Lafayette

at the B

European encampments, with the glitter and finish of their appointments; instead of feather-trimmed hats and violet-colored facings, with marching and countermarching in the precision and grac

ned nothing but sympathy in his heart-never any contempt. In spite of their disadvantages, he perceive

pologetically of the deficiencies in his little army, suggesting that Lafayette must feel the difference between these untrained soldiers and those he was accustomed to see, Lafayette

Washington was desirous that the soldiers should make as fine an appearance as possible in passing through the city, and made special regulations for that day. The army was to march in one column through the city; the order of divisions was stated; each officer without exception was to keep his post with a certain space between, no more and no

-eyed French major general rode at his side; every window shone with curious and admiring eyes and the sidewalks were crowded with applauding citizens. The men could not h

ake Bay the English had landed a large and finely equipped army, and from that point they threatened Philadelphia. Washington, with an inferior and poorly furnished fo

midst of the panic that followed the failure of the American line to stand up before the galling fire of the well-trained British soldiers. The retreat was rapidly becoming a panic. At this point Lafayette sprang from his horse and rushed in among the soldiers; by starting forward in the very face o

e of the generals called his attention to the fact that blood was running over the top of his boot. Lafayette was helped to remount his horse by his faithful aid, Major de

int of complete disorganization. Seeing the great need for some decisive mind to bring order out of this chaos, Lafayette made a stand and placed guards along the road. Finally Washington came up and made Lafayette giv

gment more than warranted. He showed the most tender solicitude for his young friend and gave him into the care

s gathered round to stanch the blood, expressing their apprehensi

would not take fifteen h

derstandable. But words were not necessary; the look in his eyes said that he was a fearless and sincere man; that he had not come to this country to "show off,"

ia was to write to Adrienne lest she should r

is master, if he should write word that I am wounded, he may also write word that I am killed, which would not cost him anything; but I hope that my friends, and you especially, will not give faith

s wound in these gracious words: "The honor to have mingled my blood with that of many other A

who happened to be passing on his way to York, Pennsylvania, whither Congress had removed, took him in his traveling carriage to Bet

ll attended to; that friend is General Washington. This excellent man, whose talents and virtues I admired, and whom I have learned to revere as I have come to know him better, has now become

accomplished without him. I see him more intimately than any other man, and I see that he is worthy of the ad

ia. Here he came so near to the English that he could plainly see them carrying provisions across the river to aid in the projected taking of the city, and he so heedlessly exposed himself to danger that he might easily have been shot or imprisoned if the English had been alert. By urgent entreaty he was called back. After gaining this information, he met a detachment of Hessians in th

the titled volunteer could be trusted with

evering and enterprising, without rashness; and besides these, he is of a conciliating temper and perfectly sober,-which are qualities that rarely combine in the same person. And were

dless to say he was overjoyed; for though the division was weak in point of numbers, and in a state of destitutio

child behind, even as Lafayette had done, had rushed home to serve his country in her need. Alexander Hamilton was now both military aid and trusted adviser and secretary to General Washington.