To George Washington from the Board of War, 17 July 1778
From the Board of War
War Office [Philadelphia] July 17. 1778.
Sir,
Congress having been pleased to grant to the Marquis de Vienne (a major in the armies of his most Christian Majesty) the brevet commission of Colonel1—we do ourselves the honour to signify it to your Excellency; and to intimate the wishes of the Marquis to be employed in some service of utility to the states, and in which he may have an opportunity to manifest his military talents & zeal for the cause in which he is engaged. We have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient servants. By order of the Board
Tim. Pickering.
ALS, DLC:GW; copy, MHi: Pickering Papers.
1. Louis-Pierre, marquis de Vienne, who had arrived at the Valley Forge camp in June with letters of introduction to Lafayette, had remained with the army until 6 July, when he went on to Congress with letters of introduction from Lafayette and GW’s aide-de-camp John Laurens ( , 203; , 2:96, 99, 101). Congress approved Vienne’s commission on 15 July (see , 11:692–94).