_ Tar Heel History _
By Billy Arthur
The Victory Tour
In 1825, French General Lafayette made Murfreesboro,
Raleigh and Fayetteville part of his six-month tour of the l I.S.
Between February 26 and March 5.
1825. Murfreesboro. Raleigh and
Fayetteville gave Revolutionary
War general and statesman Marquis de
Lafayette a full-blown party when he visit¬
ed North Carolina as the “Nation’s
Guest.” Congress had invited him to
spend six months in the United States to
receive acclaim for his participation in
both the American and French revolu¬
tions.
No longer was he a 19-ycar-old stripling,
falling wounded in his first battle at
В
rand wine. Or, during recovery, being
sent back to France on an important mis¬
sion for the Continental Congress.
Because of bravery at Brandywine, on his
return he was made commander of the
Army of Virginia, which subsequently
joined up with George Washington's
Army to confront the British at Yorktown
in 1781.
Now at age 68 in 1 825. he was described
by newspapers as resembling an aged Indi¬
an with flabby cheeks, "decrepit — but
possessing a bright eye.” Historian
Archibald Henderson wrote that he was
“somewhat battered by the hardships of a
crowded life but nevertheless still viva¬
cious — and of extremely courtly man¬
ners."
Yet one may wonder why this hero and
personal friend of Washington undertook
this fatiguing Southern tour of traveling
over bad roads in horrendous weather,
attending formal ceremonies, feasting
and dancing.
I Ic may have asked for it. partly because
he was curious to see Fayetteville, the first
town in the United States to bear his
name. It was an honor bestowed on
Decemlwr 14. 1783, only two years after
the Revolutionary War’s end.
After landing in New York in August
1824, Lafayette had spent his time around
there and Washington and then sailed for
Norfolk in January 1825. He was ac¬
French General Marquis de Lafayette
companied by his
45-уеагч»1с1
son. George
Washington Lafayette; his secretary,
Auguste Levasseur; a valet and others.
They were welcomed into North Car¬
olina at the Virginia line by an advance
Murfreesboro delegation composed of
Dr. lawrence O'Bryan. Lewis Meredith
Cowper and John Southall. I afavette was
transferred to Southall’s more commodi¬
ous carriage.
The official military escort meeting him
was the Mecklenburg Cavalry, headed by
Colonel Thomas G. Polk. Because of
Mecklenburg's early involvement in the
cause of independence, it was privileged
to furnish the honor guard, which accom¬
panied the general from the Virginia line
all the way to Fayetteville. Fat route, com¬
panies of local militia shared the honor.
Because; of several days of intermittent
rain on the straggly roads, trawl was slow
and much time was lost. And at Worrell's
Mill at the foot of the hill leading up to
the town, the carriage mired up to its axles
and the horses to their knees. "We
thought we'd have to spend the night."
Levasseur wrote in hijuyrttr In Amerita.
/<¥24-25.
They couldn't move for more
than an hour, and didn’t make it into
town until 9 p.m., 12 hours late.
Yet it looked as if all inhabitants of the
town had turned tint. A band played and
residents grabbed for the general's hand
as the coach passed. Forty |>ersons at tend¬
ed a sumptuous banquet in a large hall
decorated with flags and bunting, and
Thomas Mancy, who was of French
descent, welcomed the visitor, saving: To
you. next to dear, great Washington, we
are indebted for the triumph of our aims.
We hail you also ;ls a benefactor of the
rights of the human race and a gallant
champion of the rights of man."
The banquet lasted until midnight,
forcing cancellation of a ball and disap¬
pointing the dressed-up ladies who had
hastily refurbished their gowns and prac¬
ticed theit dance steps.
The next morning. February 27. the vis¬
itors headed for Halifax, crossing the
Roanoke River in a boat "to tire sound of
artillery" of the awaiting militia. Here,
Lafayette recalled that at Halifax. British
General Cornwallis had made his fateful
decision in 1781 to enter Virginia, which
hastened the war's end. Levasseur added
that they “only lodged at I lalifax and went
in two days over terrible roads to Raleigh,
a pretty little town — and is the seat of gov¬
ernment of North Carolina."
"An unfortunate event" marked the
approach to Raleigh. On the morning of
March 2. the horses ran away with Gen¬
eral Beverly Daniels' carriage, dashing it
against a tree and knocking him uncon¬
scious. He wras beginning to recover
“when the thoughtless zeal of his friend.
General Williams, was near bringing upon
him a greater evil, (to) bleed him on the
sjK)t; and already held the fatal lancet in
his hand, about to proceed with the oper¬
ation when George Lafayette earnestly
besought him not to do it."
Taken to the home of a planter. Gen¬
eral Daniel recovered and rejoined the
group in Raleigh the next day. “affec¬
tionately" thankful for having been “pre¬
served from the lancet of his friend."
The legislature had auUtorizcd Gover¬
nor Hutchins Burton to use suite funds for
a royal welcome and 24 hours of enter¬
tainment and socials. The visitors were
«xirlr%| N
С
Dm%iot M Anfci**» mi
The State/March 1995
13
