Program

Lafayette Trail

Subject

Event, People

Location

407 Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704, USA

Lat/Long

36.837654, -76.297804

Grant Recipient

The Lafayette Trail, Inc.

When America declared its independence on July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies were pulled into a conflict with one of the world’s most formidable powers, Great Britain. The colonies’ actions against Great Britain inspired a young French aristocrat and military officer, Marquis de Lafayette, to depart his native France to fight in the American Revolution. Lafayette served as a commander with the Continental Army throughout the war and helped secure French support for the American cause. This support played an integral part in securing American victory during the war.

Celebrated as a hero in the U.S. and France, Lafayette eventually returned to his home country. In 1824 Marquis de Lafayette was invited to visit the United States for the first time in 41 years. As an American hero and one of the only surviving commanders from the Revolution, Lafayette’s visit to the U.S. was highly anticipated and met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Lafayette’s Tour extended from 1824 to 1825. During this time he visited Washington D.C., as well as major cities and small communities across 24 states.

On October 25, 1824 General Lafayette was welcomed to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he received an artillery salute. The October 27, 1824 edition of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Herald captured the General’s reception by a Master Winchester Watts:

General- Appointed by my associates, the boys of the town of Portsmouth, who are now assembled before you, to express to you our feelings on this joyous occasion, I congratulate you that you have arrived in our country, and in our town. We have heard, General, of your philanthropy, of your magnanimity, of your distinguished services in our Country’s cause; and we have been taught from the cradle, by our fathers, to lisp your praise. The history of our Country has recorded and associated your name with that of our beloved Washington, and, General, although we are young, yet, it is recorded in our memories, never to be effaced. Our hearts swell with the purest gratitude and respect, which we beg you, General, to accept.

Following General Lafayette’s remarks and reception, he traveled onward to Navy Yard:

On arriving at the Navy Yard he landed under a salute of artillery, and was conducted on board the North-Carolina, 74 [guns], when he had an opportunity of seeing one of the handsomest and best equipped ships of war in the world. The North-Carolina was gorgeously dressed for the occasion, in the flags of all nations, the effect of which, highly pleasing to the eye, was increased by having her yards manned in a superior style. She exhibited on the whole a spectacle which could not fail to command intense admiration.