This is part of a series on Lafayette’s visit to Massachusetts August 23, 1824 to September 3 1824.
Lafayette arrived in Massachusetts on August 23, 1824. He spent September 1 mostly in New Hampshire. He may have considered crossing Massachusetts to Albany to be able to visit towns along the Hudson, but lengthening his stay in Boston ruled that out given his need to be back in New York City for a birthday dinner with the Cincinnati on September 6. The towns along the Hudson would have to wait for an up and down river excursion from September 15th to September 20th. His return to the New York City would follow the Upper Post Road and the Stafford Turnpike through Middlesex and Worcester counties and onto Hartford where he would get on a boat to head to New York City.
Lafayette had done an overnight carriage ride to get back to his Boston base from Portsmouth on the morning of September 2. After “taking some repose” he met with a number of Revolutionary soldiers and deputations. Someone presented the General with a neat snuff box made of part of the timber of “Old Ironsides”. Lafayette gave an early dinner to the Committee of Arrangements at his residence.
He set out at around 2:00 PM. He was accompanied by the Committee of Arrangements of the City in carriages to Lexington. Colonels Harris and Everett planned to attend him to the Connecticut boundary.
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For information on the bicentennial of Lafayette’s tour check out lafayette200.org.