Life of Lafayette : written for children

Front matter

TOje Hibrarp

of tfje

ftp vj y.

Contents

Chap. Page

I. Escape from France 1

II. A First Battle 13

Chapter I Escape From France

Lafayette was born on the 7th of September, 1757, at the castle of Chavaniae, in the province of Auvergne, which lies between the centre and the south of France. His family had long been distinguished for courage and high spirit, and he inherited the rank of Marquis. His names were Marie- Paul-Joseph-Roch-Ives-Gilbert de Motier; but he seems never to have been called by or to have signed any of them.

Little is known of his childhood. He never saw his father, who was killed at the battle of Minden, and his excellent mother died when he was eleven years old. He was at first educated in the country among his relations, then sent at the age of eleven to a college in Paris, and afterwards to the Academy of Versailles ; but his studies must have come to an end early in life, as he was married at sixteen to his cousin, Mademoiselle Franchise Adrienne de Noailles.

Probably, if his parents had been living, they would not have allowed so youthful a marriage ; but, in spite of its imprudence, all ended happily for both parties. Madame de Lafayette was descended, like her husband, from a noble family, and had many charming and admirable qualities. They loved each other devotedly, and shared both pleasures and cares.

From the time when he was a mere child, Lafayette recollected loving everything that was free. He liked high-spirited animals, and hoped to meet a hyena which had done some mischief in the neighborhood of his home ; at school he was very unwilling to be forced to do anything, — he would work industriously, but could not bear the idea of any constraint. He liked to read and think of free nations, and managed to avoid a place at court which his wife's family were very anxious to secure for him.

On his first appearance in the distinguished society which he went into on account of his own and his wife's connections, he did not make a particularly favorable impression. He was observing and rather silent ; he did not enjoy the conversation he heard, and was thought very cold. He never could adopt what were called "the graces of the court," — a kind of manner which was never seen in this country, and probably never will be.

He went into the army, as almost all young men of rank did at that time in France.

Lafayette was but nineteen years old when he first heard of the Revolutionary war in America. He was stationed at Metz on military duty, when the Duke of Gloucester, brother of the King of England, happened to come there. At a dinner given in honor of him, the conversation turned upon the rebellion of the colonies, and the king's determination to crush it. The idea of a nation fightino; for freedom at once interested him ; they were doing what he had read of and dreamed of. He asked questions, and from the Duke's own account was disposed to believe that the Americans were in the right. Before he left the table, he thought how much he should like to go over to the United States, and give whatever help he could in so noble a cause. For several days this idea was constantly in his mind.; he could not forget what he had heard, and dwelt upon it until he positively longed to be on his way.

He went to Paris, and spoke of his wishes to a few persons ; two of his young friends shared his enthusiasm, and would gladly have joined him, but were forbidden by their families. t Lafayette had a fortune of his own, but he knew that all his own and his wife's relations would oppose him. He also foresaw that the government might put some difficulties in his way, and he took for a motto, at this time, the Latin words, " cur non ? " (why not ?) One old friend of the family refused even to give him any advice, and said to him, " I have seen your uncle die in the wars of Italy, I witnessed your father's death at the battle of Minden, and I will not be accessary * to the ruin of the only remaining branch of the family." Lafayette remained, however, perfectly bent upon the undertaking, and made the acquaintance of Mr. Silas Deane, a commissioner from the United States, by whom of course he was cordially received, for his rank and connections with the court would make his going to America an important event. Several other French officers wanted to go at this time, and Mr. Deane was trying to get a ship in which he could send them and some guns

* To be accessary is to help in any way, by word or act.

which lie had bought for the United States army, when bad news reached Paris. The campaign * of 1776 had been unsuccessful for the Americans; Washington, with a very small army, had been compelled to retreat from New York through New Jersey. In Europe all hope was at once given up ; the friends of America expected soon to see the power of Great Britain triumph over her feeble colonies. The Americans in Paris were extremely discouraged, and Mr. Deane told Lafayette the whole truth, advising him not to attempt to sail. Lafayette thanked him for his frankness, but said immediately, " Until now, sir, you have seen only my ardor in the cause, and that may not at present prove wholly useless. I shall purchase a ship to carry out your officers; we must feel confidence in the future, and it is especially in the hour of danger that I wish to share your fortune."

It was now impossible for Mr. Deane to obtain a ship ; Lafayette, therefore, bought one at Bordeaux, and had her fitted up for fighting, in case they should meet an enemy at sea. The preparations went on with perfect secrecy, and he did not yet venture to tell any of his family what he was doing.

* A single season of fighting, usually one summer.

Just before he was ready to sail, he was obliged to go over to England, as he had promised to spend a few weeks there, and was afraid of exciting suspicions if he refused. He received a great deal of attention in London, and quite enjoyed the joke of dancing at the house of a general who had just returned from New York, and whom he afterwards came near meeting in a very different scene. He was careful, however, to refuse invitations to visit the ships of war, and not to see any of the preparations made against the rebels. He did not think it honorable to gain knowledge as a friend which he might be tempted to use as an enemy. But he openly expressed his sympathy with the Americans. On his return, he spent but a few days in Paris, and went to Bordeaux, hoping to sail immediately ; but he found that his plans had become known to the government, and he was forbidden to go to America and ordered to go to Marseilles. He got his ship safely out of the harbor, and then went back himself and sent several letters to Paris ; he wrote to the French ministers,* and to his family and friends, whose regrets

* Persons 'who manage the business of a government, as the Minister of War, who attends to everything about the army, the Minister of the Marine, who controls all the ships, etc.

ami reproaches distressed him. Still he was perfectly firm in his decision, and, as no answer came from government during the next few days, he determined to take his own course.

He set otf with another young officer on the road to Marseilles, but after travelling a little distance disguised himself as a courier,* and rode back before the carriage. He had gone in safety about half the way, when a young girl, a postmaster's daughter, recognized in the pretended servant the Marquis de Lafayette, whom she had seen near Bordeaux. He made a sign to her not to betray him, and she not only kept silence herself, but prevented other people from suspecting who the courier really was.

At last, on the 26th of April, 1777, Lafayette set sail for America. But his adventures were not over. The captain of the ship insisted upon stopping at the West India islands, which Lafayette was equally resolute not to do. After some time, he found out that the captain was anxious about a cargo he had on board, and promised that he should lose nothing by taking him directly to America. The French

* A courier makes arrangements for people who travel in a carriage, or now-a-days in the cars. He provides fresh horses, engages rooms at hotels, and used to ride on the coach.

government had, as he suspected, sent orders for his arrest to these isles, and if he had stopped there his voyage would have proved a long one.

Every ship of war they met gave them a great fright, for they could have made but a poor resistance had they been attacked. After Lafayette recovered from sea-sickness, he employed himself in studying the English language and the art of war. And so seven weeks of discomfort, doubts, and hopes passed, and he landed in June at Georgetown, South Carolina. As his foot touched American ground, he resolved in his heart to conquer or perish in that cause which was so dear to him. He landed at night at Major Huger's.* The family at first supposed he and his companions came from one of the enemy's ships, but, on finding that they were French officers, received them with the greatest hospitality.

The next morning Lafayette was delighted with the prospect from his windows and the beauty of the weather, while the house and the black servants coming to wait on him made him feel that he was in a strange, new world. He went immediately to Charleston, and wrote to his wife that it was " one

# Pronounced Yougee.

of the best-built, handsomest, and most agreeable cities" that he had ever seen. "The American women," he says, " are very pretty, and have great simplicity of character, and the extreme neatness of their appearance is truly delightful; cleanliness is everywhere even more attended to here than in England. What gives me most pleasure is to see how completely the citizens are all brethren of one

family." '• The inns are very different from

those of Europe ; the host and hostess sit at table with you, and do the honors of a comfortable meal. If you should dislike going to bins, you may always find country houses in which you will be received as a good American, with the same attention that you might expect in a friend's house in Europe. My own reception has been particularly agreeable. I have just passed five hours at a dinner given in coniplirnent to me by an individual of this town. We drank each other's healths, and endeavored to talk English, which I am beginning to speak a little." ... . " The night is far advanced, the heat intense, and I am devoured by mosquitos ; but the best countries, as you perceive, have their inconveniences."

Lafayette very soon went on to Philadelphia, to

10 LAFAYETTE. \_\m.

offer his services to Congress. He was at first received with a little coolness, which, however, did not disturb him much, as he Avas reasonable enough to see the cause of it. Congress was at this time beset every day by foreign officers eager for high rank in the Continental* army. That army was so small that it was impossible to find places for all the foreigners and keep any American officers at all ; and the natives, who had borne the hardships of the first two years of the war, were extremely disgusted when European officers were put above them in rank. At the same time, the foreigners were dissatisfied with low places, because they said they had "seen service" abroad. Mr. Deane, in Paris, was apt to encourage Frenchmen to come over, thinking that their experience would be valuable to so young an army; but the numbers that flocked here were a sore trial to General Washington.

Lafayette, not discouraged by the backwardness of Congress to give him an appointment, sent in by one of the members this little note : " After the sacrifices I have made, I have the right to exact two favors : one is, to serve at my own expense, — the

* This was the first name of the American army.

other, to serve as a volunteer."* This style, so different from that of the gentlemen who demanded high rank and high pay, pleased Congress; the letters he brought were immediately examined, and he was appointed a Major- General. He did what he could for the officers who had come in the same ship with him.

While he was in Philadelphia, at a public dinner Lafayette saw General Washington for the first time. He immediately distinguished him, among many officers, by his majestic figure and dignified manner. Washington Avas then forty-five years old, and in look and bearing exactly what one would wish to see a Commander-in-chief. Lafayette was no less charmed with his cordiality than with his appearance. He expressed much interest in the young Marquis, and invited him to make his headquarters his home, saying, with a smile, that he could not promise him the luxuries of a court, but that doubtless he would cheerfully bear the privations of an American soldier.

The army was then stationed near Philadelphia.

* A volunteer is a person attached to the amy by his own request. He receives neither rank nor pay, and may join anv general he prefers.

Lafayette says of bis first sight of it : " About eleven thousand men, ill-armed and still worse clothed, presented a strange spectacle ; their clothes were particolored, and many of them were almost naked ; the best clad wore hunting-shirts, — large gray linen coats, which were much used in Carolina." General Washington said to him, "We ought to feel embarrassed in exhibiting ourselves before an officer who has just left French troops." "It is to learn, and not to teach, that I come here," replied the Marquis ; and this pleasant, modest answer made him very popular.

He had every reason to be satisfied Avith his reception. In the Commander-in-chief he soon found a true friend ; the soldiers were quite ready to admire him ; and throughout the country great interest was felt in this enthusiastic young Frenchman, avIio had left his country, his home, his wife and friends, and all the pleasures he might have enjoyed at the French court, for the sake of joining the army of the United States; or, rather, for the sake of helping with his sword a people determined to be free. Lafayette took great pains to learn to speak and write English, and in every way to feel and think as an American.

Lafayette ataReview of American Troops.

Chapter II. A Fiest Battle

Lafayette arrived at a time of great uncertainty in the military movements. Sir William Howe had sailed from New York with his army, and no one knew where he was going. The American army was waiting near Philadelphia, ready to march to any place at which he might reappear. After many days of suspense, the ships were seen coming up Chesapeake Bay, approaching Philadelphia in a round-about manner. The Americans, although they were not in a very good condition for fighting, immediately marched to meet the enemy. The troops were new recruits,* not well drilled, but spirited and eager for an action. In fact, the whole country was then impatient to have a regular battle fought ; people at a distance did not understand how

* Men who have joined an army, but have never been soldiers before.

14 LAFAYETTE. . [l"T7.

poor the army Avas, and grew tired of Genera] Washington's prudence and caution, which were in truth caused by necessity, and not at all agreeable to his disposition. It was fortunate for the Americans that Sir William Howe had wasted so much of the summer before opening the campaign.

General Washington made some opposition to the landing of the British, and the battle of the Brandywine,* the first in which Lafayette was engaged, took place on the 11th of September. At first, success seemed to be with the Americans, but the firing was not very heavy ; Lord Cornwallis, in the mean time, by marching seventeen miles, brought his troops up behind the Americans, and so separated parts of the army. The generals were not informed of this manoeuvre f in time to make the best arrangements to receive him; and, though the young American troops at first behaved with spirit, in the course of the day they gave way before the superior discipline of the British.

Lafayette as a volunteer remained for some time with the Commander-in-chief; at length he asked

* A river in Pennsylvania which flows into the Delaware. f A change of position in a company, regiment, or larger division.

permission to go where he saw the fight was hottest. In the midst of great confusion, he was rallying the troops, when a ball wounded him in the leg. General Washington brought up some fresh soldiers, and Lafayette was preparing to join him, when loss of blood obliged him to stop and have his wound bandaged ; he had not cared for the pain, but he could not afford to faint on horseback. As it was, he was in great danger of being taken prisoner.

Night came on, and nothing more could be done. Men, cannon,, wagons, baggage crowded along the road from Chad's Ford to Chester, about twelve miles distant. At Chester Lafayette made a great effort to stop this hurried and confused retreat. The Commander-in-chief and the other Generals arrived at the same place, and the remains of the army passed there the sorrowful night after the battle. At last Lafayette had time to have his wound dressed.

The people of Philadelphia heai'd the firing, although the field of battle was twenty-six miles from the city. The defeat of the army was a terrible blow to the Whigs ; * whole families left their

* Those who were opposed to Great Britain.

homes, expecting that the British would occupy the city during the winter. Congress sought a safer place of meeting at Yorktown, among the mountains. Lafayette was at first taken by water to Philadelphia, where he received the kindest attentions from some of the citizens who were not too much occupied with fears for their own safety to care for a stranger; but it was of course no place for him when his friends were flying, and he was removed to Bethlehem, where the Moravians * took good care of him, and his wound gradually healed. He wrote to his wife that his wound was but a trifle. " The surgeons are astonished at the rapidity with Avhich it heals ; they are in an ecstasy of joy each time they dress it, and pretend it is the finest thing in the world. For my part, I think it most disagreeable, painful, and wearisome ; but tastes often differ. If a man, however, wished to be wounded for his amusement only, he should come and examine how I have been struck, that he might be struck in precisely the same manner. This, my dearest love, is what I pompously

* Devout Christians, who live together somewhat as Shakers do, and during the war often' took care of the wounded. Their neatness and gentleness fitted them for this work. They are called Moravians because the sect was first formed in Moravia.

style niy wound, to give myself airs, and render myself interesting.

" I must now give you your lesson as wife of an American general officer. They will say to you, 'They have been beaten.' You must answer, ' That is true ; but when two armies of equal numbers meet in the field, old soldiers have naturally the advantage over new ones ; they have besides had the pleasure of killing a great many of the enemy, — many more than they have lost.' They will afterwards add, ' All that is very well ; but Philadelphia is taken, the capital of America, the rampart of liberty ! ' You must politely answer, ' You are all great fools ! Philadelphia is a poor, forlorn town, exposed on every side, whose harbor was already closed ; though the residence of Congress lent it, I know not why, some degree of celebrity.' This is the famous city which, be it added, we will, sooner or later, make them yield back to us,"

Lafayette certainly did all he could to make his wife's mind easy by writing constantly, and in a very cheerful strain ; but letters were then six or seven weeks in crossing the ocean, and she probably often heard false reports from London. The English, in writing home, would naturally make the most of every success of theirs, and every loss on the American side. And Madame Lafayette must have mourned over this separation from her husband, as it is not likely that she was as enthusiastic as he in the cause of American independence. He had something to suffer, too. He says once, "Why was I so obstinately bent on coming hither? I have been well punished for my error; my affections are too strongly rooted for me to be able to perform such deeds. I hope you pity me." Speaking again of himself, — " Be perfectly at ease about my wound ; all the faculty * in America are engaged in my service. I have a friend who has spoken to them in such a manner that I am certain of being well attended to ; that friend is General Washington.

" This excellent man whose talents and virtues I admired, and whom I have learnt to revere as I know him better, has now become my intimate friend ; his affectionate interest in me instantly won my heart. I am established in his family, and we live together like two attached brothers, with mutual confidence and cordiality. His friendship renders me as happy as I can possibly be in this country.

* Medical faculty, — physicians and surgeons.

When lie sent his best surgeon to me, he told him to take charge of me as if I were his son, because he loved me with, the same affection. Having heard that I wished to rejoin the army too soon, he wrote me a letter full of tenderness, in which he requested me to wait for the perfect restoration of my health. I give you these details, my dearest love, that you may feel quite certain of the care that is taken of me."

During his recovery, while he was compelled to be idle, the Marquis, as he was generally called in the United States, became very anxious for news from France. In one letter he says to his wife, " It is dreadful to be reduced to hold no communication except by letter with a person whom one loves as I love you, and as I shall ever love you until I draw my latest breath. I have not missed a single opportunity, not even the most indirect one, of writing to you. Do the same, on your side, my dearest life, if you love me."

Lafayette occupied himself while among the peaceful Moravians with writing letters full of warlike plans and schemes. But by his absence from the army he lost only a defeat. At the battle of Germantown, about three weeks after that of the Brandywine, the Americans were seized with a sudden panic, and a fog came up which confused them, so that they were finally routed, though they had begun very well. But at this period of the war even defeats were useful to the inexperienced Americans,— by them they learned that they could fight, and needed only more training to be equal to the British.

Lafayette rejoined the army early in November, before he could put a boot upon the wounded leg. Sir William Howe was established in Philadelphia for the winter, and had only to get possession of two forts on the Delaware River. They were bravely defended, but at last yielded to superior force. The American army remained on high ground near the city, watching the enemy, but too weak to do much.

Lafayette distinguished himself in a little action on the 25th of November. He was reconnoitring* with three hundred and fifty men, and imprudently ventured too near one of the enemy's posts, where they had cannon. Instead of retreating, however, he boldly attacked them ; they gave way, supposing he had a large division of the army, and thus he had an opportunity to rejoin in safety the main body.

* Examining the country or an enemy's post in a military way.

This slight success pleased both the army and Congress ; and at this time they had to make the most of small- gains.

Lafayette's first campaign in America ended gloomily in the encampment at Valley Forge. He wrote hopefully, on the way thither. " The American army will endeavor to clothe itself, because it is almost in a state of nudity ; to form itself, because it requires instruction ; and to recruit itself, because it is feeble ; but the thirteen States are going to rouse themselves and send us some men. My division will, I hope, be one of the strongest, and I shall exert myself to make it one of the best Our General is a man formed, in truth, for this Revolution, which could not have been accomplished without him. I see him more intimately than any other man, and I see that he is worthy of the adoration of his country. I admire each day more fully the excellence of his character and the kindness of his heart. "We are not, I confess, so strong as I expected, but we are strong enough to fight ; we shall do so, I trust, with some degree of success ; and with the assistance of France, we shall gain the cause that I cherish, because it is the cause of justice, because it honors humanity, because it is important to my country, and because my American friends t and myself are deeply engaged in it."

Speaking of himself as so young for the post he had to fill, — being a Major-General at twenty, — he adds: "I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflect ; and the result of all this is the endeavor to form an opinion into which I infuse as much common sense as possible. I will not talk much, for fear of saying foolish things; I will still less risk acting much, for fear of doing foolish things ; for I am not disposed to abuse the confidence the Americans have kindly placed in me."

Lafayette's cheerfulness was put to a severe test during this winter at Valley Forge. The sufferings of the army were really terrible. The soldiers lived in huts, and clothes, blankets, and shoes were wanting. The winter was a very cold one, and food often fell short both for officers and men. Sickness was the natural consequence of so many hardships and exposui-es. It was very easy for men to desert* into the back country, and at times the force was so small that if Sir William Howe had attacked them they would have found it hard to defend themselves.

* To leave the army secretly.

But he seems never to have thought of such a thing. The patience of the army excited every one's admiration, and was the more remarkable because the British botli in Philadelphia and New York had every comfort. But the sight of their sufferings naturally prevented the men of the neighborhood from enlisting,* and troops came in veiy small numbers from the distant States.

The Commander-in-chief was greatly distressed at the condition of the soldiers, and made every effort to relieve them. But the United States were very poor; the war had interrupted trade of all kinds, and Congress did not know how to provide for the army.

This winter proved the truth of Washington's first words to Lafayette ; the young Frenchman shared all the privations of the Americans. " He adopted in every respect American dress, habits, and food. He wished to be more simple, frugal, and austere than the Americans themselves." And what a change it must have been from living in Paris, the winter before ! There was one great pleasure in the midst of hardships. General Washington put great con-

* Joining the army.

fidence in him. It was safer for him to speak of anxieties and difficulties to Lafayette than to the American officers ; he was less likely to be discouraged, — he was hopeful, faithful, and true ; and General "Washington, himself upright and true, valued that quality more than any other in a friend. Lafayette had also influence with the foreign officers, both from France and other countries, and thus felt that he was useful at Valley Forge, where there was much discontent among all ranks of the army.

He soon had an opportunity of proving publicly his devotion to the Commander-in-chief. In addition to the distresses of the army, Washington had the private trial of having his reputation attacked in a mean, underhand way. Several discontented officers and members of Congress joined together in what was called Conway's Cabal. We do not know now all that they wanted to do, but they were certainly bent on ruining General Washington's reputation as a soldier, and were constantly comparing the failures of his last campaign with successes in other parts of the country.