the general of what was passing, who, arriving speedily on the spot,
found the troops retreating in confusion. "You know," said Lee, "that
all this was against my advice." The general, sending Lee to the
rear,~[30] himself formed seven or eight hundred men, and stationed
them, with some cannon, upon a chosen spot, and M. de Lafayette
undertook to retard the enemy's march. The English dragoons made their
first charge upon a small morass which sheltered him: the infantry
marched round to attack him on the other side, but he had sufficient
time to retire; and the army had by this time placed itself upon a
height, where he took the command of the second line. A cannonade was
kept up on both sides during the whole day, and two attacks of the enemy
were repulsed. A battery, placed on their left, obliged them to change
their position, and, when they presented their flank, the general
attacked them and forced them to retreat, until darkness interrupted all
operations. The American troops continued to gain ground, and Clinton
retired during the night, leaving behind him more than three hundred
dead and many wounded. The heat was so intense that the soldiers fell
dead without having received a single wound, and the fire of battle soon
became untenable. During this affair which ended so well, although begun
so ill, General Washington appeared to arrest fortune by his glance,
and his presence of mind, valour, and decision of character, were
never displayed to greater advantage than at that moment.~[31] Wayne
distinguished himself; Greene and the brave Stirling led forward the
first line in the ablest manner. From four o'clock in the morning until
night M. de Lafayette was momentarily obliged to change his occupations.
The general and he passed the night lying on the same mantle, talking
over the conduct of Lee, who wrote the next morning a very improper
letter, and was placed under arrest. He was afterwards suspended by a
council of war, quitted the service, and was not regretted by the army.
Clinton having retreated towards the hollows of Shrewsbury, the general
contented himself with the success already gained, and marched towards
White Plains; the second line, under M. de Lafayette forming the right
column. The 4th of July, being the anniversary of the declaration of
independence, was celebrated at Brunswick; and a few days later the army
learnt that the Count d'Estaing was before New York.~[32]
Twelve French vessels, which sailed from Toulon, had been three months
in reaching the Delaware: they arrived three days after the departure of
the English fleet, and, following it to New York, M. d'Estaing anchored
at Sandy-hook, outside the bar. He offered immense sums to be conveyed
across that bar, but the pilots declared that the large vessels drew too
much water, and the French finally agreed to attack Rhode Island, which
the enemy then occupied with a force of 5000 men, who had entrenched
themselves; whilst the state militia, under the command of Sullivan,
were stationed at Providence. M. Girard, a French minister, arrived on
board that squadron; he had been long most anxiously expected by the
Americans, and M. de Lafayette called his delay a proof of confidence.
The last mark of attention with which the court honoured M. de
Lafayette, had been an order to arrest him in the West Indies; he was,
in truth, out of favour in that quarter, and their displeasure had
increased on receiving his letters, which were dictated less by the
prudence of a philosopher than by the enthusiasm of a young lover of
liberty: but although no letters were addressed to him, M. d'Estaing
was not less kind and attentive in his conduct; and 2000 continentalists
having been despatched from White-Plains to Providence, M. de Lafayette,
who had exerted himself to hasten their departure, conducted them
rapidly along the sound, across a smiling country, covered with
villages, in which the evident equality of the population distinctly
proved the democracy of the government. From the apparent prosperity
of each colony, it was easy to judge of the degree of freedom which its
constitution might enjoy.
By forcing the passage between Rhode Island and Connecticut, M.
d'Estaing might easily have carried off as prisoners 1500 Hessians
who were stationed on the latter island; but he yielded to Sullivan's
entreaties, and waited until that general should be in readiness: but
although the troops of M. de Lafayette had traversed 240 miles, he found
on his arrival that no preparations were yet made. He repaired to
the squadron, and was received with the greatest possible attention,
especially by the general; and, as M. de Suffren was placed in front, he
carried back to him an order from M. d'Estaing to attack three frigates,
which, however, were burnt by their own crews. The American army
repaired, on the 8th of August, to Howland's Ferry, during the time that
the squadron was forcing its way between the two islands. General Greene
having joined the army, M. de Lafayette yielded to him the command of
half his corps; each then possessed a wing, of 1000 continentalists and
5000 militia. M. de Lafayette's corps was to receive the addition of
the two battalions of Foix and Hainaut, with some marines. The English,
fearing to be intercepted evacuated the forts on the right of the island
during the night of the 8th, and Sullivan landed with his troops the
next day. M. de Lafayette was expecting the French that afternoon, and
the boats were already under way, when a squadron appeared in sight on
the south of the island, at M. d'Estaing's former anchorage. Lord Howe,
brave even to audacity, having watched the movements of the French
admiral and his fleet, collected a greater number of ships, of which
the sizes were however too unequal; his position, and the southern
wind, would enable him, he thought, to throw succours into Newport where
General Pigot had concentrated his force; but the wind changed during
the night, and the next day M. d'Estaing, within sight of both armies
passed gallantly through the fire of the two batteries whilst the enemy,
cutting their cables, fled, under heavy press of sail. After a chase of
eight hours the two squadrons at length met, and Lord Howe would have
paid dearly for his temerity, had not a violent storm arisen, which
dispersed the ships. By a singular chance, several of Byron's vessels
came up at the same time on their return from Portsmouth, having been
separated at the Azores by a violent gale of wind. The _Languedoc_,
the admiral's ship, deprived of its masts and rudder, and driven by
the tempest to a distance from the other vessels, was attacked by the
_Isis_, of fifty guns, and owed its safety only to the courage and
firmness of M. d'Estaing. At length he succeeded in rallying his
squadron, and, faithful to his engagements, reappeared before Rhode
Island; but as he no longer possessed the superiority of force, he
announced his intention of repairing to Boston, where the _Cesar_ had
taken shelter after a combat. When the storm, which lasted three days,
subsided, the American army drew near Newport. This town was defended
by two lines of redoubts and batteries, surrounded by a wooden palisade,
the two concentrated fronts of which rested on the sea-shore, and were
supported by a ravine that it was necessary to cross. The trench was
opened, the heavy batteries established, and General Greene and M.
de Lafayette were deputed to go on board the French admiral ship,
to endeavour to obtain time, and propose either to make an immediate
attack, or to station vessels in the Providence river. If M. de
Lafayette had felt consternation upon hearing of the dispersion of the
fleet, the conduct of the sailors during the combat, which he learnt
with tears in his eyes, inspired him with the deepest grief. In the
council, where the question was agitated, M. de Brugnon (although five
minutes before he had maintained the contrary) gave his voice in
favour of Boston, and his opinion was unanimously adopted. Before they
separated, the admiral offered his two battalions to M. de Lafayette,
and appeared to feel great pleasure in being thus enabled to secure him
his rank in the French army; but these troops were useful on board, and
were not necessary on the island, and M. de Lafayette would not expose
them to danger for his own private interest. At the departure of the
vessels, there was but one unanimous feeling of regret and indignation.
Their lost time, extinguished hopes, and embarrassed situation, all
served to increase the irritation of the militia, and their discontent
became contagious. The people of Boston already spoke of refusing the
fleet admission into their port; the generals drew up a protestation,
which M. de Lafayette refused to sign. Carried away by an impulse of
passion, Sullivan inserted in an order "that our allies have abandoned
us." His ill humour was encouraged by Hancock, a member of congress,
formerly its president, and who then commanded the militia of
Massachusets stationed on the island. To him M. de Lafayette first
declared his intentions, and then, calling upon Sullivan, he insisted
upon the words used in the order of the morning being retracted in that
of the evening. Some hours after, the general returned his visit, and,
drawing him aside, a very warm altercation took place; but although
totally indifferent to the peril of a duel, Sullivan was neither
indifferent to the loss of the intimacy of M. de Lafayette, nor to the
influence this young Frenchman possessed at head-quarters, and over
congress and the nation; and in the numerous letters which M. de
Lafayette wrote on this occasion, he made ample use of his influence
over those three important powers.
Dr. Cooper, a presbyterian minister, was extremely useful at Boston;
and Hancock himself ended by repairing thither to receive the squadron.
Rather than yield to the public torrent, M. de Lafayette had risked his
own popularity; and in the fear of being guided by private interest,
he had gone to the extreme in the opposite line of conduct. He lived in
complete retirement, in his own military quarter, and was never seen but
at the trench or the council, in which latter place he would not allow
the slightest observation to be made against the French squadron. As
hopes were still entertained of obtaining assistance from the latter, it
was resolved to retreat to the north of the island; and M. de Lafayette
was sent on an embassy to M. d'Estaing. After having travelled all
night, he arrived at the moment when the general and his officers were
entering Boston. A grand repast, given by the town, was followed by a
conference between the council, the admiral, and himself, at which M.
d'Estaing, while he clearly demonstrated the insufficiency of his
naval force, offered to march himself with his troops. Every word was
submitted to M. de Lafayette, and the admiral remarked this deference
without appearing hurt by it. That same day, the 29th August, Sullivan
retreated from his post; and although the discontent which the militia
experienced had diminished the number of his troops, he conducted this
movement, and the attack which it occasioned, with great ability.
The next morning, at the same time that M. de Lafayette was informed of
the event, he learnt also that the two armies were in close contact
at the north of the island, and that Clinton had arrived with a
reinforcement. Traversing then eighty miles in less than eight hours,
he repaired to Howland's Ferry, arriving there just as the army was
re-crossing it. A corps of a thousand men had been left on the island,
surrounded with divisions of the enemy: M. de Lafayette undertook the
charge of them, and succeeded in withdrawing them without losing a
single man. When congress returned thanks to him for his conduct during
this retreat, they likewise expressed their gratitude for his journey to
Boston, at the very period when he might so rationally have expected
an engagement.~[33] Sullivan returned to Providence, and left M. de
Lafayette in the command of the posts around the island: the post of
Bristol, in which his principal corps was placed, was exposed to an
attack by water; he announced this to General Washington, to whom,
Sullivan said, he thought the same idea had also occurred. It was
at this place he learnt the affair of Ouessant, which he expected to
celebrate as an important victory; but the welfare of the squadron
recalled him to Boston, where he felt he could be useful to his
countrymen. The general dissatisfaction was soon appeased; and although
M. de Saint Sauveur had been killed accidentally in a tumult, the French
had nevertheless full cause to acknowledge the kindness and moderation
of the Bostonians. During a walk which he took with the Count d'Estaing,
M. de Lafayette pointed out to him the remains of the army of Burgoyne:
two soldiers of militia, stationed at each wing, alone constituted
its guard. Feeling that his presence was no longer necessary to the
squadron, and believing that it was his duty to return to France, M.
de Lafayette set out to rejoin the principal corps of the army at
Philadelphia.
During that time, the commissioners had made many addresses and
proclamations. By endeavouring to gain over one member, Johnstone had
displeased the congress, who refused to treat with him. In a public
letter, signed Carlisle, the French nation was taxed with a _perfidy
too universally acknowledged to require any new proof_. With the
effervescence of youth and patriotism, M. de Lafayette seized this
opportunity of opposing the commission; and the first impulse of M.
d'Estaing was to approve of his conduct. A haughty challenge was sent
from head-quarters to Lord Carlisle: the answer was an ill-explained
refusal; and the impetuosity of M. de Lafayette was attended with a
good result, whilst the prudence of the president was ridiculed in every
public paper.~[34]
Soon afterwards, during M. de Lafayette's residence at Philadelphia, the
commission received its death-blow; whilst he was breakfasting with the
members of congress, the different measures proper to be pursued were
frankly and cheerfully discussed. The correspondence which took place
at that time is generally known; the congress remained ever noble; firm,
and faithful to its allies: secretary Thomson, in his last letter to
Sir Henry Clinton, informs him, that "_the congress does not answer
impertinent letters_." To conceal nothing from the people, all the
proposals were invariably printed; but able writers were employed in
pointing out the errors they contained. In that happy country, where
each man understood and attended to public affairs, the newspapers
became powerful instruments to aid the revolution. The same spirit was
also breathed from the pulpit, for the Bible in many places favours
republicanism. M. de Lafayette, having once reproached an Anglican
minister with speaking only of heaven, went to hear him preach the
following Sunday, and the words, _the execrable house of Hanover_,
proved the docility of the minister.
M. de Lafayette addressed a polite letter to the French minister, and
wrote also to the congress, that, "whilst he believed himself free, he
had supported the cause under the American banner; that his country was
now at war, and that his services were first due to her; that he hoped
to return; and that he should always retain his zealous interest for the
United States." The congress not only granted him an unlimited leave of
absence, but added to it the most flattering expressions of gratitude.
It was resolved that a sword, covered with emblems, should be presented
to him, in the name of the United States, by their minister in France;
they wrote to the king; and the _Alliance_, of thirty-six guns, their
finest ship, was chosen to carry him back to Europe. M. de Lafayette
would neither receive from them anything farther, nor allow them to
ask any favour for him at the court of France. But the congress, when
proposing a co-operation in Canada, expressed its wish of seeing the
arrangement of the affair confided to him: this project was afterwards
deferred from the general's not entertaining hopes Of its ultimate
success. But although old prejudices were much softened,--although
the conduct of the admiral and the squadron had excited universal
approbation,--the congress, the general, and, in short, every one,
told M. de Lafayette that, in the whole circuit of the thirteen states,
vessels only were required, and that the appearance of a French corps
would alarm the nation. As M. de Lafayette was obliged to embark at
Boston, he set out again on this journey of four hundred miles; he
hoped, also, that he should be able to take leave of M. d'Estaing, who
had offered to accompany him to the islands; and whose friendship and
misfortunes affected him as deeply as his active genius and patriotic
courage excited his admiration. Heated by fatiguing journeys and over
exertion, and still more by the grief he had experienced at Rhode
Island; and having afterwards laboured hard, drank freely, and passed
several sleepless nights at Philadelphia, M. de Lafayette proceeded on
horseback, in a high state of fever, and during a pelting autumnal rain.
Fetes were given in compliment to him throughout his journey, and
he endeavoured to strengthen himself with wine, tea, and rum: but at
Fishkill, eight miles from head-quarters, he was obliged to yield to
the violence of an inflammatory fever. He was soon reduced to the last
extremity, and the report of his approaching death distressed the army,
by whom he was called _the soldier's friend_, and the whole nation were
unanimous in expressing their good wishes and regrets for _the marquis_,
the name by which he was exclusively designated. From the first moment,
Cockran, director of the hospitals, left all his other occupations to
attend to him alone. General Washington came every day to inquire after
his friend; but, fearing to agitate him, he only conversed with the
physician, and returned home with tearful eyes, and a heart oppressed
with grief.~[35] Suffering acutely from a raging fever and violent
head-ache, M. de Lafayette felt convinced that he was dying, but did
not lose for a moment the clearness of his understanding: having taken
measures to be apprised of the approach of death, he regretted that he
could not hope again to see his country and the dearest objects of his
affection. Far from foreseeing the happy fate that awaited him, he would
willingly have exchanged his future chance of life, in spite of his one
and twenty years, for the certainty of living but for three months,
on the condition of again seeing his friends, and witnessing the happy
termination of the American war. But to the assistance of medical art,
and the assiduous care of Dr. Cockran, nature added the alarming though
salutary remedy of an hemorrhage. At the expiration of three months, M.
de Lafayette's life was no longer in danger: he was at length allowed
to see the general, and think of public affairs. By decyphering a
letter from M. d'Estaing, he learnt that, in spite of twenty-one English
vessels, the squadron had set out for la Martinique. After having
spent some days together, and spoken of their past labours, present
situations, and future projects, General Washington and he took a tender
and painful leave of each other. At the same time that the enemies of
this great man have accused him of insensibility, they have acknowledged
his tenderness for M. de Lafayette; and how is it possible that he
should not have been warmly cherished by his disciple, he who, uniting
all that is good to all that is great, is even more sublime from his
virtues than from his talents? Had he been a common soldier, he would
have been the bravest in the ranks; had he been an obscure citizen, all
his neighbours would have respected him. With a heart and mind equally
correctly formed, he judged both of himself and circumstances with
strict impartiality. Nature, whilst creating him expressly for that
revolution, conferred an honour upon herself; and, to show her work to
the greatest possible advantage, she constituted it in such a peculiar
manner, that each distinct quality would have failed in producing the
end required, had it not been sustained by all the others.
In spite of his extreme debility, M. de Lafayette, accompanied by
his physician, repaired, on horseback, to Boston, where Madeira wine
effectually restored his health. The crew of the _Alliance_ was not
complete, and the council offered to institute a press, but M. de
Lafayette would not consent to this method of obtaining sailors, and it
was at length resolved to make up the required number by embarking
some English deserters, together with some volunteers from among the
prisoners. After he had written to Canada, and sent some necklaces to a
few of the savage tribes, Brice and Nevil, his aides-de-camp, bore his
farewell addresses to the congress, the general, and his friends.
The inhabitants of Boston, who had given him so many proofs of their
kindness and attention, renewed their marks of affection at his
departure; and the _Alliance_ sailed on the 11th of January. A winter
voyage is always boisterous in that latitude; but on approaching the
banks of Newfoundland, the frigate experienced a violent storm: her
main-top mast torn away, injured by a heavy sea, filling with water,
during one long dark night she was in imminent danger; but a still
greater peril awaited her, two hundred leagues from the coast of France.
His British Majesty, encouraging, the mutiny of crews, had issued a
somewhat immoral proclamation, promising them the value of every _rebel_
vessel that they should bring into an English port; which exploit could
only be performed by the massacre of the officers and those who opposed
the mutiny. This proclamation gave rise to a plot which was formed by
the English deserters and volunteers, who had most imprudently been
admitted, in great numbers, on board the ship: not one American or
Frenchman (for some French sailors had been found at Boston, after the
departure of the squadron) took part in this conspiracy. The cry of
_Sail_! was to be raised, and when the passengers and officers came on
deck, four cannon, loaded with canister shot, prepared by the gunner's
mate, were to blow them into atoms. An English serjeant had also
contrived to get possession of some loaded arms. The hour first named
was four in the morning, but was changed to four in the afternoon.
During that interim, the conspirators, deceived by the accent of an
American who had lived a long time in Ireland, and traded on its coast,
disclosed the plot to him, and offered him the command of the frigate:
the worthy man pretended to accept it, and was only able to inform the
captain and M. de Lafayette of the conspiracy one hour before the time
fixed for its execution. They rushed, sword in hand, upon deck, followed
by the other passengers and officers, called upon their own sailors to
assist them, and, seized thirty-one of the culprits, whom they placed
in irons. Many others were accused in the depositions, but it was judged
expedient to appear to rely upon the rest of the crew, although real
confidence was only placed in the French and Americans. Eight days
afterwards, the _Alliance_ entered safely the port of Brest, February,
1779.