Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-20

America which are not generally known
1t is customary in America to look upon
Lafayette as the representative of France s
assistance to the United States during the
critical days of the revolution. But in
France and among Frenchmen, while there
is the fullest admiration for the gallantry
of Lafayette, yet it is a recognized fact
that Rochambeau was the representative
or French military authority in America.
He was field marshal in the French ser
vice. and as such was officially trusted
with the leadership of the large French
contingent which gave it's strength to the
side of the American cause. At the same
time. Lafayette was pursuing a somewhat
Independent course, and instead of coming
to America by official designation from the
French government, followed by French
army, he came as an individual. to tender
his ability a military genius in the d.
rect service of the American forces. 1t
was this that brought about such a close
union between Washington and Lafayette,
for the latter at all times served under
Washington But so far as the French
government was concerned in the issues of
that conflict this great field marshal,
Count de Rochambeau, was at all times
it's representative.
The French government took occasion
quite recently to send to the French en-
bassy copy of the splendid painting at
Versailles, showing Rochambeau on the
battlefield of Yorktown receiving the or
ders from Washington to make the as
sault on the British lines. 1t Is a spirited
picture. with all the fire Of war scene,
and quite different from that conventional
and lifeless picture representing the sur
render Of CORVALLIS. Washington and
ROchambeau are shown, almost in life size,
emerging from the tent of the commander
in-chief All about mingled the American
continentals and the Frenchmen in their
cockades. An orderly has just brought up
the marshal's horse, and the picture is
taken at the moment when Washington
points off to the rising smoke of the Brit
ish guns and bids the Frenchman open the
assault. The picture is fully ten feet high
by fifteen long. and the International sig
recent reception to the French naval Off
GERS and cadets, when it was lavishly hung
with entwining American and French flags.
GaIIantry of the French.
The surrender at Yorktown brings out
an interesting phase but little known to
Americans, showing the innate galantry
of the French character even under the
most trying circumstances. After the first
assault had been made on the French lines
| the American and French forces pressed
| in on every side. The condition of Lord
CORVALLIS became desperate, and, recog-
niZing this he made known his purpose
| to surrender. 1t happened that Lafayette
and his contingent were nearest to the
| British commander and to the French
| leader came the first word that his lord
| ship was ready to hand over his sword.
1t would have been a proud moment for
| Lafayette to have received the final sur
| render of the British commander-in-chief
! But, keenly alive to the proprieties of the
| occasion. Lafayette bid his forces to rest
| and calmly awaited the arrival Of General
| Washington to receive the formal surren-
| der Of the British commander. Washington
| was soon on the scene, and. surrounded by
! that noted assemblage so often pictured,
| he received from Lord CORVALLIS that Of
! ficer's sword. which was to be the first
| decisive pledge Of American independence
The ROchambeau Statue,
The Rochambeau statue, which Congress
| has now provided for Washington, ID
| unique in many respects. The field mar
shall, in the full uniform Of his high rank
| stands with one arm outstretched. evil
| IDENTIFY pointing to the distant American
| colony which he was about to aid. But
| the most striking and significant feature
| of the memorial is the symbolic figure al
| the base. This shows the figure of a wo-
man hurrying forward with nag of
| France borne aloft in her right hand Be.
| meath her feet Is the prov Of a ship. sug-
| gestive of the force which France has sent
| over the seas to the aid Of America. Be-
| low are the arms of France and of the
| United States linked together The con-
ceptfon Is one of beauty and at the same
| time is suggestive of the ties between the
| two nations