Posted on 07/04/2015 2:46:11 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
It is doubtful the American Republic would have been born were it not for the courage and generosity of our greatest French friend, Marquis de Lafayette, who joined the Continental Army at the age of 19 with the rank of lieutenant general.
He helped provision George Washington's army, led troops in several battles ,and played a key role at Yorktown.
He persuaded France to join the war on our side.
He was Washington's surrogate son and a beloved American.
When he died in 1830 he was eulogized by former President John Quincy Adams for three hours, and Congress and the nation mourned his death for 30 days.
All Americans today still owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Gen. Lafayette!
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Remembering General Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy lays flowers at the grave of the Marquis de Lafayette on July 4, 2015, Picpus Cemetery, Paris
Remembering Lafayette
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Revolutionary War ping list.
Remember, Lafayette was but a teenager when he came over here to help our cause.
The French joined in when they saw that we were winning. Before that Franklin was pleading with them to help.
When the French joined in we were not winning. We just weren’t losing as expected.
If anyone can remember which French units served with us, I would appreciate them posting them.
There is a French base just outside of Dijon where I spent the night in a French army barracks, and the guys were showing me the paintings in their unit bar, of their history in America, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying in French, and I don’t remember which unit they were.
I could throw a rock from where I sit to where the French Artillery rear was here in Yorktown.
My great great great.... wsa the aid du camp of Layfette. Not the usual DAR. LOL
Lafayette also played a big role in the French revolution of 1830, when the last absolutist Bourbon king was driven off the throne and replaced by Louis-Philippe.
Lafayette kept it from getting too violent, and smoothed the way for the accession of Louis-Phillippe, the so-called “Citizen King.”
I believe Lafayette died in 1834, rather than 1830.
You’ll have to read Benjamin Franklin’s biography to see different. He was in Paris pleading on a daily basis for French help. The French didn’t want to jump in on a loosing proposition because of all the defeats we were having.
He also played a major role in the 1789 Revolution, but it got away from him.
To be fair, it’s doubtful anybody could have controlled the situation.
True Hero
Pretty impressive
The French joined in as a result of Saratoga, which was our first major victory. But it’s a huge step from winning one victory to winning the war.
Like I said, all it did was make it look like we had a chance.
Courtesy of Major General Benedict Arnold, in October 1777.
This was a few years before went over to the other side.
Napoleon’s “whiff of grapeshot” did the trick a few years later.
“165-08 Liberty Ave, Jamaica, NY”?
I lived about 40 years of my life within walking distance of that address.
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