Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-08
prepared for The EVENING CArITAL.)
BARON de KALB


Baron dc kalb applied to SiIas
Deane. our representative at Paris,
and made bis prefer OF assistance,
which was Immediately accepted upon
the agents own responsibility. He
later wrote to America, 81 can, by no
means, let slip an opportunity of en-
gsging person of such experience
and who Is by every one recommend
ed as one of the bravest and most
skilful officers 10 the Kingdom De
Kalb introduced to Deane, the Mar
quis Lafayette, then but nineteen
years of age but burning with de-
sire to draw his sword 10 the trans
atlantic crusade. By an agreement
sigoed Dec. 7tb, 177G. de Kalb and
Lafayette were promised the rank Of
major-generals and permitted to have
others oftheir countrymen as Junior
officers. The whole matter was con-,
Quoted with the utmost secrecy, hencd
many delays occurred before the littIs
ship, "Victoria," left Havre bearitg
foreign succor TO America. Aftef a
passage OF forty days they latd-
cd on the coast of South Carolina md
the brave little party started for
Philadelphia to report their arriv to
Congress. On the a3rd of July hey
reached Annapolis and halted ere
for day or two to refresh thcr8sel
res and their horses, and reaH he'd
Philadelphia little later. They kere
received with GOODNESS aud infod&ped
that Congress bad refused to Il lily
the contract of their Agent I ter
Congress appointed Lafaye cite to he
position Of Major general. emit ply
overlooking de Kalb's seniority 10
age. military rank and 10 time Of q n-
tract. Justly indignant at his trd It.
ment de Kalb was upon the point Af
returning to France when Congress-
settled the difficulty by creating va
cancy and appointing the Baron, Ma
ior General. From this time to the
day of bis death be devoted himself
zealously to the responsible charges
entrusted to him. He served cour.
ageously through the campaigns Of
l577 aud 3. attaching Ulcers and
soldiers to him by bis devoted courage
combined with tact and self-posses-
sion 10 times OF danger. In April 1880
he was ordered to lead the Mary land
aud Delaware divisions from Nor
ristown, n j., to the South 10 aid OF
Charleslown besieged by CORVALLIS
and Tarleton The troops were ship.
ped from Elkton down the Chesa-
peake while de Kalb himself came BY
land 70 Annapolis to collect from
State officers money for the cam
paign. His force arrived too late to
save Charlestown aud we're placed
under Gen. Gates who had lately been
appointed by Congress. Commander
ID the South. By the perversity aud
rashness Of Gates. ia opposition to
Do Kalb's win, the bloody battle Of
Camden was fought by the Ameri-
cans against . much larger and better
protected British force. Ii was the
hardest fought battle Of the Revolu-
ton aud many brave Mary landers
isll boeidc their leader, de Kagb. His
command, the 2nd Maryland, bore
the whole brunt Of the battle, and
yielded not : foot until their leader
bad fallen with one half 81 their CON-
radea ii arms. Again andagain bad
d Kalb exborled them on into the
thickest Of lhe conflict, il ignorance
that the greater part Of the army had
fesfeased under Galss Ills horse
was killed ondtf bin and de Kalb
himself uaa s6sarelv wounded, bu.
nolhiDg dannled, Be rallied bis troops
q lopt egalnst - ever increasing
go until be fell. pierced With eleven
.@sMsxss. ~ IA szsS, 4.<e& 1885, 49, Il ..<