The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-02

contemplated flight being nothing short
 of desertion. Between the importun
 ities of the Duke and the danger of arrest by the Kings officers Lafay
 cite was in sore straits. To add to the
 difficulty the news from America was
 of the worst Washington had been
 driven out of New York and his retreat
 across New Jersey had seemed but the
 beginning of the end of the war. There is one phase of Lafayette's
 conduct at this time that has escaped
 the historians. According to the ac-
 cepted story, Lafayette never faltered
 in his determination, but the diary and | the letters of the Baron DeKalb, La
 fayette's chief lieutenant, give a diff I ferent version. These show that La
 fayette, fearing the wrath of the King
 and swayed somewhat by the threats of the Duke d'Ayen, determined to 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 com
 mand, got him to return. They got aboard the Victory, which has been
 moved to the Spanish port of Las Pas
 ajes, and on April 20, TIT, the little ship with about 20 French volunteers sailed for America.
 Washington and Lafayette The Victory was to have stopped at the Windward Isles for provision and
 water, but, fearing detention or cap
 ture there, DeKalb ordered the captain
 to proceed direct to the United States. Two English warships chased the lit tie vessel, but in June she reached the Western World. One night plant
 CT near the Pedee river in South Car
 olina was awakened by some calls
 from without. Pirates were not infre- quent visitors in those parts, but soon
 he learned the visitors were friends | The men outside were Lafayette and
 DeKalb. They had come ashore from
 the Victory and were seeking informa- | tion as to their whereab bouts. The planters name was Huger. He had a little son to whom Lafayette took a great fancy. Nearly twenty years later
 the boy was to make daring attempt to rescue Lafayette from an Austrian
 prison.
 | Lafayette was less than 20 years old when he reached America. He could l speak very little English. He was tall, | thin, awkward and redheaded, but never
 theless he was one of the most charm l ing of men. When he reached Phila- i IA l.: rf,t-- had been so many foreigners sent over | by Deane and Franklin, all with prom | ises of high rank and big pay and all with so much contempt for the American soldiers, that Congress had little desire | for more. But Lafayette soon won the | delegates hearts He was eager to serve | as volunteer. He asked no pay In | fact, he had money and supplies to give | to the good cause. An honorary title of
 major general was given to him and next day he met George Washington. No one was better judge of men than Wash ington From the first he became at
 tached to Lafayette. As for Lafayette,
 he venerated Washington. They were like father and son thenceforth. Lafay- ette became aid de camp to Washington,
 but the marquis behaved so gallantly at the battle of Brandywine. where he was
 shot in the leg. that Washington recom- mended that he be placed in command
 of division. Thereafter he was a real,
 not an honorary, major general.
 Europe Thrilled
 The story of his flight from Europe, his sacrifices in the cause of the struggling
 Continentals and his gallantry at Brandy wine thrilled France. Knight errantry
 was not dead when a noble of France
 could act as did Lafayette. So thought the youth of France. His letters to
 great men of France. too. had much in
 nuence France began to see an oppor- tunity in America of striking a telling
 blow at England After the surrender
 of Burgoyne France decided the time was riped.
 Lee robbed Lafayette of one glorious op- n the Battle of Monmouth " had given command of the
 q to Lafayette when Lee had