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 had convinced French King Louis XVI to send troops and ships, which proved crucial to the American victory at Yorktown.
On August 9, 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette and his entourage were greeted with a volley of artillery fire by the artillery of Leesburg, Virginia. Ladies from the Leesburg Female Academy, dressed in white with blue sashes and crowns of evergreens, strew the streets with sprigs of laurel. Lafayette met with dignitaries and veteran soldiers of the Revolution, followed by a dinner in his honor. After spending the night at the home of Ludwig Lee, Esq., he moved on to the next stop of his tour.
Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.