One of the greatest command duos in American history is widely underappreciated between George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. George Washington never had any biological children, but he was stepfather to John Custis, who died of illness during the siege of Yorktown, and Martha Parke Custis, who died of disease in 1773. Gilbert du Motier, or the "Marquis de Lafayette," lost his father in battle to the British during the Seven Years War in 1759. Marquis de Lafayette left France in 1777 for the colonies in hopes of aiding the colonists' independence against the British in their war of independence at the young age of just 19. Upon arriving, he was appointed major general after telling Congress he did not require payment. George Washington was impressed with the young man and took him under his wing. Lafayette served under George Washington in several battles and was wounded in the battle of Brandywine. He was vital in the siege of Yorktown, leading a charge against a British redoubt. Lafayette became so close with George Washington that he named his future son after him, Georges Washington Louis Gilbert de La Fayette. Their partnership during the American Revolution led to the independence of the United States, Lafayette's survival during the reign of terror in France, and an everlasting bond between the United States and France.
Another example takes place almost eighty years later during the Vicksburg Campaign. Ulysses Grant was a true family man; before the American Civil War broke out, he fell in love with his old roommate's sister and built a family with her in St. Louis and then Galena, Illinois. They were not wealthy, but rich in family. Grant was the father of Frederick Grant, Ulysses Jr. Grant, Nellie Grant, and Jesse II Grant. They all spoke highly of their father and his lasting love and kindness. However, the events around Vicksburg might make the modern reader raise their eyebrow at Grant's parenting. During Grant's Vicksburg Campaign, the young Frederick Dent Grant, only 12 at the time, tagged along with his father. He often ran about delivering his sword to his father and marched with the soldiers. However, Fred Grant was in harm's way throughout the entirety of the campaign when, during the Battle of Big Black Bridge, he was shot by a Confederate sharpshooter through his leg. Grant later recalled that it "caused no anxiety either to me or his mother, who was at home. He looked out for himself and was in every campaign battle." Such a comment would shake the soul of any parent today, but it could very well be that Ulysses knew his son possessed an aptitude for war, much like he did. If this was the case, he would be correct as he attended West Point and was later promoted to major general like his father, serving on various fronts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Question of the Week: What other father/son duos have a prominent place in American history?
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