New York Daily Tribune

Anecdote of Washington.—At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, there lived at East Windsor, in this State, a farmer of the name of Jacob Munsell, aged 45 years. After the communication by water between this part of the country and Boston was interrupted by the possession of Boston Harbor, by the British fleet, Munsell was often employed to transport provisions by land, to our army lying in the neighborhood of Boston. In the summer of 1775, while thus employed, he arrived within a few miles of the camp, at Cambridge, with a large load, drawn by a stout ox team. In a part of the road, which was somewhat rough, and where the traveled pathway was narrow, he met two carriages, in each of which was an American General Officer. The officer in the forward carriage, when near to Munsell, put his head out of the window, and called to him in an authoritative tone—“Damn you get out of the path.” Munsell immediately retorted “damn you, I wont get out of the path—get out yourself.” After some other vain attempts to prevail on Munsell to turn out, the officer's carriage turned out, and Munsell kept the path. The other carriage immediately came up, having been within hearing distance of what had passed; and the officer within it put his head out of the window, and said to Munsell “My friend, the road is bad, and it is very difficult for me to turn out; will you be so good as to turn out and let me pass?” “With all my heart, sir,” said Munsell; “but I wont be damned out of the path by any man.” This last officer was General Washington. The writer of the foregoing article, having heard the story at the time of the transaction, inquired of Munsell soon after the close of the war, as to the truth of it. He said it was true exactly. His word was entirely to be relied upon.

[Hartford Courant.