Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-24
W~ASHINCTON'S FAMOUS llY
Count de RoohGmbsEu's InvslusB- Assist
Enos in the Revolutionary Ma.
NATIONAL MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY
salient Features of HE Timely Aid,
Military and Financial, in Es-
rablishinE the Ameri-
can Republic.

tabIishIng the Ameri-
can Republic.
On Saturday, May "A. the national gov
inEton a monument to Count de Rochsm-
beau, erected as q tribute TO his noble
service in aid Of the colonies during the
revolutionary war.
The monumen stands ct the southwest
corner OF Lafayette Square. and is exactly
the came sire ms the monument 10 LafRy-
cite which stands on the southeast corner
of the square. On the front Of the base
OF the monument Il a figure of the god
dess Of Liberty stepping out Of a boat. In
her left hand she holds g nagstan. on which
me Stars and Stripes and the French nag
are INTERVIEWED. In her right hand lie q
sword, with which she Is defending an
American eagle, which stands above q
shield. bearing thirteen stars. symbolical
OF the original colonies. The sides Of the
base OF the monument will bear the Goa:
Of arms OF France and Of the Roohambesu
family. The back Of the base will beas
the name Of Count de Rochambesu. A
bronze statue OF R~ochambesu. standing with
his right hand appraised, surmounts the
stone base.
France will be represented by Count de
Rochambeau, great grandson Of the French
marshal, and his wife, and q number OF
officials designated by the French govern
ment.
The date Of the unwilling is the Bnniver-
sary Of Count de Rochambeau's entrance
into the French army, in 1872, when only
II years old. He was educated for the
priesthood. but the death Of his elder
brother made him heir TO the title and
estates OF his father, and he followed the
traditions of the family and entered the
army. In 1747 he was made a colonel, and
in 1871 he was made a field marshal. He
served with distinction as the commander
in-chief Of the French forces in America
during the war OF Independence and was
called the father OF the French army by
Emperor Napoleon. who held him in high
esteem.
A GIamor of Romance.
There is a glamor Of romance surround
ing the very name OF the RochRmbeau OF
the American revolution-and 30 long as
the story Of that revolution continues to
hold interest and charm, Just 30 long will
the story Of Rochambeau hold it's color
bright and fa6eless in the wool OF Ameri-
can history. From out the multiplied
emu u LAS hAANNAN ahN FubAAN AAO o
writer in the Washington Post presents
these salient features:
One hundred and seventy-six years age
he was born at Vendome, France, July /
1925. He entered the army in 1912 as q
cornet in the regiment OF st. Simon. The
records show that he distinguished him
self in the campaigns Of 1744-4b and in 174t
was aid-de-camp 10 the duke OF Orleans,
In 1747, at the age Of %, he was commits
stoned colonel OF the infantry regiment
In the battle Of LAnheld, the same year, he
received a wound in the head, and as he
was being carried insensible from the field
a second wound in the thigh restored hin
to consciousness.
Near the end Of T74s he married the
notably beautiful and cultured Nile. Teliei
d'Acosta. A son and a daughter were oo-r
to them. The daughter lived but q shor1
time. The son, Donation Marie Joseph d.
Vimeure, Vicomte de R~ochambeau, was hiI
fathers companion in arms in America.
After the peace OF AiK-la-Chapelle
Colonel RochRmbeau became governor 0
Vendome, but on the breaking out OF the
seven years war he resumed active mill
tary service. In 1856 he was commissioner
brigadier general. He served IN Germany
in 1850 and at the battle OF Cloister Camp
while resisting q charge of English grena-
diers, he received a ball in the thigh, but
by the aid Of two chasseurs, who assisted
him to walk. he had strength to give or
ders during the day.
Assigned 10 Americas Command.
In 1850, after years Of faithful service
and while I'll Of infRmmatory rheumatism,
he was appointed lieutenant general to
take charge Of the expeditionRry forces
destined to aid the Americans. AS soor
M ha Uaa ab1a IN travail he uanf N Yer
sailles TO receive the orders OF the king
The choice Of this distinguished military
genius as commander of the Auxiliary
Army corps was due to the suggestion oi
Lafayette. General R~ochambeau was pre-
ceded TO America by Count d'Estaing, who
had been banned by the English at sa-
vannah. The unexpected result Of this ex-
petition, the I'll success OF the attack in
South Carolina and the depreciation Of
paper currency-this combination OF sf-
fairs precipitsted dire extremity and DARK
despair.
Washington stands out a beacon Of rea-
son, philosophy and vhlor in this era OF
encouragement. In one Of his remark
able letters urging the provision for the
half-pAy OF the American ~orhcers. when
the war should end-Rs an inducement 10
retain the officers at the heads Of their
/ lN6AlACANns ~ may CCaAI
as they will; they may talk OF patriotism
they may draw a few examples from
ancient stories Of great achievements per-
formed by its influence. but whoever builds
upon them as q SUFFICIENT basis for conduct
ing a long and bloody war, viii md himself
deceived IN the end. / know patriotism ex-
lists and I know It has done much in the
present crisis, but ] will venture TO assert
that a great and lasting war can never
be supported on this principle alone. II
must be aided by q prospect Of interest Oh
some reward"
This critical situation induced congress
TO solicit again from her ally land and
naval forces-and most urgent OF AL
money. France agreed 10 send out {
squadron Of seven ships TO cruise on tn.
coast Of America. At first it was proposed
to send 1000 men. to be augmented Il
10000, but those figures were greatly re-
duced subsequently. A corps OF 1000 Abl'
troops and a considerable supply Of speei'
were voted.
General Rochambeau observed that tn
body OF men under his m was to-
small 10 act efficiently and st hs sngges
ton it was doubled. with secret instrne