Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-03-31
TgZSGELGANZ z.
LAFAYETTE AND THE INDIAN GIRL


| Levasseur relates the following singular
meeting between Lafayette and young
( Indian who was educated among the whites
( and returned 70 slyage life, in his Journal
lof LaGyeue's Journey in America.-lbls
/ interesting scene took place at Kaskaskla,
/ Illinois,
( On returning TO Koskaslia, we Lund
/ n. dc SYon, an amiahlo young Frsrch
Imam, Of much intelligence, who. on the
Imyitat.on of Gen. Lafayette. left Wash
T iagton CITY with rs 70 visit the southern
and western states. Lie ne. nc had just
1 u1de an excursion ITO the neigh5ourhood.
and appeared quite Joyous At 'hedisCovery
hc hld made. IL had mot, in tie mids'
Of the forest, at i.e head Of a troop Of Ia
dams, a pretty young woman who spoke
French very well end expressed herself
with g-,cc az which he appeared as much
astonshcd as we were She had asked
HIM # II was true that Lafayette was al
Easkaskia. and on his replying ailirma-
lively, she manifested a great desire 20 see
him. 81 always carry with me, SAID she
to VI. de Syou, Cd rcljque that Is very dear
10 NE. ] would wish 70 show 1t 10 hm.
ID would prove TO him thathis name Is not
I less veneratcd la the midst OF our tribes
than among tie white Americans FOR whom
he fought" Aud ia speaking thus. she
drew from her bosom little pouch which
enclosed q letter carefully wrapped u
several pieces of paper cit is from La
iaYeUe," said she, she woe it 10 my
father a long time since, and my father,
when he died, left it to me as the most pre-
cious thing he possessed" At the sIgbi
of'bis letter, NJ de Syon proposed TO tine
Indian grl TO p with him 70 hasEasAa,
assuring her that Geaeral Lafayette wouit
be very much pleased TO see her. But
this proposition seemed TO cmberrass her.
aud under various preteYls she refused TO
come. ":loveyer." she added, eff you
T. have any ching to say to me tins evening
you win Gad me 10 wv camp, which Is
close by the village Any one can direct
rou the wav. Cor / am we'll known g: Aas-
laski1. Ny name is Mary"
Afterwards spoke to Gen. Lafayette
Of rho mccGra with the young Indian grI;
.a.d nom the desire he manifested to see
her, 'ell he table with NJ. de Syoa. at
,ha mnmcat when the company began to
oxch.r-c rtioIc to7sis, and sought me
- cuila a. lIrys camp. We s00n pr
rived asia. m ofiheCamp, which vas
lighted hy large Gic, around which a
dozen InI we're squaHoi preparing
their sumner. They received us with cor
djaItv. ardas soon ~ thcy we're Informed
ofthe object of rur visit, one Of them cor
Quoted rs 90 lI.g's hut. whom we found
slre.,pr on o L.,5a skim. At the voice Of
NJ. de Son, which she recognised, she
arose and listened auertively 20 the invita-
,ion fr,m Gen. LAFAYETTE fo come 90 Has
lmskiq. She seemed cute lauere5 by it,
bn,s,;l b,rar, fa.i1.rr 20 accomoany ms.
She wished 10 mention It TO Ter husband.
She iDlogmad me lbat her father, who wa.
a cbiefor one Of the nations who inhabited
ino chores oC fine rreat lakes of the north.
had formerly fJagLt with hundred Of bis
f,il7vors under the orders of Lafayette.
when the latter commanded an army on tbc
Gor,,ars--.thei 10 had ACQUIRED much
glory and q,incd the friendship Of the
! Americans 4 long time after that ia.
Iabau, twenty wears 400. he left the shores
Iortbo 4ro,, istos with some of his warriors
|b,s wiz, and l.uob,er. and after having
r,o-,LoJ ., l,,,, tine bo established him
sorfoa the sbo7,s Of the river Illinois. 81
,y,s ysrv vo,ro ,hrr. but have not VET
( ho,..,o- .rr,,ion the horrible suffering.
,yo o,lnrcJ Inriao iIis lone tourney. madc
i, r;-,r,Ys winter. across a countr,
roorleI bv nations with whom we were On.