Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17

Taxing with him, therefore, Gouverneur
MOTIFS, his assistant m the Office OF
nnance, on account OF his huency IN the
French language. he had a pair OF horses
afternoon for Chester, down the Delaware.
On the way he received a message from
washington announcing the Joyful news OF
De Grasses safe arrival In the Chesapeake
on august 80. six days before. This gave
MIN infinite satisfaction on general princi-
pies, out particularly because he foresap
" would enable the French treasurer 10
make the loan desired. His hopes were not
oisappofnted That evening at Chester
General Rochambeau readily agreed 10 have
nis treasurer furnish the money at the
nead OF the Elk. Morris was profuse OF
1 0Ss, ana engaged 20 replace the sum on
oetooer 1 next following
They Wanted Money.
We may marvel at this day why the
american troops for Yorktown should have
specially needed payment in hard money
whiie on the march far from home and
In the act Of beginning such a glorious and
momentous campaign as that OF Yorktown.
t put OF course they could not and did not
loresee Its result. and their nractical na-as-
sites at home were fnsistent ana ,naxor-
apIe. Ihey had received no pay AT All for
many months. and as they pa ssed through
aoii.. uelpnla without receiving the ''dou-
ceur promised by Washington thev rnur
INJURED. In consequence of this Wssb5nc-
Ton on September O. not knowing Of MOT
us success. appealed TO him once more
SUI Sun more approximately than before, his
HEAD OF THE ELK. Sent. a r7s,
u. lear SIT: Every day discovers IN mo
the increasing necessity OF some money Sry
nro,t doSps. 1 nope by this time you ara
PROVIDED to give a months paw. / apd 4,
OF the last Importance TO hasten foruard
myself TO join the MARQUIS de IA fa,,e,ta ~. ~
soon soon as possible. I may leave this in a few
hours cannot do Ii. however without on,
treating you in the warnnest terms -, - ~
oii a Inohth pay at least with AN the ax
petition possible. | wish n 10 coyaa -, -
wings of speed. 'e oii 'no
L am, dear SIR. &C
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
farly on that same morning the 9Th
MOTIFS set out from Chester ri re,,,,,, =,
rhiiliadelphia, but did not reach the clty
Inn noon, having encountered on the way
the rear OF the French army with ito ar
tlIery and baggage On his arrival he AZ
once dispatched Philip Audibert dsr,,tN,
pay l master general, to the Head Of the Elk.
with note to Rochambeau and orders 10
receive the money promised from tha
french treasurer, and to nav (, 10 the
american troops. agreeably to instructions
S Saneh IN writing In his note to Rocham-
beau Morris repeated: IT will take care
agreed upon" ' 'iiiie
In due time the money was paid over 20
AudlDert by the French trca sIlrer ana nv
Audibert disbursef among tho eoi5fors 20
their lively satisfaction. But unfnrfunate-
~ there was not enough Of II TO go around
ana Morris was obliged a few DAYS later
10 supply the deficiency from funds intend
go Ior other pressing objects. And when
the list OF october approached. the date set
Tor the return OF the money borrowed ne
found himself unable without great incon-
Yenience to keep his promise of renavnent
nlglA he els
lace and frankly consulted the Chevalier
buzerne, the minister OF France That
nooleman, perceiving the condition and
belng convinced that the French military
chest was not in immediate need of cash.
undertook to assure Rocharnbeau officially
mat the transaction would be made GOOD
ana suggested to Morris that in the moan
time he might delay payment untl the ar
rival Of American funds from Frame ms
iltted a load from Morris mind. Vet as n
stlckler for forms he failed moi to write
RochambeaC an explanation, renewing his
pledge to replace the loan. 1t IS srafifvInp-
to know that he was able On NoVemher II
lolloWlng to repay more than half of the
amount. 5000 liVres. The remainder Was
PAID subsequently on Rochambeau's order.
rms S2ooD was perhaps the most hardly
raised the most troublesome and the ynoct
notable sum of all the millions that passeti
through Morris hands for the prosecution
i pI cur war OF the revolution. and historical
~ ~ was probably the most important sum
OF It's size ever raised In that struggle con-
sidering what 1t helped to ACCOMPLISH IN
that very year, 1871, France had supplied
us with 2Ooo0,00 livres to carry on the
war. and from 117G to 11S2 she eXn.ndas IN
our behalf, all told, the stuperdous sum for
that day of S2S0o0O.0Q in clothing arminp-
equlppfng and paying our armies as well as
ner own FORCES In America. and in main
tanning her fleets in the American service
But or all this generous treasure given or
loaned 10 us by our princely ally this Iit-
tie $4,000 stands out under the necuII,r
in hnl lie
or special exemplary merit The soldiers
of Gen. Lincolns detachment were nut in
hghting trim. Had they not received the
"douceur' there would in all prohabiIitv
nave been trouble among them. AS IT was,
there was no hitch anywhere in that mem
orable campaign. From the emharkatIor AZ
the Head of the Elk on September 10 to
the investment of Yorktown and Gloucester
on the 18th and the beginning of the siege
works on October g, then to the beginning
of the second parallel on the 18th and the
charge on the redoubts on the 14th on to
the parley on the 18th and the wholesale
on the 18th everything moved
like clockworK. De Grasse with his TWEEN
ty-four ships of the line defeated and drove
OF the British fleet of tweuty-four sail
under Admiral Graves; de Barras with his
fourteen ships arrived safe from Newport
to still further strengthen the French sea
power and ward off any attempted inter-
ference: CORVALLIS with his 1900 troops
and 1000 sailors was completely encom-
passed by the French army under Rocham-
beau and the American army under WASH
ington, and found that the position he had
selected. while excellent for an army with
a superior sea power to protect it was a
snare when it no longer pos
sessed that advantage. The whole force of
the besieged, numbering 5000 men. with
1000 negro slaves. 100 vessels great and
small, pa guns and "a colors was surren-
dered to the allied yictors of France and
and the independence of the
United States was achieved.