Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-01

regiment of grenadicrs had been killed
mt the battle of Hastenberg. charging
- English battery commanded by Col
h.iips-the same Philips who. MS
general, was to die in Virginia in 1871,
while opposing Lafayette.
The story of the struggle Of the
American colonists had strong appeal
to the young marquis. From that mo-
ment." he said later. my heart was
enlisted" He had no love for Eng
land, for England was the hereditary
enemy of France and that may have
quickened his ardor. but deep down In
hts heart he was n republican. sym
pathizer with oppressed mankind and q
believer In liberty. Although nobly
born and much sought by the great
people about the court Of tho French
king. his own home had more attrac-
ton for him than the most brilliant
society. When only 16 he had married
Adrlennc de Noaillcs, daughter of the
duke dAycn. She was only II. In
day of the utmost license and looseness
OF living he loved only one won,an---his
wife.
When benjamin Franklin and Slas
Dcane arrived In Paris in i1TG rs agents
of the United States and looked around
for men to assist the young republic.
they soon had their attention attracted
TO Lafayette. The French king had to
be strictly neutral--at least on the sur
face. France and England were at
peacc and besides France was so I'M
poverished that she could not risk war.
Soldiers of fortune might go from
France to America. but no one ION
nccted witt, the government could get
pcrmission Lord Stormont. the British
minister. kept close watch on Franklin
and Deanc., and In their negotiations
with Lafayette they had to deal
through an American named Car
michel. Denne handled the affair. One
man of young Lafayette's high stand
ing was worth more to the United
States Just then than Il whole company
OF the general run of adventures VINO
offered their services: MOST OIL .ne iI'uii
who applied demanded high commis-
s;ons in the American army and ad-
vnnces on their pay. Lafayette stipu-
lated not only that he should serve
without pay, but that he should Ut out
n ship to take him over, anu that lie
should pay the expenses OF his conpah-
ions.
But the relatives Of Lafayette when
they heard of his plans first appealed
10 him to abandon them, ana then
threatened TO prevent him from carry
ing them out To throw them Off their
GUARD he decided to take n trip to
Tnrland. He remained in London a
few weeks, and then returned TO
| France. MEANWHILE he had purchased
| n shin, tho Victory, which wns fitting
NJ Marsciles for the voyage TO
America, TOO many persons knew OF
| The purchase of the Victory to keep
| Tho affair secret, and when Lafayette
| finally started for Alarseilles he not
1 ONLY was followed by his father-in-
law, the duke. but the king sent a
| lettre dc cachet. or order OF arrest,
| LAFAYETTE being an officer OF the army
/ - t., fl,, Al u N
| nothing short OF dcsertion. Between
| the opportunities ofithc duke and the
danger of arrest by the kings 0ficers
| Lafayette was III sore straits. 10 aud
to the difficulty the news from Ameri-
ca was OF the worst. Washington had
been driven out Of New York and
! his retreat across New Jersey had
seemed but the beginning OF inc Gnu
OF the war. 800,
There is ono phase OF Lafayettc's
conduct Mt this time that has escaped
| tho historians. According to the ac-
cepted story. Lafayette never fnlter-
cd in his determination. but the diary
| and the letters OF the aaron Dekalp,
I,nfnycttc's chief lieutenant, give a
| different version. These show that
Lafayette, fearing the wrath OF the
king and swaycd somewhat by tho
threats of the duke d'Aycn. determine
cd to return to Paris Dckalb knowing
| that would end the expedition. started
] after him. Hc overlook the marquis,
I and using every argument aud power
at his command, got him to return.
They got aboard the Victory. which
had been moved to the Spanish port
of Las PASSAGES, and on April 20. l777.
the little ship with about 20 French
volunteers sailed for America.
| WASHINGTON AND LAFAYETTE.
| The Victory was to have stopped at
tho Windward Isles for provision and
water, but fearing detention or cap
turc there. Dckaib ordered the cap
tain to proceed direct 10 the United
States, Two English warships chased
the little vessel, but IN June she
reached The western world. 0H@ night
r u planter near the Pedce river In
South Carolina was awakened by
some calls from without, Pirates we're
not infrequent visitors in those parts,
but soon he learned the visitors were
friends. The men outside were La
fayettc and Dekalh They had come
ashore from the Victory and were