Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-01


w 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
we'll known to need repetition, but the
labors Of the other four are not of COM
mon knowledge.
Count Rochambeau did not come to
America until late in the war, when, at
the head of a 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 a marshal
of France in recognition for his serv-
ices against the English.
Duportail-Louis Lebegue Duportaii
had seen much service in the bat
ties in which Lafayette had participat-
ed, and at Monmouth played an impor-
tant part in the operations. On that
field his memory is kept fresh by
memorial statue
He was an engineer officer of no
mean ability, and at Yorktown had di-
rection of the siege works of the Colo
NAL army. For his services there he
secured special mention by Washing
ton in dispatches to congress and on
returning to France was made a mar
shall.
Admiral Count de Grasse and Count
D'Estaing both did effective work on
the sea, the former particularly in
connection with the Yorktown siege.
D'Estaing's field OF activities ranged
from the Rhode Island coast to West
Indian waters. His squadron cooper
ated with a land force under General
Lincoln in an attack upon Savannah
which was repulsed by the British and
in which another patriot Of foreign
blood lost his life.
Occupying a third corner Of Lafay-
cite square, and fitting companion
piece to the statues Of Lafayette and
Rochambeau, is splendid memorial
to the Prussian, General Baron Won
Steuben-"Father Of the American
Army" he has been called
He, Lafayette and Washington
formed an inseparable trio during the
dark days Of the struggle for indie
pendence, but Won Steubens mastery
in military detail and organization
nodded the American troops into a
powerful and victorious army.
He has been held up as the guiding
spirit of the military of the Revolution,
the master at strategy and tactics who
came second only to Washington as
commander of the Continental forces.
At Yorktown, when Washington was
temporarily absent, Won Steuben re-
ceived the offer Of surrender from
CORVALLIS.
Unlike most other foreigners who
gave their services to America in the
Revolution, Won Steuben elected to re-
main in the nation he helped to found.
He died here in 1884, and lies at rest
in Utica, n. Y.