New-York tribune., 1876-09-06
LAFAYETTE.
u1s CAREER AND CHARACTER.

,,rcr "a A VOLUNTEER IN THB AMERICAN
REVOLUTIONARY ARMY-PoLIncAL AND ARMY
1--WE IN FRASCE-vIsITs TO AMERICA
The centennial year has been very potent In re-
x;ving the memory of the men OF the American
pavolution The story of Lafayette has IN 1T some
.hiny of romance there was something Of chivalry
a. his character, of which the world had hardly
.ucb An example since the days OF knight errantry
nd the young Frenchman's intimate and affection
.ta relation to Washington have won for him a
,Iooa in tho American heart. There were other dis
trr;sbed forei gners serving in tho American army
Tnsciusko DeKalb, Steuben, and the ill-starred
1ne. hut Lafayette has remained easily first in the
national recollection. The champion of republican
lem, be came of tho buest blood Of the French ars-
tncrarv His father was soldier who died in battle
- tba aOe of o. Lafayette, by marriage at 16
.-;th the granddaughter of the Duke do NOailles,
s.rengtbened his connection with the French aris-
.ocracv. He seems to have been watching for
an opportunity of distinguishing himself, for
ba no sooner heard of the revolt of the
lmor,can colonies than he resolved to offer
n them his sword, 1t is to be observed
tbat he did this at time when fortunes were at
tbsir worst. when New-YOrk had been occupied by
tba Rritsh and the Americans had retreated through
Naw-Jersey He was compelled to escape from
France, and came equally against the command OF
the King and the warm protestations OF hls family
Accompaniod Ivy IL officers, he sailed IN his own
vesael DeKalb among them. and landed on the 10Th
Of April, 1777. near Georgetown, g. {. lie was en-
Enthusiastically received at Charleston and proceed
inc 70 philadelphia, he was welcomed with equal
warmth b. Congress, which resolved as follows
"Wbereas. the Marquis de Lafayette, out of his
rroat zeal for the cause of liberty in which the
limited States are engaged, has left his family and
connections, and at his own expense come over to
oer his services to the United States without PEN
on or particular allowance, and is anxious to risk
his in our cause Resolved that his services he ac
eepted and that in consideration OF his ZEAL lustr-
ous family and connections he have the rank
mission of Major-General in the army of the United
states.D His commission bore date July 81, 1777,
and he was then hardly 20 years old. tie he'd be-
fore sent in the following note: "After many sacr-
fees have right 10 ask two favOrs: One Is, to
serve, at my own expense; the other. to commence
by serving as a volunteer" Lafayette first saw
Washington at public dinner where number OF
members Of Congress were present. and he SAID that
he immediately knew the American leader by his
commanding air and person" Irving says: "When
the party was breaking up, Washington took him
aside complimentod him in gracious manner on
his disintcrested zeal and the generosity of his
conduct and invited him to make headquarters
his home IcannOt promise you the luxuries OF
oourt' said he but as you have become an
American soldier, you will, doubtless accommodate
yourself to the fare Of an American army" In his
Memoirs Lafayette describes review Of the Ameri-
can army which he witnessed about this time:
"Eleven thousand men," he sald, "but tolerably
armed and still worse clad, presented singular
spectacle. In this parti-cOlored and often naked
state the best dresses were hunting shirts of brown
linen. Their tactics were equally irregular. They
were arranged without regard to size excepting that
the smallest the front rank; with all tins,
they were goOd-lOOkng soldiers, conducted by zeal
Gus officers" Washington professed TO be Httie
ashamed of his troops and said 80 to Lafayette.
"We ought to feel embarrassed in presenting our
eelves before officer just from the French army.
at is to learn, and not to instruct that came
here" answered LAFAYETTE.
AMERICA.
Lafayette. however seems to have OF first mis-
apprehended tho nature of his appointment Heck
pected to command division of the army WASH
ington went to Congress for instructions, which do
not appear TO have been given to him definitely.
Lafayette first saw service at Brandywine Sept. IL.
beinR there attached to WashngtOn's staf as vol
unteer. During the battle he threw himself from
his horse and was endeavOring to rally his men,
when he was shot through the leg with musket
ball and was assisted into the saddle by his ad-de-
camp. He had been so ardently engaged that he
WA unconscious of his wound until his aid told
him that the blood was running from his boot IL
was two months before his wound permitted him to
reio,n the army. His conduct upon this occasion
seems to have woa the confidence of Congress, for
Washington was Informed " that 1t was highly
agreeable to Congress that the Marquis de Lafayette
be appointed to the command of division OF the
army"
Before he had quite recovered from his wound re-
cejyed at Brandywine be accompanied Gen. Greene
as volunteer in his expedition into the Jerseys,
where he was engaged in skirmish with Cornwall
bs's outposts "The Marquis is determined to be In
the way of danger" wrote Greene.
The differences between the Board Of War, OF
which Gates was the head, and the COmmander-in-
Chief led 10 the appointment of Lafayette to the
command of projected expedition 10 Canada. In
this Washington not consulted, the FIRST ntima-
ton received by him of this appointment being IN
the letter Of Lafayette himself, who was indignant
at the slight offered TO his beloved chief, who. how
ever. advised hum TO accept the command. Fol
three months Lafayette waited for tine means
of carrying forward the invasion, and
then received orders from Congress to join
the army at Valley Forge. On the 18th
of May, l778, he was sent by Washington
from Valley Forge to Barren Hill, where, with 2 100
men and pieces of cannon, he posted himself.
Clinton dispatched Gen. Grant with 5000 men to
surprise him. Although, through the neglect OF his
outposs, Lafayette surprised and found himself
nearly surrounded he brought the Americans with
their artillery safely across tho Schuykill back to
Valley Forge. His conduct in this affair Won the
warm appreciation of Washington. AT the battle OF
Monmouth. Lafayette in consequence Of tho miscon-
duct of Lee. had received the command of the ad-
vanced forces. This, however, he gracefully sur
n 4 hou III