Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-07-22
ESom tie 1t5asy Belly AdDsriissr.
.y.,T,. HI,sof LIVING C HARAC TIERS.
No. 4.
La FAYETTE.

I'd aroused the grateful feelings OF our
s;,;zsns. il NAV not be amiss to give the
',hI;c = sketch of his life. The cause
e liberty has always been next his
b.,rt. and If circumstances have not
alwsys favored his operations in the pc.
s,,ical world, yet never has his fair
fame been sullied by single action in
soosistent with HE avowed principles.
III, life and fortune were always at the
.sryice of his couDtry, and he has ever
followed the cause of liberty with the
onrest disinterestedness, aud the most
po.haken zeal. The result of mis- pro-
,se,s sndthe consequence of his policy
will be given at another time. Weare
now about to record the principal events
of his life.
He was born in the year 1857, at Au.
ysrgne, 10 Frabce--a province celebrat-
al for the Independence and yalot Gifts
;nbabitants from the earliest times, and
NOW composing the two departments Of
C.ptal and Puy de Dome. His ances.
tors were among the first people of the
,royipce, a0d had ever been conspicu.
cas- for their independent spirit and
tbsir chivalrous contempt of dagger
In the spirit of bis fathers, he became
che early advocate of political freedom.
and falling into the society afthose who
had espoused its principles, he imbibed
cha most ardent attachment for liberty.
With these feelings. it is not singular
that his attention was directed TO Anne
RIGA. In spite of the :obstacies placed in
bis way, he succeeded in leaving France
10 vessel fitted out at HE own expense,
with which he arrived safely at Charles.
ton, 5. C. in January, l777 He imme-
diately entered and served with the ar
nv as volunteer. On the Sit July,
in the same year, he received his APP
uoin.nent as Major General from Con-
eress; in consideration of his zeal, aud
illustrious family connections. which
he accepted on condition that he sbohld
be allowed to serve without pay or re-
ward. The Marquis distinguished
himself. on numerous occasions-At the
battle of 8randywine. he behaved with
undaunted bravery, threw himself into
the hottest FIRE, and when wounded re-
fused to Quit the field. On the 25th
Nov. of the same year, while still suf-
tsring from his wounds, with small
party be repulsed a superior force OF
Hsssians and British grenadiers, For
this he was entrusted with command
suitable to his rank. After two years
ABSENCE from his own country, he Oh.
tanned leave to return to France. He
carried with him the most fattering tes
timonisls of his worth and services, and
received sword from the hand of the
American Minister, In the name OF
Congress, soon after his arrival at Pa
rls While absent. he engaged with all
his soul 10 the cause OF the United
States, and succeeded in gaining the
counssnance of the French government.
He returned in 1880, and arrived at
Boston in the Hermoine frigate, Capt
lie Touehe 1t may DOT be improper to
mention, in this place, that the French
ministers, however dlsinterestedly they
appeared to got, were said to have
been influenced in their conduct at that
time, by the hope Of regsining Canads
from the possession of the Engiish.
lnl7Sl, La Fayette was ordered to
Annapolis, with separate and indie
pendent command, for the purpose OF
driving Arnold out of Virginia, but
from the want of cooperation on the
part Of the French fleet, the attempt
failed. lie was at this time of grea
service in checking the maraudiDg ex-
petitions of Gen. Philips, aDd was soor
afterwards opposed to CORVALLIS, the
greatest general sent against Us during
the revolution. Although his forces
were few, his men badly clothed, apo
suffering much from q want of healthy
food, La Fayette supplied their want,
from his own porse, gallaotly maintain
ed his ground, and completely succeed
ed in the protection of the public stores
after series of mastery maDguvres
On fret hearing that La Fayeste was
TO De opposed to him, the British com
mandsr had exultingly said the boy
shall not escape me. bat he found him
self 90 often baffied by MS young ene'
my, that il became necessary TO use h'
greatest vigilance To prevent has OWE
srny from being surprised.
AZ the siege of Yorktown. La Fla
ystts was again eminenely conspicuous
And materially assisted in the capture
pt the general be had so often contend
90 against. The war now assuming
most favorable aspect for the cause o
hssrty, he obtained permission to re