1. Marianne Camasse Deux-Ponts, comtesse de Forbach, was a dancer with no royal lineage when she married a German nobleman, who died in 1775. Taking up residence at Forbach, France, she traveled in elevated social circles and became friendly with Benjamin Franklin. Jean-Baptiste-Georges de Fontevieux (1759–1793), Deux-Ponts’s nephew, was in the military from his youth. Coming to America in the spring of 1778, he volunteered with Colonel Armand’s partisan corps and served under that commander for the entire war, advancing from brevet lieutenant in January 1779 to lieutenant in March 1780 (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 27 Jan. 1780, first letter, DNA:PCC, item 152, and 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 , 16:242; see also n.3 to this document). Returning to France, Fontevieux allied himself with Armand in opposition to the revolutionaries and was subsequently guillotined.

2. Deux-Ponts is referring to a letter of 2 March 1778 from Benjamin Franklin to GW. Written at “Passy, near Paris,” it reads: “M. de Fontevieux, who hopes to have the honour of delivering this into your hands, is a young Gentleman of a considerable Family, and of excellent Character, who goes over with Views of improving himself in the military Art under your Auspices. He is willing to serve as Volunteer, in any Capacity for which your Excelly shall find him qualified. He is warmly recommended to me by Persons of great Distinction here, who are zealous Friends to the American Cause: And I beg leave to recommend him earnestly to your Excellency’s Protection, being confident that he will endeavour to merit it” (ALS, UkOxU; Sprague transcript, DLC:GW).

3. Lafayette had departed from Boston on 11 Jan., and no letter shortly before that date from Lafayette to GW recommending Fontevieux has been found. Deux-Ponts may be referring, however, to a letter of 27 Nov. 1778 from Lafayette to Henry Laurens, president of Congress. Written at Fishkill, N.Y., it reads: “The Bearer of this letter is Chevalier de fontevieux Volunteer in C[o]l[one]l Armand’s Corps who had for me letters of Reccommandation to which I owe Much attention—one of them is from the lady of the late sovereign duke of deux ponts with whom I had the Advantage of being acquainted and to whose Memory I pay Much Regard—this lady is Much interested in favor of the Chevalier de fontevieux—I beg leave to Reccommend him strongly to Congress and would be under great obligations to them if they did think proper to grant him a Brevet of Captain” (DNA:PCC, item 156). Congress read this letter on 11 Dec. 1778, and it was referred to the Board of War (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 , 12:1211). The board recommended that Fontevieux be commissioned a brevet lieutenant, and Congress adopted this recommendation on 13 Jan. 1779 (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 , 13:57; see also Fontevieux to Congress, February 1779, in n.4 to this document).

4. While in Philadelphia, Fontevieux had written Congress a letter dated February 1779 that reads: “The Letters of Recommendation I have brought with me from Dr Franklin to General Roberdeau, have Sufficiently shewn the intentions of my family in Sending me over, and my desire of making it last Two Campaigns under the American colours. I have therefore, undertaken the Voyage at my own Expence, and when at my arrival I found that notwithstanding the Several Recommendations I had been favoured with, it would be very difficult for me to get Employed, I have not troubled this Congress with importunate Sollicitations, and that I might not lose any time, I went as a Volunteer in Colo. Armand’s Corps, and as Such I served the last Campaign. I was honoured with a Lieutt Brevet, by virtue of a Resolve of Congress, who was so good as to grant brevets and the sum of four hundred Dollars as a Reward of Services to Every Volunteer of Colo. Armand’s Corps.

“I beg, Gentlemen, you will accept of my respectful acknowledgments for it, but as I greatly desire to answer the Views of my Parents and gratify my own inclination, I beg you will permit me to Serve in the Ensuing Campaign as a supernumerary Lieutt in the same Corps of Colo. Armand.

“If I am happy Enough to have my request granted, I will look on the four hundred Dollars I have already received as a payment for future Services, nor will I ask for anything more, till I have served so long as the sum of my monthly pay as a Lieutenant may amount to four hundred Dollars.

“I still make my best Endeavours to prove worthy of this favour by my Zeal for the Service” (DNA:PCC, item 78). After reading this letter on 17 Feb., Congress granted Fontevieux’s request (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 , 13:191–92).