How I Became the all Famous Marquis de Lafayette

I had been hurt in the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. Congress then voted to give me command of a division of Virginian troops last year. I was entrusted with 1200 New England troops today because of my so called authoritativeness and I had marched to Head of Elk, on Chesapeake Bay. Governor Jefferson assured me there cooperation, saying that Virginia would be "indebted to a nobleman who has already so much endeared himself to the citizens of these States by his past exertions." At the same time that Jefferson welcomed the appointment, he worried that he could not offer the campaign much support. He warned me to expect oxen, not horses, and scows, not seaworthy vessels. I accepted whatever help I could of got from the legislature.

Although the French fleet did not arrive in time and lost the opportunity to capture Arnold, it was a big change in plans, but because of my Flexibility I was able to marched my troops to Richmond just in time to prevent its occupation by the British army under General Phillips command.

Scows: A large boat with a flat bottom and square ends, used mostly for transporting freight.