Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-06-25

equality Of rank, the American officer
always took command Not so much
as cabbage was taken without pay
ment Before Yorktown the Ameri-
cans were not skilled in siege opera
lions, and Washington gratefully ae-
knowledged the service of the French
engineers The French fleet closed the
river and the surrender came With
out that French help we tremble to
think what might have happened.
Fired Lafayette's Ardor.
Toward the close of the year 1916,
the duke of Cumberland who was the
brother of King George III of England.
was travelling In France and one day
he arrived at the town of Metz. then
F! French possession. A certain count De
| Broglie, veteran of many battles.
I was in command of the garrison. and
/ 10 do honor 70 his distinguished visitor.
| he invited some of his officers to meet
! him at dinner. Now 1t happened that
| the duke Of Cumberland. was in dis.
/ favor with his royal bruther--he was,
/ In fact, in Punishment. lie had lately
received news that certain of his
! mniesty's colonies in America had re-
helled and declared themselves free,
declining 10 be subject any longer to
/ tyrnunicul king 1t would seem that
/ the duke of Cumberland told the story
with some gusto. as n he were not al
/ together sorry that his brother was In
/ trouble. one officer listened with par
| ticular attention He was youth of
nineteen, tall and thin. with long
/ nose and reddish hair Ills solemn ex-
preston and his somewhat awkward
manner coptrasted strongly with the
frivolous ease and grace of the other
young officers present. He was a mar.
quiS of long descent. connected by
marriage with one of the greatest
families In France. and he had at his
own disposition very large income.
He listened intently, he asked many
eager questions. and when he rose
from the table he had made q moment
Gus and historic resolution. He had
resolved to abandon the pleasures and
Injuries Of the gayest court in the
world. even 10 leave his young wife
and child and to cast in his lot with
these strange rebels in America. In
his own words when first heard of
American independence, my heart was
enlisted /" That young man was La
fayette; and when the American army
went TO the front i'm France, II merely
paid small part of the debt of graft
tude we owe that splendid young of,
ficer-that true nobleman.
Appointed G major general by Wash
ington in July. he fought at the battle
of Brandywine In September and re-
ceived an ugly wound. Soon again in
t the saddle. he went through many vi.
cissitudes and privations with Wash
ington at Valley Forge. his browning
exploit being the forcing of the retreat
of Lord CORVALLIS, leading to his sur.
render at Yorktown. in 1871. Although
e Washington and other famous Ameri.
I can generals had Joined him previous
e TO the surrender. Lafayette. with a
! small force had initiated the rout nj
r CORVALLIS at the battle of Alhemarle
2 That the highest credit was due 10 La.
t fayette is shown by the fact that
e Washington warmly thanked and com.
/. plimented him In the presence of the
+ troops, after the great surrender which
r practically ended the war.
r Lafayette's Staff.
: Lafayette's companions accompany
]. ing him on his voyage on La victoire
y were as follows: Baron De Kalb. Wis
L c0mte De Mauroy. Colonels DeleSse.
5 and Valport Lieutenant Colonies De
r Fayolles and Frauvel, Majors Dubuys
son and De Gimat. Captains De vrig
5 ny, De Bedaulx and De IA Colombo
: Lieutenant Dubois Martin aud IL
5 American named Brice.-(From foot
f note, Vol l, p. 80, Of Life Of Genera