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THE YOUNG AMERICAN'S LIBRARY. 
 
 LIFE 
 
 GENERAL LAFAYETTE; 
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF HIS CHARACTER. 
 
 Will) 3lU5tnitiuii3. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 LINDSAY & ELAKISTON. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tl e year 1847, by 
 
 LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, 
 
 in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 HE character and career of Lafayette are 
 among the wonders of the modern era. 
 Never, until he exhibited it, had Europe 
 seen an actual instance of disinterested 
 patriotism, and of love of liberty for it- 
 self, and for the happiness and progress 
 of the race. Adventurers there has never been 
 lack of — but they have usually been reckless, 
 indifferent to the rights of others, covetous of praise, 
 and greedy of power and lucre. But Lafayette 
 seemed the realized vision of the early poets, challenging 
 at once the admiration of the world for his courage, and 
 its respect for his moderation. He astonished cold calcu- 
 lators by his pursuit of what seemed to them a phantom ; 
 and he balked the dreamers who sympathized with him 
 at the outset, by his calm and cool application of prac- 
 tical and common sense standards to all questions and 
 enterprises. 
 
 From the day that the Jacobins obtained the ascendancy 
 in France, Lafayette was a disappointed man — disap- 
 pointed, not in regard to himself, for he was unambitious, 
 but in his estimate of human character. He looked 
 
 (iii) 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 abroad for kindred spirits with himself, to make a i evolu- 
 tion, and found that of such there were not enough to 
 restrain ignorant and undiscriminating popular fury — far 
 less were there enough to establish the model government 
 at which he aimed. 
 
 From the time that this conviction was forced upon 
 him, he became at once one of the movement party, and 
 one of the conservative. Each was aware that he would 
 fully go with neither, and each was fain to call upon him 
 in extremity. Such calls he never left to pass unheeded ; 
 but came forward, at certain present loss, to work out a 
 happy future for his country, and a good man's fame for 
 himself He never was brilliant in his European career, 
 simply because he never would assert his own individu- 
 ality. He made no move for Lafayette — his measures 
 were always taken for France. 
 
 Such was his character at home. Of his deeds and 
 services in this country, we need not speak to Americans. 
 Europe is not yet prepared to do him justice; but every 
 day strengthens his memory in the people's hearts, every 
 generation farther removed from the prejudices of the 
 past, is more ready than its predecessor to understand 
 him ; and the name of the Prisoner of Olmutz will be a 
 household word when his enemies are forgotten. 
 
 Philadelphia, August 31, 1846. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introductory — Franklin's Letter to Congress — Circumstances which sur- 
 roundeJ Lafayette — Disastrous events of the campaign of 1776 in 
 America — Hesitation of Foreign Powers — Poverty of the United 
 States' Commissioners — Resolution of Lafayette — Character of his 
 Enterprise — Resolutions of Congress — Friendship of Washington — 
 True Value of Rank Page 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 Birth-place and Parentage of Lafayette — His Early Education — Enrol- 
 ment in the Mousquitaires — Character of that Corps — Its Suppression 
 — Marriage of Lafiyette — Meeting with the Duke of Gloucester — 
 Lafayette's Sympathy with Ameri-ca ; how produced — Seeks the Com- 
 missioners — His exalted Motives — Candour of Messrs. Franklin and 
 Deane — Perseverance of the Marquis — Admiration of his Conduct — 
 Prohibition and Measures of his Government — His Embarkation — 
 Arrival in America — Deportment and Reception 16 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 Foreign Officers in the American Army — Jealousies — Magnanimity of 
 Lafayette — Battle of Brandywine — Feint by Knyphausen — Contra- 
 dictory Advices — Position of the American Troops — Defeat of the 
 American Right Wing — Abandonment of Chadd's Ford — Gallantry 
 of Lafayette — Retreat of the American-s — Comparative Force of the 
 two Armies — Loss on each Side — Reflections on the Battle 25 
 
 (V) 
 
VI CONTENTS, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 British Occupation of Philadelphia— Battle of Germantown — Defence 
 of Forts Mercer and Mifflin — Arrival of Reinforcements to the Bri- 
 tish — Evacuation of the Forts, and withdrawal of the Troops from 
 New Jersey — Gallant Conduct of Lafayette — Friendship between him 
 and General Greene — Appointment of Lafayette to a Command — Sir 
 William Howe declines to bring on an Engagement — Lafayette ap- 
 pointed by Congress to invade Canada — That Enterprise abandoned 
 at his Instance — His narrow Escape from Capture — Masterly Retreat, 
 and high Honour won by it — Amusing Incident 33 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Sufferings at Valley Forge — News of the French Treaties — Arrival of 
 British Commissioners — Their Letter to Congress — Insult to the 
 French King — Lafayette challenges the Earl of Carlisle — Sir Henry 
 Clinton evacuates Philadelphia — Lafayette charged with the Com- 
 mand of the Force to harass his Rear — Battle of Monmouth — Gallant 
 Conduct of Lafayette — Interesting Anecdote 46 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Arrival of Count D'Estaing — Narrow Escapes of the British Forces — 
 Demonstrations against Newport — Unfortunate Disagreement between 
 the French and Americans — Refusal of D'Estaing to co-operate with 
 Sullivan — Visit of Generals Hancock and Lafayette to Boston — Re- 
 treat of the Americans from the Siege of Newport — Retreat from the 
 Island to the Main Land — Gallantry of Lafayette — His embarrassing 
 Position — Resolution of Congress — Difficulties between the French 
 and American Sailors — Lafayette obtains Leave of Absence — Resolu- 
 tions of Congress — Embarkation of Lafayette — Mutiny on board the 
 Alliance — Noble Conduct of the Marquis 58 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 Reception of Lafayette in France — Franklin's Letter — Description cf 
 the Sword ordered by Congress — Successful Efforts of Lafayette with 
 the French Court — His Return to America and hearty Welcome — 
 Effect of the Tidings he brought upon the Country — His Reception 
 by Washington — Resolution of Congress — Arrival of Count Rocham- 
 beau — Lafayette's Division — Treason of Arnold — Operations in the 
 South — Well-timed Munificence of Lafayette 71 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Lafayette ordered to the South — Countermanded to Virginia — Death of 
 General Phillips, and Refusal of Lafayette to recognise Arnold — 
 Advance of Cornwallis — Skilful Manoeuvres of Lafayette — Affair at 
 Albemarle — Retreat of Cornwallis to Williamsburg — Affair at James 
 River — Daring Intrepidity of Wayne — Retreat of Cornwallis to 
 Portsmouth — Occupation of Yorktown by the British — Arrival of 
 Count de Grasse — Cornwallis hemmed in — Arrival of Washington 
 and Rochambeau — Influence of Lafayette with the French Naval 
 Commander — Siege of Yorktown — Capitulation of Cornwallis — 
 Magnanimity of the American Soldiers 83 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Condition of the American Army — Account of the Surrender of Corn- 
 wallis — Anecdotes of the Siege of Yorktown — Address of Abbe 
 Bandole in the Catholic Church in Philadelphia — Lafayette's Last 
 Orders — Resolutions of Congress — His Return to France — His Re- 
 ception there — Visit to the King of Prussia — News of the Treaty of 
 Peace communicated by him to Congress — Action of that Body — 
 Cessation of Hostilities 98 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Visit of Lafayette to America in 1784 — Resolution of Congress — 
 Arrival and Reception at New York — Triumphal Entrance into 
 Philadelphia — Honour paid him by the Legislature — Visit to Mount 
 Vernon — Reception in Baltimore — Visit to the Six Nations — Presen- 
 tation of the Freedom of New York — Visit to Massachusetts — Pro- 
 ceedings in Boston — Touching Incident at Marblehead — Visit to 
 Virginia — Takes Leave of Washington — Proceedings in several of 
 the State Legislatures — The Marquis takes Leave of Congress — 
 Embarks for Europe 117 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 The French Revolution — Prefatory Remarks — The Position of Lafay- 
 ette — Assembly of the Notables — Lafayette's Propositions — Convoca- 
 tion of the States-General — It resolves itself into a National Assembly 
 — Lafayette's Declaration of Rights — Institution of the National 
 Guard — Appointment of Lafayette to its Command — Destruction of 
 the Bastile — Butchery of Foulnn and Berthier — Lafayette saves the 
 Lives of the Royal Family — Gratitude of the Court — Fraternization 
 of the Soldiers — The Removal to Paris — Horrid Saturnalia 133 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Banishment of the Duke of Orleans — Suspicions against him — Emi- 
 gration of the Nobility — Activity of Lafayette — Grand Fete of the 
 Confederation — Preparations for it — Solemnity of the Mass — Per- 
 formance of the Te Deum — Mutual Oaths, by Lafayette as the Re- 
 presentative of the Nation, and by the People, the King, and Queen 
 . — Disinterestedness of Lafayette — Attempt on the Castle of Vin- 
 cennes — The King prevented from leaving Paris — Resignation of his 
 Command by Lafayette — He is persuaded to resume it — The King's 
 Flight to Varennes — Mutinous Assembly in the Champ de Mars — 
 Resignation of Lafayette, and its Acceptance with high Honour. . . . 151 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Lafayette appointed to the Army — Resists the Jacobins — The Disorders 
 of the 20th of June — Lafayette appears at the Bar of the Assembly 
 — Abortive Attempt to check the Jacobins — Jacobin Rage against 
 him — He arrests the Commissioners sent against him — Is arrested by 
 the Austrians, and tampered with by the Allies — Is imprisoned, first 
 by the Prussians, and then by the Austrians — Ineifectual Attempt at 
 Escape — Devotion of Madame Lafayette — Efforts of the American 
 Minister and Government — Liberation of Lafayette 165 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Lafayette's Return to La Grange — His Consistent Course in reference 
 to Napoleon — The Fall of the Emperor, and Restoration of the 
 Bourbons — Resolution of the Congress of the United States — La- 
 fayette visits America — His Reception in New York — Route to 
 Boston — Reception in that City — Return to New York — Journey up 
 the Hudson — Reception in Philadelphia — Baltimore — Washington — 
 Virginia — Visit to Jefferson — Return to Washington — Proceedings 
 in Congress — Southern and Western Tour — Bunker Hill Monument. 184 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Lafayette's Departure from America — Reception in France — Revolution 
 of July, 1830, and Overthrow of the Government of Charles X. — 
 Lafayette appointed to the Command of the National Guard — Louis 
 Philippe elected King of the French — Death of Lafayette — Funeral 
 Ceremonies in Paris — Respect to his Memory in the United States. . 204 
 
LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 LAFAYETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introductory — Franklin's Letter to Congress — Circumstances which 
 surrounded Lafayette — Disastrous events of the campaign of 1776 
 in America — Hesitation of Foreign Powers — Poverty of the United 
 States' Commissioners — Resolution of Lafayette — Character of his 
 Enterprise — Resolutions of Congress — Friendship of Washington — 
 True Value of Rank. 
 
 ^asjf'N the year 1777, a letter was received 
 by the Congress of the United States 
 from their Commissioners in France, 
 Benjamin Frankhn and Silas Deane, 
 from which the following is an extract : 
 " The Marquis de Lafayette, a young noble- 
 man of great connections here, and great 
 wealth, is gone to America in a ship of his 
 own, accompanied by some officers of dis- 
 tinction, in order to serve in our armies. He is 
 exceedingly beloved, and everybody's good wishes 
 
 (9) 
 
10 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 attend him. We cannot but hope he may meet 
 with such a reception as will make the country and 
 his expedition agreeable to him. Those who cen- 
 sure it as imprudent in him, do, nevertheless, applaud 
 his spirit; and we are satisfied that the civilities 
 and respect that may be shown him will be service- 
 able to our affairs here, as pleasing, not only to his 
 powerful relations and to the Court, but to the whole 
 French nation. He has left a beautiful young wife, 
 and for her sake, particularly, we hope that his 
 bravery and ardent desire to distinguish himself will 
 be a little restrained by the general's prudence, so 
 as not to permit his being hazarded much, except 
 on some important occasion." 
 
 Such were the circumstances of comfort, afflu- 
 ence and happiness, from which the enthusiastic 
 young Frenchman turned away, to seek distinction, 
 and to earn a name and fame which should give him 
 a title to the possession of such advantages. He 
 was not content to enjoy ingloriously what was his 
 by inheritance, but desired to win a right to the 
 favours with which he found himself surrounded. 
 No readier opening presented itself than the struggle 
 for independence in America. In this there was 
 everything to tempt a chivalrous and generous mind, 
 and everything to discourage a mere covetous ad- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 11 
 
 venturer. The campaign of 1776 had been most 
 disastrous for the American cause. A series of 
 misfortunes, bad enough in themselves, were by in- 
 terested narrators made to seem even worse than 
 they really were. The American troops which had 
 counted on the assistance of Canada, had been 
 compelled to abandon that country, failing there of 
 support or sympathy. Then came the defeat on 
 Long Island, the evacuation of New York by the 
 Americans, the loss of Fort Washington, the flight 
 of Congress from Philadelphia to Baltimore, and 
 many other discouraging particulars in the state of 
 the American army. All these things were busily 
 enlarged upon by the enemies of America ; and to 
 discourage the idea of countenance by any European 
 power, the worst phase of the case was industriously 
 circulated. It was represented abroad that our 
 army, reduced to a mere rabble, was flying before 
 an army of thirty thousand regulars ; " nor," re- 
 marks a writer who was cognizant of the state of 
 tiic army during the whole war, Dr. James Thacher, 
 " was this statement wide of the reality." The 
 sagacious politicians of France, whose policy was 
 governed by prudence, and who, notwithstanding 
 their enmity to England, feared to embark in a 
 losing crusade against her, hesitated to encourage 
 
12 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 the rebellious colonies. Indeed, had the revolu- 
 tionary war terminated otherwise than as it did, the 
 consequences would have been hardly less serious 
 to France than to the United States. 
 
 It is said in the letter with which this chapter 
 commences, that Lafayette sailed in his own vessel. 
 At so low an ebb were the credit and resources of 
 our commissioners, and so desperate was the con- 
 dition of the cause of America, that her representa- 
 tives abroad could not procure a vessel in which to 
 forward their despatches, and give the young hero a 
 passage. Nor could they, in the face of such circum- 
 stances, encourage his adventurous purpose. The 
 very phraseology of their letter, particularly the 
 closing part, indicates that their duty as honest men 
 was at war with their patriotism. In view of the 
 youth, interesting appearance, and history of the 
 noble volunteer, we may suspect, with much show 
 of reason, that they accepted his services and re- 
 commended him to, their countrymen with a trem- 
 bhng admiration, which would almost have felt a 
 pleasant relief, if the ardent youth had permitted 
 himself to be deterred from his enterprise by the 
 difficulties which appalled elder men, who, with a 
 desire as earnest as his for the freedom of America, 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 13 
 
 declined to risk anything of consequence upon a 
 cause so hopeless. 
 
 But these discouragements only fired the zeal of 
 Lafayette. As the commissioners could not provide 
 him with a passage, he commenced his liberal ex- 
 penditures in the cause with the outfitting of his own 
 vessel, encountering difficulties and dangers, of 
 which we shall speak fully in the proper place. The 
 principal purpose of this introductory chapter is, to 
 show the young reader that Lafayette was not like 
 the mere rapacious adventurer — the lover of war 
 for its own sake and the plunder which it offers 
 — the reckless soldier of fortune. Higher impulses 
 moved him ; and his is a higher reward, in the grati- 
 tude and respect of a great and free people, than 
 any successful exhibition of mere physical courage 
 could have won for him. 
 
 On his arrival in this country he was cordially 
 received by Congress, and by the Commander-in- 
 Chief, into whose military family he was at once 
 adopted, and whose friendship for him was so marked, 
 that he has often been called " the adopted son of 
 Washington." On the 31st of July, 1777, Congress 
 passed the following resolution : 
 
 " Whereas, The Marquis de la Fayette, out of his 
 great zeal for the cause of liberty, in which the 
 
14 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 United States are engaged, has left his family and 
 connections, and at his own expense come over to 
 offer his services to the United States, without pen- 
 sion or particular allowance, and is anxious to risk 
 his life in our cause : 
 
 ^^Resolved, That his services be accepted, and 
 in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and 
 connections, he have the rank and commission of 
 Major-General in the army of the United States." 
 
 Such was the gratifying answer to Franklin's 
 letter — such the testimony of gratitude to the devo- 
 tion of Lafayette. His proudest encomium is, how- 
 ever, the friendship of Washington. That great 
 man was one whose approval or whose dislike was 
 never without its meaning. Too prudent and saga- 
 cious for sudden friendships, and too just for capri- 
 cious favoritism, to have been his friend is a high 
 warrant for the respect of posterity. 
 
 In the resolution passed by Congress, we are not 
 to fall into the error that a republican body recog- 
 nised, in the accident of rank and connections, a 
 claim to honour and preferment. But in the sacri- 
 fice of these advantages, of which we have already 
 spoken, they saw earnest of his sincerity, and proof 
 of that true nobility which is not conferred by 
 patent, or transmitted by descent. The result as 
 
L i F K O K i. A F A V 11 I' 1' i: . 15 
 
 our attentive reader will discover, showed that 
 neither Franklin in recommending, Congress in ac- 
 cepting, nor Washington in adopting Lafayette, 
 erred in judgment. With this introduction, placing 
 our hero's first American act, or, if we may so de- 
 signate it, his American birth, first before the reader, 
 we will now go back to his actual birth and 
 parentage. 
 
16 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Birth-place and Parentage of Lafayette — His early Education — En- 
 rolment in the Mousquitaires — Character of that Corps — Its Suppres- 
 sion — Marriage of Lafayette — Meeting with the Duke of Gloucester 
 — Lafayette's Sympathy with America ; how produced — Seeks the 
 Commissioners — His exalted Motives — Candour of Messrs. Frank- 
 lin and Deane — Perseverance of the Marquis — Admiration of his 
 Conduct — Prohibition and Measures of his Government — His Em- 
 barkation — Arrival in America — Deportment and Reception. 
 
 ^ARIE Paul Joseph Roch Yves Gil- 
 bert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, 
 was born at the Chateau de Cha- 
 vagnac, near Brionde, in thfe Pro- 
 vince of Auvergne, on the 6th of 
 September, 1757. This Province has been 
 from the earhest times one of the most im- 
 portant portions of France ; its people were 
 always celebrated for their manly valour, and 
 the race from which our hero descended was among 
 the most prominent and celebrated families. His 
 father fell at the battle of Minden, during the Seven 
 Years' War : and it is a fact worth note, that Gen. 
 Philhps, who commanded the battery, a shot from 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 17 
 
 which killed the father, afterward held a command 
 in the British army in this country, and was thus 
 opposed to the son. 
 
 Lafayette was early placed in the school of Louis 
 le Grand, at Paris, and at the age of fifteen was 
 enrolled in the Mousquitaires du Roi. This was a 
 body of troops instituted by Louis XIIL for the 
 protection of the King's person. They were divided 
 into two bodies, gris and jioir (grey and black), dis- 
 tinguished by the colour of their horses. All the 
 members were of noble families, the corps was most 
 magnificently equipped, and while the splendour of 
 its trappings made it a splendid holiday escort, the 
 rigidness of its discipline constituted it a school in 
 which several of the most celebrated French com- 
 manders were formed. Their arms were acarbine, 
 sword, and pistols. The friendship wMch Lafayette 
 everywhere secured through life "'commenced thus 
 early. He was universally, beloved by his compa- 
 nions, and the favour of m§ monarch in a short time 
 procured him the rank of a commissioned officer. 
 But his membership of this aristocratic body did 
 not long continue. In 1775, the King, under advice 
 of his ministers, decreed the suppression of the 
 corps, on account of the enormous expenses attend- 
 ing its support, and perhaps also in deference to the 
 
18 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 popular dislike to a body which served only the pur- 
 poses of pageantry. The Mousquitaires were justly 
 obnoxious to the people, with whom, from the very 
 nature of things, they could not always escape col- 
 hsion, even had young men of such aristocratic 
 connections sought to avoid it. 
 
 In 1774, Lafayette married Anastasie, Countess 
 of Noailles, and the union proved in every respect 
 a most happy one, the lady being in all things 
 worthy of the hero to whom she was united. This 
 marriage increased the annual revenue of Lafayette 
 to two hundred thousand francs. His rank, and 
 illustrious family and connections, aided by his per- 
 sonal merits and favour with the Court, opened to 
 him a ready path to royal preferment. But for a 
 life of inglorious pageantry he had no taste ; and 
 early as he was exposed to the atmosphere of tempta- 
 tion, the boy resisted its wiles with the prudence 
 of the sage, and declined appointments tendered to 
 him unsohcited, which others would have made 
 every sacrifice to win. 
 
 The circumstance which first drew Lafayette's 
 attention to the cause of freedom in America has 
 been left on record by the hero himself. While sta- 
 tioned in the citadel of Melz, being then only eigh- 
 teen years of age, he was thrown into the society 
 
LIFE Of LAFAYETTE. 19 
 
 of an English nobleman, the Duke of Gloucester, 
 who was at that time an exile from England on ac- 
 count of a marriage which he had contracted ; for 
 the blood-royal has, in this and some other particu- 
 lars, absolutely less freedom than the meanest sub- 
 ject. Communication between the Old and New- 
 Worlds was not then, as now, a thing of direct and 
 almost daily occurrence. Direct intercourse with 
 the American colonies of Great Britain by other 
 nations was out of the question, and news, like 
 other articles of export from any colony, had to 
 pass principally through the mother country ; sub- 
 ject, of course, to the particular tone and explana- 
 tion which it might receive in such a course of 
 transmission. Courts were content to learn officially 
 what the English Court chose to communicate ; not 
 caring, or at least not seemins; to desire to look 
 behind such record as the Home Government chose 
 to permit to go abroad. 
 
 As such sources of information were never con- 
 sidered very reliable, individual curiosity, in persons 
 whose sympathies were moved, of course desired 
 much more. Distance, the heroism of the early 
 encounters of the Revolution, the temerity, then 
 unprecedented, of colonies resisting their parent 
 country, the name and character of Franklin and 
 
20 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Others, and the wit, eloquence, and perseverance, 
 with which the great philosopher had pressed the 
 claims of the Americans upon the attention of the 
 people of Europe, all these causes united gave the 
 state of affairs in the New World the air of romance, 
 and predisposed the generous mind to listen with 
 intense interest to any intelligence from America. 
 
 The information which Lafayette received from 
 the Duke of Gloucester, respecting the state of the 
 noble contest in which the Americans were engaged, 
 fired his mind with a desire to hear farther. Leaving 
 Metz for Paris, he became acquainted with Silas 
 Deaiie, the American commissioner, and, upon his 
 arrival, with Dr. Franklin. The appearance of the 
 venerable Franklin in Paris created an excitement 
 and enthusiasm, personal, philosophical, and politi- 
 cal, such as had never before greeted any individual. 
 What he said had the credit of an oracle, and what 
 he did, the interest which had before attended only 
 the movements of potentates and princes. 
 
 Lafayette sought of Dr. Franklin infarmation re- 
 lative to the causes of the resistance of the colonies, 
 their present state, and their future prospects. Upon 
 his first arrival, Dr. Franklin encouraged the Mar- 
 quis in the generous design he had formed, of par- 
 ticipating, as a volunteer of life and of fortune, in 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 21 
 
 the glorious contest for freedom. He could appre- 
 ciate the filial respect which carried the son into a 
 career in which the father fell ; particularly, w^hen 
 to defend the right in this contest, was to array 
 himself in arms against the nation of which France 
 had been for centuries the enemy — to indulge the 
 military spirit with which his education had imbued 
 him — to remember the fall of his father — and to 
 consecrate to the cause of freedom, a hfe which 
 might else be wasted in the luxuries of a Court, and 
 the display of mere martial pageantry. 
 
 But when the tidings of the reverses came, to 
 which we have alluded in the first chapter, when 
 the commissioners were themselves doubtful of the 
 issue, they frankly, in conversation with the iMar- 
 quis, avowed the despondency which their letter to 
 Congress not obscurely betrays. But to their honest 
 dissuasives the young hero replied : " Your own 
 reasoning only shows that now is precisely the time 
 to embrace your cause. The more people are dis- 
 couraged, the greater utility will result from my de- 
 parture ; and if you cannot furnish me with a vessel, 
 I will freight one at my own expense, to convey your 
 despatches and my person to the shores of America!" 
 How different these noble sentiments from the inte- 
 rested sympathy which is too common in the world, 
 
S2 LIFE Oi^ LAFAYETTE. 
 
 and reserves its aid until it is almost certain that 
 the party favoured could sustain itself without ' 
 
 Such a movement on the part of a young, wealthy, 
 and highly-connected nobleman, who had within his 
 grasp already all the ease, affluence, and position, 
 for which ordinary minds endure danger, astonished 
 Europe. It seemed to be a revival of the generous 
 contempt for self, and love of glory and virtue for 
 their own sake, which poets have oftener painted 
 than men have seen. If Franklin appeared to the 
 enthusiastic Frenchman one of the sages of anti- 
 quity revisiting earth, Lafayette appeared the em- 
 bodiment of one of the heroes of mythological song 
 — a hero with all the exalted virtues of fable, and 
 none of the feelings which the grosser conceptions 
 of antiquity admitted into the catalogue of the vir- 
 tues. He was a demi-god, with the added advan- 
 tages of civilization ; a chevalier, indeed, ^^sans peiir 
 et sans rejprocheP 
 
 Aside from the simple personal risk attending all 
 war, contempt for which is the acme of ordinary 
 courage, Lafayette exposed his entire property to 
 confiscation by the laws of France, by his clandes- 
 tine departure. He ranked himself with rebels, and 
 came under the category of a criminal against the 
 laws of Great Britain, and an offender against those 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 23 
 
 of his own country ; for his departure was formally 
 prohibited by the French Government. If captured 
 upon his passage, he incurred the risk of an indefi- 
 nite term of imprisonment, without the hope of an 
 exchange, and without the right to expect any inter- 
 vention from his own monarch. Animated by the 
 most exalted enthusiasm, he despised all these diffi- 
 culties and dangers. He considered the cause of 
 America " not only just, but sacred ; and the affec- 
 tion he bore it was the more ardent, as, indepen- 
 dently of the candour of his character, he was of 
 that age when good appears not only good but fair, 
 and man not only loves but is enamoured." 
 
 The French Government not only forbade the 
 departure of Lafayette, but despatched vessels with 
 orders to arrest him in the West Indies, should he 
 touch there. But he gave those seas aw'ideberth, and 
 embarking in March, arrived on the coast of South 
 Carolina on the 19th of April, 1777. He landed on 
 North Island, in Winyau Bay, and was cordially 
 received by Maj. Benjamin Huger ; and after par- 
 taking a short time of his hospitality, repaired to 
 Charleston. His first act was to present Gen. 
 Moultrie with clothing, arms, and accoutrements for 
 one hundred men, as a token of his admiration of 
 the gallant defence which the General's command 
 
24 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 had made against the British forces on SulHvan's 
 Island. 
 
 Nor was this munificence dimmed by any air of 
 patronage, or assumption of superiority. His man- 
 ners are thus described in a note to Chastelleux's 
 Travels : " His frankness and zeal in the cause soon 
 secured him the universal esteem of the Americans. 
 It is impossible to describe the affection with which 
 he was regarded by them. His deportment was 
 dignified without pride, his manners gentle without 
 apathy, frank without boldness, and courteous with- 
 out servility." 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 25 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Foreign Officers in the American Army — Jealousies — Magnanimity of 
 Lafayette — Battle of Brandywine — Feint by Knyphausen — Contra- 
 dictory Advices — Position of the American Troops — Defeat of the 
 American Right Wing — Abandonment of Chadd's Ford — Gallantry 
 of Lafayette — Retreat of the Americans — Comparative Force of the 
 two Armies — Loss on each Side — Reflections on the Battle. 
 
 ANY of the foreign military officers 
 who came to this country to serve 
 in the Revolutionary War, were most 
 exacting in their demands, both in 
 regard to rank and pay. The friends 
 of America in France, before FrankHn ar- 
 rived in that country with a true know^ledge 
 of the state of things in this, held out induce- 
 ments and prospects which it was impossible 
 could be realized ; and Congress added to the diffi- 
 culty by directing or requesting more commissions 
 to be granted than there were vacancies to fill. 
 There was a natural jealousy on the part of American 
 officers against the foreigners who presented such 
 extravagant claims ; and this train of circumstances 
 
26 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 presented one of the great sources of difficulty, 
 over which the wisdom and moderation of Wash- 
 ington was finally successful. It was unquestion- 
 ably true that the services of experienced soldiers 
 were in the highest degree useful in the revolutionary 
 army. The enthusiasm of resistance to oppression, 
 irresistible in its first uprising, is still not able to 
 cope with military experience, and the mechanical 
 perseverance of military tactics, in a long struggle. 
 Thus we find that the outbreaks of an indignant 
 people, terrible in their first manifestations against 
 tyranny, are usually quelled by the slow-moving, but 
 ponderous and effective blows of regular troops; 
 and thus it would have been in this country, if the 
 virtues of patience and endurance had not succeeded 
 the ardour of the first resistance. 
 
 The coolness and far-seeing wisdom of the leaders 
 in the great cause in which the colonies were em- 
 barked, provided for the difficulties which we have 
 noted ; and the army submitted, though with natural 
 repinings in many quarters, to the laborious drilling 
 which every day's experience showed them, more 
 and more, they must endure, if they would finally 
 succeed. There were two classes of foreign offi- 
 cers in this country, one of which was composed 
 of mere soldiers, seeking employment and insisting 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 27 
 
 upon a full and more than a full recognition of the 
 
 value of their services. The other was made up 
 of men who felt a holy zeal in behalf of the cause 
 of freedom, and a deep sympathy for the oppressed 
 colonists. At the head of this, and we are fain to 
 conclude it was the larger number, stood Lafayette. 
 To the first of these classes the army recognised 
 the duty, sometimes unpalateable, of obedience; for 
 the latter they felt love, esteem, and fervent grati- 
 tude. No man among them was more beloved than 
 Lafayette, and none more deservedl3^ 
 
 His conduct was in striking contrast with that of 
 many others. He would receive no pay, and de- 
 manded no station, but desired to enter as a volun- 
 teer. The honorary rank of major-general he had 
 expected, and as we have already observed, it was 
 at once conferred upon him. Under the advice and 
 example of Washington — it must be remembered 
 that Lafayette had not yet reached the age which 
 we now consider the commencement of manhood — 
 his character was fixed, and the ardent love of liberty 
 which animated his youth, was ripened into the more 
 stable and judicious sentiment of mature age. 
 
 The young soldier burned for an opportunity to 
 distinguish himself, and prove by the possession of 
 actual courage and endurance, that he was equal to 
 
28 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 the expectations of his friends. Such an occasion 
 soon occurred in the battle of Brandywine. The 
 British commander having in vain attempted to ap- 
 proach Philadelphia from the north, changed his 
 plan, and proceeded by sea to the Chesapeake, 
 passing up the Elk river to the head of navigation, 
 where they disembarked. Washington posted his 
 troops to oppose the enemy, and after various moves 
 and countermarches, finally withdrew to the north 
 bank of the Brandy wine, determining there to await 
 the general engagement, which the defence of Phi- 
 ladelphia and the interest of the cause seemed abso- 
 lutely to demand. 
 
 The battle of the Brandywine took place on the 
 11th of September. We have not space to describe 
 all its manoeuvres, and select that portion in which 
 our hero was most directly engaged. Intelligence 
 having been received that the British army was in 
 motion upon the direct road to cross Chadd's Ford, 
 the Americans were immediately posted to dispute 
 that passage. Skirmishing soon commenced ; and 
 General Knyphausen, who commanded one division 
 of the British army, made demonstrations of an in- 
 tention to force a passage at this point. But at 
 eleven o'clock information was received by Wash- 
 mgton, that a large column had left the main body 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 29 
 
 of the British army, and proceeded up the river to 
 cross at a higher point, while Gen. Knyphausen 
 misled the Americans by a feint. Dispositions were 
 made to meet this manoeuvre ; and Washington had 
 determined to cross the river and attack Knyphau- 
 sen, when intelligence, deemed authentic, was re- 
 ceived, that the division of the British army which 
 had gone up the Brandywine, under command of 
 Cornwallis, was returning on the same side of the 
 river without attempting a passage. 
 
 But the incorrectness of this information was dis- 
 covered about two in the afternoon, when it was 
 ascertained that Cornwallis had crossed the Brandy- 
 wine, and was advancing in great force. General 
 Washington immediately directed the divisions com- 
 manded by Sterling, Sullivan, and Stephen, to march 
 up the Brandywine and form to face the enemy. 
 Wayne's division remained at Chadd's Ford to keep 
 Knyphausen in check, and Greene's division, accom- 
 panied by Gen. Washington, was posted between 
 the two main bodies as a reserve. 
 
 The British troops under Cornwallis fell on the 
 Americans with great impetuosity, and the Ameri- 
 cans defended themselves for some time with such 
 resolution that the carnage was terrific. But a 
 great portion of the American troops were raw, and 
 
30 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Sullivan's division had not formed when the attack 
 of the British commenced. In taking ground they 
 made too large a circuit ; and raw troops, attacked 
 while in motion to a position, however courageous 
 they may be, are easily thrown into confusion. As 
 soon as the engagement with Cornwallis commenced, 
 the reserve under Greene hurried forward to support 
 their countrymen ; but Gen. Greene did not reach 
 the ground till the route was complete. He, how- 
 ever, did excellent service in checking the enemy, 
 and covering the retreat of the Americans. 
 
 When Knyphausen found Cornwallis was engaged 
 with the Americans, he made preparations to cross 
 Chadd's Ford in earnest. The troops under Wayne 
 and Maxwell made a vigorous resistance, till it was 
 perceived that the other body of the American army 
 had given way ; and then, resistance being no longer 
 of any utility, the defence of the ford was aban- 
 doned, and the whole army retreated that night to 
 Chester, and on the day following to Philadelphia. 
 
 The station of Lafayette in this engagement was 
 with the portion of the army under the command of 
 Sterling, Sullivan, and Stephen. Although some of 
 the regiments behaved badly and broke early, others, 
 particularly some Virginia and Pennsylvania regi- 
 ments, behaved with a firmness which would have 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 31 
 
 done high honour to veterans. So well did they 
 cover the retreat of their comrades, that very httle 
 damage was sustained except in the actual engage- 
 ment ; and this was so large as to do great credit to 
 the courage even of those who were deficient in 
 discipline. 
 
 The American troops, after breaking, were several 
 times rallied. In this service the French officers, 
 and Lafayette particularly, were of vast benefit. 
 With a disregard of life which amounted almost to 
 a fault, he exposed himself in rallying the troops, 
 and encouraging them by his example; and not- 
 withstanding he received a wound in the leg, he 
 continued at his post, cheering the troops by his 
 conduct as a soldier, and by his voice as a general, 
 as long as resistance could be of any service. The 
 Baron St. Ovary, Capt. de Fleury, and Count Pu- 
 laski also distinguished themselves in the engagement 
 
 The British troops engaged in this battle could 
 not have been much less than eighteen thousand 
 veteran soldiers. The American force has been 
 stated at fifteen, but on account of the badness and 
 deficiency of arms and munitions, the effective 
 American force was between eleven and twelve 
 thousand men only. The loss of the Americans 
 was three hundred killed, six hundred wounded, and 
 between three and four hundred prisoners, most of 
 
33 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 whom were wounded. The official letter of Sir 
 William Howe stated the British loss at rather less 
 than one hundred killed, and four hundred wounded ; 
 a disparity no doubt to be imputed to the deficiency 
 in the quality of the American arms. 
 
 This battle was not considered decisive by Con- 
 gress, the general, or the army. It was said that 
 the British had only gained the ground. At any 
 rate, when the spirit remains unconquered, there is 
 no victory in a moral, whatever there may be in a 
 technical sense. It is remarked by Marshall, that 
 even if contradictory intelligence had not prevented 
 the best disposition of the troops, the action could 
 not have terminated in favour of the Americans. 
 Their inferiority in numbers, in discipline, and in 
 arms, was too great to leave them a probable pros- 
 pect of victory. A battle, however, was not to be 
 avoided. The opinion of the public and of Con- 
 gress demanded it. The loss of Philadelphia, with- 
 out an attempt to preserve it, would have excited 
 discontents, which, in the United States, might be 
 productive of serious mischief; and action, though 
 attended with defeat, provided the loss be not too 
 great, must improve an army in which, not only the 
 military talents, but even the courage of officers, 
 some of them of high rank, remained to be ascer- 
 tained. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 British Occupation of Philadelphia — Battle of Germantown — Defence 
 of Forts Mercer and Mifflin — Arrival of Reinforcements to the Bri- 
 tish — Evacuation of the Forts, and withdrawal of the Troops from 
 New Jersey — Gallant Conduct of Lafayette — Friendship between 
 him and Gen. Greene — Appointment of Lafayette to a Command — 
 Sir William Howe declines to bring on an Engagement — Lafayette 
 appointed by Congress to invade Canada — That Enterprise aban- 
 doned at his Instance — His narrow Escape from Capture — Masterly 
 Retreat, and high Honour won by it — Amusing Incident. 
 
 FTER a continued struggle of more 
 than six weeks, the British army was 
 at last secured in the possession of 
 Philadelphia, by opening a communi- 
 cation with their fleet. Indeed, from 
 the time of the battle of Brandy wine, in Sep- 
 tember, to the day that the American army 
 went into winter-quarters at Valley Forge, 
 nothing that could be effected without too 
 great danger to the cause was left unattempted. 
 The pubhc property was all safely removed from 
 Philadelphia before the 26th of September, when the 
 British army took possession. During the week 
 
34 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 previous Congress had separated, and on the 27th 
 they met again at Lancaster. 
 
 We have not space, nor is it pertinent to our sub- 
 ject to describe all the operations of this period. 
 On the 4th of October occurred the battle of Ger- 
 mantown, judiciously planned and auspiciously com- 
 menced, but defeated by the confusion which arose 
 from the dense fog, and other causes. The sharp- 
 ness of the contest is shown by the number of killed 
 and wounded. Upon the xA.merican side there w^ere 
 two hundred killed, near thrice the number wounded, 
 and four hundred prisoners lost. The British loss 
 was about one hundred killed, and four hundred 
 wounded. So pleased was Congress with the man- 
 ner of the attempt, and the gallantry of the conduct 
 of the army, that their approbation of the plan of 
 the enterprise, and of the courage with which it was 
 conducted, was formally expressed in very decided 
 terms ; and what was better than all, as the affair 
 was considered by no means a defeat, but a very 
 gallant and well sustained, though unsuccessful de- 
 monstration ; it both raised the character of the Ame- 
 rican forces, and rallied their courage. The capture of 
 Burgoyne, and successful issue of the northern cam- 
 paign, was another circumstance which caused new 
 hopes ; and as to the mere possession of Philadel- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 35 
 
 phia, obtained as it was with such hard fighting for 
 every inch of ground in the approach, the occupa- 
 tion was contested with such perseverance, by efforts 
 to prevent communication between the British fleet 
 and army, that Dr. Franklin's saying, when m 
 France he heard the news, must have occurred to 
 many others. The Doctor said, that instead of 
 Howe's taking Philadelphia, it had taken him. 
 
 The defence of the fort at Red Bank, and of Fort 
 Mifllin, and the protection of the obstructions which 
 had been placed in the Delaware, were attended with 
 prodigies of valour and endurance upon the part of 
 the Americans, insomuch, as has already been re- 
 marked, that after the British had entered Philadel- 
 phia, it was more than six weeks before the position 
 became of any service to them. The British lost 
 four hundred men in one attack on the fort at Red 
 Bank ; and Fort Mifflin was not evacuated until it 
 was absolutely levelled, and no longer defensible. 
 The arrival of a reinforcement from New York, 
 which enabled the British to make a demonstration 
 upon the fort at Red Bank, without weakening their 
 forces at Philadelphia, determined the American 
 commander upon evacuating that post also. 
 
 Before the evacuation of the fort at Red Bank, 
 which was called Fort Mercer, Gen, Greene was 
 
36 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 detached with a command from the Pennsylvania 
 side into New Jersey, in order to protect a posi- 
 tion which it was of such high importance to 
 retain. His orders were conditional, depending 
 upon the arrival of reinforcements from New York, 
 which did not reach him; and such was the superi- 
 ority of the British force, that Gen. Greene did not 
 hazard an engagement. Greene was soon after re- 
 called from the Jersey side by Gen. Washington, 
 and the British troops were also recalled to Phila- 
 delphia. Greene was accompanied in this expedi- 
 tion by Lafayette, although his wound, received at 
 Brandywine, was not yet healed. Although no 
 general engagement took place, Lafayette had a 
 new opportunity of signalizing himself He com- 
 manded some detachments of militia, which, aided 
 by Morgan's famous rifles, attacked and routed a 
 superior force of British grenadiers and Hessians. 
 Gen. Greene, in speaking of this affair, said, "The 
 Marquis seemed to seek for danger, and was charmed 
 with the behaviour of his men." A friendship com- 
 menced between Greene and Lafayette which death 
 only severed ; and when, at the close of the war, 
 Lafayette returned to France, he took over with him 
 the eldest son of his friend, and superintended his 
 education. Young Greene returned to this country 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 37 
 
 shortly after the breaking out of the French revolu- 
 tion, and gave great promise to do honour to his edu- 
 cation ; but was drowned in the Savannah soon 
 after his arrival. 
 
 Shortly after his display of courage and gallantry 
 in Jersey, Washington invested Lafayette with the 
 command of a division, he having hitherto served 
 as a volunteer. On the 1st of December this ap- 
 pointment was ratified by Congress. Nothing more 
 occurred during this campaign, except the marching 
 of Sir William Howe out of Philadelphia, with^he 
 avowed purpose of giving the Americans battle, and 
 his return without bringing on an engagement. The 
 armies were very nearly equal in point of numbers, 
 each enrolling about twelve thousand ; and neither 
 general cared to forfeit the advantage of position, 
 which he who commenced the attack would have 
 been obliged to do, from the nature of the ground. 
 This return of Sir William Howe was a high testi- 
 mony of respect to the talents of the commander, 
 and the courage of the soldiers with whom he had 
 to contend. About the middle of December the 
 American army went into winter-quarters at Valley 
 Forge, constructing log-huts for their shelter ; and 
 their sufferings during that winter were such as no 
 ordinary or mercenary troops could have endured. 
 
38 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 On the 22d of January, 1778, Congress passed a 
 resolve directing an irruption into Canada, under 
 officers appointed by Congress; and on the next 
 day Major-Generals Lafayette and Conway, and 
 Brigadier-General Stark were appointed to the duty. 
 Tlie commander-in-chief was not consulted with or 
 advised upon the subject ; and had not his patriot- 
 ism made him superior to punctilio, he would have 
 resented an insult which could have originated with 
 no friend, though friends were unwittingly betrayed 
 intp it. Lafayette was summoned immediately to 
 receive the instructions of the Board of War, and 
 with these he proceeded to Albany, where he pub- 
 lished a memorial addressed to the French Canadians, 
 invoking their assistance. But he found at Albany 
 neither men nor munitions — nothing, in fact, had 
 been done which was promised. Our hero was at 
 this time only twenty years of age. His contempt 
 for danger we have already seen, so that danger 
 could weigh nothing with him. He saw before him 
 the glory of a separate command, and the opportu- 
 nity to distinguish himself in rash adventure, if mere 
 courage had been his preponderating feeling. But 
 he gave the evidence of such judgment and foresight 
 as would have done honour to a veteran commander; 
 and at his representations the enterprise was aban- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 39 
 
 doned, while, at the same time, the highest compli- 
 ments were paid to his character for courage and 
 prudence. 
 
 In the spring of 1778 Lafayette had an adventure, 
 which came very near being a serious one, for him- 
 self and for the American army. It was thus no- 
 ticed in the Royal Gazette, published in Philadel- 
 phia : — " Information having been received last 
 Tuesday, that Mr. Washington and his tattered 
 retinue had abandoned their mud-holes, and were 
 on their way to Germantown, a detachment of Bri- 
 tish and Hessian troops went out to meet and escort 
 them into this city ; but the rebels being apprised of 
 their approach, fled back with precipitation to what 
 they term their camp, determined to act no farther 
 on the offensive than might be consistent with their 
 personal safety." 
 
 From such a paragraph as the above, contemptu- 
 ous, illiberal, and petty, the reader would be little 
 apt to suspect the true character of the affair to 
 which it referred. Gen. Washington had sufficient 
 knowledge of the movements of the British forces 
 to know, that the manner in which they occupied 
 Philadelphia was of no benefit to their operations, 
 and judged that they would of course soon evacuate 
 that city. He wished to have a force in readiness 
 
40 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 to harass their rear as they marched out ; and he 
 desired also to intercept and cut off the foraging 
 parties, which generally sallied from Philadelphia, 
 and effected their return before a force could be 
 detailed from the camp at Valley Forge. 
 
 To perform this service Lafayette was directed, 
 with a picked detachment of twenty-five hundred 
 men, to cross the Schuylkill and take up a position 
 of observation near the enemy's outworks ; and he 
 was particularly instructed not to remain long in one 
 place of encampment. Either through the treachery 
 of some one of the residents, or by the services of 
 a spy. Gen. Howe was advised of Lafayette's en- 
 campment on Barren Hill almost as soon as it was 
 made. Gen. Howe instantly took measures to en- 
 trap " the boy," as the British officers termed Lafa- 
 yette, and issued invitations to several ladies to 
 meet the French prisoner at supper in Philadelphia 
 on the following day. 
 
 General Grant, accompanied by Sir William Ers- 
 kine, and commanding five thousand select troops, 
 was despatched with orders to gain the rear of La- 
 fayette, and thus intercept his retreat by Matson's 
 Ford, while Gen. Gray was to take possession of 
 the heights near the Falls of Schuylkill, and prevent 
 the Americans from fording the river at that place. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 41 
 
 It SO happened, that a regiment which Lafayette had 
 posted at White Marsh, an important position, for 
 some unexplained reason changed their place, with- 
 out the knowledge of Lafayette, and thus the roads 
 in that direction were left unguarded ; Gen. Grant, 
 moving with great celerity, found no difficulty in 
 passing Lafayette unperceived, and gaining the po- 
 sition at which he aimed, and which he thought had 
 completely hemmed in the young major-general. 
 With this strong hody between himself and Valley 
 Forge, and with troops advancing from Philadelphia 
 to complete the capture, Lafayette's position was 
 desperate indeed. 
 
 Capt. McLane, a most vigilant officer, who com- 
 manded a company of hght troops which hovered 
 about the British lines as a corps of observation, 
 was the first to discover the danger of Lafayette ; 
 and his suspicion was aroused by the fact that all 
 communication between Philadelphia and the country 
 was interdicted, and the guard kept with double vigi- 
 lance. McLane, on the night of May 19th, was 
 fortunate enough to fall in with two deserters, who 
 informed him that Gen. Grant had marched out of 
 Philadelphia, as above stated, and that another 
 strong body of men were preparing to leave Phila 
 
42 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 delphia and proceed up the banks of the Schuylkill 
 to the Falls. 
 
 McLane saw at once the purpose of these move- 
 ments. He gave the command of his corps to Capt. 
 William Parr, of Morgan's Rifles, and directed him 
 to push for the heights of Schuylkill, and resist the 
 advancing column of the enemy to the last extremity. 
 McLane himself posted off to Barren Hill, Lafay- 
 ette's camp, where he arrived with his intelhgence 
 about daybreak. 
 
 Nearly at the same time an express arrived from 
 Capt. Parr, stating that he was in possession of the 
 heights of Schuylkill, and engaged with the advance 
 of Gen. Gray's column; and a messenger also ar- 
 rived from another direction, apprising Lafayette of 
 the position of Gen. Grant. Capt. Stone, of the 
 militia, hearing the noise of the British column 
 passing in the night, sprang from his bed, and with- 
 out waiting for his clothing, jumped from a back 
 window and hurried across the country toward 
 Barren Hill. He ran till he fell down exhausted, 
 and then the message was taken by Richard Burtle- 
 son, who resided near Plymouth Meeting-House, and 
 conveyed to Lafayette. 
 
 Lafayette's measures were conceived with prompt- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 43 
 
 itude, and executed with wonderful skill and preci- 
 sion. While Gen. Grant was waiting the movement 
 of the other British detachment, Lafayette formed, 
 and advanced as if to attack Grant, and at the same 
 time sent a detachment the other way, as if to check 
 Gray. While Gen. Lafayette's front was advancing 
 as if to give Grant battle, his rear was fihng off 
 rapidly to the Schuylkill. So skilfully and coolly 
 was the affair managed, that, though Grant was 
 much nearer to Matson's Ford than Lafayette was, he 
 was so busy in preparing for Lafayette's charge that 
 he did not once think of securing the ford. While 
 Lafayette was advancing toward Grant, he was 
 getting all the time nearer the ford ; and so capitally 
 was the manoeuvre performed, that Grant, though 
 apprised that a portion of Lafayette's command 
 were defiling toward the river, did not understand 
 the movement, until, pushing on to Barren Hill, he 
 found the American camp deserted. He then fol- 
 lowed the retreating Americans, and reached Mat- 
 son's Ford just as the last man had crossed, and 
 all the artillery, stores, &:c., were safely over, and 
 disposed in order on the opposite bank, to give him 
 the compliments of the day, if he insisted upon it. 
 The foiled troops returned to Philadelphia, the ladies 
 
44 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 missed the appointment which Sir William Howe 
 had made for them with Lafayette, and the generals 
 arived, not only without their promised guest, but 
 too late for their own suppers. 
 
 During these evolutions, the danger of Lafayette 
 was perceived from the camp at Valley Forge, and 
 the whole army was put under arms, to act if neces- 
 sary. The manner in which Lafayette out-gene- 
 ralled the British officers, and escaped with less than 
 three thousand, from seven thousand men, after he 
 was, to all appearances, inextricably hemmed in, was 
 pronounced well-timed and masterly ; and the young 
 major-general was regarded with high admiration, 
 not only by the American army, but by the British. 
 He fell into the difficulty, as we have noticed, through 
 the neglect of his orders by a portion of his com- 
 mand, and he extricated himself from it with the 
 loss only of about nine men — less than would have 
 fallen had he intercepted Grant in his first advance 
 — and with such distinguished skill that the affair 
 could only be regarded as a fortunate one. 
 
 A very amusing incident occurred at this time. 
 A party of fifty Indians, in Lafayette's detachment, 
 were placed in ambuscade in the woods near Barren 
 Hill. A party of fifty dragoons entered the ambus- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 45 
 
 cade at the head of a column. The dragoons had 
 never before seen Indians, and the Indians had 
 never seen dragoons. The Indians started up with 
 a hideous yell, and throwing down their arms, swam 
 the Schuylkill ; while the dragoons, in equal fright 
 and astonishment, wheeled their horses' heads, and 
 did not recover from their panic until their return 
 to Philadelphia. 
 
46 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Sufterings at Valley Forge — News of the French Treaties — Arrival of 
 British Commissioners — Their Letter to Congress — Insult to the 
 French King — Lafayette challenges the Earl of Carlisle — Sir 
 Henry Clinton evacuates Philadelphia — Lafayette charged with the 
 Command of the Force to harass his Rear — Battle of Monmouth — 
 Gallant Conduct of Lafayette — Interesting Anecdote. 
 
 HE sufferings of the American troops 
 encamped at Valley Forge, during 
 the winter of 1777-8, were indeed 
 most discouraging and severe. It is 
 said that thousands of them were 
 without blankets; that at one time during the 
 winter three thousand were off duty for want 
 of clothes ; and that footsteps could be traced 
 over the frozen ground and snow, by the blood 
 from naked feet. Several times during this bitter 
 winter it was feared the army must disband for want 
 of provisions ; for many weeks the men were on 
 half-allowance, sometimes without bread and some- 
 times without meat. At the very moment when 
 Gen. Washington had cares so serious as the pre- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 47 
 
 servation of his force under circumstances so dis- 
 couraging, a cabal was seeking his displacement 
 from the command ; but their artifices recoiled upon 
 themselves, and one of the malcontents. Gen. Con- 
 way, was compelled by the public indignation at his 
 intrigues to resign his commission. On a subsequent 
 day, when he supposed himself dying, he dictated a 
 letter to Washington, in which he confessed his 
 error, and retracted his injurious allegations against 
 the commander-in-chief 
 
 These events belong more properly to the bio- 
 graphy of Washington, and we have alluded to them 
 here, to show how opportune was the arrival, in the 
 month of May, of the vessel which brought the 
 treaties concluded between France and the United 
 States. Lafayette was, of course, one of the first 
 in the American army who received the intelligence, 
 and with the eloquent enthusiasm of his countrymen, 
 he embraced Washington in a transport of joy, 
 mingled with tears : " The king, my master, has 
 acknowledged your independence, and entered into 
 an alliance with you for its establishment !" 
 
 The tidings flew from mouth to mouth ; and on 
 the 5th of May a formal rejoicing was held in the 
 camp, the news being announced to each brigade by 
 its chaplain, followed with a feu-de-joie, and vivas 
 
48 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 for the French monarch, and for the French nation. 
 A proud and happy day must this have been for 
 Lafayette and his countrymen in the American ser- 
 vice ! And to Lafayette, individually, the news must 
 have been grateful indeed, as approving the course 
 which he had early taken, and removing whatever 
 civil penalties he had incurred. In the sequel it will 
 be noticed how generously and heartily he improved, 
 for the advantage of America, the increased oppor- 
 tunities which the position of France and America 
 as alhes afforded him. It is unquestionably the 
 case, also, that this alliance, though not produced, 
 was hastened by the letters which the Marquis in 
 America wrote to his connections at home. 
 
 We now come to an act in the life of Lafayette, 
 the motives of which cannot be questioned, while 
 the act itself was in keeping with ideas popular at 
 that period, now essentially changed and still chang- 
 ing. Three commissioners arrived from England, 
 offering terms of pacification such as the British 
 Provinces would gladly have accepted, but which 
 were necessarily rejected by the Congress of the 
 United States, which, as an independent nation, could 
 not return submission. A sentence occurred in a 
 letter of the commissioners to Congress, which 
 created an immense excitement in that body, and on 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 49 
 
 the first day interrupted the reading. The offensive 
 words were as follows : — " We cannot but remark 
 the insidious interposition of a power, which has, 
 from the first settlement of the colonies, been actu- 
 ated by enmity to us both ; and notwithstanding the 
 pretended date, or present form of the French offers 
 to North America, it is notorious that they have 
 only been made, because it was believed that Great 
 Britain had conceived the design of an amicable ar- 
 rangement, and with a view to prevent reconcilia- 
 tion, and prolong this destructive war." 
 
 When, in reading the letter, this sentence was 
 reached, such a clamour arose that nothing could be 
 heard. A debate then followed, which ended in the 
 postponement of the reading until the next day. 
 The debate was then resumed with unabated warmth, 
 but after an earnest discussion the reading of the 
 letter was concluded, and it was referred to a com- 
 mittee. In their report, which was adopted by Con- 
 gress, the condition of the acknowledgment of the 
 independence of the United States was given, as the 
 only basis upon which negotiation could commence. 
 The report declared, in reference to the obnoxious 
 passage, that "nothing but an earnest desire to 
 spare further effusion of human blood, could have 
 induced Congress to read a paper containing expres- 
 
50 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sions SO disrespectful to his Most Christian Majesty, 
 the good and great ally of these States, or to con- 
 sider propositions so derogatory to the honour of an 
 independent nation." 
 
 The Marquis de Lafayette, indignant at the as- 
 persion cast upon his king and nation, wrote a letter 
 to the Earl of Carlisle, as the head of the commis- 
 sion, in which he held him personally responsible, 
 and challenged him to meet him according to the 
 code of honour. The Earl replied, declining to 
 give, in a public and national matter, that satisfac- 
 tion which he held to apply exclusively to personal 
 differences ; and in this reply he was undoubtedly 
 warranted both by the " code of honour" and by 
 common sense. Such a movement on the part of 
 any man of less weight of character, would have 
 exposed the challenger to ridicule; but Lafayette 
 was justly esteemed, respected, and beloved; and 
 while the reflecting found an apology for the act in 
 his youth and patriotic ardor, the proceeding made 
 him more popular than ever with the army, and 
 none disputed the high character of his motives. 
 
 Upon the 18th day of June, Sir Henry Clinton, 
 who had succeeded Sir William Howe in the com- 
 mand of the British army, evacuated Philadelphia, 
 in pursuance of the orders of his government, and 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 51 
 
 passed over into Jersey. The American army on 
 the same day moved from Valley Forge and crossed 
 into Jersey also. In two councils held by General 
 Washington, before and after moving from Valley 
 Forge, the opinions of a majority of his officers 
 were found to be decidedly against risking a general 
 engagement. Wayne and Cadwallader were, how- 
 ever, in favour of attacking the enemy, and Greene 
 and Lafayette were inclined to more active measures 
 than the majority seemed willing to sanction. 
 Washington himself was decidedly in favour of an 
 engagement, and determined upon the attack which 
 led to the battle of Monmouth, upon his own respon- 
 sibihty. 
 
 The troops under Major-General Dickenson, Gen- 
 erals Wayne, Cadwallader, and Scott, and Colonel 
 Morgan, which had been sent forward to hang upon 
 the rear and flanks of the retreating British, amounted 
 to about four thousand men ; and Washington de- 
 termined to send forward another detachment, and 
 unite in one command these several bodies. The duty, 
 of course, devolved upon General Lee ; but as that 
 officer was strongly averse to hazarding an engage- 
 ment, he readily gave way to Lafayette, upon whom 
 the important and responsible duty was imposed. 
 But he had hardly marched when Lee began to re- 
 
52 LIFEOFLAFAYETTE. 
 
 gret his resignation of the command ; and Wash- 
 ington, to save his feelings without wounding La- 
 fayette's, detached him with two brigades to support 
 the Marquis, dividing the command in such a way 
 as to save the points of military etiquette. 
 
 The time chosen for an attack on the British 
 army was, when it had reached the heights of Free- 
 hold, or rather, when it broke up its encampment 
 and moved from that strong position. Bodies of 
 American troops hovered on the flanks of the Bri- 
 tish army, to protect the country from ravage, and 
 Sir Henry Clinton's movements were necessarily 
 conducted with great caution. He divined some- 
 thing of the intentions of the American troops, and, 
 before he descended from the heights into the narrow 
 valley which he must next pass on the road to Mon- 
 mouth, he caused his baggage to be sent forward to 
 the van, and placed under charge of Gen. Knyphau- 
 sen, lest it should encumber him in the attack, which 
 he foresaw would be made upon his rear. With 
 his convoy, Knyphausen was to gain the heights of 
 Middletown. To prevent this movement, Major- 
 General Dickenson, with the Jersey militia, and Col. 
 Morgan, with his rifle corps, were ordered to de- 
 scend into the valley and attack Knyphausen, while 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 53 
 
 Lee attacked the rear, commanded by Clinton in 
 person. 
 
 At daybreak on the 28th of June, Knyphausen 
 descended with the baggage, and at 8 o'clock Gen. 
 Clinton followed. Lee instantly appeared in his 
 rear, and giving the charge of attacking the cover- 
 ing parties of the rear to Gen. Wayne, attempted 
 himself to gain the front by a shorter cut, and sepa- 
 rate the rear from the line. Before this plan could 
 be executed, Clinton, perceiving the danger of Knyp- 
 hausen, encumbered with so much heavy baggage 
 in a narrow defile, changed his front and determined 
 instantly to attack the American troops who were 
 following him, in order to compel them to recall the 
 detachment which had been sent to capture his 
 baggage. 
 
 Notwithstanding the ground was very unfavour- 
 able, Lee prepared to engage. There was a morass 
 in his rear, which would impede the arrival of rein- 
 forcements. A portion of his command, however, 
 mistook his intentions, and retreated behind the 
 morass. This error determined Lee to withdrawal! 
 his force to the same position ; and he might have 
 done it without difficulty, and with a reputation for 
 skill, only that he neglected to inform the com- 
 mander-in-chief, as he should have done, of his in- 
 
54 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 tentions. Washington, riding up and finding Lee 
 in retreat, spoke to him with much warmth; and 
 Lee, instead of explaining, rephed in an unbecoming 
 manner. 
 
 Washington immediately issued orders to form 
 and check the advance of the British. Gen. Lafay- 
 ette, in a communication made to Marshall, the 
 biographer of Washington, relative to this battle, 
 says: — "Never was Gen. Washington greater in 
 war than in this action. His presence stopped the 
 retreat. His dispositions fixed the victory. His 
 fine appearance on horseback, his calm courage, 
 roused by the animation produced by the vexation 
 of the morning, gave him the air best calculated to 
 excite enthusiasm." 
 
 Now the action commenced in earnest. The 
 advance of the British was repulsed ; and the dis- 
 position made of the different bodies of the Ameri- 
 can troops, told upon the enemy with such effect, 
 that they fell back to the ground where the first 
 skirmishing had commenced. Lee behaved with 
 such gallantry through the rest of the engagement, 
 that nothing but his own irritation and subsequent 
 disrespect to Gen. Washington would have produced 
 the sentence of suspension, which the court-martial 
 which he provoked passed upon him. No public 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 55 
 
 examination would have taken place if he had not 
 forced it upon his commander ; and his subsequent 
 explanation of his conduct would have been sufficient, 
 had he condescended to give it. 
 
 The vigorous movements of the Americans, in 
 forcing the British to recede, had driven them into 
 a position so strong, that night suspended operations 
 before the Americans could succeed in making any 
 sensible impression. The American troops slept 
 with their arms in their hands, ready to recommence 
 their attack at daylight ; but the British army man- 
 aged to move off in so much silence during the night, 
 that their retreat was undetected. Sir Henry Clinton 
 in his official account claimed the victory, basing 
 the claim on his success in saving his baggage. 
 The Americans also claimed the battle. It is thus 
 weighed by Marshall : — " In the early part of the 
 day the advantage was certainly with the British ; 
 in the latter part it may be pronounced with equal 
 certainty to have been with the Americans. They 
 maintained their ground, repulsed the enemy, were 
 prevented only by night and by the retreat of the 
 hostile army from renewing the action, and suffered 
 less in killed and wounded than their adversaries." 
 
 The loss of the Americans in the battle of Mon- 
 mouth, was eight officers and sixty-one privates 
 
56 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 killed, and about one hundred and sixty wounded. 
 Sir Henry Clinton reported his dead at four officers 
 and one hundred and eighty-four privates — but it is 
 known that nearly three hundred were buried. His 
 wounded were sixteen officers and one hundred and 
 fifty-four privates. The heat of the day was terrible, 
 and many deaths from this cause took place on both 
 sides. Besides the loss in this action, the British 
 army lost nearly one thousand soldiers by desertion, 
 in the march from Philadelphia to New York, and 
 one hundred prisoners. 
 
 Pursuit was not attempted after the battle of 
 Monmouth. There was no hope of successfully 
 opposing the embarkation of the British troops; 
 and the battle of Monmouth had created an impres- 
 sion most favourable for the American cause. 
 Washington was highly gratified with the conduct 
 of the troops after his arrival upon the ground. 
 Congress passed a resolution, thanking Washington 
 for the activity with which he marched from Valley 
 Forge, and for the manner in which the battle was 
 conducted ; and he was desired to express the thanks 
 of Congress to the officers and men under his 
 command. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say that, in this severe 
 and well-fought action, Lafayette was conspicuous 
 for his courage, coolness, and skill, and that he par- 
 
I . I'i )^ 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE 57 
 
 ticipated with all his native zeal and enthusiasm, in 
 the toils and dangers of the day. Col. Willett, of 
 New York, who acted as a volunteer aid to Gen. 
 Scott, of Virginia, and was during a portion of the 
 day under the immediate orders of Lafayette, in a 
 letter written immediately after the action, says: 
 " I have been charmed with the blooming gallantry 
 and sagacity of the Marquis de Lafayette, who ap- 
 pears to be possessed of every requisite to constitute 
 a great general." 
 
 During the battle of Monmouth, an incident oc- 
 curred which reflects high honour upon Sir Henpy 
 Clinton, as well as upon the courage and humanity 
 of Lafayette. The Marquis, with twenty men, ad- 
 vanced toward a British battery to reconnoitre. A 
 shot killed his aid-de-camp at his side. The party 
 broke and fled precipitately ; but Lafayette did not 
 leave the wounded man till he had ascertained that 
 his wound was mortal, and received his dying words. 
 Sir Henry, who knew Lafayette by his white horse, 
 prevented the gunners from firing upon him, and 
 thus preserved his life. Lafayette, strong perhaps 
 in the consciousness of a great mind, which chal- 
 lenges the forbearance of an enemy while in the 
 performance of the duties of humanity, slowly fol- 
 lowed his party, who had retreated beyond the reach 
 of the pieces. 
 
58 
 
 LIFE OP LAFAYETT 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Arrival of Count D'Estaing — Narrow Escapes of the British Forces- 
 Demonstrations against Newport — Unfortunate Disagreement be- 
 tween the French and Americans — Refusal of D'Estaing to co-operate 
 with Sullivan — Visit of Generals Hancock and Lafayette to Boston 
 — Retreat of the Americans from the Siege of Newport — Retreat from 
 the Island to the Main Land — Gallantry of Lafayette — His embar- 
 rassing Position —Resolution of Congress — Difficulties between the 
 French and American Sailors — Lafayette obtains Leave of Absence 
 ^^Resolutions of Congress — Embarkation of Lafayette — Mutiny on 
 ^([|Plird the Alliance — Noble Conduct of the Marquis. 
 
 ARLYin July a powerful French fleet, 
 under command of the Count D'Es- 
 taing, arrived upon the American 
 coast. An unusually long passage 
 of eighty-seven days saved the Bri- 
 tish fleet and army ; for, had the Count found 
 the former in the Delaware, and the latter at 
 Philadelphia, the loss of both would have 
 been certain. Sir Henry Clinton had still 
 another escape. The British army, in its retreat 
 from Philadelphia, embarked at Sandy Hook for 
 New York. During the winter the storms had made 
 an island of this peninsula, and the forces were 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 59 
 
 compelled to cross over from the main land on a 
 bridge of boats. The passage was effected on the 
 very day Count D'Estaing arrived with his fleet off 
 the coast of Virginia. Had a superior fleet to the 
 British reached Sandy Hook, the embarkation would 
 have been impossible. 
 
 Count D'Estaing, upon examination of the har- 
 bour of New York, decided not to attack the Bri- 
 tish there, on account of the difficulty of getting his 
 largest ships over the bar; and offensive operations 
 were adjourned to Newport, Rhode Island, where 
 there was a British garrison of six thousand men. 
 Lafayette was detached with two brigades to join 
 Gen. Sullivan, who had command of the American 
 army in Rhode Island. We have not space to de- 
 tail the unfortunate train of circumstances which led 
 Count D'Estaing to refuse his co-operation with the 
 land forces, and induced him to proceed with his 
 fleet to Boston. It is sufficient perhaps to say, that 
 they originated from that fruitful source of difficulty, 
 disputes about precedence in rank. 
 
 The desertion of D'Estaing compelled Gen. Sul- 
 livan to raise the siege of Newport. The force of 
 the enemy amounted to six thousand men. Sullivan 
 had at one time ten thousand ; as, with every pros- 
 pect of success on the side of the Americans, the 
 
60 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 militia hastened to join him. After D'Estaing sailed 
 for Boston, refusing even to leave his land forces 
 behind, the militia were so disheartened that they 
 disbanded and deserted, until Sullivan had scarce 
 five thousand men left. One day the entire rout and 
 capture of the British army seemed certain ; and in 
 consequence of a service so distinguished as this 
 promised to be, the Americans, officers and men, 
 looked forward to mihtary distinction for themselves, 
 and immense advantages to their cause and country. 
 All this was dashed by the conduct of D'Estaing, 
 and Sullivan was compelled to raise the siege of 
 Newport, in which town it seemed, a few days before, 
 as if he already had the British army, in everything 
 but name, prisoners of war. 
 
 Generals Hancock and Lafayette had meanwhile 
 proceeded to Boston, the former to expedite the 
 repairs on the French vessels, the latter to use his 
 influence with the Count D'Estaing. It was feared, 
 so great was the natural feeling of exasperation 
 against the Count, that the means of repairing the 
 vessels would be withheld. All New England had 
 counted on the capture of the British garrison as 
 sure ; and it is not to be wondered that the pubhc 
 was in high excitement at finding this hope defeated 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 61 
 
 by D'Estaing's punctilio, even after everything he 
 had asked had been conceded. 
 
 As Sullivan could do nothing with his force, he 
 broke up his camp in the night, and retired unob- 
 served toward the north of the island. In the morn- 
 ing, as soon as his retreat was discovered, the enemy 
 pursued him, and a warm action took place, in which 
 the British were repulsed with skill and spirit. On 
 the morning of the next day, August 29th, a can- 
 nonade recommenced, and was kept up during the 
 day, but neither army chose to attack the other. 
 The British were waiting for reinforcements ; the 
 Americans had secretly resolved to retreat from the 
 island ; and on the night of the 30th they accom- 
 plished this, without having excited the suspicions 
 of the British. Never was there a more fortunate 
 retreat, for on the very next day Sir Henry Clinton 
 arrived with ships and reinforcements, which would 
 have cut off the escape of the American army to 
 the continent. 
 
 Lafayette, by great personal exertions, rejoined 
 the army just in season to take charge of the rear- 
 guard, and to witness the tame and impotent con- 
 clusion of an enterprise, which had been carried to 
 the very eve of success. Of the character of his 
 services the reader will judge by the following reso- 
 
62 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 lution, which was passed by Congress, and commu- 
 nicated to Lafayette in a very graceful letter, by the 
 presiding officer: 
 
 ''^Resolved, That the President be requested to 
 inform the Marquis de Lafayette, that Congress have 
 a due sense of the sacrifice he made of his personal 
 feelings, in undertaking a journey to Boston, with a 
 view of promoting the interests of these States, at a 
 time when an occasion was daily expected of his 
 acquiring glory in the field ; and that his gallantry 
 in going on Rhode Island, when the greatest part of 
 the army had retreated, and his good conduct in 
 bringing oflf the pickets and out-sentinels, deserve 
 their particular approbation." 
 
 Lafayette replied in an appropriate and feeling 
 manner, to this expression of approval and confi- 
 dence. His situation now was peculiarly embarrass- 
 ing. The jealousy and chagrin of the American 
 officers at the conduct of D'Estaing could not be 
 concealed. Indeed, Gen. Sullivan reflected very 
 severely upon the French allies of the United States 
 in his general orders; and it was by the merest 
 accident in the world, that some letters which he 
 wrote to the Governor of Rhode Island, were pre- 
 vented from being publicly read in the Assembly. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 63 
 
 Gen. Greene, who happened to be present, induced 
 the Speaker to withhold them. 
 
 Perhaps at no time during the war, did the friend- 
 ship of Lafayette do the country greater service, 
 than at this particular and most awkward juncture. 
 While the Marquis devoted his life and services to the 
 cause of America, he retained his warm and patri- 
 otic attachment for his own country. Of course he 
 sympathized deeply with his brother officers, in the 
 injuries which he regarded them as receiving, from 
 the expressions of resentment which fell from the 
 Americans. The French officers looked to Lafay- 
 ette as their head, and the giving way on his part 
 to resentment, would have widened the breach irre- 
 parably. Gen. Washington, and the American su- 
 perior officers generally, and the local authorities, 
 laboured hard in the work of pacification ; but in 
 spite of all precaution, a riot occurred in Boston 
 between some x4.mericans and French, in which the 
 Chevalier de St. Sauveur was killed ; and in Charles- 
 ton, South Carolina, a far more serious affi-ay oc- 
 curred, which ended in a formal battle between the 
 American and French sailors. The latter were 
 driven from the city, and repaired to their ships, 
 from which they fired upon the town. The Ameri- 
 cans answered their fire from the wharves and 
 
64 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 stores, and several lives were lost upon both sides. 
 These difficulties were ascribed to British interfer- 
 ence ; and, whether that charge were true or not, it 
 made the public remember, that to Great Britain 
 nothing could be more grateful or more useful, than 
 enmity between America and France. The efforts 
 of the leading Americans, seconded by Lafayette, 
 at length prevailed, and the unhappy differences 
 between the officers of the two countries, were pre- 
 vented from ripening into a serious quarrel. Idle 
 would have been the hope of reconcilation, which 
 depended so much upon Lafayette, had he possessed 
 the choleric temperament, and the exacting spirit, 
 which too many of his contemporaries exhibited on 
 this, as on other occasions. Such failings as irasci- 
 bility and undue self-love too often mark the man of 
 real courage. As to the actual grounds of complaint 
 against D'Estaing, we, who now look upon these 
 events with disinterested eyes, can see that, though 
 his conduct did not show the generous and ardent 
 attachment to America that Lafayette would have 
 exhibited, yet, on the other hand, his fleet having 
 been disabled in a storm, he had a right to prefer 
 Boston to Newport, for the purposes of repair; 
 particularly when, in so doing, he followed the letter 
 of his instructions. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 65 
 
 On the 13th of October, 1778, Lafayette applied 
 to Congress for permission to return to France, "as 
 a soldier on leave of absence, ardently wishing to 
 rejoin his colours, as well as his beloved comrades." 
 He assigned as a reason for desiring to return, that 
 as France was engaged in war, duty and patriotism 
 induced him to present himself to his sovereign, in 
 the hope that the post assigned to him would re- 
 quire him to resume his service in this country. 
 With the gracefulness of a true Frenchman, he re- 
 marked : " It is impossible for me to speak more 
 appropriately of the sentiments which attach me to 
 my own country, than in the presence of citizens 
 who have done so much for theirs." 
 
 This letter to Congress from Lafayette, was ac- 
 companied by one from Washington, in which the 
 highest eulogies upon the Marquis were expressed, 
 and the wish was indicated that his petition should 
 be granted, and his absence placed on the footing he 
 desired. He did not wish to leave until the close of 
 the campaign ; and an important object of his visit 
 to France was, to forward the interests of America 
 at the Court, where his standing, always influential, 
 had been much advanced by the fame which he had 
 won in the American army. It was considered, 
 moreover, that though the difficulty growing out of 
 
 E 
 
66 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 the Newport affair was at an end in America, it 
 might be highly expedient to have a French advocate 
 in France, who, to unquestioned attachment to his 
 own nation, united warm friendship for America 
 and her cause. 
 
 On the 20th of October, Congress adopted the 
 draught of a letter of recommendation to his most 
 Christian Majesty, the King of France, in favour of 
 Lafayette, and passed the following resolutions: 
 
 '■'•Resolved, That the Marquis de Lafayette, major- 
 general in the service of the United States, have 
 leave to go to France, and that he return at such 
 time as shall be most convenient to him. 
 
 '■^Resolved, That the President write a letter to 
 the Marquis de Lafayette, returning him the thanks 
 of Congress for the disinterested zeal which led him 
 to America, and for the services he hath rendered 
 to the United States, by the exertion of his courage 
 and abilities on many signal occasions. 
 
 ^''Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary of 
 the United States at the Court of Versailles, be 
 directed to cause an elegant sword, with proper 
 devices, to be made and presented in the name of 
 the United States to the Marquis de Lafayette." 
 
 Mr. Laurens, the President of Congress, trans- 
 mitted these proceedings to Lafayette, in pursuance 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 67 
 
 of the second resolution ; and Lafayette acknow- 
 ledged the receipt of the letter in appropriate and 
 grateful terms. He did not embark for France, 
 however, until the month of January, 1779, having 
 been detained several months on the road by a 
 severe illness, which prevented his arrival in Boston 
 until the close of December, 1778. Even when he 
 arrived, it was found that the Alliance, of 32 guns, in 
 which he was to take passage, had not procured her 
 complement of men. The government of Massa- 
 chusetts proposed to man the vessel by impressment 
 — an English expedient, which had been more than 
 once resorted to by the Americans during the war. 
 Lafayette, in whose eventful life it would seem that 
 opportunity was afforded to exhibit every virtue 
 which his character embraced, would not consent to 
 the measure of impressment, at which his benevo- 
 lence revolted. The difficulty in manning the Alli- 
 ance arose from the fact, that the command of the 
 vessel had been given to Captain Landais, and the 
 prejudices of the American seamen would not permit 
 them to serve under a Frenchman. A plan was 
 taken to man the vessel, which, as Cooper, the naval 
 historian, well remarks, if less objectionable than 
 impressment, on the score of principle, was scarcely 
 less so in every other point of view. A motley 
 
68 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 crew was made up, of men from the Somerset, a 
 British man-of war which had been wrecked on the 
 coast, of volunteers from among the prisoners, and 
 a number of deserters from the French fleet, who 
 made their public appearance after Count D'Estaing 
 left Boston. 
 
 The British Parliament having passed an act, 
 conferring a premium upon piracy, murder, and 
 mutiny — to wit, giving rewards to sailors who should 
 run away with American vessels, the precious ship's 
 company of the Alhance concocted a mutiny, which 
 was to have gone into effect on the night of the 1st 
 of February; the first and last mutiny, if we except 
 that of the Somers, which was ever attempted on 
 board an American national vessel. Such disposi- 
 tions were made that, had it not been for its provi- 
 dential discovery, the plot could hardly have failed. 
 The officers and passengers once collected on the 
 quarter-deck by the cry of " sail-ho !" and secured, 
 the following was the disposition to be made of them: 
 Captain Landais was to be put into a boat, without 
 food or water, heavily ironed, and set adrift. The 
 gunner, carpenter, and boatswain were to have been 
 killed at once. The marine officer and surgeon 
 were to have been hanged, quartered, and cast into 
 the sea. The saihng-master was to have been tied 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 69 
 
 to the mizzen-mast, scarified, cut in small pieces, 
 and thrown overboard ! The lieutenants were to 
 have been compelled to work the vessel into some 
 English port, then within two days' sail, or walk the 
 plank; and the passengers were to be delivered up 
 as prisoners of ^var upon the arrival of the vessel 
 in England. Such were the legitimate fruits of an 
 act of the British Parliament — a body which, in 
 dealing with America, seemed to have retrograded 
 into barbarism. 
 
 Fortunately, the mutineers made a confidant of 
 an American, whom they supposed to be an English- 
 man. He had the adroitness so to receive their 
 communications, that he was adopted as a ring- 
 leader, and found no difficulty in worming their 
 whole secret from them. He procured a postpone- 
 ment of the hour to strike, till four in the afternoon of 
 the day after the night originally designated, and at 
 three managed to slip into the cabin, and apprise 
 Lafayette and Landais of what was going forward. 
 The officers and passengers instantly rushed on deck 
 with drawn swords. The American and French 
 sailors joined them, and the leading mutineers were 
 instantly seized. Between thirty and forty of the 
 mutineers were put in irons ; but it was deemed in- 
 expedient to arrest more, as at that instant a sail 
 
70 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 hove in sight. Landais manoeuvred as if intending 
 to attack her, but permitted her to escape ; as to 
 go into an engagement, even with an inferior force, 
 would, in the condition of his ship, have been too 
 hazardous. Four days afterwards the AlHance ar- 
 rived at Brest, and the mutineers were put in a 
 French prison. After some delay they were ex- 
 changed, principally at the instance of the high- 
 minded Lafayette, who felt averse to treating them 
 as natives, owing the flag allegiance, would have 
 justly deserved. It is questionable, however, whether, 
 after the sanguinary and diabolical programme they 
 had arranged, these men really merited any such 
 clemency. After an escape like this, from peril 
 more imminent than he had ever before encountered, 
 it will readily be imagined that our hero, still a 
 mere youth of twenty-two, was glad to touch his 
 native shores again. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 71 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Reception of Lafayette in France — Franklin's Letter — Description of 
 the Sword ordered by Congress — Successful Efforts of Lafayette 
 with the French Court — His Return to America and hearty Wel- 
 come — Effect of the Tidings he brought upon the Country — His 
 Reception by Washington — Resolution of Congress — Arrival of 
 Count Rochambeau — Lafayette's Division — Treason of Arnold — 
 Operations in the South — Well-timed Munificence of Lafayette. 
 
 HE reception of Lafayette in his own 
 country was such as might have 
 been expected from a nation, by whom 
 the romantic incidents of his life, and 
 the striking traits in his character, 
 must be so much admired. At the age af 
 twenty-two the leader of armies, with no 
 hohday renown, and the counsellor of states- 
 men, with a character for wisdom as great as 
 his fame for courage, the people idolized him, and 
 the court and nobility were proud of one who re- 
 flected so much credit upon his birth and patrician 
 rank. 
 
 Dr. Franklin fulfilled the pleasant duty in which 
 the resolution of Congress instructed him, in a most 
 
72 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 becoming manner. The following is the letter from 
 the American minister to Lafayette, dated at Passy, 
 August 24, 1779. 
 
 " Sir : — The Congress, sensible of your merit to- 
 wards the United States, but unable adequately to 
 reward it, determined to present you with a sword, 
 as a small mark of their grateful acknowledgment. 
 They directed it to be ornamented with suitable 
 devices. Some of the principal actions of the war 
 in which you distinguished yourself by your bravery 
 and conduct, are, therefore, represented upon it. 
 These, with a few emblematic figures, all admirably 
 well executed, make its principal value. By the 
 help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it 
 easy to express everything but the sense we have of 
 your worth, and our obligations to you. For this, 
 figures, and even words, are found insufficient. I, 
 therefore, only add that, with the most perfect esteem 
 and respect, I have the honour to be 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "B. Franklin." 
 
 The sword was presented to the Marquis at Havre, 
 by the grandson of Dr. Franklin. The principal 
 ornaments were, representations of the battle of 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 73 
 
 ^ronmouth, the affair at Gloucester, and the skilful 
 retreats from Barren Hill and Rhode Island. On 
 one side of the handle the Marquis was represented 
 as wounding the British Lion, and on the other as 
 receiving a branch of laurel from the Genius of 
 America. The arms of Lafayette, an emblem of 
 America, a figure of Fame holding up the arms of 
 France, and a representation of the vessel in which 
 the young Marquis first came over, completed the 
 ornamental devices. The inscription was in the 
 simple words, "Presented by Congress to M. le 
 Marquis de Lafayette." 
 
 As his country was now engaged in war with 
 Great Britain, policy seconded the efforts which he 
 made in behalf of America ; and he was serving 
 both France and the United States at the same mo- 
 ment, while urging the vigorous prosecution of the 
 war. Nothing could be more agreeable to the 
 French nation and government, than the dismem- 
 berment of the British Empire, by cutting off her 
 colonies. The minister of France at Philadelphia, 
 and the American plenipotentiary in France, Dr. 
 Franklin, ably seconded his efforts; the national 
 and popular feeling was in favour both of the Mar- 
 quis and his cause, and the French government was 
 prevailed on to embark heartily in the war, and send 
 
74 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 a formidable fleet and army to the aid of the United 
 States. 
 
 Finding no active employment in Europe, and 
 having succeeded so well in his great object, Lafay- 
 ette embarked for America, and arrived at Boston 
 in the latter part of April, 1780. The day of his 
 landing was one of public rejoicing. The people 
 turned out en masse to welcome their chivalric and 
 noble friend; and he was escorted with military 
 pomp and salvoes of artillery, to the house which 
 the town authorities had provided for his accommo- 
 dation. The day closed with an exhibition of fire- 
 works ; and a disposition was shown to prolong the 
 festivities which his return with such high hopes had 
 occasioned. 
 
 But the Marquis longed to be in action. He left 
 Boston at the earliest hour consonant with due 
 courtesy, and hastening to head-quarters, arrived 
 there on the 12th of May. Washington received 
 him with open armsj as, indeed, he would have 
 done had the Marquis brought nothing but himself, 
 as on his first visit. But the news which he bore, 
 that the troops to reinforce the French army in 
 America were already embarked and on the point 
 of sailing, added to the joy with which he was re- 
 ceived by the whole country. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 75 
 
 On the 13th of May he reported himself to Con- 
 gress, and was received with the highest marks of 
 distinction and regard. The following resolution 
 was immediately adopted : 
 
 ^^ Resolved, That Congress consider the return of 
 the Marquis de Lafayette to America, to resume his 
 command, as a fresh proof of the disinterested zeal 
 and persevering attachment which have justly re- 
 commended him to the public confidence and ap- 
 plause ; and that they receive with pleasure a tender 
 of the further services of so gallant and meritorious 
 an djfficer." 
 
 New spirit was infused into the army and the 
 people by the arrival of the Marquis, and the intel- 
 ligence that the PVench nation were about to sup- 
 port their American allies in hearty earnest. Con- 
 gress and the several State Legislatures, the officers 
 of the army, and all other men of influence, used 
 every means to foster and encourage the enthusiasm 
 which was re-awakened. About the middle of June 
 the Count de Rochambeau arrived at Rhode Island 
 with between six and seven thousand troops, and 
 Admiral Tornay with seven ships of the line and 
 several frigates. 
 
 Lafayette was appointed to command the van of 
 Washington's army. The van-guard was selected 
 
76 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 from the different corps, principally of light infantry, 
 with a troop of horse, and a major's command of 
 artillery. Lafayette made this select division the 
 pride of his heart ; and in their turn they idolized 
 their commander. He formed and drilled them ac- 
 cording to his own wishes and excellent military 
 knowledge, and they were admitted to be equal to any 
 corps in the army. He did not spare his own purse, 
 and his troops made a better appearance than any 
 others in the service. They were better clothed, and 
 the uniforms of both officers and soldiers was prin 
 cipally furnished at the expense of the Marquis. 
 The officers were armed with espontoons, and fur- 
 nished with short and light sabres, brought from 
 France and presented by Lafayette. The subalterns 
 were provided with fusils. The soldiers wore hel- 
 mets of hard leather, with a crest of horse-hair. 
 The dragoons, commanded by Col. Henry Lee, were 
 better mounted than any others in the army, and 
 had gained several advantages over the British, 
 whom they did not fear to meet. 
 
 The events of this campaign, though by no means 
 adverse, did not justify the high expectations with 
 which it opened. The second division of the French 
 fleet, which was to have followed Tornay, and would 
 have given him a decided naval superiority ovei 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 77 
 
 the enemy, was blockaded in Brest by a heavy 
 squadron, while reinforcements arrived to the British 
 in America. But Washington succeeded in keeping 
 the British shut up in New York, which was a great 
 advantage, though marked with no signal achieve- 
 ments. 
 
 During this year occurred the treason of Arnold 
 and its providential detection. We forbear to re- 
 count the particulars of events so well known to 
 every reader as these. In the board of officers 
 which decided the fate of the unfortunate Andre, 
 besides many distinguished American officers, were 
 Lafayette and Baron Steuben. To Lafayette the 
 performance of this duty was distressing indeed. 
 The candour, openness, and magnanimity of Andre 
 made upon his mind the most favourable impres- 
 sions ; but he found himself compelled to unite in 
 the decision which pronounced him a spy. He 
 deeply shared in the sympathy, which was universal 
 among the officers of the American army, for the 
 young, brave, and accomplished officer. But " stern- 
 visaged war" makes many requirements upon its 
 best conductors at which their nature revolts, while 
 policy, usage, and duty impose their fulfilment. 
 It is a maxim — as true now as then — that the man 
 who exposes himself as Andre did, understands 
 
78 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 the penalty, if captured, before he undertakes the 
 perilous service. 
 
 The state of inactivity which the duties of the 
 army near New York required, httle harmonized 
 with the ardent temperament of Lafayette, and he 
 obtained permission to join Gen. Greene in the 
 South. But while on his way he was detained at 
 Philadelphia, to take part in concerting the co-ope- 
 ration of the French fleet, then in the West Indies, 
 with the forces of the allies in America. These 
 arrangements, it may here be remarked, resulted 
 finally in the capture of Cornwallis. 
 
 xA-fter this important business was concluded, La- 
 fayette again set out to join Gen. Greene, but w-as 
 recalled by Washington, to take command of an 
 expedition against Arnold, who was devastating 
 Virginia, as if ambitious to add the character of 
 bandit to that of traitor. His treason had been 
 rewarded with a commission as brigadier-general in 
 the royal army. Lafayette proceeded with his de- 
 tachment to the head of the Elk, and thence to 
 Annapolis, where he was to have found a convoy 
 from the French fleet to proceed to Virginia. 
 Meanwhile, the French and English squadrons had 
 met off" the capes of Virginia, and after the engage- 
 ment the French commander returned with his ves- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 79 
 
 sels to Newport. Thus Arnold escaped capture, 
 even after his defeat had been deemed so certain, 
 that Lafayette was instructed not to enter into any 
 capitulation, which included a reservation in favour 
 of the traitor. This expedition having thus mis- 
 carried, Lafayette again received orders to join the 
 army in the South. 
 
 But before the Marquis had time to obey he was 
 again countermanded. Sir Henry Clinton had des- 
 patched a detachment of two thousand men, under 
 Gen. Phillips, to the relief of Arnold ; and Lafay- 
 ette again received orders to take command of the 
 army in Virginia. Gen. Phillips on his arrival at 
 Portsmouth, where Arnold then was, took command 
 f>f the British troops ; and thus, as has before been 
 noted, the Marquis de Lafayette had charge of an 
 army, operating against troops commanded by the 
 officer, before whose batteries his father fell at 
 Minden. 
 
 Lafayette's first object was to prevent the junction 
 of Gen. Phillips and Cornwallis, who was now ad- 
 vancing from the south into Virginia. It was im- 
 possible to carry the troops from Elk Head, where 
 they were, by water, as the British had now com- 
 mand of the bay, and they were accordingly marched 
 over land to Baltimore. The soldiers were drawn 
 
80 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 chiefly from the Eastern regiments, and were most 
 averse to a southern climate. When first detailed 
 from New York, it was under the impression that 
 the service would require only a short time. They 
 were unprovided with clothing, and in a state, as 
 Lafayette expressed it, of "shocking nakedness." 
 Without tents or baggage, murmuring at being hur- 
 ried off without preparation, infested with a nau- 
 seous and dangerous disease, produced by their lack 
 of clothing, and consequent forced inattention to 
 neatness, they were in a case deplorable indeed. 
 The expedition against Arnold they had not so much 
 objected to ; but now that they saw they were des- 
 tined to long, service in a climate that they dreaded, 
 desertions commenced to a disheartening extent, ana 
 the Marquis found his command in a most delicate 
 position, requiring the utmost tact, and the most 
 patient forbearance. He deeply sympathized with 
 them in the adverse circumstances in which they 
 stood ; and in a letter to Gen. Greene urged every 
 exculpatory circumstance in their favour, and said 
 he was obliged to reward with one hand while he 
 punished with the other. 
 
 Ever a favourite with the army, Lafayette tested 
 his influence to the utmost. He made most ener- 
 getic and urgent addresses to the soldiers, earnestly 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 81 
 
 appealing to their generous and honourable feelings 
 and impulses. By skilful encouragentient he stayed 
 at last their desponding spirit, and crowned his 
 words with actions, which at once marked his sin- 
 cerity and relieved their pressing necessities. When 
 the credit of Congress was so low that nothing 
 could be procured upon its promises, the merchants 
 of Baltimore accepted Lafayette's pledge for ten 
 thousand dollars. Shoes, linen, hats, and other 
 articles of immediate necessity, were purchased for 
 the troops; and the ladies of Baltimore went to 
 work with a will to prepare the clothing. With this 
 generosity of their commander, and the enthusiasm 
 of the ladies, who vied with each other in industry, 
 the spirits of the troops were rallied, and their minds 
 were reconciled to the service. Without this timely 
 provision, it would have been impossible to proceed. 
 
 Nor did the address of the Marquis stop here. 
 Anxious to gain time, and also to relieve his soldiers 
 from fatigue, he procured carts, and wagons, and 
 every description of vehicle which could be obtained, 
 and in these hurried the troops to Richmond ; thus 
 saving the men from fatigue, and giving their pro- 
 gress more the air of a frolic than of a march. 
 
 He did not arrive at Richmond a moment too soon. 
 At this place were collected the principal part of the 
 
 F 
 
82 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 military stores of the State, which would have fallen 
 into the hands of Gen. Phillips, but for Lafayette's 
 timely arrival. On the day on which he reached 
 Richmond, the British force, under Phillips and 
 Arnold appeared on the opposite side of the river. 
 From Petersburg up to Richmond, the British had 
 burned and destroyed all the tobacco warehouses, 
 vessels, and other property in their reach; and 
 nothing but the timely arrival of Lafayette, after a 
 forced march of two hundred miles, and his junction 
 with Steuben, saved Richmond also from the torch. 
 The consummate tact and ability which Lafayette 
 had exhibited under such discouragements, added 
 new laurels to his fame. The mere restoration of 
 the troops to order and discipline, would of itself 
 have been a most remarkable feat ; but the subse- 
 quent celerity of his movements, and the essential 
 benefit which he conferred upon the country by 
 his energetic promptness, was the theme of every 
 tongue. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 83 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Lafayette ordered to the South — Countermanded to Virginia — Death 
 of Gen. Phillips, and Refusal of Lafayette to recognise Arnold — 
 Advance of Cornwallis — Skilful Manoeuvres of Lafayette — Affair at 
 Albemarle — Retreat of Cornwallis to Williamsburg — Affair at 
 James River — Daring Intrepidity of Wayne — Retreat of Cornwallis 
 to Portsmouth — Occupation of Yorktown by the British — Arrival of 
 Count de Grasse — Cornwallis hemmed in — Arrival of Washington 
 and Rochambeau — Influence of Lafayette with the French Naval 
 Commander — Siege of Yorktown — Capitulation of Cornwallis — 
 Magnanimity of the American Soldiers. 
 
 HE combined forces of Lafayette and 
 Steuben now amounted to about three 
 thousand men. To Baron Steuben 
 had originally been confided the com- 
 mand of the operations in Virginia ; 
 but he gave way to Lafayette with a magna- 
 nimity of self-sacrifice, which, as has justly 
 been remarked, forms not the least of his 
 claims upon the gratitude of the American 
 people. 
 
 Gen. Philhps deemed it not advisable to cross the 
 river at Richmond ; but fell back, still watched by 
 Lafayette, until he received orders from Lord Corn- 
 
84 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 wallis to take possession of Petersburg, and there 
 await his arrival. Divining his intention, Lafayette 
 pushed forward to intercept him, but Gen. Phillips 
 reached the place first and took possession of it ; 
 and this was the last military act of his hfe, as he 
 died of a malignant fever on the very day of entering 
 Petersburg. Arnold now assumed the command, 
 and addressed a letter to Lafayette. The Marquis, 
 who had no sympathy with traitors, treated the 
 English officer who came with the flag of truce in 
 all respects with great politeness, but declined to 
 receive any letter from Benedict Arnold. Lafayette 
 crossed the river and withdrew to the vicinity of 
 Richmond ; and when, on the 24th of May, Lord 
 Cornwallis reached Petersburg, finding that he was 
 entirely too weak in numbers to cope with the 
 British force, he receded as Cornwallis advanced, 
 making his movements with such celerity and cau- 
 tion, that though Cornwallis had boasted " the boy 
 cannot escape me," he was soon induced to abandon 
 the pursuit, and turn to enterprises more easy of 
 accomplishment. He despatched two bodies of men 
 under Tarleton and Simcoe, one to destroy certain 
 stores at the confluence of the Rivanna and Flu- 
 vanna, the other to seize the members of the State 
 Legislature at Charlottesville. The Legislature 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 85 
 
 had a narrow escape, but all the stores were 
 destroyed. 
 
 Cornwallis now moved for Albemarle Court- 
 House, where was a military depdt. Lafayette, 
 who had now effected a junction with the Peimsyl- 
 vania Line, under Gen. Wayne, thus reinforced, ad • 
 vanced and encamped within a few miles of the 
 British army, and within a day's march of the point 
 at which both were aiming — the British army being 
 between Lafayette and the stores. The British 
 general posted his troops so as to command the 
 road which it was supposed the Americans must 
 pass ; but was astonished and mortified to find in 
 the morning, that Lafayette was posted in a strong 
 position between the British force and Albemarle 
 Court-House, where the stores were deposited. The 
 Americans had discovered and opened a difficult 
 road in the night, and made the detour which gave 
 them the advantage of Cornwalhs. At this place, 
 considerable reinforcements of militia joined the 
 Americans. Lafayette's force was now about four 
 thousand men ; that of Cornwallis five at least, if 
 not six or eight thousand. 
 
 Cornwalhs now fell back, first to Richmond, and 
 then to Williamsburg. Lafayette cautiously fol- 
 lowed, seeking opportunities for skirmishing and 
 
86 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 partial encounters, but avoiding a general engage- 
 ment. A sharp action took place near Williams- 
 burg, in which the Americans gained a partial ad- 
 vantage, but retreated when they found the whole 
 British army in motion towards them. About the 
 end of June some of Washington's correspondence 
 was intercepted, which betrayed the intentions of 
 Washington upon New York. In consequence of 
 this, Sir Henry Chnton, alarmed for New York, 
 ordered a portion of the army of Cornwallis to the 
 north ; and that commander retreated from Wil- 
 liamsburg to Portsmouth. 
 
 The morning after Cornwallis left Williamsburg, 
 Lafayette pressed on to attempt his rear. Corn- 
 wallis, suspecting his design, arranged his move- 
 ments accordingly. Lafayette's plan was, to attack 
 the rear after the main body had crossed the ford 
 to the island of Jamestown. Cornwallis, whose 
 baggage had already gone over, kept the larger 
 portion of his troops on the main land, so closely 
 crowded that they appeared but as a covering party 
 for the rear, while the few who were on the island 
 were spread out in such a manner as to magnify 
 their numbers. Every manoeuvre was conducted 
 with the same view; but Lafayette was led to sus- 
 pect something more than met the eye, from the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 87 
 
 obstinacy with which an advanced outpost was de- 
 fended. He judged from this circumstance, that the 
 advanced party must have something more important 
 to do than merely to defend the rear-guard. Their 
 true object was, to keep the Americans at bay till 
 the stratagem was ripe. 
 
 The Marquis then resolved to reconnoitre the 
 British camp, and soon detected the ruse. Mean- 
 while Gen. Anthony Wayne, in attempting to cap- 
 ture a piece of artillery, found himself engaged with 
 the whole British army. The quick apprehensions 
 of " Mad Anthony" dictated to him at once the 
 boldest as the safest measure ; and when he found 
 the whole British force formed and moving toward 
 him, he gallantly charged with his eight hundred 
 men, as if he had eight thousand to support him, 
 Lafayette, who now hurried up, ordered Wayne to 
 fall back in a line with the infantry, who were drawn 
 up about half a mile in his rear; and the whole 
 party then saved itself behind a morass. The 
 boldness of this attack, and the time at which it 
 was made, the close of the day, led Cornwallis to 
 suspect that an ambuscade was prepared, into which 
 it was intended by this manoeuvre to lead him. He 
 therefore would permit no pursuit, but in the course 
 of the night passed the ford to Jamestown, and 
 
88 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 thence retreated to Portsmouth. The loss of the 
 Americans in this gallant affair was one hundred 
 and eighteen men, ten of whom were officers. 
 
 At the close of this difficult campaign, Lafayette's 
 fame stood still higher than before. To his reputa- 
 tion for chivalric courage, he had added a character 
 for skill and prudence worthy of a Fabius. With 
 the stores committed to his defence, scattered over 
 different and assailable points, he had preserved a 
 good portion of them ; and with a skilful general, 
 possessing a superior force, pressing upon him, he 
 had avoided a general engagement with such tact, 
 and manoeuvred with such caution, as reflected 
 honour, not only upon himself, but upon the com- 
 mander-in-chief who had entrusted so important a 
 duty to him. In Lee's Memoirs we find, in reference 
 to this campaign, the following eloquent tribute to 
 the gallant Marquis: — "Invigorating our councils 
 by his precepts, dispelling our despondency by his 
 example, and encouraging our troops to submit to 
 their privations, by the cheerfulness with which he 
 participated in their wants, he imparted the energy 
 of his own mind to the country, and infused his own 
 high-toned spirit into his army. His efforts were 
 crowned with success ; and the young Frenchman, 
 with the judgment, skill, and prudence of a veteran, 
 
LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 89 
 
 seared the laurels of that British general, who, in 
 the north and in the south, in the cabinet and in the 
 field, had stood pre-eminent — the bulwark of Great 
 Britain, the terror of America." 
 
 Cornwallis upon reaching Portsmouth proceeded 
 to embark the troops which were intended for New 
 York. Orders arrived, however, countermanding 
 the movement, a reinforcement of Hessians received 
 at New York having changed Sir Henry Clinton's 
 plans. Lord Cornwallis in the month of August 
 concentrated his force at York and Gloucester, where 
 he applied his attention to intrench himself in the 
 strongest possible manner. Lafayette took a posi- 
 tion in the county of New Kent, in order to harass 
 the British out-posts, and prevent foraging parties 
 from scouring the country. 
 
 Washington had, meanwhile, been making a num- 
 ber of demonstrations at New York. He had 
 changed his plan as to making a serious attack upon 
 that city, but concealed his purpose from the British, 
 in order that they might not penetrate his real de- 
 sign, which was to march against Cornwallis. La- 
 fliyette was ordered to make such a disposition of 
 his forces as to prevent the British general from 
 saving himself by a sudden march to Charleston. 
 
 The French fleet, under command of Count de 
 
90 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Grasse, arrived early in September in the Chesa- 
 peake, and landed a force which put it in the power 
 of Lafayette to advance upon and alarm his adver- 
 sary. Cornwallis immediately made dispositions to 
 retreat to South Carolina. A few days after the 
 British fleet arrived under Admiral Greaves, and 
 Count de Grasse stood out of the Chesapeake, and . 
 engaged him in an indecisive action. For five days 
 the two fleets continued in sight of each other; and 
 Count de Grasse, having the weather-gage, could at 
 any time have renewed the engagement — but no 
 such step was necessary or politic. The squadron 
 under Greaves returned to New York ; and Count 
 de Grasse proposed to put to sea in quest of the 
 British fleet, leaving a few vessels in the Chesa- 
 peake, but by an earnest representation of the risks 
 of such a movement he was induced to remain. He 
 had endeavoured to persuade Lafayette to a brilliant 
 but hazardous movement. He offered to aid the 
 Marquis, not only with all the marines of the fleet, 
 but with as many seamen as he should require, if 
 he would immediately attack York and Gloucester, 
 while the works were incomplete. A full excuse 
 would have been found for the attempt, in the de- 
 claration of De Grasse, that he could not wait for 
 the arrival of the troops from the north j and the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 91 
 
 attack, if successful, would have added a brilliant 
 chaplet to the military fame of Lafayette. But he 
 refused to sacrifice the lives of the soldiers entrusted 
 to his charge, and used all his influence to induce 
 De Grasse to remain until the arrival of Washington 
 and Rochambeau, when the capture of Cornwallis 
 would be sure, and unattended with so great an 
 eflTusion of blood. 
 
 Cornwallis was now effectually hemmed in. When 
 the French fleet left the Chesapeake for a few days, 
 as has been mentioned, he delayed the steps he had 
 taken for a retreat. Now that De Grasse had re- 
 turned, and had ilso been joined by Count de Barras, 
 with eight ships of the line, and fourteen transports 
 laden with the proper military stores ; while the 
 whole country to the south was up in arms, and 
 Greene was also advancing to receive him ; and 
 while the active measures taken by Lafayette and 
 Governor Burke had cut off the means of trans- 
 portation, and also of support on the march, Corn- 
 wallis, discovering that he was completely caught in 
 the toils, now gave his whole attention to fortifying 
 his position. 
 
 Gen. Washington and Count Rochambeau, by 
 forced marches, reached Lafayette's head-quarters 
 at Williamsburg on the fourteenth of September 
 
92 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 The plan of the siege was concerted with Count de 
 Grasse ,• but after all was arranged, the Count re- 
 ceived intelligence of the arrival at New York of 
 six more ships of the hne, and believing that the 
 British would, with this addition to their force, 
 hazard everything to relieve Cornwallis, he desired 
 to change his position into one better adapted to 
 receive the enemy. Here again the influence of 
 Lafayette was exerted with most happy results. 
 He waited on the Count de Grasse with a letter 
 from Washington, and adding his personal argu- 
 ments and entreaties, dissuaded him from leaving 
 the Chesapeake — a movement which would have 
 permitted Cornwallis to escape. The immense be- 
 nefits which resulted from the capture of Cornwallis, 
 which was in effect the close of the war, make the 
 services which Lafayette rendered in this particular 
 case, enough to entitle him to the everlasting grati- 
 tude of the American nation, had he done nothing 
 else. 
 
 The last division of the allied army reached 
 Williamsburg on the 25th day of September ; and 
 Washington now proceeded immediately to invest 
 Yorktown and Gloucester. The erection of the 
 works of the besiegers was commenced on the night 
 of the 6th of October, and by the 11th the works 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 93 
 
 were so far advanced, that the batteries of the Bri- 
 tish were dismantled, and their ordnance dismounted 
 in ahnost every direction. The shells and hot balls 
 even reached the British vessels in the harbour, and 
 several were destroyed by fire. The works of the 
 American army were now advanced within three 
 hundred yards of the enemy's lines ; and Cornwalhs 
 deluged them uith bombs and balls, causing more 
 destruction than at any other time. 
 
 To invest a fortified town in a regular siese, works 
 are constructed against it which in mihtary language 
 are called " parallels." Two of these were con- 
 structed by Washington ; the first was finished, and 
 the second in great forwardness before the 11th — 
 the principal work being done in the night and in 
 great silence. The first was done on the night of 
 the 6th, the other on the night of the 1 1th of October 
 But the second and nearest to the British was ex 
 posed to the raking fire of two redoubts, which if 
 became necessary to silence ; and Washington de- 
 termined to do this by assault with the bayonet. 
 On the night of the fourteenth of October both were 
 attacked at once ; one by a detachment of Ameri- 
 cans commanded by Lafayette, the other by a de- 
 tachment of French led by the Baron de Viominel. 
 Both were carried. The Americans rushed to the 
 
94 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 charge with unloaded arms, entering the works with 
 so nnuch impetuosity, that time was not allowed for 
 the sappers and miners to remove the palisades. 
 They pushed in on all sides, trusting to their bayo- 
 nets only ; and the enemy, astonished at so much 
 audacity, was instantly overpowered. The British 
 lost eight killed and about twenty prisoners; the 
 Americans nine killed and thirty wounded. The 
 other redoubt made a longer resistance. Eigl^een 
 of the British were killed and forty-two were made 
 prisoners, while the attacking party lost one hun- 
 dred in killed and wounded. 
 
 The gallantry of this double charge and capture 
 was most highly comphmented by Gen. Washington 
 in his general orders of the following day, which 
 expressed a high sense of the judicious dispositions 
 and gallant conduct of both commanders and the 
 bravery of the soldiers, and concluded as follows : — 
 " The general reflects, with the highest degree of 
 pleasure, on the confidence which the troops of the 
 two nations must hereafter have in each other. 
 Assured of mutual support, he is convinced there is 
 no danger which they will not cheerfully encounter, 
 no difficulty which they will not bravely overcome." 
 
 Washington now pushed on his work with aston- 
 ishing vigour. Before daylight on the night on 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. \)o 
 
 which they were taken, these two redoubts were 
 inchided in, and made part of the works of the 
 besiegers. Cornwalhs saw that when the second 
 parallel was completed all hope of resistance would 
 be at an end. On the night of the 16th, he caused 
 a detachment to make a vigorous sortie from the 
 town. These gallant soldiers took two batteries, 
 but were furiously charged in them and driven back 
 by the Viscount of Noailles. An attempt to retreat 
 was also made; and Cornwallis actually succeeded in 
 the night in getting one division of his army over the 
 river to Gloucester, where he proposed to cut through 
 the troops which invested that place, and force his 
 way toward New York. But a storm of wind and 
 rain suddenly rose, and scattered the boats; and 
 the next day was occupied in getting the troops who 
 had crossed over, back again to Yorktown. 
 
 On the 17th of October the batteries in the second 
 parallel were completed ; and such a shower of 
 bombs and other missiles was poured into Yorktown 
 from all the batteries, that the British defences 
 everywhere crumbled under the destructive fire. 
 About ten in the morning of that day, Cornwallis, 
 who was as brave and high-minded an officer, and 
 albeit as generous a soldier as the British had in 
 this country, beat a parley. Negotiations were 
 
96 LIFE or LAFAYETTE. 
 
 commenced, terms of capitulation were drawn up, 
 and on the 19th complied with. The posts, with 
 their garrisons and public stores, were surrendered 
 to Gen. Washington ; the ships, with their seamen, 
 to the Count de Grasse. 
 
 The total number of prisoners, including seamen, 
 was over seven thousand men. The loss of the 
 besieged in killed and wounded was five hundred 
 and fifty-two, including six officers. The loss of the 
 Americans was about three hundred. At the time 
 of the surrender, the besieging army including 
 militia, amounted to sixteen thousand men. 
 
 The moderation of the Americans and French 
 after carrying the redoubts on the night of the 6th 
 October, particularly that of the Americans, is 
 worthy of all praise. During the month before, 
 Fort Griswold, near New London, had been taken 
 by a British force under Arnold, and nearly all the 
 garrison were put to the sword in cold blood, after 
 their surrender. When Col. Ledyard, the x4.merican 
 commander, resigned his sword, the British officer 
 plunged it in his bosom ! It has been falsely charged, 
 that the Americans, in storming the redoubts at 
 Yorktown, were ordered to kill all whom they found 
 in them after the surrender. This falsehood, entirely 
 at variance with the character of Washington and 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 97 
 
 Lafayette, is unsupported by any fact; while the 
 truth that the Americans and French did spare all 
 who surrendered, is matter of history. Lafayette 
 has also positively contradicted the calumny. 
 
 We will conclude this long chapter with a few 
 circumstances, related by Lafayette, which show 
 the patriotic and excellent feeling of the Americans 
 toward their allies. The Americans without tents 
 saw the superior accommodations of their French 
 friends without a murmur ; nor did they complain 
 while the French were regularly served with flour 
 from the American magazines, while the Americans 
 had only corn meal, and that irregularly. The offi- 
 cers lent their horses to the French officers and 
 walked themselves. Indeed, in every particular, a 
 most generous and courteous spirit was manifested. 
 
98 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Condition of the American Army — Account of the Surrender of Cora- 
 wallis — Anecdotes of the Siege of Yorktown — Address of Abbe 
 Bandole in the Catholic Church in Philadelphia — Lafayette's Last 
 Orders — Resolutions of Congress — His Return to France — His Re- 
 ception there — Visit to the King of Prussia — News of the Treaty 
 of Peace communicated by him to Congress — Action of that Body- 
 Cessation of Hostilities. 
 
 HE young reader, not already familiar 
 with the general history of the war 
 of the Revolution, cannot expect to 
 form from the biography of any one 
 person, an opinion of all the impor- 
 tant events of the whole war. Much had 
 been done and suffered before Lafayette ar- 
 rived in this country ; and much took place 
 during his absence in Europe, after the decla- 
 ration of war between France and England. And, 
 although he was present at some of the most se- 
 verely contested engagements, and at the siege of 
 Yorktown, which must be considered the closing 
 affair of the seven years — inasmuch as it was the 
 conclusive event which forced the thoughts of peace 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 99 
 
 upon the British Parliament; still, as he could be 
 in only one place at once, his life does not neces- 
 sarily notice the operations in other quarters. Nor 
 have we space to digress from the thread of our 
 narrative, and include a history of the operations 
 in other parts of the country. This book will, we 
 hope, give the reader such a glimpse at the very 
 interesting character of the events of the Revolu- 
 tion, that he will not cease his investigations till he 
 has read enough to obtain an understanding of the 
 claims of all the prominent heroes of the Revolu- 
 tion, upon the gratitude of the people of the United 
 States. 
 
 It will be remembered that when Lord Cornwallis 
 entered Virginia, he was so confident of success 
 against Lafayette that he said, "the boy cannot 
 escape me." His opinions of the " boy" were so 
 changed by subsequent events, and he was so much 
 struck with the skill and gallantry of Lafayette, 
 that he requested to deliver up his sword to him, 
 and surrender his army to the young commander, 
 who had proved himself so excellent a soldier and 
 tactician. But the terms on which the Americans 
 surrendered Charleston, South Carolina, to the Bri- 
 tish, eighteen months before, directed the manner in 
 which the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis was con- 
 
100 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE, 
 
 ducted; and Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, who com- 
 manded in Charleston, was appointed to receive the 
 submission of the royal army. 
 
 Dr. James Thacher, an eye-witness, gives in his 
 journal an interesting account of the manner in 
 which the surrender was conducted. The American 
 and French troops were drawn up in two lines, one 
 on each side of the road, and between these the 
 British army marched out. There was also an 
 immense concourse of spectators from the surround- 
 ing country to witness this spectacle — most inte- 
 resting to Americans, though humiliating in the last 
 degree to the royal army. The French troops made 
 a splendid and martial appearance, in complete uni- 
 form ; the Americans were not all in martial cos- 
 tume, nor could their dress be said to be very neat ; 
 but their bearing was erect and manly, and their 
 countenances wore the "uniform" of satisfaction and 
 joy. Gen. Washington, with his aids, took his sta- 
 tion at the head of the American column, and Count 
 Rochambeau at the head of the French. It is a 
 circumstance highly creditable to the American 
 character, that the utmost silence and order pre- 
 vailed during the marching out of the British army. 
 
 At length, about two o'clock, the captive army 
 advanced ; but Lord Cornwallis, whom all expected 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 101 
 
 to see at the head of the column, was not there. 
 He deputed the office of leader on this occasion to 
 General O'Harra. The troops followed with shoul- 
 dered arms, colours cased, and drums beating a slow 
 British march. In arms and clothing their appear- 
 ance was neat and soldierlike, but in their line of 
 march their step was irregular, and their ranks were 
 frequently broken. Arrived at the head of the Ame- 
 rican column. Gen. O'Harra gracefully apologised to 
 Gen. Washington for the non-appearance of Lord 
 Cornwallis, on the plea of indisposition, and was 
 courteously referred to Gen. Lincoln for directions. 
 Gen. Lincoln conducted the conquered army into a 
 large field, where it w^as arranged that they should 
 ground their arms. Dr. Thacher gives the following 
 account of this part of the ceremony : — " It was in 
 the field, when they came to the last act of the 
 drama, that the spirit and pride of the British sol- 
 dier was put to the severest test; here their morti- 
 fication could not be concealed. Some of the pla- 
 toon officers appeared to be exceedingly chagrined 
 when giving the word 'ground arms;' and I am 
 witness that they performed this duty in an exceed- 
 ingly unofficerlike manner, and that many of the 
 soldiers manifested a sullen temper, throwing their 
 arms on the pile with violence, as if determined to 
 
102 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 render them useless. This irregularity, however, 
 was checked by the authority of Gen. Lincoln. 
 After having grounded their arms, and divested 
 themselves of their accoutrements, the captive troops 
 were conducted back to Yorktown, and guarded by 
 our troops, till they could be removed to the place 
 of their destination." 
 
 Among the other incidents relative to this siege, 
 Dr. Thacher relates some circumstances which ac- 
 count for the much greater slaughter of the French 
 party than of the American, on the night when 
 Lafayette and Baron Viominel each took a redoubt. 
 The Americans pulled away the palisades with their 
 hands and jumped over, entering the works at once. 
 The French waited for the sappers and miners to 
 remove the defences, according to the rules of art, 
 and were all this time exposed to a galling fire. 
 After the American party had taken their redoubt, 
 Lafayette sent his aid, Major Barbour, to the other 
 redoubt, to inform Baron Viominel that " he was in 
 his redoubt, and to ask the Baron where he was." 
 The Major found Baron Viominel waiting the clear- 
 ing away of the palisades, and he sent back the 
 answer : " Tell the Marquis I am not in mine yet, 
 but I \vill be in five minutes." And so he was. 
 
 A curious circumstance occurred in the capture 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 103 
 
 of Cornwallis. Mr. Henry Laurens, United States' 
 Ambassador to Holland, was captured by the Bri- 
 tish on his passage out, and confined in the Tower 
 of London, of which Lord Cornwallis was constable 
 or governor. Col. John Laurens was one of the 
 officers who arranged the terms of surrender. Thus 
 the son took custody of his father's jailor. Lord 
 Cornwallis was afterward exchanged for Mr. Lau- 
 rens. Congress had offered Gen. Burgoyne before, 
 but the British refused to make the exchange. 
 
 In the general orders issued the day after the 
 capitulation, Lafayette was among the officers par- 
 ticularly mentioned. Indeed, his services in the 
 capture of Cornwallis commenced, from the moment 
 in which the British general arrived in Virginia. 
 His skilful and patient manoeuvres, the consummate 
 skill of a veteran, united to the ready and chivalric 
 courage of youth, conducted Cornwallis into the 
 toils which led to his surrender, and to the close of 
 the British rule in the States of the Union. 
 
 Great and enthusiastic were the rejoicings in 
 every part of the United States upon the intelligence 
 of this victory. Its consequences were at once 
 perceived, and the whole people were filled with the 
 most cheering anticipations. The cause which had 
 seemed at one time almost hopeless, was now placed 
 
104 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 beyond the doubt of success. Nobody could, how- 
 ever, more heartily rejoice than the American sol- 
 diers. All had endured privations; and in many 
 parts of the country the sufferings of the republican 
 armies seem almost beyond belief. In Gen. Greene's 
 command at the south, it is stated that the clothing 
 of the men vras so wretched and insufficient that the 
 cartouch-boxes galled their bodies; and they pro- 
 tected their shoulders from abrasion by their mus- 
 kets, by wrapping swamp-moss or rags around the 
 barrels. Food was insufficient in quantity, and in 
 quality miserable. Sickness, inseparable from such 
 a state of privation, was constantly prostrating 
 great numbers. And all these sufferings and disad- 
 vantages were the lot of men, who were expected 
 to cope with well-disciplined and well-appointed 
 armies, possessing every comfort and advantage 
 which the patriots lacked. But in the fortitude and 
 stern endurance of the Americans, and in the justice 
 of their cause, there was a moral strength, which 
 no wealth of the munitions of war could confer 
 upon their enemies. 
 
 Festivals and public rejoicings were held in all parts 
 of the United States ; and the names of the American 
 and French officers whose bravery had made them 
 distinguished, were on everybody's lips. Congress 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 105 
 
 repaired in a body to the Lutheran church in Phila- 
 delphia, to return thanks for so signal a victory; 
 and they also, with many other public men, attended 
 at the Catholic church, by invitation of the French 
 Minister. Previous to the singing of the Te Deum, 
 an address was delivered by the Abbe Bandole, of 
 the embassy, in which occurs a grateful allusion to 
 the friendship of the allies. 
 
 "Those miracles which the Omnipotent once 
 wrought for his chosen people are renewed in our 
 favour ; and it would be equally ungrateful and im- 
 pious not to acknowledge that the event which lately 
 confounded our enemies, and frustrated their designs, 
 was the wonderful work of that God who guards 
 your liberties. 
 
 "And who but he could so combine the circum- 
 stances which led to success ? We have seen our 
 enemies push forward amid perils almost innumer- 
 able, amid obstacles almost insurmountable, to the 
 spot which was designed to witness their disgrace ; 
 yet they eagerly sought it as the theatre of their 
 triumph ! Blind as they were, they bore hunger, 
 thirst, and inclement skies, poured their blood in 
 battle against brave republicans, and crossed im- 
 mense regions to confine themselves in another 
 
106 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Jericho, whose walls were fated to fall before an 
 other Joshua. 
 
 " It is He who commands the winds, and the seas, 
 and the seasons, who formed a junction on the same 
 day, in the same hour, between a formidable fleet 
 from the south, and an army rushing from the north 
 like an impetuous torrent. Who but He, in whose 
 hands are the hearts of men, could inspire the allied 
 troops with the friendship, the confidence, the tender- 
 ness of brothers ? How is it that the two nations, 
 once divided, jealous, inimical, and nursed in recip- 
 rocal prejudices, are now become so closely united 
 as to form but one ? Worldlings would say, it is 
 the wisdom, the virtue, the moderation of their 
 chiefs, it is a great national interest which has led 
 to this prodigy. They will say that, to the skill of 
 the generals, to the courage of the troops, to the 
 activity of the whole army, we must attribute this 
 splendid success. Ah ! they are ignorant that the 
 combining of so many fortunate circumstances is an 
 emanation of the All-perfect Mind — that courage, 
 that skill, that activity, bear the sacred impression 
 of Him who is divine !" 
 
 The next service for which Lafayette prepared, 
 was to lead a reinforcement to the south to support 
 the American army in an attack upon Charleston. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 107 
 
 But hardly was he ordered upon this expedition 
 when his purposes were again changed. The field 
 for military operations in the United States, after 
 the crowning success which had distinguished the 
 plains of Yorktown, had become very limited ; and 
 it appeared to the iMarquis, and to the friends of 
 America, that he could do the cause more service in 
 France, where important negotiations for supplies 
 and in regard to peace were pending ; and he again 
 turned his thoughts towards his native country. 
 
 Previous to his departure from Yorktown, he 
 issued his last orders to his favourite infantry corps, 
 in which are contained the following, amonor other 
 affectionate expressions : — " In the moment the 
 Major-General leaves this place, he wishes once 
 more to express his gratitude to the brave corps of 
 light infantry, who for nine months past have been 
 the companions of his fortunes. He will never 
 forget that with them alone, of regular troops, he 
 had the good fortune to mancEUvre before an army, 
 which, after all its reductions, is still six times supe- 
 rior to the regular force he had at that time." 
 
 On the 23d of November, Congress, in acceding 
 to the request of Lafayette for leave of absence, 
 added to it such expressions and instructions, as 
 would at once show in how high estimation his vir- 
 
108 
 
 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 tues and valour were held in this country, and facili- 
 tate his operations abroad. It was, 
 
 ^^Resolved, That the Major-General the Marquis 
 de Lafayette have permission to go to France ; and 
 that he return at such tiuie as shall be most conve- 
 nient to him. 
 
 " That he be informed, that in a review of his 
 conduct in the past campaign, and particularly 
 during the period in which he had the chief com- 
 mand in Virginia, the many new proofs which pre- 
 sent themselves of his zealous attachment to the 
 cause wh-ich he has espoused, and of his judgment, 
 vigilance, gallantry, and address in its defence, have 
 greatly added to the high opinion entertained by 
 Congress of his merits and military talents : 
 
 " That he make known to the officers and troops 
 which he commanded during that period, that the 
 brave and enterprising services with which they 
 seconded his zeal and efforts, and which enabled him 
 to defeat the attempts of an enemy far superior in 
 numbers, have been beheld by Congress with parti- 
 cular satisfaction and approbation : 
 
 " That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs acquaint 
 the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, 
 that it is the design of Congress that they confer 
 with the Marquis de Lafayette, and avail themselves 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 109 
 
 of his information relative to the situation of public 
 affairs in the United States : 
 
 " That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs further 
 acquaint the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court 
 of Versailles, that he will conform to the intention 
 of Congress, by consulting with, and employing the 
 assistance of the Marquis de Lafayette, in accele- 
 rating the supplies which may be afforded by his 
 Most Christian Majesty for the use of the United 
 States : 
 
 " That the Superintendent of Finance, the Secre- 
 tary of Foreign Affairs, and the Board of War, 
 make such communications to the Marquis de 
 Lafayette, touching the affairs of their respective 
 departments, as will best enable him to fulfil the 
 purpose of the two resolutions immediately pre- 
 ceding: 
 
 " That the Superintendent of Finance take order 
 for discharging the engagements entered into by the 
 Marquis de Lafayette with the merchants of Bal- 
 timore. 
 
 '•''Ordered, That the Superintendent of Finance 
 furnish the Marquis de Lafayette with a proper 
 conveyance to France : 
 
 " That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs report a 
 
110 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 letter to his Most Christian Majesty, to be sent by 
 the Marquis de Lafayette." 
 
 Lafayette embarked for Europe in December, 
 1781, and arrived in France early in January. 
 Beside the official testimonials of Congress, he car- 
 ried many letters from high functionaries in this 
 country. Among these was a letter from Robert 
 Morris, Superintendent of Finance, urging upon Dr. 
 Franklin the propriety of consulting the Marquis in 
 the business of his mission. Mr. Morris writes : — 
 " I have such perfect confidence, as well in the pru- 
 dence of the Marquis as in his attachment to this 
 country, that, the acts of Congress out of the ques- 
 tion, I should feel a pleasure in making him ac- 
 quainted with my views and wishes. Indeed, I 
 expect that his zeal and activity will go far in 
 smoothing the way toward the accomphshment of 
 those objects which your excellency has to solicit." 
 
 But, to procure him an appropriate reception at 
 home, Lafayette needed no testimonials. His fame 
 had preceded him. His reception at court was 
 extremely flattering; and his own countrymen 
 greeted him, wherever he went, with an enthusiasm 
 and a popular fervour like that which he always met 
 in America. He was indeed at home in both hemi- 
 spheres. The friend of humanity, and the advocate 
 
LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. Ill 
 
 of the rights of the individual, the considerate su- 
 perior, and the nobleman in heart as well as by 
 birth — had all the titled been like Lafayette, the 
 horrors of the French revolution would not dim the 
 pages of history. 
 
 After remaining a short time in Paris, respected 
 by the Court and idolized by the people, Lafayette 
 visited his estates in Tourraine. Thence he visited 
 many of the German Courts ; having yet scarcely 
 exceeded the age at which young men commence 
 their travels to complete their education, and yet 
 having already won the reputation of a statesman 
 and a soldier, and crowded so many events into the 
 first years of his life, that he entered upon man's 
 estate with more fame and experience than most 
 men lie down to die with, at the close of the ordi- 
 nary pilgrimage. 
 
 In September, 1782, Lafayette visited the Court 
 of the great Frederick of Prussia. When the 
 Prussian monarch was apprised of his arrival, he 
 invited him at once to Sans Souci, and there fre- 
 quently entered with him into long and interesting 
 conversations. It was a passion with Frederick to 
 gather about him the celebrated in literature, arts, 
 and arms, and to employ his great mind in efforts 
 to develope the knowledge of others. In a long 
 
112 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 letter which Lafayette wrote to Washington, be^ 
 tween whom and himself the most affectionate 
 attachment continued, the Marquis gave his distm- 
 guished friend a particular account of his visit to 
 the Court of Frederick, and dwelt with much plea- 
 sure on the plaudits which were everywhere bestowed 
 upon Washington. Frederick, who was a judge, 
 competent as ever lived, of the character of mihtary 
 reputation, warmly praised the manner in which the 
 American war had been conducted; and as an 
 earnest of his friendship for the Marquis, presented 
 him with his miniature set in brilliants, remarking, 
 that he hoped this trifling memento would sometimes 
 recall him to his recollection. 
 
 While absent in Europe, Lafayette never forgot 
 his attachment for America, but continued his ex- 
 ertions in her behalf, not only in taking all the mea- 
 sures which were within his power to accelerate the 
 completion of the treaty, but in efforts to induce the 
 French government to bring matters to a crisis, by 
 employing a larger force in America. At length he 
 saw his wishes realized. Count D'Estaing was 
 about to sail from Cadiz with a fleet, on board of 
 which were eight thousand French and Spanish 
 troops, destined for service in America. Lafayette 
 was appointed Adjutant-General to the Count, and 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 113 
 
 proceeded to Cadiz to join the expedition, when the 
 sailing of the fleet was countermanded, and its de- 
 parture arrested by the news of peace. 
 
 Ever mindful of his American friends, the Marquis 
 applied immediately to the Count D'Estaing, request- 
 ing him to furnish a fast-sailing vessel, which might 
 immediately proceed to America with this agree- 
 able intelligence. The request was acceded to, and 
 by a happy coincidence the swift sailer happened 
 to be the corvette Triumph. That vessel arrived 
 at Philadelphia on the 23d of March, and the intel- 
 ligence she brought was much earlier than the offi- 
 cial, or any other account was received. Thus, by 
 the considerate humanity of Lafayette, were hos- 
 tilities much earlier closed than they would have 
 been. Many lives were spared by land and sea ; to 
 say nothing of the joy and gladness which were 
 thus early spread over the length and breadth of the 
 land the young hero had so heartily befriended. 
 
 We need not say that there needed no extraor- 
 dinary effort to spread such tidings, or that the joy 
 of the people was unbounded. Here was a close to 
 their long struggle, often so hopeless, and the happy 
 tidings hurried to them too, by the man who had 
 been, under Providence, one of the most important 
 
114 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 agents in producing the result. Congress instantly 
 took action upon the intelligence. It arrived on 
 Sunday, the 23d, and the following is an extract 
 from Monday's journal: 
 
 "A letter of February 5th, from the Marquis de 
 Lafayette, announcing a general peace, and a copy 
 of ordei's given by the Count D'Estaing, Vice-Ad- 
 miral of France, to the Chevalier Du Quesne, com- 
 mander of the corvette Triumph, despatched from 
 Cadiz on the 6th of February last, for the purpose 
 of putting a stop to all hostilities by sea, being laid 
 before Congress and read: 
 
 ^''Resolved, That the Agent of Marine be, and he 
 is hereby directed, immediately to recall all armed 
 vessels cruising under commissions from the United 
 States of America." 
 
 The exertions of the Marquis, so great and un- 
 ceasing had they been, called forth the official action 
 of Congress. On the 10th of April the following 
 resolution was passed: 
 
 ^^Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the 
 reasons which have prevailed with Major-General 
 the Marquis de Lafayette, for his stay in Europe, 
 and his consequent absence from his command in 
 the United States ; and have a high sense of the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 115 
 
 new proof he has exhibited of his zeal in the cause 
 of the said States, and of his constant attachment 
 to their interests and welfare." 
 
 On the 18th of April the general orders of the 
 commander-in-chief directed the publication of the 
 cessation of hostilities. We subjoin an extract from 
 this highly interesting document: — "The com- 
 mander-in-chief orders the cessation of hostilities 
 between the United States of America and the King 
 of Great Britain, to be publicly proclaimed to-mor- 
 row at twelve, at the new building ; and that the 
 proclamation which will be communicated herewith, 
 be read to-morrow evening at the head of every 
 regiment and corps of the army; after which the 
 chaplains, with the several brigades, will render 
 thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies, particu- 
 larly for his overruling the wrath of men to his own 
 glory, and causing the rage of war to cease among 
 the nations. 
 
 "Although the proclamation before alluded to 
 extends .only to the prohibition of hostihties, and 
 not to the annunciation of a general peace, yet it 
 must afford the most rational and sincere satisfac- 
 tion to every benevolent mind, as it puts a period to 
 a long and doubtful contest, stops the effusion of 
 
116 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 human blood, opens the prospect to a more splendid 
 scene, and, like another morning star, promises the 
 approach of a brighter day than hath hitherto illu- 
 minated the western hemisphere. On such a happy 
 day, which is the harbinger of peace — a day which 
 completes the eighth year of the war, it would be 
 ingratitude not to rejoice — it would be insensibility 
 not to participate in the general felicity." 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 117 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Visit of Lafayette to America in 1784 — Resolution of Congress — 
 Arrival and Reception at New York — Triumphal Entrance into 
 Philadelphia — Honour paid him by the Legislature — Visit to Mount 
 Vernon — Reception in Baltimore — Visit to the Six Nations — Pre- 
 sentation of the Freedom of New York — Visit to Massachusetts — 
 Proceedings in Boston — Touching Incident at Marblehead — Visit to 
 Virginia — Takes Leave of Washington — Proceedings in several of 
 the State Legislatures — The Marquis takes Leave of Congress — 
 Embarks for Europe. 
 
 N the summer of 1784, Lafayette de- 
 termined to pay America another visit, 
 to observe the fruits, in peace, of the 
 pohtical independence which he had 
 aided to secure. To this he was moved 
 by his private friendships, as well as by his 
 public attachments. After the establishment 
 of peace he had not intermitted his disinte- 
 rested labours, not only for the national in- 
 terests of America, but for the advantage of indi- 
 vidual citizens, whenever opportunity presented. 
 His services were acknowledged in the following 
 resolution of Congress, passed on the 3d of May, 
 1784: 
 
118 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 **Resohed, That a letter be written by the Presi- 
 dent to the Marquis de Lafayette, expressing the 
 high sense which Congress entertains of his impor- 
 tant services, relative to the commerce of France 
 and these United States, and particularly to free 
 ports J and that there is every reason to expect 
 mutual and permanent advantages from these liberal 
 measures, adopted by his Most Christian Majesty." 
 
 Lafayette arrived at New York on the 4th of 
 August. As soon as his arrival was known, all the 
 officers who had served under him during the war, 
 the citizens who had the pleasure of his acquaint- 
 ance, and the thousands who knew him by reputa- 
 tion, hastened to bid him welcome. On the day 
 after his arrival he was invited to a splendid enter- 
 tainment, at which the officers appeared in the uni- 
 forms which they had laid aside with the war. The 
 readiness and impromptu character of this festival — 
 the first of which Lafayette partook in America 
 after the acknowledgement of her independence — 
 added to the enjoyment of so happy an occasion; 
 for long preparation oftener mars than makes a fete. 
 
 After spending a few days in New York he de- 
 parted for Philadelphia, whither the news of his 
 arrival in the country, and of his intended visit, had 
 flown before him. He was met at a distance from 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 119 
 
 the city by a numerous escort, consisting of* officers 
 who had served in the continental army, officers of 
 the mihtia, and a great number of citizens. The 
 ringing of bells and salvoes of artillery announced 
 his entrance. The streets, the doors, windows, 
 roofs — every place on his route which offered a 
 foothold, were crowded with spectators, and the air 
 resounded with hearty acclamations of welcome, 
 doubly grateful because heartfelt and spontaneous. 
 After visiting the Executive of the State he was 
 conducted to his rooms in the City Hotel, where he 
 partook of a splendid supper; and in the evening 
 there was a general illumination. 
 
 On the next day, Generals Wayne, St. Clair, and 
 Irwin waited upon Lafayette, in behalf of the offi- 
 cers of the continental army, to congratulate him 
 on his arrival, and tender him the respects of the 
 Pennsylvania Line. The Legislature of the State 
 appointed a committee, consisting of one member 
 from each county, who presented him with a feeling 
 and grateful address, to which he made a happy 
 reply. Citizens and public functionaries vied with 
 each other in their testimonies of respect to the 
 man who had been so uniform and zealous a friend 
 of their country. 
 
 Anxious early to exchange congratulations with 
 
120 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 his beloved friend Washington, Lafayette left Phila- 
 delphia on the 14th, and hurried through to Mount 
 Vernon, where he arrived on the 19th — a rate of 
 travel expeditious in those days, though it would be 
 deemed dilatory now. After passing twelve happy 
 days with Washington, he returned to Baltimore, 
 and was received with hearty enthusiasm and joy. 
 He was presented with an address by a committee 
 of the principal citizens of Baltimore, and was the 
 guest at a civic festival, at which more than three 
 hundred persons were present. 
 
 His public services in this country were not yet 
 closed. Such was the reputation which the Mar- 
 quis de Lafayette had won, while yet only in his 
 twenty-eighth year, that the committee of Congress 
 who had been deputed to treat with the Six Nations 
 of Indians, invited him to accompany them on the 
 embassy; he having often treated with these savages 
 during the war. Upon his way to Fort Schuyler, 
 he was presented with the freedom of the city of 
 New York in a golden box, and invited to a superb 
 entertainment by the officers of the line then residing 
 in that city. 
 
 After participating in the " talk" with the Indians, 
 Lafayette proceeded to Boston, via Hartford and 
 Worcester, everywhere making a triumphal pro- 
 
LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 121 
 
 gress. He was met several miles from Boston by a 
 military escort, and citizens in carriages ; and as 
 le drew near the town the concourse was every 
 .■noment increased. His approach was announced 
 by the ringing of bells and firing of cannon ; and 
 as he entered State Street he was received with the 
 national salute of thirteen guns. Having presented 
 himself in the balcony of the old provincial building, 
 now called the Old State-House, he was received 
 with deafening cheers, and made his acknowledge- 
 ments to the people with his usual grace and 
 affability. 
 
 The officers of the Line in Boston, as in other 
 places, rendered him their affectionate congratula- 
 tions. The State authorities made the 19th of 
 October, the anniversary of the surrender of Corn- 
 wallis, the occasion of conferring public honours 
 upon their illustrious guest. He was received by 
 the executive and legislative officers of the State, 
 the Governor as their orator, in eloquent and im- 
 pressive terms, testifying to him the high esteem 
 and gratitude of the State. From the State-House 
 he was conducted to the City Hotel, where, in an 
 appropriately ornamented saloon, a splendid enter- 
 tainment was prepared; and the thirteen regular 
 toasts were each celebrated by thirteen guns. The 
 
1 22 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 festivities of the day closed with a grand ball and 
 fireworks. 
 
 By invitation of the Legislature, Lafayette at- 
 tended many of their sessions during his stay in 
 Boston. After a few days he made a tour through 
 the eastern part of Massachusetts to Portsmouth, 
 New Hampshire, where many of his old friends re- 
 sided. Everywhere he was received with the most 
 hearty welcome. We have not space to notice one- 
 tenth of th.e ceremonies which took place in his 
 honour, but cannot pass over an incident which 
 occurred in the small, but pubHc-spirited and patri- 
 otic town of Marblehead. The Marquis appeared 
 astonished at the large number of ladies mingled 
 with the male citizens who had been deputed to 
 receive him. " These," said the orator of the oc- 
 casion, who perceived the surprise of the Marquis, 
 " are the widows of those who perished in the Re- 
 volutionary War, and the mothers of children, for 
 whose liberty you have contended in the field of 
 battle. They are now here in the places of their 
 husbands, many of whom were once known to you." 
 We may here remark that Marblehead, in the honour 
 of furnishing soldiers, was the " banner town ;" for 
 its proportion to the whole number of inhabitants 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 123 
 
 was greater than that of any other place in the 
 United States. 
 
 After visiting Rhode Island, Lafayette embarked 
 at Boston for Virginia, and in November arrived at 
 Williamsburg, the place of his head-quarters during 
 a great part of the arduous Virginia campaign. 
 In Virginia, the defender of her soil was hailed and 
 welcomed with most affectionate rapture. The 
 Legislature, then in session, deputed a committee 
 of five, among whom were James Madison and 
 Patrick Henry, to present their respects; which 
 duty was performed in a touching manner. Lafay- 
 ette responded with heartfelt emotion. From Rich- 
 mond Lafayette accompanied Washington to Mount 
 Vernon ; and here awaited him the civilities of the 
 citizens of Alexandria and Annapolis, and the ad- 
 dress of the Legislature of Maryland, then in ses- 
 sion in the latter city. 
 
 At this time, or within a short period afterward, 
 many of the States passed acts naturalizing him 
 formally, who had established so excellent a right 
 to be considered a citizen. In 1784, Maryland 
 passed an act of naturalization, couched in warm 
 terms, to which the language of legislation is usually 
 unaccustomed. Connecticut followed the example ; 
 Massachusetts passed a special act in favour of the 
 
124 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Marquis and his family ; Virginia and some other 
 States passed bills of the same nature. The col- 
 leges of Harvard and Princeton conferred on him 
 the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws ; and most 
 of the scientific and other societies adopted him as 
 a member. 
 
 Virginia, whose soil was the scene of his most 
 glorious exploits and valuable services, ordered a 
 bust of the Marquis to be placed in the capitol of 
 that State. Nor did the zeal of the Legislature stop 
 here, but anxious to testify in his own land its grati- 
 tude to a Frenchman, the legislature caused a bust 
 of Lafayette to be presented to the city of Paris. 
 The municipality, with the expressed approval of the 
 French King, formally accepted the bust, and placed 
 it in one of the halls of the Hotel-de-Ville, where, 
 during the revolution, it was broken to pieces, by 
 the mad fury of the Jacobins. The ceremony of 
 the official reception of the bust, included the 
 reading of the resolution of the Virginia Legisla- 
 ture, and other documents relative to the subject, 
 and the delivery of an oration by the Attorney- 
 General, M. Ethit de Corny, a member of the Ame- 
 rican Society of the Cincinnati. In this address. 
 M. Corny sketched the various services which La- 
 fayette had rendered to the American Republic, and 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 125 
 
 the confidence and affection felt for him by the 
 American army and people. This novel ceremony 
 created quite a sensation among the vivacious Pari- 
 sians, whose national pride and love of the pictu- 
 resque were at once gratified by a testimony so 
 touching and unusual. 
 
 In strict order of time the erection of this bust 
 belongs to a later period, as it took place in 1786. 
 But as our subsequent chapters will be occupied 
 with the great events which took place in Europe, 
 we have chosen to introduce it here; and for the 
 same reason give in this place one or two other 
 anecdotes and incidents. In 1787, one hundred 
 buildings were destroyed by fire in the part of 
 Boston called " South End." Of these buildings 
 sixty were dwelling-houses; and the conflagration 
 caused great distress, by making many families 
 houseless, and even penniless. Lafayette, as soon 
 as he heard of the calamity, authorised his corre- 
 spondent in Boston, Samuel Breck, Esq., to draw 
 on him for three hundred pounds sterling; within a 
 fraction, exchange considered, of fifteen hundred 
 dollars, to be applied to the relief of the destitute. 
 Acts like this, of noble munificence, show him to 
 have been the worthy possessor of the great wealth 
 which he enjoyed ; and it may be remarked that 
 
126 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 large donations like this, which necessarily were 
 made public, formed but a comparatively small por- 
 tion of the amount which, as a good steward, he 
 dispersed among those who needed his kind offices. 
 In hundreds of cases he added to the benefit con- 
 ferred, by the delicacy with which he screened the 
 act from the public eye. 
 
 On very many occasions he found opportunity to 
 confer essential and timely succour upon Americans 
 in Europe ; and this aid often reached them not only 
 unsolicited but unexpected. Sometimes it was at 
 the expense of his private purse, at others by the 
 exertion of the influence of his position. In the 
 matter of simple courtesy and affability, his de- 
 meanour was always delightful to the citizens of the 
 United States, and his house was ever open to them. 
 "You are now in America," he said once to an 
 American who was his guest at La Grange. "Ame- 
 rica!" said the visitor, not comprehending him. 
 " Yes, this apartment is what I call America." The 
 gentleman looked around him, and beheld every- 
 where arranged the tokens of his country. The 
 American flag, trophies and mementoes of the Re- 
 volution, articles received as memorials of esteem, 
 maps of states and cities, plans of campaigns, por- 
 traits of Washington and other distinguished Ame- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 127 
 
 ricans, American books and newspaper files, and, 
 one of the most highly prized of all his treasures, 
 the electrical machine with which Franklin had 
 made so many experiments, and which he had pre- 
 sented as a token of his esteem to the illustrious 
 Frenchman. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Island of Nantucket, in 
 1786, adopted a curious and primitive method of 
 testifying their regard for the Marquis, and of 
 showing that, though separated from the main land, 
 they were not cut off from their share of respect 
 and gratitude. As a general acknowledgement, and 
 as a particular mark of their gratitude for the ser- 
 vice conferred by Lafayette, in procuring the admis- 
 sion of American whale oil into France on the same 
 terms that it was received from the Hanseatic 
 Towns — a measure which vastly benefited the Island 
 of Nantucket — it was, by the inhabitants in corpo- 
 ration assembled, 
 
 ^^ Voted and resolved, That each of them should 
 contribute the milk afibrded by his cow during the 
 space of twenty-four hours; that the whole quantity 
 thus obtained should be manufactured into a cheese 
 weighing Jive hundred pounds ; and that the same 
 should be transmitted to the Marquis de Lafayette, 
 as a feeble, but not less sincere testimonial, of the 
 
128 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 affection and gratitude of the inhabitants of Nan 
 tucket." 
 
 We must now resume the thread of our narrative. 
 At Annapohs Washington and Lafayette exchanged 
 their last affectionate adieux, and closed a personal 
 intercourse which is one of the most touching and 
 beautiful passages in the history of a time, which 
 abounded in affecting incidents and the exercise of 
 noble friendships. 
 
 Lafayette arrived on the 8th of December at 
 Trenton, where Congress was then in session, to 
 take leave of that body. On the 9th he received 
 and replied to the congratulations of the Legislature 
 of New Jersey. On the 11th, the committee directed 
 in the following resolution of Congress, at the head 
 of which was Mr. Jay, performed the duty assigned 
 to them. The resolution passed Congress on the 
 9th. 
 
 '•'•Resolved, That a committee, to consist of one 
 member from each State, be appointed to receive 
 the Marquis, and in the name of Congress to take 
 leave of him. That they be instructed to assure 
 him, that Congress continue to entertain the same 
 high sense of his abilities and zeal to promote the 
 welfare of America, both here and in Europe, which 
 they have frequently expressed and manifested on 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 129 
 
 former occasions, and which tlio recent marks of 
 his attention to their commercial and other interests 
 have perfectly confirmed. That, as his uniform and 
 unceasing attachment to this country has resembled 
 that of a patriotic citizen, the United States regard 
 him with particular affection, and will not cease to 
 feel an interest in whatever may concern his honour 
 and prosperity; and that their best and kindest 
 wishes will always attend him. 
 
 '"'■Resolved, That a letter be written to his Most 
 Christian Majesty, to be signed by his Excellency 
 the President of Congress, expressive of the high 
 sense which the United States, in Congress assem- 
 bled, entertain of the zeal, talents, and meritorious 
 services of the Marquis de Lafayette, and recom- 
 mending him to the favour and patronage of his 
 Majesty." 
 
 To the communication of the foregoing, and the 
 address of Mr. Jay, the Marquis made the following 
 reply : 
 
 "Sir: — While it pleases the United States in 
 Congress so kindly to receive me, I want words to 
 express the feelings of a heart, which delights in 
 their present situation and the bestowed marks of 
 their esteem. 
 
 " Since I joined the standard of liberty, to this 
 I 
 
130 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 wished-for hour of my personal congratulations, I 
 have seen such glorious deeds performed, and virtues 
 displayed by the sons of America, that in the instant 
 of my first concern for them, I had anticipated but 
 a part of the love and regard which devote me to 
 this rising empire. 
 
 " During our revolution, sir, I obtained an unli- 
 mited, indulgent confidence, which I am equally 
 happy and proud to acknowledge ; it dates with the 
 time when, an inexperienced youth, I could only 
 claim my respected friends' paternal adoption. It 
 has been most benevolently continued throughout 
 every circumstance of the cabinet and the field; 
 and in personal friendships I have often found a 
 support against public difficulties. While, on this 
 solemn occasion, I mention my obligations to Con- 
 gress, the States, the people at large, permit me also 
 to remember the dear military companions, to whose 
 services the country is so much indebted. 
 
 " Having felt both for the timely aid of my country 
 and for the part which she, with a beloved king, 
 acted in the cause of mankind, I enjoy an alliance 
 so well riveted by mutual affection, by interest, and 
 even local situation. Recollection insures it. Fu- 
 turity does but enlarge the prospect ; and the private 
 intercourse will every day increase, which indepen- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 131 
 
 dent and advantageous trade cherishes, in proportion 
 as it is well understood. 
 
 " In unbounded wishes to America, sir, I am 
 happy to observe the prevaiHng disposition of the 
 people to strengthen the confederation, preserve 
 public faith, regulate trade; and, in a proper guard 
 over continental magazines and frontier posts, in a 
 general system of militia, in foreseeing attention to 
 the navy, to ensure every kind of safety. May this 
 immense temple of freedom ever stand, a lesson to 
 oppressors, an example to the oppressed, and a 
 sanctuary for the rights of mankind ! And may 
 these happy United States attain that complete 
 splendour and prosperity, which will illustrate the 
 blessings of their government, and for ages to come 
 rejoice the departed souls of its founders ! 
 
 " However unwilling to trespass on your time, I 
 must yet present you with grateful thanks for the 
 late favours of Congress; and never can they oblige 
 me so much, as when they put it in my power, in 
 every part of the world, to the latest day of my 
 life, to gratify the att;ichment, which will ever rank 
 me among the most zealous and respectful servants 
 of the United States." 
 
 Lafayette, after this solemn and affecting farewell, 
 repaired to New York, and embarked on board La 
 
132 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Nymphe frigate to return to France. The vessel 
 sailed on the 25th of December, 1784. He was 
 accompanied to the vessel by the Governor of the 
 State, the French Consul, the officers of the army, 
 and a number of citizens. The flag of the United 
 States waved over the Battery, which gave him a 
 salute of thirteen guns, and La Nymphe answered 
 with the same number, as he stepped on her deck. 
 Little dreamed he, amid the auspicious circumstances 
 in which he left the United States, what scenes 
 awaited him in his native country. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 133 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 The French Revolution — Prefatory Remarks — The Position of La- 
 fayette — Assembly of the Notables — Lafayette's Propositions — 
 Convocation of the States-General — It resolves itself into a National 
 Assembly — Lafayette's Declaration of Rights — Institution of the 
 National Guard — Appointment of Lafayette to its Command — De- 
 struction of the Bastile — Butchery of Foulon and Berthier — Lafayette 
 saves the Lives of the Royal Family — Gratitude of the Court — 
 Fraternization of the Soldiers — The Removal to Paris — Horrid 
 Saturnalia. 
 
 E are now approaching a portion of 
 the hfe of Lafayette, in which it is 
 more difficult to present him to the 
 young reader than in any other part 
 of his career; the participation which 
 he bore in the French Revolution. But 
 while the friends of hereditary rule and 
 feudal abuse on the one hand, and on the 
 other the sanguinary Jacobins, abused his 
 person, misrepresented, his conduct, and vilified his 
 motives, it is clear that the conduct which displeased 
 both extremes, was based upon high and sound prin- 
 ciples. These principles, while at war with oppres- 
 
134 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sion and hereditary tyranny, were no less obnoxious 
 to sanguinary and indiscriminate opposition. While 
 Lafayette may claim the glory of the enunciation, 
 in Europe, of the great principles upon which the 
 French Revolution comm.enced, he is in no way to 
 be held accountable for the excesses which grew 
 out of their declaration ; or for the prostitution of 
 the name of liberty to those foul and most terrible 
 massacres and murders, which make that passage 
 of modern history, the eighteenth century, more 
 than a parallel to any page of the ancient times. 
 Indeed, so far from holding him accountable, the 
 reader will perceive that his influence was among 
 the last which was exerted, with any effect or suc- 
 cess, against outrage and murder ; and that, indeed, 
 he sacrificed himself in the effort to resist the blind 
 rage of a maddened and an oppressed people — who, 
 having burst at last from restraint, abused the free- 
 dom which they were neither prepared to appreciate 
 nor to improve. 
 
 That a necessity existed for a change in the condi- 
 tion of the French people ; that the rights of the 
 individual were habitually unrecognised, except those 
 of such individuals as belonged to the privileged 
 classes ; and that the rights of any subject were set 
 at naught and trampled upon, at the will of absolu- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 135 
 
 tism — expediency, not justice, being the only limita- 
 tion to the caprices of tyranny : all these are his- 
 torical facts — facts which can never be forgotten, 
 while their consequences are written in such deep, 
 staring, frightful letters of blood, as are the records 
 of the French Revolution. 
 
 The arbitrary taxation of two centuries, imposed 
 by the mere will of the crown, had not sufficed to 
 meet the expenses of misgovernment and the pro- 
 fligacy of the Court. Louis XVI., a man who in 
 times of ordinary quiet would have been remarkable 
 for nothing, perhaps, but his passive benevolence, 
 came to the throne at the very time when a man of 
 sterner stuff was necessary to breast the storm. A 
 tyrant was required to defend the abuses of tyranny. 
 Louis gave way before the pressure from without ; 
 and the very concessions which, in a strong mon- 
 arch, might have blessed his people, and formed the 
 foundation of an equitable and orderly government, 
 ended in the overthrow of the French monarchy, 
 and the long train of terrible events which followed. 
 Great results have indeed been produced, but by a 
 most terrible process ; and the time has even now 
 hardly arrived, when men can look justly and philo- 
 sophically upon the French Revolution, and weigh 
 its cost against its consequences. 
 
136 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 It is not to be disputed that, if its impulse was 
 not absolutely derived from the American Revolu- 
 tion, the first steps of its progress were guided by 
 that great example. The friends of freedom in this 
 country, hailed with joy the opening scenes of what 
 promised the erection of a republic in Europe, and 
 the recognition of the rights of man all over the 
 world. That their joy was turned to horror, as 
 the drama which was opened with so much fair 
 promise became so foul a tragedy, will readily be 
 conceived. If the position of Americans as mere 
 spectators was so perplexing, what must have been 
 that of Lafayette, whose principles, character, and 
 position, whose ardent love of justice, and love of 
 his country, made him embrace with zeal the course 
 which the voice of the people indicated to him. 
 Once recognised as one of the leaders of the 
 movement, his position, as has been truly remarked, 
 was " without parallel in history. The annals of 
 the human race exhibit no other instance of a posi- 
 tion, comparable for its unintermitted perils, its deep 
 responsibilities, and its providential issues, with that 
 which he occupied as commander-general of the 
 National Guard, and as a leader of the Constituent 
 Assembly." It was indeed unparalleled; and the 
 more so that Lafayette, far from seeking like ordi- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 137 
 
 nary men — and great men are oftenest ordinary in 
 this particular — to make circumstances favourable 
 to his ambition, or to sacrifice principles to the 
 times, he was throughout consistent in his adher- 
 ence to the great aims with which he commenced ; 
 and when he could no longer see a prospect of de- 
 fending or pursuing them, and had lost his power 
 in averting evil, he abandoned the cause as hopeless. 
 Enlightened, generous self-sacrifice, too noble and 
 high-minded for contemporary appreciation, now 
 places his name high in honour among the bene- 
 factors of his race. 
 
 In P'ebruary, 1787, De Calonne, the F'rench Mi- 
 nister of Finance, or Comptroller-General, finding 
 himself inextricably involved, prevailed upon the 
 king to convene what was called an assembly of 
 Notables — a selection from all the grandees and 
 dignitaries of the kingdom. In this assembly, every 
 interest was represented but that of the people. Of 
 this meeting Lafayette was a member. It was di- 
 vided into seven sections or bureaux, each presided 
 over by a prince of the blood ; and Lafayette was 
 a member of the division under the charge of the 
 young Count d'Artois, who in our own time suc- 
 ceeded to the throne as Charles X., and m the 
 
138 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 events connected with whose abdication in 1830; 
 Lafayette appeared in his last important public acts. 
 
 At the convocation of the Notables, while others 
 were engaged in the temporary expedients which 
 called them together, Lafayette's wishes and hopes 
 reached something more comprehensive — a reform 
 more searching. He brought forward three im- 
 portant propositions: — the abolishment of Lettres 
 de Cachet and all arbitrary imprisonment ; the estab- 
 lishment of religious toleration and restoration of 
 the civil rights of the Protestants ; and the convoca- 
 tion of a national assembly, representing the people 
 of France. 
 
 The demand for the creation of a national as- 
 sembly alarmed the Count d'Artois, even though he 
 did not perceive its whole drift, but saw in it only a 
 temporary convocation of the States-General — that 
 is to say, of the clergy, nobihty, and representatives 
 of the people. The Assembly of the Notables re- 
 sulted in nothing but the overthrow and dismission 
 of the Minister, Calonne. He was succeeded by 
 Necker, who endeavoured to revive and enforce the 
 old mode of taxation by edicts. He was resisted 
 by the Parliaments, and as a last resort recommended 
 a convocation of the States-General, a measure 
 which had not been before resorted to for nearly 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 139 
 
 two hundred years. The States-General assembled 
 on the 5th of May, Lafayette having a seat in the 
 body. Several weeks were consumed in struggles 
 between the three orders ; the States-General re- 
 solved itself, on the 17th of June, 1789, into the 
 National Assembly, or more properly into the Con- 
 stituent Assembly, as the former term distinguishes 
 the legislative body which met under the constitution ; 
 the representatives of the people refusing to deli- 
 berate in separate chambers, and compelling the 
 nobility and clergy to meet with them, or not at all, 
 as legislators. 
 
 On the 11th of July, Lafayette submitted in the 
 National Assembly a declaration of rights, which 
 was the basis of that afterwards adopted, and pub- 
 lished with the constitution. In the course of the 
 debate which preceded its adoption, Lafayette pro- 
 nounced the memorable sentence: — '''•Insurrection 
 against tyrants is the holiest of duties.'''' This has 
 served in Europe as the theme of endless denuncia- 
 tion against its author. Probably, as suggested 
 by John Quincy Adams, Lafayette borrowed the 
 sentiment from the mouth of Jefferson — "Rebellion 
 against tyrants is obedience to God." How Lafay- 
 ette understood the maxim has been shown in hia 
 conduct. That his countrymen misapphed it, is one 
 
140 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 of the consequences of the condition to which op- 
 pression had reduced them ; and in the circumstances 
 of the very time at which it was uttered, there was 
 sufficient to madden the nation. The king had 
 made the effort to overawe the Assembly by sur- 
 rounding the place where they were in session with 
 troops. Thirty-five thousand men were cantoned 
 in the neighbourhood of Paris, and twenty thousand 
 more were held in readiness. 
 
 The people rose in insurrection, and the Bastile, 
 which had frowned upon France four hundred years, 
 and which had once withstood a siege of twenty- 
 three days, was, on the 14th of July, destroyed by 
 the people in about the same number of hours that it 
 had endured centuries. With this edifice fell arbi- 
 trary imprisonment, and the "lettre de cachet," a 
 form of arrest which put the life and liberty of any 
 citizen at the power of the crown, without assigning 
 any reason or specifying any offence. The key of 
 this building was afterwards sent by Lafayette to 
 Washington. The destruction of this prison was 
 an event so glorious for the human race, that all 
 men but tyrants and their advocates rejoiced at the 
 removal of such a monument of despotism ; while 
 the hurried and fiendish execution of the governor 
 and several other persons, summarily hanged, or 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 141 
 
 torn in pieces by the mob, caused a shudder of 
 horror. This was but the commencement, however 
 of the sickening atrocities which accompanied the 
 rising of the French nation against its hereditary 
 oppressors. 
 
 One of the measures which grew out of the 
 "Constituent Assembly" was the establishment of 
 the National Guard. Of this guard Lafayette was 
 almost spontaneously elected commander; a choice 
 confirmed by Louis XVI, who on the 17th of July, 
 the day following the election of Lafayette, visited 
 Paris, where he was received by the National Guard 
 with Lafayette at its head. This movement of 
 Louis, in whatever other light we may regard it, 
 must be conceded to have shown the possession of 
 courage and patriotism ; and the Parisian populace, 
 ever ready to recognise an appeal to their confi- 
 dence, even in those whom they might the next hour 
 doom to destruction, celebrated the monarch's ar- 
 rival with shouts of Vive le Roi ! 
 
 Could the duty of reorganizing the government 
 have been left indeed to tlie Constituent Assembly, 
 the revolution might have been conducted in such a 
 manner as to secure the ends at which it aimed, if 
 not with immediate success, at least without blood- 
 shed and anarchy. But wiiile the Assembly w^ere 
 
142 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 in session at Versailles, the mob were at work in 
 Paris ; not only acting without recognition of the 
 proceedings of the Assembly, but awing and intimi- 
 dating it by lawless violence. While the Assembly 
 talked of insisting upon the king's recalling M. 
 Necker, who had been superseded as minister by 
 M. Foulon, the latter fled in terror. He was over- 
 taken and brought before the Assembly, while the 
 people clamoured for his death. Lafayette, as the 
 only means of rescuing him, ordered him to be con- 
 ducted to prison ; but he was seized by the mob and 
 hanged, almost in presence of the whole National 
 Assembly. M. Berthier, the son-in-law of Foulon, 
 arriving in Paris the same evening, was massacred 
 by those who had imbued their hands in the blood 
 of his relation. Both these murders were com- 
 mitted despite the entreaties and even tears of La- 
 fayette, before whom the heart of Berthier was torn 
 from his body and held in exulting triumph. Sick- 
 ened and disgusted, Lafayette on the instant sur- 
 rendered his command to the Mayor of Paris. In 
 his communication making this tender, he declared 
 that though devoted to his last breath to the inte- 
 rest of the people, he was incapable of purchasing 
 their favour by unjustly consenting to their wishes. 
 He desired to abandon a post in which he said he 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 143 
 
 could no longer be useful. But this decision was 
 overruled, and at the earnest entreaty of the As- 
 sembly and of the friends of order, he was induced 
 to withdraw his resignation. He resumed his com- 
 mand and his activity. Everywhere present, he was 
 the means of preventing many atrocities, and of 
 saving the victims of popular fury more than once, 
 even after ruffianly hands had adjusted the ropes at 
 the lamp-hooks, to launch the objects of the popular 
 hate into eternity. Meanwhile, he still laboured in 
 the Constituent Assembly, supporting with heart and 
 voice all measures of true reform, and identifying 
 himself with whatever of good was done by that 
 body. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that the sessions of 
 the Constituent Assembly were held at Versailles, 
 which also had long been the royal residence ; and 
 there resided what shadow of a court remained to 
 the king. It is situated about ten miles from Paris. 
 On the 5th of October the Parisians having deter- 
 mined to insist upon the king's removal to Paris, 
 Lafayette, after vainly striving to divert the Na- 
 tional Guard from their resolution, marched at their 
 head to Versailles. His reluctance to go has caused 
 much animadversion, principally from the fact that 
 it was misunderstood. The guard went, not to pro 
 
144 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 tect Versailles, but avowedly to bring the king to 
 Paris. Had the first been their sincere and sole 
 purpose, Lafayette would have offered no opposi- 
 tion ; and when at last he consented, it was to turn 
 their obstinacy and anarchy to a better account 
 than they had intended. He hesitated to undertake 
 the defence of the king, in a mode that might result 
 in the opposite of the thing purposed ; but having 
 at last divided the responsibility with the municipality 
 of Paris, he set out with eight battalions. 
 
 The public distrust had been excited by rumours, 
 since established, that it was the purpose to remove 
 the king to Metz. Famine existed in Paris, in part 
 the effect of natural causes, in part the consequence 
 which must follow long-continued disturbance of the 
 public peace, and suspension of law and order. 
 The people were also irritated beyond measure by 
 feasts and fetes of the aristocracy and Life-Guards, 
 which the royal family countenanced at least, if they 
 did not participate in them. A hungry mob from 
 Paris, principally women, first took possession of 
 the chambers of the Constituent Assembly, inter- 
 rupting the debates, applauding, and even embracing 
 their favourites. The President of the Assembly 
 and fifteen of the members, went with twelve women 
 of the dregs of Paris to the king. He received 
 
L 1 F K OF LAFAYETTE. 145 
 
 them courteously, and they retired pacified; but 
 their infuriated companions without would have 
 murdered them, had not the Life-Guards rescued 
 the unlucky deputies from their companions. Now 
 began confusion and serious tumult. Shots were 
 fired, and wounds given ; when toward midnight 
 Lafayette arrived at the scene with his battahons. 
 It had been a stormy march. Several times the 
 commander's life had been threatened ; but he suc- 
 ceeded at last in bringing his troops to such a dis- 
 position, having sworn them to faithfulness to the 
 king, that he had confidence in them ; and they did 
 not betray that confidence. 
 
 Lafayette reported his arrival, first to the Assem- 
 bly, and then at the palace. Here again the blind 
 observance of military etiquette, of which we have 
 before had occasion to speak, produced a serious 
 difficulty. Had he received entire charge of the 
 palace, interior as well as exterior, the memorable 
 night of October 5th, 1789, would have passed, if 
 not quietly, at least without the outrage and murder 
 with which it was stained. He left the interior to 
 officers there in command, and placed strong guard? 
 on the outposts. Meanwhile, the authorities in 
 charge of the palace sent to their homes in the 
 town the greater number of the officers of the Life- 
 
 K 
 
146 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Guards, and sent away to Rambouillet four hundred 
 of those troops. 
 
 Trusting that others had done their duty as well 
 as himself — the mischief was an error arising from 
 a command divided without concert — and deceived 
 by the appearance of tranquillity, Lafayette, after 
 assuring the king that all was quiet, and himself 
 passing the whole night in securing that tranquillity, 
 naturally -sought some repose. He had now been 
 without rest for twenty-four hours. So judiciously 
 had he arranged his posts that not one of them was 
 attacked or disturbed. No reports reached him to 
 lessen his confidence ; and about five o'clock, having 
 partaken some slight refreshment, he threw himself 
 upon a bed. 
 
 It was raining, and the streets of Versailles, filled 
 with the infuriated and hungry people, were a perfect 
 pandemonium. Large groups of savage and in- 
 toxicated men and women were seated around 
 watch-fires, singing the terrible songs of that period. 
 "In one of these circles," says Alison, "their exas- 
 peration was such that, seated on the corpse of one 
 of the body guard, they devoured the flesh of his 
 horse, half roasted in the flames, while a ring of 
 frantic cannibals danced around the group !" Such 
 were the populace against whom Lafayette had to 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 147 
 
 contend, in an unpopular cause, and with an army 
 whose sympathies were by no means in the duty on 
 which they were employed ; and who, indeed, were 
 desirous of reaching the result for which the mob 
 clamoured, though they aimed to attain it by a more 
 moderate path. 
 
 About six o'clock a straggling party came in col- 
 lision with some of the Life-Guards. One of them 
 fired from the windows of the palace. There was 
 a frantic yell, and a rush from all the streets toward 
 the palace. Unfortunately one of the iron gates 
 had been left open, and the crowd pushed in. They 
 encountered two of the guards, who disputed their 
 passage step by step ; while a faithful servant shouted 
 " Save the Queen !" and one of the officers of the 
 guards conducted her to the king's apartments. 
 Scarcely had she left when the brigands entered her 
 chamber, and furious at finding she had escaped, 
 vented their impotent rage in stabs through the 
 mattress from which she had but an instant before 
 fled. Others dragged the bodies of two of the slain 
 life-guardsmen below the windows of the king, and 
 beheading them, paraded the heads upon their pikes 
 through the streets of Versailles. 
 
 A good commander is present everywhere by his 
 orders. A portion of the command of Lafayette, 
 
148 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 who were stationed near the palace, hastened at 
 once to the rescue, and dispersed the brigands in 
 the immediate vicinity of the gate. Lafayette, who 
 had not yet fallen asleep, sprang upon the first horse 
 he met and repaired instantly to the spot. A few 
 hours before he had actually been refused admittance 
 to the king's apartments. He had, as we have 
 before said, been denied the charge of the interior 
 of the palace ; and as the next best position, repaired 
 to the house, still near the palace, where his staff 
 received reports. 
 
 Upon arriving at the palace, he found some of the 
 body-guards in the hands of the mob. They would 
 inevitably have been sacrificed. With the earnest 
 appeal which he knew so well how to make, he 
 urged his grenadiers to rescue them. They per- 
 formed that apparent impossibility, and, under the 
 orders of Lafayette, conducted the veterans they 
 had rescued to the palace, where they rejoined their 
 comrades. Meanwhile, the heroic Lafayette re- 
 mained alone among the brigands who had been 
 arrested in their fell purpose. He was strong in his 
 invincible courage and high purposes. One villain 
 in the crowd levelled his piece at him, and cried out 
 to the mob, " Kill him !" Lafayette coolly directed 
 the man to be brought to him. The mob — how 
 variable is the satanic disposition of an infuriated 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 149 
 
 crowd ! — seized the culprit, and dashed out his brains 
 upon the pavement ! Lafayette then repaired to the 
 palace, and found there such a force of his own 
 troops, that immediate danger was now over, and 
 the Life Guards and National Guards were embrac- 
 ing each other and exchanging cockades. The 
 shout arose, " Lafayette for ever !" — and the whole 
 court overwhelmed him with gratitude for having 
 saved their lives. And when, at this dispassionate 
 period, we review his conduct through the whole of 
 this most trying and difficult affair, we know not 
 which most to admire, his prudence, his courage and 
 skill, or his self-sacrificing disinterestedness. The 
 first quality made him reasonably hesitate to lead 
 men to Versailles, who had many of them more 
 than connived at the movements of the mob ; in his 
 management of such an army we perceive consum- 
 mate ability and fearlessness ; and surely no greater 
 disinterestedness could be shown, than in his suc- 
 cessful defence of a court which had treated him 
 with ill-concealed distrust. 
 
 The people still clamoured for the removal of the 
 king to Paris. When this was decided upon, La- 
 fayette again showed his wisdom, by presenting first 
 the king and then the queen to the people, upon the 
 balcony. He knew his countrymen. A chance 
 shot might have killed either ; but the people were 
 
150 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 taken by the romance of the movement, and shouted 
 vivas ! for the persons whom they had hardly been 
 prevented from massacreing in their beds. He then 
 led out one of the Life-Guards, and placing upon 
 him his own shoulder-belt, was greeted with new 
 plaudits. 
 
 The principal bands of the rioters now proceeded 
 to Paris, carrying with them on pikes the heads of 
 the butchered guardsmen. " Surely," says the au- 
 thor of the Memoirs of Lavalette, " Satan himself 
 first invented the placing of a human head upon the 
 point of a lance ! The disfigured and pale features, 
 the gory locks, the half-opened mouth, the closed 
 eyes, frightful images of death, added to the ges- 
 tures and salutations which the fiends made these 
 dreadful objects perform, in horrible mockery of life, 
 presented the most hideous spectacle that rage could 
 have invented. A troop of women, ugly as crime 
 itself, swarming with insects, and wearing grena- 
 diers' hairy caps, went continually to and fro, howling 
 barbarous songs." It is an error, however, to say 
 that this hideous spectacle accompanied the return 
 of the king. Lafayette sent a detachment after 
 them to prevent their turning back; and though 
 their escape could not be prevented, they reached 
 Paris, their trophies were taken from them, and they 
 were dispersed, before even the king left Versailles 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 151 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Banishment of the Duke of Orleans — Suspicions against hira— Emi- 
 gration of the Nobility — Activity of Lafayette — Grand Fete of the 
 Confederation — Preparations for it — Solemnity of the Mass — Per- 
 formance of the Te Deum — Mutual Oaths, by Lafayette as the Re- 
 presentative of the Nation, and by the People, the King, and Queen 
 — Disinterestedness of Lafayette — Attempt on the Castle of Vin- 
 cennes — The King prevented from leaving Paris — Resignation of his 
 Command by Lafayette — He is persuaded to resume it — ^The King's 
 Flight to Yarennes — Mutinous Assembly in the Champ de INIars — 
 Resignation of Lafayette, and its Acceptance with high Honour. 
 
 .AVING succeeded in saving the life 
 of the kincr and of his life-guards, 
 and in protecting the Constituent 
 Assembly, Lafayette received the 
 thanks of the Court, and a formal 
 expression of the same feeling from 
 the Assembly, which now removed to Paris. 
 The full danger to which the king had been 
 exposed in the insurrection of October was 
 not clearly known; though it was suspected, and 
 with reason, that no spontaneous or unconcerted 
 rising could have been so formidable. It was 
 charged boldly that the Duke of Orleans had, in 
 
152 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 conjunction with Mirabeau, determined to remove 
 the king, and even to put him to death ; and that 
 the duke was to have been proclaimed heutenant- 
 general of the kingdom. Lafayette, without investi- 
 gating this charge, satisfied himself that Orleans had 
 fomented the rabble, and encouraged the mutinous 
 disposition of the National Guards. Some step was 
 necessary to get rid of a man so dangerous. To 
 arrest him in a time of so much excitement would 
 have been impolitic, if not absolutely dangerous; 
 and Lafayette, with soldierlike promptness, informed 
 him that his passport was ready for him, that Eng- 
 land was deemed the most fitting country for him to 
 retire to, and that to cover his retreat he would be 
 furnished with a commission from the king, to pro- 
 duce as the ostensible reason of his journey. The 
 Duke of Orleans, probably conscience-stricken, sub- 
 mitted at once. It is said however by others, that 
 he made some objections, remarking, " My enemies 
 say you possess proofs against me." "They are 
 rather my enemies," answered Lafayette; "if I 
 were capable of producing proofs against you, you 
 would already have been arrested." 
 
 The removal of the king to Paris was an event 
 full of important consequences. Not the least 
 among them was the commencement of the " emi- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 153 
 
 gration," so often spoken of in the annals of the 
 revolution. The Count d'Artois, afterward Charles 
 X., was at Turin with his father-in-law ; and the 
 noblesse of France who left the country at the ap- 
 proach of the storm, and after its commencement, 
 repaired to him, and even kept up the show of a 
 court, and the effort to reconquer the land from 
 which they were exiled. They did, indeed, under 
 the encouragement of foreign powers, make some 
 incursions into France ; and after the death of Louis 
 XVI. recognised his heir as king. 
 
 But as we remarked in treating of that part of 
 the hfe of Lafayette connected with the American 
 Revolution, it is impossible in this brief biography 
 to give an account of all the public events of the 
 time. We must even pass lightly over many of his 
 personal acts, selecting for more elaborate descrip- 
 tion, those which have the greatest personal interest 
 and the most public importance. After the removal 
 of the king to Paris, Lafayette continued most active, 
 not only in his military duties, as commander of the 
 National Guards, but in his capacity as a member 
 of the Constituent Assembly. As commander of 
 the guards, in January, 1790, he suppressed a most 
 dangerous sedition, which had for its first object the 
 summary execution of the Baron de Bezenval, not- 
 
154 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 withstanding his acquittal of conspiracy, with which 
 he had been charged ; and during other legal pro- 
 ceedings, when the mob made demonstrations of 
 interference, his promptness was equally effectual. 
 In the Assembly, among his memorable speeches, 
 was one seconding the proposition to abolish all titles 
 of nobility ; and, true to his principles, he ever after 
 refused the title of Marquis. 
 
 The next public event in which Lafayette bore a 
 prominent part was the fete of the Confederation, 
 celebrated on the 14th of July, the anniversary of 
 the destruction of the Bastile. Deputations and 
 volunteers arrived from all parts of France to assist 
 in the ceremonies ; and though two thousand men 
 were employed in preparing the Champ de Mars, an 
 immense field in front of the Military School, for the 
 ceremonies, it was still feared that the preparations 
 would not be complete, and the crowds in Paris 
 were, with great adroitness, induced to lend their 
 assistance. This occupation probably prevented 
 outbreaks ; and it certainly added in no small degree 
 to the interest of the ceremonies, that everybody 
 had participated in the preparations for them. All 
 sorts of people, men and women of all ranks, pro- 
 fessions, and callings, vied with each other in their 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 155 
 
 labours, and the preparations were scarcely less 
 imposing than the ceremony itself. 
 
 Three hundred thousand spectators awaited the 
 arrival of the National Assembly and the long train 
 of " confederates" from all parts of France — and 
 waited, too, dripping with rain and splashed with 
 mud. As soon as the first confederates arrived 
 they struck up a dance, in which they were joined 
 by the National Guards; and the three hundred 
 thousand spectators witnessed the strange spectacle 
 of sixty thousand dancing men ; a spectacle which 
 could by no possibility have been witnessed out of 
 Trance. The sky cleared, the sun shone out, and 
 as the whole procession filed into the immense arena, 
 the Bishop of Autun, better known now as the cele- 
 brated Talleyrand, proceeded to celebrate the mass. 
 He blessed the banners — he struck up the Te Deum 
 — twelve hundred musicians played that hymn, and 
 peals of cannon thundered their base to the solemn 
 voice of the choristers. Altogether the ceremony 
 was unquestionably one of the most imposing ever 
 witnessed, notwithstanding its incongruous introduc- 
 tion. Perhaps that very contrast heightened the 
 effect. Three hundred priests, in white surplices 
 and tri-coloured scarfs, stood upon the steps and 
 base of the "altar of the confederation," which 
 
156 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 was built in the centre of the arena, elevated twenty- 
 five feet from the ground. 
 
 Lafayette, as the head of the national militia, 
 alighting from his horse, ascended the steps of the 
 throne, which was placed on one side of the amphi- 
 theatre, and receiving from the king the form of the 
 oath, proceeded with it to the altar. All the banners 
 waved, and thousands of sabres glistened in the sun, 
 while the trumpets brayed, and the clangour of an 
 immense host of musicians waked every heart to the 
 highest pitch of enthusiasm. 
 
 All eyes were turned to him who now stood be- 
 fore this great concourse, the representative of the 
 nation. He rested the point of his sword upon the 
 Bible, and raised his arm to Heaven. The music 
 ceased, the mighty multitude held their breaths in 
 silence, and Lafayette pronounced the words: — 
 " We swear to be for ever faithful to the nation, to 
 the law, and to the king ; to maintain to the utmost 
 of our power the constitution decreed by the Na- 
 tional Assembly, and accepted by the king." A 
 solemn flourish of instruments, preluding the dis- 
 charge of cannon, announced the completion of this 
 part of the ceremony. Sabres and banners waved, 
 and all the people shouted, " Vive h Roi ! Vive le 
 Nation .'" The President of the National Assembly 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 157 
 
 repeated the oatli, and the mighty multitude, each 
 for himself, responded, " I swear!" The king fol- 
 lowed, with the form arranged for him; and the 
 queen, taking the dauphin in her arms and holding 
 him up to the people, exclaimed, '■'Behold my son! 
 He joins me in these sejitiments /" " Vive le Roi ! 
 Vive la Reine ! Vive le Dauphin /" And amid the 
 deafening roar of artillery, the noise of instruments, 
 and the acclamations of the people, this great 
 solemnity closed. The sun now shone in unclouded 
 splendour. " It seemed," says Ferrieres, " as if it 
 had pleased God himself to witness this mutual con- 
 tract, and to ratify it by his presence. Yes, he did 
 both see and hear it; and the terrible calamities 
 which ever since that day have not ceased to deso- 
 late France — oh Providence, ever active and ever 
 faithful! — are the just punishments of perjury! 
 Thou hast stricken both the monarch and the sub- 
 jects who violated their oath !" 
 
 In September of this year an effort was made to 
 induce Lafayette to accept the indemnity which was 
 legally his, for the immense expenditures which he 
 had been obliged to incur in maintainino- his station. 
 He steadily but respectfully refused. His fortune 
 he said was considerable. " It has," he wrote to 
 the Assembly " sufficed for two revolutions, and if a 
 
158 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 third shall occur for the benefit of the people, it 
 shall belong wholly to it." 
 
 The year 1791 opened with alarming tokens of 
 a seditious spirit. Its first serious manifestation 
 was on the 28th of February, when an attempt was 
 made to destroy the Castle of Vincennes. The 
 mob were already at work; and a detachment of 
 National Guards, which had been despatched to the 
 spot, seemed much more ready to second than to 
 resist the populace. Lafayette repaired thither, and 
 succeeded in bringing the guard to a sense of their 
 duty, and arresting sixty of the rioters, whom he 
 marched through the most seditious quarter of Paris, 
 and lodged in prison. While this difficulty was 
 going on at the Castle of Vincennes, another dis- 
 turbance was taking place at the palace of the 
 Tuilleries. Some indiscreet friends of the king had 
 admitted several hundred armed men, for the defence 
 of the king, very much to the irritation of that por- 
 tion of the National Guards who were on duty at 
 the palace, and who naturally considered this inter- 
 ference, made without consultation with them, a re- 
 flection upon their loyalty. To pacify the Guards, 
 Lafayette ordered these men to be disarmed and 
 dismissed. 
 
 The public mind was now in great agitation, ag- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 159 
 
 gravated by the events we have just related. When 
 the royal family attempted to leave Versailles to 
 pass the Easter holidays at St. Cloud, the populace 
 surrounded the coaches and would not permit their 
 departure. The National Guards instead of oppos- 
 ing joined the mob, and closing before the coach, 
 detained the king in it for two hours, exposed to the 
 insults of the people and the mutinous soldiery. 
 Lafayette in vain ordered them to open to the right 
 and left and permit the coach to pass. He offered 
 to force a passage, but the king would not consent. 
 On the next day he sent in his resignation, observing 
 that as the troops would no longer obey, he would 
 abdicate a command which was merely nominal. 
 
 The guards besought Lafayette to resume the 
 command, sending him deputations from all the bat- 
 talions. The municipality, and other citizens of 
 Paris, seconded them ; but he persisted in his refusal, 
 grounding it on the fact, that proofs were given of 
 attachment to him but not to the laws. Then the 
 battalions met, and passed resolutions expressive of 
 their determination to respect the law and the con- 
 stitution, and obey the commander, whoever he 
 might be. Upon this, at the solicitation of the 
 Mayor and a deputation of the council, Lafayette 
 consented again to serve; and the first measure ho 
 
160 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 proposed was, to lead his command to the palace, 
 where he addressed the king in the name of the 
 guards, and received a gracious reception and an- 
 swer, which the troops acknowledged with loyal 
 acclamations. 
 
 The emigration of the noblesse, the countenance 
 given to the exiles by the sovereigns of Europe, and 
 the well-founded suspicion that the royal family were 
 in correspondence with them, kept the public mind 
 in terrible excitement, which the Jacobins did not fail 
 to foment. The great fear was that the king would 
 escape, rejoin his former friends, and operate against 
 France. The king, whose life was passed in con- 
 stant fear of violence, did attempt to escape, and 
 succeeded, on the night of the 20th of June, in get- 
 ting out of the capital. Many unfortunate delays 
 and accidents occurred, but Louis succeeded in 
 reaching Varennes. There he was arrested, having 
 been recognised at several points on the route ; and 
 amid excessive insults and annoyances was brought 
 back to Paris — the return occupying eight days, to 
 accommodate the pace of the guards. The flight 
 took place at midnight; Lafayette was not apprised 
 of it until six o'clock. The mob accused him of 
 conniving at and assisting the flight; and nothing 
 but his courage, and the confidence which the people 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 161 
 
 reposed in him, prevented his destruction. He faced 
 the infuriated crowd alone, and disarmed them by 
 his firmness. He was compelled to despatch a mes- 
 senger after the royal fomily ; but the arrest had 
 taken place before his aid-de-camp reached Varennes. 
 On the return of the unhappy fugitives, he took such 
 measures as enabled the royal party to alight in 
 safety, and without insult. A public notice had 
 been widely distributed : — "Whoever applauds the 
 king shall he flogged — whoever insults him shall be 
 hanged.'''' He was received in perfect silence, and 
 by a decree of the Assembly placed under guard in 
 the palace — Lafayette, as commander, being thus 
 his jailor. The matter of his flight occupied the 
 Assembly until the 16th of July, when it was de- 
 clared by resolution, based on the report of the com- 
 missioners appointed to investigate the case, that in 
 this flight there was nothing culpable. Lafayette 
 performed his duty as guard over the king conscien- 
 tiously; he opposed with energy the efforts which 
 were made in the Assembly to declare that the king 
 had abdicated. He drew on himself at once the 
 displeasure of the king, and the hatred of the ene- 
 mies of the crown. In relation to the flight, he was 
 charged by the Jacobins with having promoted it, 
 
 L 
 
162 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 and by the royalists with having caused the arrest j 
 while a third set of accusers have not scrupled to 
 combine the two charges, and assert that he pro- 
 cured both flight and arrest. Perhaps, as had been 
 suggested, he was ignorant of the departure of the 
 king, but winked at that of the queen. Whatever 
 Lafayette may have thought or done, if the return 
 of the king was desired by him, he was an exception 
 to all save the Jacobins. The wise and moderate 
 would have been heartily glad if Louis had escaped, 
 for his arrest was a capital error. With his usual 
 eye to peace, Lafayette moved a decree of amnesty 
 to all who had assisted in the flight or journey. 
 During the debates on the disposition of the subject 
 of the " flight," Lafayette declared in the Chamber, 
 that if any violence was offered to the king he would 
 proclaim Louis XVIL, at the head of the National 
 Guard. 
 
 The decision of the Assembly relative to the king 
 did not please the Jacobins ; and they procured an 
 assembly in the Champ de Mars on the 17th of July, 
 the object of which purported to be to sign a peti- 
 tion against the re-establishment of Louis. People 
 flocked to the place where, a year before, they had 
 sworn fealty to the king and the law, breathing fury 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 163 
 
 against the one and contempt of the other. Murders 
 were committed — martial law was proclaimed — La- 
 fayette, at the head of the guards, repaired to the 
 scene of confusion ; and after enduring insult and 
 outrage, his own life having been attempted, and 
 several of the soldiers and some of the officers 
 wounded, he fired, first with blank cartridges, which 
 as usual in such cases increased the violence of the 
 mob, then with ball, which suppressed the riot. 
 Greater order and tranquillity were conferred upon 
 Paris, than the city had for a long time known. 
 
 The royal prisoner had accepted the constitution ; 
 and Lafayette, alleging that the occasion which re- 
 quired his services was now over, resigned his post 
 as commander of the National Guard. The city 
 of Paris caused a gold medal to be struck in his 
 honour, and presented him with a sword, and a bust 
 of Washington. He retired to his estate in Au- 
 vergne, and there remained until April, 1792, when 
 he was called to command in the army. During his 
 short retirement he had been put in nomination as 
 Mayor of Paris, in opposition to the Jacobin Pethion. 
 Pethion was successful by an immense majority, not 
 only his popularity, but the influence of the court, 
 being opposed to Lafayette. Strange, that short- 
 
164 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sighted displeasure against Lafayette should have 
 excited the royal family to favour the interests of 
 one of their worst enemies, and to aid in elevating 
 a man who had made himself disgustingly and 
 personally disagreeable during the return from Va- 
 rennes. But so it was, and bitterly did Louis after- 
 ward lament the folly. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 165 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Lafayette appointed to the Army — Resists the Jacobins — The Disor- 
 ders of the 20th of June — Lafayette appears at the Bar of the As- 
 sembly — Abortive Attempt to check the Jacobins — Jacobin Rage 
 against him — He arrests the Commissioners sent against him — 
 Is arrested by the Austrians, and tampered with by the Allies — Is 
 imprisoned, first by the Prussians, and then by the Austrians — In- 
 effectual Attempt at Escape — Devotion of Madame Lafayette — 
 Efforts of the American Minister and Government — Liberation of 
 Lafayette. 
 
 AFAYETTE was, in April, 1792, ap- 
 pointed one of the three major-gene- 
 rals who commanded the French 
 armies, and soon after was named 
 Heutenant-general, and marshal of 
 France. The Jacobin faction, which had 
 now become paramount, had compelled the 
 declaration of war against Austria ; and was 
 at the same time eno^ai^ed, as it had been from 
 the beginning, in the origin or aggravation of all 
 the disorders which harassed France. Had the 
 counsels of Lafayette and other moderate men and 
 true friends of France prevailed, the commencement 
 of hostiUties would have been thrown upon Austria. 
 
166 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to accept the com- 
 mand which had been tendered to him, and repaired 
 to his post, where early opportunities occurred, to 
 offer signal though not brilliant services to his 
 country, in the resistance of the invasion which 
 followed the declaration of war. 
 
 Meanwhile the Jacobins, sure by their strengtn 
 in the clubs of controlling the action of the Assem- 
 bly, or, failing in this, of intimidating that body by 
 tumultuous assemblages, were proceeding with fright- 
 ful strides toward the violences which they afterward 
 committed. Lafayette, no longer a member of the 
 legislative body — as none who were members of the 
 Constituent could be elected to the National As- 
 sembly — still did not shrink from assuming the re- 
 sponsibility of resisting the growing power of the 
 Jacobins. The Assembly had passed three decrees 
 to which the king refused his assent. These decrees 
 disbanded the king's constitutional guards, directed 
 the formation of a camp of twenty-thousand men at 
 Paris to defend the capital, and put it in the power 
 of any twenty men to procure the exile of a priest 
 by denouncing him. The ministry, all of the Jaco- 
 bin faction, were dismissed ; and the excitement was 
 increased by a letter of Lafayette to the Assembly, 
 in which he fearles&ly denounced the Jacobin clubs 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 167 
 
 as the cause of all the disturbances, and earnestly 
 called upon the legislature to put down the domina- 
 tion of the clubs. 
 
 The Jacobins now deternnined upon an insurrec- 
 tion, under the cover of presenting a petition to the 
 Assembly. A mob of twenty thousand men filed 
 before the Assembly, accompanied by women and 
 children, dancing, and singing revolutionary songs, 
 carrying seditious flags, and such emblems as ragged 
 garments, held aloft with the cry, '■'■Vivent les sans 
 culottes /" The most horrible emblem of all was a 
 calf's heart, pierced by a pike, and inscribed, " The 
 heart of an aristocrat^ 
 
 This mob, after passing through the hall of the 
 Assembly, proceeded to the Tuilleries, into which 
 they forced their way, and demanded of the king 
 the sanction of the decrees which he had refused, 
 with cries of " No veto ! — no priests ! — no aristo- 
 crats !" The king answ^ered with firmness, that this 
 was neither the place nor the moment to sanction 
 the decrees, but that he would do all that the con- 
 stitution required. ^'•Vive la Nation P'' shouted the 
 assailants. " Yes," replied Louis, '•''vive la Nation ! 
 I am its best friend !" " Prove it then !" said one 
 of the rabble, presenting him a Jacobin's red cap 
 on the point of a pike. A refusal to take it would 
 
168 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 have been of no service, and might have cost the 
 king his Hfe. He placed it upon his head. Bona- 
 parte, who afterward swayed Paris as one man, was 
 a spectator of this outbreak from tiie garden of the 
 Tuilleries. When the king showed himself at the 
 window with the red cap upon his head, the future 
 emperor could no longer restrain his indignation, 
 but cried to Bourienne who stood with him : " What 
 madness ! How could they allow the scoundrels to 
 enter! They ought to have blown four or five 
 hundred of them into the air, and the rest would 
 have taken to their heels !" 
 
 Eight days after this, Lafayette arrived in Paris, 
 alone. He was immediately waited upon by several 
 battalions of the National Guard, and his friends in 
 the capital exhibited every mark of continued at- 
 tachment. Great hopes on one side and great fears 
 on the other w'ere entertained from his presence. It 
 was supposed either that he would be followed by the 
 army, or that he must have strong friends in the 
 capital, to venture upon such a step as he had taken. 
 He appeared unattended before the bar of the Na- 
 tional Assembly, and demanded the punishment of 
 all instigators and performers of the violence of the 
 20th, when the Assembly was bearded in its session, 
 and the king in his palace. He insisted upon the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 169 
 
 suppression of the Jacobin clubs, and required that 
 the Assembly should take care of the internal peace 
 while the army was defending the frontier from 
 foreign foes. His discourse was at first received 
 with applause, but the arts of the Jacobins turned 
 the tide against him ; and the most he could procure 
 was leave to have his petition referred. This was 
 not effected, however, without a stormy debate, 
 during which the Jacobin orators managed with 
 much address to defeat the great efiect which the 
 manly address of Lafayette had produced upon the 
 Assembly. Lafayette made one more effort. He 
 called upon the National Guard to muster with him, 
 and shut up the hall of the Jacobins — but only 
 thirteen persons presented themselves; and thus 
 finding every effort abortive, he left Paris and re- 
 turned to the army, on the 30th of June, after two 
 days' stay in Paris. 
 
 The fury of the Jacobins was now systematically 
 directed against Lafayette. He was denounced as 
 a foe to liberty, his effigy was burned by the popu- 
 lace, and he was accused of having proposed to 
 march upon Paris with the army. A project for his 
 impeachment was brought before the Assembly, and 
 the last independent act of that body was, on the 
 8th of August, to reject by a large majority the 
 
170 LIFE OF LAFAYETE. 
 
 proposal to impeach Lafayette. On the very next 
 day the members declared by resolution, that the 
 sessions of the Assembly, in consequence of the 
 conduct of the Jacobins, were no longer free. 
 
 On the 10th occurred the fearful insurrection 
 during which the palace of the Tuilleries was 
 stormed. The king and royal family took refuge 
 with the National Assembly. The mob sacked the 
 palace; butchered the unfortunate Swiss Guards 
 almost to a man ; and destroyed all the works of 
 art upon which they could lay their hands, with a 
 truly Vandal ferocity. They then proceeded to the 
 National Assembly, which, no longer possessing even 
 the semblance of free agency, was compelled to issue 
 a decree, suspending the regal functions, and placing 
 the king in prison, to save him from instant destruc- 
 tion by the furious mob. To these events succeeded 
 the hideous murders of the first of September, when 
 the prisons of Paris were emptied of their tenants by 
 ruthless murder ; and the bodies of men and women, 
 pulled limb from limb, were paraded in bleeding and 
 ghastly fragments about the streets of Paris, upon 
 the points of lances. Many, whose appeals had 
 assisted in raising this state of things, would have 
 checked it ; but the eloquence which was potent to 
 produce was powerless to allay the fearful storm. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 171 
 
 We have now done with the events of the French 
 Revolution, as Lafayette was no longer a partici- 
 pant in them. He had seen the impending horrors, 
 and striven to no purpose to rally the friends of 
 order to prevent them. He had in vain besought 
 the king and royal family to take refuge with the 
 army. Great astonishment was produced among 
 the troops by the events in Paris. At first there 
 seemed a hope that his soldiers would support him ; 
 and he even caused the arrest of the commissioners 
 who had been sent to the camp by the Assembly, 
 now under the control of the Jacobins. But every 
 day increased the difficulties of his position. De- 
 fection to the cause of the Jacobins was hourly in- 
 creasing among his troops. Even had they all been 
 faithful to him, if he had marched upon Paris, the 
 king would have been instantly massacred ; and if 
 he had raised the standard of resistance against the 
 Assembly, he would have been attacked by the other 
 armies. France was pressed upon on all sides by 
 foreign foes ; and he ended at last the painful un- 
 certainty in which he was placed, by abdicating his 
 command, and withdrawing from the army and the 
 country. 
 
 On the night of the 19th of August, accompanied 
 by seven friends, he left the army, and fell in with 
 
172 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 an advanced guard of the Austrians. They desired 
 passports, but when it was discovered who they 
 were this was refused. An effort was made to 
 sound Lafayette, with the hope that he would attach 
 himself to the " emigrants ;" but Lafayette refused 
 to converse with the Count d'Artois, and this hope 
 was abandoned. They were next visited by an 
 Austrian major, commissioned to receive the trea- 
 sure, which it was supposed Lafayette had secured, 
 and which, the major remarked, would be seques- 
 tered in behalf of his Christian Majesty. " All that 
 I understand of this strange commission," said La- 
 fayette, " is, that had he been in my place, M. the 
 duke of Saxe Teschen would have stolen the military 
 chest of the army !" 
 
 The seizure was made in the neutral territory of 
 Liege; and Lafayette with his companions was 
 transferred by the Austrians to Prussian guards. 
 They were detained, not as prisoners of war, for 
 which there was no pretext, but as prisoners of State. 
 They were first conducted to Wesel, on the Rhine, 
 under every circumstance of indignity, and were 
 thence removed to Magdeburg, Glatz, and Niesse. 
 After remaining about two years in the hands of the 
 Prussians, they were transferred to the Austrians, 
 who imprisoned them in the castle of Olmutz 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 173 
 
 While in the hands of the Prussians, several over- 
 tures were made to betray his supposed feelings 
 against France into the assistance of the allies; and 
 it was the resistance of these temptations which 
 increased the rigour of his sufferings. 
 
 When Lafayette entered the Austrian prison of 
 Olmutz, he was warned that the four walls of his 
 dungeon would thereafter be to him the world, that 
 he would never receive news from without, and that 
 his name would be unknown in the citadel, and in 
 all official reports — he would be designated by a 
 number. He was informed that he would never 
 receive any notice of his family, or of the existence 
 of his fellow-prisoners; and, in short, that his life 
 would pass in complete isolation and solitude. With 
 a mock of humanity, knives and forks were taken 
 from him, as he was informed that his situation 
 would be such as naturally to provoke suicide ! 
 The walls of the dungeon were of such massive 
 thickness, as scarcely to admit a breath of air 
 through the loop-holes ; and what did enter, came 
 loaded with pestilential miasma from the ditch 
 beneath the wall. During rains the loop-holes were 
 gutters through which streams of water poured in , 
 and except when the sun shone, this dismal den 
 was in almost total darkness. The furniture con- 
 
174 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sisted of a miserable bed, full of vermin, and a broken 
 chair and table ; and under these terrible privations 
 and positive inflictions, Lafayette was more than 
 once brought to the borders of the grave, his hair 
 falling from his head by the excess of his sufferings 
 and destitution. Unremitted pursuance of such a 
 system would have procured his death ; and he was 
 at length permitted first to walk daily in the fortress, 
 and then to more extended privileges, as will appear 
 in the progress of our narrative. Still, even under 
 the most favourable circumstances, his condition was 
 wretched enough. He was permitted to know no- 
 thing of his family positively, and what gleams of 
 intelligence reached him were of a terrible character. 
 His wife was in prison, his estates were sequestered, 
 and his name furnished a title for a crime, which the 
 Jacobins punished with death. That crime was 
 attachment to the constitution, of the solemn ratifi- 
 cation of which, in the Champ de Mars, the reader 
 is aware. It was called Fayetteism. Thus, un- 
 wittingly, did his enemies bear testimony to his 
 consistency and honesty. His persecution by the 
 despots of Europe, and his proscription by the 
 Jacobins, equal in vindictiveness and coincident in 
 duration, form a key to his character. His virtuous 
 moderation and true patriotism suited neither ex- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 175 
 
 treme ; and, being above the gurrender of his prin- 
 ciples to circumstances, he sacrificed himself to 
 aims which his enemies would not, and many of his 
 friends could not appreciate. 
 
 In 1794, Dr. Erick Bollman, with the knowledge 
 only that Lafayette was in an Austrian prison, set 
 about the enterprise of discovering him, and attempt- 
 ing his release. By well-directed manoeuvres, as an 
 inquisitive traveller, making inquiry into so many 
 things, that he established a reputation for curiosity 
 which made no question seem strange for him, he 
 at last discovered the particular fortress in which 
 Lafayette was immured. Satisfied at last that he 
 was at Olmutz, Dr. Bollman made the military sur- 
 geon the unconscious bearer of messages, written in 
 the blank leaves of books with sympathetic ink. It 
 was thus arranged between Dr. Bollman and La- 
 fayette, that the attempt should be made to rescue 
 the latter, when the prisoner was permitted to ride 
 for his health, a privilege which had now been con- 
 ceded to him. This relaxation in the severity of 
 his confinement had been procured through the 
 earnest representations of the American govern- 
 ment, and the friends of the Marquis. 
 
 An assistant was necessary. Dr. Bollman com- 
 municated his purpose to Francis Kinlock Huger, a 
 
176 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 young American, at whose father's house Lafayette 
 was a guest when he first landed in America. 
 Young Huger, with an ardour which does his cha- 
 racter high credit, and which will perpetuate his 
 name in history, with that of Dr. Bollman, as long 
 as Lafayette is remembered, or generous adventure 
 is admired, entered at once with his whole heart into 
 the plan. 
 
 Lafayette on these excursions rode in an open 
 carriage, with an officer, two soldiers as a guard, 
 and a driver — four men; quite sufficient for the 
 custody of one, where no rescue was apprehended. 
 Dr. Bollman and Mr. Huger had never seen him; 
 but signs for their mutual recognition were arranged. 
 The two adventurers rode past the carriage, and 
 satisfied themselves which was the prisoner. They 
 followed till the carriage stopped, and Lafayette 
 descended with the officer to walk. The two com- 
 panions rode up — Lafayette at the same instant 
 seized the officer's sword by the hilt. The officer 
 resisted ; but Dr. Bollman having dismounted, as- 
 sisted Lafayette to disarm the Austrian, and all three 
 fell to the ground together. The officer made a 
 terrible outcry for assistance, while the guard in- 
 stead of rendering any ran away. Dr. Bollman 
 held the officer, while Lafayette rose and mounted 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 177 
 
 one of the horses. The other, unfortunately, had 
 slipped his bridle and run, though a peasant was 
 holding him at a little distance. 
 
 Mr. Huger told Lafayette to "go to i/o/," the 
 town at which a conveyance was waiting, and gave, 
 him a purse. Lafayette unfortunately understood 
 him to say " go q^," and after some hesitation rode 
 away. The officer now followed the guard back to 
 Olmutz, and Bollman and Huger mounted the other 
 horse. 
 
 Everything had been well arranged. One of the 
 horses was trained to carry double, and a convey- 
 ance was waiting at Hoff, which would have carried 
 all clear. But unfortunately the double horse was 
 the one which Lafayette had taken ; and the other, 
 untractable under his heavy load, threw both Huger 
 and the Doctor. Huger insisted upon Dr. Bollman's 
 taking the horse, while he would take his chance on 
 foot for his escape. But the alarm was now given ; 
 Huger was soon secured and carried to Olmutz. 
 Dr. Bollman pushed on to Hoff, hoping to find La- 
 fayette there, waited in vain for him, till he was 
 arrested, and conducted also to Olmutz. Lafayette, 
 with his indefinite directions, took the wrong road, 
 was suspected, arrested, and detained till he was 
 recognised and reconducted to prison. His physical 
 
 M 
 
178 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sufferings were doubled ; he was loaded with heavy 
 chains, and to all this was added terrible mental 
 misery. During the few days that he was out, he 
 had heard appaUing stories of the sanguinary doings 
 of the French Revolution, and knew not how many 
 of his friends had fallen under the revolutionary axe. 
 He was in terror for his wife. He was told also, 
 that his deliverers had perished on the scaffold, and 
 that he himself was now reserved for public execu- 
 tion. His chivalric friends, after a tedious imprison- 
 ment, and a wearisome process of examination, 
 were, after some months, set at liberty. 
 
 While Lafayette was suffering imprisonment from 
 the crowned despots, his wife was enduring perse- 
 cution from that most terrible of all tyrants, an in- 
 furiated faction, above the restraint of all law. She 
 was arrested on the 10th of August, 1793, and sent 
 with her daughters to Paris, where she was impri- 
 soned among the condemned. Her mother, her 
 grandmother, and sister perished upon the scaffold ; 
 and she herself was in daily expectation of death, 
 when the counter revolution of July 27th, 1794, put 
 an end to the reign of terror, and stayed the bloody 
 guillotine. She was, however, detained in prison 
 some months longer, making the whole term in 
 Paris about a year and a half. 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 179 
 
 On the 9th of September, 1793, Madame La- 
 fayette, furnished with an American passport as 
 Mrs. Motier, by Governeur Morris, then American 
 Minister to France, proceeded to Vienna, and ob- 
 tained an audience of the emperor. She prayed the 
 liberation of her husband, or permission to share 
 his captivity. On the first point she was told that 
 the emperor's hands were tied, and she did not hesi- 
 tate for an instant to embrace the other condition of 
 the alternative she had proposed, and with her two 
 daughters, Anastasia and Virginia, aged respectively 
 sixteen and thirteen, joined her husband in prison. 
 Here the devoted wife and children remained twenty- 
 two months. Once she prayed to be permitted to 
 spend a week in Vienna, for the restoration of her 
 health and the benefit of advice. She was told, 
 after two months' delay in the answer, that no ob- 
 jection would be made to her leaving the prison, 
 but that she must not come to Vienna, nor expect 
 to be readmitted to her husband's prison. This 
 fixed her determination. She remained, enduring 
 with her husband and her daughters all the horrors 
 of imprisonment, until the liour of liberation arrived. 
 Her health suffered a terrible shock from these afflic- 
 tions; and she died in 1806, having never fully re- 
 covered from their eflfects. " The history of female 
 
180 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 virtue and heroism," remarks M. de Stael, " presents 
 nothing more rare in excellence, than the life and 
 character of Madame de Lafayette." Fit com- 
 panion for such a husband, her name will share with 
 his the homage of a world. 
 
 On the 19th of September, 1797, the captives 
 were liberated. They were conducted under escort 
 to Hamburg, where, on the 4th of October, they 
 were surrendered by the Austrian Minister to Mr. 
 Parish, the American Consul, who had engaged to 
 the emperor to remove them from Germany within 
 ten days. The meeting between Lafayette and Mr. 
 Parish was most affecting. Despotism desired that 
 the liberation of the prisoner should be quiet and 
 secret ; but the world's enthusiasm in the case of 
 Lafayette never could be checked. An immense 
 crowd of sympathizing people lined the streets, and 
 attended the hero of the two worlds to the American 
 consul's house ; and his heart was refreshed with 
 the evidence, that more than five years' imprison- 
 ment, with the expressed intention of burying him 
 alive, had not caused his name to be forgotten, or 
 his services to humanity to pass out of memory. 
 
 The immediate cause of the liberation of Lafay- 
 ette was the success of Napoleon. Under instruc- 
 tion from the Directory, probably at his own sug- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE, 181 
 
 gestion, the young general insisted at the treaty of 
 Campo Formo, that the prisoners of Olniutz should 
 be released. The Austrians, complying with an ill 
 grace, wished to couple Lafayette's manumission 
 with degrading conditions ; but his spirit unbroken 
 by his sufferings, he declared he would never accept 
 his freedom with any stipulations which should 
 compromise his rights as a Frenchman, or as an 
 America?! citizen. 
 
 While to Napoleon is due the credit of cutting 
 short negotiation for Lafayette by his energetic 
 conduct, it is not to be forgotten that Washington 
 had left no measure untried. In 1796, Mr. Morris 
 in France, Mr. Pinckney in London, Mr. Parish, 
 consul at Hamburg, and all the American ministers 
 abroad, were instructed to use their influence to 
 obtain his liberty, or ameliorate his condition. 
 Washington addressed a letter to the Emperor of 
 Germany, which was transmitted through the Aus- 
 trian minister in London. Mr. Parish, at Ham- 
 burg, obtained permission to transmit to Lafayette 
 small sums of money, large sums being interdicted ; 
 and thus toward the close of his imprisonment his 
 sufferings were relieved. Mr. Morris furnished Ma- 
 dame Lafayette with twenty thousand florins, and 
 transmitted to Lafayette ten thousand in small sums 
 
182 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 In the British Parliament, the gallant soldier 
 Gen. Fitzpatrick, brought forward a motion to re- 
 quest his Majesty to intercede for the deliverance 
 of Lafayette and his companions. He was sup- 
 ported by Col. Tarleton, who had met Lafayette in 
 his American campaigns — and by Sheridan, Wilber- 
 force, Fox, and Grey. Fox's speech was one of the 
 most eloquent of his efforts; and although the 
 policy of the then ministry forbade any special in- 
 terference under the circumstances, it cannot be 
 doubted that this bringing forward the enormous 
 wrongs of Lafayette into the light of day, aided in 
 forcing the crowned jailors of the hero to yield to 
 the rebuking sentiments of the world, and to open 
 his prison doors for very shame. 
 
 The intention to release him was formally an- 
 nounced to the American consul at Hamburg, in 
 September, 1797, on account of " the particular 
 interest which the United States appear to take 
 in the liberation of this prisoner ;" and in one of 
 his despatches the Austrian minister says: — "You 
 will take care to inform the American consul, that 
 his Majesty having made no positive engagement with 
 the French respecting the enlargement of this prisoner, 
 the motive of the particular interest that the United 
 States of America appear to attach to it, has con- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 183 
 
 tributed not a little to engage his Majesty in this 
 beneficent action." 
 
 There is Httle doubt, that without the terror of 
 the rising star of Napoleon, Austria would have 
 remained deaf to all negotiations and entreaties; 
 but we preserve the testimony in the above authentic 
 documents, to show that in his imprisonment Ame- 
 rica was not unmindful of her benefactor, and that 
 Washington did not forget his adopted son. 
 
184 LIFE OF LAFAYETT 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Lafayette's Return to La Grange — His Consistent Course in reference 
 to Napoleon — The Fall of the Emperor, and Restoration of the 
 Bourbons — Resolution of the Congress of the United States — La- 
 fayette visits America — His Reception in New York — Route to 
 Boston — Reception in that City — Return to New York — Journey up 
 the Hudson — Reception in Philadelphia — Baltimore — Washington 
 — Virginia — Visit to Jefferson — Return to Washington— Proceedings 
 in Congress — Southern and Western Tour — Bunker Hill Monument. 
 
 FTER Lafayette's restoration to free- 
 dom, he spent two years in the 
 Danish territory of Holstein, and 
 the Bavarian territory of Utrecht. 
 He was still under proscription ; but 
 the consular government was pro- 
 claimed in France, in 1799, he repaired to 
 La Grange. His son, George Washington 
 Lafayette, had returned from America; and 
 in everything but the declining state of his wife's 
 health, his domestic relations were most delightful, 
 and peace rewarded his life of toil and change. He 
 resisted all efforts to bring him into public life ; and 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 185 
 
 when Napoleon would have made hirn one of his 
 new order of peers, he said with great candour to 
 Bonaparte himself, that "from the direction which 
 public affairs were taking, what he already saw, and 
 what it was easy to foresee, it did not seem suitable 
 to his character to enter into a new order of things, 
 so contrary to his principles, and in which he would 
 have to contend without success, as without public 
 utility, against a man to whom he was indebted for 
 great obligations." When a short time afterward 
 he was summoned to vote on the question, whether 
 Napoleon should be consul for life, he added to his 
 vote the following comment: "I cannot vote for 
 such a magistracy until the public liberty shall have 
 been sufficiently guarantied; and, in that event, I 
 vote for Napoleon Bonaparte." 
 
 Through the next ten years Lafayette remained 
 in quiet at La Grange. His son and son-in-law, 
 receiving no countenance from the emperor, re- 
 mained with the father; and thus, while Europe 
 rang with the clangour of war, Lafayette, who had 
 more than once held the destiny of France in his 
 hands, presided, happier than any crowned head, in 
 his domestic empire. Nor did he come out from 
 his retirement at the first restoration of the Bour- 
 bons. " Silent," says Adams, in his eloquent eulogy, 
 
186 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 "amid the deafening shouts of victory from Marengo, 
 and Jena, and Austerhtz, and Friedland, and Wa- 
 gram, and Borodino ; silent at the conflagration of 
 Moscow, at the passage of the Beresina, at the 
 irretrievable discomfiture of Leipsic, at the capitu- 
 lation of the gates of Paris, and at the first restora- 
 tion of the Bourbons under the auspices of the in- 
 veterate enemies of France, as little could Lafayette 
 participate in that restoration as in the usurpations 
 of Napoleon." 
 
 Lafayette remained in retirement until the return 
 of Napoleon from Elba, within a year from the day 
 in which he had been exiled to that island. He was 
 then urged to take his seat in the Chamber of Peers, 
 again refused, and was elected a member of the 
 popular chamber ; which he entered, with the deter- 
 mination to direct all his efforts " to make the 
 chamber of which he was a member, a representa- 
 tion of the French people, and not a Napoleon 
 Club." During the twelve days from the opening 
 of the Chambers to the battle of Waterloo, Lafay- 
 ette was a silent member, voting for all judicious 
 supplies, on the ground that France was invaded. 
 It was not until Napoleon returned from Waterloo, 
 and proposed by a despotic force to dissolve the 
 Assembly, levy a new army, and assume the Dicta- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. IS" 
 
 torship, that Lafayette, for the first time in over 
 twenty years, ascended the tribune, as is the custom 
 in the French Legislature, and addressed the As- 
 sembly. The emperor, who was in council when 
 he heard that Lafayette was about to speak, changed 
 countenance, and betrayed his knowledge that, in 
 such a case, all his prospect of a dictatorship was 
 over. At the instance of Lafayette, the Assembly 
 declared themselves in perman'ent session, and that 
 any attempt to dissolve the body should be de- 
 nounced as high treason. After a fruitless effort to 
 obtain a decree from the Assembly establishing a 
 dictatorship. Napoleon abdicated in favour of his 
 son. The Assembly strove to treat with the allies ; 
 a commission being appointed, with Lafayette at its 
 head, for that purpose. This commission indig- 
 nantly rejected, as one of the conditions of peace, 
 the surrender of Napoleon into the power of the 
 allies. Lafayette replied, that Napoleon having 
 voluntarily abdicated, his person was under the pro- 
 tection of the national gratitude and honour ; and 
 that " when it was proposed to the French people 
 to commit such an act of unexampled treachery, he 
 did not think that the prisoner of Olmutz would be 
 selected as the fittest agent for its execution." But 
 the allies had no intention of treating with the repre- 
 
188 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 sentatives of the nation. Their purpose was to 
 defend the rights of monarchs as monarchs under- 
 stand them, and not to recognise the rights of the 
 people. They put Louis again on the throne at the 
 point of the bayonet, closed and guarded the As- 
 sembly chamber, and imposed a dynasty upon the 
 people, to be again overthrown at a later period. 
 The members had no power to resist, France was 
 wearied and weakened with wars ; the Assembly 
 signed a fearless and eloquent protest against this 
 arbitrary exercise of power, and returned to their 
 homes. Lafayette went back to La Grange, in- 
 flexibly refusing to resume his title of nobility, and 
 his place in the Chamber of Peers ; and declaring 
 on more than one occasion, when forms brought the 
 question up, that he adhered to the resolution of the 
 Constituent Assembly, by which titles were abolished. 
 He, however, was almost constantly in the Repre- 
 sentative Chamber by election, though the influence 
 of the Court sometimes succeeded in preventing it. 
 Lafayette having expressed his intention of re- 
 visiting the United States, Congress unanimously 
 passed, in February, 1824, a resolution directing 
 the President to assure him of the grateful recollec- 
 tion of the American people, and tendering him a 
 national ship for his passage hither. But with his 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 189 
 
 consistent love of true republicanism, he preferred 
 to take his passage in a private ship ; and on the 
 16th of August, 1824, arrived at New York in the 
 Cadmus, Capt. Allyn. He was accompanied by his 
 son, George Washington Lafayette, M. Auguste de 
 Vasseur, and one servant. His arrival opened a 
 series of grateful pageants, which in splendour 
 surpassed anything exhibited before in America; 
 and in sincerity, heartiness, and spontaneous move- 
 ment, displayed a spectacle of the moral sublime, 
 which the world has seldom witnessed. In mere 
 pomp and glitter, a tyrant may command all that 
 art can do in the semblance of triumph ; but the 
 heartfelt offerings of a free people are beyond the 
 reach of all save those who deserve that people's 
 gratitude. 
 
 Lafayette landed on Staten Island on the 15th of 
 August, where he passed the night. On the day 
 following a fleet of steamboats went down to the 
 Island, to convey and escort him to the city, includ- 
 ing the war-steamer, Robert Fulton ; and on board 
 of these were over six thousand persons, besides the 
 committee of the corporation, members of the So- 
 ciety of the Cincinnati, revolutionary officers and 
 soldiers, a deputation from West Point, and many 
 other distinguished guests and official personages. 
 
190 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 New York bay never presented a more magnificent 
 spectacle than on this occasion. The shipping were 
 all liberally decorated with flags and signals. The 
 day was delightful, and the surface of the water 
 was dotted with every imaginable description of 
 craft in their holiday array. Continual salutes of 
 artillery rolled out their deep base above the shouts 
 of welcome and congratulation, and it seemed as if 
 the great city of New York, conscious of its honour 
 in speaking the first welcome to the nation's guest, 
 was determined to do itself credit by enthusiasm 
 and heartiness. On shore hundreds of bells were 
 ringing, and the very air seemed vocal with the 
 music of welcome. As the fleet arrived oflf the 
 Battery, at two o'clock, P. M., the scene was most 
 impressive. The military formed in line were over 
 three thousand in number; and as the national 
 guest landed, he was received with a salute of 
 twenty-one guns, and the acclamations of between 
 thirty and forty thousand people, who filled the 
 Battery, and the adjacent streets and avenues. All 
 places where a foot-hold could be obtained, to the 
 very roofs of the buildings, were filled with specta- 
 tors ; and to give a full idea of the moral grandeur 
 and beauty of the scene, is beyond the ability of 
 any pen in description. No Roman triumph in the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 191 
 
 proudest days of the Eternal City ever gave welcome 
 like this ; no man, in any age, ever received testi- 
 mony so glorious of the gratitude of a great nation. 
 The susceptible and gratified patriot was more than 
 once affected to tears ; particularly when, under 
 circumstances so overpowering, he exchanged con- 
 gratulations with his former companions in arms. 
 We may here remark, that the numerous evidences 
 which Lafayette gave of his distinct memory of 
 places, incidents, names, and persons, was, through- 
 out his whole American journey, truly wonderful. 
 After a review of the troops, which must have 
 awakened deep emotions in the mind of him who 
 could but recollect the condition of the American 
 army nearly half a century before, Lafayette pro- 
 seeded to the City Hall, in a barouche drawn by 
 four horses. He was escorted by a troop of horse, 
 and followed by the long column of citizen soldiery. 
 Such was the crowd, that the march was very much 
 impeded ; all eyes were directed to the one point of 
 attraction, all voices raised in acclamations of wel- 
 come. Shout after shout went up, in continued and 
 prolonged cheers; while the bands played now a 
 triumphant welcome, now a reminiscence of la belle 
 France. At all the windows fair hands waved the 
 silent welcome j which seemed the more delightfully 
 
192 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 eloquent, from its gentle contrast to the no less 
 sincere, though noisy and hilarious shouts of the 
 citizens. 
 
 After the mayor of the city had spoken his wel- 
 come, in behalf of the municipahty and the nation, to 
 which Lafayette feehngly and gratefully responded, 
 and many citizens and strangers were introduced, 
 including not a few old friends in the " times that 
 tried men's souls," Lafayette received the parting 
 salute of the military, and was escorted to the City 
 Hotel, where apartments had been prepared for him. 
 Thus closed a day, which, so far as any earthly 
 triumph can, compensated him for his labours in 
 behalf of the cause of liberty, and for a long life 
 passed in its consistent support. 
 
 The landing of Lafayette at New York took 
 place on Monday, and on that and the three follow- 
 ing days the city was alive with . testimonies of 
 respect to him. The Common Council caused the 
 freedom of the city to be presented him in a golden 
 box. Trades, societies of all kinds, the professions, 
 associations, private individuals, and public authori- 
 ties, vied with each other in doing him honour. His 
 portrait, presented by Capt. Allyn of the Cadmus, 
 was placed in the City Hall ; and men of all parties, 
 sects, and conditions, rejoiced that they had found 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 193 
 
 a common sentiment, in wliich all Americans could 
 heartily unite. 
 
 On Friday, the 20th, -he left New York for Boston, 
 via Connecticut, in a carriage provided by the cor- 
 poration of the city. He was also attended by a 
 committee of the Common Council, appointed to ac- 
 company him. The military escort from one town 
 attended him, until met by the soldiers deputed on 
 behalf of other towns to receive him. The whole 
 journey was a continued triumphal progress. Every- 
 where he met "hands with hearts in them." The 
 old claimed his remembrance, and the young lisped 
 his praise. Every class of tlie population joined in 
 the welcome. His way may literally be said to have 
 been upon flowers ; and his progress was crowded 
 with incidents, agreeable surprises, and unexpected 
 recognitions. He was welcomed at New Haven by 
 the Governor of Connecticut, and at Providence by 
 the Governor of Rhode Island ; and at these and 
 other principal towns was received with the more 
 imposing testimonies of high respect, which the 
 facilities of those places afforded, and patriotism 
 dictated ; while into no town, however small, could 
 he enter, without finding the descendants of the men 
 of '76, ready to cheer and welcome him The 
 anecdotes of his meetings with old soldiers, and his 
 
194 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 recognitions, would of themselves suffice to fill a 
 volume larger than this. 
 
 Lafayette was met on the Massachusetts line by 
 the aids of the governor of that State, and his pro- 
 gress to Boston was no less imposing than the route 
 through Connecticut and Rhode Island. By day he 
 found all other business deferred to the happy duty 
 of welcoming him ; and by night, bonfires, illumina- 
 tions, and rockets, announced his progress. From 
 the mansion of Gov. Eustis, in Roxbury, he was 
 attended by a numerous cavalcade to the city line, 
 v/here a truly imposing procession awaited him, and 
 the assembled citizens greeted him with prolonged 
 acclamations. Here he was welcomed by the 
 mayor, in behalf of the city. The procession then 
 passed through several of the principal streets, 
 everywhere lined with spectators, and frequently 
 arched, to the Common. The entrance to this public 
 ground was made between two lines of the children 
 of the public schools — the girls in white, and the 
 boys in white trowsers and blue jackets, and all 
 wearing badges. The number of these young wel- 
 comers was about three thousand ; and the occasion 
 was made more interesting by the springing forward 
 of a little girl, who, on her request to speak to La- 
 fayette, was handed into his carriage, and presented 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 195 
 
 him with a wreath of flowers, and a simple but 
 touching poetic tribute. 
 
 The governor and council received the nation's 
 guest at the State-House, and welcomed him in be- 
 half of the State. He was also waited on by the 
 Society of the Cincinnati, and other associations. 
 On the next day Lafayette attended the commence- 
 ment exercises of Harvard University, giving evi- 
 dence there, in his unpremeditated classical quota- 
 tions and allusions, that he v.as no less a scholar 
 than warrior and statesman. 
 
 After some days spent in Boston and its imme- 
 diate vicinity, in a perpetual series of ascriptions 
 of honour on the one hand, and gratified acknow- 
 ledgement on the other, Lafayette proceeded as far 
 east as Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Everywhere 
 the same scenes awaited him ; the heartfelt tribute 
 of all ages and conditions — the greatest exercise of 
 patriotic ingenuity in arranging devices and sur- 
 prises — and frequent recognitions of old friends, and 
 presentation of old soldiers, who talked with him 
 "their battles o'er again." In Salem, which he 
 took on his way to Portsmouth, the orator and pre- 
 sident of the day was Judge Story, and the recep- 
 tion was the occasion of many delightful incidents. 
 
 From Portsmouth he returned to Boston, and 
 
196 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 thence, through the interior of Massachusetts and 
 Connecticut, to New York. The old battle-grounds 
 of Concord, and Lexington, and other famous places, 
 were visited. In Connecticut he was more formally 
 received than was possible on his first hurried pas- 
 sage through J and at New York the enthusiasm of 
 the people appeared unabated. The closing fete 
 was a ball at Castle Garden, unexcelled in the inge- 
 nuity and happy neatness of its arrangements. 
 After a hurried but delightful visit to the towns and 
 cities upon the Hudson, Lafayette proceeded through 
 New Jersey, on his way to Philadelphia, Through 
 the State of New Jersey the same triumphal pro- 
 gress was made as in other places. The descend- 
 ants of those who lived upon the battle-ground of 
 the Revolution, led by the survivors of the glorious 
 bands of worthies in that State, crowded forward 
 to do him honour. At Trenton and Princeton the 
 proceedings were truly imposing ; and one notice- 
 able incident in this State was, the passage of several 
 hours with Joseph Bonaparte. 
 
 The governor of New Jersey had the pleasure 
 of presenting to him the governor of Pennsylvania; 
 and on Monday, the 28th of September, the nation's 
 guest entered the Keystone State, resting for the 
 nifht at Frankford. To this place, distant about 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 197 
 
 five miles from Philadelphia, it seemed as if the 
 whole population of the city had repaired to meet 
 him ; and yet, as he approached, the crowd grev/ 
 more and more dense. The progress from Frank- 
 ford to the State-House occupied over six hours. 
 The head of the procession was composed of a 
 cavalcade of citizens, after which came between 
 two and three thousand infantry and cavalry, the 
 whole number of soldiers in the procession being 
 between five and six thousand. Then followed La- 
 fayette in an open barouche, splendidly adorned and 
 appointed, and followed by other carriages, in which 
 rode the committees, public officers, and one hun- 
 dred and twenty veterans of the Revolution. After 
 these came the trades and other associations. This 
 was a most imposing part of the pageant — the dif- 
 ferent artificers, led by the printers, at work upon 
 an ode which they distributed, being engaged in 
 their different avocations. The procession exceeded 
 three miles in length, and every step of its progress 
 w^as through a dense crowd of people, whose faces, 
 radiant with joy and welcome, made the spectators 
 not the least delightful part of the pageant. The 
 doors, windows, and balconies were all alive with 
 graceful forms and happy faces ; the decrepit with 
 age, and the babe in arms, all estates and conditions 
 
198 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 acknowledged their common interest in the welcome 
 to the friend of his race, the benefactor of America, 
 the adopted son of Washington. 
 
 When at length the guest reached the old State- 
 House, he passed under a magnificent arch into the 
 Hall of Independence, where, amid patriotic ob- 
 jects and decorations, the officers and citizens de- 
 puted to welcome him were assembled. After the 
 formalities of reception, Lafayette was escorted to 
 his quarters at the Mansion-House. The city was 
 brilhantly illuminated in the evening; and magnifi- 
 cent transparencies took the place of the various 
 objects which had attracted, during the day, the 
 admiring gaze of the hundreds of thousands who 
 kept holiday. The arches thrown across the streets 
 at various points were very numerous, and in inge- 
 nuity of construction, and tastefulness of design, 
 were truly unique and appropriate. The pencil of 
 a Sully, the chisel of a Rush, and the designs of 
 a Strickland could not produce other than beautiful 
 and memorable effects ; and as the soul of patriotism 
 animated the whole people, everybody contributed a 
 share, direct or indirect, to this most magnificent 
 pageant. 
 
 Some days were spent in meeting old friends, and 
 partaking of private hospitality, and receiving public 
 

 ^"T fill I 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 199 
 
 honours, not the least gratifying of which was, the 
 tribute of two thousand children in Washington 
 Square. A grand civic ball, given at the Chesnut 
 Street Theatre, was magnificent in all its appoint- 
 ments, and was less a ball than a splendid reception. 
 
 On the 5th of October, having exchanged courte- 
 sies with as many of the Philadelphians as the time 
 would admit, Lafayette, highly gratified with the 
 visit to a city, which had made his stay one con- 
 tinued fete, departed for Baltimore. Of his passage 
 through Delaware we can only say, that it was like 
 his movements in every other direction, a triumphal 
 progress. At Baltimore, he was upon landing con- 
 ducted to the Tent of Washington, where, after an 
 address from the governor of the State, he was re- 
 ceived by the Society of the Cincinnati, among 
 whom was Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Lafayette, 
 unapprised of the dehcate compliment conveyed in 
 the selection of the tent, still seemed to divine that 
 there was some hidden meaning. When at last he 
 recognised a portion of Washington's camp equip- 
 age, and said in a voice husky with emotion — " I 
 remember !" the burst of feeling was instantaneous 
 with all present. It was a most impressive moment. 
 
 The other circumstances of reception in Balti- 
 more were like those we have already described : 
 
200 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 and the Monumental City acquitted herself as 
 worthily as her sisters. In the District of Columbia 
 he was no less heartily welcomed than elsewhere, 
 and with the same ingenuity of patriotic devices. 
 The President, Mr. Madison, with the Cabinet, and 
 other high officers of the government, gave him an 
 affectionate welcome, as became the representatives 
 of the nation. Visiting the Tomb of Washington, 
 he was there presented with a ring, containing a 
 portion of the hair of his departed friend, and with 
 other memorials of the Father of his Country ; and 
 Mr. Custis, in presenting them, made a most appro- 
 priate address. 
 
 The next remarkable and most imposing cere- 
 monies took place upon the battle-ground of York- 
 town. The field was converted into a camp ; and 
 among the tents were that of Washington, and many 
 others which saw service in the Revolutionary war. 
 A triumphal arch, bearing the names of Lafayette, 
 Hamilton, and Laurens, was erected on the spot 
 where once stood the redoubt stormed by Lafayette ; 
 and on the spot where stood that carried by the 
 French, an obelisk was erected bearing the names 
 of illustrious Frenchmen. On this classic field no 
 pageantry was attempted. As was happily remarked 
 by Gen. Taylor, who made the address, the associa- 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 201 
 
 tions of such a scene admitted no attempt at em- 
 bellishment. On the very ppot where the redoubt 
 was stormed, Gen. Taylor was prepared, at the close 
 of his address, to place a blended civic and martial 
 wreath; but the considerate veteran, while he grace- 
 fully acknowledged the high compliment, as grace- 
 fully averted its consummation ; and, taking the 
 expressive coronal in his hand — a prouder than any 
 diamond circlet, called forward Col. Fish, the only 
 other survivor of the attack upon the redoubt, and 
 insisted that half the honour belonged to him. 
 Thus, as indeed on all occasions, did the self-pos- 
 sessed and modest veteran gracefully support hom- 
 age which would have crushed any ordinary man ; 
 and through the whole of his happy but trying pro- 
 gress through the United States, he manifested a 
 self-command which left his character as high in 
 the respect of a nation as before he arrived. 
 
 The illustrious men of the " Old Dominion" vied 
 with each other in honour and hospitality to the 
 man who so gallantly defended their soil. After a 
 week delightfully spent with Jefferson, and a visit 
 to Mr. Madison at his seat, Lafayette was called to 
 "Washington, to meet the successors in Congress of 
 those who welcomed and honoured him forty years 
 before. The Congress of 1824 paid him no less 
 
202 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 respect than did the Congress of 1784. He was 
 introduced to the House and Senate in joint session, 
 by a committee of twenty-four members, on the 10th 
 of December ; and the address of the Speaker, and 
 reply of Lafayette, eloquently contrasted the condi- 
 tion of the country at the two epochs marked by 
 Lafayette's visits. He had previously been received 
 by the Senate, the members rising as he entered ; 
 and it is a fact not to be forgotten, that Lafayette 
 was the only stranger who ever received this honour 
 from the Senate of the United States. On Monday, 
 December 21st, a bill passed the Senate, granting 
 Lafayette two hundred thousand dollars and a town- 
 ship of land, for his services in the Revolution ; and 
 on the next day the bill passed the House. 
 
 On the 1st of March, 1825, Lafayette left Wash- 
 ington on his southern and western tour. He trav- 
 elled from Washington to Charleston, and thence to 
 New Orleans over land — to St. Louis, Cincinnati, 
 Pittsburg, Buffalo, and Albany, to Boston, M'hich 
 city he reached on the 16th of June. Through the 
 whole of the long route of four thousand miles, he 
 met the same cordial reception that we have de- 
 scribed in other places. That we have not space 
 to notice these honours more particularly, is of it- 
 self a high compliment to the recipient; for the 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 203 
 
 deeds by which he merited them pre-occupied our 
 space. 
 
 On the 17th of June, Lafayette was present at 
 the laying of the corner-stone o( Bunker Hill Momi- 
 ment. Of itself a most sublimely interesting cere- 
 mony, its interest was thus enhanced by the pre- 
 sence of Lafayette, the last surviving major-general 
 of the Revolution. The oration of Webster, which 
 has taken its rank among American classics, is an 
 echo of the sentiments of the whole nation upon 
 this day, which will not cease to repeat itself while 
 a pulse beats on the free soil of the United States. 
 
204 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE, 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Lafayette's Departure from America — Reception in France — Revolution 
 of July, 1830, and Overthrow "of the Government of Charles X.— 
 Lafayette appointed to the Command of the National Guard — Louis 
 Philippe elected King of the French — Death of Lafayette — Funeral 
 Ceremonies in Paris — Respect to his Memory in the United States. 
 
 AFAYETTE'S life would have been 
 complete, his character established, 
 and his mission finished, with the 
 close of his visit to the United States. 
 He was now well advanced in years, 
 and his long life presented events enough to 
 have furnished fame for many; but to the 
 very close of his days he was destined to 
 trials of his patriotism and his consistency ; 
 and the evening of his life, hke a glorious sunset, 
 was brilHant in the virtues which had marked his 
 whole career. 
 
 After the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker 
 Hill Monument, he spent several months in visits to 
 various interesting points, as Brandywine, and the 
 battle-fields in Virginia, and in the exchange of 
 courtesies with the personal friends of the old time 
 
L I F K OF LAFAYETTE. 205 
 
 and the new. He was accompanied to Virginia by 
 Mr. Monroe, then President, in a visit to the two 
 ex-Presidents, Jefferson and Madison. Returning 
 to Washington on the 8th of September, 1825, the 
 President, in the name of the nation, took leave of 
 him in an impressive and deeply affecting address; 
 and he embarked on board the steamer which was 
 to convey him to the Brandy wine frigate, which was 
 waiting for him in the Chesapeake. As the steamer 
 passed down, Lafayette and his escort being at 
 dinner, it was noticed that the band had changed its 
 enlivening music for the plaintive strains of Pleyell's 
 Hymn. It was announced — "We are opposite 
 Mount Vernon." Lafayette left the table, and as- 
 cending to the deck, looked in meditative silence 
 toward the spot where the remains of Washington 
 rest, until the deepening shadows of twilight, and 
 the distance of the boat, closed the scene from his 
 view, and then in silence he descended again to the 
 cabin. Nobody presumed to disturb a reverie so 
 sacred with a single sound. 
 
 The Brandywine, upon his embarkation on the 
 9th, immediately made sail for France. This frigate, 
 which was upon the stocks when Lafayette arrived 
 in the country, was finished and named, with a view 
 to the honourable service of conveying home the 
 
206 LIFE OFL A FAYETTE. 
 
 nation's guest. He arrived at Havre on the 4th of 
 October. Upon landing he was received with an 
 enthusiastic welcome by the people of his country, 
 while the despotic government of Charles X., by 
 continual interruptions and assaults upon the people, 
 who made his journey from Havre to La Grange a 
 triumphal progress, failed not to mark its fear of 
 popular liberty. Lafayette was even threatened 
 with arrest ; as if he were responsible for the honour 
 which the nation was resolved to show their coun- 
 tryman, who had been received with so much 
 honour abroad. 
 
 In a few years Charles X. completed the ruin of 
 himself, to which all his acts had tended. The Re- 
 volution of the Three Days of July, 1830, expelled 
 the antiquated dynasty of the Bourbons. To La- 
 fayette, as in many former hours of danger, the 
 nation looked ; and on the 29th he was called, at 
 the age of seventy-three, to the command of the 
 National Guard. They had resumed their old uni- 
 form, and with it the best spirit of the old revolu- 
 tion, before the degeneracy into violence and blood. 
 In the camp, in the details of the police, and in the 
 legislative council, Lafayette's wisdom and courage 
 aided to carry the nation through a revolution with- 
 out anarchy. He approved of the nomination of 
 
LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 207 
 
 Louis Philippe, first as Lieutenant-General, and then 
 as King of the French, as the best possible step 
 which could be taken under the circumstances — the 
 best guarantee against the recurrence of civil war. 
 His influence, as representative of the nation, con- 
 summated the work of the deputies in the eleva- 
 tion of the King of the French ; and thus, in the 
 last days of his life, he showed the same disinte- 
 restedness which had marked his whole career ; the 
 same contempt of self and love of country. After 
 all danger of anarchy was over, he resigned his 
 command in the National Guards, and retired to La 
 Grange ; appearing in public life only in hi-s capacity 
 of legislator, which he kept until his death. 
 
 On the 19th of June, 1834, the intelligence of his 
 death was received in this country. The President 
 of the United States issued general orders, as the 
 head of the army and navy, directing the same tes- 
 timonies of respect to be paid as were observed at 
 the death of Washington. On the 24th, Congress 
 adopted a series of resolutions, expressive of honour 
 to the dead, and condolence to the living friends; 
 and at the session of 1824-5, an eloquent eulogy 
 was pronounced by Hon. John Quincy Adams. In 
 all the principal cities in the country, eulogies were 
 pronounced, and funeral processions took place. 
 
208 LIFE OP LAFAYETTE. 
 
 The children, who, ten years before, assisted in the 
 fetes at his reception, in 1834 aided, as men and 
 women, in the solemniti'es of his funeral honours. 
 
 Lafayette died at his hotel in Paris, on the 21st 
 of May, 1834, at the age of seventy-seven. On the 
 18th he had followed on foot the remains of the 
 patriot Dulong to Pere le Chaise, and, in consequence 
 of the exposure took a cold, which in less than a 
 week thereafter led another mournful pageant to the 
 Garden of Tombs. A moment before his death the 
 attendants were putting a blister upon his breast. 
 " It is of no use," he said, and falling back into the 
 arms of his son George Washington, breathed his 
 last. 
 
 The funeral was a mournful pageant, in which all 
 the people of Paris participated. No oration was 
 spoken, no formal eulogy was attempted; for the 
 aspect of the city, and the faces of the people were 
 more eloquent than words. Thus was a man be- 
 loved in death — thus was he honoured, who always 
 dared the right, whether for the moment it pleased 
 or displeased. If he forfeited popularity for an hour, 
 his constant adherence to principles has made his 
 good name immortal. 
 
 THE END. 
 

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 THE CAMP-FIRES 
 
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 ON THE OLD PEDEE. 
 
 IN THE SWAMP. 
 
 ON THE HILLS OF SANTEE. 
 
 NEAR CHARLESTON. 
 
 CAROUSAL. 
 
 Extract from the Preface. 
 In presenting: the " Camp-Fires of the Revolution" to the public, a few remarks may be necessary, 
 or, at least, will not bp mal apropos. The " battles, sieges, fortunes," of the war in which American 
 Inilependenoe was secured, may be found detailed in liistory, with all possible accuracy, and elabo- 
 rate criticism. But the sufferings of the ill-fumished soldiers during the long and dreary winters of 
 that period, and their means of whiling away the time when forced to gather around the camp-fire 
 and watch when they had not the conveniences for sleeping, are not to be found on the dignified 
 page of history. 
 
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