George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 31 March 1781
To Lieutenant General Rochambeau
Head Quarters New Windsor March 31st 1781
Sir
I last night received Your Excellency’s favor of the 27th announcing the return of the Squadron under the command of the Chevalier Des Touche to the Harbour of New-Port.1 A few minits before your Letter reached me, the inclosed, which His Excellency the Minister of France had the goodness to send under an open cover to me, informed me of the action which had happened on the 16th off the Capes of Chesapeak2—I likewise received Letters from the Chevalier Des Touche, and the Baron Viominil by the same conveyance.3
While I regret the disappointment of our plan I cannot but admire the good conduct and valour displayed by Mr Des Touche, The Officers and men of his Squadron in the course of the action; and I am happy to find by the Letters from him, and the Baron Viominil that there was the most generous emulation between the land and sea forces. It may I think be fairly said, that Great Britain owes the safety of her detachment under the command of Arnold to the influence of the Winds, and not to the superiority of her Navy in the late affair.
I have received an account, tho not the particulars, of an engagement on the 15th Inst. between General Greene and Lord Cornwallis near Guilford Court House in North Carolina4—I impatiently expect official accounts which I shall transmit to Your Excellency.5
I am extremely sorry to learn by Your favor of the 25th that the Chevalier Chattelus has been ill—Your next I hope will inform me of his perfect recovery, than which scarce any intelligence can be more agreeable.6 I have the honor to be with the warmest attachment Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant
Go: Washington
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, CtY-BR:R; Df, DLC:GW; Rochambeau’s French translation, CtY-BR:R; LB, in French, DLC: Rochambeau Papers, vol. 7; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. This enclosure has not been identified, but it may have been French major general the Baron de Vioménil’s letter to Rochambeau of 19 March. In the final paragraph of the postscript, Vioménil wrote that he had asked French minister La Luzerne to forward the letter to Rochambeau, as well as his letters to GW and to Major General Lafayette (see , 5:436–37).
3. See Destouches to GW, 19 March, and Vioménil to GW, same date.
4. GW may refer to Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson’s letter to him of 21 March (see also GW to Jefferson, 4 April).
6. Rochambeau replied to GW on 4 April; see also Rochambeau to GW, 25 March.