A Famous
Visitor
Marquis de
Lafayette
Marquis
de Lafayette, a 19 year old Frenchman, eagerly offered his service, at his own
expense, to fight in the war for American Independence. Although discouraged by
Benjamin Franklin, our minister to France,
Lafayette bought the ocean-going Victoire and left France on March
27, 1777. The young man fought courageously for the Americans and Washington
Irvin wrote about him: “Lafayette from the first attached himself to Washington
with an affectionate reverence… it is a picture well worth being hung up in
history—this enduring alliance of the calm, dignified, Washington, mature in
years and wisdom and the young, buoyant, enthusiastic Lafayette.”[1]
He
was wounded at Brandywine, but after a short period of time, he was able to
accept the command of a division of Virginia
light infantry. It was a time of brave men, swords, muskets, horses and intense
suffering. Lafayette is best remembered, along
with Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne and the Comte de Rochambeau, for defeating Cornwallis
at Yorktown. The heroic young Frenchman played
a noble part in our fight for independence.
Triumphant Return
In
1824, Lafayette returned to America to make a triumphant tour which included
several stops in North Carolina.
Much loved by the American people, he was met by thousands of people wherever
he went. He was accompanied by his son George Washington Lafayette and Auguste
Levasseur, his personal secretary.
In
planning Lafayette’s journey through North Carolina, the sad state of the roads
between Richmond and Raleigh forced the party to travel east through Suffolk,
VA and Halifax, (Halifax County) NC. His first stop in NC was in Murfreesboro (Hertford
County) where he spent
the night of February 26, 1825 at the Indian Queen Inn. The difficult journey
to Murfreesboro was recorded by Levasseur in Lafayette in America
in 1824 and 1825: Or, Journal of a Voyage to the United States.
“After
stopping a few moments among the citizens of Suffolk, we continued on our route to Murfreesborough,
where we were to lodge. Our late arrival had the appearance of a
nocturnal journey. The bad condition and length of the road had tired our
horses, and we thought for a while that we should be
compelled to sleep at the foot of the hill on which the town is
built. An enormous bonfire, lighted on a neighbouring mountain, whose light
displayed our distressed situation; the illuminations of Murfreesborough, which
exhibited the appearance of a city in flames; the noise of cannon
resounding on our right, with the effect of battery on our flank; the cries of
our escort; the whipping and swearing of our drivers, all was
insufficient to stimulate our horses, which, sunk in the
mud to their knees, appeared to have taken
root, refusing to make the least exertion to draw us out of this
sad situation, in which we remained about an hour. At length we
arrived, and were very amply compensated by the cordial hospitality of the
inhabitants of Murfreesborough, who neglected
nothing to prove to General Lafayette that the citizens of North Carolina were not
less sincerely attached to him than those of the other states.”[2]
North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program- Murfreesboro, Nc
http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=A-65
Halifax
Lafayette was escorted from Murfreesboro
to Northampton Courthouse at what is now Jackson,
(Northampton County)
NC and from there to Halifax.
They crossed the Roanoke River by ferry and arrived in Halifax at about 5 pm on February 27 amid the
firing of artillery and ringing bells. “The mounted escort, consisting of 24 of
our citizens …, paraded to receive the General, and proceeded to the river
accompanied by the deputation of the corporation and county of Halifax.
… The citizens and members of the [Royal White Hart] Lodge were formed in front
of the hotel … and a numerous collection of ladies occupied the piazza …. On
the arrival of the General in front of the Hotel, he descended from the
carriage, was introduced to the persons composing the deputation individually
and was conducted through the line to the piazza of the Hotel. The waving of
Handkerchiefs by the ladies, the Masonic salutation, the respectful raising of
the hat by the citizens, and the universal murmur which ran through the
assembly, ‘Welcome Lafayette,’ evinced the deep sensibility which his presence
inspired.”[3]
In
Halifax, impressive
plans were made for the reception of General Lafayette, including a dinner and
a grand ball. The banquet was highlighted by 13 toasts, one for each state.
This was followed by the ball after which the visitor spent the night at
Eagle’s Tavern.
 |
Eagle's Tavern
Small Town North Carolina
http://www.smalltownnc.com/2013/09/07/historic-halifax/historichalifax_27/ |
The next day the party made a stop at the Grove Plantation to spend an hour with Mrs. Willie (Wylie) Jones and her daughter.
 |
Documenting the American South: Memoirs of a Southern Woman "Within the Lines," by Mary Polk Branch, Page 94
https://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/branch/ill14.html |
Rocky Mount
They then continued to the
village of Rocky
Mount at the Falls of the Tar River
where they were entertained at Donaldson’s Tavern. The Battle-Evans Mill, built
in 1818, stood on the north side of the river in Edgecombe County.
The town, south of the river, was in Nash
County.
People
from both counties were crowded in a nearby grove hoping to get a glimpse of
the Revolutionary hero. A number of people waited in their buggies or wagons. At
last, a shout, “He’s here!” and the genial Donaldson came out of the tavern
with the postmaster and others who were invited to a banquet hosted by the
tavern-keeper. No list of the guest has survived. They spent the night at the
tavern.
 |
Donaldson's Tavern Marker located in Battle Park, Rocky Mount, NC
Marquis de La Fayette - Memory Spaces
http//marquisdelafayette-memoryspaces.org/north-carlina-nc/ |
Raleigh
They arrived in the Capital at about 12 o’clock on Wednesday. “They were met a few miles from this place by the well disciplined corps of Cavalry under the command of Col. Thomas Polk of Mecklenburg. The General and suite alighted from their carriages, and were introduced to the company individually, after which, preceded by the Calvary and followed by nearly an hundred citizens on horseback, … they proceeded to this city [Raleigh]. At the limits thereof, they were met by the handsome company of Light Infantry… which received them with military honors. Here the General again alighted, and was presented to each member of the company—the interest of which scene was heightened by fine martial music from an excellent band.”[4]
An Incident
In
his journal, Levasseur noted the following incident: “The morning of our
arrival at Raleigh
was near being marked by a very unfortunate accident. In one of the
calashes [a light small-wheeled 4-passenger
carriage with a folding top] which followed us, was General Daniel
of the militia, and a young officer of his staff; their horses ran off, and,
the driver not being able to guide them, dashed violently against the
trunk of a tree. The force of the shock threw both the riders and the
coachman to some distance, but the one most hurt was poor General
Daniel, who lay almost senseless upon the spot.
“Our
progress was immediately suspended, and General Lafayette, who, at the time,
was a considerable distance in advance of the procession, hastily
returned to assure himself of the nature of the accident. General Daniel
already began to recover, when the hasty zeal of his friend, General
Williams, was upon the point of placing him in greater danger than
arose from the fall. This gentleman insisted upon his being immediately bled,
and already held the fatal lancet in hand to proceed with
the operation, when Mr. George Lafayette besought him
seriously to forbear, representing that we had just left the table,
and that a bleeding immediately after dinner might be attended with injurious
consequences.
“After
having rendered General Daniel the first attentions which his situation
demanded, we had him carried to the house of a rich planter, whom we
had visited in the morning, some miles off; and, the next
day, our wounded friend joined us at Raleigh, entirely recovered from
his fall, returning his warmest thanks to Mr. George Lafayette, for
having averted the employment of the lancet. “I
was, at first, much surprised to see this lancet drawn upon such an
occasion, but one of our travelling companions informed me,
that in the southern and western states, and especially in those where the population is widely
scattered, the art of blood-letting is familiar to almost
all the great planters. The difficulty of finding a surgeon at the moment of
accident often makes it necessary to bleed themselves, which they
sometimes do so profusely, that the most hardy phlebotomists of the
French school would be alarmed at the sight.”[5]
Raleigh
“After
this ceremony, the procession moved in the following order to the Government
House.—First, the Cavalry— then followed the Infantry, succeeding which in an
open barouche, drawn by four elegant iron greys, with out-riders, were Gen.
Lafayette and Col. Wm. Polk—after which, in carriages, also drawn by four
horses each, were George W. Lafayette, M. LeVasseur, the State Escort, &c.
As the cavalcade proceeded, a federal salute was fired from cannon placed in
the Capitol Square,
on reaching which, the General was greeted with the cheers of the assembled
multitude. Every door, window and piazza on the street, were crowded with
ladies, who manifested their gratification by waving their handkerchiefs,
&c.
 |
Original State Capitol in Raleigh before it burned in 1831.
Image by W. Goodacre, Jr. 1831. Call
no. OP-14, collection of the State Archives of North Carolina.
|
“On
reaching the Government House, the Military filed off on each side leaving a
space through which the General, suite and escort passed. In the vestibule,
they were received by the Governor and Committee of Arrangements, and conducted
to the reception chamber, where were the Heads of Department, Judiciary and
other citizens. Governor Burton then welcomed him ….
“After
partaking of some light refreshment, the General was introduced to a numerous
party of Ladies, assembled to pay their respects to him. Immediately after
which, escorted as before, he proceeded to the East Front of the capitol,
opposite Canova’s celebrated statue of Washington, where he was addressed …by
Colonel Wm. Polk. …
 |
Statue of George Washington by Antonio Canova
This is a copy. The original was destroyed by fire in 1831.
Located inside the State Capitol Building
Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Washington_by_Antonio_Canova_-_DSC05895.jpg |
“At
the conclusion, the veteran soldiers, Gen. Lafayette and Col. Polk rushed into
each other’s arms, and again wept their gratitude, that they who had borne the
brunt of battle together in their youthful prime, had been spared to meet again
on peaceful plains and in happier hours. It was a sight which warmed the cold
heart of age and made the youthful spirit glow with brighter enthusiasm, and a
simultaneous expression of feeling burst forth in a lengthened huzza from the
attendant crowd.”[6]
Back
at the Government House, an elegant dinner was provided. The dinner was
accompanied by numerous toasts and band music. The company separated sooner
than they normally would have in order to prepare for the evening ball.
“In
the evening, a Ball was given complimentary to the General, and also held at
the Government House. The pillars in the Ball-room were tastefully wreathed
with evergreens. In the centre of the room, surmounting the pillars, appeared
in large golden characters, the name of Lafayette. Though no military trophies adorned
the walls, no splendid ornaments excited admiration, yet there were two objects
which spoke to the memory and feeling—a large full length portrait of Washington and the living presence of his great co-adjutor in the work of glory. There
was no need of artificial
embellishments, for the ‘human face divine’ shone in all the beautiful variety
with which Nature’s cunning hand has painted woman.
“When
we compare the simplicity and plainness with which Gen. Lafayette was received
here with the splendor and high wrought scenery of our sister States, we
acknowledge that our externals are by
no means to be compared—we will contend that in our Republican reception of the
man whom all delight to honor, there was as warm a welcome, as pure a spirit of
patriotism, as though our walls had been tapestried with cloth of gold, and our
floors painted by the first artists of the country.”[7]
“The
next morning, (Thursday) the General, his suit and escort breakfasted with Col.
Polk, where he was introduced to three or four old revolutionary soldiers. At
11 o’clock, he took leave of Col. Polk (whose health would not admit of his
proceeding farther) in the same affectionate and feeling manner as on his first
meeting with this old revolutionary brother officer; and, at about 1 o’clock,
took his departure for Fayetteville, attended by the governor, the State
escort, and Col. Thos G. Polk’s Calvary.”[8]
Fayetteville
The
Lafayette party arrived in Fayetteville
(Cumberland County) on March 4, after a rainy day.
This was the first town named for the general after the Revolution.
“He
was met 10 miles from town by the Fayetteville Flying Artillery …. The whole
cavalcade proceeded thence, amidst the discharge of artillery, to the Town
House, where the troops formed lines on each side of the street, and the
carriages, containing the General and suite, passed between them to the east
door of the House. Here, alighting from his carriage, with the gentlemen
accompanying him, he was met by Judge Toomer, who, in behalf of the Committee
and citizens of Fayetteville welcomed him.”[9]
“After
General Lafayette had expressed his gratitude for the reception given him by
the citizens of Fayetteville,
… we were conducted to the residence of Mr. Duncan M'Rae [sic],
where, by the attentions of Mrs. Duncan, our lodgings had been
prepared in an elegant and commodious manner. The general was there
received by the committee, appointed to supply all his
wants.
“
‘You are here in your own town,’ said the chairman of the
committee to him, ‘in your own house, surrounded by your
children. Dispose of all— every thing is yours.’
 |
| https://blogs.lib.unc.edu/ncm/index.php/2004/03/01/this_month_march_1825/ |
“Every
moment of our short stay at Fayetteville
was occupied by festivals of gratitude and
friendship. Notwithstanding the bad weather, which never
ceased to oppose us, the volunteer militia companies,
assembled to render military honours to the last surviving
major-general of the revolutionary army, would not quit the little
camp which they had formed in front of the balcony of the house,
whence the general could easily see them manoeuvre. They were still under arms,
on the morning of our departure, and we passed in front of their line
on leaving the town. It was then that General Lafayette,
wishing to give them an expression of his gratitude, alighted, and
passing through the ranks, took each officer and soldier affectionately by the
hand. This conduct excited the spectators to such a pitch of
enthusiasm, that a great portion of the population, willing to prolong the
pleasure of seeing him, accompanied his carriage a considerable distance on the
road, and only quitted him when the sun was nearly set.”[10]
Lafayette continued his journey into South Carolina.
[1] The
Life Of George Washington, Vol. 3 by Washington Irving, 1856; p818
[2] Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Or,
Journal of a Voyage to ..., Volume 2 By Auguste Levasseur:
1829
[3] Halifax Free Press (Halifax, NC)
4 Mar 1825
[4] Weekly Raleigh
Register, (Raleigh, NC) 11 Mar 1825
[5] Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Or,
Journal of a Voyage to ..., Volume 2 By Auguste Levasseur:
1829
[6] Weekly Raleigh
Register, (Raleigh, NC) 11 Mar 1825
[8] North-Carolina Free Press (Halifax, NC),
18 Mar 1825, p2.
[9] The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, NC)
18 Mar 1825
[10] Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Or, Journal
of a Voyage to ..., Volume 2 By Auguste Levasseur: 1829
