Butler was a sleepy, mainly agricultural village in Its few streets were dotted by crude log and brick homes harboring its residents. During its short eight-year history as a borough, few, if any, notable visitors had ever crossed its borders. So, the excitement must have been tremendous when news reached the little town on the last day of May that one of the most revered heroes of the American Revolution was coming. Our national leaders felt the story of our fight was being forgotten with the passing of the old soldiers.
Two weeks later, he was appointed by the Continental Congress, after agreeing to serve without pay, to the rank of major general and to serve on the staff of Gen. George Washington. Because the year-old Washington had no natural children of his own, the dashing Frenchman's youthful exuberance and his dedication to the American cause of freedom led to the pair forming an immediate bond.
Like other French army officers, Lafayette had been recruited to help the Americans in the Colonies in their struggle against the British, who ruled them. The marquis was one of the richest men in France, and had been raised to despise England.
During the Revolutionary War, Lafayette served honorably and heroically. He was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. Afterward, Lafayette returned to France to win vital support for the fledgling United States following the signing of the Treaty of Alliance, which provided military and financial help to the new American government.
Back in America in , Lafayette was given senior positions in the Continental Army. In , troops under his command in Virginia blocked forces led by British Gen. Charles Cornwallis until other American and French forces could position themselves for the decisive siege of Yorktown. That turned the tide to victory in the last major land battle of the American Revolution. Eventually there would be peace.
