11To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 25 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to present you the memorial mentionned in my last letter. I Composed it after the hints you have been pleased to give to me when at head quarters. I beg your Excellency to let me know if I have been happy enough as to meet with your ideas, willing not to propose any thing to Congress but trough you and what you approve of. If yor Excellency desires something more or different...
12To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 17 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
Major Murnan has made an application to me for a promotion. his demand appears to me well founded. that officer has now served five years as a major. your Excellency knows he was in virginia, it is true that he was not employed in the Siege, but Gnl Choisy who he served with gave him very honorable Certificates which attest his bravery and good Conduct. now the Conclusion of the war and the...
13To 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...
14To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 6 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
agreably to a Resolution of Congress of the 22th of march last I have the honour to inform your excellency that the officers of the Corps—have unanimously agreed to accept of the Commutation. I have the honour to be with Great Respect Your Excellency’s the most obedient and humble servant DNA : RG 59—ML—Miscellaneous Letters. The officers of the Corps of Engineers having met for the purpose of...
15To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 29 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I received the answer which you have honored me with, and I judge by it that I have not made myself understood, by your Exellency. I did not ask any thing about the affairs of my department, than if no appearence that those who belong to the french service shall have the liberty of Remaining here now and as for the others—my Connexion with them being broke up by the peace I have no wright to...
16To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 16 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of sending to your Excellency a letter from Cap. bushnell to general lincoln Concerning Mr Reckless . you will see what is the subject of the application of this gentleman. gel lincoln believes that the only thing necessary in that affair is to ascertain the facts mentionned in the letter and to Know if the intention of your exellency was to appoint Mr Reckless in the Corps...
17To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 24 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
permit me to Congratulate you upon the Certain news of a peace to which your excellency has so much Contributed. i hope that you will be satisfied with it and to see that great work so happily Consummated. i am with the greatest Respect and attachment your excellencies the most obedient and humble servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
18To 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...
19To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 29 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of sending to your excellency a memorial from major villefranche by which he begs the Congress to grant him the rank of lieut.-Colonel. I thinck that major villefranche may justly pretend to that favour. he has served as a major these five years and always shown the greatest assiduity and zeal in his duty. I have justified what he says about officers of the army appointed...
20To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 24 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave to assure you of the pleasure I feel of seeing me again in america and under your excellency’s Command. I wished to Return sooner but I was detained by many Reasons, and, principally by the hope of engaging the french ministry in an expedition if not against newyork, at least againts Charlestown. I suppose marquis de la fayette has informed your excellency of all that we have...
21To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 27 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I expected that no ship should go to america without us, but notwithstanding our impatience we are detained for two or three weeks longer. the minister of the navy Could not give any place to Colonel gouvion and myself in the frigate destined for the french officers but we have the assurance to have another with the marquis, the soonest possible. I wish you to be persuaded how much I long to...
22To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 4 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I take this opportunity of presenting my Respects to your excellency and Recalling to your memory a person entirely devoted to you. I will not speak of any political or military matters because you will Receive by this same opportunity letters of gentlemen who was acquaint you of the situation of the affairs better than I can do. I beg leave only to assure your excellency that the distance has...
23To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 1 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
Before I Sett off for france, I think it my Duty to propose to your Excellency Some Regulations concerning the Corps of Engineers. I hope, first of all, that Colel Laumoy will be Soon exchanged, & I wish it exceedingly for the good of the Service, & also because, having a Rank Superior to the other Engineers, there will be no difficulties about the Command, wich might otherwise probably be...
24To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 24 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I heard with great Concern the domestique misfortune which your Excellency had lately, and in the apprehension that sad event will Retard your arrival here, I take the Resolution to write to you. I beg your Excellency to Receive my most sincere thanks for the letters of Recommendation which you have been so good as to give me for Congress. they have obtained to me the succes of my demands. one...
25To 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...
26To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 27 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
when I am going to france it is so important for me to have here the rank of a major general that I Cannot easily give up the idea of getting it. it appears to be a plan of the french ministry to give to the officers who have served in this Country a Rank inferior to that which they had here, accordingly being only a brigadier general they may very well leave me a lieut. Colonel as I am now in...
27To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 24 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
My domestic affairs having long since Required my presence at home, I intreat your excellency, if you have not any plan in view for the winter in which I can be useful to him, to permit me to go to france and to support my application to Congress for a furlough of six or seven months. Colonel gouvion asks the same favor but—this is not the only one we ask. I shall explain myself freely to your...
28To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
i arrived here this morning at five o clok after a long and tedious journey on many accounts. But the pleasure i have to see at last a French fleet of 27 Sails of line in Your Country makes me forget all the hardships i experienced. Something yet gives me some uneasiness. i am sorry not to find here admiral du barras. your excellency knows very well all the different inconveniency’s which were...
29To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 22 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here the day before yesterday in a very bad situation with a great head-hoax and tooth-hoax and fever. I was afraid to be detained a long while in this town. but I treated the distemper in so rough a manner yesterday with bloodletting, emetick, that it left me. so I propose to set off to day after dinner and to travel as fast as I shall be able or rather the horses. unless something...
30To 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...
31To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 18 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I send to your excellency according to your orders the few general observations I have done after our Recon noitring of the island of new york, although the news we had yesterday makes me afraid that they are now inutile. now other plans must probably be done, but is it not advantageous to pursue the preparations for the attack of new york, to deceive our army if so the ennemy. I am much...
32To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 27 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was so much vexed two or three days ago by a Certain idea that i Cannot but submit it to your excellency. I that in the last Conference Count de Rochambeau to that admiral du barras and all the officers of the fleet pretended that it was not possible to force the entrance of the harbour of new york where there are some ships to defend it. if so, why would not admiral du barras in this...
33To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 27 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Si l’on considere la nature du local dans la partie septentrionale de l’isle de newyork, on reconnoitra, je pense, que Ce n’est pas une Chose fort difficile que de prendre poste de l’autre Coté de Spitten duvil creek. on peut etablir sur la montagne qui est de Ce Cote cy du creek, des batteries si fortes que l’on voudra avec lesquels on forcera bientot l’ennemy d’abandonner le fort Charles et...
34To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 14 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
i have not Thought of any other thing but which occurred to me yesterday in the Conversation. but as i am more Convicted By Reflection of their advantage i will expose them again to your excellency. since the fleet is to Come so soon and to stay a short while i thinck there is no more occasion for Desitating for the proper situation of the fleet of Mr du Barras. he must absolutely, i believe,...
35To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 5 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
i Received this afternoon your two letters one of the 21 of february the second of the first of march. i have not time enough to enquire how it happened so; but i am exceedingly sorry of that accident. i will do all my endeavours for Reparing it as much as it is possible. i will set off two morrow morning and i will go as fast as my horses will be able to do. i will go by new windsor and...
36To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 18 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do not know where this letter will find you at newwindsor or at newport. I have been told to-day you set off last thurday, but that report appears some what uncertain. I suppose that you have received the letter which I wrote to your excellency some days ago. I begged leave to stay here some time unless you have some reasons to desire my attendance to Rhode island. I have not received your...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 8 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I arrived yesterday here and I am informed that an express is setting off immediately for head quarters. so I will have only time enough to write a word. please your excellency to Receive my most sincere thancks for your favour of exchanging me. I am not able to express my gratitude of it and my happiness for Coming again under your orders. although I am much impatient to see your excellency I...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 17 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will have probably heard of the Surrender of Charlestown by the time you will receive this Letter. I arrived there the 25th of april at Seven in the morning, after having past during the night in the middle of the Ennemies, through the Woods, with the assistance of good Guides. I found the Town in a desperate State, allmost intirely invested by the British Army & Fleet, which had passed...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 2 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter, with which Your Excellency was pleased to honor me together with that addressed to the President of Congress. I delivered this at the instant of its receipt, and in the evening I received a resolution of Congress to go to Charles Town. Mr De Castaing has since brought me your letters for General Lincoln. I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of testifying to Your...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 16 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to recommend to your Excellency, Captain Neven who asks to be placed in The Corps of Engineers and who appears to me to have every claim to this favour—Your Excellency will see by the Letter which he has written me and which I annex, that he has long done the Service of [a]n Engineer. Colonel Koskiuske has told me much in his favour, and Colonel Gouvion, with whom he was...