Lafayette In Hartford

Saturday, September 4^th, 1824, 10:00 AM – 4:00PM  

In January 1824, when it was announced that Lafayette had been invited by the President to visit the United States, the people of Hartford began wondering when he would arrive in this country and if he would visit their city. When it was learned that the General had left France on July 13^th and would be arriving in New York sometime in August, Hartford city officials decided they must act quickly to prepare a formal invitation to be delivered to Lafayette inviting him to Hartford. At a meeting on July 23^rd, the following resolutions were approved by the city Corporation of Hartford:

Resolved: That while we anticipate with pleasure the arrival of our distinguished citizen, benefactor, and friend, Gen. La Fayette, it is expedient to make suitable preparations for his reception and entertainment.

Resolved: That the Mayor, in behalf of the Corporation, request Gen. La Fayette to visit this city as soon as convenient after his arrival in the country.

Resolved: That John T. Peters, Thomas Day, Gaius Lyman, Cyprian Nichols and Henry L. Ellsworth Esq’rs be a committee to make suitable arrangements, at the expense of the Corporation, to carry into effect the foregoing resolutions.  

When news came that the General had arrived in New York on Sunday, August 15^th, a deputation was immediately sent to welcome him with an invitation to visit Hartford as soon as was convenient. Although the invitation was received with “much affection and kindness”, the General explained that before leaving France he had arranged to be in Boston on Wednesday, August 25^th to attend the Commencement at Cambridge and would not be able to travel to Hartford until after that date. 

Citizens of Hartford were probably following the news of Lafayette’s National Tour in the newspapers. Most likely excitement was growing in the city as it became known that the General would be stopping in Hartford on his return from Boston on his way back to New York. On August 31^st, the Courant reported the news that the Hartford Committee of Arrangements had been notified that Lafayette and his traveling companions would reach Hartford on Friday evening, September 3^rd.

As the General was expected to arrive after dark, a spectacular illumination of Morgan Street, Main Street, and State House Square was organized. This magical effect of illumination would be created by a coordinated lighting of candles and lamps placed in windows and lanterns hung by doors. The illumination was to be supplemented by “transparencies”, which were scenes or inscriptions painted on translucent paper or lightweight cloth and lit from behind.

Friday must have been a busy day in Hartford as the columns of the Hartford Bank were entwined with evergreens and flowers and its doors similarly decorated. A grand arch, covered with evergreens, was erected on the west side of the State House displaying a transparent painting inscribed with the words “Welcome La Fayette” in the center, “York Town” on one side and “Monmouth” on the other. The Phoenix Bank, the State House and many large mansions in the city prepared for a brilliant display of fireworks. 

Friday evening turned out to be rainy and unpleasant, but the crowds that gathered from the city and surrounding countryside did not seem to mind as they waited for their hero to arrive. Everyone understood that the commencement of the illumination would begin with the firing of two rounds of Artillery. At about midnight, a discharge of guns was heard and shouts of, “He is coming!” rang out from the crowd. Instantly, the city came to life with light creating a breathtaking display. 

Although the crowd must have enjoyed seeing the city in brilliant illumination, their hopes of spotting the General that night were dashed when a messenger came at about 1:00 with news that Lafayette would be sleeping in Stafford that night and would not arrive until the next morning. 

Events of Saturday, September 4^th in Hartford

5:30     The rain was falling in torrents when the sound of cannon fire woke the citizens of Hartford.  

10:00   A discharge of artillery and the ringing of bells announced that Lafayette was approaching Hartford.

10:30   Escorted by the First Company of Horse Guards, his entourage crossed the bridge over the Connecticut River onto Morgan Street where an elegant arch stretched across the road. Attached to the arch was a canvas with the inscription, “Our illustrious Citizen, La Fayette.”

The parade proceeded to the intersection of Main Street where people had gathered, shouting, “Welcome, La Fayette.” The procession made a left turn and moved slowly down Main Street through a cheering crowd. Smiling and waving his hand, Lafayette bowed to his admirers as the carriage made its way to Bennett’s Hotel where he was received Mayor Jonathan Brace and Governor Oliver Wolcott Jr.  

11:00   (Approximately) At the conclusion of speeches welcoming Lafayette to Hartford, the gentlemen were led into a dining room in the hotel where breakfast, compliments of the City Corporation, was served. Among the many distinguished guests were John Trumbull and John Caldwell who were members of the Corporation forty years earlier when the “freedom of the city” was presented to Lafayette in 1785 after his previous visit to Hartford.

11:45   (Approximately) After breakfast the gentlemen left the hotel in carriages which carried them to the State House. Lafayette and the Governor rode in an open carriage drawn by four white horses and were escorted by the Foot Guard.

12:00   Gathered in the east yard of the State House were about eight hundred children between the ages of six and twelve, with the girls all dressed in white. Each child was wearing a badge with the motto, “Nous vous aimons La Fayette” (We love you La Fayette.) At the upper end of the yard, children from the American Asylum, a school for the deaf, were stationed, also wearing badges which read, “We FEEL what our Country EXPRESSES.” 

As the General passed the lines of children, they strew flowers in his path. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a gold medal was presented to Lafayette engraved with the words, “Nous vous aimons La Fayette” on one side and “Presented by the Children of Hartford. September 4^th, 1824” on the other side. Included with the medal was a poem by Hartford poet, Lydia Huntley Sigourney entitled, “Nous vous aimons La Fayette.” 

1:00     (Approximately) Lafayette was led inside the State House to the Senate Chamber which had been decorated by ladies of the city with wreaths, evergreens, and flowers. Here the Governor gave a speech of welcome to the General and received his reply before being introduced to many hundreds of ladies and gentlemen of the city of Hartford. 

2:00     (Approximately) Lafayette was escorted outside to the front of the State House where a platform stood under the arch. From here he watched as a company of about a hundred veteran officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary War, some who had served under him, paraded past. The General took the time to shake hands with each one as they passed, and it was observed that some carried scars from their days in service to their country.

The ceremonies were ended with a “marching salute” of about twelve hundred men under the command of General Nathan Johnson after which, Lafayette was introduced to all the military officers.

3:30    The Foot Guards and members of the City Corporation then escorted the General and his traveling companions to the home of Daniel Wadsworth.

 It was here where a group of men from Cornwall, Connecticut, sent by the family of deceased Heman Swift met in a private room with Lafayette. A letter from a member of the group later described the meeting. “We presented him with the sash and epaulettes worn by him during the War of the Revolution. On receiving them, tears instantly burst from his eyes. He instantly recognized them; he took each by the hand, then he clasped them to his bosom and said, “I remember them well; that sash I wound around my leg at the Battle of Brandywine; accept my warmest thanks for this testimony of your affection, for the manner in which they have been kept. I return them again to you. Keep them in remembrance of me.”   

Col. Heman Swift, known as “General Washington’s Colonel” during the Revolutionary War, was with Lafayette during the Battle of Brandywine and is said to have carried the wounded Lafayette off the Brandywine battlefield. Lafayette gifted the sash, still stained with his blood, and epaulettes to Swift before returning to France after the war.  

4:00     Taking leave of his hosts, Lafayette was accompanied by some of the Hartford Committee of Arrangements to the landing where the steamboat, Oliver Ellsworth, waited to take him and his traveling companions to the next stop in Middletown.