1To 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.
2To 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...
3To 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...
4To 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,...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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,...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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.”
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To 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...