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 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...
4To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene and Brigadier General Duportail, 16 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
To locate the army to any particular spots, may facilitate the Enemies getting possession of advantageous grounds, either upon one or the other of our flanks. It appears to us more proper therefore, that we move the troops upon the high and advantageous grounds, according as the motions of the enemy may indicate an intention to make an impression at particular places. Having examined the...
5To 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,...
6To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
We are honored with two letters from Your Excellency of the 10th and 21st; to the contents of which we beg leave to assure you of our strictest attention—That of the 18th is not yet come to hand—it is not improbable it has gone round by Lewis Town, which has occasioned the delay. Col. Hamilton wrote to Your Excellency from Philadelphia acquainti⟨ng⟩ you with our arrival there and our intention...
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...
11To 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...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The English fleet finding itself by the arrival of six vessels greatly superior to the French fleet, it seems to me that the English may now project a decisive operation. This is to block up the port of Boston with their fleet—to embark all the troops at NewYork—conduct them to Rhode Island—debark them there and march directly towards Boston. To prevent them—this is briefly what I should think...
13To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
i Receive just now your excellency’s letter and Conformably to your orders i have the honour to propose major mernan for the expedition on susquehanna. i write to him to take your further orders for that Country. i have the honour to be with great Respect your excellency’s the most obedient and very humble servant ALS , DLC:GW . See GW to Duportail, 9 April . GW wrote to Major Murnan on 4 May...
14To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
By taking Winter Quarters from Lancaster to Reading, we abandon to the Enemy Jersey, and all the Country adjacent to Derby, Chester and Wilmington, one of the richest Tracts in this part of the Continent—By establishing them at Wilmington we cover the Country, and do not so completely abandon that part of it which is before Philadelphia, nor even Jersey, because our proximity to the Enemy and...
15To 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...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
je m’étois engagé a suivre de près mr de laumoy a philadelphie, mais j’avoueray a votre excellence que j’ai une Repugnance singuliere a faire le voyage voisy pourquoy. Cette Campagne-cy est peut estre la derniere qui se fera dans le Continent de L’amerique. si elle etoit Donc terminée par quelque action, je serois desespéré de ne m’y estre pas trouvè. je ne Crains pas Certainement que les...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have examined anew with all the attention of which I am capable, the Project of attacking the English and it still appears to me too dangerous—the great Body of Militia with which we might be reinforced for this purpose does not give me any additional hope of succeeding—it is not the number of Troops which is of importance in this case, but it is the quality, or rather their nature and...
18To 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.
19To 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...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
To attack the Enemy in their Lines appears to me a difficult and dangerous Project, it has especially this very considerable Inconvenience, the exposing our Army in case it does not succeed to a total Defeat. This is easily demonstrated—One of the principal means proposed is to throw two thousand men in the rear of the Enemy—if we do not succeed these are so many men absolutely lost—as to the...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The works, which are in hand at West Point and some inconsiderable ones, which it is necessary to add to them, will, with the help of the chain, perfectly fulfil the object which is proposed, that of hindering the enemy’s remounting the North River. Fort Putnam, which is, as it were, the key of all the others may be rendered almost impregnable. There is indeed a height, which commands it, but...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 24 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to present Your Excellency the state of the troops necessary for the defence of the works at West Point. Fort Clinton and the two water batteries 630 Fort Putnam 300 Rock Hill 100 Redoubt No. 1 with the battery in front 170 Grand battery upon the point to the left of the redoubt 40 Battery at the place marked out 50 Redoubt No. 2 with the battery 170 Redoubt No. 3...
31To 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...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 8 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys letter of the 30th of October reached us yesterday. We hope before this you will have received our two letters of the 26th of October and 1st instant. We have received no late advices from the Southward, which confirms us in the ideas of our last—Major Lee will no doubt have communicated to Your Excellency what he mentions to us, that the enemy are preparing at New York for a...
33To 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...
34To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail and Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton, 1 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brigadier General Duportail and Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton, 1 Nov. 1779 . Duportail and Hamilton wrote GW on 8 Nov. : “We hope before this you will have received our two letters of the 26th of October and 1st instant.”
35To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
As to the first question— whether we ought to attack General How in his lines —I adhere to what is contained in my last memorial —Unless we have 25 thousand resolute men armed with good muskets and bayonets (for the latter will be necessary here) we ought not to think of it. It is not in my power to discuss the second relative to the Attack on New York, as I am not acquainted with the...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 20–21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
jai lhonneur de vous presenter mes observations sur boston. je les aurois envoyé plus tot s’il ne m’avoit fallu attendre six ou sept jours quèlles fussent traduîtes esperant d’ailleurs les avoir à tout moment. enfin on ne me les à Rendu qu’avant hyer et je suis party le lendemain C’est a dire hyer en prenant Congè du general heath j’ai appris que 10 Regiments anglois s’etoient embarqués a...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 2 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
We last night received the honor of Your Excellency’s letter of the 25th of October—On the 26th we had the pleasure of advising you fully of our situation and motives for coming to this place. We have since received no further intelligence of the Count—his operations—or ultimate intentions; on which account and from the late period of the season, we have given over all expectation of any thing...
41To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 6 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
i send to your excellency a Copy of the Resolved of the Council about me. in Council philad. march 31 1779 this board taking into Consideration general du portail’s letter and the instructions Received from general washington dated 30th of june 1778 do Resolve that from the Confidence they Repose in general duportail and their opinion of his skill and jugement he be fully authorised and...
42To 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...
43To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 23 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
nous avons d’abord eté a sowr land meeting house. Cet endroit se trouve a 7 milles de princetown, la Chaine de montagnes qui pouvoit nous offrir quelque position avantageuse à 3 milles, de facon que de Cette Chaine a princetown il peut y avoir 10 milles. Celá ma paru trop eloignès pour Remplir l’objet que votre excellence paroit avoir. ou Comme dans la Route nous avions passé a un endroit qui...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 20 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
In all great Enterprises, the first thing to be done, is to form a general Plan of Conduct, to which all the particular operations are to have reference, this general plan is as it were the touch Stone by which all the subordinate projects are proved—according as they agree or disagree with it, they are good or ill, deserve to be approved or rejected: now in this great Enterprise of supporting...
45To 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...
46To 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...
47To 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...
48To George Washington from Brigadier General Duportail, 27 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Remembrance of the Uneasiness which we felt on the subject of Boston, in the month of October—engages me to represent to Your Excellency that we may have our anxiety revived next Campaign, unless we take seasonable precautions—Your Excellency sent me to that City in order to form a plan of the necessary fortifications—I had the honor of delivering you the Plan —but from what I have learnt, the...
49To 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...
50To 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...