With the fourth of July being celebrated today, and following up on my previous blog "apaled", let's take a look at the Marquis de Lafayette and what he did for the United States of America in the Revolutionary War. Why would some one want to travel across the dangerous Atlantic just to fight in a war that didn't concern him?His full name was Marie Joesph Paul Roche Gilbert Du Motier Marquis de Lafayette. He was born in 1757. His father died in battle before Lafayette was two. His mother died when he was twelve as did his grandfather. He was a very young wealthy orphan. He entered the military in 1771 at the age of 14. When he was 16 he married into an even wealthier family. His wife was related to the King.
On August 8, 1775 while attending a dinner, he learned of America's struggle for freedom. He and Baron Johan de Kalb decided to make their way to America to help in our fight for freedom. They each had a written agreement from Silas Deane that they would become commissioned as Major Generals. Lafayette convinced several other French officers to go with him. He arrived in Charleston, South Carolina on June 13, 1777.
Later that summer he went to Philadelphia to meet with Congress. He freely volunteered his services without pay. He was so patriotic in the American way that he was given a commission of Major General on July 31 that same year. He met George Washington and a lasting friendship was formed that would last until Washington's death. Lafayette wasn't even 20 when he first met Washington. He was very young but also very educated in military battle. During the battle of Brandywine, he was wounded. He quickly recovered and rejoined the American forces in the fall of 1777.
He joined Washington at Valley Forge. During that winter, members of Congress tried to get Lafayette to help them relieve Washington from his command. Lafayette remained loyal to Washington throughout. Later that winter General Gates wanted Lafayette to lead an expedition invasion into Canada. Supported by Washington, Lafayette went to check out the expedition before it started. He saw that it was lacking men money and supplies. He also discovered that Canada knew of the possible invasion. He told Washington that it would be a bad idea. He returned to Valley Forge in April of 1778. He fought in the battle of Barren Hill on May 20,1778.
As the British were leaving Philadelphia in June that same year, Lafayette wrote letters encouraging Washington to attack from the rear. Washington took this advice to heart. Later that same summer, Lafayette was asked to go to Boston to meet with Admiral Estaing, the leader of the French fleet. He encouraged Estaing to get his repairs made quickly and attack the British Fleet. He did this against his better judgment for love of America's effort for freedom. He was later commended by congress for these actions. He was also given permission by congress to return home to France.
After he arrived in France he was placed for a short period of time in exile. This was because he had went to America without the King's official aproval even though the King had financed his "mission". While he was home, he secured money and supplies to help America with its continuing battle for freedom. He returned to America with troops under himself and General Rochambeau to help America in it's continued fight. With the fall of the British on Oct19, 1781, Lafayette asked Washington to be relieved so that he could return home. He returned to America on several other occasions. and even assisted Thomas Jefferson on several matters.
In 1824 he was paid $200,000 for his past services as well as given land in Louisiana, which he never saw. In 1834 the great General died. He was considered a leader of freedom who devoted his life to the just cause of freedom. But more than that, the Frenchman was considered a friend of America, and since then our two country are bound by an undestructible friendship, so many time forgotten by some nowadays...
On America he once said, " Humanity has won it's battle. Liberty now has a country."
One might say that Lafayette was a romantic. But the bottom line is that he fought for the freedom of the United States of America and succeeded at it.
