Memoirs of General Lafayette Part 14

After this he descended at the Exchange, where he was received by the Mayor and Councils, with an appropriate address and answer. He thence proceeded in his carriage to Light-street, across which, at the entrance into Market- street, an elegant pavilion had been erected, and where he was received by a fine military a.s.semblage. Here there was a truly splendid ceremony, in presentment by the Mayor, to the General, with Pulaski's standard, made during the revolutionary war by a Moravian Nun, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which belonged to Pulaski's legion, raised in Baltimore in 1778. In 1779, Count Pulaski was mortally wounded at the attack on Savannah; and these colors, at his decease, in 1780, descended to the Major, who was sabred to death in South Carolina. The venerable Paul Bentalou, Esq. now marshal of the district of Maryland, and at that time captain of the first troop of light dragoons, and senior surviving officer, inherited the standard of the legion, which he has preserved with Great care to this day, with all the fond recollections and attachments of the veteran soldier.

In the evening, the city was brilliantly illuminated, and many of the public and private buildings exhibited appropriate transparencies.

On Friday, hundreds of citizens were presented to the General, in the Hall of the Exchange; and in the afternoon he dined with the Mayor and Corporation. In the evening, he attended the ball and supper given to him by the citizens, which was truly splendid, and occupies many columns in the description.

The General was also waited upon, and addressed in the most feeling manner, by the French residents, to whom he replied in the most affectionate manner.

At seven o'clock in the evening the General was received at Masonic Hall, by the Grand Lodge of Maryland, in the presence of eight hundred brethren, The General dined with the Cincinnati on Sat.u.r.day. "On Monday he was presented with a medal from the young men of Baltimore, with inscriptions expressive of their grat.i.tude. He afterwards presented several colors to the fifth regiment, under Colonel Stewart, in his behalf, which were received with the highest military honors. The General then reviewed the regiment.--At eleven o'clock he left his lodgings, and proceeded in his barouche to Whetstom Point, for the purpose of reviewing the third division, under the command of Major General Harper. He partook of a splendid military banquet. His honors on leaving the city were magnificent as those of his reception. He departed under escort on Monday, over the Washington turnpike. He was to pa.s.s the night 30 miles from Baltimore, and enter Washington city on Tuesday at noon."

In no city which General Lafayette visited, had he met with a more cordial welcome, or a more splendid reception, than in Baltimore. All were desirous to do him honor and to express their feelings of grat.i.tude and respect for the guest of the nation. Many interesting recollections must have been brought to his mind when in this city. It was here he pa.s.sed some time in 1781, when he commanded the American light infantry in that quarter--when the British had a large army in the vicinity, and our troops were dest.i.tute of clothing, and in a state of great despondence. By his own personal influence and responsibility, he obtained a loan here for the use of his troops, which was necessary to their comfort, and served to render them in a measure contented with their situation. The address of his old friend Colonel Howard, in behalf of the Cincinnati of Maryland, who were a.s.sembled in the Tent of Washington to receive his adopted son, and their beloved brother soldier, was as follows:--

"GENERAL,

"A few of your brother soldiers of Maryland, who remain after a lapse of forty years, and the sons of some of them who are now no more, are a.s.sembled in the Tent of Washington, to greet you on your visit to the United States; and to a.s.sure you of their affectionate and sincere regard.

This Tent will call to your recollection many interesting incidents which occurred when you a.s.sociated in arms with Washington, the patriot and soldier, saviour of his country, and friend of your youth.

"Accept, General, our cordial sentiments of esteem for you, and of grat.i.tude for services rendered by you to our country--services which will never be forgotten by the free and happy people of the United States."

To which General Lafayette replied--

"The pleasure to recognize my beloved companions in arms; the sound of names, whose memory is dear to me; this meeting under the consecrated _Tent_, where we so often pressed around our paternal commander in chief; excite emotions which your sympathizing hearts will better feel than I can express. This post also n.o.bly defended in the late war, while it brings the affecting recollection of a confidential friend in my military family, a.s.sociates with the remembrance of the ill.u.s.trious defence of another fort, in the war of the revolution, by the _friend_ now near me. [Colonel Smith.]

It has been the lot of the Maryland line, to acquire glory in instances of bad as well as of good fortune; and to whom can I better speak of that glory, than in addressing Colonel Howard? My dear brother soldiers, my feelings are too strong for utterance. I thank you most affectionately."

The meeting of this Society was rendered peculiarly interesting,--there being present, besides many other worthy veterans of the revolutionary army, Colonel John F. Howard, the celebrated hero of the battle of the Cowpens, January 1781, to whom Congress presented two medals, in testimony of his singular bravery-General (formerly Colonel) Samuel Smith, who bravely defended Mud-fort, and many years senator in Congress; and Paul Bentalou, Esq. now marshal of Maryland district, who was the senior captain of light dragoons, belonging to Pulaski's legion, in 1778. Here also the very venerable Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the declaration of independence, was introduced to Lafayette.

We give also an extract from the address of Governor Stevens, to the General.

"SIR,

"In bidding you a hearty welcome to the state of Maryland, whilst I gratify the feelings of my own heart, I express, though feebly, those of the people, whom it is my pride and pleasure, on this occasion to represent.

Beneath this venerable canopy, many a time have you grasped the friendly hand of our ill.u.s.trious Washington, aided his council with your animating voice, or shared with him the hardy soldier's meal. The incidents which the a.s.sociation so forcibly recalls, however inspiring, it were needless to dwell upon. The recollection of them fills the mind with grat.i.tude; a full measure of which is justly due to you, as the generous companion of our fathers, the gallant and disinterested soldier of liberty--You are about to enter the city of Baltimore, which you have known in other days. In her growth and embellishment, you will behold a symbol of our national prosperity, under popular inst.i.tutions and a purely representative government.--Welcome, thrice welcome, General, to the soil of Maryland.

Nothing which we can do, can too strongly express to you the affection and respect which we entertain for your person and your principles, or the joy with which we receive you among us, as a long absent father on a visit to his children."

To this address Lafayette replied--

"While your Excellency is pleased so kindly to welcome me in the name of the citizens of Maryland, the lively grat.i.tude, which this most gratifying reception cannot fail to excite, a.s.sociates in my heart, with a no less profound sense of my old obligations to this state, both as an American General and a personal friend. I am happy, sir, to have the honor to meet you in this fort, so gallantly defended in the late war, in presence of the brave colonel of the worthy volunteers, whose glory on that occasion I have enjoyed with the proud feelings of an American veteran. It was by a Maryland colonel in the year 1777, that the British received, in the gallant defence of an important fort, one of the first lessons of what they were to expect from American valour and patriotism. The Maryland line, sir, in the continental army has been conspicuous, not only in days of victory, but on days either unfortunate or dubious. This tent, under which I now answer your affectionate address; the monument erected to the memory of our great and good commander in chief; the column of a later date, bearing testimonies of a glorious event; my entrance into a city long ago dear to me, and now become so beautiful and prosperous; fill my heart with sentiments, in which you have had the goodness to sympathize.

"Accept, sir, the tribute of my respectful and affectionate grat.i.tude to the citizens of the state, and their honored chief magistrate."

There was an incident connected with General Lafayette's escort to the boundary of Baltimore, which deserves to be particularly noticed. The cavalry troop was commanded by Samuel Sprigg, Esq. who, two years ago, ended a full term of service in the capacity of Governor of the state of Maryland, of which he was Captain-General and Commander in Chief. Returned to private life, a wealthy planter, in the midst of all that can render life easy and pleasant, he is proud of resuming his character of a citizen, and becoming a member of a troop of horse, in which he enrolls himself with his neighbours, who choose him their commander. In that capacity, he has had the pleasure of receiving General Lafayette at the boundary of his county, and escorting him through it. This incident, we say, deserves to be noted as a fine practical ill.u.s.tration of the principles of republican government.

General Lafayette arrived in the city of Washington, according to previous arrangement, about 1 o'clock on Tuesday the 12th.

About 9 o'clock, on Tuesday morning, the General and suit left Rossburg, and proceeded to the District of Columbia, at the line of which he was met by the committee of arrangements from the city of Washington, and a number of revolutionary officers, escorted by a handsome troop of city cavalry, and a company of Montgomery cavalry. The meeting of the General with his revolutionary compatriots, and with the committee, was affectionate and impressive in the extreme. After many embraces were exchanged, the General was transferred to the elegant landau provided by the city for his use, drawn by four fine greys, in which he was accompanied by Major General Brown and Commodore Tingey, members of the committee; and his son George Washington Lafayette, his Secretary, Col. Va.s.sieur, and Mr. Custis, of Arlington, were placed in another carriage provided for the purpose. The whole then advanced to the city, Capt. Sprigg's company in front, the remaining companies proceeding and flanking the carriages containing the General, his suite, the committee, &c. On rising to the extensive plain which stretches eastward from the capitol to the Anacosta river, the General found himself in front of the most brilliant military spectacle which our city ever witnessed, being a body of 10 or 1200 troops, composed entirely of volunteer companies of the city, Georgetown, and Alexandria, some of them recently organized, clad in various tasteful uniforms, and many of them elegant beyond any thing of the kind we have before seen.

Brigadier Generals Smith and Jones were in the field with their respective suits and the field officers of the first brigade. These troops, together with the large body of cavalry, the vast ma.s.s of eager spectators which overspread the plain, and the animation of the whole, a.s.sociated with the presence of the venerated object of so much curiosity and affection, gave a grandeur and interest to the scene which has never been equaled here on any former occasion. After the General had received the respects and welcome of our military chiefs, the whole body of troops tools took up the escort, for the capitol, wheeling into column, in East Capitol-street, and then into line upon the leading division. The General and suite then pa.s.sed this line in review, advancing towards the capitol, and receiving the highest military honors as he pa.s.sed.

After the military procession had reached the east end of the market house, on East Capitol-street, which was handsomely adorned with proper emblems, and the Declaration of Independence, above which perched a living eagle of the largest size, the committee of arrangements and General Lafayette and suite alighted from their carriages and preceded by the committee, the General and suite pa.s.sed through the market house, which on each side was lined with anxious and delighted spectators, to the east entrance of the Capitol Square, over which was thrown a neat arch, decorated with evergreens and other ornaments, with appropriate labels, expressive of the esteem and grat.i.tude of the citizens to the national guest; on the pinnacle stood another eagle. On entering the gate, the General was met by a group of 25 young girls, dressed in white, intended to represent the 24 States and the District of Columbia, each wearing a wreath of flowers, and bearing in her hand a miniature national flag, with the name of one of the States inscribed upon it; when the one representing the district advanced and arrested his progress, and, in a short speech, neatly and modestly delivered their welcome to the nation's guest. After which each of the young ladies presented her hand to the General, which he received in the most affectionate manner, and with the kindest expressions. He then pa.s.sed a double line of girls, properly dressed, from the schools, who strewed his way with flowers. Leaving the girls, he pa.s.sed lines of the students of the colleges and seminaries, with their respective banners, and a company of Juvenile Infantry, dressed in uniform, and armed in a suitable manner; and then the younger boys from the schools. All these formed a numerous and highly interesting a.s.semblage. Arriving at the north wing of the Capitol, the General was conducted by the committee of arrangements through the great door, up the grand staircase, into the central rotunda of the Capitol, which though of immense size, was filled with ladies and gentlemen; and, through it, received, on every side, demonstrations of the most ardent and grateful respect. On leaving the rotunda, he pa.s.sed under the venerable tent of Washington, also filled with ladies, revolutionary officers, and other gentlemen, to the front of the portico of the Capitol, neatly carpeted, on which was erected the tent. He was introduced to the Mayor, who introduced him to the Mayor of Georgetown, the members of the corporation, and other gentlemen present, when advancing to the front of the portico, in the presence of many thousand spectators, the Mayor delivered an address, to which the General replied.

The General was then invited by the Mayor of Georgetown to visit that town, in a chaste and neat address.

To which the General replied, in a few words, that Georgetown was an old acquaintance of his, where he had found many valuable and esteemed friends, and he would visit it with the greatest delight, and thank its citizens for their kind regards.

After this, John Brown Cutting, Esq. at the request of the committee of arrangements, and in behalf of himself and other revolutionary officers, delivered a short address and complimentary poem, in a handsome and appropriate manner.

After having made a reply to this address, the General was introduced to some other gentlemen; and was then conducted by the Mayor, attended by the committee of arrangements, in the way by which he had ascended, to the front door of the north wing of the Capitol, where the military pa.s.sed in review before him, saluting as they pa.s.sed. Immediately after his reception in the portico, a grand salute was fired in the neighborhood of the Capitol by a company of Alexandria artillery. The review being finished, the Mayor ascended the landau with the General, attended by Gen. Brown and Com.

Tingey, and the procession was resumed in the same order as before; and pa.s.sing through Pennsylvania Avenue, proceeded to the President's house. In this pa.s.sage the streets were lined with spectators; but the most pleasing sight was the windows on each side of it filled with ladies, in their best attire and looks, bestowing, with beaming eyes, their benedictions on the beloved Chief, and waving white handkerchiefs, as tokens of their happiness.

On pa.s.sing the centre market, another salute was fired from a battery south of the Tiber, by a company of artillery.

The General, with his son, the Mayor, committee of arrangements, &c. thus escorted, having reached the President's house, (distant from the Capitol more than a mile) pa.s.sed into the gate of the enclosure, and thence to the portico of the mansion. The General, on alighting, was there received by the Marshal of the District of Columbia, and, supported by Gen. Brown and Com. Tingey, and accompanied by the Mayor and others of the committee of arrangements, was, with his son conducted into the drawing room where the President was prepared to receive him.

The President, stationed at the head of this circular apartment, had on his right hand the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, on his left the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, and, ranged on each side the room, were the other gentlemen invited to be present at this interview. The whole number of distinguished persons present being fifty or sixty.

On the General's reaching the centre of the circle, the President advanced to him, and gave him a cordial and affectionate reception, such as might have been expected from the ill.u.s.trious representative of the American people, to one of those early friends of theirs, whom, like himself, they delight to honor.

After the interchange of courtesies between the guest and the President, he was welcomed by the Heads of Departments. Between him and Mr. Crawford, with whom he had in France an intimate acquaintance, the meeting was that of old and affectionate friends: and by all he was respectfully and kindly greeted. Subsequently, the General was introduced in succession, by the Chief of each Department of the Government, to the officers attached to each. Liberal refreshments were then offered to the company, and fifteen or twenty minutes were spent in delightful conversation. After which the General took his leave, well pleased with his reception, and, remounting the landau, proceeded to rejoin his escort.

Retiring from this affecting scene, the General pa.s.sed in review, and was saluted by the whole body of troops, which had been wheeled into line, and extended from the President's square to the General's quarters. On his alighting, he expressed his thanks to them for the honor bestowed on him, and then another grand salute was fired by a company of artillery: after which, the military were dismissed. He retired, for a short time, to his private room; and, when he returned into public, was, with his suite; introduced to a great number of citizens, anxious to express their heartfelt respect to the disinterested champion of their country's liberty.

To an address from the Mayor, full of fine feeling, the General made the following reply:--

"The kind and flattering reception with which I am honored by the citizens of Washington, excite the most lively feelings of grat.i.tude; those grateful feelings, sir, at every step of my happy visit to the United States, could not but enhance the inexpressible delight I have enjoyed at the sight of the immense and wonderful improvements, so far beyond even the fondest antic.i.p.ations of a warm American heart; and which, in the s.p.a.ce of forty years, have so gloriously evinced the superiority of popular inst.i.tutions, and self government, over the too imperfect state of political civilization, found in every part of the other hemisphere. In this august place, which bears the most venerable of all ancient and modern names, I have, sir, the pleasure to contemplate, not only a centre of that const.i.tutional Union so necessary to these States, so important to the interests of mankind; but also a great political school, where attentive observers from other parts of the world may be taught the practical science of true social order.

"Among the circ.u.mstances of my life, to which you have been pleased to allude, none can afford me such dear recollections, as my having been early adopted as an American soldier; so there is not a circ.u.mstance of my reception in which I take so much pride, as in sharing those honors with my beloved companions in arms. Happy I am to feel that the marks of affection and esteem bestowed on me, bear testimony to my perseverance in the American principles I received under the tent of Washington, and of which I shall, to my last breath, prove myself a devoted disciple. I beg you, Mr.

Mayor, and the gentlemen of the Corporation, to accept my respectful acknowledgments to you and to the citizens of Washington."

To the address and poem presented by John Brown Cutting, Esq. the General made the following reply:--

"While I embrace you, sir, and make my acknowledgments to those of our revolutionary comrades, in whose name you welcome me to this metropolis, be a.s.sured that I reciprocate those kind expressions of attachment, which from them are peculiarly gratifying. And although, in doing this, it cannot be expected that I should command such beautiful language as you employ, yet I speak from the bottom of my heart, when I a.s.sure you that the a.s.sociations of time and place, to which you allude, exalt the interest which I shall ever feel in your prosperity, and that of every meritorious individual who belonged to the revolutionary army of the United States."

After the ceremony of the procession, &c. a public dinner was provided, at which the Mayor of Washington presided, a.s.sisted by the Presidents of the boards of Aldermen and the Common Council; and at which were present, the heads of departments, revolutionary officers, military and naval officers of the United States, members of the City Council, and many distinguished characters from different parts of the nation.

His reception by Mr. Monroe President of the United States, was most cordial and honorable. He called on the President, the day of his arrival in Washington, as before mentioned. The next day he was with Mr. Monroe both at breakfast and dinner, and on Thursday, the President gave a public dinner in honor of Lafayette, at which were present, the Heads of Departments, many distinguished public characters from various parts of the Unified States, and the princ.i.p.al officers of the army and navy. While in Washington, he also visited the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, and of War, and Major General Brown, of the United States army.

Gen. Lafayette rode over to Georgetown, on Thursday, having been earnestly invited by the Mayor and corporation to visit the city. And the citizens demonstrated their grat.i.tude and joy on the occasion, by a military escort, and a respectable precession. But the most acceptable offering was such as he had received in all other places, the spontaneous and cordial salutations of the whole people. On Friday, he visited the navy yard, by invitation of the veteran Commodore Tingey. His reception here was remarkably brilliant and impressive; he was accompanied by many distinguished citizens and public functionaries; and the attentions of the naval veteran were honorable to himself and highly gratifying to General Lafayette. He dined again, this day (Friday) with President Monroe; and on Sat.u.r.day proceeded on his proposed visit to Alexandria, and Yorktown. He was accompanied as far as the Potomac by the Mayor and committee of arrangements from Washington, escorted by the Georgetown cavalry. On the south side of the river, he was received by the deputation of Alexandria, attended by many other citizens, and several officers of the army and navy of the United States. He was received in Alexandria with the highest military honors, and escorted through the town amidst the welcomes and shouts of many thousands of inhabitants. A public dinner was given him; and the highest regard manifested by all cla.s.ses of people for this disinterested friend of American freedom and independence.

Sunday morning he visited the tomb of Washington, at Mount Vernon, accompanied by Mr. Custis, the nearest male relative of that most distinguished patriot. Lafayette spent an hour at this hallowed spot, where, were deposited the mortal remains of his most respected friend, whom he loved, venerated and was ever desirous to imitate. It was a moment of sacred recollection; and while the living patriot and hero reflected with mingled emotions of joy and sadness at the grave of one who was his leader and examplar, in youth, he could not but antic.i.p.ate, with deep solemnity, the approaching period of his own departure. Mr. Custis here presented him with a ring containing some of the hair of his immortal relative. General Lafayette then proceeded on his way to Yorktown, where he arrived on Monday; and was received with great demonstrations of respect and joy. A steamboat was dispatched from Yorktown down the river to meet the United States steam boat, which had Lafayette on board. He entered the former near the mouth of the river, where he was received by the committee from Yorktown, and conveyed to that place, attended by four other large boats, crowded with citizens anxious to see and welcome "the guest of the nation."

One of the committee addressed him, in a very affectionate and impressive manner, as soon as he came on board of the Virginia steamboat. A great concourse of people from the neighbouring towns were collected, and many from far distant places, together with the most distinguished public characters in the whole state of Virginia. There were also present on this occasion, many officers of high rank of the army and navy of the United States.

Great preparations had been made by the citizens of Virginia, and by the state authorities, to celebrate the anniversary of the capture of the British army, under Lord Cornwallis, at this place, on the 19th of October, 1781; an event, in which Lafayette took a very active and useful part; perhaps no general in the siege, under Washington, was more active and useful--an event, also, which had great and immediate influence with the English government, to acknowledge our independence and offer terms of an honorable peace. General Lafayette had been invited, some weeks before, to be present in Yorktown, at this time. The Ex-Presidents Jefferson and Madison, were also invited to attend, but they both declined. Mr. Madison's want of health prevented; and Mr. Jefferson declined on account of age and infirmity. We give his letter in reply to the invitation.