Lafayette_Courtier to Crown Fugitive, 1757-1777

by S. P. Grogan

  “Mr. Deane, may I introduce you to Foreign Minister comte de Vergennes.”

  Proper bows exchanged and the small talk of Deane’s ocean journey quickly dispensed with as the Foreign Minister got down to his government’s position.

  “We, sir, are very sympathetic with your goals at ejecting the British and their policy from your colonies. As you well know from our benevolence last May, we wish to continue our support. But as you know we must honor our existing treaties and that requires our open neutrality. However, I am here to tell you, that we shall, through our esteemed friend here—he motioned his hand at Beaumarchais—that we will have our agents seek to secure those items that most support your wants.”

  Deane, as an agent for the Congress, knew the fancy language he must use, gratitude but no open acknowledgment.

  “Sire, please convey to his royal majesty, our internal gratitude to have a friend such as he. It is my goal only to represent our country in the best possible light.”

  “I will let his majesty know your kind words. It is our desire to be of aid, but without notice. Your discretion in public will be much appreciated.”

  Deane nodded his head to this understanding. He was soon formally dismissed. The exchange had been made. Each party knew their place, especially to Deane, who accepted he must keep all such business while in Paris quite confidential and without fanfare of any kind.

  By August Ambassador Lord Stormont’s spies knew Silas Deane was in Paris to buy arms for the American traitors. And so did the rest of Paris, and they had heard Monsieur Deane was in the city as the representative of the American patriots, there to advance their opposition against British rule, and do so by acquiring not only French goods but by securing the best among French military volunteers.

  Such news flashed around the city, to the royal court, around the country, a whirlwind of excitement. Anti-British fervor began rising. A new card game called Le Boston took the place of English whist. Even the Queen, Marie Antoinette, through Vergennes, then to Beaumarchais, who asked that the Americans send her a pair of Narragansett horses to grace her stables. The request went to the bottom of the pile of mounting requests on Deane’s desk.

  He was now the most popular man in France. Even with Beaumarchais seeking to be a filter to all that sought out Deane, many slipped through, and the American Commissioner was overwhelmed with visitors seeking audience. Most were military officers seeking appointments to fight in America demanding that their position, regardless of experience, deserved to have ranking of major or above, many believing the nascent American army with little form needed generals to give the proper commands.

  Tightening his control in the life of the American Commissioner, Beaumarchais hosted a dinner at his home with some worthy guests. Besides Deane in attendance was American William Carmichael, Deane’s new personal secretary, and two French military officers, who were portrayed to Deane as experts willing to help the Americans, General jean-Baptiste de Gribeauval and Colonel Tronson du Coudray. During the course of the meal, Courdray offered his services to Deane to serve in the American conflict, but that he was only worthy of a major generalship. Deane looked to Beaumarchais, who gave an imperceptible nod, passing on his approval. Deane felt satisfied that Beaumarchais would help him find the best for American service.

  Deane, feeling the power he had and believing anything he did to bring expertise to his native country, began to sign contracts granting military officers that Beaumarchais felt worthy, into high promotions with financial payments commiserate to rank. It would Beaumarchais’s responsibility to get these men to the battle field.

  In September, Stormont’s spies noted that Beaumarchais had gone to Le Harve and sent off shipments of ‘horticultural equipment’, which in fact had been 200 bronze cannons, 100,000 cannonballs 30,000 light muskets, and great numbers of tents and wool clothing. Four other ships were identified to be ready to sail at year end.

  Deane had become very beholding to Beaumarchais.

  45.

  OCTOBER BECAME THE month of High Tension.

  “I can wait no longer.” La Fayette groused.

  His social companions, as usual, were the comtes Marc Noailles and Phillippe Segur. They were sipping at their coffee. And were in general agreement, all anxious.

  “I have heard,” said Segur, “the Marquis de Tuffin has left for America to serve.”

  That slightly infuriated Gilbert with a tinge of jealousy, as being a Marquis himself, he wondered if he might be usurped in recognition as a high noble.

  “That, according to my sources,” continued Segur, adding more sugar to his cup, “That the Marquis is going to go country as they say and become a common man with the nom de plume of ‘Charles Armand’. Very American of him.”

  Gilbert hid his sigh of relief.

  “Well, before this, we had no direction, no sanction to act,” Marc Noailles, put down the broadsheet on the table. Gilbert had read and re-read the document more than a dozen times, “By this declaration which the thirteen colonies signed back in July, they have banned together to be their own government. So, finally in public they condemn their King for his egregious and bungling efforts to try and manage them from an ocean away.

  “Yes, “said Gilbert, tough sounding in deep baritone, “their call to be free shows determination. And so we must act.”

  “I concur,” said Noailles, “but how? Have you heard back from General de Broglie?”

  La Fayette took a sip of the strong-bean coffee, frustrated. “He told me to be patient but how can I now? It’s been two months. What is he waiting for?”

  “Getting a ship to sail to carry a boat load of officers is no easy task,” spoke Segur. “Besides he too probably was waiting for a positive sign—he pointed to the document—like this declaration. Our King’s government needs reassurance that the colonies are going to fight as one.”

  “The language herein”, said Marc Noailles, picking up the document, “explicitly sets out their case, it moves the world to see that from annoying sparks of revolt they now legally separate themselves from a tyrannical subjugation. Just hear this: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

  “Indeed an attorney had his hand in the inkwell here,” offered Segur, taking the paper from Noailles’s hand. “I like this beginning part: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”

  “Sounds like Abbé Raynal was giving one of his dogma lessons”, critiqued Noailles.

  “These paper words spout well enough and offer the justifications, but only by sword can they be sustained.” Gilbert pontificated his feelings.

  “And you are ready to lift sword and charge into battle?”

  “Why not? For freedom against an oppressor, one cannot have a better battle cry,” affirmed Gilbert more eager than ever. In recent months, Noailles and Sergur had come to tolerate their friend’s obnoxious puppy-dog eagerness to go fight wars and win accolades.

  “Well, it is certain,” said Noailles, “that American Commissioner Deane is signing up paid ‘volunteers’ to serve. I heard that there is this French-Irish officer, Conway, who has been given a major generalship, and is preparing a party of officers to depart with a month or so.”

  Gilbert concerned, said, “No, we can’t let them depart before us. They will take all the good command positions of note.”

  “Then we must reach out to de Broglie, have him make this introduction to Baron de Kalb, his key man, and then we all go to Commissioner Deane for our commissions.”

  “Yes, sounds
exciting,” chimed in Segur, “I do think I must be a general to oversee the scruffy farmers.”

  “As do I,” said Noailles. “I won’t settle for less than a major generalship. Any who strives for glory must at least lead a division, at minimum.”

  Gilbert took their comments as kidding, but he was serious when he said. “I would be happy to be a colonel of dragoons and lead a cavalry charge.” He thought but did not say aloud, ‘Even to serve as adjutant to a General Noailles, if it just got me to the front lines.’

  Said Segur in a formal voice, “Then let us make a pact that by whatever means we shall apply to go to America and help them to victory.” ‘Hear, hear’ said the three, and their coffee cups clinked as one in resolution. Quickly, to what they had just agreed on, they also pledged silence from others until their traveling arrangements, and commissions, could be first arranged.

  Commissioner Silas Deane felt the pressure, stressed to extremes. There was the overwhelming constant flood of applicants for high ranking military positions; his realization leading to paranoia that Lord Stormont had a cadre of spies around every corner, that he was even being spied upon by the French government through the offices of Paris Police Chief, Jean-Charles Lenoir.

  Above it all, he had received no mail from Congress since his arrival, whereas he was writing daily about all his problems and making a request for help. Expecting the congressional call for the final separation between the colonies and the British government, he was still surprised that the document of Independence came through public channels rather than private mail. He knew the mails were unreliable, that British ships held the seas and sea captains were instructed to weigh down any correspondence and throw it overboard if there bore any chance for hostile boarding.

  Additional burdens came from his trying to manage the entire war as a single individual. This October found him signing contracts for gunpowder, all on credit, and no assurances these bills would ever be paid. The same month was the political crises when Spain arrested an American ship captain, a Captain Lee, who said he was a privateer sailing under a Letter of Marque, Congress’s written license authorizing the capture of enemy ships. But the five British ships he brought into a Spanish harbor called him a pirate and local authorities threw him into prison. Deane had to scurry to Foreign Minister Vergennes and ask for intercession and received support but only if the American privateers would steer clear of French and Spanish ports. That was easy to agree to but would be harder to keep in force. Where else would a ship with prizes sail to so as gain a fair monetary return?

  As one answer to all this pressure, Deane felt he might gain release by seeking a new residence, taking most of the first floor at the Hotel d’Entragnes, near the Pont Royal. It would offer little safe haven. His latest call by Beaumarchais was to accept a personal request by Vergennes to meet with General de Broglie (not as Marquis de Ruffec) and his military aide, Baron Joanne de Kalb, fashioning himself more francais as Jean de Kalb. That propitious meeting was set for early November. Meanwhile, before that, de Broglie had to keep some promising balls juggling in the air.

  Historic meeting: Baron de Kalb introduces Captain La Fayette to Commissioner Deane and Gilbert shall become a Major General (in name only)

  46.

  “GENTLEMEN, MAY I INTRODUCE my staff aide, Baron Jean de Kalb [last year he was a ‘Johan’].” They were in de Broglie’s Paris mansion. His expected guests were the Marquis de La Fayette and the comte de Noailles, Gilbert and Marc.

  The Baron, in his low guttural Prussian French, spoke first to their bows. “I do believe I recall seeing these fine men around the garrison in Metz.” Both young men felt slightly embarrassed, for though they certainly remember de Kalb as an officer on de Broglie’s staff, it was proper not to agree to such recognition until all the proper introductions were exchanged. Besides, they both were in civilian garb while de Kalb looked starch-clean in uniform, with several medals attached, which immediately impressed Gilbert. It would not matter to Gilbert to discover Baron de Kalb was no Baron but base born of peasant stock, and somewhere between battles in the Seven Years War, believed a title would best help his career, especially if he was shopping his services to foreign governments. This was a social meeting of the best order, high on testosterone, since all four men in the room were seeking advancement by taking advantage of that far distant war.

  When they had settled, a glass of wine in every hand, de Broglie outlined his plans, as much as he would tell these two young men whose eyes bore excitement.

  “I plan on setting out for America next year, if all goes to plan. I will be sending the Baron here ahead to deal with the Continental Congress as to my instructions from His Majesty’s government, which shall strongly suggest wherein all responsibilities shall be placed for management of this conflict.”

  Gilbert and Marc nodded with strong affirmation. They had been waiting two months to hear some positive news.

  De Broglie, as an angler might hook stream salmon on the same line, he continued, “I believe I can organize a ship to leave by this year end. De Kalb shall take with him military supplies as well as a group of officers, who will be commissioned in the Continental Army. His rank, which will be requested, will be that of a major general. And of course you two talented military men, if all is acceptable, should accompany him.”

  That brought smiles to the young men. To Gilbert issued a strong exhale, exclaiming without saying, ‘Finally, my destiny.’

  “I assume your families are all in agreement of your joining the American service?” This came from the Baron who would be commander of De Broglie’s first expedition towards ultimate power. That was the underlying statement Gilbert and Marc missed as both bit tongue or pursed lips in their first joint falsehood.

  “Yes, our families are in accord,” said Noailles with conviction, knowing the parents of his, Segur’s, or the Noailles family, that none knew anything of this escapade in the making. And had they listened even closer they might have realized great conflict might be accompanying them. If Baron de Kalb were to be a major general, it would suggest General de Broglie’s ranks must be elevated higher in the system, and the only other general to be of that higher rank was General George Washington himself, whom to de Broglie’s mind and plan the American general was to be usurped from power.

  Noailles answered for all three men (Segur had a scheduling conflict that day and could not attend this meeting). Said he, “We will be prepared to depart with the Baron at his convenience and schedule.”

  A little more common conversation, mostly from the senior de Kalb suggesting what luggage ought to be taken for the sea voyage, and best baggage for a field camp. None of the new recruits had ever been to sea. In time with proper civility, the two young men left, and the older men could hear them strolling down the street chattering in high animation.

  “That went well,” said de Broglie, lightly wringing his hands in delight.

  “You have gained two ardent supporters who will follow you to the gates of hell.”

  “I only need to get to this place called Philadelphia and heaven not hell shall open its doors.”

  Both men laughed. De Broglie’s plan was moving forward. Now, to deal with this American envoy, who Beaumarchais exclaimed had the little man under his thumb.

  “Time to tie all the loose ends together.”

  The hôtel residence of de Broglie had the intimidation of power, and after taking a carriage with Beaumarchais, who motioned to his driver to take several side streets, and a route in several roundabout directions, twice across the Seine, all to out maneuver Lord Stormont’s hired espionage agents.

  De Broglie, now as General de Broglie, decked out in his immaculate uniform, be-ribboned, looking what Deane must have seen as the idealized version of what a proper general looked like. Beaumarchais made the introductions. Beaumarchais led the discussion while the General (though no longer with a command) sat as a warring Caesar might view a shackled and enslaved Goth. If Deane suspected he wa
s being overwhelmed he gave no recognition, for he was in awe. All previous military officers who had sought rank to go fight in America were low grade officers, captains to majors, who came to his door groveling. Here was the might of the French Army—de Broglie’s brother was a Marshal of France—and the two military men he was in this private meeting were telling him what to do, somewhat more refreshing, since he had no direction for the last three months from Congress.

  To their presentation of what was to be: The Foreign Minister Vergennes, and the King, this last was emphasized, suggesting a command of royal prerogative was planning on sending General de Broglie to America to take command of all Continental forces under the title of General-in-Chief, though the word came out in translation: generalissimo.

  Beaumarchais stated, upon Minister Vergennes instructions, he was to prepare a ship, one of several sailing vessels that would take the Baron and a group of officers, of de Broglie’s staff, to America. De Kalb stating he would be ordered to give direct advice on military matters as well as to set up a formal new command structure and then report back to General de Broglie who would then sail to America to win the war against the British.

  Commissioner Silas Deane did not react aghast to such a suggestion. Although he was a friend of General Washington, had had dinner with him on one occasion, he did not see such a scenario as a negative against Washington. The General himself on one occasion was to bemoan his ability to manage a large battlefield. The goal, as Deane accepted, was to win the war, and in the last five months the French government, with the silent blessing of the King, had answered Deane’s prayers to provide arms and materials for the American war effort. Certainly, when General de Broglie, with a highly experienced staff, arrived on the scene, all would benefit.