The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-02

One man Of young Lafayette's high
standing was worth moro to the United
States just then than whole company
OF the general run Of adventurers who
offered their services. Most Of the
men who applied demanded high COM
missions in the American army. and
advances on their pay. Lafayette
stipulated not only that he should
serve without pay. but that he should
at out ship to take him over, anu
that he should pay the expenses OF MS
companions.
But the relatives Of Lafayette When
they heard Of his plans first appealed
to him to abandon them, and theh
threatened to prevent him from carry
ing them out. To throw them on their
guard he decided to take trip 70
England. He remained In Londo1 70"
weeks. ana then returned to France.
Meanwhile he had purchased a ship.
the Victory, which was fitting al
Marseilles for the voyage to America
Too many persons knew OF tho pur-
chase Of the Victory to keep the AFFAIR
secret, and when Lafayette finally
started for Marseilles he not only was
followed by his father-in-law, the
duke, but the King sent lettre DC
cachet, or order of arrest; Lafayette
being an officer of the army and MS
contemplated flight being nothing short
of desertion Between the importun1.
ties of the duke and the danger OF
arrest by the Kings officers Lafayette
was In sore straits. To add to the oil.
ficulty the news from America was
of the worst Washington had been
driven out OF New York, and his re-
y, cd
but the beginning Of the end OF the
war.
There Is one phase of Lafayette's con-
duct at this time that has escaped
the historians. According to the &C.
copied story, Lafayette never faltered
In his determination, but the diary
and the letters of the Baron Dekalb,
LafayetteB chief lieutenant, give
different version. These show that
Lafayette, fearing the wrath OF the
King and swayed somewhat by the
threats of the Duke dAyen. determined
Ito return to Paris. DeKalb, knowing
that would end the expedition, started
after him. He overlook the marquis,
and, using every argument and power
at his command, got him to return.
They got aboard the Victory, which
had been moved to the Spanish port OF
Las Pasajes and on April 20. 1777, the
little ship with about twenty French
volunteers sailed for America.
Washington nd Lafayette.
The Victory was to have stopped at
the Windward Isles for provisions
and water. but. fearing detention or
capture there, DeKalb ordered the cap
tain to proceed direct to the United
States. Two English warships chased
the little vessel. but In June she reached
the Western World. One night a
planter near the Pedee River, In South
Carolina was awakened by some calls
from without. Pirates We're not In
frequent visitors in those parts, BIZ,
soon he learned the visitors were
friends. The men outside were Lafay-
cite and DeKalb. They had come
ashore from the Victory. and were seek
ing information as to their where
abouts. The planters name was Huger,
He had a little son to whom Lafay-
Years later the boy was to make q
daring attempt to rescue Lafayette
from an Austrian prison.
Lafayette was less than twenty years
old when he reached America He could
speak very little English, He was
tall, thin. awkward and red-headed.
but nevertheless he was one OF the
most charming OF men. When he
reached Philadelphia Congress treated
him coldly, There had been so many
foreigners sent over by Deane and
Franklin. all with promises of high
rank and htg pay and all with SO
much contempt for the American SOL
diers that Congress had little desire
for more But Lafayette soon won the
delegates hearts. He was eager to
ca ,ApS ,n11 fAn Ia a III 49,,
In fact, he had money and supplies
TO give to the good cause. An hon
orary title of major-general was given
to him and next day he met George
Washington, No one was a better
Judge of men than Washington. From
the first he became attached TO Lafay-
cite. AS for Lafayette, he venerated
Washington. They were like father
and son thenceforth. Lafayette became
aid-de-camp to Washington. but the