The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [207]
The congress, all his impatience, seemed very far away. He looked back to the river, laughed again, said, “I am fairly certain, Mr. Tilghman, that I have finally experienced a successful day’s fishing.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tilghman didn’t sound completely convinced, and Washington looked at the young man, saw a hint of a smile.
“You have something to say, Colonel?”
“Um, no, sir.”
“Yes, well, perhaps next time I will attempt to fish from someplace other than the back of a horse.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You are too serious, sometimes, Mr. Tilghman.” He eased the horse forward, saw movement around the headquarters, a rider, and Tilghman said, “It’s General Lafayette, sir.”
“I see him.”
Lafayette rode quickly, pushed the horse up the narrow roadway, and Washington waited for him. The young man was there quickly, his horse bouncing to a sudden stop, and Lafayette said, “General! You should see this, sir!” The young man pulled a newspaper from his coat. “Three days ago, sir! Appears to be a complete text!”
Washington took the paper, saw it was the Pennsylvania Gazette, dated May 1. The entire front page was one story, and he fought the sun in his eyes as he read. Lafayette said, “We don’t appear to require the confirmation from the congress, sir. Here it is, in full detail.”
Washington read further, felt the chill again, but it came not from the water in his clothes, but someplace deep inside of him. He read to the bottom of the page, felt a hard knot in his throat, and Tilghman said, “Sir? What is it?”
He couldn’t speak, handed the paper to his aide, looked at Lafayette now, saw tears on the young man’s cheek. He nodded, fought his own tears, knew Lafayette was feeling the same emotion, more perhaps. The young man had come to this army as a renegade from his king, and now, in full glorious detail, were the words that Washington had been so desperate to read. King Louis was as committed to their cause as the young marquis. The paper was a full text of the formal alliance between the government of France and the United States of America. No longer would French merchants be forced to perform their business in secret, no longer would the American cause be regarded with hesitation and reluctance. It was the first acknowledgment by a foreign power that America was a nation in its own right and should be free of English control. It was formal recognition, made powerful far beyond the supplying of goods, the extension of credit. France was now preparing to send her own soldiers and warships to American ports, to fight on American soil. France was entering the war.
MAY 6, 1778
It was a grand celebration, a festive display for the entire army. From all over the surrounding countryside, from the towns that had finally risen up to support their troops, the people came, long lines of civilian carriages, entire families, rolling through the outposts of their army to participate in this joyous day. The salutes were boisterous and loud, punctuated by artillery fire, a vast fireworks show for both soldiers and civilians. The parade and festivities would extend throughout the entire day, the army turned out in review, the day concluding with a huge outdoor picnic. It was a marvelous show, and when the civilians finally made their way home, they carried a new appreciation for their army, were surprised by the crisp formations, the precise marching. They had heard all manner of rumor of what was occurring at Valley Forge, the starvation and disease, the army that