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nordleuchten · 3 months

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Ah, Tumblr. Why would they hide my question from you🥲? Here is the rather long question that I wanted to ask.

I've been wondering about Lafayette's interactions with his in-laws—not the Noailles, but his children's. What did he think about his sons-in-law? Did they get along? How did the marriages take place, or anything related to them?

I'm currently in the very long process of writing a novel about Adrienne, now entering the French Revolution, still having a long way to go before any of the Lafayette kids get married. But my God, the French Revolution is stressful as hell to write☹️. I just want my girl to get some rest… And so, I guess I just want to skip ahead to the lighthearted part. While Adrienne’s thoughts and interactions are pretty much all in Virginie’s book, and maybe some in her sister’s memoirs, Mister Lafayette’s is a bit confusing for me because he has so much information from all different sources. (Which brings me to my next question: What book do you recommend for referencing information about Gilbert? It’s too stressful to always go from one source to another for him.😭)

The information on this blog has been immensely helpful! I would have been lost as to where to find the sources that I needed. hope you have a good day, and hold on to your historical passion! 👍☺️

Dear @daydream-247,

first of all, that sounds like a very interesting project! When you come around to publishing something, I would absolutely love to read it! And thank you for your kind word, it is always nice to hear that other people can take something away from what I post and are not annoyed by me. :-)

As to the partners of his children, La Fayette had a very good relationship with all of them. I am actually quite happy that you asked about that part of the family, since this topic is quite dear to my heart. I think there is not enough talk about that – as it is with so many things in La Fayette’s life that have nothing to do with Revolutions and America. The La Fayette’s and their family and friends were so tight nit, so intimate and loving. La Fayette – and also Adrienne, while she was still alive, loved being grand-parents and in La Fayette’s case later great-grandparents. While their children were able to go their own ways in live, they and their families always remained very close to their parents. The children’s marriages were happy ones – not without personal tragedy of course, but they all weathered the challenges thrown at them. To the best of my knowledge, there were no affairs, mistresses, and betrayals in that generation.

But enough of me being fascinated by family dynamics, lets us get to your question! La Fayette wrote on December 1, 1802 to James Madison:

I Live in an Agreable place, About forty Miles from paris. My Children are With me. Georges Has Married the daughter of Tracy whom Mr. Jefferson Has known in the Constituent Assembly and Who is One of His Warmest Admirers. My Elder daughter is the Wife of Charles La tour Maubourg the Youngest Brother of My Olmutz Companion and Has two Lovely Little Girls. My daughter in Law is Within a few Months to Encrease Our family. Georges is Now at turin Where the 11th Rgt of Huzzards Has its Quarters. Virginia, My Younger daughter, will, I think, Be Married Before Long.

“To James Madison from Lafayette, 1 December 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-04-02-0176. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 4, 8 October 1802 – 15 May 1803, ed. Mary A. Hackett, J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, Susan Holbrook Perdue, and Ellen J. Barber. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 166–170.] (01/25/2024)

La Fayette was right concerning Virginie. She married on April 20, 1803. She would probably have married sooner, but La Fayette slipped on the icy pavement that winter and broke his femur close to the hip bone – an injury that is no laughing matter, neither in the 21st nor in the early 19th century. The wedding was postponed, giving La Fayette time to recover.

Let us now have a closer look at the marriages and resulting families of each of Adrienne’s and La Fayette’s children. Anastasie, their oldest surviving child, was the first one to marry. She married Juste-Charles de Faÿ de la Tour-Maubourg. Charles was the younger brother of Marie-Charles-César de Faÿ, comte de la Tour-Maubourg. César was one of La Fayette’s dearest friends. Do you remember this heartbreaking letter La Fayette wrote after Adrienne’s death? That letter was addressed to César, and I have never again seen La Fayette lay his soul and emotions so open – not even in front of Washington.

Charles was for a very, very short time imprisoned as well but quickly freed. After all the prisoners of Olmütz were set free, they settled at Wittmold and were reunited with their respected families. It was there that Anastasie met – or at least fell in love with, Charles. They were married on Mai 8, 1798 in the private chapel in Wittmold by the Abbé Luchet (and oh this blasted certificate of marriage! One day, one day …) They soon started their own family, and it was here that tragedy struck. While both of their twin daughters survived the birth, one died only a few weeks later. Sadly, the little girl is often forgotten and not at all mentioned when La Fayette’s grandchildren are discussed. I will not say much about the grandchildren here in general because firstly, this post would get even longer than it already is (I am so sorry!) and secondly, I have a post in the making going through all of the grandchildren and possible some great-grandchildren – including the ones that died young or were stillborn/miscarried. I feel they should not be left out. Anastasie lost at least two, if not more children and Georges lost at least one daughter. So, different topic for a different post if you do not mind.

What is interesting about Anastasie’s marriage – especially her Noailles relatives appeared to be less than enthusiastic about the match. Anastasie’s aunt, the Marquise de Montague wrote in her own memoirs:

Frau von La Fayette fand die Parthie nicht allein sehr angemessen, sondern auch wie man damals das Recht hatte zu hoffen, sehr vortheilhaft. Der General war von ganzem Herzen damit einverstanden. In Witmold aber schrie man laut dagegen, wie nur das Projekt zur Sprache kam. Herr von Mun behauptete nur bei den Wilden Amerika‘s könne man sich so verheirathen, und Frau von Tessé bestand darauf, man hätte seit Adam und Eva nichts Gleiches gesehen. Die Sarkasmen nüßten Nichts, Frau von La Fayette hielt sich fest, und als Alles unwiderruflich entschieden war, sah man, wie sich die Unzufriedenheit der Frau von Tessé in eine zärtliche und liebenswürdige Sorgsamkeit auflöste.

Marquise of Montague, Anna Pauline Dominika von Noailles, Marquise von Montague – Ein Lebensbild, Münster, Aschendorff, 1871, p. 204.

My translation:

Madame de La Fayette not only thought the match very appropriate, but also, as one had the right to hope at the time, very advantageous. The General was wholeheartedly in favour of it. In Witmold, however, they protested loudly against it as soon as the project was brought up. Mr von Mun [I have no idea who he was] claimed that only among the savages of America one could marry in this way, and Madame de Tessé insisted that nothing like it had been seen since Adam and Eve. The sarcasm was of no avail, Madame La Fayette held her ground, and when everything was irrevocably decided, Mademe de Tessé’s dissatisfaction dissolved into a tender and amiable diligence.

As you see, Adrienne’s and La Fayette’s primary concern was the happiness of their daughter. La Fayette wrote on May 20, 1798 to George Washington:

We Have spent the winter in Holstein, on danish territory, in a Hired Country Seat about Sixty English miles from Hamburgh—My friend Latour Maubourg and His family were with us—we had visits from france and other Countries—(…). Here My eldest daughter Anastasie was Married to Charles Maubourg my friends’ Youngest Brother.

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 20 May 1798,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/06-02-02-0213. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series, vol. 2, 2 January 1798 – 15 September 1798, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 282–285.] (01/25/2024)

I am honestly not quite sure what the problem here was. Since the Noailles part of the family voiced their criticism, the problem seems to lay primarily with Charles. The critics very much still belonged to the “arranged-marriage-for the advancement-of-the-family” generation and I suppose that was the issue. The marriage was not arranged and both the La Fayette’s and the La Tour-Maubourg’s were “ruined” during the French Revolution. There was not much for both parties to expect – beside a happy marriage based on mutual love and affection.

La Fayette at once started to include his new son-in-law in his letter:

My wife, my daughters, my Son in law Beg the tender Homage of their Affection, Gratitude and Respect to Be presented to you, my dear General, and to Mrs Washington (…)

The next one to marry was Georges. He married Françoise Émilie Destutt de Tracy. Just like with his older sister’s husband, there was already a connection between La Fayette and his new in-laws. Émilie’s father, Antoine Louis Claude Destutt de Tracy, was one of La Fayette’s oldest friends. They became friends prior to the French Revolution and both later served in the Chambre des Deputes and had similar political views, they both opposed Napoléon’s rise to power.

Based on his writings alone, Émilie might have been La Fayette’s favourite. He wrote to Thomas Jefferson on January 20, 1802:

My Son Has Returned to His Regiment in Italy—I Expect Him in the Spring, and probably to Marry a Very Amiable daughter to the Senator tracy Whom You Have known as a patriot Member of the Constituent Assembly

“To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 30 January 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-36-02-0305. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 36, 1 December 1801–3 March 1802, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009, pp. 480–481.] (01/25/2024)

He reported on November 1, 1802, again to Thomas Jefferson:

With me they Now Are Retired into the State of Rural Life Where I am fixed Among the Comforts of An United Loving family—it Has Been, Encreased, as I Did in time inform You, By the Happy Acquisition of an Amiable Daughter in Law (…)

“To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 1 November 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-38-02-0551. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 38, 1 July–12 November 1802, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011, pp. 616–617.] (01/25/2024)

He wrote on August 18, 1800 to his friend Masclet:

My whole family is now collected at this place, where my aunt had been for many years despairing ever to see us. It has been also for me a great satisfaction to present to her my beloved daughter-in-law Emilie Tracy, now the wife of the happy George, and in whom I find every amiable quality my heart could wish for. I intend conducting the young couple back to Auteuil towards the middle of Fructidor, my return there being hastened by the news of the intended journey wherein General Fitzpatrick and Charles Fox are to meet at Paris.

Jules Germain Cloquet, Recollections of the Private Life of General Lafayette, Baldwin and Cradock, London, 1835, p. 110.

Here is what La Fayette wrote about Émilie to Thomas Jefferson on February 21, 1825, right after the death of her mother:

We intend to Come again from Boston to Newyork, Philadelphia, Washington and to pay you a Visit at Monticello Before we Embark By the Middle of August for france Where We Are Recalled, Sooner than We Expected, By the most lamentable death of mde de tracy george’s Mother in law. I Have urged My Son to Return immediately But His generous wife, who is a tender daughter to me, Had on the first moment of the loss, adjured Him not to leave me, and it is a Great Motive for Me to Make as much Haste As We Can With propriety do it.

“To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 February 1825,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/98-01-02-4986. [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series. It is not an authoritative final version.] (01/25/2024)

La Fayette wrote much about Émilie and all that he wrote was very positive. What he wrote about his sons-in-law was different – not to say that there was less affection, but it was, at least on paper, expressed differently. Now, why was that? It could be for personal reasons, La Fayette simply “clicked” better with Émilie. It could be because Émilie spend much more time with and around La Fayette than his sons-in-law did. It could be because, by social convention, you would and could write differently about your daughter-in-law then about your sons-in-law. Lastly, and that is just a hunch of mine, Émilie, as a woman, was the one to bear the children. For La Fayette children were definitely in the female domain – not because he necessarily thought that childbirth should be a women’s only purpose but because I think he understood and valued that the birth of a child was the result of a great deal of pain and work on the women’s side and a, while biological important, negatable part on the man’s part. In short, I like to imagine that the thanked and valued Émilie for her hard work in making him a grandfather.

La Fayette addressed and described Émilie as his daughter, he wrote about having “three daughters” (to James Madison, August 28, 1826). While the same sentiment was definitely present in the relationships with his sons-in-law, I think he never put it quite that distinctly to paper. But enough about Émilie, let us move on to the last couple.

As I have already mentioned Virginie married Louis de Lasteyrie du Saillant, Marquis de Lasteyrie on April 20, 1803. I believe that Louis was a nephew of a friend of La Fayette but I would need to check that again. Louis died quite young, aged 46 in 1826 and he was buried on the ground reserved for the La Fayette family on the Picpus Cemetery. He was buried there after Adrienne and before La Fayette.

Things were looking pretty good on the domestic front for La Fayette. Within five years, all of his children were happily married and two of them had already little families of their own. What was probably most important, despite her failing health, Adrienne saw all three of her surviving children marry.

In letters to his friends, particular to Thomas Jefferson, La Fayette never forgot to give updates not only about himself but also about his children and their families. He often asked for them to be remembered to people just like he wanted to be remembered. He gave also updates on the military careers of his sons-in-law. Louis entered the Light Dragoons in 1804, leaving the army as a Colonel. Charles and George often served in closely related positions. They both realized that being attached to La Fayette would make advancement in the army difficult and so both of them left the army eventually. Neither of them seemed to hold any grudges.

That much in “short”. Now, as to books – the unsatisfactory answer is: It depends? Are you looking for a general overview, an overview about a specific topic, a political analyses, a character analysis, something critical, a personal account, something contemporary or something that was written much later, a collection of anecdotes to flesh out La Fayette’s character? There are sources for all of this, but they all serve different purposes.

I hope I could help you out and give you a starting point for your research. A chapter about the love lives of Anastasie, Georges and Virginie could definitely serve as a little cheer-up chapter between the French Revolution and Adrienne’s death – both for the readers and your characters. Happy writing and I hope you have/had a lovely day!

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jubaunetwork · 4 months

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Une église licencie un pasteur principal après une arrestation « choc » pour avoir condescendant un mineur à des fins sexuelles Après une arrestation « choc », les membres du conseil d'administration de l'église chrétienne de Mount Hope, dans le comté de Fayette, en Virginie occidentale, déclarent avoir licencié leur pasteur principal, Elbert Eugene Goins, plus connu sous le nom de « Buddy Goins ». Un jour après son arrestation pour avoir prétendument condescendant un mineur victime de servitude sexuelle. Ils ont déclaré que l’incident les avait « choqués ». Dans une déclaration rapportée par WOAY, le conseil d'administration a précisé que l'événement n'a pas eu lieu dans les locaux ou dans le bâtiment de notre église. Le FBI nous a également assuré qu'il n'existe aucune preuve suggérant une quelconque implication des membres de notre congrégation dans les événements ayant conduit à l'arrestation de M. Goins. Nous collaborons activement avec les forces de l’ordre dans leur enquête sur cette affaire. Lire la suite de l'information ICI Source de l'information Suivez-nous sur Facebook La performance controversée : Bobbi Storm crée l’émoi lors d’un vol de Delta Airlines #gospel #music #worship #praise #news #musique #évangélique #actualités #bgospelmagazine #bgospel

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newmic · 10 months

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Every year, on July 4, Americans celebrate a fundamental and constitutive event in their history: the signing of their Declaration of Independence. Because we must not forget that until 1776 America was a British colony…

Comment s’est passée la prise d’indépendance de l’Amérique en 1776 ? Au début du 17e siècle, des Anglais, des Français, des Espagnols émigrent en Amérique. Des puritains anglais notamment, persécutés par Jacques 1er s’embarquent sur le Mayflower, et fondent la colonie de Plymouth dans le Massachussets. Au 18e siècle, la pensée des philosophes des lumières en France, et les lourds impôts prélevés par la Couronne britannique alimentent la contestation des différents États américains. En juin 1776, la Virginie se proclame « 1er État libre des Etats-Unis », bientôt suivie par douze autres. Le 4 juillet 1776, ce sont les 13 colonies britanniques qui proclament leur indépendance et leur nouveau statut d’Etats Américains. Réunis à Philadelphie, leurs représentants ratifient leur déclaration d’indépendance, un texte rédigé par Thomas Jefferson. Ils déclarent la guerre avec l’Angleterre. Pour les soutenir, la France leur envoie un navire, L’Hermione, – reconstruit à l’identique récemment- et un marquis, le célèbre La Fayette.

En savoir plus : https://www.iloveenglish.com/parents/question-mois/fete-etats-unis-4-juillet

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plaque-memoire · 1 year

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Plaque en hommage à : Thomas Jefferson

Type : Commémoration

Adresse : Entre le 1 quai Maréchal Joffre et le 29 quai Tilsitt, 69002 Lyon, France

Date de pose : 2 juillet 2014

Texte :

Thomas Jefferson. 13 avril 1743 à Shadwell en Virginie, 4 juillet 1826 à Monticello en Virginie. Symbole de l'amitié franco-américaine. Ambassadeur des États-Unis en France 1788-1789, 3ème Président des États-Unis 1801-1809, auteur principal de la rédaction de l'indépendance américaine 4 juillet 1776. Amoureux de la France, il voyage, parcourt nos territoires et promeut aux États-Unis notre patrimoine, architecture, terroirs, culture. Humaniste il partage nos valeurs de liberté. Avec son ami La Fayette, il joue un rôle clé dans l'ébauche de la Constitution française et de la Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen en 1789. 1789-2009. Un pont pour la liberté. 220ème anniversaire de la Révolution française. (première plaque)

"Thomas Jefferson, alors Ambassadeur des Etats-Unis en France, séjourna à Lyon en mars 1787. Il a pu admirer le paysage de la Saône depuis le pont de bois qui existait à proximité de ce lieu." (deuxième plaque)

Quelques précisions : Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) est un homme politique américain, qui fut notamment le troisième Président des États-Unis de 1801 à 1809. Démarrant très tôt une carrière dans la politique, il devient gouverneur de Virginie, son État natal, de 1779 à 1801. Il est ensuite nommé ambassadeur des Etats-Unis en France, ce qui lui donne l'occasion de parcourir le pays, y compris la ville de Lyon, et exprime une grande appréciation de la France, quoi qu'il soit critique envers la monarchie absolue de droit divin qui y règne. Il aide ainsi le marquis de La Fayette à rédiger un projet de texte de la Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen. Il effectue deux mandats en tant que Président des États-Unis, dont les résultats sont jugés favorablement par les historiens, au point d'être régulièrement classé parmi les meilleurs présidents américains. Il est également le fondateur de l'Université de Virginie. Il reçoit de très nombreux honneurs après sa mort, y compris en France.

#individuel #hommes #commemoration #politiciens #france #rhone #lyon #thomas jefferson

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miildchiild · 6 years

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marie antoinette virginie motier de la fayette. lafayette's daughter!!

#marie antoinette virginie motier de la fayette #lafayette #Hamilton #hamilton musical #Hamilton fanart #Art #artists on tumblr #marquis de lafayette #Hamilton art

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furiefrancaise · 4 years

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Jacques Cormier

« l’enfant chéri de la victoire »

Jacques CORMIER est né à Cosne sur Loire le 21 mai 1925. Il nous a quittés le 30 mai 2020 en un temps où la Covid bouleversait les cérémonies d’obsèques. Il appartient à une grande famille cosnoise installée dans cette ville depuis plus de deux siècles.

On le dit parfois, une femme ou un homme de caractère sont le plus souvent issus d’une famille de caractère. Cela se vérifie si bien avec Jacques Cormier. Le père de Jacques, Georges CORMIER, eut beaucoup d’influence sur l’éducation et l’orientation de Jacques. Ainsi et par exemple, ce dernier me dit combien, à 6 ans, la visite de l’Exposition coloniale de 1931, le frappa profondément, constitua son premier émerveillement d’enfant et généra ses premiers rêves de découvertes.

Après la période très troublée et dangereuse du conflit mondial, son choix de vie est fait. C’est celui d’un jeune patriote prioritairement attaché à la France : il quitte Cosne en septembre 1944 pour aller préparer le concours de Saint-Cyr au lycée Saint-Louis à Paris, Paris libéré depuis 2 semaines. Quelques mois après, avide d’action et d’engagement en faveur de la Défense de la Nation et sans attendre le résultat du concours de Saint-Cyr, il s’engage pour 8 ans. Nommé au grade de sergent le 16 mars 1946, il est affecté au 99ème Régiment d’Infanterie, le 99ème RIA, à Bourg St Maurice dont il est rapidement détaché à l’École des Cadres de Rouffach où, pour la première fois, il va faire la rencontre du Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY. L’histoire nous rappelle que ce Régiment, le 99ème RIA, fut créé, sous le nom de « Régiment des Deux Ponts », par LOUIS XV en 1757, qu’il fut très engagé dans la terrible Guerre de Sept Ans avant de constituer une importante partie du Corps expéditionnaire français qui, avec La FAYETTE et sous les ordres du comte de ROCHAMBEAU, lutta pour l’indépendance américaine, connut plusieurs victoires en Virginie associé aux troupes de Résistants de Georges WASHINGTON jusqu’à la très forte part prise dans la victoire décisive de Yorktown en 1781, victoire qui marqua le début de l’indépendance américaine.

Dans cette période, il est très marqué par la rigueur et la chaleur du Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY. « Le Roi Jean », toujours très près de ses lieutenants et de ses capitaines, tient à éduquer les jeunes officiers dans tous les domaines : le maniement d’armes et la stratégie bien sûr mais aussi l’hygiène, le respect des autres, la capacité d’écoute, l’aptitude à la synthèse, etc. Bien que toujours très modeste, Jacques gardera la fierté d’avoir été promu sous- lieutenant en octobre 1947 par ce chef de guerre hors pair. A la sortie de Saint-Cyr-Coëtquidan, en 1947 il fait le choix de l’Infanterie Coloniale et est affecté au 1er Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes comme il le souhaitait. Il est accueilli par le Colonel MASSU qu’il servira plus tard en opérations. Sa connaissance du saut se perfectionne à l’École des Transports Aéroportés de Pau sur Dakota et JU 52. Il y reçoit le Brevet n° 28 646 le 21 janv. 1949 tandis qu’il se spécialise dans les combats d’infanterie à l’École d’application près du Havre. Toutes ces formations montrent combien est réellement vécue la devise napoléonienne de l’École de Saint-Cyr : « LES SAINT-CYRIENS S’INSTRUISENT POUR VAINCRE ».

Jacques est nommé chef de section au 1er Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes. Avec ce premier commandement, il continue de préparer méticuleusement son départ vers l’Indochine : à côté des arts du combat, renforts des qualités humaines, de la morale, de l’exemplarité, de la rigueur font fortement partie de cette préparation du lieutenant Jacques CORMIER. Le 15 novembre, il embarque à Marseille sur le Pasteur et débarque le 7 décembre au Cap St-Jean tout au sud de la Cochinchine, près de Saigon. Il est affecté au 1er Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes qui devient le 1er Groupement de Commandos Coloniaux Parachutistes puis le 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux. Une dizaine de Saint-Cyrien de la même promotion se retrouve dans les Commandos Parachutistes. Très peu d’années plus tard, il sera le seul survivant valide, ses camarades étant morts au combat, ou très gravement blessés ou prisonniers des Viets, dans les pires conditions sanitaires et psychologiques.

A son arrivée en Cochinchine, son Bataillon prend ses quartiers à 20 km au nord de Saïgon. Logé chez l’habitant, il communique beaucoup avec les familles qui accueillent ses hommes. Puis, en mars 1950, le Bataillon fait mouvement vers la région de Pursat au Cambodge et conduit des opérations très dangereuses au cours desquelles le capitaine ROGER, son chef direct est tué comme de très nombreux membres de son Commando. C’est dans les très difficiles conditions de ces combats meurtriers menés face à des troupes très entrainées, très renseignées et très efficacement armées et ravitaillées par la Russie de STALINE et la Chine de MAO TSE TOUNG qu’il me dit mesurer très vite, dans l’âpreté et la cruauté des combats, que l’enjeu n’était pas, comme on feignait de le croire ou de le faire croire en France, la conservation des plantations d’hévéas de l’entreprise MICHELIN et la protection d’autres richesses économiques de l’Indochine, mais une lutte à mort pour arrêter, dans cette partie du monde, la prolifération du communisme déjà attaché, localement, à tuer tous les opposants du Sud-Est Asiatique !

En août 1950, il est affecté à la 1ère Compagnie Indochinoise Parachutiste composée de vietnamiens et de cambodgiens. Dans cette Compagnie, Jacques prend le commandement du 3ème Commando Cambodgien qui fut en combat permanent. Son efficace commandement et plusieurs victoires contre les Viets lui vaudront, dès novembre, la première de ses six citations et l’attribution de la Croix de Guerre des Théâtres d’Opérations Extérieures avec Étoile d’argent. Il a 25 ans. Jacques me dit combien la coûteuse défaite de la Route Coloniale 4, la « RC4 », faisant dans notre armé 5 000 tués ou gravement blessés et 3 000 prisonniers dont plus de 2 000 ne reviendront pas de leur captivité, jointe au très mauvais climat entretenu par trop de médias et de responsables politiques indignes en métropole, fut un tournant dans la guerre.

Alors que le moral de l’armée et de la population déclinait, heureusement, l’arrivée du Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY fut un électrochoc très positif. Les effets furent immédiats dans les batailles de Vinh Yên et de Mao Khê. Malheureusement ce puissant électrochoc dû à la forte personnalité du Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY allait être interrompu par son décès.

C’est au cours des combats de septembre à décembre 1951 que ses hommes ont surnommé Jacques CORMIER « l’enfant chéri de la victoire » (ECV). Très présent dans ces combats, sautant le plus souvent en tête de sa compagnie, Jacques CORMIER s’est particulièrement distingué à Nghia Lo, à Hoa-Binh et dans les furieuses batailles de la Rivière Noire. Il se vit décerner, le 19 novembre 1951, la Croix de Guerre avec palme par le Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY, très épuisé par son cancer avancé mais au visage et aux propos toujours aussi lumineux, me dit Jacques. Quelques jours avant, le 16 novembre, il avait été convoqué, seul, par le général SALAN, futur commandant en chef, afin que Jacques lui présente les actions victorieuses récentes de son unité, actions dont le Général SALAN avait entendu parler dès son arrivée à l’État-major. En décembre 1951, le bataillon de Jacques sera très engagé, avec de très grosses pertes dans de cruelles batailles dont, très marqué par le souvenir du grand nombre de camarades tombés autour de lui, il ne me parla jamais.

Aujourd’hui, sept décennies plus tard, respectons sa volonté de silence et inclinons nous devant le souvenir de tous ses Compagnons morts pour la France dans cette période. A la suite de sa citation à l’ordre de l’armée, le 25 janvier 1952, Jean LETOURNEAU, ministre de la France d’Outre- Mer dans le gouvernement de Georges BIDAULT et le Général SALAN, nouveau commandant en chef, lui remettent la Croix de Guerre des Théâtres d’Opérations Extérieures avec une nouvelle palme et le font Chevalier dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur... Jacques a 26 ans... je devrais dire n’a que 26 ans ! En février 1952, il est affecté à Paris et part le cœur plein d’émotion tant il dit mesurer sa grande chance : la plupart de ses compagnons embarqués avec lui sur le Pasteur en 1949 sont morts ou prisonniers ou gravement invalides. Le voyage aérien est long, pannes au décollage et changement d’avion, puis escales à Calcutta, à Karachi, à Beyrouth pour toucher Orly huit jours plus tard. Huit jours de profondes réflexions sur cette guerre, sur ses chefs les plus charismatiques, sur son attachement à la religion mais aussi sur la position de trop de Français si peu respectueux de tous ces morts pour notre pays, Français que le jeune parachutiste allait devoir croiser en métropole.

Il a trois mois de permission pour retrouver sa chère famille qui l’a toujours fortement soutenu. Cette permission lui permettra aussi de retrouver Monique d’ESPARBES rencontrée à Cosne avant son départ en Indochine. Durant cette permission, il tint aussi à visiter des familles de compagnons d’armes disparus ou gravement blessés. Puis le lieutenant CORMIER rejoint son unité, le 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux, défile à leur tête aux Champs-Élysées pour le 14 juillet 1952 avant d’être désigné pour une formation au Centre d’Études Asiatiques et Africaines. Il y perfectionnera ainsi sa connaissance du vietnamien.

En avril 1953, il embarque à Marseille sur le Kerguelen pour Saigon où il est mis à disposition du Chef de la Mission Militaire Française près le Gouverneur Royal Laotien avec, pour première mission, en position « hors cadres », celle de rebâtir le 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Laotiens dont les soldats Laotiens ont, pour la plupart, été tués ou se sont enfuis lors d’une grande offensive vietminh.Le commandant et les officiers français de cette Unité quasi-anéantie ont tous été tués ou portés disparus à l’exception d’un seul sous-officier gravement blessé et miraculeusement rescapé. Jacques dont le charisme est connu retrouve quelques officiers français volontaires pour l’accompagner et accueille un grand nombre de volontaires laotiens au camp de Chinaïmo (la « colline du grillon géant »). Le 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Laotiens, remis en ordre de marche par Jacques, conduit des opérations dans le Nord Laos sur des terrains très accidentés entre les sommets des montagnes et la rivière Nam Hoie qui coule vers le Mékong depuis la région de Diên Biên Phu, à la frontière du Laos et du Tonkin. Son remarquable comportement lui vaudra une nouvelle citation avec attribution sur sa Croix de Guerre d’une étoile de Bronze Jacques CORMIER m’a expliqué que le Royaume du Laos et la France avaient un accord qui contraignait la France à défendre le territoire laotien en cas d’invasion. Le choix du camp de Diên Biên Phu, situé dans une position si difficile à défendre, doit beaucoup à cet accord car cette position commande l’accès au Nord Laos.

Alors qu’à Paris et Genève commençaient les discussions sur l’avenir de l’Indochine, GIAP, le commandant des forces vietminh, comprend l’importance militaire et surtout politique de ce combat. Il va y engager, avec l’aide considérablement accrue de la Chine de MAO TSE TOUNG, toutes ses forces militaires mais aussi toutes ses capacités d’intendance et celles de ses alliés chinois...Malgré l’importante aide américaine à l’armée française en avions et armes, aide initialement négociée par le Général de LATTRE de TASSIGNY deux ans plus tôt, l’Histoire nous a dit ce qui résulta de cette bataille de Diên Biên Phu. Pour en rester aux seuls parachutistes engagés dans l’Opération « Castor », les forces commandées par le Général GILLES comprenaient le 6ème BPC de Marcel BIGEARD, le 1er BPC de SOUQUET et le 2ème Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes de BRÉCHIGNAC. En appui, le 1er Bataillon de Parachutistes Laotiens commandé par Jacques CORMIER et trois autres Bataillons, avaient en charge de contribuer à soulager les assiégés de Diên Biên Phu en conduisant des opérations de dégagement et de harcèlement. Il en fut par exemple ainsi, dans la vallée de Nam Ou, de l’Opération « Condor » qui avait pour but de progresser, à partir de Muong Khoua vers Diên Bien Phu pour s’efforcer d’attirer vers eux une partie des forces ennemies qui étranglaient la garnison française de plus en plus affaiblie. Mais, me dit Jacques, bien qu’arrivées au contact des forces françaises encerclées à Diên Biên Phu, les forces de ces quatre Bataillons, très affaiblies en nombre par leurs actions de harcèlement, n’étaient pas à l’échelle. La chute de Diên Biên Phu, quelques semaines plus tard, le 8 mai 1954, allait marquer la fin de la guerre d’Indochine.

En fait, Diên Bien Phu a été, historiquement et depuis des siècles, la porte habituelle des invasions venues de Chine. Aussi, empêcher les Viets de marcher vers la capitale est un des objectifs du Plan NAVARRE, Plan dont la réussite supposait des renforts humains importants. Le Général NAVARRE est allé à Paris les demander. Ces renforts lui ont été fermement promis par le gouvernement mais ils n’arriveront jamais...

Pour Jacques, profondément patriote, la grandeur et le rayonnement de la France étaient essentiels. Aussi sa déception était cruelle et sa tristesse très profonde. Cette tristesse s’ajoutait à une autre tout aussi profonde, celle que causa l’annonce du décès de son père, grand patriote, annonce portée par un courrier au campement de son Bataillon en avril 1954, en pleine bataille de Diên Biên Phu. Pour services exceptionnels rendus au Royaume du Laos, le Roi SISAVANG VONG introduira le jeune lieutenant Jacques CORMIER dans « l’Ordre Royal du Million d’Éléphants ». L’objectif de cet Ordre créé au début du XXème siècle était, je cite, « d’honorer les hautes personnalités ayant rendu des services exceptionnels au Royaume du Laos ». Je cite le texte accompagnant cette nomination car il est chargé de plusieurs symboles forts pour les Laotiens, « la cérémonie de décoration sera faite le douzième jour de la lune croissante du douzième mois de l’année du cheval» c'est-à-dire, pour nous, le 22 novembre 1954.

Après trois mois de pause oh combien méritée, il est affecté à Bayonne mais détaché à Paris au Centre d’Études Asiatiques et Africaines où il suit, de mars à juin, la formation de la section Afrique du Nord et perfectionne sa connaissance de la langue arabe. Puis il est affecté au 2ème Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux à Marrakech.Tandis que ce Bataillon devient le 6ème Régiment de Parachutistes Coloniaux, il gagne ses galons de capitaine dans les durs combats du Rif marocain en novembre 1955.Son régiment fait ensuite route vers l’Algérie, il débarque à Alger le 11 aout 1957. Après un mois au siège de l’Infanterie de Marine, il devient, à partir d’octobre, l’adjoint du Commandant de la Région de Blida. C’est dans cette fonction qu’il reçoit, le 6 septembre 1958, sa sixième citation du Général commandant le Corps d’armée d’Alger.

Permettez-moi de vous en écrire un extrait montrant bien, à la fois, toutes les qualités de combattant stratège et toutes les qualités humaines et morales de Jacques CORMIER :

« Officier de très grande valeur qui a fait preuve de belles qualités opérationnelles, d’une intelligence vive, d’un sens profond de l’humain et d’une activité inlassable. Il s’est particulièrement distingué en juillet, août et septembre 1957 lors des Opérations NC 15 dans les djebels d’Aïn-Sefra et de Djelfa et encore, plus particulièrement les 13 et 14 septembre à Bou-Hanndes ».

Le Général commandant le Corps d’armée d’Alger poursuit sa citation en disant

« Depuis octobre, dans la Région de Blida, grâce à son sens aigu de l’organisation, il a remarquablement conduit de pair la lutte anti-terroriste et l’action psychologique. Ainsi, il a doublement réussi la destruction de l’infrastructure rebelle de Blida et, dans le même temps, obtenu des résultats humains régionalement fortement appréciés car se traduisant pratiquement par la cessation des attentats et par l’amélioration des relations entre les français de souche et les français d’origine musulmane comme le montre, à titre d’exemple parmi d’autres, la création par lui d’un foyer sportif très largement ouvert aux jeunes musulmans et actuellement en plein essor. »Cette sixième citation comporte l’attribution, le 6 septembre 1958, de la Croix de la Valeur Militaire avec Étoile d’argent. 6 A la suite du Concours 1959 il est, début 1960, admis dans la 21ème promotion de l’École d’État-Major (Journal Officiel du 28 décembre 1959). Diplômé d’État-Major, il arrive, en mission spéciale, à Madagascar, jeune République indépendante, pour être mis à disposition de l’armée malgache en tant que Conseiller technique du Commandant du 1er Régiment d’Infanterie de l’Armée Nationale Malgache, régiment en cours de constitution. Particulièrement apprécié pour son efficacité et son grand sens humain, il est ensuite et très vite affecté, comme Conseiller pour les affaires militaires, à l’État-major particulier du premier Président de la République Malgache, Philibert TSIRANANA.

Jacques CORMIER est promu au grade de Chef de Bataillon, c'est-à-dire Commandant, par décret du 29 juin 1963. Il vient d’avoir 38 ans. Il rentre en France et est admissible à l’ÉCOLE SUPERIEURE DE LA GUERRE à la suite des épreuves écrites du Concours d’Admission de 1965 (Journal Officiel n°37 du 13 février 1965, page 1253). Le 21 septembre 1966, dans la cour des Invalides, Jacques CORMIER, 41 ans, est élevé au Grade d’Officier dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur par le Général de Corps d’Armée Georges CANONNE. Il est ensuite affecté à l’État- Major de la 1ère Région Militaire le 31 décembre 1966 avant d’être admis, à sa demande, à la retraite le 31 décembre 1968 à 43 ans.

Il poursuit ensuite une carrière industrielle à Paris au sein d’une grande entreprise française durant 20 ans. Ceux qui ont bien connu Jacques savent combien étaient grandes ses qualités humaines, ses capacités d’écoute, sa bonté, son attachement aux valeurs essentielles ou encore sa générosité. Parmi ses qualités humaines, on doit aussi citer son goût et sa capacité à communiquer, sa connaissance de l’anglais, de l’allemand, de l’annamite et de l’arabe contribuant fortement à l’efficacité de son action dans ses différents postes. Aucun n’oubliera non plus sa très grande modestie, son humour et, plus largement, sa très grande intelligence.

Eyquem d'Esparbès

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withinycu-arch · 4 years

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NAME: Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, Marquise de La Fayette usually just goes by Adrienne

SPECIES: human

ORIENTATION: demisexual, demiromantic

GENDER: female

APPEARANCE

A small, petite woman, with large dark eyes.

face claim: Alicia Vikander

RELATIONSHIPS

FAMILY: Henriette Anne Louise d'Aguesseau, Duchess of Noailles {mother}, Jean-Louis-Paul-François de Noailles, 5th Duke of Noailles {father}, Adrien Paul Louis de Noailles {older brother-deceased}, Anne Jeanne Baptiste Louise de Noailles {older sister}, Françoise Antoinette Louise de Noailles {younger sister}, Anne Paule Dominique de Noailles {younger sister}, Angélique Françoise d'Assise Rosalie de Noailles {younger sister}, Louis Gabriel de Noailles {younger brother-deceased}

SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette {husband}

CHILDREN: Henriette du Motier {daughter}, Anastasie Louise Pauline du Motier {daughter}, Georges Washington Louis Gilbert du Motier {son}, Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier {daughter}

PERSONALITY

Adrienne is a woman of intense passions and convictions but who rarely lets those emotions show publicly. She is in that sense always aware of her station as a noblewoman.

NEED TO KNOWS

On her husband- It’s very much unconditional love. Though I think some of that comes from the fact he was able to do much of what she herself would have liked to do had she not been a woman in 18th century France. That said their can definitely be a kind of immaturity to her feelings for her husband as she’s been both in love with and married to him since she was a young teenager. More on their dynamic here { X }

She can be just as intensely idealistic as her husband but in many ways lacks his impulsiveness. When she chooses to act she does so much more carefully and thoroughly.

IMPORTANT TAGS

character tag

headcanon tag

#i struggle to be worthy {adrienne de la lafayette headcanon}#dear heart {adrienne de la lafayette}#i am all yours {adrienne de la lafayette aesthetic}

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ao3feed-hamilton · 4 years

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by AvatarNia

"Dear Diary, Starting high school is hard. Starting high school when everyone knows about your mother's affair with the English teacher is harder."

Susan Reynolds never had an easy life. From her absent father to her family's financial troubles, she always had to struggle to scrape by. Now, her life is about to get a whole lot harder as she's going into her freshman year at Albany High, where nobody knows her name but everybody knows who she is.

The girl whose mother had an affair with Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton Next Gen Modern AU

Words: 1060, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Tales from Albany High

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M

Characters: Susan Reynolds (b.1785), Maria Reynolds, James Reynolds (fl.1783-1792), Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Angelica Schuyler, Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan, Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George III of the United Kingdom, George Washington, Samuel Seabury (1729-1796), George Eacker, John Adams, Theodosia Burr Alston, Theodosia Prevost Burr (mentioned), Martha Washington, Adrienne de Lafayette, Martha Laurens Ramsay, John Laurens (mentioned), Martha Manning (mentioned), Georges Washington de La Fayette, Anastasie Louise Pauline du Motier, Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier, Frances Laurens, Philip Hamilton, Angelica Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton Jr., James Hamilton, John Church Hamilton, William Hamilton, Eliza Hamilton Holly, John Church (Mentioned), Philip Schuyler Church (1778-1861), Catharine "Kitty" Church

Relationships: Alexander Hamilton/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Theodosia Burr Alston/Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton Jr./Susan Reynolds (b.1785), Frances Laurens/Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Modern Era, Alternate Universe - High School, High School, Next Generation, Susan Reynolds deserves better, George Washington is a Dad, Cross-Posted on Wattpad, bisexual Susan Reynolds, bisexual Philip hamilton, pansexual Theodosia Burr

from AO3 works tagged 'Hamilton - Miranda' https://ift.tt/3bu4zvB

#IFTTT #ao3feed #Hamilton #fanfic

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a-literal-hobbit · 5 years

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Technically, didn’t Washington indirectly orphan Lafayette?

Ok so you all probably know that Washington technically started the Seven Years War, in which Lafayette’s father died in. Lafayette’s mother had never truly gotten over his death and died as well. His grandfather died soon after that, leaving him an orphan with a huge fortune in the middle of Paris. However, if he wasn’t orphaned, he probably wouldn’t have been arranged to marry Adrienne. Not to mention the fact that if the Seven Years War hadn’t happened, the American Revolution probably wouldn’t have happened when it did, (if it did at all), and therefore, Lafayette would have never had to make his grand escape to America and earn his titles there. The Gay Trio wouldn’t have been a thing either, as they never would have all met, most likely. And let’s not forget that Georges Washington de Lafayette wouldn’t exist, (nor would Marie Antoinette Virginie Motier de la Fayette for that matter). Lafayette probably wouldn’t have made it out of France, and, (assuming the French Revolution and The Reign of Terror still happen when they did and/or at all), Lafayette and his family, if any, would have certainly died at some point in The French Revolution and never would have been The Hero of Two Worlds he is known as today. Therefore, Washington unknowingly gave a young Lafayette, (many other influential people, and even America as a whole), a much greater life than what he would have had by starting the Seven Years War. Not to mention the fact that even during the Revolution he had ended up filling in as a father figure in Lafayette’s eyes anyway. Regardless though, I wonder if either one realized Washington’s connection (however vague), to Micheal du Mortier, Marquis de Lafayette’s death, and if so, what their reactions were. I wonder if Washington has ever dwelled on it, as Lafayette had almost definitely told him of his father’s death at the hands of a British canon, if there was ever a few seconds of unspoken guilt. If Lafayette had ever found a few moments of bittersweet humor at the irony of his situation. The world shall never know, no matter how much i wish it could.

#oh shit #i made myself cry #aaAAARHHG #CANT I JUST GO TO A MUSEUM WITHOUT MY BRAIN FORMULATING THIS PHILOSOPHICAL BULLSHIT #In the wise words of Von Steuben: GODDAMN!#lafayette #historical hamiltrash no less #hamiltrash #turn amc #washington #ow #shit #pain #sorry for the long post #poor french fry #historical lafayette

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ao3feed-hamliza · 5 years

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by Lezbean_musical_addict

Philip Hamilton /HATES/ the story of Romeo and Juliet, meaning he never thought he'd end up in a situation just like that of Romeo and Juliet's, much to his dismay however, he ends up in just that kind of situation.

It's based off the story of Romeo and Juliet, but less tragic. Or is it?

Words: 1223, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow, Romeo And Juliet - Shakespeare

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Philip Hamilton, Philip Hamilton (1782-1801), Theodosia Burr Alston, Theodosia Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Angelica Hamilton, James Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Theodosia Prevost Burr, George Washington, Martha Washington, William Mulligan (1780-1837), Marie Antoinette Virginie Motier de la Fayette, Frances Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton Jr., John Laurens, Angelica Schuyler, Margaret "Peggy" Schuyler, Original Characters

Relationships: Theodosia Burr Alston/Philip Hamilton, Theodosia Burr Alston & Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Aaron Burr/Theodosia Prevost Burr, Adrienne de Lafayette/Gilbert du Motier Marquis de Lafayette, Hercules Mulligan/Elizabeth Sanders Mulligan, George Washington/Martha Washington

Additional Tags: Love Story, Falling In Love, Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, But Less Tragic, High School, Rev-Set's Kids, Based Off Historical Fact, But Some Things are Different, Romeo and Juliet is Stupid, Angst, Fluff, Love, Teenagers, Teen Romance, Sneaking Out, Sneaking Around, Secret Relationship, please don't let this flop, The Author Regrets Nothing, Author Is Sleep Deprived, School Dances, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, read the notes, Shootings, someone gets shot, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Author Hates Romeo and Juliet With a Passion

#ao3feed #hamliza #fanfic

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ao3feed-lams · 5 years

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What the Heck? I Gotta Be With You

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/2uu2a0o

by Lezbean_musical_addict

It's based off the story of Romeo and Juliet, but less tragic. Or is it?

Alternatively titled: Romeo & Juliet? More Like Philip & Theodosia

Words: 2297, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Hamilton - Miranda, Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow, Romeo And Juliet - Shakespeare

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Relationships: Theodosia Burr Alston/Philip Hamilton, Theodosia Burr Alston & Philip Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton/Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, Aaron Burr/Theodosia Prevost Burr, George Washington/Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens (past)

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/2uu2a0o

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #Hamilton #lams

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nordleuchten · 10 days

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Mde de Lafayette is well, and I Hope in the course of some months your God son will Have a Brother. She requests Her best and most affectionate compliments to be presented to you, and my little family, [done]the same, as they are [] Before all to [Respects] and to love General Washington.

The Marquis de La Fayette to George Washington, June 29, 1782

The "brother" would turn out to be the La Fayette's daughter Virginie

“To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 June 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-08810. [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (03/26/2024)

#marquis de lafayette #la fayette #french history #american history #history #letter #founders online #1782 #virginie de la fayette #adrienne de lafayette #adrienne de noailles #george washington #georges de la fayette

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jubaunetwork · 4 months

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0 notes

46ten · 5 years

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Letters between G. Washington and Adrienne, Marquise de Lafayette

I was comparing/contrasting AH’s correspondence with women that he was not related to and those of other prominent men (I’m going to do a brief series or something about that), and came across these letters between G. Washington and Adrienne, Lafayette’s wife. Two things immediately stood out: 1) the use of common phrases; 2) the soft diplomacy that both were expected to engage in.

This is quite long (so I’ve added the break), and I’m not going to discuss any parts, it’s just meant to be illustrative. (my edits of) Letters between GW and Marie Adrienne, Marquise de Lafayette, (and one to Anastasie) click on links to see the entire letter on Founders.

Adrienne to GW:

I seize with eagerness, the first moment, in which you enjoy the charms, of a peaceful retirement, and the Satisfaction to find yourself restored, to those, to whom you are dear, after So many dangers, and So much glory; to offer you my hommage, and my felicitations, on the glorious peace, obtained by your Labours, and your success. I have, sir, many rights to partake your Sentimens, on this occasion, and every one, is very precious to me. it is as a french as an american woman, as the wife of Mr De La fayette, that I feel the public joy, and the peculiar part, that General Washington must take in it. I cannot read, without being moved the circular Letter, that you have written, before your left publick affairs. I believe, that I should be as happy to See you as present, at mount–vernon as Ms de La fayette was to See you, at mon–moath, or yorktown. then, and during all the time of my anxiety for him, one of my greatest consolation, was to know, that he was with you. I was always, sensible how happy he was, to Learn at the School, of such a master, and above all, I felt whose charms he found, in the Sentimens of Such a friend. I judged, by my own experience of the Sufferings of mistress Washington during the war, and I feel, and partake the Sweets, of her present situation. I entertain my self, in the hope, to see you both, in our Country, and to go and see you in america. I not think without a great emotion, on the moment, in which I would find my self on a ground, So dear to us, for So many accounts. I cannot express, sir, the Smallest part of my Sentimens, nor only on account of my ignorance, of your Language, but because they could not be expressed, your name, is one of the first, that our Children Learn to Lisp, and we would yet, inspire them with the sentimens of our heart, for you, the name of George, and Virginie; Shall be a perpetual remembrance, of our sentimens, for you, and your Country, and give them a peculiar right, to your benevolence. I beg you sir, in favour of their father, to have Some goodness for them, and I flatter myself that it is not necessary to intreat you that. it is in the confidence, that I come and I offer the assurance, and the hommage, of our gratitude, to you, requiring for my self, Some part in the sentimens, which our Little family, is honoured, with. I deserve it sir, by those of the highest esteem and regard, with which I am sir, your most humble, and very most obedient servant 26Dec1783, Adrienne to GW

GW to Adrienne:

Dear Madam,

It is now, more than ever, I want words to express the sensibility & gratitude with which the honor of your felicitations of the 26th of Decr has inspired me. If my expression was equal to the feelings of my heart the homage I am about to render you, would appear in a more favourable point of view, than my most sanguine expectations will encourage me to hope for. I am more inclined therefore to rely upon the continuence of your indulgent sentiments of me, & that innate goodness for which you are remarked—than upon any merit I possess, or any assurances I could give of my sense of the obligation I am under for the honor you have conferred upon me by your correspondence.

Great as your claim is, as a French, or American woman; or as the wife of my amiable friend, to my affectionate regards; you have others to which the palm must be yielded. The charms of your person, & the beauties of your mind, have a more powerful operation—These Madam, have endeared you to me, & every thing which partakes of your nature will have a claim to my affections—George & Virginia (the offspring of your love), whose names do honor to my Country, & to myself, have a double claim & will be the objects of my vows.

From the clangor of arms & the bustle of a camp—freed from the cares of public employment, & the responsibility of Office—I am now enjoying domestic ease under the shadow of my own Vine, & my own Fig tree; & in a small Villa, with the implements of Husbandry & Lambkins around me, I expect to glide gently down the stream of life, ’till I am emtombed in the dreary mansions of my Fathers.

Mrs Washington is highly honored by your participations, & feels very sensibly the force of your polite invitation to Paris; but she is too far advanced in life, & is too much immersed in the care of her little progeny to cross the Atlantic. This my Dr Marchioness (indulge me with this freedom) is not the case with you. You have youth (& if you should not incline to bring your children, can leave them with all the advantages to Education)—and must have a curiosity to see the Country, young, rude & uncultivated as it is; for the liberties of which your husband has fought, bled, & acquired much glory—Where every body admires, every body loves him—Come them, let me entreat it, & call my Cottage your home; for your own doors do not open to you with more readiness, than mine wou’d. You will see the plain manner in which we live; & meet the rustic civility, & you shall taste the simplicity of rural life—It will diversify the Scene & may give you a higher relish for the gaieties of the Court, when you return to Versailles. In these wishes, & in most respectful compliments Mrs Washington joins me. With sentiments of strong attachment, & very great regard I have the honor to be Madam Your most obedt & much obliged Servt, 4April1784

Adrienne to GW:

if I ever had some right, to your indulgence, it’s certainly in this moment; in which I am in the very moment to separate me from mr De La fayette, who is going to see you. I must hope for this indulgence, because I am not in a situation to write tolerably, but I cannot help myself from thanking you, for the kind Letter which you honoured me with. the care of our children obliges me to stay here, and I believe that I could not be so good a mother if their father had not intreated me for. at Least sir I recommend my self to you for obtaining of him, his word to take me with him, at his first journey to america. you see what is my confidence in your Goodness. 18June1784

GW to Adrienne:

If my expression was equal to my sensibility, I should in more elegant language than I am Master of, declare to you my sense of the obligation I am under for the letter you did me the honor to write me by the Marqs de la Fayette, & thanks for this flattering instance of your regard. The pleasure I received in once more embracing my friend could only have been encreased by your presence, & that opportunity I should thereby have had of paying, in my own house, the homage of my respectful attachment to his better half. I have obtained a promise which the Marqs has ratified to Mrs Washington, that he will use his influence to bring you with him to this Country, whenever he shall visit it again. When the weight of so powerful an advocate is on our side, will you My Dr Marchioness deny us the pleasure of accompanying him to the shores of Columbia? In offering our mite, we can only assure you that endeavours shall not be wanting on our part to make this New World as agreeable to you as rural scenes & peaceful retirement are competent to. The Marquis returns to you with all the warmth & ardour of a newly inspired lover—We restore him to you in good health, crowned with wreaths of love & respect from every part of the Union. That his meeting with you, his family & friends, may be propitious, & as happy as your wishes can make it—that you may long live together revered & beloved—& that you may transmit to a numerous progeny the virtue which you both possess—is consonant with the vow & fervent wish of your devoted & most respectful Humble Servant 25Nov1784

GW to Anastasie:

Permit me to thank my dear little correspondent for the favor of her letter of the 18th of June last, & to impress her with the idea of the pleasure I shall derive in a continuation of them. Her Papa is restored to her with all the good health, paternal affection & honors, her tender heart could wish.

He will carry a kiss to her from me, (which might be more agreeable from a pretty boy) & give her assurances of the affectionate regard with which I have the pleasure of being her well wisher, 25Nov1784

GW to Adrienne:

Of all the correspondencies with which I am honored, none has given me more pleasure than yours; none which I am more desireous of continuing, or more ambitious to deserve. What then my Dr Madam, must have been my mortification when, instead of receiving the letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 15th of April last year, in due time, it was not ’till sometime in the course of last month, that I received it at all, & the parcels with which you were pleased to accompany it. By mistake these parcels lay at Bordeaux a considerable time after they had arrived there, before it was discovered for whom they were intended, & then were sent by a Vessel which took a very circuitous voyage to the Country. I trouble you with this detail of matters by way of apology for what otherwise might appear a want of sensibility in me for your distinguished and valuable favors, than which nothing is, or can be more flattering & pleasing to my vanity.

The tokens of regard with which Miss de la Fayette & my name-sake have honored the young folks of this family, will cement the friendship which seems to be rising in their tender breasts; & will encrease those flames of it which they have imbibed from their parents, to which nothing can add strength, but the endearments which flow from personal interviews, & the unreserved exchange of liberal sentiments. Will you not then Madam, afford them this opportunity? May we hope for it soon? If the assurances of the sincerest esteem & affection: if the varieties of uncultivated nature; the novelty of exchanging the gay & delightful scenes of Paris with which you are surrounded, for the rural amusements of a country in its infancy; if the warbling notes of the feathered songsters on our Lawns & Meads, can for a moment make you forget the melody of the Opera, & the pleasures of the Court—these, all invite you to give us this honour, & the opportunity of expressing to you personally, those sentiments of attachment & love with which you have inspired us.

The noon-tide of life is now passed with Mrs Washington & myself, and all we have to do is to spend the evening of our days in tranquillity, & glide gently down a stream which no human effort can ascend. We must therefore, however reluctantly it is done, forego the pleasures of such a visit as you kindly invite us to make. But the case with you, is far otherwise—Your days are in their me[r]idian brightness. In the natural order of things you have many years to come, in which you may endulge yourself in all the amusements which variety can afford, and different countries produce; & in receiving those testimonies of respect, which every one in the United States would wish to render you.

My Mother will receive the compliments you honor her with, as a flattering mark of your attention; & I shall have great pleasure in delivering them myself. My best wishes & vows are offered for you, & for the fruits of your love, & with every sentiment of respect & attachment I have the honor to be Madam, &c. &c. 10May1786

Adrienne to GW:

...In this abyss of grief the idea of owing to the U.S. and to M. Washington—the life & liberty of M. Lafayette re-animates my heart with some hope. I hope every thing from the goodness of a people with whom he has set an example of that liberty of which he is now the victim—And shall I dare speak what I hope? I would ask of them, through you, an Envoy who shall go to reclaim him in the name of the Republic of the U.S. wheresoever he may be retained, and who may make, in their name with whatso[e]ver power he may be, the necessary engagements to emancipate him from his captivity, & carry him to their bosoms. If his wife & his Children could be comprised in this happy mission, it is easy to judge how sweet it would be to her and to them; but if this would retard or embarrass, in any degree, the progress or his success—we will defer the happiness of a reunion yet longer, and when we shall be near you we will bear the grief of seperation with more courage....8Oct1792

GW to Adrienne:

...But I have still to sympathize with you on the deprivation of the dearest of all your resources of happiness, in comparison with which, others vanish. I do it in all the sincerity of my friendship for him, and with ardent desires for his relief: in which sentiments I know that my fellow-citizens participate. The measures you were pleased to intimate in your letter are perhaps not exactly those which I could pursue, perhaps indeed not the most likely, under actual circumstances, to obtain our object. But be assured that I am not inattentive to his condition, nor contenting myself with inactive wishes for his liberation. My affection to his nation and to himself are unabated, and notwithstanding the line of separation which has been unfortunately drawn between them, I am confident that both have been led on by a pure love of liberty and a desire to secure public happiness: and I shall deem that among the most consoling moments of my life which should see them reunited in the end, as they were in the beginning, of their virtuous enterprize. 16Mar1793

Two more:

13June1793

5June1795

#18th century correspondence #George Washington #Adrienne #Marquise de Lafayette

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