From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 176
Washington replied, "I am glad of it; that is as it ought to be; but as I was not quite sure of the fact, I thought I
would ascertain it from yourself, as I propose to join with you on that occasion. Though I am a member of the
Church of England, I have no exclusive partialities."
He encamped at Middlebrook, ten miles from Brunswick; thence advanced to Coryell Ferry, thirty miles from
Philadelphia, where he learned that a British fleet of two hundred and twenty-eight sail had appeared off the
capes of Delaware. He marched at once to Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. Here he could
personally superintend the defences of the city by daily visits thither.
One day he dined with several members of Congress, and was introduced to a French nobleman, the Marquis
de Lafayette. The latter had heard of the American struggle for liberty, led by the heroic Washington, and, in
common with the lovers of freedom in every land, he was charmed by the story. He had an interview with
Silas Deane, who was in Paris with Dr. Franklin and Arthur Lee, as commissioners, to consummate alliance
with the French, the result of which was his coming to this country.
Washington welcomed Lafayette with genuine cordiality, and on that day commenced a life-long friendship
with him.
"We ought to feel embarrassed in presenting ourselves before an officer just from the French army," he said.
"It is to learn, and not to instruct, that I came here," was Lafayette's polite and modest reply.
Lafayette addressed a communication to Congress, in which he said:
"After many sacrifices I have a right to ask two favors: one is to serve at my own expense; the other, to
commence serving as a volunteer."
Washington was attracted to Lafayette from the first, and he invited him immediately to a place on his staff.
Lafayette was a remarkable character. He was left an orphan at thirteen years of age, with a large fortune.
Being a favorite in the court of Louis, he received a commission in the army at fifteen years of age. He was
married at sixteen, and two years later resolved to remove to America and join in fighting the battle of liberty.
His purpose becoming known, the government prevented his securing a passage. Determined not to be
frustrated in his purpose, he purchased a vessel, and prepared to sail. His arrest being ordered, he escaped to
Passage, where he boarded a vessel bound for the West Indies. When fairly under way, fearing that the
English colonists in the West Indies might arrest him, he hired the captain to proceed direct to the American
coast. Congress commissioned him major-general soon after he joined the American army, the youngest
major-general ever known in America, if not in the world. His intimate relations and aid to Washington make
this brief notice necessary.
XXI.
DEFEAT AND VICTORY.
The plan of the British for 1777 was, for General Howe, with twenty thousand men, to land at the head of Elk
River, and march north through Philadelphia; while General Burgoyne, starting from Canada with ten
thousand men, should march south to meet Howe, rallying both Tories and Indians to his standard.
The militia of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Northern Virginia were called out to defend Philadelphia; and
Washington advanced to Wilmington. In order to impress the Tories of Philadelphia, he marched through the
city at the head of his column, with Lafayette at his side, making an imposing display that captivated the
friends of liberty, and awed the Tories.