The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-06-04
THE FOREIGN FRIENDS OF THE
AMERICAN COLONIES.

Who were these foreign friends OF
the colonies that fought for liberty in
the latter part of the eighteenth cen.
fury? They were foreigners who left
home. country. honors of high offices
or who fought for liberty for their
own country. Brave men and true
they were Brave indeed to leave
home and cast their fortunes with
the American colonel. True men
who did not leave a hlotch on their
character, and who very often died
in the service of the country they
had endeavored TO help to freedom
To mention some four or FIVE, there
are La Fayette. Kosciuszko, Baron
De Kalb, Baron Steuben and Pulaski
When the revolution broke out La
Fayette was fired with the enthusi'
asm that stirred the Americans. Al
though a Frenchman, he entered the
service of the colonies, coming with
eleven companions, one Of whom was
Baron DeKalb In III Congress gave
him the title of maior-general He
was wounded at Brandywine. La
Fayette was a member of the court
martial that condemned Major Andre
He sailed for France in 1881 but re
turned in 17S4for a visit, and was re
ceived with great enthusiasm.
Kosciuszko was a Pole, who was
recommended as a colonel by Benz
Franklin. becoming soon after, chief
engineer in charge of fort construc
ton on the Hudson river He was
admtant 10 General Washington, but
afterwards served with General
Green. At the close Of hostilities
Kosciuszko was made major-general
and received the thanks OF congress
Baron DeKalb was one OF the eleven
of La Fayette who came
to this country. and offering his ser
vices to congress was commissioned
ma or-general. He served in New Jer
sey and afterwards under General
Green. Baron De Kaib was mortally
wounded at Camden.
Baron Steuben, Prussian, Joined
the American army in 1777, when ne
was made majorgeneral. Soon after
he became inspector-general, reorgan
ling and drilling the army, while ii
was at Valley Forge. He saw ser
vice in Connecticut. where he checked
traitor ArnolGs raid in the Carolinas
and in New Jersey. Baron Steuoen
was present al the surrender OF Corn
wallis at Yorktown in 1881. For his
services he received land in New
York, Pennsylvania and Virginia and
pension Of $4,000.
Pulaski made the acquaintance OF
BENZ. Franklin and joined the Ameri'
cans as volunteer, becoming soon
after a brigadler general At Savan.
nah. Pulaski commanded the com
bined forces Of French and American
cavalry, during the charge OF which
he was mortally wounded,
These men which have been taken
for example show that those VINO
came here to take arms with the Am
orleans and fight for liberty evidently
showed that they did not expect any
recompense whatever for their ser
vices. Three OF them were men OF
wealth in their own country, while
the other two were driven from their
country for fighting for the liberty oil
their people OF these five men Two
were thanked by congress, two had
died before the end Of the war, while
the other was given pension anc
large holdings Of land in three OF the
eastern states
Does not honor belong to these
men? Did not France a few years
ago erect a monument in honor o.
La Fayette. to which the school chill
dren of America contributed a large
amount? Perhaps they are not very
well known. but they helped to make
our glorious ,mion a free land tt
govern itself and eventually 10 be
come one of the greatest nations O
the earth.
ALBERT c. NELSON.