1From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 17 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the dispatches received from your Excellency by the Frigate La Concorde it has been judged expedient to give up for the present the enterprise against New York and to turn our attention towards the South, with a view, if we should not be able to attempt Charles town itself, to recover and secure the States of Virginia—North Carolina—and the Country of South Carolina and...
2To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Loss that your Excellency has met with, when you joined your family, and the grief that you must have experienced, has afflicted me very much. I beg of your Excellency to accept of my very sincere and tender condoleance. I have received two Letters from your Excellency for Count de Grasse, at the time you wrote them, you did not know that he had set under sail, on the 4th inst. with a fair...
3To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this last night, your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th instant dated from hartford; The Intelligence your Excellency gives me of the return of the fleet of Transports on the 11th makes me believe that this convoy will wait for Arbuthnot’s fleet to sail afterwards under its protection, I hope that this will occasion a delay long enough to give our Expedition a great advance. I wait...
4To George Washington from Rochambeau, 9 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of Sending to you the new promotion Which has been done lately for the order of Cincinnatus according to the resolutions of the last meeting of the general Society. I also inclose in it the copy of a letter from M. le Mal de segur bearing the permission of his majesty for these new aggregated. you will See by it, at the Same time, that his majesty Stops all kind of farther...
5To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr De Menonville, first Deputy-Adjutant-General, whom I have announced in my Last to your Excellency, will have the honor of delivering you this Letter. he shall receive your Excellency’s orders and instructions about the Letter of credit of Mr Franklin which We have upon Congress, and about the offers which we have had made to us by Congress for the Supplying with provisions the French corps....
6To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 3 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I send to your Excellency a copy of the report of the naval officer who has seen and constated at Plumb island the real state of the English fleet. I am going this moment a board of the Admiral[’s ship] to know whether he intends going out with all his ships, or at Least send a detachment of some of them to Chesapeak bay. It is generally looked on as dangerous to go and attack them in the bay,...
7To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Our fleet entered yesternight and the Chevalier Destouches has the honor to give your Excellency an account of his engagement, by duplicata, as he already wrote to your Excellency the Hermoine which he sent to Philadelphy, I join here a copy of the Letter which I received from the Baron de Viomenil, and a return of the Loss of our detachment of Land forces. All that has yet reached my...
8To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai l’honneur d’envoyer à V. E. la copie de la lettre que je reçois de M. le Cte de Grasse apportée par le Vaisseau de 50. qui a escorté notre convoi, il est arrivé aux deux tiers, le reste dispersé prés de la côte par un coup de vent. V. E. sent toute la consequence du Secret absolu qu’il faut garder sur cette lettre, et la necessité en même temps de faire tous nos preparatifs en...
9To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 8 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am exceeding glad of the good news which your Excellency gives me about the entire reduction of the Last mutinery that had taken place among a part of the Jersey Line, and of the example of rigor that you thought necessary to give to terminate in a solid manner these movements of Mutinery. I cannot flatter myself that I shall have the honor to see here Your Excellency but only after you will...
10To George Washington from Rochambeau, 1 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
You Will be, my Dear Général, Single confidant of this letter. I did foresee the ministry on the way Wherewith could be received here the defferent Demands that I have made to you, in order to increase or make Some additions in the Society of Cincinnatus, one did answer me that the King had a great repugnancy to permit to his Subjects any Stranger order, and it Was but by a particular...
11To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I expect with great impatience and uneasiness the convoy of Bread that falls due to night to the troops, The Commissary of Provisions tells me that the heavy rains that fell the Day before yesterday have occasioned a delay, because the Bakers as yet are not under cover at Fish kill Landing, however, boats have been seen at Tarrytown coming down the river; Chariots are just gone to fetch it...
12To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 5 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Four Days are now past, since the wind is good for Clinton to arrive if he chuses, and I begin to despair of seeing him come here. We are ready to receive him well: A considerable number of the rhode-island and Massachusets states militia is arrived here. I have agreed with Major General Heath to keep 3500 of them for the intrenched camp and for the fort at howlands ferry, to assure and...
13To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 17 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to write to your Excellency, that at my Departure from York in Virginia, I would Leave in that place a Detachment of 400 french Troops, which were to be joined by a corps of the Virginian Militia, to assure the possession of that harbour to the french navy now there, and that may arrive in future. At the moment of my Leaving that place, the American militia were just beginning...
14To George Washington from Rochambeau, 11 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Do you remember, my Dear general, of the first repast that we have made together at Rod island. I did you remark from the Soup the difference of the character of our two nations, the french in burning their throat, and all the americans waiting wisely of the time that it was cooled. I believe, my dear general, you have Seen Since a year that our nation has not change of character. We go very...
15To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 11 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
My son is arrived the day before Yesterday, and Commodore De Barras yesternight. I have decyphered my dispatches and the Commodore’s orders were not to open his, till the 15th of May, at his arrival in rhode island. But I have seen enough by mine to perceive that it is indispensable that we should have a conference with your Excellency as soon as possible. I wait for your answer to my first...
16To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was on my way to go and see your Excellency, when Cl Smith has given me your letter, I go back to Whipe nn y to brake all preparations to be able to go this afternoon and ride sixteen or 20 miles, I beg of your Excellency to be so good as to leave at Spring field or at Chatham a detachment to cover the Bake house that is to furnish with bredd during Some days to Send some Convoys of Bredd...
17To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 June 1781 to 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency of my arrival here to day with the first regiment, I shall stay three days to mend the Broken waggons and to assemble my corps into Brigades. I shall set off On the 2d next month with the two first regiments united, and on the 3d, the 2d Brigade consisting of the two Last regiments will follow, by which means the Last regiment will stay one day. On...
18To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 9 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
The troops are arriving here with a pretty fair weather, but, between us, I believe our navy will not be ready before the end of this month, I beg of your Excellency to forward this Letter with speed to the Chevalier de La Luzerne and to send me word of every thing which may come to your knowledge, relative to the evacuation of Charlestown. a seafaring man has said here that at the beginning...
19To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
La lettre Mon cher Général du 10 mai dont Vous m’avez honoré m’a fait le plus grand plaisir. Je Vous Vois à la fin de Vos travaux et avec le desir de Venir en france; tachez, Mon cher Général d’effectuer ce projet, que rien ne s’oppose à cette idée, et Venez recevoir dans un pays qui Vous honore et Vous a toujours admiré les applaudissemens que l’on doit à un grand homme. Vous pouvez compter...
20To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 12 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have no new intelligence to give to your Excellency, a Man of war and Two Frigates are stationed on a cruise, before us, and every day succeed one another. The rest of the fleet is anchored at the point of Long-island. Flag[s] from the admirals have been sent and have crossed one another, it was about Prisonners to be exchanged. Admiral Graves has made a Prise much richer than the three we...
21To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
According to the news which I have from York town the convoy of our heavy artillery must have sailed on the 10th or 11th and I expect it here with the first favorable wind. I had designed to set the army in motion, by regiments, on the 19th of this month to go and Join your Excellency, when I received from the Chevalier de La Luzerne a copy of the Letter that you have received from Sir Guy...
22To George Washington from Rochambeau, 3 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
The king of England, my Dear general, has recovered his health, and the humour which Was in his head has retaken its ordinary Course—he has retaken his fonctions and works with all his ministers and gives his audiences—the marquis of La Luzerne our ambassador which has Seen him half an hour, did write me that he had found him perfectly well and not even lean’d as he was told—M. Pitt and his...
23To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of my recruits that have been Landed to day, at Boston, there are 400. men, in a condition to do duty and 260 attacked by the Scurvy. These 400. men will arrive here on Saturday, they shall be incorporated on Sunday, and Monday 18 I shall set off with the Regiment of Bourbounois. The horses for the artillery and the Waggons are arriving from different places and I hope that the movement of...
24To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 1 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d last, I received Last night. I received Likewise one from Governor Trumbull to which I made the Answer Of which I send you here a copy. I Wish that the 2d Division may be numerous enough to oblige us to extend as far as New-haven. Mr Meyers, nephew of Mr Gerard is gone on the 26th with the Duplicates of our Dispatches, I hope he will have got clear. Major...
25To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 22 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 15th instant, addressed to the Ch. de Ternay and me, I have received to day, by this time you must have had intelligence of his Death and I dare say you have sincerely lamented him, as well as I. Since the Epocha of time wherein Your Excellency has wrote me, you must have received several letters whether they be the news I sent you from Boston, or those that have...
26To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 25 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 21st instant, I just now received, together with advices from the Generals on this side Hudson’s river, opposite to the S[o]und, giving a sure intelligence of Mr Clinton’s imbarking a considerable number of Troops. I have another Letter from Stonington, advising the English fleet of the Line having been seen W.S.W. Moncton’s point on Sunday Last on its way to...
27To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 29 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
There is no more talk of the Evacuation of Charlestown and the thirty transports are returned empty to New York: It is assured that at first the order was given for it, and then Countermanded. I fancy that your Excellency having received these news before me has given no orders for the demolition of the works on Rhode Island but I Look upon it as a most essential point to keep a good little...
28To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I only received the day before yesterday, your Excellencys first Letter since your Departure, dated Decr 2d, together with a Letter of the Chevalier de la Luzerne of the 17th 9bre in which were inclosed all the Dispatches from my Court. as your Excellency writes me that you’ll stay for some weeks at Philadelphy, I beg to refer you to my Letter to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, to seek out a...
29To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received this moment your Excellency’s Letter. I will make a Stage here according to your orders with the first division which will be to morrow evening joined to the Second. I will Expect your orders to move the whole the day after to morrow, as to My Self I will go to meet your Excellency, at the place where you Will appoint a Rendezvous, that we may preceed our troops to...
30To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 24 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
j’ay deja eu lhonneur mon cher general, de vous ecrire pour bien des occasions, et nous n’avons aucune nouvelle de l’amerique depuis monne arrivée dans ce pais cy, je profite de l’occasion de Me. izova pour vous faire passer cette lettre cy. la fameuse coalition de fox et de north ragit l’angleterre. Schelburne et le pati de bedfort forment a present l’opposition; on dit que nous allons avoir...
31To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th instant. The report mentioning the number of ships in the British fleet, seems to me to be accurate and confirmed by the correspondance of M—— T—— and by the prisoners arrived on board a flag: they have 7. ships of the line 2. 50 gun ships and 4. 44 gun ships with some frigates. The Troops for the embarkation according to M—— T—— is only of...
32To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 9th instant, brought by Colonel Robert Dillon. The Legion de Lauzun by this time must be arrived at Charlotte court house, it will be needfull that it stay there some time, because the men are almost quite naked, and I shall forward them their cloathing which I expect from Boston, as well as that of all the army, as soon as possibly can be done...
33To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a Letter for Sir Guy Carleton, which I beg you would forward to him by the first opportunity. I beg you will send with all possible speed to the chevalier de La Luzerne, the inclosed packett for business requiring great diligence. I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d inst. and I am going to send to Mr De Vaudreuil that which you write...
34To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 16th instant is just come to hand: Our Transports set sail this morning, but their Destination is not for France, they are bound to Hispaniola; the Surveillante convoys them and the Hermione is bound to Philadelphy. I’ll be obliged to keep your Excellency’s Letter for Mr Laurens, untill we have some occasion to send it from Boston or some of the Neighbouring...
35To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Chevalier DuBouchet is returned from New york with 48 men of the West indies Brigade taken on the Bonnetta. they are in a most miserable Situation both as to cloathing and to their health, Six are dead of the Scurvy, six more were too ill to be transported, that compleats the number of 60, who were taken. as We had sent 104. invalids from Glocester, the English commissary of prisoners has...
36To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 14 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Marquis de La Fayette has wrote to the Viscount de Noailles, his Brother-in-Law, and shows the Greatest desire to see him. I find his Demand so just, that tho’ I have given Leave to several of Our Colonels to go and wait on Your Excellency, I have added likewise the Viscount de Noailles, and the Marquis De Damas, If Your Excellency does not find a moment to come and see this part of your...
37To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
At the moment of my departure for Boston this morning, I received a Letter from Mr De Vaudreuil, saying that he is sorry to have appointed the 8th of next month for my arrival with my troops at Boston, because the men of war at Portsmouth are not yet ready and he does not believe that he will be in readiness to set sail before the 20th November. In consequence of which, I have resolved to stay...
38To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here with the first Brigade yesterday at 9 A.M. The 2d by a forced march joined me in the afternoon, and we are now all together ready to execute your orders. I wait with the greatest impatience to hear from you and the Duke de Lauzun. I have caused my march to be opened on White plains, in case circumstances should render it necessary. I am with Respect and personal attachment Sir,...
39To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai Reçu la lettre du 7. de ce mois dont votre excellence m’a honoré, je suis charmé que les affaires du Sud lui permettent de différer L’ordre de Se faire joindre par mon petit corps de troupes, et je n’avois eu l’honneur de lui écrire, que pour me permettre de faire mes preparatifs, pour le moment où la necessité l’exigera. L’esperance d’une entreprise maritime Sur New-yorck, et pour le...
40To George Washington from Rochambeau, 24 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have Received by the Marquis de la fayette’s hands the two letters wherewith you have honoured me on August the 20th and November the 25th ultimate, you may believe that Since his coming-back you are the main subject of our conversations. I have been ravished to Learn that you Was Philosophically Enjoying of the glory and of the Général consideration that the part which you had in the most...
41To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 29 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Frigates and the person you know, set sail yesterday under a very strong North East wind. May Almighty God conduct them, and may they arrive safe at their destination. I believe that the English fleet that was before us is returned to Sandy-hook; There is no appearanc[e] of its having got into Gardner’s Bay, because the Ships that were Left there, according to the reports from New London,...
42To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
We have been four days to perform the March that you had prescribed to be done in two. we have found roads very bad and impediments without number, almost fifty waggons which we cou’d not abandon having been broken the first day. the troops will this night for the first time lay in their tents. I have left them nearly arrived at tavern four miles this side of Pines Bridge and three miles...
43To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a copy of a Letter that I received from the Count de Grasse and that has been brought by the 50. gun Ship, who escorted the convoy. The two thirds of the convoy only are arrived with the ship, the rest dispersed near the coast by a gale of wind. Your Excellency is conscious of the importance of the Secret on this Letter, and of the necessity we are...
44To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai reçu la Lettre de votre Excellence du 11. de ce mois, le raport du nombre de Vaisseaux de L’escadre ennemie me paroit juste et confirmé tant par la correspondance du major Talmadge que par le raport des prisonniers d’un flag, ils ont 9. gros Vaisseaux, 2 de 50. et 4. de 44. avec les fregates, l’embarquement n’est que de 2. mille hommes; et il Specifie les regimens. Je crois que leur...
45To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th instant. It seems very clear to me by the report which I have sent you from Newport and by the intelligence which you have given me from the Newyork papers of the 5th that the evacuation of Charlestown has been made on the 1st instant, and I expect that your Excellencys next Letter will bring me a confirmation of it. The Letter which Sir Guy...
46To George Washington from Rochambeau, 2 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
I come, my Dear Général, of taking leave from Doctor franklin. I could not See without being moved to pity that respectable man at eighty years old, with a very sharp and weighty cause of sickness, having the courage to undertake So a long voyage to go and die in the bosom of his native country. it will be impossible to him, at his coming-back in america, to go and visit you, but I told him...
47To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 23 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here yesterday with the first Regiment, which has been followed this day by the 2d and will be so to morrow by the 3d and the day after by the 4th. I stay here this day and to morrow to give time to our broken chariots to be mended, and our young artillery horses and oxen to refresh themselves. I will set off after to morrow with the 1st Regt for Newtown, upon 4. divisions as before,...
48To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 31 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to Your Excellency, the piece of news which I have received from Lieutenant Colonel Ledyard. his nephew’s report, after his arrival from Guadeloupe, seems to me related with so many particularities, that it has the greatest appearance of truth. We must wait for its confirmation; that piece of news has been productive of what I hope will please your Excellency. The...
49To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency the Letter which I write to Sir Henry Clinton, by the Chevalier Destouches’s desires, and I beg of your Excellency to send it to him, as quickly as possible, as our frigate and our Transports remaining here are in an absolute want of seamen, which is the reason that the Frigate La Gentille did not along with the other ships. Mr Hancock has desired Mr...
50To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The British fleet is gone off, and our Squadron is preparing to put under sail by the first fair wind. I have been obliged to give to the Count de Barras 900. men to compleat his crews. As soon as the departure of the fleet will have given me Liberty to put into execution the plan We have agreed on, I shall not defer it Long. Our convoy is not yet arrived and I wait for it with great...