President James Monroe invited the Marquis de Lafayette to visit the United States, his adopted country. Lafayette’s tour of all 24 states in 1824 and 1825 drew large crowds and sparked a renewal of patriotism. During the American Revolution, Lafayette’s intense advocacy of the American cause convinced King Louis XVI of France to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown.
Braithwaite sits on the east bank of the Mississippi River, just upriver from Fort St. Philip, a major defensive installation dating back to the colonial era. In 1825, the river route was Lafayette’s primary approach to New Orleans, and the salute from Fort St. Philip was the first major ceremonial greeting he received in Louisiana. Lafayette spent the night near here at Benjamin Morgan's plantation, Orange Grove. Morgan was a wealthy merchant, financier, and sugar planter who came to New Orleans from Philadelphia.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.