To George Washington from Captain Du Bouchet, 28 September 1780
From Captain Du Bouchet
newport. september 28th 1780.
sir,
I should not have Been Delaying so long to present your excellency my respectfull hommage, had I not been in hopes to follow General rochambeau on his Going to hartford1—t’is With the utmost pleasure, sir, that I see, accordingly to my foresight, the esteem and the Veneration he Brought from europe for your personne and your Military talents, rooted into his heart, By this intervew. every one in the french army is partaking in his sense of your Merit and heroick quality, and above all those Who as Mr fleury, Mr Duplessis and I Myself have already Been in the american service—I congratulate myself upon My Being again once More under your command, and acting in a Memorable revolution, of Wich for its Glorious sucess, america is so much endebted to your excellency.2 I have the honour to Be With respect. sir, your excellency’s Most humble and Most obedient servant.
the chevalier Du Bouchet.
Deputy—adjutant—General of the french army.
ALS, DLC:GW.
2. GW replied to Du Bouchet in October: “I have been made happy by the receipt of your letter of the 28th of September, and regret that I had not an opportunity at Hartford, of assuring you personally of my esteem. Confirmed by what I have seen myself, in the high opinion of his abilities and personal qualities, with which the reputation of the Count De Rochambeau had impressed me, I learn with peculiar pleasure, his obliging partiality for me; and my satisfaction is complete in the assurance you give me, that your army in general participate in his sentiments. They have too much merit not to possess all my esteem. The zeal with which they came to the succour of this country, and their good conduct since will be a new cement of the alliance. Every day brings me fresh proofs of the growing affection and admiration of the inhabitants who are witnesses to it. I hope another campaign will be more favourable to their wishes than the past, and will reward them with those laurels and with that glory, which I am persuaded they will deserve.
“I beg my compliments to Cols. Fleury and Du Plessis, with every assurance of my friendship” (Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; the date is taken from the draft’s docket).