1To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 11 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Letter of his Excellency and orders have been given in consequence of the intelligence therein contained. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
2To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 17 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I Send to your Excellency the order from the Commander of the artillery, to have fifteen thousand sand bags delivered at Providence, on your Excellency’s Command. it is the half of what we have, and we’ll Share them together, as we Will the Champaign, of which I send to your Excellency a Basket, just arrived. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
3To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Loss that your Excellency has met with, when you joined your family, and the grief that you must have experienced, has afflicted me very much. I beg of your Excellency to accept of my very sincere and tender condoleance. I have received two Letters from your Excellency for Count de Grasse, at the time you wrote them, you did not know that he had set under sail, on the 4th inst. with a fair...
4To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this last night, your Excellency’s Letter of the 18th instant dated from hartford; The Intelligence your Excellency gives me of the return of the fleet of Transports on the 11th makes me believe that this convoy will wait for Arbuthnot’s fleet to sail afterwards under its protection, I hope that this will occasion a delay long enough to give our Expedition a great advance. I wait...
5To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr De Menonville, first Deputy-Adjutant-General, whom I have announced in my Last to your Excellency, will have the honor of delivering you this Letter. he shall receive your Excellency’s orders and instructions about the Letter of credit of Mr Franklin which We have upon Congress, and about the offers which we have had made to us by Congress for the Supplying with provisions the French corps....
6To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Our fleet entered yesternight and the Chevalier Destouches has the honor to give your Excellency an account of his engagement, by duplicata, as he already wrote to your Excellency the Hermoine which he sent to Philadelphy, I join here a copy of the Letter which I received from the Baron de Viomenil, and a return of the Loss of our detachment of Land forces. All that has yet reached my...
7To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai l’honneur d’envoyer à V. E. la copie de la lettre que je reçois de M. le Cte de Grasse apportée par le Vaisseau de 50. qui a escorté notre convoi, il est arrivé aux deux tiers, le reste dispersé prés de la côte par un coup de vent. V. E. sent toute la consequence du Secret absolu qu’il faut garder sur cette lettre, et la necessité en même temps de faire tous nos preparatifs en...
8To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I expect with great impatience and uneasiness the convoy of Bread that falls due to night to the troops, The Commissary of Provisions tells me that the heavy rains that fell the Day before yesterday have occasioned a delay, because the Bakers as yet are not under cover at Fish kill Landing, however, boats have been seen at Tarrytown coming down the river; Chariots are just gone to fetch it...
9To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 17 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to write to your Excellency, that at my Departure from York in Virginia, I would Leave in that place a Detachment of 400 french Troops, which were to be joined by a corps of the Virginian Militia, to assure the possession of that harbour to the french navy now there, and that may arrive in future. At the moment of my Leaving that place, the American militia were just beginning...
10To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 11 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
My son is arrived the day before Yesterday, and Commodore De Barras yesternight. I have decyphered my dispatches and the Commodore’s orders were not to open his, till the 15th of May, at his arrival in rhode island. But I have seen enough by mine to perceive that it is indispensable that we should have a conference with your Excellency as soon as possible. I wait for your answer to my first...
11To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was on my way to go and see your Excellency, when Cl Smith has given me your letter, I go back to Whipe nn y to brake all preparations to be able to go this afternoon and ride sixteen or 20 miles, I beg of your Excellency to be so good as to leave at Spring field or at Chatham a detachment to cover the Bake house that is to furnish with bredd during Some days to Send some Convoys of Bredd...
12To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 June 1781 to 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency of my arrival here to day with the first regiment, I shall stay three days to mend the Broken waggons and to assemble my corps into Brigades. I shall set off On the 2d next month with the two first regiments united, and on the 3d, the 2d Brigade consisting of the two Last regiments will follow, by which means the Last regiment will stay one day. On...
13To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 9 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
The troops are arriving here with a pretty fair weather, but, between us, I believe our navy will not be ready before the end of this month, I beg of your Excellency to forward this Letter with speed to the Chevalier de La Luzerne and to send me word of every thing which may come to your knowledge, relative to the evacuation of Charlestown. a seafaring man has said here that at the beginning...
14To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 13 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
La lettre Mon cher Général du 10 mai dont Vous m’avez honoré m’a fait le plus grand plaisir. Je Vous Vois à la fin de Vos travaux et avec le desir de Venir en france; tachez, Mon cher Général d’effectuer ce projet, que rien ne s’oppose à cette idée, et Venez recevoir dans un pays qui Vous honore et Vous a toujours admiré les applaudissemens que l’on doit à un grand homme. Vous pouvez compter...
15To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of my recruits that have been Landed to day, at Boston, there are 400. men, in a condition to do duty and 260 attacked by the Scurvy. These 400. men will arrive here on Saturday, they shall be incorporated on Sunday, and Monday 18 I shall set off with the Regiment of Bourbounois. The horses for the artillery and the Waggons are arriving from different places and I hope that the movement of...
16To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I only received the day before yesterday, your Excellencys first Letter since your Departure, dated Decr 2d, together with a Letter of the Chevalier de la Luzerne of the 17th 9bre in which were inclosed all the Dispatches from my Court. as your Excellency writes me that you’ll stay for some weeks at Philadelphy, I beg to refer you to my Letter to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, to seek out a...
17To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received this moment your Excellency’s Letter. I will make a Stage here according to your orders with the first division which will be to morrow evening joined to the Second. I will Expect your orders to move the whole the day after to morrow, as to My Self I will go to meet your Excellency, at the place where you Will appoint a Rendezvous, that we may preceed our troops to...
18To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 24 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
j’ay deja eu lhonneur mon cher general, de vous ecrire pour bien des occasions, et nous n’avons aucune nouvelle de l’amerique depuis monne arrivée dans ce pais cy, je profite de l’occasion de Me. izova pour vous faire passer cette lettre cy. la fameuse coalition de fox et de north ragit l’angleterre. Schelburne et le pati de bedfort forment a present l’opposition; on dit que nous allons avoir...
19To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th instant. The report mentioning the number of ships in the British fleet, seems to me to be accurate and confirmed by the correspondance of M—— T—— and by the prisoners arrived on board a flag: they have 7. ships of the line 2. 50 gun ships and 4. 44 gun ships with some frigates. The Troops for the embarkation according to M—— T—— is only of...
20To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 9th instant, brought by Colonel Robert Dillon. The Legion de Lauzun by this time must be arrived at Charlotte court house, it will be needfull that it stay there some time, because the men are almost quite naked, and I shall forward them their cloathing which I expect from Boston, as well as that of all the army, as soon as possibly can be done...
21To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a Letter for Sir Guy Carleton, which I beg you would forward to him by the first opportunity. I beg you will send with all possible speed to the chevalier de La Luzerne, the inclosed packett for business requiring great diligence. I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d inst. and I am going to send to Mr De Vaudreuil that which you write...
22To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 16th instant is just come to hand: Our Transports set sail this morning, but their Destination is not for France, they are bound to Hispaniola; the Surveillante convoys them and the Hermione is bound to Philadelphy. I’ll be obliged to keep your Excellency’s Letter for Mr Laurens, untill we have some occasion to send it from Boston or some of the Neighbouring...
23To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Chevalier DuBouchet is returned from New york with 48 men of the West indies Brigade taken on the Bonnetta. they are in a most miserable Situation both as to cloathing and to their health, Six are dead of the Scurvy, six more were too ill to be transported, that compleats the number of 60, who were taken. as We had sent 104. invalids from Glocester, the English commissary of prisoners has...
24To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
At the moment of my departure for Boston this morning, I received a Letter from Mr De Vaudreuil, saying that he is sorry to have appointed the 8th of next month for my arrival with my troops at Boston, because the men of war at Portsmouth are not yet ready and he does not believe that he will be in readiness to set sail before the 20th November. In consequence of which, I have resolved to stay...
25To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here with the first Brigade yesterday at 9 A.M. The 2d by a forced march joined me in the afternoon, and we are now all together ready to execute your orders. I wait with the greatest impatience to hear from you and the Duke de Lauzun. I have caused my march to be opened on White plains, in case circumstances should render it necessary. I am with Respect and personal attachment Sir,...
26To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
We have been four days to perform the March that you had prescribed to be done in two. we have found roads very bad and impediments without number, almost fifty waggons which we cou’d not abandon having been broken the first day. the troops will this night for the first time lay in their tents. I have left them nearly arrived at tavern four miles this side of Pines Bridge and three miles...
27To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai reçu la Lettre de votre Excellence du 11. de ce mois, le raport du nombre de Vaisseaux de L’escadre ennemie me paroit juste et confirmé tant par la correspondance du major Talmadge que par le raport des prisonniers d’un flag, ils ont 9. gros Vaisseaux, 2 de 50. et 4. de 44. avec les fregates, l’embarquement n’est que de 2. mille hommes; et il Specifie les regimens. Je crois que leur...
28To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th instant. It seems very clear to me by the report which I have sent you from Newport and by the intelligence which you have given me from the Newyork papers of the 5th that the evacuation of Charlestown has been made on the 1st instant, and I expect that your Excellencys next Letter will bring me a confirmation of it. The Letter which Sir Guy...
29To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 18 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency the Letter which I write to Sir Henry Clinton, by the Chevalier Destouches’s desires, and I beg of your Excellency to send it to him, as quickly as possible, as our frigate and our Transports remaining here are in an absolute want of seamen, which is the reason that the Frigate La Gentille did not along with the other ships. Mr Hancock has desired Mr...
30To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 28 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The British fleet is gone off, and our Squadron is preparing to put under sail by the first fair wind. I have been obliged to give to the Count de Barras 900. men to compleat his crews. As soon as the departure of the fleet will have given me Liberty to put into execution the plan We have agreed on, I shall not defer it Long. Our convoy is not yet arrived and I wait for it with great...
31To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Tallmadge has delivered us the Letter of the 8th instant that your Excellency has favored us with. We have conjointly with him examined the plan of Loed’s neck fort, and he has given us all the intelligences which his zeal and sagacity which he has shewn in several actions, have procured him. By his report, it appears that there are 750. men garrisoned in that itshmus; that the fort is...
32To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I beg of your Excellency to forward with speed to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, the inclosed packett containing Mr De Vaudreuils Letters and Mine. All our Artillery and heavy baggages are imbarked, the troops are here pretty well barracked, in expectation of the moment that Mr De Vaudreuil shall demand them, and then I’ll give up the command of them to the Barron de Viomenil to conduct them to...
33To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr De Choisy writes me that 130. of the massachusetts’ militia are arrived at rhode island, and that the Colonel assures the rest will arrive soon, but he likewise writes that those of rhode island State want to go away, saying that their time is out, and that Governor Greene has wrote that he would not send others in their stead. I beg of your Excellency to write to Mr Greene to make him...
34To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 3d instant, and Letters from the Ch. de La Luzerne along with it. The intelligences given by the vessel arrived from L’Orient at Philadelphy, about the courts of St James, and St Petersborough calling back their Ambassadors, and about the capture of several English East Indiamen taken by the French, are very interesting and deserve to be...
35To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency, my Letter for the Mis de Vaudreuil. My sentiments I am happy to find perfectly coincide with yours, on the objects mentioned in the Letter. I beg of your Excellency to write to Gor hancock that he may give the proper directions for the Speedily assembling of the militia, in case of a signal from the Mis de Vaudreuil, that he sees the British fleet...
36To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 6 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have communicated to the chevalier Destouches some proposals made to me by the Council at Boston about an attack on Penobscot, together with the Answer made to me by your Excellency upon that subject. The chevalier Destouches Appeared to have a great mind to it. he ordered Mr DelaPerouse to ask a Plan of it which was brought to us yesterday by deputies from Boston; after examining it, he...
37To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 16 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Transactions of the night 14 & 15th instant, at the French opened before York town. On the night between the 14th and l5th instant, The breach was mounted by the Regiments of Gatinois and Royal Deux ponts commanded by the Baron de Viomenil, to which were added four companies of auxiliary Grenadiers. We had resolved to attack as soon as dark, the two redoubts on the left of the Ennemy, that...
38To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 19 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I just now received an answer from Mr De Choisy to my Letter of the 11th instant. I have already sent to your Excellency one from Mr De Barras. he seems to have resolved not to go out of the harbour, till his jonction with the grand fleet, But in his Last Letter and in that of Mr De Choisy I received to day, he asks that your Excellency would send him a definitive plan of your operations that...
39To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 22 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I send to your Excellency copies of a Letter I received from General Greene and of my answer. I have nothing to add to the reflections that they contain: Your Excellency knows that the french corps must not be divided, and I believe that the interest of the thirteen United States is to look on that corps as a reserve to be carried entire either to the right or the Left in the important...
40To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 23 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
After a mature consideration, I have resolved to follow the same route with the army which We took Last year Thro’ Trenton Princeton &ca—We shall there have the convenience of our ovens and Establishments on that road with which The Troops are already acquainted. The Legion de Lauzun shall march on our right, the same way that the american Troops followed Last year and I hope by that means,...
41To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I receive this instant your Excellency’s Letter of the 31st Ulto. I don’t doubt but the embarkation which was to set sail from New york had its destination for Charlestown, I write to the Chevr de La Luzerne that the intelligence which I had sent him, of the arrival of a Squadron from France, to the Count de Grasse in the West indies, is either false or premature, because on the 29th 8bre that...
42To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 24 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this evening your Excellency’s Letter of the 10th instant. The Cartel The New Blessing after having unloaded its cargo at york has already set sail for New york, all the Loadings for that same place, that shall be adressed to me by Mr Ross will have the passports which your Excellency desires. I have Learnt by the common report, that your Excellencys seat has suffered by the fire....
43To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 8 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
In the Moment I was writing to your Excellency, I received a Confirmation of the Success of the Engagement on the 12th of April which by all the Reports from the Cape, Port au prince & all the Intelligences for N. York & Jamaica seem very bad for us. I was proposing to you that as there was not yet any plan for the Campaign decided at our Court and as I waited with the greatest Impatience for...
44To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 8 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this moment received a billet from the Consul of France at Boston in the following words "The frigate La Concorde is arrived at Boston; Sunday at night, after a passage of 42. days; The Commodore De Barras is on board with the Viscount de Rochambeau" I expect they will arrive here to morrow and your Excellency may well think that I wait for them with great impatience. I believe it will be...
45To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received this instant your Excellencys Letter of the 31st ulto. Our Land forces and naval troops I am sure, will look on your Excellency’s approbation as the most flattering reward of the courage which they shewed in the engagement of the 16th Ulto. It is of the highest importance to be thoroughly informed if the Troops on board at New york have set sail, and if the British design rigorous...
46To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai reçu la lettre de Votre Excellence du 10. de ce mois, au Sujet de l’expedition proposée par L’Etat de Boston,à laquelle vous Vouliez bien donner Votre approbation sous dèux restrictioun, La p remi ere qui regarde la Marine, concerne Mr le ch evalie r Destouches qui a l’honneur d’y repondre par la Lettre cy jointe. quant à la seconde qui regarde la terre, j’avois éte assez heureux pour...
47To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 7 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a Letter which the chevalier de la Luzerne begs you would send by the Dragoons established on the road to Boston for carrying on the correspondance. It contains a generous offer made by congress to the King of a 74. gun ship. The News which I have here of the British fleet, are that Admiral Pigot is got into Newyork with very few ships, himself in a...
48To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 20 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am now at my third day’s march with the 1st regiment, having experienced a great inconvenience from the ox teams which bring the tents at the camp only at Night and very Long after the arrival of the Troops, many waggons of all kinds broken, and the artillery horses are very weak considering the badness of the roads. However, I expect to arrive at Hartford on the Fifth day but as the same...
49To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 1 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
In this moment, I have received your Excellency’s Letter of this day in the morning. The Duke de Lauzun shall certainly be to morrow at noon at Bedford, ready to receive your orders. I hope to be there myself at the same hour and my 1st Brigade will arrive in the afternoon. The 2d Brigade cannot join me at soonest before after to morrow. To morrow in the evening, I shall expect at Bedford your...
50To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 8 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Excellency’s letter of the 16th of last month and I see with great pleasure the vigorous preparations made by Congress, for next campaign. I beg Leave to refer your Excellency to my Letter to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, for a great deal of news which I desire him to communicate to your Excellency, that you may see of what importance it is that Congress should by...