAL WASHINGTON
1780-1783
"CONQUOR OF DIE"
PLACED HERE BY THE ''?'' VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Benjamin Eaton - Rural Valley Cemetery
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