Major General Lafayette to George Washington, 18 April 1781
From Major General Lafayette
Baltimore April the 18th 1781
My Dear General
The Bearer of this Mr Lavaud Came to Me With a Recommendation from Viscount de Choiseuil in the West indias, and an other from Major General Lincoln who By this time Must Be With the Army1—He Wishes to Serve as A Volonteer, But I told Him that My family Was full, and Could not Be increased With french Aids de Camp—that My detachement Was Small, and Had No Room for Volonteers—He then Asked me a letter for Your Excellency Which I chearfully Give to Him, But offered it as My Advice that He ought to turn His projects Some other Way—General Lincoln who introduces Him to me Will Be a Better patron than myself who Have No Acquaintance with this Gentleman. With the Most affectionate Respect I Have the Honor to Be My Dear General Your Most obedient Humble Servant
Lafayette
ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection; copy, PEL. Lafayette wrote “Favored By Mister Lavaud” on the cover of the ALS.
1. The letters of recommendation have not been identified. Lavaud may have been an officer involved in Haitian unrest during the 1790s (see American Minerva, and the New-York (Evening) Advertiser, 19 Sept. 1794, and Aurora General Advertiser [Philadelphia], 11 May 1796). Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln was in Boston, where he promoted recruiting efforts and reported Massachusetts legislative proceedings (see Lincoln to GW, 13 and 26 April and 3 May).
Maximilien-Claude-Joseph Choiseul-Meuse (1736–1815) was a lieutenant general and second in command of the French forces on Martinique.