New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-02


with Washington himself. But the English Off
GERS still cherished the feeling which had been
carefully encouraged by the diplomacy of France,
that he was only silly boy WHO must be made
ridiculous They planned to capture him, and it
was out of a trap which they cunningly set for
him that he narrowly escaped by his intelligence
and CELEBRITY a Barren Hill. To pat Lafayette in
command of troops for the service desired on THIS
occasion proof of the advances when the
young noblcman had made in Washngtons es-
TEEN The force carefully selected was to watch
the movements on the enemy's lines at Philadel-
mia II was a delicate manoeuvre, and the loss
Of the troops would have been a staggering blow 70
Washington and to the country But It's I'M
portanCe for Lafayette himself, though ne cou!d
hardly have been conscious Of the fact. was that
the purpose of the movement and his own snare
In it became known to the English. They fanced
! that their opportunity had come Lafayette
chose his position wisely with view to all the
! chances of war and arranged his pickets 50 that
| no was safe from surprise on every side but one,
! and there according to Mr. Tower. it was not ne
! who was at fault but the mltiamcn who failed
to carry out his orders. The result Of TINS as
obedience on their part was that he ana MS
| trustworthy regulars were almost surrounded by
| the whole British army before they knew H. -
! SIRE were the English officers Of their prey that
| Genera! Howe and General Clinton, who had just
succeeded him. both joined the expedition ana
| invited a company Of ladies and gentlemen 10
an entertainment in Philadelphia upon the fol-
lowing day, to meet the Marquis de Lafayette
| But the Young general seized the only way of
| escape left him, and brought off his little COM
mand without the loss Of man. ut is doubt
f,u" adds Mr. Tower. 'if the Marquis de La Fay
| cite ever fully realized how important a crisis
| for him was this affair at Barren HILL 1t would
| have p,eased Englishmtn TO sec him defeated
but it would have produced unbounded JOY II he
could have 0een outwitted and captured. IL nc
| could have been brought into Philadelpha AT u'e
| termination Of his first enterprise to be load'd
| ;,h ;rdu,gont courtesy and f6ted with mock ad-
| mration and later. perhaps. 10 be returned To
! France with his hcroism reduced to the vain
glory Of schoolboy and his prestige eXtin-
! gushed in ridicule.
Put ba was reserved for two serious tasks in
tho service of America. When he returned 20
| France after his earlier campaigns. he could no
longer be looked upon as a boy. lie became the
! confidential adviser of Minister'S. and even Mr..
Tower. friendly bographer as he is, can hardly
saw too much of his efficiency in persuGiinG the
! French Government TO enlarge It's efforts TO aid
| rho American cause. At twenty-three he found
! his fame assured and he might have considered
Il needless to return and again to put his repu;l-
! ton TO the test. For his military achieVemeh'a
! had been Of slight value compared with wha. hu-
rope had seen The renown that attended them
was out of all proportion to their importance.
! single disaster would have efaced the memory 81
! them Blu, he chose to return, and it must be al
| rnit,od that no mere impulse of ambition could
! have dictated such a course 1t was we'll thar ne
! did return for in his Virginia campaign against
| Lord CORVALLIS he showed rare capaciY as "
|
| commander. with an army OF his own. Win d"
inferior force he bafled Phillips and Arnold in
succession, and finally. by his constant waichiul-
ness. drove CORVALLIS to Yorktown. 1t wa"
| difficult campaign. said the British Tarleton hu'
the young French nobleman carried 1t through
without a blunder. His strategy indeed was that
If WASHINGTON He had learned that with tho
limited resources OF the colonies the proper thiig
! 70 do was to wear the enemy out and never |"
! fight him except in detail. Al first he was most
! Of the time rctreatlng, but as the marching ana
! concentrating and skirnishing went II came
! the English Generals turn 10 retire Lafayette
never deserted him. He tlunG TO the foe with the
! tenacity Of born fighter. He never lost an al
/ var'age and he never gave one. II he coud heIP
It, The only general criticism upon him must ne
simnlv that he was not original. He was. AZ
nearly as he could be. copy Of Washington IN
the field But this was a merit The only other
great General among Washington's suboriinaioS'
| Greene also modelled his strategy closely upon
! that of the COmmander-n-ch Chief In the HGht 'I
all this one may even yet feel regret that at tn"
battle Of Monmouth. Washington did not follow
what must have been the dictate OF his judgment
and leave Lafayette in command Of the troops
whom Charles Lee treacherOusly banei ana
routed before even they met the enemy. The bat
tie would unquestionably have had "A different Ic-
suit But at the last, when CORVALLIS MAS
captured, at Yorktown. 1t was right that INC gal
! liant young Frenchnfan who had turned the laugh
| on those who meant 10 make his boylsh "hthu-
siasm ridiculous should receive from his rev"r-d
| commander this tribute: 1T required n great
deal OF skill maintain yourself as you GA, Tor
50 long n time, In spite Of the disparity oi your
| forces before Lord CORVALLIS, whose military
talents are we'll known. 1t was You VINO brouglt
| him to the fatal ending. where. instead 81 hlS
making you prisoner Of war, az he probably eA-
pected to DO you forced him to surrender.
Mr. Towers portly volumes are adorned with
| portraits Of the Marquis de La Fayette and Mime.
| de La Fayette. The large type makes pleasant
| reading and there Is a so1ity in the literary
| STYLE Of the work that should make its interest
| permanent II will bear repcrusa many times
| over.