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

lis unpromislng outset, when Corn
wallis, the British commander, exultea
in anticipation that the boy could not
escape him, ill the sterming of th,.
twin redoubts, In emulation ofgalIantry
by the valiant Frenchmen of Viomesoil
and the American fellow-soldiers 81
Lafayette, led by him to victory et
Yorktown, must be left to the RECORDING
pen of History. Both redoub,s were
carried at the point Of the sword, and
CORVALLIS, with averted face, surren.
dered his sword to Washington.
This was the last vital struggle of
the war, which, however, fingered
through another year rather Of neeotia-
the caplturauofi az rofKlown, Lafayette
asked and obtained again leave Of abb
sence 10 visit his family and his country.
and with this closed his military ser
vice in the field during the Revolution
airy war. But it was not for the individ.
ual enjoyment of his renown that he re-
turned to France. The resolutions of
Congress accompanying that which
gave him discretionary leave Of abb
sence, while honorary in the highest de.
gree to him, were equally marked by
grant of virtual credentials for negotia-
ton; & by the trust Of confidential pow
ers,together with letter ofthe warmest
commentator ofthe gallant soldier to
the favor Of his King. The ensuing
year was consumed in preparations for
formidable combined French and
Spanish expedition against the British
Islands in the West Indies, and partics
ularly the Island ofJamaica thence
to recoil upon New York, and to pur-
sue the offensive war into Canada.-
The feet destined for this gigantic uf-
dertaking was already assembled at
Cadiz; and Lafayette appointed the
chief Of the staff, was there, ready to
embark upon this periIous adventure,
when, on the soth Of November, 1884,
the preliminary treaties Of peace were
concluded between his Britanic Ma
jesty on one part and the Allied Pow.
ers of France, Spain, and the United
States Of America, on the other. The
first intelligence OF this event received
by the American Congress was in the
communication of letter from Lafays
i etles
| The war Of American independence
is closed. The People Of the North
American Confederation are in union.
sovereign and independent. Lafayette.
at twenty-five years Of age, has lived
the life of patriarch, and illustrated
the career of hero. Had his DAYS
upon earth been then numbered, and
had he then slept with his fathers, H.
lustrious as for centuries their names
had been, his name, to the end of time,
would have transcribed them ALL
Fortunate youth fortunate beyond e.
ven the measure of his companions in
arms with whom he had achieved the
glorious eonsummation Of American
independence. His fame was all his
own /; not cheaply earned not igno.
bly, won. His fellow-sodiers had been
: the champions and defenders of their
country. They reaped for themselves,
for their wives, their children, their
posterity to the latest time, the re wards
OF their dangers and their tolls. La
iayette had watched, and labored, and
fought, and bled, not for himself, not
for his family, not, in the frst instance,
even for his country. In the legenda-
ry tales of chivalry we read of tourna-
ments at which foreign and unknown
knight suddenly presents himself, arm
ed in complete steel, and with the vizor
down, enters the ring to contend with
the assembled flower of knighthood for
the prize OF honor, TO be awarded by
the hand OF beauty bears it in tri.
umph away, and disappears from the
astonlshed multitude Of competitors
and spectators ofthe feats of ARMS
But where, in the rolls of History.
where, in the ictions of Romance.
where, but in the life of Lafayette, has
been seen the noble stranger, Ayinp.
with the tribute of his name, his rank.
his afiluence, his ease, his domestic
bliss, his treasure, his blood, to the re-
lief OF suffering and distant land, in
the hour Of her deepest calamity-ba.
ring his bosom to her foes and not at
the transient pageantry of tourna-
ment, but for succession of(ive years,
sharing all the vicissitudes Of her for.
tunes always eager to appear at the
post OF danger-tempering the glow of
youthful ardor with the cold caution
OF veteran commander bold and
daring in action prompt in execution:
rapid in pursuit /; fertile in expedients
unattainable 10 retreat often ex oosed