Bostonians Celebrate Lafayette's Return

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route General Lafayette Arrives in Boston National Historic Trail

Lafayette’s Arrival Here Changed Lafayette’s Arrival Here During the Spring and Summer of 1781, particularly for the independence of the The History of the United StatesLafayette successfully conducted the Bostonians Celebrate United States; He politely returned his Changed the Course of “Virginia Campaign” and entrapped Lord Civilities, and begged to be landed in a Cornwallis and 7,000 British regulars at Lafayette’s Return private manner. Notwithstanding, a large History Yorktown. In August of 1781, the French number of respectable gentlemen of the West Indian Fleet, under Admiral De Abigail Adams to John Adams town, with a number of officers of the In March, 1780, General Lafayette sailed Grasse, arrived in Chesapeake Bay and May 1, 1780 army, attended with the band of musick, to America on his second voyage aboard landed 3,000 troops commanded by the assembled on the grand pier impatiently a new Frigate, the Hermione, with Marquis de St. Simon who was My Dearest Friend, expecting him, but to their important news to impart to General instructed to cooperate with Lafayette. Last week arrived at Boston the Marquis disappointment he landed on Gen. George Washington. From aboard the The Fleet was soon joined by the de la Fayette to the universal joy of all Hancock’s wharfe. Hermione “at the entrance to the Boston Newport Squadron. Meanwhile, the who know the Merit and Worth of that Harbor,” (actually Marblehead), he wrote French Expeditionary Force and the Nobleman. He was received with the Washington on Thursday, April 27, 1780: Continental Army under Washington and ringing of Bells, fireing of cannon, bon “I have affairs of the utmost importance General Benjamin Lincoln of Hingham fires , etc. that I should communicate to you joined Lafayette’s Continentals and * * * * * * * * alone.” On Friday, April 28, 1780, the militia and St. Simon’s French troops in Lafayette described his reception when Hermione docked at Hancock’s Wharf, the vicinity of Yorktown. he wrote his wife from Waterbury, the site of present-day Lewis Wharf, and Connecticut, on May 6,1780 Lafayette disembarked and was feted for several days by the citizens of Boston. I disembarked after noon in the midst of

an immense crowd. They welcomed me

with the roar of guns, the ringing of all

the city’s bells, the music of a band that

marched ahead of us, and the huzzas of

all the people that surrounded us. In this

way I was led to the house that the

council and the assembly of

representatives of Boston had prepared

for me. Lafayette, Charles Wilson Peale, c. 1779

There was a deputation from these

bodies to welcome me… In the evening The gentlemen of the sword determined

the people gathered in front of my door to pay their devoirs to their commander

Hermione, Combat de Louisbourg, 1781 and built a great bonfire with much and friend, repaired thither with the

(detail), Auguste Rossel de Cercy, 1788 cheering, which lasted until after band, and escorted him to genteel

midnight. lodgings prepared for him in State

* * * * * * * * Street, amidst the salutations of cannon,

The reconstructed Hermione returns THOMAS’S Massachusetts Spy or, the ringing of bells, the flying of colours, He left Boston on May 2, 1780 and to Boston in July 2015 AMERICAN ORACLE of LIBERTY, 11 and the acclamations of the populace; traveled by land to Morristown, New May, 1780, Volume X, Issue 470, Page 1 where he was personally and publically Jersey where Washington and his Army received by a committee of both Houses; were encamped. On Wednesday, May The ensuing French blockade and allied BOSTON, May 4 the features of gratefulness were 10, 1780, Lt. Colonel Alexander Hamilton siege ended with the British surrender Last Friday arrived in this port the frigate conspicuous in every countenance; and wrote Baron Steuben: “We have heard on October 19, 1781. Yorktown was the Le Hermoine, His Excellency the Right a vast and respectable concourse of from the Marquis. He will be here at last major engagement of the American Honorable the Marquis de la Fayette, people seemed to acknowledge their dinner. Will you dine with us. The Revolution and led to the Treaty of Paris Major General in the service of his Most obligations to this great and General requests it.” Upon his arrival, in 1783 which guaranteed the Christian Majesty, and in the line of the disinterested Commander . -----Soon Lafayette told Washington that a Naval independence of the United States. United States: His arrival being made after he had a conference with the Squadron would soon bring a French known by one of his aids, the joy, of the General Assembly; when the present Expeditionary Force to America to people at his revisiting the State, was state of Europe respecting America was support the cause of the United States. fully demonstrated by his reception; he enquired into, and the Marquis’s The news electrified patriotic Americans Lafayette Place Names was congratulated on his safe arrival, by accounts received with applause. -----In throughout the country. the supreme executive and legislative the evening a bonfire was made before On June 30, 1780, the Virginia legislature bodies, of the state then sitting , and was his House, attended with a large display On July 10, 1780, the French passed a bill dividing the Kentucky requested to denote the time and place of fireworks from the balcony of the Expeditionary Force under General territory into three counties, one of which of his landing, that he might be received Exchange Tavern, where a respectable Rochambeau arrived off Newport, Rhode it named “Fayette.” This was the first of agreeable to the exalted character of a number of young gentlemen of the town Island aboard a small flotilla of French over 80 counties, cities, towns and Nobleman, who had suffered and bled in convened, to denote their joy at his warships and transports and sailed into townships named for Lafayette. the cause of virtue and mankind, and arrival, and their respect for his the Harbor on July 11. character...