Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/328

 LAFAYETTE

LAFAYETTE

American soldiers serving together, Lafayette advised that the French auxiliary army should be placed under Wasliington's command, and that a French officer should show precedence to an American officer of an equal rank, and these vie^vs were adopted by the ministry. A force of 6000 men under Rochambeau was sent to Rhode Island, July 10, 1780, Lafayette having sailed for Boston in the French frigate Hermione, March 19,

1780, and arrived April 27, 1780. He repaired to Washington's headquarters at Tappan on the Hudson and was assigned to the command of a special corps of 2000 light Infantry. He accom- panied Washington to Hartford where an inter- view with Rochambeau had been arranged, Sept. 20, 1780. He returned to West Point, Sept. 26, 1780, the day on which Arnold's treason was discovered, and he was a member of the board of fourteen generals that condemned Andre to death. He was detached in 1781 by General Washington with twelve hundred men from the Mar^'land and New Jersey lines under convoy of a French frigate to oppose the British forces in Virginia under Arnold. He proceeded to Anna- polis where he awaited the arrival of the frigate, but hearing of the return of the French fleet to Newport he returned to the head of the Elk. The troops under his command wei'e ill prepared for a campaign and were deepl}' prejudiced against a southern climate. Desertions became frequent and the annihilation of the corj^s was only i>re- vented by the prompt action taken by Lafayette. He borrowed from the merchants of Baltimore on bis own credit, the sum of $10,000, with which he purchased necessary food and equipments for the march. He arrived in Richmond, Va., April 29,

1781, in time to prevent the destruction of the military stores by Arnold. On May 18, 1781, he received orders from General Greene to assume entire command of the army in Virginia. He stationed his army betvreen Wilton and Rich- mond on the north side of the James river and on June 10, 1781, having been reinforced by Wayne's Pennsylvanians, he crossed the Rapidan and appi'oached close to the British- army. While Cornwallis was preparing for an attack, Lafayette under cover of the night obtained a strong posi- tion before the town where he was joined by a detachment of mountain militia and displayed so strong a front that Cornwallis was obliged to inarch back to Richmond and thence to Williams- burg under cover of the British naval fleets. Lafayette was joined by Baron Steuben, June 18, 1781, and his force was thus increased to about 4000 men. He pursued the British, harassing their rear and flanks, and when Cornwallis set out for Portsmouth to embark a portion of his troops to the north, Lafayette attacked their rear and an action took place at Green Spring, July 6, 178L

in which the Americans were obliged to retire, giving Cornwallis free access to Portsmouth. Cornwallis supposing Lafayette's army to be the only force against which he need provide, with- drew the troops to Yorktown, Aug. 1, 1781. Lafayette followed and posted himself to the west of the town. On August 30, the French fleet un- der De Grasse arrived, and on September 1, the Count St. Simon landed at James Island with over 3000 men, and joined Lafayette at Green Spring. The land forces immediately occupied Williamsburg, tlius cutting off Cornwallis's retreat to North Carolina, and as the French nav.il forces had control over the James and York rivers, Cornwallis was completely blocked in by land and sea. Washington arrived at Lafayette's headquarters, assumed command of the combined forces at Will-

iamsburg, and advanced to within two

miles of the British works, Sept. 28, 1781, and began the siege ^vhich lasted until Oc- tober 17, when Cornwallis sur- rendered. At the close of

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LAFAYETTE'S HEADQUARTERS, VALLEY FORGE.

the war, Lafayette received an unlimited leave of absence and congress at the same time directed the American ministers in Europe to consult with him on national affairs and recommended him to the favor of Louis XVI, He embarked on the French frigate Alliance which arrived in France, Jan. 17, 1782, where he was tendered a. hearty reception. He returned to America, Aug. 4, 1784, and visited Washington at Mt. Vernon, and after a protracted tour through the country from Virginia to ^Massachusetts he retvirned to Trenton, N.J., where he resigned his commission in the Continental army, and sailed for France in the frigate Nymplie, Dec. 2.j, 1784. On his return to France in the summer of 1785 from a tour through Germany and Austria he interested him- self in a scheme for the abolition of slavery and purchased a large plantation in Cayenne, French Guiana, S.A., where he provided for the instruc- tion of the freed slaves; but the scheme was not successful. Lafayette was appointed lieutenant- general in the French army, June 30, 1791, and upon the declaration of war with Austria, April 20, 1792, he commanded the army of the centre, consisting of 92,000 men. He oj^enly opposed the policy of the Jacobins, and with their rise in power his popularity diminished. The insurrec- tion of Jui?e 20, 1792, followed, and on June 2Si