The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-20

u Ia01E VI III III
the oun man took a prominent part.
He plunged into the thickest Of the
fray. There was no point on the bat
tlefield too dangerous for him.
General Lafayette was a soldier with
the soldiers during the terrible expert
ences at Valley Forge. Washington
sent him In May. with 1000 men n
five cannon. to keep an y on the Brit
ish. then making preparations to eva
uate Philadelphia. He took a position
on Barren hill. about nine miles from
Valley Forge and the same distance
from the city. His movements were
made public by a spy. and immediate
ly a force sufficient to crush three such
attachments vas sent against him.
One army Of about 5000 took a posi-
ton Immediately in the rear of Lafay-
cites troops. while a larger force was
to attack him on the front. The Eng
lish had moved with the greatest Sc
crecy. and they were ~chuckling what a
victory they were to rave over the
boy" The morning sun on the day
the attack was to be made showed a
spectacle that would ave put to flight
hearts less firm than Lafayette and his
campaigners for freedom. He a been
caught. either by the treachery or ne
glect OF Pennsylvania pickets. There
seemed absolutely no way OF escape.
great columns guarding each of the
possible fords of the river. and an
army preparing to charge the hill.
Washington heard the uproar from his
camp. He and his aides went upon an
eminence, and from that point
tarily expected to see the flower of the
continental army cut down. An orderly
had a general alarm sounded in the
camp at Valley Forge. but Lafayette
had thought and decided and acted be-
fore re-inforcements could arrive.
GA4A having Gnanf In
months of this sort of life in America
and having been largely instrumental
In establishing an alliance with France.
believed he could do greater service for
the new republic by making a trip
home. He sailed from Boston in 117s
on an American frigate. congress hav-
ing granted him a furlough. The
French court punished him-nominally
for having left the country without
the courts leave. He was ordered to
keep in his house and see only the
members Of his family until the court
should otherwise will. His family in
cluded most everybody of Importance
in court. so that the punishment salts
fed the royal etiquette without inifict-
ing any great hardship upon the pris-
oner. The imprisonment lasted eight
days. during most Of which time he was
telling Marie Antoinette of the chival-
rous men he had met in the new world.
The queen was captivated. A little lat
er. when talking with DIR. Franklin,
who was begging credit for the gov
eminent in Europe. she said: do you
know, doctor, that Lafayette has really
made me in love with your General
Washington? What a man he must be.
and what a friend he possesses in the
marquis" The c~aptivation of the
queen spread among the people, n
when Lafayette was allowed to travel
he was received everywhere with the
most enthusiastic cheering. His fame
travelled with the wind. And this at
%.
His years furlough in France worked
wonders for the cause. He spent his
own fortune like water. He managed
to get part of the army of Count Roch-
ambeau for active work i'm America,
with several ships of the line and trans
ports. His return to Boston in 1850
was a triumph.
Very little fighting was O n that
year, but In the following spring he
took a discontented army into Nir-
ginia for the great fight at Yorktown.
CORVALLIS had been chased and nagged
by the wings of the continental army
and finally advanced toward Abe
| marie to destroy the ammunition stores.
Lafayette penetrated his plans. and
with an inferior force threw himself in
| front of the British commander. pre-
pared to fight. CORVALLIS declined the
engagement and started to run. La
fayette was at his heels. A hundred
and sixty of the redcoats were killed
in the chase. jamestown was not safe
enough for the man now running from
the boy and at last the fight of
Yorktown was necessary. Lafayette
charged one redoubt n Baron Vio-
menli, with 400 french grenadiers, the
other. The equalization was complete.
CORVALLIS surrendered the last British
army of the revolutionary war to the
boy.
Lafayette then returned to his coun-
try loaded with congressional resolu-
tions. the love and admiration Of every
man and woman In the republic and
the gratitude of a government that
never needed anyone more than IL
needed Lafayette at that time. But
his career was only begun. There soon
came terrible times in his own country.
The people were mad and the rulers
madden. A man was almost sure 10 die
or go to prison no matter which side
he took. Lafayette became an idol.
| The streets of Paris rang with his name
along with that of the king and coun-
try. He fell a victim to military rule,
and was cast into an Austrian dun
geon. where he suffered for five years,
and from which he was released only
on the threat Of Bonaparte to carry his
cannon thence unless the marquis was
liberated. He made several visits TO
America during his fights at home and
the American people never wept over
any man as much as the New England
ers wept In gratitude at the sight OF
Lafayette. One of his last acts in this
country was to lay the corner stone
of the Bunker Hill monument. He
lived to be the last surviving major
general of the American revolution, dy-
ing in 1884. in his nth year. America
and France went into bitter mourning
for this great man of two continents.