George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 4 June 1781
To Lieutenant General Rochambeau
Head Quarters New Windsor 4th June 1781.
Sir
I had, last Evening, the honor of receiving your favor of the 31st of May, by the Duke de Lauzun, who informs me, that he is authorised by your Excellency and the Count de Barras to enter into a free communication with me, upon the subject of the Council of War held on board the Duke de Burgogne, and to request my opinion upon the propriety of their determination.1
I must confess to your Excellency, that there is weight in the reasons which are offered for the detention of His Majestys Fleet in the Harbour of Newport in preference to its going round to Boston; but as I cannot think that it will be as safe, in all possible cases, in the Harbour of Newport, after the greater part of the French Army has been withdrawn, as it would be in the Harbour of Boston, I must adhere to my opinion and to the plan which was fixed at Weathersfeild as most eligible, all cases considered.2 I would not, however, set up my single judgment against that of so many Gentlemen of experience, more especially as the matter partly depends upon a knowledge of Marine Affairs,3 of which, I candidly confess my ignorance. I would therefore, in order to avoid delay,4 rest the matter upon the following footing—If your Excellency—The Count de Barras, and the other Gentlemen should, upon a further consideration of the subject, aided by any new informations which you may have received, still think it most advisable to adhere to the former resolution of the Council, you may make use of the inclosed letters to the Governors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island which are left open for your inspection.5 If, on the contrary, you should change your opinions, the letters may be destroyed,6 as that, which was written by me to the Governor of Rhode Island from Weathersfeild, will be sufficient for the purpose of calling out 500 Militia for the present, and such further numbers as exigencies may require.7
At any rate, I could wish that the march of the troops may now be hurried as much as possible. The strides which the enemy are making to the southward demand a collection of our force in this quarter, that we may endeavour to commence our operations. I know of no measure, which will be so likely to afford releif to the southern States, in so short a time, as a serious menace against New York—This Your Excellency may remember was a principal inducement for our undertaking that operation in preference to the other which was spoken of;8 and I assure you, the calls upon me from the Southward are so pressing, that nothing but seeing our preparations against New York in some degree of forwardness will content them, or convince them that they are likely to derive any advantages from the force which they see detained here.9
I have forwarded your Excellency’s dispatch to the Minister by a Gentleman in the Quarter Masters department.10 I have the Honor to be with very great Esteem Yr Excellency’s Most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CtY-BR:R; Df, DLC:GW; Rochambeau’s French translation, CtY-BR:R; LB, in French, DLC: Rochambeau Papers, vol. 12; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. At this point on the draft, which Tilghman also wrote, material is struck out: “of the Members that it will be for the good of the common interests to detain His Majestys [squadron]. I beg you to be assured that it gives me no small degree of pain to be under the necessity of differing in opinion with so respectable a Board.”
For Brigadier General Lauzun’s arrival at GW’s headquarters on 3 June, see n.10 below. Lauzun later wrote that he had disagreed when the council of war voted “that the fleet should remain off Rhode Island.” Requested to report the decision to GW, Lauzun “was inclined to refuse the commission, which was indeed disagreeable: I was quite sure that he would be greatly annoyed to learn that we had referred to the decision of a council of war a matter already decided and signed by himself and M. de Rochambeau. I was the only man, however, whom they could send. I travelled at express speed; I arrived at New Windsor, and handed him a letter from M. de Rochambeau, very awkwardly and badly expressed. It put him in such a rage that he refused to answer it; and it was not until the third day, and then out of regard for myself, that he handed me a very cold answer, in which he said that he abode by the plan to which he had signed his name at the Hartford conference; but that he left M. de Rochambeau free to act as he might choose, and was sending him the necessary orders to assemble such militiamen as he might require. My return embarrassed M. de Rochambeau, from whom I concealed nothing, and who was beginning to repent of what he had done” (, 199–200). For the council of war, see Rochambeau to GW, 31 May, n.2.
2. See Document III with The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note; see also GW to Barras, this date.
3. Following this word on the draft, GW wrote “and of European intelligence” but the phrase was struck out.
4. GW inserted the preceding five words on the draft.
5. GW wrote Rhode Island governor William Greene from New Windsor on this date: “In my letter of the 24th of May from Weathersfeild I requested your Excellency to furnish 500 Militia upon the requisition of His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau for the security of the Harbour of Newport—I now confirm that request with this addition—That should Brigadier General de Choissy, who will be left in command at Newport, find, from any movements of the Enemy, a further number of Men necessary, and call upon your Excellency for them, you will be pleased to comply with his requisition” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
GW also wrote Massachusetts governor John Hancock from New Windsor on this date: “One thousand Militia, in addition to four hundred Troops having been deemed necessary to the security of the fleet, in the harbour of New Port, after the departure of the land Forces I am to request Your Excellency to give Orders for five hundred from the State of Massachusetts to repair to Rhode Island as soon as they shall be demanded by His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau—The State of Rhode Island is to furnish five hundred more. They will be put under the Command of Brigadier General de Choissy who will remain in command at New Port—Should any attempt of the Enemy make an add[it]ional number of Men necessary—Monsr de Choissy will call for them, and it is my request that his requisitions may be complied with—It is uncertain for what time the Militia will be wanted, you will therefore be pleased to have them regularly relieved, should the time exceed the term, which your Law enables you to draw them out for” (LS [photostat], in David Humphreys’s writing, M-Ar; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
6. The letter-book copy and Rochambeau’s translation omit the phrase regarding destruction of the letters.
7. See GW to Greene, 24 May.
8. In addition to operations against New York City, GW and Rochambeau had discussed a campaign in the southern department (see n.2 above).
9. For one such appeal, see Joseph Jones to GW, 16 May; see also GW to Jones, 7 June.
10. On “sunday Evening,” 3 June, GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman had written Q.M. Gen. Timothy Pickering: “Duke Lauzun has just arrived here with dispatches which are to be forwarded to Philada but they are too important to be trusted to a common hand. His Excellency wishes you to send one of your department with them—They will be ready by day break if the person calls so soon” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file, no. 26017; docketed “recd 3d”).
GW wrote Pickering on “Monday Morng 4th June,” presumably from New Windsor: “General Washington presents his Compliments to Colonel Pickering; and requests the favor of his Company at dinner to day—The Duke de Lauzun will dine at Head Quarters” (L, in David Humphreys’s writing, MHi: Pickering Papers; no year appears in the dateline, but contextual evidence indicates 1781).