Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-07-02
HEROES OF LIBERTY
Men Of Foreign Birth Who Aided
the United States in Their
Historic Struggle.

MYTH the attention of America d.
WV rected toward the European con-
fiict 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 TT
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 D'Estaing, occupies
the southwest corner of Lafayette
square, opposite the White House, and
in the southeast corner Is another me
mortal to Rochambeau.
These five, Frenehmen 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
HraEdywine, 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 French force of about
5000 sent by Louis XVI to aid Wash.
iington, 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 Duportail
had seen much service in the bat
ties in which Lafayette had participant
ed, and at Monmouth played an impor
tant part in the operations. On that
field his memory is kept fresh by a
memorial statue.
He was an engineer officer of nc
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 mar
shall.
/ hdvnsraI r0vr& 10 rrasa. ov5 1o,,r,
D'Estaing both did effective work or
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
atei with a land force under Genera
Lincoln in an attack upon Savannah
which was repulsed by the British anG
In which another patriot of foreign
flood lost his life.
Occupying third corner of Lafay
cite square. and a fitting companion
piece to the statues of Lafayette ant
Kochambeau, is q splendid memoria
TO the Prussian, General Baron vor
Father of the American
Army" he has been called.
He, Lafayette and Washington
formed an inseparable trio during tn,
dark days of the struggle for indie
pendenee, but Won steuben's master!
in military detail and organization
nodded the American troops into
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 win
came second only to Washington a
commander of the Continental forces
AT Yorktown, when Washington wa
temporarily absent. Won Steuben re
eeived the offer of surrender from
CORVALLIS.
Unlike most other foreigners VIII
gave their services to America in tn
Revolution, Won Steuben elected to re
main in the nation he helped to found
He died here in 1874. and lies at res
In Utica. N. Y.
-A