Posted on 06/07/2015 8:31:45 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The replica ship called the Hermione and its crew made the trans-Atlantic trip from Rochefort, France; the same place where Lafayette left on his journey to America back in 1780. (Courtesy of York County, Virginia)
WASHINGTON — It was a battle a young America was losing — the battle for independence. That was until the French stepped in, providing the edge America so desperately needed in its revolution against the British.
A young Frenchman played a pivotal role in helping secure independence from Great Britain. His name was Marquis de Lafayette, and he was on board a French warship in 1780 that helped change the course of American history.
Now a full-scale replica of that French frigate called the “Hermione” is on a historic voyage heading up the East Coast, making 12 stops along the way.
Beginning in Rochefort, France — the same place where Lafayette left on his journey to America in 1780 — the tall ship then arrived at its first port in Yorktown, Virginia (June 5-7). It stops at Mount Vernon on June 9, then on Wednesday it will anchor for three days (June 10-12) in Old Town Alexandria along the waterfront. It goes from there to Annapolis and then Baltimore, Md.
Miles Young, president of the American Friends of the Hermione-Lafayette, recounted the historical significance of the ship, which took 17 years to replicate.
“In 1780, if anyone had come to America, at that point, they would think that the American insurgencies would lose their war against Great Britain,” he noted. Lafayette had spent two years lobbying France’s king to come to the aid of the Americans against the Brits. On March 19, 1780, Lafayette left France on board the Hermione bound for Boston. Once there, Lafayette would travel to New Jersey to catch up with Gen. George Washington and deliver the great news that the French were sending a large military force to battle the British.
Young says when Lafayette told Washington the news that a tear ran down the general’s cheek.
The crew of the Hermione, now anchored in Yorktown, Va. (Courtesy of York County)
“Because he knew it was a guarantee of eventual victory,” he says.
Frenchman Lafayette was only 19 when he became an American general serving under Washington in the Continental Army. Lafayette and Washington developed a deep bond. Young says Lafayette became the son Washington never had, and that Washington became a father figure for Lafayette since Lafayette’s own father died fighting against the British.
Lafayette’s military forces played a pivotal role in the surrender of British Gen. Charles Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown, where the the Hermione was part of a blockade in the `York River which forced their surrender.
“That was the beginning of the end, if not the end for the British,” says Young.
The high point of the Tall Ship’s journey will take place in New York, where the Hermione will be escorted by hundreds of sail and motor boats past the Statue of Liberty during a July 4 parade to mark Independence Day.
Click image to view YouTube video.
France helped birth this nation of free men.
That's why we went back to Europe twice.
The only engine available for the original Hermoine, came from a couple of the ship’s boats. They would take a line from the bows, station ahead and row, row, row. It was slow.
This is perhaps just a story, but I seem to recall reading that Lafayette had soil from Bunker Hill taken back to France so that it could be used for his burial when the time came.
That is correct. I posted something about it a while ago. I don’t know when or where you read it, but Lafayette did request that he be buried in dirt from Bunker Hill and his request was carried out. It might also be interesting to know that the American Flag is always flown at Lafayette’s grave site in Paris and was not removed even during the years of the German occupation of Paris during the Second World War.Healso varied the way he signed his name...sometimes LaFayette and sometimes Lafayette. He was an extraordinary man.
The original idea of supporting America against Great Britain was hatched by Louis XV’s Minister of War. Louis liked the idea as a way of weakening Britain but died before doing anything about it. Louis XVI eventually succumbed to the arguments of Franklin, Lafayette and others but Lafayette supported the American cause with his own money and men before the French King did.
” It was a battle a young America was losing — the battle for independence.”
For whatever odd reason I read that line in the voice of the guy who narrates the Ken Burns Documentaries.
You’re right.
I have always felt it was Truman’s fault. If he had let MacArthur loose in Korea there probably wouldn’t have been a Vietnam for Johnson to micromanage. At any rate, the biggest boondoggle of all was getting involved in the United Nations and especially their “police actions.”.
French Forests are magnificent. They do not lack for fine timber.
Awesome. But they need to replace the Napoleonic tricolor with the Bourbon solid white naval ensign for authenticity.
Pretty much.
Truman fought “not to lose”, instead of fighting to win.
Hasn’t that been the problem since Korea? Vietnam only exasperated those who wanted to win while the cowards like Kerry were promoted into high positions and have been honored for their treason ever since.
Although I worked for Eisenhower’s reelection, I have never forgiven him for his betrayal of Patton. I think our demise as warriors started with Eisenhower because he became too “anglicized.” Maybe I should say “anglified,” or maybe you’re right and it started with Truman.
Truman’s little hatmaker ego couldn’t stand someone who could bury him in intelligence. MacArthur and Patton were the best we had and they were both sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. IMHO P.C. didn’t start yesterday.
Magnificent.
I concur that the French were not a dominant fleet at the time. Fortunately, de Grasse got into the Chesapeake before the British and he had superior numbers. After the British were roughed up they went back to New York and returned with a bigger fleet - arriving two days after the surrender.
Thanks for posting. Beautiful ship and terrific replica!
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