The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-22

Representative McCIeary, from the Com
mittee on Library. has submitted to the
House a report on the bill appropriating
$7,50e for the purchase of a replica of the
bronze statue by Ferdinand Hamar. lately
erected at Eendcme. France, of Jean Bap-
tiste Dona ten. C0mte de ROchanbeau
The report says:
The subject of this statue. which it is
proposed. at an Insignificant cost, 10 add
10 the historical art treasures Of the Capt.
tai was a great and noble man His deeds
deserve 10 be remembered by all genera
tons of our cOuntrymen. and MS heroic
personality ever recalled to Us and our
children forever in enduring bronze. for
10 him and his military ability. as well as
to the brave and willing sons of France
he commanded. in an important degree we
owe the fact Of our independence as a IA
ton and the Institution and liberties
which have come down TO US from the
Revolution-a glorious heritage.
In his Grafton at 5he unwilling of Bart
let's statue of Lafayette in the court Of
the Tuileries Gardens. on the Fourth Of
July, 1909. Archbishop Ireland, OF st. Paul,
said:
1t was the participation of France
in the war of independence which rendered
liberty possible in America in the eigh-
teenth century. Such is the verdict Ct
history as expressed by the learned his
torian Of Lafayette. the Hon Charlamagne
Tower, our present Ambassador at the
Court OF ST Petersburg, The colonies
were determined to become free; their
methods were so practical. that sooner CT
Later their Independence would have been
conquered; bat that they SHOULD have
gained their independence in the war be
gun in 1916 without the assistance Of
France We cannot believe
With depleted treasury and With his
annual budgets showing increasing deficits
King Louis XVI nevertheless found means
TO supply the Continental Congress with
money and with arms ammunition, troops
and warsbips with which 10 carry on the
struggle His young nobility stirred by
the example Of the heroic Marquis de La
faEetje focked 10 our standard Without
depT5CIaJing IN the smallest degree the
sources or the fame OF others, II may be
truIhfulIy said thar among . he be..EE-s
showered upon Us BY that .-ctuous and
worthy but unfortunate prince none was
more important, none more cor dUciye TO
the final victory. than his personal gift OF
the brave. tried. ard distinguished soldier
the Comte de Rcshanbeau-
Here We car only with extreme breyiJy
recall his career and his splendid achieve
ments IN behalf Of American liberty.
Jean Baptiste Donation de Eimeur,
C0mte de Rochambeau. was born in 17z5.
He WAS intended for the church. bat pre-
ferred 10 follow the footsteps Ct his faith
or, and therefore ne adopted The military
profession. entering The french Army n
1872 After thirty eight years OF varied
and arduOUs service, IN March. 178e he
reached the grade Of lieutenant general
and. in the same year. was assigned 10
command the expedition IN aid Of the colo
MES With 5000 troops, which were fol
lowed by re-enforcenents. he sailed from
BresC n Nay, 1T30, landing al Newport,
R. L IN July.
with great skill and address Comte de
Rochambeau thEarted a contemplated at
tack upon Newport by the British com
fnanders Clinton and ArbuJhnor. Ii Sep
tember, 1889. ha held a conference with
General Washington, and proposed 10 the
latter plan OF campaign for the ensuing
summer CIrcums tances interposed to
change the character and objective Of their
joint operations but under q wise dispen-
sation OF Providence they we're able TO CO.
operate IN 1871 and in that year to conduct
10 q successful issue the decisive campaign
Of the war
The operations OF the British in the
CaroliIas and Virginia had been proceed
ing with varying fortune under Lord
CORVALLIS when his superior. General
Clinton. fearing an attack upon New York
BY the allied forces ordered him to de-
tach 39o0 men 10 that place. and 10 seek
and fortify a defensible position and hold
II with the 1000 left him CORVALLIS
thereuVCn established himself at York
town
Washington was az Dobbs Ferry plan
ming g campaign against Clinton at New
York when The happy news reached him
that Ccmte De Grasse. in command Of the
French West Indian feet VINO had been
urged 70 hasten 70 our aid by CoHte Dc
Rouchambeau. was prepared 20 Cooperate.
The objective OF orr operations was
Immediately changed RocEaEbeau hur-
ried TO Join Washington AT Dobbs Ferry.
where he arrived July g. 1851. and -hen the
two great comrades in arms began that
series Of strategical and tactical movements
which has flied students Of military sci
euce with admiration ever since. By
number OF feints. .cIeyerIy planned ana ez-
ecuted. Clinton was made certain that he
was to be attacked, and assembled all his
forces and resources for the contest
While he was held perfectly IN play the
allies passed from the west bank OF he
Hudson into New jersey and began their
historic march TO Virginia
f'When the allied armies had reached
Chester. Pa on September >. Washington
learned that De Crasse. with his ships
and troops had entered the Chesapeake
Three days later Washington. 70
chambeau. and the Marquis &c ChasLelllx
started from Baltimore for a two Gavs'
visit 20 Mount Vernon. which the Father
Of his Country ;lad not seen for six years.
On September . the last division OF the
allied forces reached Williamsburg
twelve miles distant from Yorktown and
advanced n force upon Lord CornwafIis
On the 2Sth, under Washington ana Po-
chambeau. the French fleet meantime
covering the British position from York
River By the 3eih the investm ent vas
complete From all sides the siege was
pressed with yi2cr and friendly emulation
By the allies. Help falling him. the fes-
Derate efforts at sortie proving disas-
trous, and an epidemic breaking out in
his camp prOstrating 2 GOO Of his trcoDs
the British general was in despair. After
4 terrible caanonade from tie American
and French lines on the afternoon and
night Of October 8 and the morning of
October 10 his position became no longer
tenahle-
Satisfied that neither squadrons nor
any other re-enforcements were coming
to his rescue, Lord CORVALLIS capftuIa ed
on October IS The surrender included
GoD British regulars, 2.0G0 sailors and
marines 1900 Tories, and q large number
Of negroes. The French contingent par
ticipating IN The victory consisted Of : ESQ
troops under Comte de Rochambeau and
thirty-seVen ships under Comte de Grasse. /