1. The enclosed letter from Lieutenant Colonel Fleury to Huntington, dated 1 March at Versailles, France, reads: “Marquis De la fayète happier than I, has leave to joign the american army. I Remain with grief behind but with great expectations to follow him.

“I take the liberty to apply to Congres for a prolongation of furlough, which will give me time to setle here my business, before I come back in my adoptive Country.

“if you dont grant me that favour; my services in america will be lost for me. nothing will Remain of three years spend in the service of the united states, but the Conviction of having fought for a glorious Cause, & done all my duty.

“the king of france granted to me a furlough, to serve the united states; I beg of Congres the same favour, to serve my king.

“france is my native Country, but america is my adoptive one. I hope to be treated by Congress, with some indulgence. my services are my titles” (DNA:PCC, item 152). The letter from Fleury to GW that accompanied this enclosure has not been found. GW had granted Fleury leave in late September 1779 to return to France (see GW to La Luzerne, 23 Sept. 1779, and n.3; see also GW to Lafayette, 20 Oct. 1779).

2. Congress extended Fleury’s furlough for nine months on 22 May (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:443). Named major of the Saintonge Regiment in March, Fleury returned to the United States on 11 July with Lieutenant General Rochambeau’s expeditionary corps (see Fleury to Benjamin Franklin, March 1780, in Franklin Papers description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. 42 vols. to date. New Haven, 1959–. description ends , 32:200–201; see also Acomb, Closen Journal description begins Evelyn M. Acomb, ed. The Revolutionary Journal of Baron Ludwig von Closen, 1780–1783. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1958. description ends , 4).