To George Washington from Colonel Armand, 21 November 1780
From Colonel Armand
philadelphia 21st Nbre 1780
Sir.
I Have been Honor’d with the orders of your Exellency given to me in a lettre of the 5th Nbre the Contains of it were so nearly Connected with the Succés of a petition which I Had put at that time under the Consideration of Congréss that it was out of my power to answer sooner your favor1—the promotions granted to my Country men in Consideration of small times of Services Had persuaded me that they were not promoted according to the Just rotation of ranks and prétentions in the army at large, from thence I Considered the french officers in this service as making a line amongs themselves, and in that line my services authenticated—and put to an Estimable value by the goodness of your Exellency, I found myself the more entitled to a promotion—I pettitioned for it, I was twice denied of my prétentions, but at those times they were perhaps more Established upon the Jealousy which others promotions gived to me than upon a real principle which must Have been the time of my Service, and a longuer proof of the promotion of others2—I beg leave to Say Here that respect did so much attached me to your Exellency, that so long my Honor Could be préserved, I was determined to trayed3 under your Command the events of a war which otherwise after two or three Campeignes Could not offer to me not only Satisfaction in this Country but even a great deal more advantages at Home; last year I saw myself going out of your Exellency’s immédiat Command, and I did not sooner begun my Journey that I regréted the Happyness and advantages which I lieved behind4—I served under gnl gates, and by no means nor term⟨s⟩ nature Had put me when I was born under the necéssity of being traited like a slave; Hoever it was my fate, and I subdued my Self entaerly to it, Hopping that fortune reserved me a better one—after the defeat at Campden I wint to Congress, to know what were their will on respect to my legion, if it was to be remounted & reunited or not;5 I Had also resolved to aske to be promoted, I fell so sick for a month that I Could do no business, but as soon as I ⟨recov⟩ered my Health, I presented a petition to Congress ⟨asking prom⟩otion, my former pettition was this⟨—⟩that should I be promoted, I would not take the Command of no older Colonels than I—but Even on all occasions Confine my Self to the Command of my legion, Congress Could mantion my purposal to your Exellency, and by that it was unpossible to me Even if willing to do it to take more Command than I Had my Self Stipulated, this pettition was rejected,6 then I presented this, that Should I be granted with the Commission of brigadier I would immidiatly in order to quiet the Jealousy it might give in the army go to france and feach from there the Equipement for the legion, I mantioned that this voyage Considered as a service payed to america, together with four Campeignes would Justify my promotion to the Eyes of the army—this request was rejected,7 I would not be sincere if I did not mantion here that I Established in my mémorial as one of the valuable principe for my promotion, the promotion of Cnl morgan who Having spented two years at Home Had not so long Services than I in this Country, whoever I was promoted to give that reason, by Congress telling me that they were olders Cnls than I in the army—Cnl morgan being under the same disadvantage I Could not be silent upon His succés in Congress,8 this reason Having some weight they told me that I was not the older Cnl of the Horses—by no means did I answered, because I was never put in the line of the Cavallery, nor had I Ever anny Command in that line, after this they told me that promotions took place in the line of the severals states? what state do I belongs to Have I asked to non was I answered—when shall I Have then the right to be promoted—when you are the very oldest Colonel of the army. from theses particulars your Exellency may Judge of my Case which appears to me under such disadvantage that I désired Congress to accept of my resignation, and leat me go to france—the ambassador told me to day that they were not disposed to see me leave the Service and that they will not resolve béfore I make an other pettition9—I believe of my duty—and ⟨tha⟩t duty I feel more in to my Hart to wrait your E⟨xcellency on thi⟩s matter, and I wishes it could be convenient to give me your advice and Help me on the occasion.
the promotions granted to strangers Hurt me really at Such a degrée in france that I Could not remains longuér with the same Commission under the present government—the only motive which Congress appears to Have for not grant my demand is the Jealousy it would rise in the army—perhaps your Exellency would be of advice that if being granted with the commission of brigadier disgusted Cnls of older date than I, so far as to persuad them to resign on that account—I was to promise to your Exellency to reseign my Commission of brigadier as soon as it would Hurt so far the feelling of the officers, and keap my Command as Colonel, it would prevent resignations and trouble—an other way Could be to appoint a board of officers in the army and my reasons being layed bèfore them ask their oppinion & dètermination—I take the liberty to rèffére entaerly the dècision of that matter to your Exellency, and to put under your Considération that my meaning is not to Have a larger Command nor to Extend it over more officers—nor proudness, ⟨bu⟩t the nécéssity of préserving at Home the characte⟨r⟩ which I Had there when I Came over.10 With the greatest respect your Exellency’s sir The most Hble obdt st
C. armand.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Armand had written Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, from Philadelphia on 13 Nov. about the perception that his promotion would create jealousy in the army. Armand proposed that he be commissioned a brigadier general and then sent to France to outfit his legion “and do further what Congress should think proper to order.” While away, “the army Could not be troubled with my promotion,” and his services in France “for the good of the publik, being an addition to my Juste title to promotion—would render the army Easy on that Head, I would be back to america before the oppening of the Campeign” (DNA:PCC, item 164; see also GW to Armand, 5 Nov.).
Congress read Armand’s letter on 15 Nov. and referred it “to a committee of three” (, 18:1053). The committee reported on the same date “that Congress having signified their pleasure on this subject on the 4th inst, they cannot without manifest injustice to the Officers in the army, and a violation of the resolutions of 4th, establishing the rank and rule of promotion in the army reverse their resolution of the aforeseaid date” (, 18:1058; see also n.6 below).
2. For Armand’s previous requests for promotion to brigadier general, see his letters to GW, 20 Jan. 1779, and n.2, and c.28 Dec. 1779, and the source note to that document.
3. Armand presumably intended “trade” for this word.
4. GW had recommended transfer of Armand’s command to the southern department (see his letters to Armand and to the Board of War, both 6 Feb. 1780).
5. Continental troops and militia under Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates suffered a severe defeat at Camden, S.C., on 16 Aug. (see Gates to GW, 30 Aug., and the notes to that document).
6. Armand had written Huntington from Philadelphia on 29 Oct. to explain why he merited promotion from colonel to brigadier general. He especially pointed to “friends in france Jealous for my Honor” and asked that Congress consider his petition “as Soon as Convenient” (DNA:PCC, item 164; see also n.1 above). Congress had authorized Armand on 21 Oct. to command one of “two partizan corps” in the Continental army’s new establishment (, 18:960).
Congress read Armand’s letter on 30 Oct. and referred it to the Board of War with an instruction “that the Board lay before Congress a list of the colonels in the line of the American Army with the dates of their respective commissions” (, 18:994). The board subsequently reported on 2 Nov. that previously indicated objections remained to Armand’s promotion, “except, that since the letter was written, Col. Armand has served another campaign with reputation, and that some promotions have since taken place, Col. Morgan’s particularly, which in some measure lessen the weight of the objections to his advancement” (, 18:1010–11; see also n.8 below). Congress then resolved on 4 Nov. to inform Armand “that Congress, from a sense of his merit and services, have already made an honorable provision for him; and that it is inconsistent with the arrangement of the army to grant him the promotion which he solicits” (, 18:1011; see also Huntington to Armand, 8 Nov., in , 16:315).
7. See n.1 above.
8. Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan had received his promotion on 13 Oct. (see Huntington to GW, 14 Oct., and n.1 to that document; see also GW to John Jay, 30 June 1779, and the source note to that document).
9. Armand refers to French minister La Luzerne. Armand again had written Huntington from Philadelphia on 18 Nov. 1780 to complain about congressional denial of his promotion “immediatly after the promotion of mr. morgan and lee.” He also submitted his resignation (DNA:PCC, item 164). Congress read and tabled Armand’s letter on the same date (, 18:1069).
10. GW replied to Armand from headquarters at Passaic Falls on 27 Nov.: “I have received your letter of the 21st instant—The opinion I have of your services and merit would make me chearfully give my influence to the accomplishment of your wishes, were I not persuaded that it would be attended with inconveniences—I cannot enter into the motives that have produced the promotions you speak of—I am sensible that by a comparison of your situation with that of the French officers in general, your claim is well founded; but the circumstances of our service now are very different from what they were at an earlier period, and many things have been done, which could not be admitted as a rule of present practice, without being not a little prejudicial.
“I shall be really sorry if you should think it necessary to withdraw your self from the service on account of the ill-success of your application to Congress; You know the estimation in which I hold your talents and usefulness—If you continue you may assure yourself that I shall do what depends on me to make your command honorable and agreeable.
“In addition to this, as I am persuaded, you will always maintain the same place in my esteem which you now possess, when you determine finally to return home, I shall take the liberty to recommend to Congress the promotion you desire.
“I approve the appointment of Mr Penet to a Lieutenancy in your legion, which must be confirmed by Congress before it can take place” (Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Armand subsequently received a furlough from Congress to allow his travel to France (see , 19:75–76; see also GW to Armand, 12 Jan. 1781, both DLC:GW). He eventually received the last promotion to brigadier general before the end of the war (see , 248).
Congress made Ignace Penet a cornet in Armand’s Legion on 15 Dec. 1780 and promoted him to lieutenant on 6 Jan. 1781 (see , 18:1154, 19:30).