February 4th
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“I See plainly that America Can defend Herself if proper Measure are taken and Now I Begin to fear that She Could be lost By Herself and Her own Sons.”
“You Shall See Very plainly that if You were lost for America, there is no Body who Could keep the army and the Revolution for Six months.”
From Major General Marquis de Lafayette
Valley Forge, 30 December 1777
My Dear General
I went yesterday morning to head-quarters with an intention of speaking to your excellency, but you were too busy, and I shall lay down in this letter what I wished to say.
I don’t need to tell you that I am sorry for all that has happened for some time past. It is a necessary dependence of my most tender and respectful friendship for you, which affection is as true and candid as the other sentiments of my heart, and much stronger than so new an acquaintance seems to admit;* but an other reason, to be concerned in the present circumstances, is my ardent and perhaps enthusiastick wishes for the happiness and liberty of this country. I see plainly that America can defend herself if proper measures are taken and now I begin to fear lest she should be lost by herself and her own sons.
Artist: John Dunsmore. Library of Congress
When I was in Europe I thought that here almost every man was a lover of liberty, and would rather die free than live a slave. You can conceive my astonishment when I saw that toryism was as oppenly professed as wighism itself: however, at that time I believed that all good Americans were united together; that the confidence of Congress in you was unbounded. Then I entertained the certitude that America would be independent in case she would not lose you. Take away, for an instant, that modest diffidence of yourself, (which, pardon my freedom, my dear General, is sometimes too great, and I wish you could know, as well as myself, what difference there is between you and any other man,) you would see very plainly that if you were lost for America, there is nobody who could keep the army and the revolution for six months. There are oppen dissentions in Congress, parties who hate one another as much as the common ennemy; stupid men, who without knowing a single word about war, undertake to judge you, to make ridiculous comparisons; they are infatuated with Gates**, without thinking of the different circumstances, and believe that attacking is the only thing necessary to conquer. Those ideas are entertained in their minds by some jealous men, and perhaps secret friends to the British Government, who want to push you, in a moment of ill humour, to some rash enterprise upon the lines, or against a much stronger army. I should not take the liberty of mentionning these particulars to you if I did not receive a letter about this matter, from a young good-natured gentleman at York, whom connway*** has ruined by his cunning, bad advice, but who entertains the greatest respect for you.
. . .
My desire of deserving your approbation is stronger than ever, and everywhere you will employ me you can be certain of my trying every exertion in my power to succeed. I am now fixed to your fate, and I shall follow it and sustain it as well by my sword as by all means in my power. You will pardon my importunity in favour of the sentiment which dictated it. Youth and friendship make me, perhap, too warm, but I feel the greatest concern at all that has happened for some time since.
With the most tenderest and profond respect, I have the honor to be dear general Your most obedient humble Servant
The Marquis de Lafayette
* Lafayette had arrived in America approximately six months before he wrote this letter.
** Major General Horatio Gates had been victorious at the Battle of Saratoga in October.
*** Thomas Conway
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