Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-07-21
For the Spirit of the Age.
THE BARON DeKALB.

EoF TIE SplFlI Ot the age.
THE BARON DeKALB.
Reading lately in some of the papers,
that the hero, whose name is above, wore
at the battle of Gun Swamp, near Camden,
armor, breast plate, and another for the
back, ofgreat weight and thinking Of this
strange circumstance, fancied could see
the mailed knight toiling on foot and horse
back to stay the overwhelming attack of
the British, as column after column was
hurled upon the phalanx of the Maryland
and Delaware continentals, under the COM
mand of Smallwood, Gist and himself, un-
til at last pierced with eleven wounds, he
fell, and numbers prevailed over the disci-
pline and steady bravery of Marvland's
and Dclaware's devoted sons, and defeat,
overwhelming defeat, followed.
My curiosity thus excited, Z exclaimed
who was Baron DeKalb! His name is as
familiar as Camden; indeed any one who
treads her ancient streets, will pass through
Dekalb street, south of old Logtown, now
one of the most beautiful parts of Camden,
and stand in front of the monument, the
corner stone of which was laid in '25 by
his friend and companion in the struggle
for American liberty, the Marquis De La
Fayette, and read upon the south side,
" Here lie the remains of the Baron Dc
Kalb, German by birth, but a citizen of
the world" on the north, In gratitude
for his zeal and services, the citizens of
Camden have erected this monument :" on
the east side, His love of liberty induced
him to leave the world to aid the citizens
of the new, in their struggle for Indepen-
dance His -AistinA,ie al
him Major General in their Revolutionary
:" on the west side, "He was secondin
command in the battle fougntnear Camden
on the 10th of Augut, 1880, between the
British and Americans, and there nobly
fell, covered with wounds, while gallantly
performing deeds of valor, in rallying
the friends and opposing the enemies Of
his adopted country" This testimonial,
on the beautiful monument situated in the
most beautiful part of Camden, near the
Presbyterian Church and the Academy,
has been often seen and read by the writer.
Still his heart demanded more, much more
of the Hero of Camden. Turning to Los
sings Field, Book of the Revolution, 2nd
VOL, D. 667, note T., he found that "The
Baron DeKalb was knight of the royal
/ Military Order of Merit--was native of
; Alsace, Ia German Province ceded to
France,) and was educated in the art of
war, in the French army" 1eRards the
close of the seven years war, he was dis
r patched to the British colonies in America,
e as secret agent of the French govern
: ment. He travelled in disguise yet on
n one occasion, he was so strongly suspected,
e that he was arrested as a suspicious person
e Nothing being found to confirm the suspi-
Y cion, he was released, and soon afterwards
S returned to Europe. DeKalb came to
America again in the spring of 1777, with
LAFAYETTE and other foreign officers, and
was one of the party who accompanied the
Marquis in his overland journey from South
Carolina to Philadelphia"
If Stop, reader, recall your recollections o
: Revolutionary History. In 1777, Major
t. Huger, who lived on his rice plantation
If near Georgetown, S. c., was called upon BY
e two strangers, Lafayette and Steuben,
d neither of whom could speak word 0
| English; fortunately their hospitable hos
n could speak French. They told him tha
d they had left France to aid AMERICA in he
S struggle for liberty-that they had bee
le put on shore near North Island. Thes
IS. two gallant men, Marquis De LaFayett
er and Baron Steuben, were accompanied b
I'd DeKaIb, and other foreign officers. In in
u agination, | can see those Pilgrims of lii
i'd erty pressing their journey from George
as town through the sparsely and poorly POI
ia uIated portions of South Carolina an
in North Carolina, to Virginia, and thence t
,e- Philadelphia, and can appreciate that NJ
as Bile, self-sacrifcing love of liberty, whic
to could abandon the love of a young wit
ad the luxury of aristocratic wealth, the sple
ys dors of Versailles, and the regular appoin
"a ments of the army of Prussia and Franc
of and submit to the toll and priyations
he Joining and remaining with the Americs
lp- army.
r." The Baron DeKalb, ".holding the off
to of Brigadier General in the French servic
its and coming highly recommended, Co
Jhe gress commissioned him Major Genel
be- on the 18th of September, L777. He j
led mediately joined the man army unC
led Washington, and was active in the ever
which preceded the encampment of
leir troops at Valley Forge" He had be
MIS- connected with the Quarter Masters
re- partment in the French service, and 6
wo- experience in the duties of that stat
her rendered his services very valuable to
the American army"
that lie was one of those devoted patrl
ting who was encamped at Valley Forge, dur
for the winter of Tits. "He was af
mar wards in command at Elizabethtown
and Amboy, in New jersey and while at
oc- iristown, in the spring of 1880, was pls