I'll Take Your Part Trivia Quiz

Answer: Marquis de Lafayette

Gilbert du Motier, commonly known as the Marquis de Lafayette, had quite a well-recognized family tree in France; it went back to a man who was said to have been a companion-at-arms to Joan of Arc. His father was killed when he was two years old at the Battle of Minden during the Seven Years' War, and the young boy went to live with family members. He eventually was trained to be a musketeer, and became an officer in the group at the age of 14.

His reason for becoming involved in the American Revolution is still debated; scholars believe that it was either due to his hatred of the British in connection with his father's death, or his involvement with the Freemasons, who commonly talked about people obtaining liberty. Whichever was the case, he traveled to America in 1777, using his own money for expenses.

Answer: Baron von Steuben

Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben joined the Prussian army when he was about sixteen years old. During the Seven Years' War (1756-63), which was known as the French and Indian War in the colonies, he fought in the Prussian army, and was promoted to the rank of captain. Eventually he served the famous Frederick the Great as an aide-de-camp.

When the war was over Steuben found a job with the prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, where he earned the title baron. His main reason for joining the cause in America was that Europe was relatively peaceful, and it was difficult for him to find a job in the military. The American Revolution presented him with an opportunity.

Answer: Casimir Pulaski

Casimir Pulaski was born into a noble family in Warsaw, Poland, in 1745. Interested in politics and the military, he became one of the commanders of the Bar Confederation, a group of nobles who attempted to protect Poland from two forces - the Russians and the Polish king who was attempting to limit the power of the wealthiest nobles and seemed to be too friendly with Russia.

On the losing side of the uprising, Pulaski had no choice but to go into exile. His opponents in the war accused him of attempting to kill the king, and he was sentenced to death. While living in France, he met the Marquis de Lafayette and Benjamin Franklin, who gave their recommendation to General Washington based on the fact that Pulaski had been fighting for the freedom of his homeland.

Answer: Tadeusz Kosciuszko

Tadeusz Kościuszko was born to a family of untitled nobles in 1746. He was able to begin school, but could no longer afford the cost after his father died; instead, he joined the military and was able, with the help of a patron, to attend the Corps of Cadets. When the Bar Confederation, or First Polish Uprising broke out, Kościuszko decided to continue his military studies in France.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding Kościuszko's nationality because, at the time of his birth, his family's estate was located in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. While some would say he was a Belarusian, he called himself a Litvin, which was used to describe those who lived in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The nobles who lived in the area at the time considered themselves to be Polish, as did Kościuszko's family, speaking the Polish language and embracing Polish culture.

Answer: Casimir Pulaski

Upon his arrival in the colonies, Pulaski found that the Continental Army really didn't have much of a cavalry unit. Cavalrymen were few in number and were spread thin throughout the existing infantry units; they were typically used to scout the movements of the enemy troops. It was difficult, however, to change minds very fast as Pulaski spoke little English and tried to introduce cavalry techniques and discipline that were foreign to the colonials.

In 1778, Pulaski was given the title Commander of the Horse, and, along with Hungarian Michael Kovats, formed the Pulaski Cavalry Legion. Together they are called the Fathers of the American Cavalry. Even the British commanders were impressed by the group's discipline and training.

Answer: Marquis de Lafayette

Eyewitnesses said that George Washington and Lafayette liked each other from the moment they met on August 5, 1777. Washington, who already held a legendary status, and Lafayette were both Freemasons. Lafayette was quickly made a member of Washington's staff, but the title - Major General of Continental Army - that he had been promised was considered to be an honorary one because he was foreign by birth. Lafayette proved his worth at his first battle - Brandywine - on September 11, 1771, insuring an orderly retreat for the defeated colonials in spite of being wounded.

Some sources say that Lafayette was treated by Washington as the son he had never had. Lafayette named his oldest son Georges Washington Lafayette.

Answer: Marquis de Lafayette

This seems like an amazing feat, but it must be remembered that the Marquis de Lafayette was not quite twenty years old when he arrived in the colonies. The Grand Tour was not even the first visit that he made to the United States after the war was over; he returned in 1784 to help work on relations between France and the United States and was hailed as a hero.

He was invited to return in 1824 by President James Monroe as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the beginning of the United States. Upon his arrival to New York he was met by Revolutionary War veterans, and, everywhere he went, enthusiastic crowds welcomed him. He visited every state - not just the original thirteen as initially planned - where dignitaries honored his service. Many times he laid cornerstones in new buildings, and met with past presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe, as well as a future president, Andrew Jackson. He returned to Revolutionary War battle sites to pay his respects, and was given both money and a tract of land in Florida in recognition of his service.

Answer: Marquis de Lafayette

Lafayette was apparently a favorite of the French King, Louis XVI, even though he was in a bit of trouble when he returned to France in early 1779. He had joined the Continental Army before France had made public the treaty that had been made with the Americans, and was put under house arrest for eight days upon his return before being invited to hunt with the king.

When the American Revolution was over, Lafayette returned to France in 1781. A firm believer in constitutional monarchy, he tried to help Louis XVI keep his throne. With advice from Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette wrote the first draft of the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which outlined ideals, such as liberty, that should be regarded as universal rights for all. When the meeting of the Estates-General was called, Lafayette served as a representative of the Second Estate. Since he had sided with the King, he was in quite a bit of hot water when Louis tried to escape with his family to Varennes, and his reputation became more than a bit tarnished. He was imprisoned for a time, before being pardoned by Napoleon. After the Bourbon Restoration, Lafayette retired from politics for the most part.

His involvement in two major events during his lifetime has earned him the nickname, Hero of Two Worlds.

Answer: Casimir Pulaski

Pulaski had some trouble being accepted in the American colonies. He didn't speak much English, and his military ideas were foreign to say the least. But he distinguished himself at his first military assignment at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. The Continental Army had been defeated and Pulaski found that the British were preparing to cut off the army's retreat.

He was told to do whatever was necessary to guard the retreat, and sources say that his actions saved the life of George Washington that day. After the Battle of Brandywine, Pulaski was made a brigadier general in what would become the cavalry unit of the Continental Army.

Answer: Casimir Pulaski

Savannah, Georgia, had been captured by the British in 1778, and the colonials were suffering great losses as the British used the town as a base to raid towns and settlements in the area. Pulaski's cavalry, reinforced by cavalrymen from France, was sent to the Southern Front to retake the area.

On October 11, 1779, Pulaski died from a grapeshot wound he suffered while leading a cavalry assault upon Savannah. There are different accounts of his death; some sources say he was taken to a ship where he died and was buried at sea. Others accounts claim that he was taken from the ship before he died and was buried near Savannah. The Marquis de Lafayette laid the cornerstone for the Casimir Pulaski Monument in Savannah forty-six years later.

Answer: Baron von Steuben

What better drill instructor could the Continental Army have? A Prussian with military experience who would work for free! He was appointed Inspector General of the Continental Army, temporarily at first, and eventually became Washington's Chief of Staff.

The "Blue Book" was officially known as "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States", and focused on military drills. The idea was to train the first 100 men, and then have them train others until everyone in the army followed the same guidelines. The book was first published in 1779, and was an official military guidebook in the United States until 1812.

Answer: Baron von Steuben

Baron von Steuben arrived at the miserable camp at Valley Forge in February 1778. He was appalled at the living conditions there, as there had been no organization of living quarters, latrines, or anything else. Many of the men were sick as the result of the filth of the camp, as well as the lack of supplies and harsh winter weather.

Steuben first began training an Honor Guard for General Washington, and then used them to train other troops. He also instructed that the bayonet should be used for fighting - not for roasting meat! Because he only spoke German, which was considered to be the European military language, he would dictate drills in German every night, that would be translated to French and then to English so they would be ready for use the next day. These drills would be considered usual training tactics for the army until the Mexican-American War.

Answer: Baron von Steuben

Steuben wasn't too keen on returning to Prussia when the Revolutionary War was over. He stayed in the United States, helping with the demobilization of the Continental Army and making plans for a new defense plan. He was given an estate in New Jersey after he was discharged in 1784, which he eventually sold. After that he settled in upstate New York on another estate he had been given for his service. He lived there until his death.

In 1783, he presided over the founding meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization for military officers, both Army and Navy, who took part in the American Revolution for a minimum of three years or stayed until the war was over. The group also recognized officers who had died while fighting in the war. Named after the Roman Cincinnati, who reluctantly left his farm to serve as dictator during the Roman Republic, the group recognized the sacrifices the officers had made and their contribution to the war effort. While some, like Benjamin Franklin, believed the organization had connotations of nobility for its members, others, like James Madison, believed the honor was appropriate. The group, with George Washington as its first President General, has remained in existence to this day, and contains hereditary members - male descendants of the original members, only one at a time - and honorary members.

Answer: Tadeusz Kosciuszko

When Tadeusz Kościuszko went into voluntary exile during the Bar Confederation, he wanted to further his military studies in Paris, but could not enroll in French military academies because he was a foreigner. Instead, he audited lectures, read military books in libraries, and improved upon his skill as an artist. An attempt to return home after the uprising proved disappointing, as the family lost their money and he could not afford to buy an officer's commission. He returned to Paris, and decided to immigrate to the colonies in 1776.

He was assigned to work on fortifications, and finally gained recognition in May 1777. His recommendation to build a battery on Sugar Loaf, which overlooked Fort Ticonderoga, was rejected; the British placed their artillery there instead and easily took the fort two months later. When the Americans had to flee the area, Kościuszko also devised a plan to allow them to withdraw with few losses. With his ability finally recognized, he was asked to shore up the fortifications around West Point, which took two years. These fortifications were part of the plans that Benedict Arnold tried to give the British upon his defection from the Continental Army.

Answer: Tadeusz Kosciuszko

When the American Revolution was over, Kościuszko returned to his homeland, where he found that Russia and Prussia were attempting to partition Poland. He became the Supreme Commander of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Army, but after he was wounded and taken captive, his country was divided for the third time and remained so until after World War I.

He briefly returned to the United States, but left again to deal with the complicated politics of Napoleon. Feeling that Napoleon had no real intention of restoring the country of Poland, Kościuszko didn't join his cause. He lived in Switzerland until his death; his body was eventually interred at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, Poland, while his heart was finally taken to Royal Castle in Warsaw.

Answer: Tadeusz Kosciuszko

After he read the American Declaration of Independence, Kościuszko asked to meet Thomas Jefferson, its principal author. The two men became friends, and when he left the United States in 1798, after learning that his nephews were fighting in Napoleon's army, he asked that Jefferson be the executor of his will and estate.

Apparently Kościuszko asked for something that Jefferson couldn't do. His will, read in 1817, stated that his American estate should be sold and the money used to free black slaves and educate them, including those who lived on Jefferson's property. Later in life, Jefferson went to court and asked to be relieved of this responsibility; it was a complicated legal proceeding, as Kościuszko had three other wills that postdated the one he gave to Jefferson. The case wasn't settled until 1856.