The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-28
WILMINGTON. FLuyAxxA COUNTY, VA,
October 3. 1881.

w IisMINOIONs ~ AltNh wv -
October 3, 1881.
rgfn,e Diepotch: Having been re-
ounstnd nv friend Of mine IN the city OF
rsnhrnonI ~ send him copy OF four
rn,sns which were composed by Captain
John q. Miller and sung by select choir
"a General LAFAYETTE at the above place IN
October. 1894. o: which time and place the
neople OF Fluvanna gave him q most
so,rndid entertainment during the
nigbt he spent at that place in passing
from Richmond to Monticello to visit
President Jefferson, j now proceed
20 do 80, eftcr first relating few things
connected with that most interesting oc-
casion. / WAS detailed as an officer by
General John II. Cooke in the escort to
escort him from the Goochland county me
10 the Albemarlc county line through me
county OF Fluvanna, a distance OF ABOUT
TWENTY-FIVE miles. There were about sew
enfy men composing the escort, All wen
mounted and in handsome uniform. We
met him nj Columbia, 10 when pace nc
xvas brought by the GoOchland escort, and
carried him 10 Wilmington that evening,
where he spent the night. There was
a very large procession that accompa-
MED us. and / never saw as many
I,pot,le together in the county IS were
,,rcscnt that night. We had, at great
labor and trouble, collected together at that
place about forty Of his old soldiers resi-
dents OF the country round about that place
in several countles) who were belonging 10
his army IN the Revolutionary war, ana 70
hear those old veterans sit that night and
talk over their trials during the war was
certainly the most interesting scene ever
witnessed. They certainly did enjoy 1t.
Among other things they talked about was
some circumstances connected with the
STAY OF his army i'm this county. just pre-
yious 10 the siege at Yorktown IT
seems that his army was some days
in this county, at Mauchchenek creek,
where they were 10 wait for orders
from General Washington TO march 10
Yorktown, and while they were thus walt
ing TarlctOn with bis command was then
in the county within some ten or twelve
miles OF General Lafayette's army doing q
great deal OF mischief in plunderirg the
people. and the men composing Lafayettc's
army were extremely anxious TO pitch into
them and put a stop 10 their mischief, and
absolutely thought hard OF General Lafay-
cite that he would not do so; and hoard
him say 10 them that he was at one time
really uneasy, fearing there would De n
mutiny in his army. But the object that
he and General Washington had
was not to interrupt that force OF
Tarleton's, &C., ut all until Lafayette
YVES ordered TO march 70 Yorktown (Which
was expected daily, 50 as 10 leave those
forces up here behind him when he
marched for Yorktown, and ! understood
from them that il was about two hours by
sun in the evening when Lafayette re-
Ia &c
possible 10 Yorktown, where he drew up
his sTmy and told them then ~ the plans
and the reason why he had not put u stop
10 .TarletOn's mischief. lie then at once
fixed up all his baggage, &C., and cut his
road across the country that night 10 the old
Mountain road in Louisa county by sunrise,
Qhat road then being at that time the great
fhOrOughfarC from the mountains TO the
seabOard,) and that road which he cut that
night is called Dcmarquis's road to this day.
The next morning, after spending the night
at Wilmington, we escorted him to the Al
bemarle line, at Boyd's tavern, where he
was received by the Albemarle escort and
carried 10 Monticello. All the way in pass
ing through the county OF Fluvanna, at
every fork and cross-road, there would he
large collections Of men, women, and chill
dren 10 see General Lafayette, and at every
place lac would have the procession stopped
and get out OF the carriage and LET them see
him, and he would sometimes say few
words 10 them and bow in the most polite
manner TO them. ID. w. Il. BOWLEs. /
Here follow the four verses composed by
Captain John G. Miller, and-sung TO Gene
raj Lafayette by select choir OF ladies and
gentlemen 1T the entertainment given him
by the people OF Fluyanna in October, 1924,
which were rendered beautifully and drew
tears from the eyes OF that old veteran when
he remarked: "Ladies and gentlemen, /
thank you thousand times; that is too
much for me-"
Hear ne, hear ns, Oh. then leave us,
Take thy lingering. long farewell,
Thou who erst lid aid % give US
All the joys we now can tell.
Veteran hero, friend Of freedom, In our hearts I
thou wilt ever dwell.
Leave no mere these peerless mountains,
Every hcarth's q home To thee;
All thee plains, these crystal fountains
All are fraught with liberty.
Veteran hero, friend Of freedom, rest thee with tie
brave and free
May the richest boon Of heaven
Pay thee for tile good thou hast done,
And tous may II he given
To behold Thy setting
Veteran hero, friend of freedom, taste the fruits
thy valor won.
But IL thou hast left behind thee
. Tics too tender thus 10 tear,
Let these grateful tears remind thee
That our prayers are with thee there.
Veteran hero, friend Of freedom, may Thy down.
ward path he fair.