The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-21

lnuenoe." De Kalb also received a major
generals commission, but his services
in the past and his practical value as
soldier were so well known that 1t
was deemed unnecessary to give any
excuse for his appointment. The other
Frenchmen who composed this party
OF adventures did not fare so well.
Those who seemed capable and sincere
were admitted to the Continental Army.
The services of the rest were refused.
and they returned full OF hatred to
their own land. De Kalb was placed
in command of the army In the north
under Lafayette.
The Last Fight.
It was not until two years later, in
1880. that he gained especial promt-
nence. although he fought valiantly.
In many engagements. Things had
been going badly for the Americans In
the Southern colonies. Army after
army had been defeated, detachments
cut of, posts carried. and at length
two States were reannexed to the
mother country. and the conqucring
army was ready to invade third. De
Kalg and his forces were sent to North
Carolina, where they We're to be Joined
by the army under General Gates.
CORVALLIS opposed them. On the 10th
OF August the battle OF Camden was
fought Major General Baron De Kalh
commanded the right wing, while Gates
as general-in-chief, experimenting the
| whole, placed himself on the road be-,
tween the line OF battle and the re-
serves. The left flank, under Stevens
was routed in the ensuing combat and
fled In disorder. Only De Kalb and his
veterans held the battle on the right
J in suspense. They were completely
loutnumbered. The conflict was as des-
perate as that ever fought on any
battlefield. SO close did the enemy
press that 1t was q hand hand atrug-
gle. There was nothing but the crash
OF dubbed muskets and the thrust
of cold steel. Like an ancient warrior
De Kalb ragged ever In the forefront
OF the battle. He was seen to engage
!, in a score Of hand to-hand combats
before he fell mortally wounded. He
was a man of great stature and arnaz-
ing strength. all his life soldier. It
lis no wonder therefore that In each
/ OF these individual struggles he came
of victor and was only subdued
when concerted charge was made
upon him by a little band OF redcoats.
| These bore him to earth and would
Ihave pinned him there with their bay
onets had not his ald-de-camp saved
ihim fro mimmediate death when he
l 1cll Oy 0IIlOl dCAAE Vs'SAASS OOaJ
i and receiving the bayonet thrusts that
4 were pointed at his friend and comrade
The Americans rallied for an6instant
i and bore their#dying General with
j them as they retreated from the field
He died three days later, and Is buried
Il as he always wished to be. on the
4 battlefield that was his last. Years
later Congress caused O monument Is
be erected to mark the spot. The IN
scriptionF on his monument says tina
he died in the forty-eig nth year O
his age. It Is more pro bic that n
} was nearly seventy But such hae
], been the Temperance Of his life tina n
a not only enjoyed the most super
health to the very last. but his co unit
nance still retained all the FRESHNESS
and fullness of youth. q
SO ended the career OF this grea'
soldier OF fortune. Almost to the las
he continued to write out IN ciphe
tho humorous reports. whose destlna
ton no one knew. y Undoubtedly a
continued until his death as one Gof tn
chief conhdants Of the French Coy Soy
9 ornment In the United States. No mai
J. was better quauned. he was sober
! drinking water only; abstemio us =
! excess; living on bread, sometime
! with beat soup, at other times Wit
2 cold beef. lie was untiring SS5i II
. industry. It was his constant hal
70 rise at in the morning ght hi
candle and devote himself to writing
avery moment that he could snatcl
from his military duties found hin
covering paper with curious hero
glyphics. These sheets OF paper wer
!. not loose. as Is customary In camps
9 pnt We're bound IN large folio books
: hese Yolumesswcre transmit ed to tn
Baron's unknown. correspond ent when
!, syer safe opportunity might'io ffel
!: No No, one O O. knew viii ther they were sent
4 De Kalb betrayed an uceasing Zeal
2 ousy lest his Journals ana nystic dic
9 4itlohary might be- perused, He seemed
N always 20 he Very much In dread OF los
Ax!nst n1R hlaaEGag So. hich IN ttssltewsA;p