From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 19 July 1780
To Lieutenant General Rochambeau
Head Quarters in New Jersey 19th July 1780
Sir
On the first Acct of your arrival I did myself the honor to write you the letter annexed;1 but in momentary expectation of hearing from you, I thought it best to delay the departure of the Marquis till the arrival of your dispatches.2 These Monsr De Rochefontaine delivered me yesterday Afternoon.3 The assurances you give me of the ulterior intentions of His Most Christian Majesty add to our obligation and to our hopes: On our part we shall make every effort in our power.
The contrarieties you experienced which have retarded your arrival were unfortunate; but they depended on events not at your command, and I hope will have no ill influence in the issue of our measures. My opinion perfectly corrisponds with the motives which determined you in the first instance to Rhode Island; and upon which you have calculated your present disposition.
I shall be happy to hear that the health of such of your Troops as were indisposed by the voyage, is speedily restored, and that you receive every refreshment and supply from the Country which can contribute to the comfort and convenience of the whole.
I cannot sufficiently express to you my sensibility for the marks of confidence and for the assurances of your sentiments contained in your Letter, and I shall be happy in siezing every oppertunity to convince you how entirely reciprocal they are. I have the honr to be with the highest esteem & regard—Sir, Yr Most Obedt & Most Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, CtY-BR: Rochambeau Papers and Rochambeau Family Cartographic Archive; Df, DLC:GW; French translation, in Rochambeau’s writing, CtY-BR: Rochambeau Papers and Rochambeau Family Cartographic Archive; LB (in French), DLC: Rochambeau Papers, vol. 7; French translation, FrPBN; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. On the draft, which is in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton, GW wrote after the complimentary close: “His Excellency The Count De Rochambeau Lieutt General of the Armies of His Most Christian Majesty & Commanding his Troops in North America.”
1. See GW to Rochambeau, 16 July.
2. See Rochambeau to GW, 12 July.
3. For Captain Rochefontaine’s mission to Rhode Island carrying dispatches for Rochambeau, see GW to William Greene, 23 May, and the source note to that document.