ish dominion must soon be abandoned. Under these circumstances, Col. Laurens, one of the aids of Gen. Washington, was commissioned by Congress to visit France, and impress upon the French government, from his personal knowledge, the true state of the country, civil and military; and to solicit those succors, in men, money, supplies for the army, and particularly a naval superiority, which were essential in the then critical posture of affairs. The visit of Col. Laurens, with Lafayette, to Head Quarters, was for the purpose of consulting with Gen. Washington upon the subject of his mission. The views of Washington were expressed to him in writing, full, explicit, and with great clearness and power of language, for the purpose of being submitted to Dr. Franklin, and if expedient, to the French ministers.

Lafayette, also wrote by Col. Laurens a long letter to the Count de Vergennes, dated January 30th, 1781. He recommended Col. Laurens "as a man who, by his integrity, frankness, and patriotism, must be extremely acceptable to [the French] government. According to the instructions of Congress (he adds,) he will place before you the actual state of our affairs, which demand, I think, more than ever, the most serious attention." He gave to the Count a detailed statement of these affairs, and plead earnestly and ably the cause of the country. He urged it upon the French government, to send promptly, a force of fifteen thousand men; and particularly supplies of money, munitions of war and clothing, to call out and sustain the moral and physical resources of America, which thus sustained, and aided by a naval superiority, he deemed adequate to the crisis. This long and interesting document, we cannot copy entire, consistently with the limits of this volume, but give the following extract, as a specimen of its spirit and design :

"The last campaign took place without a shilling having been spent ; all that credit, persuasion, and force could achieve, has been done,but that can hold out no longer; that miracle, of which I believe no similar example can be found, cannot be renewed, and our exertions having been made to obtain an army for the war, we must depend on you to enable us to make use of it.

"From my peculiar situation, sir, and from what it has enabled me to know and see, I think it is my duty to call your attention to the American soldiers, and on the part they must take in the operations of

the next campaign. The continental troops have as much courage and real discipline as those that are opposed to them. They are more inured to privation, more patient than Europeans, who, on these two points, cannot be compared to them. They have several officers of great merit, without mentioning those who have served during the last wars, and from their own talents have acquired knowledge intuitively; they have been formed by the daily experience of several campaigns, in which, the armies being small, and the country a rugged one, all the battalions of the line were obliged to serve as advanceguards and light troops. The recruits whom we are expecting, and who only bear, in truth, the name of recruits, have frequently fought battles in the same regiments which they are now re-entering, and have seen more gun-shots than three-fourths of the European soldiers. As to the militia, they are only armed peasants, who have occasionally fought, and who are not deficient in ardor and discipline, but whose services would be most useful in the labors of a siege. This, sir, is the faithful picture that I think myself obliged to send you, and which is not my interest to paint in glowing colors, because it would be more glorious to succeed with slighter means. The Chevalier de la Luzerne, who, having himself seen our soldiers, will give you a detailed and disinterested account of them, will doubtless tell you, as I do, that you may depend upon our regular troops. The result of this digression, sir, is, to insist still more earnestly on the necessity of sending money to put the American troops in movement, and to repeat that well known truth, that a pecuniary succor and a naval superiority must be the two principal objects of the next campaign."

This communication, and others from Lafayette to influential persons in France, contributed greatly to the success of Col. Laurens' mission. He wrote also to Madame Lafayette, recommending Col. Laurens particularly to her kindness and attention. "If I were in France, (he wrote,) he should live entirely at my house, and I would introduce him to all my friends, (I have even introduced him to some by letter,) and give him every opportunity in my power of making acquaintance, and of passing his time agreeably at Versailles; and in my absence I entreat you to replace me." In the same letter he said: "The Americans continue to testify for me the greatest kindness; there is no proof of affection and confidence which I do not receive each day from the army and nation. I experience for the American officers and soldiers that friendship which arises from having shared with them for a length of time, dangers, sufferings, and both good and evil fortune. We began by struggling together; our affairs have often been at the lowest possible ebb. It is gratifying to me to crown this work

with them, by giving the European troops a high idea of the soldiers who have been formed with us. To all these motives of interest for the cause and the army, are joined my sentiments of regard for Gen. Washington."

* * *

* * * "Embrace our children a thousand and a thousand times for me; their father, although a wanderer, is not less tender, nor less constantly occupied with them, and not less happy at receiving news from them. My heart dwells with peculiar delight on the moment when those dear children will be presented to me by you, and when we may embrace and caress them together.'

These proofs of Lafayette's affection for his family, are as honorable as a laurel crown. Their only son, of recent birth, had been named by Madame Lafayette, George Washington; with which compliment Gen. Washington had expressed himself highly pleased.

CHAPTER XVII.

Arnold in Virginia-Contemplated expedition for his capture-Lafay. ette assigned to the command of a southern detachment-His preparations and rapid progress-Intended co-operation of the French fleet-Action between the French and English fleets-The enemy's fleet gains possession of the Chesapeake Bay-Lafayette retiresVisit to the mother of Washington-Arrives with his forces at the Head of Elk-Meets the orders of Gen. Washington to repair with his detachment to Virginia-Sufferings, discontent and mutiny of the soldiers--Lafayette suppresses the mutiny, and borrows money to relieve the wants of the soldiers--Their devotion to him-Leave to return-Declined by Lafayette-His rapid march-Reaches Richmond in advance, and to the astonishment, of Phillips and ArnoldCommencement of the Virginia campaign-Lafayette's vigilance and prudence-His account of events-Death of Gen. PhillipsCommand devolves on Arnold--Lafayette refuses to correspond with him-Approval of Gen. Washington.

THE ardent desire of Lafayette for active service, was soon gratified. To him was assigned the first movement, the turning pivot of the plan of operations, in the decisive campaign of 1781-a campaign in which he was destined to act so distinguished a part, and which was to crown with glorious success the long and arduous struggle for the independence of America.

The traitor Arnold was sent by Sir Henry Clinton, with about sixteen hundred men and several vessels suitable for the service, to the Chesapeake, where he arrived about the first of January. He succeeded in Virginia, Gen. Leslie, who had gone to re-enforce the British army in the Carolinas. During the month of January, Arnold exhibited a savage zeal for the new cause he had espoused, by burning Richmond, plundering private property, and committing extensive depredations in the lower part of the state; and was intrenching himself at Portsmouth, on the Elizabeth River, conformably to the design of Sir Henry Clinton. On the 22d of the month, the British squadron in Gardner's Bay, by which the French fleet at Newport was held in blockade, was severely crippled by a violent gale. The naval ascendency thus being restored to the French, M. Destouches, successor to Admiral Ternay, who had died on the 15th of December, after reconnoitering the enemy's fleet, and finding it still too formidable to justify an attack, conceived the plan of sending a detachment of vessels, or sailing with his whole squadron to the Chesapeake, to operate against Arnold. Gen. Washington, being informed by Count de Rochambeau of this design of the French admiral, deemed it important to the success of the enterprise, and to ensure the capture of Arnold, that there should be a co-operation of land and naval forces, and that M. Destouches should protect the expedition with his whole fleet. He therefore informed Gen. Rochambeau that he should send a detachment of twelve hundred men, all that he could spare, from his army, to the Chesapeake, and requested the co-operation of the French fleet, and as many French troops as Count Rochambeau thought prudent to send for the purpose.

The American detachment was immediately selected, of the choicest men, most of whom were from those who had composed the Light Infantry corps, and the command given to Lafayette. The instructions from Gen. Washington to Lafayette, were dated February 20th, and directed him, after the necessary arrangements, with which he was also entrusted, to proceed with his detachment with all possible despatch to the head of Elk, where by concert with the quartermaster-general, vessels were to be ready on his arrival to convey him down the bay to Hampton Roads, or to the point of operation. When arrived at his destination,

he was to act as his own judgement and circumstances should direct. He was to inform Baron Steuben, who commanded in Virginia, of his approach, requesting him to have a sufficient body of militia ready, to act in conjunction with Lafayette's detachment. Should there be a failure of the expected co-operation by the French fleet and troops, or the object of the expedition be fulfilled or unfortunately disappointed, he was to return to Head Quarters with as much expedition as possible.

Lafayette made his preparations and progress with such celerity, that he arrived at the Head of Elk, on the 3d of March, several days sooner than had been anticipated. Previous to receiving Gen. Washington's request for the cooperation of the entire French fleet, Admiral Destouches had detached a sixty-four gun ship and two frigates, under the command of M. de Tilly, to the Chesapeake, which so weakened his force that he was unwilling to venture out with his whole squadron. M. de Tilly returned to Newport on the 24th of Feb'y, having been absent only fifteen days, captured the British frigate Romulus, of forty-four guns, taken two privateers of fourteen and eighteen guns, burnt four others, and made about five hundred prisoners. Thus restored to his naval superiority, the French admiral informed Gen. Washington, that he would co-operate with Lafayette's detachment with his whole fleet; and Count Rochambeau promised to add 1100 men from his land forces, willing, as he said, to risk every thing to prevent Arnold establishing himself at Portsmouth, in Virginia. Of this intended movement Lafayette was advised by Gen. Washington, under date of March 1, who added, "It is of the greatest importance to the expedition, as well as for the honor of our arms, that you should be on the spot to co-operate." Lafayette immediately embarked his troops on board transports, protected by small armed vessels, and directed the whole, under the command of Commodore Nicholson, to proceed to Annapolis. himself, with a small boat, armed with swivels, and with thirty soldiers, proceeded down the bay, to the Head Quarters of Baron Steuben, at Williamsburgh; where he could sooner ascertain the arrival of the French squadron, and concert a plan of operations. In a letter to Gen. Washington, dated Williamsburgh, March 23d, he stated :—

He

"On my arrival at this place, I was surprised to hear that no