1From 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...
2From 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...
3From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive yesterday duplicate of your letter of the [ ]. Since the intelligence transmitted by the Marquis De la Fayette, I have received advices through different channels from New York that the enemy are preparing an embarkation of troops—that fifty transports have moved up the North River for this purpose—and the object of it is said to be your fleet and army. Though this...
4From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 22d instant, which I immediately transmitted to His Excellency The Chevalier De la Luzerne. I am happy to learn the safe arrival of the missing transport at Boston. The precaution you recommend for giving notice to the second division is very necessary and important. It is probable the Delaware will be thought the best reception for the Troops,...
5From 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,...
6From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th Instant reached me yesterday. Sir Henry Clinton has sailed as mentioned in my last with the principal part of his force to attack you—estimated at about eight thousand men; it cannot be more, nor do I suppose he would hazard the enterprise with a much less number. I am glad the inactivity of the Enemy has given you time to prepare; and relying on your abilities and the...
7From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 5 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 30th July. I applaud all the measures you have taken, which appear to me precisely such as the occasion required, and I am very happy to hear that the neighbouring States manifested so much ardor in doing what their interest, their duty and their gratitude demanded from them. It is my wish you should detain the levies as long as you think they...
8From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 8 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 5th. The return of the enemy has been confirmed by my letters previous to this. Had they gone forward, your Excellency’s arrangements promised every thing favorable. I flatter myself the account you have transmitted respecting the second division will prove authentic: I think with your Excellency, that under present circumstances, the...
9From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 9 August 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 9 Aug. 1780 . On 14 Aug., Rochambeau, referring to a letter to him from Major General Lafayette of 9 Aug., wrote GW: “Your Letter of the same date did not make the Least mention of it.”
10From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 16 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have sucessively received your two letters of the 8th and 10th. Other pressing occupations prevent my entering at this moment into the particulars of the last—I shall content myself with observing that I am happy to find our ideas substantially the same, and I hope a further explanation will obviate whatever little difference there may be. I have received advices that the enemy are again...
11From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 17 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor of writing to You yesterday—from the hurry I was in I omitted to mention, that Major General Heath would remain with You agreable to your request, till I should think it necessary for him to join the Army. I write to him upon the subject to day. I have also given the Minister my opinion in favor of the utility of your proposal for engaging Hessian Deserters. Your...
12From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 21 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I did myself the honor of writing to you the 16th I had only time to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 10th; since which I have had the pleasure of successively receiving your two others of the 14th & 17th. In the idea of an operation against New York it has always been a fundamental principle with me, that there ought to be a naval superiority to give such a prospect...
13From 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...
14From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 4 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your several letters of the 23d 27th & 29th, I am happy to hear that the Frigate and our friend have taken their departure under such favourable auspices—I join with you in the warmest wishes for their safety and expedition. By recent advices, there appears to be a large fleet of transports &ca prepareing at New York to sail—and it is added another embarkation...
15From 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...
16From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 14 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received information from New York, that Admiral Rodney’s fleet with the transports which have been some time preparing, fell down to the Hook on Saturday last. The number of troops which they have on board is uncertain. If the Admiral with his ships of War, means to form a junction with Arbuthnot, you will soon perceive it by the augmentation of the fleet which keeps off Newport; if on...
17From 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...
18From 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...
19From 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...
20From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 13 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform your Excellency, that I have received an account from New York, that another embarkation was preparing at that place. The detachment which appears to be about 2500 Men is to be commanded by Generals Knyphausen and Phillips. The destination was not publicly known, but supposed to be to the Southward. This information does not come to me thro’ a Channel on which I perfectly...
21From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau and Rear Admiral Ternay, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Two days ago, I did myself the honor to inform His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, that Sir Henry Clinton was making another embarkation —this is since confirmed by other accounts, but I have received none yet which fix the particular Corps or numbers, with certainty—though all agree, that this detachment is intended as a reinforcement to Lord Cornwallis—that it is to consist of about 2500...
22From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 23 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s favors of the 8th Instt from Newport and 13th from Boston—I am obliged by your communication of the Letter from the commanding Officer at St Domingo but cannot help being anxious for the safety of Monsr Monteiuls Squadron. The intelligence brought by the Vessel from Nantes to Boston is very interesting I am in hopes that the Captn has good grounds...
23From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 3 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s favor of the 19th of December. Since my last, which was on the 23d of December, I have gained intelligence, thro’ a channel on which I can depend, that the detachment which sailed from New York the 20th of last Month consisted of about 1600 Men, and was chiefly composed of drafts from the different British—German—and provincial Regiments. The Queens Rangers...
24From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 22d and 25th of December and 1st instant. The reasons assigned by your Excellency for declining, at this time, the enterprize, which I took the liberty to refer to your consideration, are weighty, but the representation made by the Chevalier Destouche, of the impossibility of going to Sea for want of Bread, renders the measure...
25From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 20 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should have done myself the honor of writing sooner to your Excellency on the late disturbance in the Pennsylvania Line, had I not relied, that General Knox first, and afterwards Count Des Deux ponts would give you the most accurate account of this affair —and had I not been waiting to hear the event of it and collect the particulars to enable me to give you a more perfect idea of it. The...
26From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 24 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 10th and 13th instant. The 20th I had the pleasure of writing to you fully, principally on the subject of the Pensylvania line. It is with equal mortification and regret, I find myself obliged to add to that, the account of a second mutiny, which I had apprehended and which has lately taken place in the Jersey troops—When the...
27From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that the detachment sent against the Mutineers as Mentioned in my last, surrounded them in their Quarters on the Morning of the 27th and demanded an immediate surrender, which was complied with on their part without the least attempt to resist—Two of the principal actors were executed on the spot & the remainder pardoned. From the appearances of...
28From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 7 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for the agreeable intelligence contained in your letter of the 29th of January. I hope the confirmation will have enabled Mr Des-touches to take advantage of the event, in a manner as advancive of his own glory, as of the good of the service. I impatiently wait further advices. By the last accounts from Virginia which come down to the 20th Arnold had reimbarked from...
29From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 14 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 2d, and am much obliged by the confidential communication of your dispatches from St Domingo. It is with pleasure I transmit your Excellency the Copy of a letter from Brigadier General Morgan to Major Genl Greene, giving an account of a decisive Victory gained by him over Lt Colo. Tarleton on the 17th of January. I am in hopes that this...
30From 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...
31From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 19 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to congratulate Your Excellency on the safe arrival of the Viscount De Rochambeau at the Court of Versailles. My authority is derived from the President of Congress who in a letter of the 14th instant writes me thus: “By letters just come to hand from Mr Carmichael at Madrid, I am informed that the son of Count De Rochambeau is safe arrived in France”—I hope every thing...
32From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 24 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with Your Excellency’s letters of the 8th 12th and 18th since mine to you of the 19th. The important intelligence you do me the favour to communicate comes so many ways and with so many marks of authenticity that we have the greatest reason to hope it is true. If so, without the interference of other powers of which there seems to be no probability, I think we may regard it as an...
33From 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...
34From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the immediate communication contained in your letter of the 24th of the agreeable intelligence of the success of the naval detachment in Chesapeak bay—& I am happy to find at the same time that Mr Destouches was preparing a second detachment for an ulterior cooperation. I have renewed my orders to the Marquis De la Fayette who Commands the Corps sent from hence to push forward...
35From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 2 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The third day after he left you, the Baron de Closen did me the pleasure of delivering me Your Excellency’s letter of the 25th. His diligence and zeal perfectly equalled your expectations. The important and agreeable intelligence, the dispatches by him contained, determined me to lose no time in setting out, to enjoy the satisfaction which I have been so long promising myself. I hope to arrive...
36From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By letters which I have met at this place from the Marquis de la Fayette I find that he was embarked and had determined to fall as low down the Chesapeak as Annapolis as the passage is more certain from thence than from Elk River. I have received advice from Colo. Dayton an intelligent Officer stationed near Elizabeth town that the British transports at New York fell down to the Hook on...
37From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received intelligence last night from General Heath—that the British Transports which were supposed to have sailed from New York on the 9th returned again to the watering place on the 11th. Various are the conjectures and reports in New York upon the occasion, but I hope the true reason is, that finding the French Fleet a head of them, they did not chuse to risque the detachment. I shall...
38From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at this place yesterday at Noon. Upon my return I found intelligence contradicting that which I gave your Excellency from Hartford. The British Transports, I suppose, had made some change of disposition, which gave rise to the report of their having sailed and returned again to New York. I believe it may now be depended on that they sailed from the Hook the 13th instant. I am in...
39From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 29 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 21st: I have not received any intelligence from the Southward since the letter of the 15th from the Marquis de la Fayette, the substance of which I communicated to your Excellency in my last. I cannot but look upon this as very unaccountable; for, I think, had either Fleet reached the Chesapeak by the 20th, I should have heard of it,...
40From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 31 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your Excellency’s favor of the 27th announcing the return of the Squadron under the command of the Chevalier Des Touche to the Harbour of New-Port. A few minits before your Letter reached me, the inclosed, which His Excellency the Minister of France had the goodness to send under an open cover to me, informed me of the action which had happened on the 16th off the Capes...
41From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 3 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 31st Ulto I informed Your Excellency, that there had been an Action between General Greene and Lord Cornwallis on the 15th of March; the particulars of which had not then been received. I have now the honor of enclosing the Copy of a Letter from Major General Greene, in which he gives the circumstances of that Engagement in detail: from this, and other Accounts, I cannot...
42From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 31st ulto. Your remarks upon the uncertainty of operations which depend upon a combination of Land and sea Forces, except there is a decisive superiority over the enemy as to the latter, are judicious, and consonant to the Ideas which I had ever entertained upon the subject. Upon maturely considering the offer which your Excellency has...
43From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 8 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Talmadge an Officer of great merit who will have the honor of delivering this letter, will inform your Excellencys minutely of the State of the Enemys Refugee Post on Loyds Neck (Long Island) and will suggest the practicability of cutting off this Corps, and destroying the Enemys Shipping in the Sound, while the British fleet is absent. This would be a very desireable event on every...
44From 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...
45From 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...
46From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 15th and 18th instants. I am obliged by the care which you promise to take of my packet for Mr Laurens. Major Tallmadge, who your Excellency will have seen before this reaches you, has been upon Long Island, and there obtained intelligence that the British Fleet had returned to New York. From whence I conclude that the whole are there. I...
47From 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...
48From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s and the Chevalier des Touche’s joint letter of the 25th and your own of the 26th. The absence of your light Frigates renders the plan which Major Tallmadge proposed impracticable for the present. We will, however, keep the enterprise in view, and may, perhaps, at some future time, find an opportunity of carrying it into execution with...
49From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I assure your Excellency, that I feel extreme pain at the occasion of that part of your letter of the 26th Inst. which relates to an intercepted letter of mine published by the enemy. I am unhappy, that an accident should have put it in their power to give to the world any thing from me, which may contain an implication the least disagreeable to you or to the Chevalier Des-Touches. I assure...
50From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 3 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s Letter of the 28th of April, and of forwarding the Dispatches for the Chevalier de la Luzerne, which were transmitted to my care. I will expect the pleasure of Mr De Menonville’s Company in his route to Philadelphia. Nothing Material has occurred since my last Letter. With the highest esteem & respect I have the honor to be Sir Your...