Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/85

Rh served our commander as his head-quarters, Colonel Armand, then commanding a troop of light horse. The life of this young Frenchman, who was then twenty-four, had been like mine, adventurous from the beginning. He was the nephew of the Marquis de la Beliniese, and had been an officer in the Gardes Franqaises. Having fallen madly in love with Mile. Beaumesnil, of the Opera, and been refused by her, he retired to the Monastery of La Trappe, which he left to seek danger by the side of General Washington. He had earned some glory and distinction under the name of Colonel Armand, and was to become more celebrated under the name of the Marquis de la Rouarie.

Lastly I saw there, for the first time. Monsieur de P——, who commanded the Engineers, and who was afterwards Minister of War to Louis XVI, at the beginning of the Revolution.

Amongst all these officers of different nationalities and habits I noticed more