To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 15 October 1779
From Silas Deane
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Head Quarters4 15th Octo. 1779
Dear Sir
This will be handed to you by Mons. Colomb, who came out to America with the Marquiss de la Fayette,5 & has served with Reputation in the Army of the United States, and now returns to Visit his Country, and Freinds, I take therefore the Liberty to introduce him to your Acquaintence and to refer you to him for Information of the State of Our Army, and its Operations. I set out for Philadelphia tomorrow, and hope for the pleasure of embracing you in health at Paris in the course of the Winter6 meantime I remain with the most sincere Respect and Attachment Dear Sir Your most Obedient and Very Humle. Servt.
Silas Deane
His Excellency B Franklin Esqr.
Notation: Silas Deane Head Quarters 15 Oct. 1779
4. At West Point. On Oct. 15 Deane also wrote Col. Samuel Webb, datelining his letter from nearby Murderer’s Creek: Deane Papers, IV, 108.
5. Pierre Colomb (b. 1754), a Continental Army captain, had been captured the previous winter at Savannah. He returned to France in November, apparently for good, but his combat days were not over; he became a général de brigade in 1793 after service against the Prussians: XXVIII, 384–5; Bodinier, Dictionnaire; DBF. Deane is apparently confusing him with Lafayette’s aide-de-camp Louis Saint-Ange Morel de la Colombe (1755-c.1799), who also appears in Bodinier, Dictionnaire.
6. Deane told Webb that after a short stay in Philadelphia he would travel to Virginia, where he would embark for Europe.