A complete history of the Marquis de Lafayette, major-general in the American army in the war of the revolution. Embracing an account of his tour through the United States, to the time of his departure, September, 1825. By an officer in the late army.

130 HISTORY OF THE
Soon after the surrender of York, the personal influence
of Lafayette was again called in requisition by the comniman.
der-in-chief. In a letter addressed to the count de Grasse,
Washington had urged every argument to prevail on him to
give his aid to an expedition against Charleston. To enforce
the representations contained in his letter, he repaired on
board the admiral's ship, the Ville de Paris, in company with
Lafayette; and on his return, left that nobleman for the purpose of using his influence in support of the request which
had been made. But all was unavailing; and de Grasse
conclusively replied, that " the orders of his court, ulterior
projects, and his engagements with the Spaniards, rendered
it impossible for him to remain on the coast, during the time
which would be required for the operation." The marquis.
however, obtained his consent to convoy a detachment of
two thousand Americans to Wilmington, and to cover their
landing. Tlhis corps, which was destined to re-enforce the
army of general Greene, was put under the command of Lafayette, with orders to possess himself of Wilmington, situated fifteen miles up the Cape Fear, which was still held by
the British, and thence to march to the southern head-quarters. As the time of embarkation approached, the admiral
found it necessary to recede from this engagement, from the
necessity of being in the West Indies at a certain time, and
the American commander was thus deprived of the advantage to be derived from the facile and expeditious conveyance of his re-enforcement as at first arranged.*
Preparations were accordingly made for marching them by
land. But Lafayette was once more arrested in his southern progress. Negotiations for peace soon demanded his.American War, Vol. IV. 194, 5. Stedman's American War, Vol. II.
Notice Biograph. p. 6. Garden's Anecdotes, p. 307, 308. Botta's Amer.
War, Vol. III, p. 374, 401, Port Folio, Vol. XIX, p. 502. Toulongeon,
History de France, Vol. I, Append. p. 97. Mem. Hist. sur M. de Lafayette, p. 8, 9. 20, 34.
* H Lee's Memoirs, Vol. IT, p. 370, 1. Marshall's Washington, Vol
1:. p, 500. 1.