From Thomas Jefferson to Pontdevaux, [before 2 December 1779]
To Pontdevaux
[Before 2 December 1779]
Sir
In hopes that by this time you will have discharged those attentions which the situation of your ship and men required on your arrival here, I take the liberty of expressing to you the satisfaction it would give me to have the honour of seeing you in our little capital. As such it would scarcely merit the notice of a stranger, but the exercise and change of air and element may perhaps be agreeable. If it should be convenient to you to take a dinner with me the day after tomorrow, my chariot shall attend you in York.
I am in hopes the several wants of your men have been supplied as far as our poor abilities enabled us to do it. I shall avail myself with great pleasure of every opportunity of testifying our gratitude to your sovereign and also of shewing you with how much respect and attention I am Sir Your most obedt. & most humble servt.
Dft (DLC). Endorsed: “Comte de Pont de Veaux. Marquis de Vaudreuil.” The endorsement indicates that an identical letter was sent to Vaudreuil.
Pontdevaux was with D’Estaing at Grenada in July 1779 as lieutenant colonel of the regiment d’Auxerrois (Va. Gaz. [d & n], 19 Feb. 1780) and apparently accompanied Vaudreuil to Yorktown. Le Marquis de Vaudreuil, captain, under D’Estaing, of the ship Le Fendant, which was in York harbor from 20 Nov. 1779 to 25 Jan. 1780 (Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Les combattants français de la guerre américaine, Paris, 1903, p. 76). See also TJ to D’Anmours, 10 Nov. 1779; to James Innes, 28 Dec. 1779.