1To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 13 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
Captain Segond Requested me lately to appoint him an aide de Camp: although I should be glad to do something agreeable to that officer I declared him I had Rather a disclination to it because it appears to me improper when the war is over, when the army is almost separating and when I myself I am very near going home. but he Represents that his situation is extraordinary that the Court martial...
2To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 19 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am happy to find by the answer which you have favoured me with that your excellency approves of the demand of major villefranche. but I am sorry that gentleman Has no means of letting the Congress know that approbation. I had hopes that your excellency would be so good as to write it on the memorial it self. I know, sir, that in general you have very little inclination to do such thing. but...
3To George Washington from Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 10 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
new Connexions which I have formed with america make me take the liberty of writing to your excellency. twenty three persons and myself we have acquired some lands on the ohio and we propose to make a setlement there. for that purpose we agreed to Carry or send over a certain number of Cultivators. this is a kind of experiment, which if successful, will be followed by a much greater one, so...
4To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 6 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I hope your excellency will not be displeased with the liberty I take of sending to you the inclosed letter to Congress for Capt. Castaing and of requesting you would be so good as to forward it in a proper time, if you do not think it improper. I did not propose at first to trouble you about this affair; but while I was preparing my application, I heard of the sudden and unexpected...
5To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 7 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is by no means doubtful that the addition of a few Redouts will increase the strength of our position—but in my opinion they may be regarded as a superfluous exertion of Strength—if in order to make a proper estimation of the advantages of our position, we take notice that the Enemy begins to be subject to our fire at the extreme range of Musket and Case-Shot—that in order to join us; they...
6To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 14 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
i take the opportunity of major l’enfant going to Camp to present my Respects to your Excellency. that officer informed me in the Conversation of the journey which he is to undertake with baron de Stuben. i don’t presume Certainly to penetrate into the wiews of your excellency or to direct your Confidence, but i beg leave to observe to you that i have not received yet any orders from france,...
7To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 22 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
i have been just now a Resolved of Congress about the exchange of prisonners by which the matter if Referred to your excellency. in this Circumstance i take the liberty to Recall to your mind Colonel laumoy and lieutenant Colonel Cambray. as my Countrymen, my friend i wish extremely to see them in liberty, but in this moment, i may add that the public advantage if joined to their private and...
8To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
West Point being to us a point which it is of the greatest importance to preserve and to put once for all in a state of defence, I think that we ought not to touch the fund of troops necessary to the defence of this post, in its present state, and to the construction of the works already undertaken. According to what his Excellency has been pleased to submit to our view, it appears that we...
9To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 29 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
after the superb operation which we have just terminated, I think it my duty in quality of command of the Corps of the engineers to draw your excellency’s attention to the officers of the Corps who have had the good fortune to be employed in it and who having served well, appear to me at least according to the usages established in the european service to have an indisputable title to the...
10To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I think we ought not to quit our position of Valley forge—before the enemy has evacuated Philadelphia—he must have lost his reason, to remain in that city without being in a condition to defend it. Thus either the intelligence which says there are no more than 2 or 3000 men there, is false—or the English have it in their power by the measures which they have taken, Signals agreed upon, number...