Kindle Notes & Highlights
On the issue of slavery, Lafayette urged Washington and other Founding Fathers to do away with the destructive and immoral practice.
It was as obvious then, as it is today, that slavery is not consistent with liberty. Lafayette and many of his contemporaries had figured it out.
Lafayette and his family were destitute later in life. Decades after the American Revolution, Congress finally restored some of the wealth of the American hero.
A British musket ball entered and went through Lafayette’s left leg. An aide saw the blood filling Lafayette’s boot and helped the wounded Frenchman onto his horse and led him to the shelter of a nearby woods. The Frenchman was no longer an unknown and untested foreign officer. Lafayette spilled his own blood in the cause of American freedom. His bravery won the faith of Washington and the rest of the American army.
The banks of the Brandywine River in Chester County, Pennsylvania, was the defensive position selected by Washington to stop the British army.
The Brandywine creek is actually pretty easy to cross and I have crossed it and walked in the middle of it. It rarely gets deeper than your waist and usually it it knee deep. It is not a river, but a creek. Maybe it gets more river-like in Delaware.
Though not a major river, the Brandywine came to a man’s waist that late summer’s day in 1777 and was wide enough to slow down attacking British and Hessian soldiers.
Right. It might slow them down a little.
Lafayette did receive a commission as major general even though Washington believed the appointment was only honorary and didn’t involve commanding American forces. Lafayette was initially resented by Washington’s generals. Those officers had fought alongside Washington for more than a year. The young Frenchman, who didn’t speak English well and had never taken part in a battle, suddenly outranked them. On the morning of September 11, 1777, Lafayette was an unknown and untrusted volunteer member of Washington’s staff, with no combat experience. By the end of the day, Lafayette was emerging as
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Washington requested Congress to inform Lafayette that he was not intended to command troops. If Congress intended Lafayette to be an active general, Washington
Lafayette persisted. He is a hero because he did not let people stop him from fulfilling his historic destiny. He believed that a General should command troops.
Almost immediately after Lafayette received his commission from Congress, he attended a dinner in honor of Washington at City Tavern in Philadelphia.
By not scouting the area surrounding the Brandywine and the river’s fords, Washington handed the British an opportunity to destroy the American army.
It is important to scout out truth, not just defend truth.
Lafayette fearlessly rushed into a dangerous and desperate situation to help Washington’s faltering troops. On the fields of Birmingham Hill, Lafayette shed his own blood in defense of America.
Brandywine was a key component of the loss of Philadelphia, Congress fleeing to York and the harsh winter at Valley Forge for Washington and his troops. In hindsight, those negative outcomes are minor when compared with Lafayette’s contributions to winning American freedom.
The Brandywine is by no means a roaring river. Lafayette named the Brandywine a stream, and at times the body of water has been called a creek.
Finally he jumped off and grabbed at men’s shoulders and arms, ordering them to turn about, stand and fight — a major general in full uniform; a madman refusing to face defeat.
“Lafayette performed his first military service in the cause of American independence, displaying a personal devotion in the heat of battle which won distinction for him at once as a soldier, and left him, when the action was ended, one of the heroes of the day.”
Also, in his memoir, Lafayette wrote that Washington wanted his medical staff to care for Lafayette as if he were Washington’s own son.
The Marquis La Fayette was wounded in the leg & General Woodford in the hand.
The convalescence of the young Frenchman took place in the Moravian town of Bethlehem
A Pennsylvania Historical marker was erected at 534 Main Street at the home of George Frederick Beckel and indicated that Lafayette was treated in the home.
Washington was pleased, especially with Lafayette’s initiative and leadership.
On Christmas Day, Lafayette was invited to share a sparse dinner with Washington and five other officers, including de Kalb. “The meal was as plain and rough as the surrounding landscape: unadorned mutton, veal, potatoes, and cabbage, washed down by water.”88
“I read, I study, I examine, I listen, I reflect and I try to develop a reasonable common-sense opinion. I do not talk too much — to avoid saying foolish things — nor risk acting in a foolhardy way.”89
While standing with Washington, Lafayette suffered along with Washington’s troops during the long and cold winter at Valley Forge. Lafayette rejected having accommodations in a private home and lived in one of the huts built by soldiers. He supplied his own troops with food and clothing as both were in short supply at Valley Forge and many suffered and perished by the lack of necessities. “The unfortunate soldier was in want of everything. Their feet and legs froze until they became black and it was often necessary to amputate them.”
The appearance of a young officer dressed in an American uniform caused a great stir when Lafayette was recognized. He was hailed as a hero and not a traitor to France. Lafayette was welcomed throughout France and embraced by ministers in Paris and even Queen Marie Antoinette. “I had left as a rebel and fugitive and returned in triumph as an idol,” Lafayette declared in his memoirs. In his memoirs, Lafayette made references to reveling in the “celebrity status” in Paris and throughout France.
Adrienne told relatives of her extreme joy in anticipating Lafayette’s return. When Lafayette arrived, Adrienne wrote to her husband’s relatives in Chavaniac that her joy was impossible to describe. Unlike most arranged marriages of the time, the couple was in love and devoted to each other. Adrienne offered enduring support to Lafayette during many future crises.
Adrienne forgave him for running off to America while she was pregnant.
The day, September 25, 1780, would conclude with Arnold being unmasked as the most infamous traitor in American history. Arnold planned to sell West Point to the British.
Arnold offered a letter to Lafayette by means of a flag of truce. Arnold wanted to exchange prisoners. Lafayette refused to accept the correspondence from a traitor. The thought was repugnant, Lafayette confided. If any other British officer would have contacted him, Lafayette indicated he would have received the letter. “The refusal gave great pleasure to General Washington and the public.”126
In February 1782, the English Parliament voted to discontinue the war against the United States, expressing total dissatisfaction with the way the war was handled.
Lafayette proudly informed Adrienne that portraits of them and their family were hung in honor in Washington’s home.
Lafayette had a surprise for Washington. Lafayette presented a treasured gift to Washington from Adrienne, a Masonic apron she made for her husband’s surrogate father. Washington reportedly proudly wore the apron to Masonic events for years.
“Washington,” Shaw said, “responded warmly to Lafayette on this occasion.” Washington’s reply to Lafayette on April 5, 1783, stated, “Your scheme . . . to encourage the emancipation of the black people of this country from that state of bondage in which they are held is a striking evidence of the benevolence of your heart. I shall be happy to join you in so laudable a work.”152 Washington never did so.
Napoleon signed a decree on March 1, 1800, restoring the political and civil rights of Lafayette, and others.
In 1805, Lafayette rejected an offer by President Thomas Jefferson to become Governor of Louisiana
The innkeeper then presented his wife and son, a young boy about three or four years old. The father placed his son’s small hand on Lafayette’s hand. The boy said, “General Lafayette, I thank you for the freedom that you have won for my father, my mother, for me and my country.” Lafayette couldn’t conceal his emotion and embraced the “child tenderly.” Lafayette then “escaped into his carriage, where the blessings of this family, which was free and so worthy of being free, accompanied him.”
