While still a teenager, he became general
At the court of King Louis XVI, Lafayette joined the group of young courtiers but quickly had aspirations of becoming a hero as a soldier. Lafayette went to the New World to fight as a volunteer because he didn't want to wait for his nation to get involved in the expanding conflict there. As a result, he made his way to the American colonies and arrived in Philadelphia in July 1777, 27 months after the American Revolution started. He left France on a ship loaded with guns for the Continental Army despite King Louis' orders for him to stay in France. Before to America, Lafayette had never stepped foot on a battlefield. He presented himself to George Washington a few weeks before turning 20 and offered his unpaid service to the revolt.
One of the interesting facts about Marquis de Lafayette is he was named a major general in the Continental Army despite having no combat experience, and he rapidly made a lifelong connection with the country's supreme leader, George Washington. The orphaned nobleman and the childless general looked like an unusual couple, yet they soon formed a surrogate father-son bond. Lafayette stood out from the many colorful European warriors of fortune and idealists that joined the Continental Army to fight for American freedom, including Frederick William, Freiherr von Steuben, of Prussia, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, and Kazimierz Pulaski, of Poland. Washington was more impressed with the young Frenchman as he was exposed to him, and their relationship grew. After being promoted to major general, he soon took command of the forces at the Battle of Brandywine. Later, while waiting for Washington and Rochambeau, he oversaw Continental soldiers in Virginia and contained Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Lafayette was wounded in the calf on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of Brandywine, close to Philadelphia. Refusing treatment, the military newbie organized a retreat while was wounded. On May 28, 1778, he led a skillful and successful withdrawal from Barren Hill. For six weeks, Lafayette worked on Washington's staff. After fighting honorably at the Battle of the Brandywine, Lafayette was given leadership of his division for the first time.
