From George Washington to William Greene, 23 May 1780
To William Greene
Head Qrs Morris Town May 23d 1780
Sir
I have the pleasure to inform Your Excellency in confidince—that a French fleet may be soon looked for on our Coast. The place where they will arrive is not certainly known, but they may probably come to Rhode-Island.1 The Chevalier Fayole is charged with some dispatches for the Admiral, which it is of great importance he should receive as soon as possible after his arrival.2 The Chevalier is also instructed to procure a sufficient number of skilful & faithful pilots to go on board the Fleet the moment they may arrive3—and that there may not be the least possible delay in the business—He is to have a proper number of suitable Boats in readiness, in which they may proceed. Your Excellency I am persuaded will be impressed at the first instant with the importance of this event—and I take the liberty to recommend Mr Fayole to your good offices & to request that You will assist him in making the earliest provision of the Boats & pilots—of the description I have mentioned—and in every other matter where he may require it.4 I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect & esteem Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, R-Ar; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
GW wrote Greene again on 24 May from headquarters at Morristown: “Captain Roche Fontaine will have the honor of presenting this Letter to your Excellency. He is charged with dispatches for the French Admiral and is on business of the same nature with that mentioned in my Letter of Yesterday by the Chevalier Fayole. I request that your Excellency will give him every assistance which may be necessary to facilitate the purposes of his Commission. … Capn Roche Fontaine will be stationned at Seconnet where it will be necessary for him to have some boats & pilots under his direction. I have written to major perkins in case the Artillery and Stores are not removed from Providence to let them remain there for the present (LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, R-Ar; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). For the orders regarding the artillery and stores, see GW to William Perkins, 24 May, found at Perkins to GW, 14 May, n.5.
Captain Rochefontaine likely carried copies of Major General Lafayette’s letters of 19 May to Lieutenant General Rochambeau and to Rear Admiral Ternay concerning Continental military operations and preparations for the expected French fleet (see GW to Lafayette, 16 May, and n.3 to that document). Because of the uncertainty of the landing site of the French fleet, Lafayette intended similar letters for delivery to Point Judith and Sakonnet Point, R.I., and Cape Henry, Va. (see GW to Lafayette, 16 May, and n.3 to that document; see also GW to William Galvan, same date). On 24 May, Lafayette informed French minister La Luzerne that Major Fayolle and Rochefontaine had “left for Points Judith and Sakonnet with instructions and signals” (, 3:31–33; see also Lafayette to Rochambeau, 20 June, in , 3:58–60). For Rochefontaine’s assumption of both his and Fayolle’s missions after the latter’s death in early June, see Christopher Greene to GW, 4 June, n.6.
1. The French squadron carrying Rochambeau’s expeditionary force arrived in Newport Harbor, R.I., on 11 July (see William Heath to GW, 11 and 12 July, both in DLC:GW; see also , 1:17, 120).
2. As with Rochefontaine, Fayolle likely carried copies of Lafayette’s letters of 19 May to Rochambeau and to Ternay (see GW to Lafayette, 20 May).
GW also wrote Jeremiah Wadsworth from Morristown on 23 May: “The Bearer the Chevalier de Fayolle is charged with dispatches for providence in Rhode Island of so much importance that it may be necessary for their speedy conveyance to change his Horses upon the Road. Should he have occasion to do this at Harford, I must earnestly request you to use your influence to procure fresh Horses for him. I should not have put you to this trouble, but I am not certain whether any Quarter Master is established at present at Hartford, and the Chevalier being a stranger would not, in case there is none, have known to whom to apply. Should the public not be able to furnish Horses, and you put yourself to any expence upon that account, I will see you repaid” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, Ct: Trumbull Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Wadsworth, the former commissary general of purchases, resided at Hartford, as did Nehemiah Hubbard, deputy quartermaster general for Connecticut (see Wadsworth to GW, 5–6 June).
3. For French foreign minister Vergennes’s instructions regarding pilots, see GW to Thomas Jefferson, 15 May, n.3.
4. Greene replied to GW from Warwick, R.I., on 30 May: “I had the Honour of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 23rd Instant by the Chevalier Fayole and shall endeavour Punctually to fulful every article therein contained” (ALS, R-Ar). Greene noted below the address that this document was “a Copy.”