George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-26-02-0014

From George Washington to La Luzerne, 14 May 1780

To La Luzerne

Hd Qrs Morris-town May 14th 1780.

Sir,

Since my last I have had the honor to receive the detail of His most Christian Majestys Fleet in the West Indies, which your Excellency has had the goodness to send me.1 I congratulate you very sincerely, Sir, on this very respectable armament, which I found to surpass my expectations and I would willingly hope that an occasion will be afforded the Count De Guichen to strike some important blow with ⟨it⟩2—advancive of the honor ⟨and⟩ interest of his Majesty an⟨d⟩ of course, of the honor an⟨d⟩ interest of these states. I have the honor to b⟨e⟩ with the most respectful attachment & esteem Yr Excellencys Most ⟨Obedt⟩ & Hble Servt

Go: Washingto⟨n⟩

ALS, FrPMAE; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Text not captured on the photocopy of the ALS is supplied in angle brackets from the draft.

1For the undated “detail,” a description of French naval forces operating in the West Indies, and confusion over its transmission, see La Luzerne to GW, 4 May, and n.3, and GW to La Luzerne, 11 May.

2For GW’s proposal to have part of Rear Admiral Guichen’s fleet cooperate with the expected French expeditionary force, see GW to Lafayette, 16 May.

Luc-Urbain du Bouëxic, comte de Guichen (1712–1790), a chevalier of the military order of Saint-Louis by 1748, enjoyed a long naval career. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Ushant in July 1778, for which the king made him a commander of the Order of Saint-Louis. Named lieutenant general (rear admiral) in 1779 with the naval command in the West Indies, he sailed from France with his fleet in early February 1780 to replace Vice Admiral d’Estaing’s squadron and to reinforce the squadron under Comte de Grasse. Guichen’s fleet participated in three indecisive engagements with Adm. George Rodney in April and May. In July he rejected urgent requests from GW, La Luzerne, and Major General Lafayette to enter American waters, deciding instead to sail back to Europe in August (see Dull, French Navy description begins Jonathan R. Dull. The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787. Princeton, 1975. description ends , 187–89; see also Clowes, Royal Navy description begins William Laird Clowes. The Royal Navy: A History From the Earliest Times to the Present. 7 vols. London, 1897-1903. description ends , 3:453–69). Guichen remained in Europe and ended his naval career in 1783.

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