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In April 1777, Lafayette sailed on the Victoire, a ship built with his personal funds, for North America to serve as a military leader in the American Revolution, despite a royal decree prohibiting French officers from serving. Shortly after his arrival, the Continental Congress commissioned him as a major general serving under George Washington.  In June of 1777, the 19-year-old Lafayette landed on American soil near Georgetown, South Carolina. He then made his way north towards Philadelphia.

On July 18^th, 1777, Major J. B. Ashe sent a letter reporting to the North Carolina Governor, Richard Caswell, on the state of affairs at Halifax, where a military camp had been established. He included in his letter that “one of the Royal Bloods of France, (the Marquis de Lafayette) recommended by Mr. Franklin, passed this a few days since, on his way to the Grand Army.” It is estimated that Lafayette passed through Halifax a few days preceding the 18^th.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War . For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.