Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-16
CONVERSATIONS OF LA FAYETTE.
YORK TowN--ANEcDoTEs.
No. XII.

think, General, that your influence and inter.
cess;ons with the Count de Grasse, mainly
contributed to obtain the delay Of the feet, SO
essential to our success at yorktown We
know that the orders of the Admiral were to
sail on the 18th, and we know that the Com
mander-in-chief, alarmed at the Impotence of
the Count, which threatened the most disas-
trous results to the seige, despatched the Mar
quis de La Fayettc as the bearer of letter,
and we further and most happily know, that
after the interview OIL board the Vile de Paris,
that the Admiral consented to remain, and
glory and success crowned our arms. We do
not enquire, my dear General, from mere Gu
riosity, or with view to ascertain the precise
amount of the debts which we owe you, AREA
dy SO large as to bankrupt us in gratitude. -
But a little while, and the most Of those lips,
which can divulge to us revolutionary truths,
will be sealed in the eternal silence OF the
grave; and it is fitting that our posterty should
know the events Of those times, when We
struggled for civil and religious liberty, that
they may venerate the memory OF their bene-
factors, and preserve, and perpetuate the
blessings which they obtained
sIt lis true, my dear Sir, that some difficulty
occurred with the Admiral dc Grasse, who
was most impatient to be off, having opera
tons, of great moment, to perform in the
West Indies: Indeed such was his haste, that
after the surrender, our Genera-in chief hav-
ing planned an expedition of two thousand
picked troops, under my command, for the as
sistance of the Carolnas, the Admiral would
neither await our speedy preparation to en-
bark, nor would he have conveyed us, we
could have embarked previous to his sailing
At mention ofthis expedition, Lord Cornwall
lis looked grave, and did not conceal his be-
lief that its arrival in Carolina, would speedily
terminate the war in that quarter. twas a
bandoned, remained with the Grand Army,
and our admirable Greene terminated the con-
test in the South full as glorously, and sue
cessfully, as if had arrived there to AID him.
believe that Imay hare begged lie GraSSe'
"IIaye YOU in recollection, General, the cir
cumstances which occurred eli the delivery OF
the sword at York Town. Col. HUMPHREYS,
| who was id-de-camp, denies that any mistake
occurred on the part of O'Hara Lee, the
eloquent historian of the War in the South,
affrms that the British General first presented
the sword to Count Rochambcau, who declin-
ed il, and directed him to the Marshal Com
mandcr in Chief" "I was toofar oh, Sir, TO
be able to witness the circumstances you men,
ten. At the head of my own division, was
observing the column ofprisoners, as they adj
vanced with eyes averted from our line, ana
Turned toward the French. We had put Oh,
for this occasion, as you may suppose, our
best bib and tucker, and made very passabie
appearance, considering our very limited
means. Our regulars surely bore no sort OF
counarison. in point of splendor III dress
and equipments, with the French; Still our
men had veteran, soldier, and scrvicc-likt,
appearance, and were in excellent discipline.
Determined to come in for our share ofnotice'
ordered my music to strike up Yankee DOC
dle'-this had magical effect; their eyes
came to the right about in moment, and
they regarded US not as Denmark's King
more in sorrow than in anger butvice versa
After the surrender, CORVALLIS recovered
from the indisposition which prevented HIN
from delivering in person, the sword winch he
had so long and so sallantly borne, came out
and mixed much among US, and we found
him very pleasant fellow. After the Revo-
luton visited Prussia, and was present at the
reviews Of the Great Frederick OF Potsdam
Fancy to yourself, a little old man, bent with
age and care, but still preserving vivacity,
which sparkled in his bright blue eyes, and a
great lover Of mischief, and you have the Por'
trait of old Fritz, Just before the time when
Death closed the campaigns ola Great Gene
raj, and the most troublesome fellow i'll all Eu-
rope.
cat grand dinner, given to the strangers
who were then on a visit to the court OF Bcr-
lin, Twas placed between the Duke OF YORK;
and Lord CORVALLIS: the king observing, Il
have placed you between two of your old enc
mics, hope you will not disagree During
the entertainment, his Majesty asked me some
questions relative to the person of Gen eral
Washington. For information, l begged to
refer him to Lord CORVALLIS, whose acquain-
lance with the person ofthe Great Chief, was
of longer standing than mine.
General Washington was made Marshal Of
France, by Louis XVI. to enable him to COM
mand the Count Rochambeau, who, in rank,
was very old General, and could only be
commanded by Marshal Of France. On a
picture presented by the Earl of Buchan, to
General Washington, is written-"To Marshal
General Washington" The picture is now at
Arlington House.
Intelligence was received in Eng