Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

GW had anticipated a visit from French minister La Luzerne to headquarters at Morristown for several weeks (see the postscript to Steuben to GW, 28 March, and n.7; see also Steuben to GW, 11 April, and notes 1 and 2, and Nathanael Greene’s first letter to GW, 17 April, and n.1). Dr. James Thacher wrote in his journal entry for 19 April: “The Chevalier de la Luzerne, minister to France, with another French gentleman, and Don Juan de Miralles, a gentleman of distinction from Spain, arrived at headquarters, from Philadelphia, in company with his Excellency General Washington. Major Trescott was ordered out with two hundred men, to meet and escort them to head-quarters, where two battalions were paraded to receive them with the usual military honors. Several of our general officers rode about five miles to meet the gentlemen, and their arrival was announced by the discharge of thirteen cannon. The foreign gentlemen and their suites, having left their carriages, were mounted on elegant horses, which, with General Washington, the general officers of our army, with their aids and servants, formed a most splendid cavalcade, which attracted the attention of a vast concourse of spectators. General Washington accompanied his illustrious visitors to take a distant view of the enemy’s position and works, on York and Staten Island, and of the different posts of our army, while preparations were making for a grand field review of our troops” (Thacher, Military Journal description begins James Thacher. Military Journal of the American Revolution, From the commencement to the disbanding of the American Army; Comprising a detailed account of the principal events and Battles of the Revolution, with their exact dates, And a Biographical Sketch of the most Prominent Generals. Hartford, 1862. description ends , 191–92). French legation secretary Barbé-Marbois accompanied La Luzerne (see Chase, Letters of Barbé-Marbois description begins Eugene Parker Chase, trans. and ed. Our Revolutionary Forefathers: The Letters of François, Marquis de Barbé-Marbois during his Residence in the United States as Secretary of the French Legation, 1779–1785. New York, 1929. description ends , 158–59). Sgt. Ebenezer Parkman, Jr., who served with the artificers at Morristown, wrote a diary entry for the same date that corroborated Thacher’s account: “The French Ambassador Came to Morris Town when 13 Cannon were fird” (MWA: Parkman Family Papers).

GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote Lucas von Beverhoudt from “Camp Morris Town” on 22 April: “I took the earliest occasion to communicate your request to His Excellency—& the Minister of France, after they returned Yesterday evening. They are both very sensible of your politeness—and would circumstances permit they would do themselves the pleasure of dining with You; but the Minister’s engagements as long as he can remain in this Quarter and the necessity of his returning to philadelphia, as soon as these are over, will prevent him. And Immediately after his departure—the General expects to be engaged in some important business with a Committee of Congress. His Excellency, the Ambassador, in staying as long as he will, will exceed the time he at first intended” (DLC:GW; see also GW to Samuel Huntington, 3 April, source note).

Parkman’s diary entry for 22 April reads: “I went to the grand Parade to See the Troops Exercise” (MWA: Parkman Family Papers; see also General Orders, that date). An eight-page undated document, docketed “Directions for performing the Manœvre,” detailed Major General Steuben’s directions for La Luzerne’s review on 24 April: “When the Troops arrive at the Place of exercise, the Officers must examine the Arms and Cartouch boxes, and distribute twelve blank Cartridges to each Man. The Artillery & Infantry must load their Pieces, the Officers taking Care to do it in Order. The Battalions must then be formed in open Ranks, and the Men order their Arms. The Officers must take care that no Soldier is suffered to leave the Ranks. The Commandants will take the Word of Command from the Brigadier to Shoulder, & the whole must do it togather.

“Major Fish will be placed before the Stage, & will fire a Pistol as a Signal for the Artillery to begin the Salute. When the Ambassador has passed the Line & is advancing to the Stage, the Brigadier commands Rear Ranks close to the Front. Major Fish will fire a Pistol which must be followed by a Cannon Shot as the first Sig[na]l. On this Signal the Colonels give the words for wheeling to the left and right, the Brigadier gives the word March which much be repeated by each Colonel to his Battalion and the whole begin to march at the same time. The Head of the Column must march very slow, and the Plattoons must take less than their proper Distance by lengthning their Step. The Head of the Column being arrived at the Trees, the Brigadier gives the word Attention to the Artillery on which they fire the second Signal.

“Upon which the Colonels command Close Column! the Column closes, quick Step, but the Men must not run. the Brigadier gives the word march! and the Column advances. Col. Barber will notify the Brigadier when the Column is between the Points of View, on which he commands Halt! the head of the Column being dressed he commands Attention! on which the Artillery fires the Third Signal.

“Upon which the Colonels command Display Column and the whole display immediately. When the second Plattoons from the Centre arrive at their Ground in the Line, the Artillery in the centre fire two Rounds, and then the Plattoons begin their fire, firing as they display two Rounds, the first Plattoon firing the second round as soon as the fourth has fired, the Artillery will also fire two rounds. …

“The Major General commands Attention & Rear ranks take Distance March! The ranks will open and Officers advance to the front. He then Commands Attention Present Arms! the whole Line present Arms, the Officers Colours and Drums giving a General Salute taking the time from the General, the Drums beat three Rolls—The Major General commands Shoulder! rear ranks close to the front March! By Plattoons to the right wheel march! the whole files off before the Ambasador” (DLC:GW, filed under 24 April).

Another undated document, in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton and headed “Exercise the 24th of April,” reads: “Four batalions formed in a Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Clinton—two field pieces with each batalion—will be at ten oClock in the morning upon the place of exercise. The infantry will have twelve cartriges—The artillery thirteen for firing and fourteen for signals. Major General Baron De Steuben will make them execute the following manœuvres.

“1st a passage of defile and display from the center.

“2dly. a retreat en echequier.

“3d. change of position with a batalion upon the right flank.

“4 Another change of position with a batalion upon the left flank.

“5th. a march in four columns inverse, and a formation in the first position.

“6. an attack in front and

“7th. a March in open column in parade.

“Disposition

At ten oClock precisely the line will be formed in parade—the cannon upon the wings of the batalions.

“At the arrival of the Ambassador of France he will be saluted by thirteen. …

“14th Signal

March in front with the common step—the quick or redoubled step commanded by a pistol shot—The charge with bayonet commanded by a pistol shot—Halt in the allineation—Four batalion firings, followed by two discharges of cannon—will finish the manœuvre.

“The batalions open in parade order—present arms and salute—The batalions close—break by platoons from the right—file off before the Ambassador—and pay him the honor” (DLC:GW, filed under 24 April; the ellipses represent missing pages).

Parkman wrote in his diary entry for 24 April: “Troops assembled to Salut the French Ambassador His Excellency, with the Grandees and their Ladyes Waited on Him in the Field—A Very grand Appearance” (MWA: Parkman Family Papers; see also General Orders, 25 April). In his journal entry for the same date, Thacher detailed ceremonial activities and La Luzerne’s subsequent departure: “A field of parade being prepared under the direction of the Baron Steuben, four battalions of our army were presented for review, by the French minister, attended by his excellency and our general officers. Thirteen cannon, as usual, announced their arrival in the field, and they received from the officers and soldiers the military honors due to their exalted rank. A large stage was erected in the field, which was crowded by officers, ladies, and gentlemen of distinction from the country, among whom were Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, and his lady. Our troops exhibited a truly military appearance, and performed the manœuvres and evolutions in a manner which afforded much satisfaction to our commander-in-chief, and they were honored with the approbation of the French minister, and by all present. After the gentlemen had received the standing salute in review, they dismounted and retired to the stage with the ladies, and the troops performed several evolutions, and paid the marching salute as they passed the stage. The minister of France was highly gratified, and expressed to General Washington his admiration at the precision of their movements, and the exactness of their fires, as well as the spirit and alacrity which seemed to pervade all ranks in the army. In the evening, General Washington and the French minister attended a ball, provided by our principal officers, at which were present a numerous collection of ladies and gentlemen of distinguished character. Fire-works were also exhibited by the officers of the artillery. It is much regretted that M. de Miralles is confined at head-quarters by indisposition. On the 25th, the whole army was paraded under arms, to afford M. de la Luzerne another opportunity of reviewing the troops; after which, he was escorted part of the way to Philadelphia. The Spanish gentleman remained dangerously sick of a pulmonic fever at head-quarters, and on the 28th he expired” (Thacher, Military Journal description begins James Thacher. Military Journal of the American Revolution, From the commencement to the disbanding of the American Army; Comprising a detailed account of the principal events and Battles of the Revolution, with their exact dates, And a Biographical Sketch of the most Prominent Generals. Hartford, 1862. description ends , 192; see also General Orders, 17 April, and n.2). For the illness and death of Juan de Miralles, see GW to La Luzerne, 26 and 28 (first letter) April, and the source notes to those documents; see also La Luzerne to GW, 29 April and 4 May, and GW to La Luzerne, 11 May.

Having been the guest of GW and his staff officers, New York delegate James Duane had written his wife Mary from Morristown on Thursday, 20 April: “The Minister appears to be a polite Gentleman of easy manners, very affable & attentive. … The Secretary Monsieur Marebois is a Gentleman of great Knowledge and agreeable address, & every way calculated to please. They with the Don are here merely on a military Visit. There is to be a Review and Ball on Monday for their Entertainment, but I shall stay no longer than to have an Interview with General Schuyler who will be up to morrow with a Committee on Business with the Commander in Chief & be detaind probably a fortnight or longer” (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 15:59). In a letter written at Philadelphia on 12 May to New York delegate Philip Schuyler, a “Committee at Headquarters” member, Duane expressed his disappointment over “not meeting with you at Camp” and sought Schuyler’s assistance in getting clothing from the French for the New York line. He wrote that those “worthy Men” were “peculiarly destitute … My Feelings for them were painfully touched at a late Review. I did not indeed want such a Proof of their distress … P.S. Present my respectful Compliments to the General” (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 15:110–11).

Barbé-Marbois wrote GW from Philadelphia on 29 April: “The kindnesses your Excellency showed me during the time that I passed with you are too precious to me, not to be eager to manifest my gratitude. The advantage of being known more particularly to you is one of those of which I am most ambitious, and I shall congratulate myself greatly on my sojourn with you, if it has contributed to convince you of the veneration and devotion without bounds, with which I am penetrated for you. … Permit that Mrs Washington find here the assurances of my respectful hommage” (Translation, DLC:GW; ALS, in French, DLC:GW).

GW replied to Barbé-Marbois from Morristown on 5 May: “Any marks of consideration you may have received during your stay in camp were only a just tribute to your merit which my esteem for you made me take pleasure in paying. The manner in which you speak of them in your letter of the 29th of April and the obliging assurances you give me have a new title to my regard. The opportunity which your visit to Camp afforded me of knowing you more particularly has confirmed the sentiments with which the commencement of our acquaintance impressed me; and I entreat you to be assured that there is nothing I desire more than frequent occasions of giving you proofs of the high estimation in which I hold you” (Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).