Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-05
For the Phssair Gazette.

| For the Phsnir Gazette.
ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA OF LA FAYETTE
TX.
MONMOUTH.
shall we drink some wine p 'With all my
heart, dear general, and will give you the
Mount Vernon toast, the one always given by
the good old chief, :aH our Friends With
what kindness of manner, would he drink to
| every one at table, not excepting the young.
| est, or the humblest; he was the best bred
and most accomplished gentleman, I ever saws
the ease and elegance of his manners, and the
grace and dignity of his person, were indeed
combined, to give the world assurance Of
man. In latter life, there was a cast OF quiet
and benevolence in his countenance, which
spoke in the mild blue eye, and told that his
glorious destinies were contaminated, that
the mighty energies of his nature were hush
ed in repose, and that the leader of armies,
and chief magistrate of a great republic, was
merged in the illustrious farmer Of Mount
Vernon
you have told me, General, that you first
saw the Hero of Liberty in Philadelphia, and
surrounded by our most eminent statesmen and
warriors Did you not readily distinguish
Agamemnon, amidst the sages and heroes Of
Greece Grequired, my friend. no pilot to
show me the commander in chief When
first we met his reception was most cordial
and kind; when last we parted, bore with
me to my native land, the blessing of this
greatest and best ofmen."
upon my first introduction in Philadelphia,
my servants, horses, and baggage, were order
ed to head quarters. ! had afterwards, my
self, an head quarters, as general of division,
but the house, the tent, and well may say
the heart, of the chief, was my house. You
spoke of the ease and elegance of his manners:
Il will observe, that to Count Rochambeau
and the French officers this was matter of no
small surprise. The Count. bred in the old
Court of France, court famed over all Eu-
rope, for its politeness, was astonished to find
in native of the new world, grace and po-
lish, that would have adorned the first circles
of European rank and fashion. Yet the Count
remarked, although he charms me with the
sffabihty of his address, he never permits me,
for moment to forget, that he is the Conan
derin Chief"
you, my dear sir, have only seen our Hero
in the walks ofpeacei he appeared in all his
splendour when on the field ofbattle. 1t was
at Monmouth-the enemy's artillery thunder
ed upon our Ine--the shot tore up the ground
and bounded by, with that sound SO familiar
to the soldiers ear-the battle was at its height
the din of the arms-the shouts and cries OF
the combatants were such, that could scarce.
" hear the orders, which from time to time
he gave me. He was then mounted on beau
tiful chestnut mare, which he managed with
the grace and skill peculiarly his own. He
rode through the ranks and cheered his COM
rades to the fight. I needed not the storm
which ragged around me, while admired the
Great Chief, than whom Ihaue nerer seen so
superb man.
Previous to the battle of Monmouth, the
Council of Var had risen, with decided ma
jority against attacking the enemy. In this
instance, as in most others, it was my happi-
ness to agree in opinion with the general in
chief An alliance had just been concluded
with France-the preceding campaign of the
Grand Army had been disastrous-time and
toll had much improved the discipline of our
troops, and it seemed too much, to let the
enemy escape without blow. Orders were
given me to detail picked corps for the adj
vance, but while they were fling of, new ar
rangements were necessary, in consequence
of General Lee, having determined to take the
rank which he at first decined-new troops
were added, and we marched under the COM
mand of Major GeneralLee.
Lee was in principles an English Wing,
and tits difficult to say, whether he joined the
cause of American independencefro from love
of this country, orfrom hatred efhis own.-
He was eccentric, man of talents, and a
brave and skillful officer. His dispositions at
Monmouth were not unmilitary, but his beset-
ting military sin, was belief in the iresisti-
bility of the British Grenadiers-' held We.
y different belief, and wished to attack part
of the enemy's force, which l thought there
was great probability of our being able to cut
off from their main body, but my superior an
swered the proposal by my dear general, the
Grenadiers are irresistible
General Washington received the first
news of our discontinue from little boy, a
fifer, whom he accosted with, 'Wen my boy,
you are going the wrong way, surely ou1
troops are going the other coursee No, your
honor, they are not was the little fellows