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This new volume omits the part that that compromised versions of the work are not widely disseminated. dealt with the War of 1914-1918, and adds new chapters In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a dealing with Lafayette's adventures in the United States from copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are the arrival of the French fleet under Rochambeau to the included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic and printed versions of this text include these markings and that users adhere to surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. the following restrictions. 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own work. 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1922 by Rupert Holland. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE LITTLE MARQUIS OF FRANCE .................................... 4 "WAKE UP! I'M GOING TO AMERICA TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!" ........................................................................ 9 HOW LAFAYETTE RAN AWAY TO SEA ............................. 14 THE YOUNG FRENCHMAN REACHES AMERICA .............. 19 "I WILL FIGHT FOR AMERICAN LIBERTY AS A VOLUNTEER!" .................................................................. 25 LAFAYETTE WINS THE FRIENDSHIP OF WASHINGTON ... 31 ROCHAMBEAU ARRIVES ................................................... 37 A NARROW ESCAPE .......................................................... 43 FIGHTING THROUGH THE SOUTH .................................... 49 "CORNWALLIS HAS SURRENDERED!" .............................. 54 THE MARQUIS AIDS THE UNITED STATES IN FRANCE .... 60 HOW LAFAYETTE SOUGHT TO GIVE LIBERTY TO FRANCE ........................................................................................... 66 STORM-CLOUDS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ............. 72 LAFAYETTE IN PRISON AND EXILE .................................. 81 LAFAYETTE. IN THE DAYS OF NAPOLEON ............................................. 88 THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THE HERO ................. 95 THE LOVER OF LIBERTY .................................................. 99 Original Copyright 1922 by Rupert Holland. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 Chapter I The family name of Motier could be traced back to before the year 1000. Then one of the family came into possession of a farm called the Villa Faya, and he lengthened THE LITTLE MARQUIS OF FRANCE his name to Motier of La Fayette. And as other properties came to belong to the family the men added new names and In the mountains of Auvergne in Southern France, in titles until in 1757 the heir to the old chateau had not only a what was for many centuries called the province of Auvergne, long string of names but was also a marquis and baron and but what is now known as the department of Haute-Loire, or seigneur by right of his birth. There were few families in Upper Loire, stands a great fortified castle, the Chateau of Auvergne of older lineage than the house of Lafayette. Chavaniac. For six hundred years it has stood there, part fortress and part manor-house and farm, a huge structure, built The little heir's father, Michel-Louis, Marquis de piecemeal through centuries, with many towers and Lafayette, had been killed while leading a charge at the head battlements and thick stone walls long overgrown with moss. of his regiment of French Grenadiers in the battle of Before it lies the valley of the Allier and the great rugged Hastenbeck, one of the battles of what was known as the mountains of Auvergne. Love of freedom is deeply rooted in Seven Years' War in Europe, which took place at about the the country round it, for the people of Auvergne have always same time as the French and Indian War in America. Although been an independent, proud and fearless race. only twenty-four years old Michel-Louis de Lafayette was already a colonel and a knight of the order of Saint Louis and In this old Chateau of Chavaniac there was born on had shown himself a true descendant of the old fighting stock September 6, 1757, the Marquis de Lafayette. He was baptized of Auvergne nobles. Now the small baby boy, the new the next day, with all the ceremonies befitting a baby of such Marquis, succeeded to his father's titles as well as to the castle high rank, and the register of the little parish church in the and several other even older manor-houses, for the most part neighboring village records the baptism as that of "the very in ruins, that were perched high up in the mountains. noble and very powerful gentleman Monseigneur Marie- Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Dumotier de Lafayette, the For all its blue blood, however, the family were what is lawful son of the very noble and very powerful gentleman known as "land poor." The little Marquis owned large farms in Monseigneur Michel-Louis-Christophle-Roch-Gilbert the mountains, but the crops were not very abundant and most Dumotier, Marquis de Lafayette, Baron de Vissac, Seigneur de of the money that had come in from them for some time had Saint-Romain and other places, and of the very noble and very been needed to provide for the fighting men. Fortunately the powerful lady Madame Marie-Louise-Julie Delareviere." boy's mother and grandmother and aunts, who all lived at Chavaniac, were strong and sturdy people, willing to live the A good many names for a small boy to carry, but his simple, healthy, frugal life of their neighbors in the province family was very old, and it was the custom of France to give and so save as much of the family fortune as they could for the many family names to each child. He was called Gilbert time when the heir should make his bow at court. Motier for short, however, though he was actually born with the title and rank of Marquis, for his father had been killed in Without brothers or sisters and with few playmates, battle six weeks before the little heir to Chavaniac was born. spending his time out-of-doors in the woods and fields of Chavaniac, the young Lafayette had a rather solitary childhood and grew up awkward and shy. He was a lean, long-limbed Original Copyright 1922 by Rupert Holland. 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 fellow with a hook nose, reddish hair, and a very bashful in it was that if you try to make a horse do too many things manner. But his eyes were bright and very intelligent; well he is sure to get restless and throw you, a bit of wisdom whenever anything really caught his attention he quickly he had doubtless learned in Auvergne. became intensely interested in it, and he was devoted to all the The boy Marquis was at school in Paris when, in 1770, birds and beasts of the country round about his home. his devoted mother and the rich granduncle who had had him Some of these beasts, however, were dangerous; there appointed a cadet of the Musketeers both died. The little was a great gray wolf that the farmers said had been breaking Lafayette was now very much alone, his grandmother in the into sheepfolds and doing great damage. The boy of eight distant castle in the mountains was his nearest relation, and, years old heard the story and set out, sword in hand, to hunt though only a boy of thirteen, he had to decide important and slay the wolf. There is no account of his ever coming up questions for himself. But the granduncle had been very fond with that particular monster, but the peasants of the of the lad, and in his will he left Lafayette all his fortune and neighborhood liked to tell all visitors this story as proof of the estates. The fortune was very large, and as a result the boy courage of their young Marquis. Marquis, instead of being only a poor young country But the family had no intention of keeping the head of nobleman from Auvergne, became a very rich and important their house in this far-off province of France. He must learn to person. conduct himself as a polished gentleman and courtier, he must Immediately the proud and luxury-loving society of the go to Paris and prepare himself to take the place at the royal French court took a great interest in Gilbert Motier de court that belonged to a son of his long, distinguished line. His Lafayette. Every father and mother who had a daughter they family had rich and powerful relations, who were quite ready wished to marry turned their attention to the boy.

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