101From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of your Letter of the 13th of this Mo. Since the Information I conveyed to your Excellency, by the Baron Closen, the Amusement of peace held out by our Enemies has been much augmented by the Arrival of Sir Guy Carleton in N. York, who enounces himself as Commander in Chief in America—with powers of Conciliation to these States—pleasg as their first prospect might have been,...
102From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I hasten to impart to you the happiness I feel at the welcome news of your arrival; and as well in the name of the american army as in my own name to present you with an assurance, of our warmest sentiments for Allies, who have so generously come to our Aid. As a citizen of the United States and as a Soldier in the cause of liberty, I thankfully acknowledge this new mark of friendship from his...
103From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys favor of the 27th ulto. Under present appearances I think Genl de Choissy should not move beyond Charlotte Court House—There are several reasons to induce a belief that the enemy mean to evacuate south Carolina and Georgia—If such an event is to take place we must soon know it. I requested His Excellency the Minister of France to inform you that...
104From George Washington to Rochambeau, 8 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your letters of the 28th of June 1786 & 12th of may 1787. In the former you mentinon your having just returned from Holland and were so obliging as to give me an account of the state of political affairs in that Country. Since the time of your writing their intestine disputes have been brought to a crisis and appear to have terminated rather against the Patriots; What changes may...
105From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 26 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of Your Excellency’s Letters of the 20th & 21st Instant, the last of which came to hand Yesterday Evening, and am much obliged for the matters of intelligence they contain, although some of them do not entirely correspond with our wishes. I am concerned for the situation of Capn Landais, as he has been esteemed an Officer of merit, and as his indisposition has...
106From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored by your Excellency’s favors of the 9th and 10th instants, and with their very interesting communications, which you may be assured will be kept perfectly secret. I flatter myself that the whole Convoy will arrive in safety at some of the Eastern ports, as I believe all the British Ships are cruising off the Hook. The Count de Barras has furnished me with the result of the second...
107From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 11 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received Intelligence from Kings bridge, that the Refugees have been impressing some Horses this day from the Inhabitants, this used to be commonly an indication of their making an incursion, towards us—If they have any thing of the kind in view at present, it is, I am persuaded, a design to attack some of our Picquets, or drive off any Cattle which may be exposed to them—I...
108From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
In my letter to your Excellency of the 10th of December last, I requested you to grant passports upon the application of David Ross Esqr. for any Vessells which might be laden with Tobacco for the payment of Goods purchased of the British Merchants at York Town. It has been since suggested, that Passports of Merchandize of every kind, if granted by any other power than that of Congress or...
109From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose (under a flying Seal for your perusal) a letter to Governor Greene, wch I hope will produce the effect your Excellency desires as it is my wish to give perfect security to the Fleet at Newport in the present critical moment. With sentiments of Attachmt & personal Regard—I have the honr to be Yr Excys most Ob. S. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
110From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellency’s favors of the 30th of April and 4th of this month. The first was delivered to me by Colo. Menonville, to whom I refer you for what has passed between us on the subject of his mission. I have received no particular intelligence from New York since that of the 29th ulto, which has been communicated to your Excellency. I very sincerely wish success to...
111From George Washington to Rochambeau, 1 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d of June, which you had the goodness to write to me at the moment of taking leave of the venerable Doctr Franklin, now lyes before me; and I read the renewed assurances of your friendship with sentiments of gratitude and pleasure, short of nothing but the satisfaction I should feel at seeing you; and the recollection of the hours, in which, toiling together, we formed our...
112From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter from Bolton in due time. The packet for the Minister of France which accompanied it was forwarded immediately. We have no intelligence of the actual evacuation of Charles town, but from some circumstances which have appeared in the New York Paper of the 5th instant, I think it probable that that event has taken place. The moment I receive...
113From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 26 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Your Excellency under a flying seal my letter to the Chevalier Des Touches in answer to his of the 20th instant, in which I explain more precisely the grounds and import of the propositions which I had the honor to make to him through you. I shall add to the observations contained in this letter, that so far as related to my proposition for a detachment of land...
114From George Washington to Rochambeau, 7 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to address you last, I have been favored with your letters of the 9th of Septr and 24th of Feby. The first enclosing a list of the new promotions, and the additional members of the Society of the Cincinnati as consented by the King; for which I thank you, as it will enable me to give answers to those Gentlemen who, unacquainted I presume, with his Majesty’s pleasure, are...
115From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 24 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 20th Instant, from which I have the pleasure to observe the progress you make in the March of the Army under your Command, and your intention to come on to my Camp in Person from Hartford. Be assured Sir I shall be very happy to see you whenever you arrive; you do not mention the route by which you shall come...
116From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 20th of Apl by Baron Closen arrived at my Quarters last Evening. If the Enemy ever had an intention to evacuate Charles Town, that Idea, I believe is now given up—Great revolutions in the British Councils have lately taken place—the particulars which are brought by the March Packet, will be conveyed to you by the inclosed New York Gazette which I send for your...
117From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 19 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
On the first Acct of your arrival I did myself the honor to write you the letter annexed; but in momentary expectation of hearing from you, I thought it best to delay the departure of the Marquis till the arrival of your dispatches. These Monsr De Rochefontaine delivered me yesterday Afternoon. The assurances you give me of the ulterior intentions of His Most Christian Majesty add to our...
118From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had last Evening the honor of your Excellency’s favor of the 28th with a postscript of the 29th. The enemy, by sending a detachment into Monmouth County in Jersey to collect Horses—Cattle and other plunder, have so weakened their posts upon the North End of York Island, that a most favorable opportunity seems at this moment to present itself of possessing them by a Coup de Main, which, if it...
119From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Tomorrow Evening will answer very well for the movement I mentiond to your Excellency Yesterday. and I will arrange matters accordingly—2000 French Troops besides Lauzuns Legien with the Troops I shall order from the American line will be sufficient to make the reconnoitre out hazarding an Insult from the my. I shall have the honor of sp ing more in detail to your Excellen on this subject...
120From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Anticipating with much pleasure, your near Approach, I send Colo. Tilghman one of my Aides D. Camp, to meet & attend your Excellency to my Quarters, where, I presume you will be assured, that I shall embrace you with the highest Satisfaction. With much Regard & Esteem I am Dear Sir Your Excellency’s Most Obdt St DLC : Papers of George Washington.
121From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 2 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this morning received your Excellencys Favor of last Evening. I think it may be very well for your Excellency to proceed Tomorrow to North Castle—where you will continue untill you assemble your whole Force, unless you should hear further from me within that Time. Being at North Castle will put you in a direct Rout to receive your Provisions from Crompond—& will be a Direct Road for...
122From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing your Excellency this morning. I have Just received advice from New York confirming our accounts heither-to of an embarkation to proceed up the Sound to Rhode Island. It is said to consist of the principal part of the Enemy’s Army, commanded by General Clinton in person; and was to have sailed this morning from White stone a few miles on the east side of hell gate,...
123From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 16 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 10th reached me yesterday. It gives me great pleasure to hear that your Troops have entered their Quarters, in a manner, agreeable to themselves and to the inhabitants. I shall be extremely happy in seeing the Chevalier de Chattelus—Count de Custine—Marquis de Laval and Count de deux ponts, at my Quarters. I will endeavour to render the time, which they spend...
124From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 29 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to call at your Excellency’s Quarters this morning upon my return from an excursion as far as our old Camp at Philipsburg, but had not the pleasure of finding you at home—I wished to have communicated to you personally my observations upon the State of Forage in that part of the Country and the reasons which induce me to think a change of position may be attended with...
125From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 27 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to your Excellency for the interesting particulars you do me the honor to communicate in your letters of the 18th & 20th. We may now hope everything for the safety of your valuable envoy and the important dispatches with which he is charged. Since the confirmation of Ferguson’s defeat & the retreat of Cornwallis to Camden, we have nothing new from the South, except an...
126From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 15 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Count de St Mesmes, last evening, did me the honor to deliver me your letter of the 3d instant. It appears by the report of the Naval Officer, that the enemy were inferior to the Chevr Des Touche, and from the situation of the Bedford and the America would probably remain so for some time—It appears also to have been your Excellency’s expectation that Mr Des Touche would either go with his...
127From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 12 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have not been honored with any of your Excellency’s favors since mine of the 4th instant—neither have I received any intelligences from New York contradicting what I communicated in that letter, on the contrary, the accounts seem confirmed. I have lately made an exchange of a considerable number of prisoners with Sir Henry Clinton—part of the British are at Rutland in Massachusetts Bay, and...
128From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Excellency’s favors of the 14th 16th 24th and 27th of November and 1st of this month. In apology for suffering so many of your letters to remain so long unanswered, I must assure you, that I have been constantly employed, since I broke up my Camp near passaic Falls, in visiting the winter Cantonments of the Army between Morristown and this place. I have experienced the highest...
129From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving yr Excellency’s letter of the 6th instant only two hours ago. We are greatly indebted to The Chevalier Des Touches for the disposition he shows to undertake the expedition to Penobscot and to you for your readiness to furnish a detachment of troops for the same purpose. The object is certainly worth attention and if it can be effected will be very agreeable to...
130From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 26 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter of the 22d, I have received intelligence, which I think may be depended upon, that Admiral Arbuthnot with this Fleet was in New York harbour, and that three or four of the Ships which suffered in the late action were near the town repairing their damage. Transport were fitting and preparations were making as if for an embarkation, but I can yet gain no satisfactory account upon...
131From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with a letter from your Excellency bearing date the 7th instant, which I presume must have been a mistake, as you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 6th. The intelligence communicated in mine of the 10th respecting a further embarkation from New York is confirmed by a variety of accounts. The number or exact destination is not yet ascertained, but all agree that it...
132From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 30th ulto. I sincerely regret the disappointment of the Allies before Gibralter—more especially as it will serve to keep alive the spirits of the English. I enclose you the Copy of a letter which I recd last Night from the president of Congress—By this it appears that the evacuation of Charles town would take place as soon as the...