E 207 .L2 M7 Copy 1 1 GENERAL LAFAYETTE WILLIAM A . WILCOX GENERAL LAFAYETTE GENERAL LAFAYETTE. Lafayette once said that when he X A sketch prepared at the request of first heard of the quarrel between Eng- "^ .. TTT ^. 1 r\i 1 117^11- A land and the Colonies his heart was ^ the Waterloo Observer by Wilham A. K enrolled in it. ty" Wilcox, member of the Waterloo Li- \i: ... He was nineteen years old and a VI - brary and Historical Society, for itS/--.- rr-. u •t»t.l- <^ -^ ■" Captain of Dragoons when in Metz, m issue reporting the dedication of the 1776, he attended a dinner given in Lafayette Monument and Park, Thurs- honor of the Duke of Gloucester, broth- day, June 8th, 1922. ^^ °^ the Enghsh king, who was in dis- favor at home because of his marriage. Marie Jean Paul Joseph Roch Yves At this b'anquet Lafayette heard defini- Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, tely of the Declaration of Independence was born some few leagues south of the and definitely resolved to tender his center of France on September 6th, assistance in the cause of liberal 1757. He was of aristocratic birth, his government. He sought the American recorded lineage going half way back agent in Paris, Silas Deane, but was to the times of the Caesars, and as a discouraged. A series of disasters had boy he was page to the Queen. His spelled out the defeat of the cause, father, when only twenty-five years of Liberty was hopeless, but not to La- age, fell in the battle of Minden, in fayette. To him, if the cause seemed Germany, and his mother's death fol- hard pressed, he was the more needed, lowed hard after, leaving the young Nor could relatives and friends dis- Marquis an orphan at the early age of suade him. He concluded an arrange- thirteen and in possession of estates ni^nt with the American Ambassadors, yielding him an annual income of 200,- Silas Deane, Benjamin Franklin and 000 livres, equivalent to $37,.500.00. Arthur Lee; purchased a vessel of his At sixteen he married, in the person own means, fitted her for the voyage of a lady yet younger than himself, and invited a few friends to join him. one of the most superlatively excellent The British Ambassador heard of the of the fair ones of all France, with an project and on his protest the French estate exceeding his own. She was government, nominally at least, sought Anastasie de Noialles. to stay the young enthusiast. The ship Her brother was one of that group was sent to a Spanish port; the Spanish of French nobility who sought refuge government opposed him, but neverthe- from the Reign of Terror in a settle- less with eleven companions he sailed, ment they founded on the Susquehanna British cruisers dogged both his de- River, a few miles below Tioga Point, parture and his arrival here, but they in Pennsylvania. There they had were eluded, and, closing a tedious voy- built, of logs it is true but dignified age of two months, he landed in South nevertheless, a grand house for the Carolina. When he set foot on x\meri- Queen, Marie Antoinette, who was un- can soil he resolved, it is said, to win or fortunately intercepted on her way to die here with the cause of liberty. He the coast and sent to the guillotine. ^^^ publicly honored at Charleston and hurried to Philadelphia. Of his arrival Ticnor says: "The sensation produced by his ap.- pearance in this country * * * "' still stands forth as one of the most promi- nent and important circumstances of the Revolutionary contest, and it has often been said, by one who bore no small ^p art in its trials and successes, none but those who were then alive can believe what an impulse it gave to the hopes of a population almost dishearten- ed by a long series of disasters." In a letter to the President of the Congress he tendered his services as a volunteer, without pay. He was given a commission as Major General, dated July 31st, 1777. Lafayette lacked than a month of being twenty years of age and spoke the Enghsh language but imperfectly. His appointment was ap- parently less seriously considered by the Congress than by the new officer. In the breast of the young patriot there burned an intense love of the liberty for which America struggled; a consciousness of aptitude and power and a determination to do and to die in behalf of that liberty and of humanity. Washington and Lafayette met first at a dinner party the day following the action of Congress. The wise com- mander, with a penetration that seldom failed him', quickly discerned the man. The affectionate intimacy between them then begun was never for a moment interrupted. The high military talent; the personal probity; the prudence; the energy; the chivalry; the ardor of the young man won the commander and all that the latter saw in him was abun- dantly justified. The day following Lafayette took up his mihtary abode at Washington's headquarters. Five weeks later, at Brandywine, the young Marquis saw service. The de- feated Americans were in retreat. He dismounted and entered the ranks, ral- lying the men, and received a leg wound of which he took note only when an aide told him of the blood running from his boot. The wound disqualified him for two months. On December first, at the request of Washington, the Congress passed a resolution advising that it would be highly agreeable to the Congress that the Marquis de Lafayette be given a separate command and Washington promptly assigned him to the command of a division. Barely twenty years of age he now found himself with a most honorable rank and command, purchased with his own blood, fighting to secure the inde- pendence of a strange people and against the enemies of his own. He had justified the boyish rashness which his relatives and friends deplored and his sovereign resented. He had begun the great work he was destined to do for his own France. His heart had formed reciprocal cleavage tp a friend who also was to be one of the world's immortals. He was sent to Albany for the com- mand of an expedition against Canada. While he waited there he put the Valley of the Mohawk in a state of defense; watched Arnold: sat on the court mar- tial that tried Andre; and developed evidence of and rebuked the despicable, treasonable cabal against Washington, the center of which was in a Board of War far more intent in overthrowing Washington than on winning indepen- dence. Lafayette joined the army at Valley Forge. He earned expressions of warmest approval from Washington for masterly service at Barren Hill and on June 28th fought with great gallantry at Monmouth and therefor received the Oift thanks of Congress. Here the commanc' turned to France. "This time he had belonged to Charles Lee, as senioi. came home one of the heroes of a noble He declined. Lafayette accepted it. conflict and fortified with the most Lee changed his mind; asked and re- flattering testimonials of his Command- ceived it back. Lafayette accepted tht er in Chief and from the Government demotion. Seeing a chance to attack he had served." France gave him the he rode to Lee and asked permission, same rank he had held in America and The reply was: "Sir, you do not know dated his commission from the surren- British soldiers. We cannot stand der of Cornwallis at Yorktown. His against them." Lafayette said: "It name was the occasion for acclaim may be so. General, but British soldiers wherever he went. He was cheered in have been beaten. At any rate I am the theatres. Crowds followed him in disposed to make the attempt." Per- the street^. Processions greeted him. mission was given and the attack was Civic honors were bestowed. Journey- made with vigor and with success until ing to one of his estates he was detained Lee ordered the retreat for which he for a week in Orleans alone, was court marshaled. He carried to his home this time a Lafayette borrowed money of Balti- plan for the wresting from Great more bankers on his own account to Britain of the Canadas. Lafayette was provide his soldiery with shoes, hats, the idol; liberty was the cause; America tents and pieces. Fresh hope and was the hope. The enthusiasm of doubled enlistments resulted. France spread to Spain. An expedition When early in 1778 war broke out of 60 vessels of the line and 24,000 between France and England Lafayette troops was organized to sail from Cadiz asked leave to go home to consult the under his command. He actually led king. His welcome there was extraor- 8,000 men from Brest to Cadiz, but dinary. Nor was he idle. He enlisted instead of sailing he, in a letter sent the Count de Rochambeau and his from Cadiz February 5, 1783, gave to army of 6,000. the Congress its first news of the Treaty After six months Lafayette was here of Paris which ended the war. again. For two years he was charged ^ .^3 ^^t for us to tell here at any with the defense of Virgmia and was ie„gth of his noble career in his own credited by Washington with doing 10^^^ France, nor of his horrible suffer- all that was possible with the forces at ^^gs as a political prisoner for five his command. Lord Cornwallis wrote y^^^^ -^ ^^^ inhuman dungeon in Aus- of him: "The boy cannot escape me." ,^^^ ^hey are recounted in a book With superior strategy Lafayette caused ^f ^^ich two considerable editions were the proud Lord's retreat from place to p^^^^^ed by General Holstein, who did place until at Yorktown he was over- ^^^j^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ accompHshment of come. Lafayette personally command- the liberation of the prisoners from ed one of the assaulting parties. For Olmutz. The second edition was dated his honorable part in this final en- from Geneva College in 1835. But a gagement of the war our hero was pub- brief summary must be given, licly thanked by Congress. He was a member of the Assembly of Again, in January, 1779, Lafayette re- Notables in the National Assembly. He presented there a Declaration of In the Assembly, when a motion had Rights modeled on Jefferson's Declara- been made to demand the resigna- tion of Independence. He commanded tion of the emperor Napoleon, Lucien, a National Guard of 3,000,000 men. For brother of the emperor, denounced it as years his history was that of France, inconstancy and national ingratitude. The struggle between the expiring Lafayette arose and spoke from his monarchy and popular sovereignty be- place, not from the tribune. Three came big with the throes and horrors sentences defeated the vote. Lucien of the French Revolution. He caused bowed to Lafayette and sat down, his millions of his countrymen to take the speech unfinished. The words so effect- oath to live free or die. He protected j^g ^f ^^g General were: "The assertion and repeatedly saved the hves of the that has just been uttered is a calumny, royal family. He could and did speak ^jj^ ^^^^ jare to accuse the French defiantly to the King, demanding the nation of inconstancy to the Emperor preservation of the rights of the people; Napoleon? That nation has followed he could and did face the fury of vast his bloody footsteps through the sands hosts of angered thoughtless people, of Egypt and through the snows of When to be heard was hopeless he led Russia; over fifty fields of battle in forth Queen Marie Antoinette and kiss- disaster as faithfully as in victory; and ed her hand. Such was his influence it is for having thus devotedly followed that the cries changed to "Vive la him that we now mourn the blood of Reine," "Vive Lafayette." Then he three millions of Frenchmen." summoned forth one of the body guard ^^ ^-^^^ ^^^^^ having been establish- and embraced him. The answer came ^^^ Washington invited Lafayette to back from the mob: "Vivent du gardes- ^^^ Vernon. He arrived in New York corps." He on an occasion perilously ^^ August fourth. He reached Mt. interposed his own body at the mouth Vernon ten days later and remained of a cannon as the brand was swung to ^j^^^.^ ^^^j^^ blissfuf days. At Fort the priming. Schuyler he attended an Indian Con- When, in prison, terms were offered gress where his strong influence among him, but he disdainfully spurned any the tribes was manifest. His Indian that would compromise his rights and name was Kayewia. He went into duties either as a Frenchman or an New England, then once more to Mt. American citizen. Vernon. Virginia and Maryland each Napoleon tendered him the Cross of voted him citizenship. He took leave the Legion of Honor and he declined of Washington at Annapolis; of the it. President Jefferson offered to ap- Continental Congress at Trenton and Iioint him governor of Louisiana, then sailed from New York on Christmas recently acquired. To come here might Day, 1784. His reception everywhere seem an abandonment of his higher had left nothing to be desired, allegiance to the cause of constitutional Forty years later he came again and freedom in Europe and that might not for the last time. It was after his star l)e. He was the acknowledged chief of had risen and set again and again with the constitutional party, against ab- the vicissitudes of France. The appall- solutism, in the continent of Europe. ing French Revolution and the rise and fall of Napoleon had been near mont, Catskill, Hudson, Albany, Troy, him. He had suffered, as a political New York (again), Trenton, Philadel- prisoner in Austria for five years, in- phia, Baltimore, Washington, Mt. Ver- humanities that to us seem almost un- non, Yorktown, Richmond, Williams- believable, the while many of his rel- burg, Norfolk, Petersburg, Montpelier, atives, connections and friends went to Orange Court House, Fredericksburg, the guillotine. He had followed his Washington, Raleigh, N. C, Fayette- own beloved wife to her grave and ville, Cheraw, S. C, Cambden, Charles- had mourned the death of his foremost ton, Augusta, Milledgeville, Ala., friend, our own great Washington. His Macon, Ga., Montgomery, Mobile, New fortune had been swept away. He had Orleans, Baton Rogue, Nachez, Miss., labored earnestly and eflficiently in Kaskaskia, III, Nashville, Tenn., Louis- Europe for the new American Repubhc. ville, Ky., Cincinnati, Wheeling, Union- Through all these years he had so hved town, Pa., Braddock's Field, Pittsburgh, that there was almost nothing of which Erie, Buffalo, Niagara, Lockport, Roch- he could reproach himself. Curs had ester, Syracuse, Schenectady, Rome, nagged his heels in America and in Utica, Boston, Bunker Hill (where he France, as they had nagged Washing- laid with Masonic ceremonies the cot- ton. It is part of the price of leader- ner stone of the monument and heard ship in devotion to high ideals. Others Webster's notable oration), then into than these have had to pay it. New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New He came on his last visit to us as ^^^^^^ ^ity, Philadelphia, Germantown, the guest of the nation. Few happier Brandywine, Lancaster, Baltimore and . u • 1 J it, t Washington. In Washington he took events are chronicled on the pages of * , . . T- -i r farewell of the President, passed down history. irue it was many faces were *^ . . „ .Lu 1 • e the Potomac by boat to the ship that missing. He was the sole survivor ot -^ *^ ., 1 m u u J bore him home. He sailed homeward the general officers who has served , „r , . . Ti ,. T ff September 7th, 1825. under Washington. But Jefferson, '^ ' nr Tu Aj jTi.i\/r From Buffalo to Rochester he jour- Monroe, John Adams and John Mar- •' , ,, . ,• J 4.U u neyed by the Erie Canal. The follow- shall were yet alive and those who -^ ,j 1 ™- • i-i r J ing, quoted from the journal kept by could speak reminiscently of camp and *^' ^ •' f j , .., ^4. t J 4-u i-u the Secretary, covers the route between I)attle were not a few and the growth •" r ., e* 4- u 1 jj J 4. -1 Rochester and Syracuse: "He left the of the new States had added ten mil- ^ lions of new grateful hearts and all ^^"^ ^^ Rochester, passed a few hours gave him proud welcome. The party ^'^^ ^^^ inhabitants of that town, who consisted of General Lafayette himself; ^^^^ ^'"^ ^ reception which, in affec- his son, George Washington Lafayette ''"^ ^"^ elegance fully equalled any (who was a graduate of Princeton); that I have hitherto witnessed, and con- his Secretary, M. Auguste Levasseur; ^^""^^ ^is journey by land, passing and a servant, Bastien. They landed through the villages of Canandaigua, Geneva, Auburn, Skaneateles, Marcel- at Staten Island on August 25th, 1824, , . j • • j ... , ^ ' lus, etc., and rejoined the canal at and visited New York, Boston, Cam- Syracuse. This journey confirmed us in bridge, Charleston, Bunker Hill, Ports- the opinion that no part of America, mouth, N. H., New York (again). West or, perhaps, of the whole world, con- Point, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Cler- tains so many wonders of nature as the State of New York. The lakes of Canandaigua, Seneca and Cayuga, ap- peared delightful to us from the purity of their waters, the forms of their basins, and the richness of their banks. The sight of all these beauties and still more the kindness and urbanity of the population through which we travelled, often made General Lafayette regret the rapidity with which he travelled. During this journey of upwards of one hundred and thirty miles by land, we travelled night and day only stopping for a few moments at each village, to enjoy the entertainments prepared by the inhabitants in honor of their belov- ed guest, who, said they, by the simpli- city, the amenity and uniformity of his manner toward all classes of citizens completed the conquest of all hearts, al- ready devoted to him from his adher- ance to the cause of America in parti- cular, and that of liberty in general." It was on June 8th, 1825, that Lafayette came to Waterloo. He was escorted by a large company of citizens and a local troop of cavalry command- ed by Captain Lemuel W. Ruggles, which met him at Geneva. At the corner of West Main street and the Park, which is hereafter to bear his name, on the site of the residence of Charles A. Genung stood the large three story frame building known as the Waterloo House. A band of music oc- cupied a balcony of the hotel and play- ed appropriate tunes. Cannon boomed and bells rang. The stay was brief, but sufficient for the population to pay him their respects. Prominent here, as throughout his journeys, were the Revolutionary soldiers and the Masonic fraternity. Waterloo, as well as other places visited, has been neglectful in not pre- serving more of the detail of the re- ception held that day. Doubtless there were incidents here not unlike the fol- lowing incident: During the reception in Boston there appeared a sentry in his original Con- tinental uniform with a small blanket, or piece of blanket, on his shoulders and with his ancient musket which had seen service on many fields. He ap- proached the nation's guest and made the stiff salute of the days of the old war. Lafayette returned the, salute and then spoke affectionately to the soldier, his eyes dimming as the memo- ries suggested by the uniform, the mus- ket and the figure crowded upon him. Sentry: "Do you know me?" (Fifty years had passed). Lafayette: "Indeed I cannot re- member you." Sentry: "Do you remember the frosts and snows of Valley Forge?" Lafayette: "I can never forget them." Sentry: "One night as you went your rounds you cam^ upon a sentry illy clad, in shoes of raw cowhide and no stockings, on the point of perishing with the cold. You took the sentry's musket; told him to go to your hut, put on a pair of stockings he would find there, warm himself and bring to you the blanket from there. On his re- turn you cut the blanket in halves and gave the sentry one. This is that half blanket, I am the sentry whose life you saved and this is the musket you held." In Savannah, Georgia, Lafayette laid with Masonic ceremonies the corner stones of two monuments. One to General Greene and the other to Count Pulaski. At that for General Nathaniel Greene he used these words that will add rather than detract from the fame of General Greene if we borrow and wisdom or patriotism. No church has apply them to Lafayette himself. He any monopoly of the virtue of the peo- said: "The great and good man to pie nor any patent on religion. There whose memory we this day pay a tri- is much bad in the best of us and bute of respect, of affection and pro- good in the worst of us. It may have found regret, acquired in our Revolu- been Lafayette was influenced by the tionary war a glory so true and so pure ages long contests between his land and that even now the name of Greene re- England, but what a passion was his for calls all the virtues, all the talents, constitutional government and it was in which can adorn the patriot, the states- England that constitutional government man and the General." developed and the written charters and We have seen our hero coming a constitutions of America have been youth of nineteen. Now he looked but logical steps forward by English hngeringly back from outside the capes colonies. at Hampton Roads, a man of 67 years. What a varied group have been our Ten years more he lived at home and enthusiastic noble compatriots in liber- then went peacefully beyond the veil, ty's cause — Lafayette, Rochembeau and He died, surrounded by children and de Noaiiles are but the a, b, c of a long friends, in the early morning of May alphabet of Frenchmen; Baron de 29th, 1834. Kolb and Baron Steuben were Ger- Lafayette was, it may fairly be claim- ^^ns; Kosciuszko was a Lithuarian ed, next to Washington the person P^^e of Russia; Count Pulaski was a who did most for American Indepen- ^°^^> Kossuth was a Hun; Carrachi, dence, for he brought to our assistance °^ Italy, and Houdon, of France, came the armies and fleets and treasuries and *« show forth Washington because they credits and diplomacy of France. loved Liberty. We are Huguenots and „,, T r ^^ , 1 r Scotch, Indians, Sweeds, Syrians, Jews, Wherem was Lafayette s love of , ^ , ' , , ..-,„, ■ -i r ^^ Greeks, Welsh, Irish, Spaniards, Black, America? ihe answer is, Lafayette , ^ J . J • i- i- 1 White, Yellow, Catholic (Lafayette was hated oppression and instinctively ^ ^, , r r , • 1 ^ a Catholic), Puritan, Cavalier, Cre- sprang to the defense of human rights. ™, . ^, ^ ,1- ^- r !-• ole. If we are to live on it must be 1 hat was the controlling motive of his ,./• TT 1^ L t. through the dominance of the love of life. He was unselfish; he was pure; '^ , 11. t-- 1 L liberty and independence and the hatred he was loyal; he was chivalrous; he was jf . , 4.U • <- u of oppression, steadfast; he was an enthusiast; he ^^ had dauntless courage and high purpose, While human rights endure Lafayette but chiefly and always he loved hber- will be remembered with Washington ty and the rights of man as man. and Lincoln. He is, moreover, one of Some other Frenchmen came from like the most lovable characters of history, motives; others for love of glory or ad- It is short-sightedness to speak of venture or pay. He is very short- Lafayette as our friend; as having help- sighted who condemns in general terms ed us win our War of Independence, any class in race or faith or politics. Assuredly he was our friend. But By their works ye shall know them and more than that he "belonged." $200,000 not by the circumcission. No land or and a township of land were not pay. political party has any monopoly of They were but recognition of some- thing that essentially was, just as was the tender of the governorship of a ter- ritory now comprising a dozen states, and citizenship to him and his heirs in two states. Pie did help. He not only came; he enlisted with us that soul of France that at Verdun enforced the decree that militaryism should never pass. He was more than friend; more than helper. Just as in this late war we fought on the soil of France for America, so here Lafayette and his compatriots fought for France. In every crisis some personality stands forth. In the Reformation it was Luther; in the Commonwealth it was Cromwell; in the Independence of the Colonies it was Washington; in the Treaty at Versailles and its resultant League it was Wilson; in the Limitation of Armament it is Hughes; in National Isolation it is Borah. So in the cause of human rights as against absolu- tionism in government in Europe, as well as in the new world, Lafayette was outstanding. Waterloo honors itself in treasuring the memories of its past. This whole region is not only of surpassing beauty but is rich in historic association. Nothing more effectively builds pa- triotism and character than dwelling with sympathy on such things. Seneca Lodge in instituting this occasion serves Waterloo and state and nation. 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