by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
In 1781, the Marquis de Lafayette was on his way to meet with George Washington in Annapolis, Maryland, when he decided to make a detour, disobeying Washington’s orders.
“He went miles and miles out of his way to come to Fredericksburg to visit Mary Washington,” said Craig Vasey, a professor in the department of classics, religion, and philosophy at the University of Mary Washington. “He had to tell Washington, ‘I did disobey your order, but I had to stop off and see your mother.'”
Today, the Washington Heritage Museums is charged with the preservation and interpretation of five historic sites in Fredericksburg that are connected to Mary Washington. The organization is celebrating the connection between Mary and George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette with two events this week – a free lecture by Vasey on Thursday titled “Lafayette’s Return to Fredericksburg,” and special guided tours of the Mary Washington House on Saturday.
Vasey’s free lecture will focus on some of the “little details” of Lafayette’s visits to Fredericksburg that will be of interest to those who live in the area today.
Decades after he fought in the American Revolution, and played a decisive role in ending it by blocking British troops so the American and French forces could get into position for the siege of Yorktown, Lafayette returned to the area as part of a celebratory visit to all 24 states in the union. He spent several days in Fredericksburg in November of 1824.
“He had a personal secretary who traveled with him and wrote about every day, so we have a remarkably detailed account of the visit,” Vasey said.
Fredericksburg will recreate the main events of Lafayette’s visit to town in November of this year. Vasey said he hopes to provide some “historical context” to these events.
In between the American Revolution and the 1824 tour, Lafayette was caught up in the French Revolution. The revolutionary Jacobin government turned against him, imprisoned him for five years, and stole all his assets.
Vasey, who is also president of the Fredericksburg-Frejus Sister City Association, will talk about Lafayette’s views on the political situation in France and his views on abolition.
“He was very confrontational with Jefferson, Madison, and Washington about slavery,” Vasey said. “The more you learn about him, the more you feel like you have respect for him. He was not hypocritical. He was a marquis, but he gave up that title during the French Revolution. He wanted to be called ‘General Lafayette'” instead.
Vasey’s free talk will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, in the auditorium at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s downtown Fredericksburg branch.
Special guided tours of the Mary Washington House, focusing on Mary Washington’s friendship with Lafayette, will be held at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Tickets are $15/person or $12/person for members of the Washington Heritage Museums.
