But St. Clair was surprised and terribly defeated. It was a bitter disappointment to Washington, who received the news of the disaster one December day when he was at dinner. His private secretary, Mr. Lear, was called out of the room by a servant, who said there was a messenger without who insisted on seeing the President. Mr. Lear went to him and found that he was an officer from St. Clair’s army with dispatches which he refused to give to any one but President Washington. Mr. Lear went back to the dining-room and whispered this to Washington, who excused himself to the company and went out to hear the officer’s news. He came back shortly after and resumed his place at the table, but without explaining the reason of his absence. He was, however, absorbed, as he often was, and muttered to himself; and one of his neighbors caught the words, “I knew it would be so!” It was the evening when Mrs. Washington held her reception, and the gentlemen, when leaving the dining-room, went directly into the drawing-room. Washington went with them. He was calm and showed no signs of disturbance. He spoke as usual to every one, and at last the guests had gone. Mrs. Washington also left, and the General was left alone with his secretary. He was silent at first, walking to and fro in the room. Then he took a seat by the fire, and motioned Mr. Lear to sit by him. He could no longer contain himself; he must have some relief, and suddenly he burst out: “It’s all over! St. Clair’s defeated! routed! The officers nearly all killed; the men by wholesale; the rout complete—too shocking to think of, and a surprise into the bargain!” He jerked out the sentences as if he were in pain. He got up and walked up and down again like a caged lion, stood still, and once more burst out in passionate speech: “Yes, _here_, on this very spot I took leave of him; I wished him success and honor. ‘You have your instructions from the Secretary of War,’ said I, ‘I had a strict eye to them, and will add but one word: BEWARE OF A SURPRISE! You know how the Indians fight; I repeat it—BEWARE OF A SURPRISE!’ He went off with that, my last warning, thrown into his ears. And yet!—To suffer that army to be cut to pieces, butchered, tomahawked, by a surprise—the very thing I guarded him against!”—and the strong man threw up his hands while he shook with terrible emotion: “He’s worse than a murderer! How can he answer for it to his country! The blood of the slain is upon him—the curse of widows and orphans—the curse of Heaven!” [Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON. (FROM THE PORTRAIT BY GILBERT STUART.)]