On August 9, 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette made a stop in Leesburg Virginia on the last leg of his farewell tour of the United States, commemorating to fiftieth anniversary of America’s declaration of independence. This month the Town of Leesburg, in conjunction with the Thomas Balch Library and Loudoun Museum, will celebrate the 200th anniversary of that historic moment.
In writing my new book Bargains of Fate (release date July 2026), I wrote a scene describing the military exercises conducted at “William McCarty’s field” west of the town of Leesburg – for those of you living in Loudoun County, this is near the corner of W. Market and Ayr Streets. Due to word count and page restrictions, this part of the scene was cut from the final manuscript so, in the spirit of celebrating the “Guest of the Nation”, I felt it would be appropriate to share it with all of you.
Missing Scene from Bargains of Fate
Clouds of gnats swarmed around their heads as Lucinda and Jack waited with hundreds of others in anticipation of the arrival of Marquis de Lafayette. The marquis had traveled to the county on Saturday and was staying with former President James Monroe at his Oak Hill estate. This morning, the marquis and his entourage were leaving Oak Hill and traveling to William’s field just west of town for a Pass-in-Review Ceremonial Drill followed by a military parade into the town of Leesburg. Alongside the artillery, companies of cavalry, light infantry and riflemen had assembled in full military dress on the field beneath the scorching August morning sun. Amidst the heat and oppressive humidity Lucinda, too, was sweltering. She glanced at Jack standing next to her. Even though he was wearing his officer’s uniform, he appeared unphased by the heat and the relentless gnats. She shook her head as she swatted at the bugs with her fan while trying to stay cool under the shade of her parasol.
It was nearing ten o’clock when the calvary and an advance guard of militia men appeared in the distance. Multitudes from near and far stood along the road, crowding forward to behold the veteran Apostle of Liberty. When a handsome carriage drawn by four bays following behind the soldiers pulled onto the field, canons fired a national salute to honor the Guest of the Nation. As the marquis exited the carriage with his son, President Adams, and former President Monroe, Lucinda was struck by how aged the Marquis appeared. He was not at all how her Uncle Ludwell, who had served as the marquis’s aide de camp during the revolution, had described him.
Wearing a deep blue jacket adorned with the McCarty family crest, William greeted the marquis and the two presidents and led them to the shade of great oak tree where the Marquis was introduced and welcomed by the committee that organized the event. Serving as marshal of the day, General George Rust received the military assembled on the grass and invited the Marquis to inspect the troops. The generals walked through the ranks, conferring with each other until the review was declared complete. Following the inspection, General Rust introduced General Lafayette to a number of the surviving soldiers from the revolution. After the old soldiers exchanged kind greetings, the dignitaries reascended their carriages and headed into town.
“Why all the pomp and circumstance in William’s field?” Lucinda asked as she and Jack climbed into their carriage to follow the procession. “Why not include the inspection as part of the parade in town where there aren’t so many pesky insects flying about?”
“Do you really think there is room for all of that military to drill on the courthouse grounds?” Jack replied. “Let alone the windows that would shatter had they fired those canons in town.”
“I suppose,” said Lucinda with a huff as the coachman closed the carriage door.
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About a half hour later, the marquis’s coach arrived in front of the courthouse. When he descended from the coach, the marquis was received by three hearty cheers, “Welcome, Lafayette!” from the crowd of citizens that had gathered in the courtyard.
From the gate of the square to the courthouse’s portico, the town’s school children lined up to create a path for the Marquis. The young ladies from the Leesburg Female Academy had assembled on the right side of the pathway. The girls wore white cotton dresses with blue sashes tied at their waists and evergreen wreaths on their heads. In their hands, they held sprigs of laurel. Meanwhile, on the left, the Leesburg Academy scholars were dressed in white shirts and red sash belts with white and black cockades on their lapels. As General Lafayette walked between them, the children bowed gracefully, and the girls strewn the laurel on the ground before him. When the general acknowledged the young people, Lucinda felt her heart fill with pride. How she wished her own sons were old enough to participate in such a display of patriotism.
