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These pistols were presented by the Marquis de Lafayette to General
George Washington during the American Revolution, who cherished
them until his death in 1799. Later, the weapons were given to
General Andrew Jackson, who called them "sacred and holy
relics."
Dominating
a hilltop in the picturesque mountain region just east of Pittsburgh,
the restored 18th century Fort Ligonier has become an important
repository for two extraordinarily rare George Washington artifacts.
As a young colonel in the service of the Crown on the Pennsylvania
frontier in the 1750's, George Washington was a central figure
in the crucible of the French and Indian War, which set America
on its future course almost 20 years before the Revolution. This
military apprenticeship, which established Washington's experience
and reputation for leadership, was the essential credential that
brought him the command of the Continental Army.
A handwritten autobiographical 11-page recollection of Washington's
six dangerous years on the Pennsylvania frontier, called the "Remarks,"
have become part of the permanent collection at Fort Ligonier
as a result of a major gift from the Laurel Foundation and additional
private support. Joining the "Remarks" on display, after
more than two centuries in private hands, are Washington's "saddle"
pistols. The guns were purchased anonymously at auction in 2002
by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. They have been unveiled
to the public for the first time this spring. Together, these
two artifacts are bookends in the story of a young man, almost
killed before his time, seemingly spared by Providence to change
history. They were purchased in commemoration of the 250th anniversary
of the French and Indian War and the critical role that Washington
played in the history of the region and the nation.
The "Remarks," written by Washington in 1787, vividly
describes incidents found nowhere else in Washington's voluminous
writings, including the twilight foray near Fort Ligonier when
his troops mistakenly fired on one another causing many casualties.
Risking his life, Washington desperately stepped between the lines,
dodging musket balls as he tried to stop the ìfriendly
fireî incident.
The "saddle" pistols come to Fort Ligonier with a very
special pedigree, owned by three of the most significant figures
in American history. The young Marquis de Lafayette purchased
the pair in Europe and brought them to America when he volunteered
to fight for the United States. Lafayette presented the pair to
General Washington, who all but adopted him as a son. Washington
is believed to have carried them at Valley Forge, Monmouth, Yorktown,
and during the Whiskey Rebellion when he was president. After
Washington's death, the pistols were presented to General Andrew
Jackson, a new hero of American democracy. Jackson, who called
the pistols "sacred and holy relics" and prized them
throughout his presidency, bequeathed them back to the Lafayette
family.
These two American treasures are the centerpieces of a new gallery
devoted to Washington at Fort Ligonier, their new permanent home
where they will be preserved and made accessible to the public.
Notes
by Karen Salerno
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