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Submitted by Jimmy Moore

MURFREESBORO – On Feb. 26, the Murfreesboro Historical Association will honor the memory of the Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette in a re-enactment of his 1825 visit to the town.

The Murfreesboro observance next month is part of a national celebration of Lafayette’s Grand Tour. The local event will start at 5 p.m. with a re-creation of the original welcome ceremony at the Murfreesboro Town Hall. There, Mayor Hal Thomas will issue a proclamation for Lafayette Day.

Murfreesboro Historical Association president Jimmy Moore will reprise the role of Judge Thomas Maney, who issued the original welcome. A representative from the American Friends of Lafayette will respond.

Afterwards, everyone will move across the street to a reception at Hertford Academy.

The ceremony and reception and ceremony are free and open to the public. Those wishing to attend are requested to RSVP so that the association can make an accurate count for refreshments. Responses may be made to the MHA office at 252-398-5922 or to murfreesborohistorical@gmail.com.

Today, Lafayette is largely unknown to the general public. However, he was a pivotal figure in helping us to gain our independence from Great Britain in winning the Revolutionary War.

Lafayette was born Sept. 6, 1757 to an aristocratic family at Chavaniac in the Auvergne region of France. The family had a long tradition of military service.

When Lafayette’s father was killed in battle with the Germans in 1759, he inherited the noble title of marquis. In 1774 he married the young and beautiful Adrienne de Noailles. They led a privileged life in Paris and at the royal court of Versailles. During this time, he was commissioned as an officer in the king’s royal musketeers.

In 1775 as Lafayette turned age 18, he became convinced of the justice of the American cause as they resisted British tyranny. He approached the American agents seeking aid from the French government.

Despite his young age, he was commissioned as a major general in the Revolutionary army. King Louis XVI had issued an order forbidding French officers from serving in America. Refusing to comply with this directive, Lafayette bought his own ship and sailed to America. He landed near Georgetown, SC on June 13, 1777.

Lafayette made his way to Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress commissioned him a major general. He met George Washington on August 5. The two men bonded immediately.

While Congress considered his commission honorary, Lafayette was eager to prove himself on the battlefield. He first saw action at the battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777. He was shot in the leg but still managed to rally his troops. Congress later applauded him for his courage.

Lafayette stayed with Washington and the American army at Valley Forge during the brutal winter of 1777-1778. He then campaigned throughout New England.

He returned to France in 1779. During his time there, he secured the promise of 6,000 soldiers to be sent to aid the American forces.

After his return to America in the spring of 1780, Lafayette saw extensive service in the South. On Sept. 14, 1781, Lafayette’s forces joined Washington’s army in Virginia. They laid siege to the British at Yorktown. Cornwallis’ surrender on October 19 effectively ended the war.

Lafayette returned to France to a hero’s welcome. He was hailed as the “hero of two worlds.”

As events moved towards the French Revolution in 1789, he championed representative government for the French people. However, events deteriorated rapidly, and Lafayette fell under suspicion of the radical forces in the Revolutionary movement. Attempting to leave France, Lafayette was captured by the Austrians. He and his family were imprisoned until 1797. They were finally able to return to France when Napoleon came to power.

Lafayette retired from politics and let a quiet life in the country for several years.

President James Monroe and Congress invited Lafayette to visit the United States in 1824 to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the country. He arrived in New York on August 15 to a rapturous welcome.

After visiting the Northern states, he spent the winter in Washington. He spent the night of Feb. 26, 1825 in Murfreesboro before continuing on to Raleigh. He returned to France in September.

Lafayette died May 20, 1834.