The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-02

had come TO review the soldiers Oh
Louis XVI, and Rochambeau, proud OF
his guest and proud of his king. proud,
too. perhaps, of the brave. brilliant
appearance of his force. compared
with the ragged horde of the Revolu-
tionary army that lay up near Tap
pan Zee, had made sure that every Of
ficer and every private should be at
his best
In courtly, dignified terms, Wash
ington complimented Rochambeau art
er the review, and then, with more
animation and spirit than he had dis
played at any time while the review
was on, he asked if the three young
men, the map makers as Lafayette
called them, about whom he had heard
so much from the marquis. were with
Rochambeau.
Before a tent near the headquarters
of De Bevelle Count Rochambeau
halted.
Here" he said, I'VE shall find my
boys"
He called, and out of the tent came
three young men. When they saw the
commander in chief they bowed low
His excellency," said Rochambeau,
has a desire TO see your maps. The
Marquis de Lafayette has told him
you are wonderful young men. | have
told him you are light and frivolous
and of little account, like most of my
aids, and that it is a waste OF time
to bother with you. but his excellency
would see you, so here We are"
The young men smiled. They knew
the count better than he knew him.
self
The three were nearly the same
age-26 or II. Two of them were ar
dent. keen, highly emotional; the
other was more reserved. The count
introduced them as Matthew Dumas.
officer of engineers; Charles de La
meth, captain of Royal Cavalerie, and
Alexandra Berthier, captain of the
regiment of Soisonnais. They were
like brothers. Dashing, we'll bred,
well educated and handsome. they had
ample opportunity to indulge them
selves freely in frivolous sports and
pastimes, but with a devotion to duty
that was singular at that time, they
conferred their attention upon their
military affairs.
Washington's calm but penetrating
eyes studied the three young officers
throughout the interview. With al
most a show of reluctance and GER
tainly with a suggestion of blushing
they spread before the commander in
chief the drawings they had made.
There was one OF the battle of
Trenton, one of the battle of Brandy
wine, one of Monmouth. There also
was a map of New York and its vicin-
ity
The map of Brandywine was excel
lent, but Washington had unpleasant
recollections of Brandywine ard seem
ed to find more pleasure in the Tren-
ton drawing The Monmouth sketch
was clever if not extraordinary, he de-
clared, but he suggested one or two
changes. The map of New York he
glanced at and then pointed out sew
eral inaccuracies To find that any of
their work was incorrect was a grief
to those young men.
But they forgot their chagrin in the
warmth of Washington's commenda-
ton.
He complimented all three. They
had been in America a year, or less.
In the year. despite the fact that they
had been cooped up in Newport or
Providence, they had kept themselves
well employed. He would thank La
fayette for bringing them to his no
tice. He was happy. his friend Coun
Rochambeau. had such duitful anG
able aids. He was sure that, like all
young men, they were eager for action
and that fame was their guiding star.
He believed the stage was set for one
of the great acts and he hoped the
closing act of the war. He felt sure
his young friends would play well
their parts of their country, their king
and the people in whose cause they
had crossed the seas.
Little part did the map makers
play in the thoughts of Washington
that night. He saw and thought only
of what he dreamed would be the
browning work of his life. The ardens
Dumas, the dashing Lameth, the pa.
tient, tireless Berthier. were forgot
ten Little did Washington imagine
that the three young men of the map
parts in history, or how antagonistic
were the parts they were TO play. Du-
mas, fiery and loving, was to be one
OF the two stanch, true friends OF
LOUIS XVI in the hour of his greatest
trial.
1t was Dumas who, with Lafayette
planned and aided in the attempt u
save the kings life by escape from
France, and who protected him while
the royal coach was returning from
Varennes, where il had been stopped
and it was Dumas who fought with
might and main against the wild crea
lures of France who were athirst fol
the blood of the foolish king and his
more foolish queen.
De Lameth it was who brought
about the arrest of the king-De La
meth, the dearest friend of Dumas
On opposite sides they fought fol
many days. Within ten years almoat
to a day of his meeting with Washing
ton, De Lameth was to be president
of the French Assembly, and little