Celebrating Lafayette While Continuing to Learn More and More about American's Favorite Frenchman
We are in the midst of the 200th anniversary of Major General Lafayette's return tour to America.
Officially, the Marquis de Lafayette's tour kicked off in August (2024) but to me, it really kicked off in Yorktown earlier this year. An event we attended in March prompted me to write a blog post (of course!). Read it here if you want a little entry into this one.
The quick summary: in 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette, the last living general of the American Revolutionary War and who was also adopted into the Oneida family, arrived in New York. It was at the invitation of then-President and military veteran James Monroe, who served with Lafayette.
This began a tour of all 24 states (last time he was here there were only 13!). Here in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, we spent the weekend honoring the man and his support of American cause.
RELATED: Click here to read more on my entry into the deeper dive of American Indians.
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Mark Schneider as Lafayette, Yorktown arrival October 18, 2024
We were immersed in a Lafayette-focused weekend.
On Friday, we witnessed historian, actor, interpreter, and friend Mark Schneider come in to the dock on the York River and descend from a tall ship. The crowd cheering, Vive La France being screamed, Fifes and Drums leading him to a stage, both the French and American National Anthems played and sung... it was a history lover's dream afternoon.
And then yesterday. Hanging out in the famous (and also historic) Wren Courtyard, seeing Mr. Schneider greet a crowd, listen to his honorary diploma bestowed upon him on the same date in 1824 read in Latin, French, and English, was a once in a lifetime experience. Then Colonial Williamsburg (CW).
Hearing the Fifes and Drums, and watching the procession from the reconstructed Capitol down Duke of Gloucester Street to the original courthouse building: WOW.
We got to see our friend Adam, the consummate coachman (and so much more to CW!) bring the Marquis de Lafayette through town on one of CW's beautiful open-air 18th-century-style carriages. Also part of the procession, our friend, (historian and author!) Michael Cecere about 10 re-enactors marching to honor the veterans of the Revolutionary War.
Stephen Seals, who portrays James Lafayette in CW, was there to embrace the man who played a pivotal role in gaining him his freedom and whose name he adopted, eliminating his enslaved name "James of the Armistead family." The program was narrated by Lady Washington (aka historian, actor, interpreter, and also-friend Katharine Pittman) and she was perfect for it.
I was so 'in the moment,' I almost forgot about the Mayor's attempt at correctly pronouncing the Marquis' full name, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier ---I mean - it is difficult but....hmm.
Adam with the Marquis de Lafayette
Ideas to explore.
I said months ago I'll be adding Lafayette-focused (or inspired!) blog posts while this 200th anniversary tour is underway. The truth is I started writing about him prior to the "kickoff" and will continue after it officially ends.
Some of that inspiration will most certainly come from Mr. Schneider - his talent and his gracious support of my efforts.
Two more articles previously written:
- Introducing America's favorite Frenchman on this blog.
- My 103rd post on this blog discussing two letters I saw in person, one from the Marquis.
- A bit on the Declaration he wrote with friend Thomas Jefferson... for France.
- Lafayette's family members who also served in the American cause
- details about the various places visited on the 1824-25 tour
- where to "find" hidden bits of Lafayette history (or not so hidden!) like his carriage at the Studebaker Museum in Indiana
- more letters and writings of the Marquis (including diving into the story behind and around his French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen)
- museums and libraries, as well as special collections, related to Marquis
- places named for Lafayette
And more.
As always, I invite feedback! If you have something specific you want me to explore and share on this blog, please comment or subscribe and connect with me through email! You can also use social media: Facebook and Instagram.
Michael Cecere and fellow re-enactors at Lafayette event
Action items- aka my personal to-do list for the blog.
You can see by my ideas above, I will not run out of "work" to do! But I am loving every minute.
Some of my action items include:
- attending lectures and presentations including the one I'm seeing this afternoon about his uncle Francois-Jean de Chastellux, who served the American cause under General Rochambeau
- creating a list of historical markers on my Explore Here app (and yes, this is the company I'm starting a collaboration with as mentioned in my last post)
- set up meetings with experts on the Marquis de Lafayette
- make a list of
- read and review Sarah Vowell's Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
- share special events honoring and celebrating this 200th anniversary tour, which you can learn more about by clicking here
And if you take a deeper dive on this, or have a task to suggest, please do!
Military musicians honoring the Marquis de Lafayette's arrival
Closing words from history.
Not from the Marquis de Lafayette- oh no. Instead... about him. And his son, who stayed with the Washingtons in the safety of Mt. Vernon, during the French Revolution. Clearly the Marquis-to-be was anxious to see his recently released (or said to be) parents.
These excerpts from a 1797 letter written by President Washington is one example of the lasting friendship and respect between the Lafayettes and the Washingtons.
Please click here to see the letter in full, with citations.
From George Washington to Louis La Colombe, 3 December 1797
To Louis La Colombe
Mount Vernon 3d Decr 1797
Sir,
Your favour of the 21st Ulto came duly to hand; for the pleasing and interesting contents of it, I offer you my best thanks; notwithstanding I had received, by the same Mail, similar accounts from our Ministers at London & the Hague, inclosing extracts of letters to them from the Consul of the United States at Hamburgh.
I congratulate with you, on the happy event of the liberation of our mutual friend Genl De Lafayette, whose reception in this country will be, I am sure, cordial from all descriptions of people; from none more than myself.
(letter continues)
The only regret I should feel on his arrival in America (if it shd happen soon) would be, his disappointment in not finding his Son here. I said all I could, with decency, both to him and Mr Frestal to induce their awaiting direct accounts from the Prisoners before their departure; but the eagerness of the former to embrace his Parents in the first moments of their releasement from a cruel imprisonment was not to ⟨be restrained. Among other arguments I observed that although it was not⟩ probable, ⟨yet it was⟩ at least possible that they might be crossing the Ocean in different directions at the same time.
....
There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.
1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.
2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.
3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post unless otherwise credided! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.
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