Evening star., 1917-09-09
Tooth Anniversary of Lafayette's Bir

America, was later to make the heroic
attempt to rescue him from the loath-
some prison cell at Olmutz Huger was
caught and. in turn, was imprisoned for
his attempt.
1t was in South Carolina that the
Frenchman performed his first service
for the revolution. when he furnished
money for the much-needed clothing for
the soldiers under Gen. Moultrie before
starting on his journey to Philadelphia,
the seat of the Continental Congress
1t was an exciting ride for liberty and
no patriot of the home cause was more
eager than Lafayette to get into the
fight. His carriage broke down. but,
nothing daunted. he and his companions
mounted the horses, saying: We ride
had preceded them; people cheered
them as they passed and every hospi-
tality was extended to them They
crossed the Potomac river and passed
where now stands Washington On ar
irving at Philadelphia. Lafayette's re-
ception by Congress was not as cordial
as his journey north, and many of the
members seemed to look with impa-
tience on the boyish Frenchman, whose
title of nobility was small recon-
mendation to him.
Besides. they were beset with enthu-
siasts who wished to pose as martyls
or sought commissions in the Cont
mental army. Baron De Kalb. a vet
eran of the German army, lost his life
in the war; the Polish patriots. Count
Pulaski and Count Kosciusko. came
that same year. but there were others
less capable than these so it was only
the enthusiastic words of Lafayette,
tempered by unselfshness and cool rea-
son. that finally won Congress to accede
to his request to fight in the army.
On July 81 of the same wear the fol-
lowing resolution and preamble were
recorded upon the journals of Congress:
. Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette OUT Of his
great zeal to the cause of liberty in which the
and connexions: and at his expense come
over to offer his service to the United States.
anxious to risk his life in our cause Anu ~
Resolved. That his service be accepted and
family and conoe1iots. he have the rank and
commission of major general in the Army OF the
United States.
Lafayette had the rank and commits
son but no command major general
On the following day he was presented
to Gen. Washington and by his invita-
tion the headquarters of the com
mander- in -chief became his home He
gave Washington $4,000 francs for an
emergency. and after meeting him
wrote: Although Washington was
surrounded by officers and citizens. he
was to be recognized at once by the
majesty of his countenance and figure"
The two became fast friends and the
camp was Lafayette's training school
under the guidance of the great com
mander.
Lafayette's first engagement was at
the battle Of Brandywine, where In an
attempt to rally the American troops
in their retreat he received a musket
ball in his leg. Unconscious at first
of the wound, later he persevered in
spite of 1t in the field until he had Sc
cured and covered the retreat After
six weeks in bed he rejoined Washing
ton. who, after the defeat of the little
army at Germantown, had gone into
winter quarters at Valley Forge. La
fayette shared with his friend the rig
ors of that cruel winter, saw the al
most superhuman suffering of the SOL