South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-07

| Franklin, IN letter OF the fourth o.
March, 1880, to the President of Con
gress, "who, during his residence in
France, has been extremely jealous in
supporting our cause on all occasions
returns again to fight for it. He is in
fnitely esteemed and beloved here,
and | am persuaded will do every
thing in his power to merit a continu.
ance of the same affection from Ameri-
ca"
Immediately after his arrival in the
United States, it was, on the 10th Of
May, 1880, resolved in Congress. that
they considered his return to America
TO resume his command as fresh proof
ing attachment, which have justly re-
commended him to the public confidence
and applause, and that they received
with pleasure tender Of the further
services of so gallant and meritorious
an officer.
From this time until the termination
Of the campaign of 1891, by the sur.
render of Lord CORVALLIS and his ar.
my at Yorktown, his service was of
incessant activity, always signalized
by military talents unsurpassed, and
by spirit never to be subdued. AT
the time Of the treason Of Arnold, La
fayette was accompanying bis Com
mander-in.c to an important con.
ference and consultation with the
French General Rochambeau and
then, as in every stage of the war, it
seemed as if the position which he oc.
cupied, his personal character, his in
dividual relations with Washington,
with the officers of both the allied ar.
mics, and with the armies themselves
had been specially ordered to promote
and secure that harmony and mutual
good understanding indispensable to
the ultimate success of the common
cause. His position, too, as foreigne,
by birth, European, volunteer in
the American service, and person O
high rank in his native country, pointed
him out as peculiarly suited to the
painful duty Of deciding upon tn.
character Of the crime, and upon thu
fate Of the British officer, the accom-
| plice and victim of the dstested traitor
Arnold.
| Ia the early part of the campaign o
1881, when CORVALLIS, with an over
whelming force, was spreading rui.
and devastation over the Southern por
ton Of the Union, we find Lafayette
with means altogether inadequate
charged with the defence of the Terri
tory of Virginia. Always equal to tn
emergencies in which circumstance
placed him, his expedients for encoun
tering and surmounting the obstacle
which they cast in his way are invari
ably stamped with the pecularities @
his character. The troops placed un
der his command for the defence q
Virginia we're chiefly taken from tn
Eastern regiments, unseasoned TO tn
climate of the South, and prejudice
against it as unfavorable to the healt
of the natives of the more rigorou
regions of the North. Desertions be
came frequent, till they threatened tn
very dissolution of the corps. Instea'
of resorting to military execution t
retain his men, he appeals to the sym
pathies ofhonor. He states, in genera
orders, the great danger and difficult,
+ Of the enterprise upon which he i
about to embark ; represents the onl
possibility by which it can promis
success, the faithful adherence of tn
soldiers to their chief, and bis conf
dence that they will not abandon him
He then adds, that if, however, an,
individual ofthe detachment was un
willing TO follow him, a passport /,
return to his home should be forthwith
granted him upon his application.
is to cause like that Of American
Independence that resources like thi
are congenial. After these genera
orders nothing more was heard o
desertion. The very cripples of tn,
army preferred paying for their owl
transportation, to follow the corps
rather than to ask for the dismissol
which had been made SO easily acces
sible to all.
| But how shall the deficiencies 18th,
military chest be supplied ? The wan
of money was heavily pressing upor
the service in every direction. Wher,
are the sinews of war 7 How are the
troops to march without shoes, linen
clothing of all descriptions, and other
necessaries of life : Lafayette has
found them all. From the patriotic
merchants OF Baltimore he obtains, on
the pledge of bis own Bersonal credit,
loan Of money adequate TO the pur.