Fredericksburg has a few moments in history that rank it among the country’s more notable cities, but none rank as high as the visit from Revolutionary War figure the Marquis de Lafayette. That visit was the focus of a lecture at the Rappahannock Regional Library Thursday by Dr. Will Mackintosh, an associate professor of history at the University of Mary Washington.
Mackintosh delivered a lecture about what Fredericksburg was like when Lafayette visited for three days in November 1824.
“During these couple of days in November, the people of Fredericksburg got to feel cosmopolitan,” Mackintosh said. “He enters Fredericksburg and is greeted by an artillery salute.”
The lecture at the library was the final talk in a series the city named “The Fredericksburg Lafayette Bicentennial Commemoration,” which ends this coming weekend with a series of commemorative events including a formal ball — just like the one Lafayette attended while in town.
Mackintosh detailed what he called “Lafayette Tour 101,” tracing the general’s travels from France to the New World, up and down the East Coast, to Buffalo, Boston, Washington, D.C., back to France where he clashed with Napoleon, and finally, back to Fredericksburg. This was all on horseback, ship and rail during the tail end of the Revolutionary War into the War of 1812, so parts of his trip were not peaceful.
“Lafayette is shot in the leg at Brandywine,” Mackintosh said.
The term “white Fredericksburg,” came up a few times to describe the atmosphere and attitudes that were prevalent at that time. Lafayette was an abolitionist, so white residents were ordered to keep enslaved people hidden while he was in Fredericksburg. A “Committee of Arrangements” made sure everything went as planned. Lafayette met with them before entering the town — but he kept it all under wraps.
Upon his arrival, there was a group of “Lafayette Cadets,” all dressed up. “In the center of this celebration is the Marine Band from Washington,” Mackintosh said.
Lafayette and his entourage had dinner at the Indian Queen Tavern (where the Marriott Hotel currently stands), and a resident named James Ross lent him his house for the few days. That house was located approximately where the library is now, and it burned down later.
The actual ball was held at the Farmers Hotel, and Lafayette walked back to his residence afterwards, most likely on the street which is now Caroline Street. The band at the ball had three Black musicians — which Mackintosh noted as an item of significance.
The Lafayette Commemoration in Fredericksburg has stretched on all week. On Nov.17, Mackintosh was featured on the Ted Schubel show on B101.5, where they discussed General Lafayette’s visit to Fredericksburg on the radio show.
They previewed the historical commemorative activities for this coming weekend including the welcome event on Market Square and tours on Saturday, followed by an event at the Masonic Lodge No. 4 where Lafayette was made an honorary lodge member; a historic church service at St. George’s Episcopal Church; tours of George Washington’s mother’s lodge and a book lecture by historian Chris Ruli who discusses his forthcoming book “Brother Lafayette.”
