The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-07-01
HEROES OF LIBERTY
Men of Foreign Birth Who Aided
the United States in Their
Historic Struggle.

/ MYTH the attention of America di-
" rected toward the European con-
flict it is interesting to look back
into the history of our own struggles
and to note the debt this country owes
to several of the nations now at war
particularly to recall the public testi-
monials raised to the memories of citi--
zens of Europe who gave their efforts
toward aiding the United States in her
time of trouble.
The nation has not been negligent.
and today in Washington there are fit.
ting and lasting tributes to foreigners
whose names are familiar in every
American home
Aside from Columbus, to whom the
world rather than the nation is debtor,
there is the Marquis de Lafayette. CO.
worker with Washington in the Revolu-
ton. A striking statue of him and to
his compatriots Rochambeau, Dupor-
tail, de Grasse and DEstaing, occupies
the southwest corner of Lafayette
square. opposite the White House, and
in the southeast corner is another me-
mortal to Rochambeau.
These five, Frenchmen all, and with
the exception of Duportail, of noble
birth, did effective work against the
British forces on land and sea- The
work of Lafayette-his service at
Brandywine, Monmouth and Yorktown,
and as emissary to France-are too
well known to need repetition, but the
| a hnrc Of OIL ,of p
mon knowledge.
Count Rochambeau did not come to
America until late in the war, when, at
the head of French force of about
5000 sent by Louis XVI to aid Wash.
ington, he took part in the siege of
Yorktown and contributed materially
to the final downfall of British arms in
the colonies. He was made marshal
Of France in recognition for his serv-
ices against the English.
Duportail-Louis Lebegue DuportaiI
had seen much service In the bat
les in which Lafayette had participat-
I'd, and at Monmouth played an impor
ant part In the esszstsssss. On that
ield his memory @ nzEt ffesh by
memorial statue
Admiral Count ue urasse and Count
)Estaing both did effective work on
he sea, the former particularly in
with the Yorktown siege.
yEstaing's field of activities ranged
rom the Rhode Island coast to West
indian waters. His squadron cooper
ted with land force under General
lincoln in an attack upon Savannah
1hich was repulsed by the British and
4 which another patriot of foreign
lood lost his life.
Occupying a third corner of Lafay-
tie square, and fitting companion
iece to the statues of Lafayette and
ochambeau, is a splendid memorial
} the Prussian, General Baron Won
teuben-"Father of the American
rmy," he has been called.
He, Lafayette and Washington
'rmed an inseparable trio during the
ark days of the struggle for indie
but Won Steubens mastery
| military detail and organization
olded the American troops into a
)werful and victorious army
He has been held up as the guiding
,irit of the military of the Revolution,
e master at strategy and tactics who
me second only to Washington as
of the Continental forces.
Yorktown, when Washington was
absent, Won Steuben re-
lived the offer of surrender from
Unlike most other foreigners who
We their services to America in the
evolution, Won Steuben elected to re-
hin in the nation he helped to found
} died here in 1894. and lies a. rest
Utica, N. T.