France, resolved to embark in the cause of America.
Accordingly he set sail for that country, accompanied by Baron Kalb, and
a few other adventurers, and when he arrived he was received with open
arms by Washington and by congress. On the 31st of July, indeed, the
members of congress expressed their sense of his accession to their
cause in warm terms, and conferred on him the rank and commission of
major-general. He fought in the battle of the Brandywine, where he was
shot in the leg, and where he narrowly escaped being taken prisoner.
Nothing more is heard of him till the depth of the winter, when
Washington still lay hutted in Valley Forge, contending against the
horrors of sickness and famine, as previously narrated. At this time
congress, who were sitting in York Town, at the instigation of a board
of war, composed of Gates, Starke, and others, all personal enemies of
Washington, resolved to make another irruption into Canada, and that
the command should be given to Lafayette. It was supposed that the young
French nobleman would have great influence with the French descendants
in Canada, which was the chief reason of his being raised to the
command. The plan was completed without a word of intimation to
Washington; and when it was fully resolved upon he received a letter
from Gates, now his rival, enclosing another for the young marquess,
requiring his immediate attendance on congress to receive his
instructions. At the same time, Washington was directed to send one of
his best regiments to join the Canadian expedition. Lafayette repaired
to congress, and Washington put the required regiment in motion for
Albany, on the Hudson, where the invading force was to be assembled.
According to his own account, Lafayette made large demands on congress
in order to ensure the success of his expedition, which demands were all
complied with. He soon, however, found that the word of congress could
not be depended upon. He was told that 2500 men would be assembled at
Albany; that he would be joined by a great body of militia further up
the Hudson; that he should have a certain sum of money in specie, and
2,000,000 dollars in paper-money; and that he must proceed from the head
of the Hudson to Lake Cham-plain, cross that water on the ice, burn the
English fleet at the Isle Aux Noix, and then, descending the Sorel and
crossing the St. Lawrence, repair to Montreal, to act as circumstances
should permit him. Lafayette set out full of ar