"GENERAL,
"A few of your brother soldiers of Maryland, who remain after a lapse of forty years, and the sons of some of them who are now no more, are assembled in the Tent of Washington, to greet you on your visit to the United States; and to assure you of their affectionate and sincere regard. This Tent will call to your recollection many interesting incidents which occurred when you associated in arms with Washington, the patriot and soldier, saviour of his country, and friend of your youth.
"Accept, General, our cordial sentiments of esteem for you, and of gratitude for services rendered by you to our country—services which will never be forgotten by the free and happy people of the United States."
To which General Lafayette replied—
"The pleasure to recognize my beloved companions in arms; the sound of names, whose memory is dear to me; this meeting under the consecrated Tent, where we so often pressed around our paternal commander in chief; excite emotions which your sympathizing hearts will better feel than I can express. This post also nobly defended in the late war, while it brings the affecting recollection of a confidential friend in my military family, associates with the remembrance of the illustrious defence of another fort, in the war of the revolution, by the friend now near me. [Colonel Smith.] It has been the lot of the Maryland line, to acquire glory in instances of bad as well as of good fortune; and to whom can I better speak of that glory, than in addressing Colonel Howard? My dear brother soldiers, my feelings are too strong for utterance. I thank you most affectionately."
The meeting of this Society was rendered peculiarly interesting,—there being present, besides many other worthy veterans of the revolutionary army, Colonel John F. Howard, the celebrated hero of the battle of the Cowpens, January 1781, to whom Congress presented two medals, in testimony of his singular bravery-General (formerly Colonel) Samuel Smith, who bravely defended Mud-fort, and many years senator in Congress; and Paul Bentalou, Esq. now marshal of Maryland district, who was the senior captain of light dragoons, belonging to Pulaski's legion, in 1778. Here also the very venerable Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the declaration of independence, was introduced to Lafayette.
We give also an extract from the address of Governor Stevens, to the General.