Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-22
L'Enfant.

The, people of Washington. of America
and of the world today pay tribute TO
the memory Of Mai. Peter Charles l. En-
FAINT continental army. author of the de-
sign Of Washington city. The occasion
Is the unveiling of an impressive monu-
ment over the grave of this distinguished
man al Arlington.
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, acting under authority of Con-
gress caused the elimination of Maj.
L'Enfants remains. April -, 1909, from
the unmarked grave in which they had
rested since his death June IA, 1925, al
Green Hill. in Prince Georges county
formerly the farm of Dudley Digges. VINO
was nephew TO Thomas Digges of War
burton Manor. friend of George Wash
ington and friend of l. Enfant. After re-
moval from the grave the remains were
placed in a receiving vault at Mount
Olivet, and April IS conveyed to the
Capitol. where they lay in state in the
rotunda. The commemoration exercises
and the funeral were events in Washing
ton history.
This brave Frenchman's memory de-
serves we'll at the hands of the Ameri-
can people. He was early in espousing
the cause of the American colonies
against the mother country. He came
TO the United States with Lafayette
He rendered excellent service in the
continental army and was wounded at
the siege of Savannah. Unlike so many
of the foreigners who offered their
services to the young republic, he did
not ask for high rank, not gaining
his majority till 1883. He was one of
the founders of the Society of the Gin
cinnati.
When II had been determined to To-
cate the federal city on the banks of
the Potomac river. Maj. Ellicott of the
Engineer Corps of the United States Army
was directed to make a survey of
the site of the embryo city. The fol-
lowing letter was sent by Thomas
Jefferson to LEnfant in March 1871:
Sir: You are directed to proceed TO
Georgetown, where you will find Mr.
:. Ellicott employed in making d survey
and map of the federal territory. The
= especial object of asking your aid is
TO have drawings of the particular
grounds most likely to be approved fol
the site of the federal town and build
tngS. You will. therefore, be pleased
to begin on the Eastern branch. and
proceed from thence upward, laying
down the hills. valleys. morasses and
the waters between that, the Potomac
the Tfber and the road leading from
Georgetown to the Eastern branch and
the whole with certain fixed points OF
the map Mr.. Ellicott is preparing"
LEnfant drew the plan of a great
:ity. an ideal capital on grander lines
han those displayed by any city then
existence, with oblique avenues of
inc width. a public garden, small
reservations of varying shapes and
,izes. monuments and memorials, foun-
aims great and small, and canals He
conferred with President Washington
frequently, and Washington not only ap-
proved the plan. but aided to shape it.
The plan for the new federal city was
also approved by the Senate and House
IF Representatives at Philadelphia, De-
cember 13, 1871.
There was great deal OF pathos in
The closing years of Mai. l. Enfants life
The general public recognition of his
eminent services was tardy, but this Is
often so.
Standing al LEnfants grave at Airing
ION. one may overlook the great city.
The plan of which was conceived by him.
IodayS tribute is not a final tribute
Every step toward making the National
Capital the most imposing and impressive
Of all capitals is tribute 10 the memory
Of l. Enfant and his friend, George Wash
ngton the Great