The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-21

He says Washington spoke to me Of
M. De Lafayette with emotion; he
considers him as his child" Later,
Lafayette sent to Washington the key
to the destroyed Bastile, saying: 1T
is tribute which owe as a son to my
adopted father, as an aid-de-camp to
my general, as missionary Of liberty
to its patriarch"
French Eager In Libertys Cause.
The spirit of Lafayette was the
spirit Of Rochambeau's army. A host
Of young French officers looked on. che
expedition as crusade for liberty, and
crowded for places. Young Berthier
was a volunteer at Yorktown and he
became marshal Of France. viscount
De Noailles marched afoot the whole
756 miles from Newport to Yorktown.
Young Saint-Simon, Chosen, Chastel-
lux, brother of Mirabeau, a brother
Of Talleyrand, Barras, later Director
Barras, and many other enthusiasts
for liberty were in the expedition.
They understood Americans. Equality
was the particular American trait
which impressed them most, and this
idea was imported by them from
America into France.
Rochambeau placed himself and his
army under the command of Washing
ton. The ragged Americans always
had the right Of the line. In case Of
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 ac-
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 1776,
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 a
French possession. A certain count De
Broglle, a veteran of many battles,
was In command Of the garrison. and,
to do honor to his distinguished visitor,
he invited some of his officers to meet
him at dinner. Now it happened that
the duke of Cumberland was In dis
favor with his royal brother-he was,
In fact, In Punishment. He had lately
received news that certain of his
majesty's colonies In America had re-
belled and declared themselves free,
declining to be subject any longer. to
tyrannical king. 1t would seem that
the duke of Cumberland told the story
with some gusto, as If 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 a long
nose and reddish hair. His solemn ex-
preston and his somewhat awkward
manner contrasted strongly with the
frivolous ease and grace of the other
young officers present. He was mar
quis of long descent, connected by
marriage with one Of the greatest
families In France, and he had at his
own disposition a very large income.
He listened intently, he asked many
eager questions, and when he rose
from the table he had made d moment
GUS and historic resolution, He had
resolved to abandon the pleasures and
luxuries of the gayest court In the
world, even to 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
enlistedW That young man was La