31To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Divine Providence manifests itself always for our cause. In my Last of the 26th inst. I have had the honor to acquaint your Excellency that our frigates, after having been severely beaten by three hard gales of wind were entered safe in our harbour. These same gales have thrown on shore two British Line of battle Ships and a frigate that had put to sea on purpose to intercept ours at their...
32To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 2 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d Last month. I cannot too much admire, on one part the wisdom of the means employed by your Excellency to Leave to congrés an affair in which the military Discipline could not interfere without using rigorous measures that would not have been Well timed. on the other part, all the Sentiments of Patriotism of Virtue, of reason, existing among a...
33To 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,...
34To 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...
35To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 12 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Line of battle ship and two Frigates set sail on the 9th instt in the evening, with a very fresh wind and the fairest departure. The hermione having Lost her Bowsprit in the Last Gale, could not go with them, But as soon as She is refitted, she will set sail to join that fast Sailing Squadron. If Arnold is not by this time out of the Rivers of Virginia I believe he will not have the best...
36To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 18 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Three days ago, there arrived at Bedford a vessel, that brought a piece of Intelligence, of which I expected the particulars and further confirmation, before I chose to send it to your Excellency. That Vessel coming from Mole St Nicholas, has brought Letters from Cape François, mentioning the arrival of a Frigate, sent by Mr D’Estaing, who had beaten Admiral Hood, taken Six men of War and 95....
37To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th inst. I immediately sent it to the chevalier Destouches, who sends me this moment his answer which is joined to this Letter. It is most certain that the Ch. De La Luzerne, at the requisition of Congress and of the Governor of Virginia, had only asked from Mr Destouches the Assistance of Some Frigates, and of one ship of the Line, and...
38To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 24 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received a few hours ago, Your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th instant. It has caused me a great deal of Surprize that you had not then received two, which I had wrote to your Excellency on the 8th and 12th inst. the first, after the Last resolution taken by Mr Destouches and the other after the Departure of a line of battle ship and two frigates for Chesapeak Bay. As It has not been in my...
39To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 25 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Letters found on board the Vessels taken by Mr De Tilly, have decided Mr Destouches to follow at full the plan given by your Excellency, and to risk every thing to hinder Arnold from establishing himself at Portsmouth in Virginia. Your Excellency has been apprised by my yesternight’s Letter, that our ships could not go into Elizabeth river, there not being water enough for the 64. man of...
40To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this minute received your Excellencys favor of the 24th inst. and I have directly sent to Mr Destouches the one which was inclosed for him, and I send you his answer. All that regards the Land forces will be ready in 24. hours hence, but the Navy may yet be eight days before every thing be ready on her part. I am very sorry that the News of Count d’Estaing’s success be not further confirmed...
41To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 1 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency, an Extract from the Ministerial Letters which I have received by the Frigate commanded by Mr De La Perouse. You will see that my son has staid, by orders of his Majesty to wait for the result of a definitive project. By Private Letters of the 20th [Decem]ber all from Versailles, We Learn that the Pce de Montbarey has given his resignation, that he...
42To George Washington from Rochambeau, 19 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter which your Excellency honoured me with, dated the 29th of last October Which Major L’Enfant delivered me. I can not better answer to the honourable invitation that you are willing to make me as well as to the general officers and colonels of the french army auxiliary in America, than by Sending you. 1e. The answer of the marshal De Segur minister of war giving the...
43To George Washington from Rochambeau, 29 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave my dear Général to intrust you with friendship in one observation Which did not Escape to the regiments that composed our army. They find that the général society has given too much or too little extent to its favour, in granting it to all the Colonels and Stoping to them. I do not ask it for the Lieutenant colonels and majors because it is to the choice or favour that they owe...
44To George Washington from Rochambeau, 13 February 1784 (Washington Papers)
here is, my Dear Général, one demand for the order of Cincinnatus of the most remarkable Kind, and which appears to me deserve the attention of the Society, here is inclosed the letter that M. de Lilancourt, before a general commander in St Domingo, has wrote to me upon this Subject. all the facts are exact in it, and you Know perfectly, well as me, how much obligations we owe to him for...
45To 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...
46To George Washington from Rochambeau, 4 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
The letter Which you have honoured me With, the 1st of february ultime, has made the greatest pleasure to me, and your title of particulary Citizen Cannot but increases the Sentiments of Veneration, and of the most tender affection that I have devoted to you for all my life, it is the finest End of the highest Employement that ever man has filled. I owe to let you Know, my Dear Général, that...
47To George Washington from Rochambeau, 16 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
je ne veux pas, mon cher general, laisser partir le marquis de la fayette Sans Le charger de mes plus tendres complimens pour vous, et de vous renouveller les assurances de L’attachement le plus eternel que je vous ay voüé. je voudrois bien qu’il eut le talent de vous persuader de venir nous voir, et que tout cela put S’arranger Sans Se brouiller avec madame Washington. nous avons icy le roy...
48To 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...
49To 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...
50To 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...
51To George Washington from Rochambeau, January 1786 (Washington Papers)
I but receive now the letter Which you honoured me With on September the 7th ultimo. I Send at once to Captain Pusignan your answer, and I hope you Will be henceforth got clear from all those troublesome askings. I am Enchanted of the continuation of your good health, of the calm that you are enjoing in the bosom of your family, and under the Shadow of your Laurels. The Storms Which threatened...
52To George Washington from Rochambeau, 9 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
it comes to have, in the parliament of England, a scene of a great Concern. The question was to Know if they Should fortify the harbours of the Kingdom, having at their head M. Pitt and the Duc of Richmond that were for the affirmative. The house of parliament has been divided, and the voice of the Speaker has decided for the negative. So much the worse, I believe, because the Enormous Sums...
53To George Washington from Rochambeau, 28 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
I come, my Dear General, to read in the public papers your letter to the general assembly of Virginia, by Which you refuse the fifty shares that have been, by it, offered to you. there I have well Known again your character and your Virtues, and I am very glad to see in a corrupted age how they make Still a great account of this rare exemples of generosity. I come, my Dear general to make a...
54To George Washington from Rochambeau, 12 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
it is dreadful to live So far that we do from one another. I receive but in this moment the letter wherewith you have honoured me on the 31th July ultimate, that you put abord of an English Ship, which after he had made its trade has, at last Send it to havre this last days. But whatever was the cause of the tardy news I receive from you, I am always charmed to See that my Dear General and my...
55To George Washington from Rochambeau, 18 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received by M. Shippen’s hands the letter which you have honoured me with, and I made him the reception that he deserves by himself, and Especially, being honoured of your recommandation. I formerly received another one of you by the way of M. Rutlege bearing also your recommandation for that gentleman, but as I was in the Country when he Came to Paris, that has deprived me of the...
56To George Washington from Rochambeau, 15 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received, but Since a few days, the letter of the 8th January the last, which you have honoured me with—I See in it with the greatest Satisfaction that your confederation is to take a solid and respectable form, and that you are going to play at its head a part where your Virtues and your merit naturally place you. our constitution, tho’ monarchical, is in a moment of crisis that has...
57To George Washington from Rochambeau, 5 October 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Rochambeau, 5 Oct. 1788. On 13 Oct. 1789 GW wrote to Rochambeau : “I have been honored with the receipt of your letter ... of the 5th October 1788.”
58To George Washington from Rochambeau, 31 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter by Which you recommend to me Mr Barlow, and I Made him all the good reception that he deserves by himself and by the honourable commendation that you give to him. We come out, my Dear General, of an assembly of chief men Where We treated the Wearisome preface of a Drama Which is to become of a great concern and of Which We must Expect a fine unravelling. our sovereing...
59To George Washington from Rochambeau, 17 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have seen with great pleasure, my Dear General, the Governor morisse and I have been charmed with the good News he gave me of your health —We hope that you are going to put yourself again at the head of a fine and good government—I expected not when I left you that your Constitution would be sooner and more solidly setled than our[s]. our Generals States are to begin at the end of april—I...
60To 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...
61To 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...
62To 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...
63To 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...
64To 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...
65To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this Evening your Excellency’s favor of the 21st and 22d instant. I am exceeding glad to hear that your Excellency is returned in good health at head quarters. The advices that your Excellency has received from the Marquis de La Fayette, bearing date of the 15th from York, saying that he had not heard of the French fleet, give me a good deal of uneasiness. The going out of the...
66To 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...
67To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 31 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Last engagement of the Chevalier Destouches has shewn to your Excellency the uncertainty of success in naval fights and of combined operations upon that element. We must not flatter ourselves that our successes will be greater, as Long as we have not a decided Superiority. Our Squadron had run great risks by a Separation and the bad weather and united again only 24. hours before the fight...
68To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 3 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th ulto by which I see that you could receive only the day after, the intelligence of the return of our fleet. Your Excellency must have received since a Letter of mine, under date of the 31st in which I told you, (After having resumed all that had been said here in your presence) the motion which it would be possible for the french army to...
69To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this instant your Excellencys Letter of the 31st ulto. Our Land forces and naval troops I am sure, will look on your Excellency’s approbation as the most flattering reward of the courage which they shewed in the engagement of the 16th Ulto. It is of the highest importance to be thoroughly informed if the Troops on board at New york have set sail, and if the British design rigorous...
70To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 6 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have communicated to the chevalier Destouches some proposals made to me by the Council at Boston about an attack on Penobscot, together with the Answer made to me by your Excellency upon that subject. The chevalier Destouches Appeared to have a great mind to it. he ordered Mr DelaPerouse to ask a Plan of it which was brought to us yesterday by deputies from Boston; after examining it, he...
71To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday Your Excellency’s Letter of the 7th instant. I am exceeding glad that the affairs to the Southward should permit the defering the junction of my small corps of troops to yours, and I had only had the honor of writing to your Excellency to ask your Leave for making all my preparations for the moment that the movement should become necessary. The hope I had of a naval...
72To 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...
73To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre de Votre Excellence du 10. de ce mois, au Sujet de l’expedition proposée par L’Etat de Boston,à laquelle vous Vouliez bien donner Votre approbation sous dèux restrictioun, La p remi ere qui regarde la Marine, concerne Mr le ch evalie r Destouches qui a l’honneur d’y repondre par la Lettre cy jointe. quant à la seconde qui regarde la terre, j’avois éte assez heureux pour...
74To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 10th instt concerning the Expedition proposed by the State of Boston, and to which you had given your Approbation, under two restrictions. The first concerns Mr Destouches, as it is relative to the Navy. He has the honor to send your Excellency his answer in the Letter herein included. As to the Second, which relates to the Land forces, I had...
75To 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...
76To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Tallmadge has delivered us the Letter of the 8th instant that your Excellency has favored us with. We have conjointly with him examined the plan of Loed’s neck fort, and he has given us all the intelligences which his zeal and sagacity which he has shewn in several actions, have procured him. By his report, it appears that there are 750. men garrisoned in that itshmus; that the fort is...
77To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 26 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
The New-york Gazette has published a Supposed intercepted Letter wrote, as it says by your Excellency to Mr Land Washington, and in which is this Paragraph. "It is very unlikely, I say it to you in confidence that the French fleet and detachment did not undertake this present expedition at the time I proposed it. The destruction of Arnold’s corps would have been unavoidable, and over before...
78To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a Letter which I write to the Ch. de La Luzerne concerning some propositions from Congress for the Supplying the French corps with provisions. This Letter will be followed by Mr De Menonville, first Deputy Adjutant General who shall receive your Excellency’s orders, as he passes thro’ New Windsor, that none of these operations may cross those which...
79To 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....
80To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this moment have received by a way which is known to your Excellency, intelligences of the 29th ulto from New york which report that the English ships will, as they say, be repaired in ten days, and that they work very hard on them; that in the mean time they are very uneasy least the french fleet be ready before them; that the garrison at Lloyd’s neck does not consist of more than 400. or...