The Life of La Fayette, the Knight of Liberty in Two Worlds and Two CenturiesFarmer, Lydia Hoyt
History
The Life of La Fayette, the Knight of Liberty in Two Worlds and Two Centuries
Farmer, Lydia Hoyt
Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
Arrival in America—Letter to his Wife from Charleston—La Fayette’s First
Impressions of America—Letter from Petersburg—Arrival in
Philadelphia—Chilling Reception by Congress—La Fayette’s Magnanimous
Offer—Resolution passed by Congress—The First Meeting between
Liberty’s Knight and the “Man of the Age”—Washington’s Kindly
Reception of the Young Marquis—Letter from Franklin to Washington
regarding La Fayette—Battle of Brandywine—La Fayette wounded—Letter to
his Wife from Philadelphia—La Fayette in the Care of the Moravian
Society—Letter to his Wife—La Fayette’s Home Life described by his
Daughter Virginie—La Fayette again in the Field—The Battle of
Gloucester—Congress commissions the Marquis to the Command of a
Division—Winter Quarters at Valley Forge—Letter from La Fayette to his
Father-in-law, the Duke d’Ayen—His Impressions regarding American
Affairs—A Treacherous Intrigue against Washington—La Fayette’s Manly
Letter to him—Washington’s Noble Reply—The New Board of War—La Fayette
appointed to the Command of the Expedition into Canada—His Letter to
Washington from Albany—Expedition to Canada abandoned—La Fayette’s
Return to Valley Forge—Sir William Howe outwitted by the Young
Marquis—La Fayette’s Influence in the Army—Death of La Fayette’s
Little Daughter—His Touching Letter to his Wife.
“When Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night
And set the stars of glory there.”—DRAKE.
ON the 14th of June, 1777, La Fayette landed at Winyau Bay, about sixty
miles northeast from Charleston. Nature had clothed herself in her
loveliest garb to welcome the knight of liberty who had sacrificed
wealth and luxury and the gay life of courts, to unsheathe his sword in
this new land in defence of freedom.
It was midnight under the soft June skies. The stars glowed in
benediction, and the moon shed a calm radiance over the scene. As the
canoe conveyed the travellers up the picturesque bay, the wooded land
beyond seemed to stretch out its leafy hands of welcome, and the air was
perfumed with the delicious fragrance of innumerable flowers. Such was
America’s greeting to her brave defender.
Of this, let La Fayette’s own letters speak. Back to the love of his
heart, the wife whose constant devotion was his guiding star, fly
quickly his thoughts, on the swift wings of affection, and he hastens to
pen these lines:—
“JUNE 19.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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