41To 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...
42To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received this moment your Excellency’s Letter of the 24th Last month. You will have seen by my letters to the Chevalier De La Luzerne that, As we are come to the 1st of July without any plan of campaign being arrived or any of the officers whom I had sent to France being returned, and the season being very much advanced, it has been necessary to resolve upon some thing or another, from a...
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, 13 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
The intelligences from Newyork which your Excellency has been so good as to send me are of the greatest importance, If to that, we add the surrender of Minorca and an invasion on Jamaica, if it takes place, we may look on all these events as forerunners of our last campaign: But as we must ever be ready for action untill the Last moment, I am in readiness to march as soon as I shall receive...
45To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 29 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
There is no more talk of the Evacuation of Charlestown and the thirty transports are returned empty to New York: It is assured that at first the order was given for it, and then Countermanded. I fancy that your Excellency having received these news before me has given no orders for the demolition of the works on Rhode Island but I Look upon it as a most essential point to keep a good little...
46To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 6 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency the Letter which I have received from General Greene and a copy of the answer which I have made according to your Excellency’s intentions, of the 19th of march. I wait with the greatest impatience for news from France and the Duke de Lauzun, who was said to be at Brest when the Last vessel which is arrived at Philadelphy set sail from L’orient. I...
47To 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...
48To 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...
49To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 10 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency an account of the unhappy shipwreck of the Diligente, one of our frigates, off cape Henry. The hermione is sailed without any mishap with the Baron de Viomenil and all our Dispatches. We send to morrow a flag to Newyork to demand all the prisoners of the Bonnetta, of the Land and of the Navy, and the remainder of the crew of the Cutter L’alerte. I...
50To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Legion de Lauzun had begun to march, when a very cold weather came on, and the ground was covered with snow six inches deep. As by the intelligences, I had from your Excellency and those I got from the flag it appears that the reinforcement from New york for Charlestown does not exceed 1300 men, I have not judged this rapid movement of the Legion quite necessary, when in these melted...
51To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency the request which Captain Richardson has presented to me, concerning the British Sick now at Glocester. What he advances is the exact truth, as, since three weeks, they being in need of every thing, I have ordered our Commissaries to furnish them with provisions. The Governor and Council of Virginia have made the same answer, as when applied to, for...
52To 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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....
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 27 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Je reçois dans ce moment la lettre de V.E. Je ferai un sejour ici Selon Vos ordres avec la 1ère division qui sera jointe par le 2de demain dans l’après midi. J’attendrai Vos ordres pour faire marcher le tout après demain. Quant à moi, je joindrai V.E. dans l’endroit que vous jujerer à propos de fixer, pour preceder nos troupes à Philadelphie, et faire les preparatifs necessaires. Je Suis &c....
61To 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...
62From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 17 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the dispatches received from your Excellency by the Frigate La Concorde it has been judged expedient to give up for the present the enterprise against New York and to turn our attention towards the South, with a view, if we should not be able to attempt Charles town itself, to recover and secure the States of Virginia—North Carolina—and the Country of South Carolina and...
63To 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...
64To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
By the Last Letter that I have received from Mr De Choisy, it appears that the Boston Militia are very slow in their moving down to Rhode island. I beg of your Excellency to write again to his Excellency Governor Hancock, to desire him to make them be in a greater hurry. We are now in a time very decisive and Interesting ! In a month’s time, the Superiority of the seas will be decided between...
65To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 19 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Questions by Genl Rochambeau The Count de Barras in his Letter of the 13th instt and Mr De Choisy in his Letter of the 15th, demand both of them, Mr D. Choisy by the Desire of Mr D. Barras, what is to be the definitive Plan of operations that His Excellcy General Washington has fixed on, that they may make it known to the Count de Grasse on his arrival in these Seas, & so enable him to concur...
66To 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...
67To 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.
68To 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...
69To 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.
70To 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,...
71To 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...
72To 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...
73To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 30 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
About an hour ago, I received your Excellency’s Letter, wrote this morning; The 3d french regiment is arrived this evening very Late. The 4th shall only arrive to morrow evening. The Troops and Specially those of the Artillery are very tired, however, I make no difficulty about setting off to morrow morning with the first Brigade, and I hope the 2d will follow the day after. I shall be at...
74To 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...
75To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 23 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here yesterday with the first Regiment, which has been followed this day by the 2d and will be so to morrow by the 3d and the day after by the 4th. I stay here this day and to morrow to give time to our broken chariots to be mended, and our young artillery horses and oxen to refresh themselves. I will set off after to morrow with the 1st Regt for Newtown, upon 4. divisions as before,...
76To 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...
77To 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...
78To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 12 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to your Excellency a copy of a Letter that I received from the Count de Grasse and that has been brought by the 50. gun Ship, who escorted the convoy. The two thirds of the convoy only are arrived with the ship, the rest dispersed near the coast by a gale of wind. Your Excellency is conscious of the importance of the Secret on this Letter, and of the necessity we are...
79To 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...
80To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 9 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Count de Barras has the honor to send to your Excellency the result of a 2d council of war that he has held, at your request. The Council has persisted in his resolution of the 31st ulto and sends you the reasons of it shewn in a manner which I make no doubt, will be agreeable to your Excellency. of my corps of Troops, one half imbarks to morrow for Providence and I expect that the other...
81To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 31 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send to Your Excellency, the piece of news which I have received from Lieutenant Colonel Ledyard. his nephew’s report, after his arrival from Guadeloupe, seems to me related with so many particularities, that it has the greatest appearance of truth. We must wait for its confirmation; that piece of news has been productive of what I hope will please your Excellency. The...
82To 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...
83Conference at Wethersfield with Rochambeau, 23 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having given communication to the Count de Barras of my instructions, I have observed to him 1 st Rochambeau That General Washington in the last conference we had here six Weeks ago, desired earnestly that the Squadron should transport all the French Corps, with all its Artillery, Baggage, and munitions to Chesapeake Bay, and that I did not doubt but His Excellency would desire it again as the...
84To 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...
85To 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...
86To 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...
87To 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...
88To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 5 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received Last night your Excellency’s two Letters of the 30th Ulto. Till now, that article of the New york Gazette which mentions the Letter to Mr Laud Washington has been known by no body but me. I have not spoken of it to the Chevalier Destouches. I did what I thought most consistent with a sincere heart, I wrote about it to your Excellency with candor, being fully persuaded your...
89To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this moment have received by a way which is known to your Excellency, intelligences of the 29th ulto from New york which report that the English ships will, as they say, be repaired in ten days, and that they work very hard on them; that in the mean time they are very uneasy least the french fleet be ready before them; that the garrison at Lloyd’s neck does not consist of more than 400. or...
90To 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....