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1830626        J 


REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


iifi'7'iff,„99,'rlfiTl  PUBLIC  LIBRAR 


1833  01076  7157 


The  French  in  America 


DURING  THE 


War  of  Independence  of  the  United  States 
1777-1783. 


A  TRANSLATION    BY 

EDWIN   SWIFT    BALCH 

AND 

ELISE   WILLING   BALCIi 


Les  Francais  en  Amerique 


PENDAM    LA 


Guerre  de  L'Indepcndance  des  Etats-Uiii; 

THOiWAS   BALCH. 


VOL.  II. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

PORTER  &  COATES. 
1895. 


T  "? 


1S30G26 


Coptjrifjhf,  1895,  hij  EdvAn  Swift  Batch . 


TEAInTSIvATOR'S  istote. 


My  fitlier  intended  to  jnibli^li  the  second  volume  of  "Les 
Fran^'ais  en  Ameriiiiie  "  in  Fran.ee,  but  at\er  lie  had  received 
the  proofs  from  the  printer,  he  decided  not  to  do  so,  because, 
as  he  says  in  the  preflicc :  "  I  received  for  the  second  part 
so  large  a  number  of  interesting  comuumicritions  that  I  have 
found  myself  obliged  to  add  to  my  finished  manuscript." 
He  ]nir[)osed  also  rewriting  some  of  the  l>iographical  notices. 

The  present  volume  is  a  translaticMi  from  these  proofs,  with 
the  addition  of  the  nununxms  manuscript  notes  in  the  margin. 
Most  of  these  notes  arc  in  my  father's  liandwriting.  These 
I  have  inserted  as  notes,  with  the  explanation  :  "  INIarginal 
note  by  T.  ]J."  A  few  other  notes  were  added  in  a  revision 
of  the  book  made  at  the  "Archives"  of  the  French  Navy. 
These  I  have  inserted  as  notes,  with  the  explanation :  "  Mar- 
ginal note."  My  one  aim  in  translating  has  been  accuracy. 
I  have  been  as  literal  as  possible,  and  have  tried  to  get  the 
absolute  meaning  of  every  sentence. 

The  references,  Archives  of  War  or  Archives  of  the  Navy, 
refer  to  the  French  Archives. 

The  ranks  of  warechal  de  camp,  hriyadier,  and  mestre  de 
camp  occur  fre(|ucntly  in  the  course  of  the  book.  These  were 
ranks  in  the  French  army  before  the  French  Revolution,  of 
which  we  have  no  exact  counterparts  in  English.  M.  Littr6 
gives  the  following  explanations  about  them  in  his  dictionary : 
MarecJia!  de  camp  :  general  oflicer,  whose  ranlc  is  immediately 
above  that  of  colonel,  and  who  corres])onds  to  the  rank  of  gen- 
eral of  brig-ade.  Formerly,  their  ollice  was  to  march  ahead  of 
the  armies  to  make  sure  of  the  roatl  and  arrange  the  camps. 
Brigadier:  olliccr  in  the  armies  of  the  King,  whose  rank  was 
(iii) 


iv  Translafor\s  Note. 

between  that  of  a  colonel  and  a  marfchal  de  camp.  Medre  de 
camp:  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  ijiflmtrv  or  cavalry.  Mcstre  de 
camp  (jeneral  de  la  cavalerie :  officer  Avho  ran.ked  next  to  the 
colonel-general  of  the  cavalry.  Tlie  I'lrre  was  a  piece  of  money 
in  use  before  the  franc,  and  slightly  less  in  value. 

To  the  names  of  the  kind  friends  of  my  ftither,  mentioned 
in  the  "  Translator's  Xote  "  to  the  first  volume,  I  wish  to  add 
those  of  Ge!)cral  (jf  Artillery  Susane ;  General  Fave,  com- 
mandant of  ihe  "  ocole  polytechnique "  and  aid-de-camp  of 
Napoleon  the  Tiiird ;  ]\I.  de  Parieu ;  and  Friedrich  Kapj), 
meml)cr  of  tlie  German  Reichstag. 

EDAVIN  SWIFT  BALCII. 


Philadelphia,  May  1st,  1895. 


CONTEIsTS. 


Introduction 


Pages. 

1-4 


List  of  Kcgiuicnts • 5-3S 

List  of  Officers 39-252 


The  French  in  America 

DURING 

THE  WAR  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


The  list  of  the  French  regiments  and  officers  who  crossed 
to  America  during  the  AVar  of  Indei)cndcnce  is  presented  in 
this  part  of  my  vrork  for  the  first  time  in  as  exact  and  com- 
plete a  manner  as  possible.  The  list  of  the  regiments  presents 
no  gaps,  but  it  is  not  possible  that  it  should  be  so  with  the 
list  of  the  officers,  for  the  pre]>aration  of  which  official  doc- 
uments either  are  wanting  or  are  filled  with  errors.  A  few 
detailed  remarks  will  explain  the  difficulties  which  I  have 
encountered  in  my  researches  for  the  compilation  of  the  bio- 
graphical notices. 

In  all  the  memoirs  of  the  time  you  often  find  the  name  of 
one  and  the  same  person  written  in  several  ways,  so  that  you 
arc  at  first  led  to  believe  in  the  existence  of  several  officers 
where  in  truth  there  is  but  one.  In  other  cases,  tlie  same  of- 
ficer bears  several  names,  and  is  designated  sometimes  by  one, 
sometimes  by  another,  or  perhaps  he  clianges  his  name  dur- 
ing the  course  of  his  career.  Again,  to  a  few  names  are 
adapted  titles  of  nobility  entirely  fictitious  or  quite  in  di.siiccord 
with  the  rules  of  lieraldry. 

For  instance,  the  Count  do  Bozon  is  indifi'erontly  called 
Bozon,  or  de  Talleyrand,  or  de  Perigord,  titles  whicli  in  truth 
belonged  to  him. 

The  Couut  de  Sainte-Mesme,  alst)  caUed  tie  Saint-Maime, 
was  known  a   few  vears  after   the   American  expedition    only 


2  The  French  in  America. 

by  the  title  of  Count  da  Muy,  which  he  inlioiltcd  •  from  lii- 
uncle.  The  same  observation  a])plies  to  the  Dal;e  de  Lauzun, 
wlio  became  Duke  de  Gontaut-Biron. 

De  Chastellux  is  spoken  of  sometimes  as  Chevalier,  some- 
times as  Marquis,  whit-h  would  lead  to  tlie  belief  that  there 
were  two  officers  of  this  name,  while  there  was  but  one. 

To  make  amends  for  this,  there  were  two  Viomcnil,  and 
while  the  older  is  called  Baron,  his  brother  receives  more  often 
the  title  of  Viscount  than  that  of  Chevalier. 

The  three  Lameths  are  generally  confounded  under  the 
unique  designation  of  Chevalier  de  Lameth.  Only  an  atten- 
tive examination  of  the  ihcts  has  permitted  me  to  distinguish 
between  them,  and  to  accord  to  each  the  share  of  merit  that 
belongs  to  him. 

Count  jMathieu  Dumas  becomes  Du  Mas  in  the  Memoirs  of 
Lauzun;  de  Leaumont  is  written  Lomout  in  the  Journal  of 
Cromot  Dubourg ;  Cholseul  is  put  in  place  of  Choisy  in  the 
Memoirs  of  llochambeau,  and  so  on  for  many  more. 

Without  dwelling  further  on  this  point  I  will  call  attention 
to  the  foct  that  if  I  have  found  some  difficulties  in  recogniz- 
ing the  important  personages  under  their  multiplied  or  disfig- 
ured names,  or  under  their  inexact  or  variable  titles,  it  has 
been  still  more  laborious  for  me  to  make  this  discrimination 
for  the  officers  of  an  inferior  rank. 

The  Etats  iMilitcdres  from  1777  to  1783,  which  I  have 
studied,  present  in  this  respect  the  most  shocking  inexactitudes  ; 
the  names  there  are  so  altered  that  they  often  mislead  the  re- 
searches of  the  historian  instead  of  facilitating  them.  In  the 
impossibility  which  I  found  of  rectifying  them  all,  I  have  con- 
tented myself  in  working  out  lists  of  the  officers,  following 
after  the  notices  on  the  regiments,  from  the  KtaU  JJilitaires, 
and  indicating  as  often  as  possible  the  probable  rectifications  -^ 


^General  of  Artillery  Susane  has  publishe.l,  from  a  dilferent  point 
of  view,  an  interesting  and  remarkable  work,  instolrd  dc  rancieane  in- 
fanUric  fmncaise,  Paris,  1853.    8  vole.,  aixc  ailas. 


Iiifrodiiction.  3 

then,  in  tlie  biographical  notice?,  I  have  followed  the  more 
certain  indications  of  the  arclihcs  of  the  Ministry  of  War  or 
those  of  the  original  documents  in  my  possession. 

My  researches  in  this  direction  have  caused  me  to  discover 
unexpected  names,  which  have  since  reappeared  with  distinc- 
tion in  the  events  of  this  centnry.  It  is  thus  that,  without 
speaking  of  La  Fayette,  de  Scgur,  de  Ifochambeau,  de  Xoailles, 
de  Broglie,  de  Saint  Simon,  de  Mira1>eau,  de  Lameth,  and 
many  others  to  whom  their  birth  assured  a  high  social  position, 
I  liave  found  and  been  able  to  follow  the  trace  of  the  Berthiers, 
of  de  Menou,  :\IiollIs,  Dumas,  Gantlieanme,  Truguet,  Pichegru, 
Mac^Iahon,  and  many  otliers,  who,  unknown  when  tliey  ]-»er- 
formed  their  lirst  military  service  in  America,  afterwards  be- 
came celebrated  among  their  countrymen. 

It  has,  unfortunately,  not  always  been  possible  for  me  to 
procure  precise  information  about  the  conduct  during  the 
war  of  tlicse  personages,  as  nothing  had  as  yet  brought  them 
to  public  notice.  But  my  investigations  liave  sometimes 
borne  fruit,  and  I  have  the'  hope  that  I  shall  have  furnished 
to  biogra])liers  and  historians  useful  information.  It  also 
seemed*  to  me  interesting  to  follow  to  the  end  of  their  career, 
these  men  whom  a  generous  impulse  had  brought,  in  their 
youth,  to  the  succor  of  the  revolted  colonies.  I  have  thus 
been  led  to  complete  a  few  biographical  notices,  written  at  first 
only  with  reference  to  the  expedition  of  17S0-S3. 

It  will  be  noticed,  in  looking  over  the  list  of  the  officers 
attached  to  the  army  of  Rochambeau,  that  the  decorations  and 
the  pensions  were  accorded  for  the  most  part  to  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais,  later  Koyal-Auvergne,  and  to  that  of  Deux-Ponts. 
They  were,  in  truth,  the  regiments  that  were  ordered  to  cap- 
ture the  great  English  redoubt  during  the  night  of  tlie  14th 
of  October,  17S1,  and  the  ones  who  thus  contrilnitcd  most  to 
the  capture  of  Yorktown.  They  lost  also  the  largest  num- 
ber of  men  during  the  cam])aign. 

The  legion  of  Lau/.un  did  not  receive  any  gratification,  nor, 


4  The  French  in  America. 

as  they  said  thou,  any  fjrdc;.  Its  chief  had  lost  all  favor  at 
court,  and  the  important  services  which  tliis  ariuv  corps  had 
rendered  during  the  ^vllolc  campaign  Avere  unworthily  forgot- 
ten. Neither  the  names  of  the  officer,  nor  even  the  name  of 
the  legion,  appear  in  any  way  in  the  £tafs  MHitaircs  from  1777 
to  1783.  This  probably  was  due  to  the  fact  that  this  corps 
was  paid  from  the  funds  of  the  navy,  and  was  classed  among 
the  forces  of  the  navy. 

The  legions  were  mixed  corps,  composed  of  infantry  and 
cavalry. 

But  little  attention,  moreover,  was  paid  to  acquired  rights 
and  to  merit  at  the  Court  of  Versailles,  where  everytliing  was 
at  the  discretion  of  the  lavorites  of  the  day.  I  have  been  able 
to  convince  myself  tliat  the  promotion  of  the  officers  was  due 
to  an  arbitrary  will  or  to  intrigue.  ^Vhilc  a  soldier  of  some 
value  could  not  reach  the  grade  of  petty  officer  until  after 
twenty  years  of  service,  the  nobles  obtained  at  once  this  title, 
and  could  become  colonels  in  less  than  four  years.  A  few  of 
them  became  lieutenants  at  fifteen  years  of  age,  like  Chastel- 
lux,  or  even  at  nine,  like  Custine.  They  left  their  regiments, 
traveled  according  to  tlicir  fancy,  even  carried  on  regular  war 
where  it  pleased  them,  without  troubling  themselves  about  the 
functions  that  were  attributed  to  their  rank.'^  Their  advance- 
ment was  not  retarded  on  that  account ;  they  found,  if  nec- 
essary, on  their  return,  a  place  as  ofcier  rffonne?  But  talent 
and  courage  were  of  small  weight  in  the  scale  of  royal  favors. 

'See  Vol.  I.,  page  96,  and  also  Extruit  dii  Journal  d'un  officier  de 
marine  sous  les  ordres  de  d'Estaiuj,  Paris,  17S2. 

»  Offiders  rcformcs  were  those  who  wore  serving  away  from  tlieir  own 
regiments  while  waiting  for  a  vacancy.  They  were  the  ojjkicrs  d  la  sxute 
of  to-day. 


LIST   OF  THE   FEET^CII  REGIMEjN^TS 

AViIICH  SERVED  IN   A>[ERICA    FROM   1777   TO  1783. 


agMois. 

The  first  and  sGCOiul  Ijattalions  of  this  regiment  vcre  sent 
to  Cape  Franrais,  Saint  Domingo,  and  remained  tliere  from 
1777  to  1783.  In  17SJ  they  eros.^ed  to  the  eontincnt  with 
tlie  regiment  of  Touraine,  nuder  tlie  eonnnand  c>f  the  Mar- 
quis de  Saint-Simon,  to  talce  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
They  had  previously  fought  before  Savannah  in  1779  under 
d'Estaing,  and  liad  distinguislied  themselves  at  the  capture 
of  Saint  Christopher  with  the  same  admirah 

These  two  battah'ons  were  taken  baek  to  ]Martini(juc  by 
de  Grasse,  between  the  4th  and  the  2Gth  of  November,  1781.. 

In  1777  their  statf  was  composed  as  follows: — 

Colonel-  Commandant, 
The  Baron  de  Cadignan. 

Colonel  en  /Second, 
The  Count  de  Crillon. 

Lieufenaid- Colonel , 
Eayne  de  Cantis. 

3Iajor, 
Desdorides. 

(5) 


6  TJie  French  in  America. 

In   1779  tlieir  staff  was  thus  iiKxlilicd  : — 

Colonel  en  Sccoafl, 
The  Chevalier  Diilau  d'Allemans. 

Lieutenant- Colonel, 
Duplelx  Je  Cadignan. 

Major, 
The  Chevalier  de  Saguarigue. 

Pay)nasLer, 
Barres. 
In   1780  I  fiiid  :— 

Colonel- Commandant, 
The  Count  d'Auticliamp. 
The  rest  as  above. 

In   1781  Pai/master  BarrC-s  was    replaced    by  D-'-riot,   then 
by  Berruet,  and    the  rncjor  was   de  iLommcfort,  or  Iiumtbrt. 
The  otiier  offieers  were : — 

Captedas- Commandants : 
De  Terson,  L'Espes, 

De  I>(Ustrac,  Saint-Germain, 

De  Behaglc  or  Behague,  Bourguissou, 

Dc  La  llochecoquet,  Ch.   d'Ypres, 

Ricliard,  Desbarry.'* 

Captains  en  Second: 
Ch.   Dianons,  Ch.  dc  la  Villebrune, 

Desniarets,  De  Soy  res, 

De  oNIarrans,  Cauniont, 

De   Caire,  Feydeau. 

De  la  Corbiore, 

*See  ill  tlie  List  of  Otlk'cr.s:   Imbert  de  r.arrv. 


List  of  Picr/imcafs. 


De  CauviUo, 
Ch.  criml)ert, 
Drouillicl, 
Trauroux, 
De  Najac, 


First  LicidcuaniS : 

Saint-Sauvcur, 
La  Coussaye, 
Latour, 
L']^:cotay. 


Pioling, 
DasnitTcs, 
La  Landclle, 
L'lluudctot  de  Columby, 
De  A-^oisins, 


Seco7id  Licidenants : 

Gincste, 
Le  Honx, 
De  Mazelicr, 
Pigno]  de  Rocreusc, 
Dii  Bouzet. 


Suh-Licuicnan(s  : 

Pujol,  De  la  Forgcrie, 

liacroix,  Marciissy, 

Parfouru,  Lcmoiix, 

De  Jji-uge,  Chaussepied, 

Bessenay,  Lavoutte, 

Montaigut,  Morrcigc, 

Fabas,  Gouzie, 

Coquet,  De  Montlong, 

Drouillaiit,  Leaumont  or  Launiout.' 

ANIIALT. 


This  regiment,  which  originally  was  intended  to  form  part 
of  the  army  of  lloehambcau,  had  to  remain  at  "Brest,  owing 
to  the  lack  of  transports,  and  did  not  cross  to  Amei'ica. 
The  same  thing  happened  to  tiie  regiment  of  Neustrie,  and 
to  half  the  reirinient  of   Soissonnais. 


*See  in   the  List  of  Officer; 
Leoiiardy,  Yresoseor. 


Blaudat,  Bouillet,  Dcidier,  Korniarce, 


8  The  French  in  America. 

ARMAGNAC. 

This  regiment  was  sent  to  Guadeloupe  in  1777,  but  did 
not  cross  to  the  eontinent.  In  1780  and  1781  it  was  coni- 
niandcd  as  follows  : — 

Colonel, 
The  ]\Iarquis  de  Livarot. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
De  Montval. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
Feydeau  de  Saint  Christophe. 

Meijor, 
The  Chevalier  de  Hostaing. 

Paymaster, 
Dufosse. 

Captains : 

De  la  Garde,  De  Tarragon, 

Boulland,  D'Armentieres, 

De  Fresne,  Ville, 

Marin,  Scrvilange. 

Lieutenants  : 
De  Iloquefeuille,  Londcix  de  la  Brosse, 

De  la  Chaussee,  De  la  Ferte. 

Saint  ]\Iai-tin, 

Further  on  I  give  biographical  notices  of  those  officers  who 
crossed  to  the  American  continent  to  take  part  in  the  siege 
of  Savannah  and  who  fought  wiih  their  regiment  at  Tabago, 
Saint  Christopher,  Saint  Lucia,  and  Dominica.^ 

*Sce  in  the  List  of  Ofiicers:  liosnier  de  Saint  Cosmo,  Ei?cury,  Fou- 
quet,  GrilliOrcs,  Lecomte. 


List  of  Bcfji meats.  9 

ARTILLERY  AND  EXGIXEERS. 

After  carefully  examining  the  J^^tofe  MiUtah-es  from  1777  to 
1783,  I  find  that  the  corps  of  thc-e  departments  which  crossed 
to  America  during  that  period  were  : — 

REGIMENT   OF    METZ. 

Two  of  the  ten  companies  of  the  first  battalion  and  the 
entire  second  battalion. 

The  positions  were  fdled  as  follows  : — 

Colonel, 

De  Fanltrier,  replaced  at  the  time  of  Rochambeau's 

departure  for  America  by  d'Aboville. 

Lieutenant- Colonel, 
De  Gimel. 

Major, 
De  la  Barriere. 

Chiefs  of  Bm/ade  : 
De  ]Missolz,  I>e  Yilhcrs, 

La  ]5orde,  La  Barre  de  Garoy. 

De  Grandcourt, 

Aide-Major, 
Vernier. 

Paymaster, 
Chapelle. 

Captains : 

De  Mauroy,  La  Doaillere, 

De  Laborie,  Maigret, 

Durand,  Turgot, 


10  The  French  in  Amcrka. 

Calage,  Pcllelicr  do  (ilatigny, 

RotiiHcr,  Lefcvre  de  Givry, 

Tardy  dc  ]\Iontravel,  Diij)iiy, 

Olry  de  Val^en,  Burtin, 

De  Yulmont,  Briixel  de  Sancy, 

De  Bcaudre,  Launaguet, 

Dubuat,  Berth  icr. 

CajAains  en  Second  (detached): 
Greville,  at  Saint  Domingo  ; 
Dc  Pecoault,  at  ^Martinique ; 
Mauduit-Duplesis,  volunteer  to  Anierica  ; 
Vatry,  at  Guadelon{)e ; 
Doucnne,  at  Guadeloupe. 

First  Lieutenants: 

Prevost,  Jupillcs, 

Marsilly,  Le  Blanc  d'Eguilly, 

Olivier,  Songis, 

Douay,  Blaize, 

Ducliat  d'xVubigne,  Gimel, 

Scmecourt,  Duglacv, 

Durand  dc  Gevigny,  Belgrand. 
Drozain, 

Second  Lieutenants : 

Sucy  d'Auteuil,  De  Mestre, 

"Peyrelongue,  La  Pierre, 

Caussanel,  Duroz, 

Dupueh,  Gouplain, 

Marieulle,  Vernier, 

Neuvy,  Legrain, 

Gcrvais,  Iluniljert, 

Pelletier  de  Voileniont,  Golllird, 

Sance,  Pecqucux, 

Durand,  Contosset. 
De  Faultrier, 


List  of  PiCginicnfs.  11 

REGIT^IEXT  OF   AUXOXXE. 

Only  the  second  l)attalion  of  this  regiment  crossed  to 
America. 

Chiefs  of  Brigade: 
Xadal,  De  Buzelct. 

Captains: 
De  Neuris,  Duibrt, 

Dupuy,  De  Boisloger. 

Josserand, 

Lieutenants : 
De  Jumecourt,  De  Vcrton, 

La  jNIartiniere,  Berthicr, 

De  Pusignan,  Tardy  de  la  Brosse. 

D'Audreo.-,sy, 

Savournin,  captain  en  second  of  the  regiment  of  Grenoble, 
was  detached  to  America  to  join  the  corps  of  Rochamlwau. 

Chanteclair,  captain  en  second  of  the  regiment  of  Strasbourg, 
was  detached  to  Saint  Domingo.'' 

CORPS  OF  MIXERS. 

The  company  of  Dupuch  was  sent  to  America  in  17S0 
with  the  expeditionary  corps. 

Captain  en  Premier, 
Dupuch. 

Captain  en  Second, 
Reimes. 

First  Lieutenants, 
De  Corbcau,  Vauriou. 

Second  Lieutenant, 
Le  Roy. 

Of  the  company  of  de  Xey remand.  Captain  de  Xeyremand 
and  Captain  en.  Second  La  Cheze  were  sent. 

'  See  in  the  List  of  Oliiccrs :  r>;uolier,  liellangcr,  LaziO,  Logo. 


12 


The  French  la  America. 


Of  tlio  coin])any  of  dc  Cliazel   two   cktaclniients  -were  with 
the  army  of  KoclianibGau. 

Of  the   coiiipaiiy  of   Barbarin,  forty  men   were   in    Marti- 
nique.^ 

ROYAL  CORPS  OF  EXGIXEP:RS. 

Colonels  : 

Labbe  de  Talsy,  at  Guadeloupe,  in   1777; 

Geoffroy  dc  Bourgct,  at  Martinique. 

Under-Bngadicr, 
Tavcrne  de  Bois-Forest,  at  Saint  Dominica. 

Colonels : 

Desaudroins,  commandant  of  the  artillery  and  of  the  engineers 

of  the  corps  of  Count  de  Rochambeau,  in  1780; 

Querenet  de  la  Combe,  in   17S2. 

Under-Brir/adicr, 
Bcylie,  attached  to  the  same  corps. 

Majors: 

Palys  de  Montrepos,  attached  to  the  same  corps ; 

Deshautschamps,  attached  to  the  same  corps. 

Capia'ms  : 
Ch.  d'Oyre,  Gouvion,  Sr., 

Garavaque  or  Caravagne,  Dubois  de  Crance, 


De  Turpin, 

Laffite  du  Courteil, 

Bonnet, 

Guerin  dc  Fonsin, 

Saint-Julien, 

Dc  Laumoy, 

Briinck  de   Frihidcck 


De  La  Lustiere, 

D'Abadie, 

De  Prade.s, 

Crublier  d'0])terre  or  d'Au- 

beterre, 
Blet  de  Yillencuvc, 
Girard  de  Chant  rant. 


*Mr.  Barbarin,  the  artist,  has  given  me  some  details  about  his  fai 
ily.    IMaiginul  note  by  T.  \->. 


List  of  Ikgimcnts.  13 

Lieutenants  : 
Chevalier  Je  Soalliat,  T)o  Fontalard, 

Buuan,  Rapine  deSaxi 

Planchct,  Chaussegros  de  Leiy. 

Employed  in  the  Colonies. 
Ca}-)ta'm-^ : 
Cantcl  d'Anetcville,  at  Saint  Dominica  ; 
Cluzcl,  at  Guadeloupe; 
ISIerault  dc  IMonneron,  at  Guadeloupe; 
Bexon,  at  ^Martinicjue ; 
Crubicr  de  Saint-Cyran,  at  ^Slartinique  ; 
Morlet,  at  ]Martini(pic ; 
Girard  de  Chatoauvieux,  at  ^lartinique. 

Chief  of  Brir/ode, 
GeoflVoy,  at  :\[artiuique. 
Captains  : 
O'Connor,  at  :Martiniquc  ; 
Fontbanido,  at  ^lartinicpie ; 
Rallier,  at  Doniiniai. 
Gau,  war  commissioner  for  the  artillery  and  engineer  corps, 
was  attached  to  Kochambcau's  corps  in  1781. 

To  recapitulate,  d'Abovillc  was  commander-in-chief  of  the 
artillery  and  of  the  engineers  corps  of  the  French  expedi- 
tionary army  in  17S0;  and  Desandroins  was  the  immediate 
commander  'of  tlie  engineers.  Part  of  the  artillery  that  was 
to  cross  to  America  with  Count  de  Rochambean  was  lett  at^ 
Brest  owing  to  a  lack  of  transport  ships.  Six  companies  ot 
canonniers  started,  one  of  bombardiers,  a  detachment  ol  work- 
men,  miners,   and   sappers;    in   all   fiyc   hundred   and    ninety- 

nine  men.  ,      , 

The   field    artillery    followed    Rochambeau's    army   by   land 

from  Newport  to  Annapolis,  where  it  was^^-kedjor 
»<eo  in  the  List  of  OlUcers:   Dumtis,  Pichegni,  Plancher. 


14  The  French  !a  America. 

JuDicviown,  wliilo  tlie  siege  artillciy  remained  at  Xewport 
under  tiie  guard  of  de  Cholsy,  ^villl  five  liundred  Freiieli 
soldiers  and  a  thousand  American  militiamen. 
^  Tlie  21st  of  August,  17S1,  de  Clioisy,  learning  of  the  ar- 
rival of  the  army  at  Williamsburg,  embarked  his  artillery 
and  four  hundred  of  his  soldiers  u})on  the  ships  of  tlie 
squadron  of  de  Barras.  He  left  a  hundred  men  at  Provi- 
dence, under  command  of  Desprez,  majoi-  of  Deux-Ponts,  to 
guard  tlic  hospital.  The  scpiadron  set  sail  for  Chesa})e'ake 
Bay.  At  tlie  same  time  Count  de  Grasse  advanced  a^rainst 
the  English  fleet  commanded  l)y  Admiral  Graves,  who,  owing 
to  an  engagement  with  the  vanguard  of  the  French  flee^ 
under  Botigainville,  was  obliged  to  retire  on  August  24th, 
De  Barras,  taking  advantage  of  this  circumstance,  entered  the 
bay  and  landed  de  Clioisy,  witli  his  troops  and  artillery,  at 
Cape  Charles. 

While  the  allied  armies  lay  before  New  York,  two  artil- 
lery ofHcors,  do  Xeuris  and  de  A^'erton,  ^vel•e  ordered  to  i)lace 
a  battery  of  eight  cannon  and  six  mortars  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  North  Pivcr  to  stop  the  incursions  of  the  English 
ships.  At  the  first  opportunity  tliese  batteries  received  the 
English  vessels  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  tliem  from  re- 
turning to  annoy  the  Franco-American  camp.^° 

AUVEEGNE. 

According  to  the  fi:kds  MUltmrcs,  this  regiment  M-as  sent  to 
the  Antilles  in   1781. 

Colonel, 
The  Viscount  de  Laval. 

Colonel  en  t^ccond, 

The  Marquis  de  Lametli. 

Lieutenant- Colonel, 

Duverdier. 


'Cromot  Duboun 


Lhi  of  Regiments.  15 

Major, 
Menoii. 

Paymaster, 
Jean  Bart. 

It  was   from  tliis  rcp,inient,  divided  in   lialf,  that  tlie  regi- 
ment of  Gatinais,  wliich   distinguished  itself  so  signally  before 


AUXERllOIS. 

This  regiment  was  sent  to  ]\rartiniquc  in  1777.  It  served 
also  at  Dominiea  and  Saint  Lueia  ;  erossed  with  Saint  Simon 
to  the  continent  to  take  part  in  th.e  siege  of  Yorktown,  and 
then  returned  to  the  Windward  Islands. 

The  chasseurs  of  the  regiment  under  the  orders  of  Major 
dc  Frene,  of  Royal-Comtois,  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Saint 
Eustatius  on  November  2Glh,  1781. 

In  1778  and  1770  the  regiment  was  officered  as  follows: — 

Colonel- Commcuidant, 
The  Viscount  de  Damas. 

Colonel  en  Second, 

The  Marquis  de  Rostaing,  replaced  in  1770  by  the  Count  de 

Chapt. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 

The  Count   de  Fondcvaux,   replaced    in    1770    by   Major   de 

Tunnel. 

Major, 
De  Turmel,  replaced   in   1770  by  Galaup. 

Quartermaster  and  Paymaster, 
Auricoste. 
"  See  in  tlio  List  of  Eotriments :  Gdtinais. 


16  The  French  in  America. 

The  following  officers,  the  Clicvalier  de  Saint  Surin,  Bre- 
thous,  Galaup,  captains-commandants,  and  La  Ciiaise  and 
Gailliot,  frst  lieutenants,  were  decorated  witli  the  order  of 
Saint-Louis,  in   1779,  after  the  capture  of  Dominica. 

BELZUXCE. 

The  dragoons  of  this  regiment  formed  part  of  the  troops 
who  landed  at  Savannah.  The  archives  of  the  War  Dejiart- 
ment  and  the  Ftats  JUlitaires  of  that  time  have  furnished  me 
no  information  about  the  list  of  the  officei^  of  this  regiment 
or  of  the  follo-snng  one : — 

BERVriCK. 

Only  one  battalion  of  this  regiment  crossed  to  the  AVind- 
ward  Islands  in  1777.  It  returned  with  the  rest  of  the  French 
troops  in  17S3.'- 

BOURBOXXAIS. 

This  regiment  took  part  in  the  German  campaigns  of  1760, 
1761,  1762,  and  the  whole  of  it  M'as  sent  to  America  with 
Count  de  Rochambeau.  On  ^Nlarch  16th,  1781,  it  fought  in 
Chesapeake  Bay  on  the  ships  the  Ardent  and  the  Jason,  un- 
der the  orders  of  the  Baron  de  A'iomenil  and  of  de  Laval. 
The  history  of  this  regiment  during  the  expedition  is  com- 
pletely given  in  the  fii-st  part  of  this  work. 

In   17S0  the  regiment  was  commanded  as  follows  : — 

Colonel, 
The  Marquis  de  Laval. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Viscount  de  Bochamljcau. 

*'See  in  the  List  of  Ollicers :  Mullens. 


List  of  Regiracnis. 

Licuienani-  CoJon  cl, 
De  Bressoles. 
3Iajor, 
De  Gambs. 
Paymaster, 
De  Bczucliet. 
Captains-  Commandants  : 
Dc  :Montfort,  De  La  Ludcrle, 

De  Losse,  Desoudes, 

De  Lanet,  De  la  Brue, 

De  Caziils,  Duplcssis, 

Dii  Chevalier,  De  dial  vet. 

Captains  en  Second  : 
De  Corn,  De  la  Chassaigne, 

Du  Faiire,  Saiut-Aubin, 

De  Mauny,  De  Hitton, 

Chenuevieres,  Kininon. 

De  IMorand, 

First  Lieutenants : 
D'Arlandcs,  Seilhac, 

De  Lamezan,  Cieurac, 

Salton,  Chevalier  de  Coriolis, 

De  Bargues,  D'Artigues, 

Deschaux,  Eychcnne. 

Second  Lieutenants: 
Boiscoiitaud,  Du  Bayct," 

De  Roche,  De  Comeiras, 

Casteras,  Narbonne, 

Saint-Cir,  Crouzat, 

Jousseitm,  De  Conrcellcs. 


17 


"This  refers  to  d'Aubert-Dubayet,  who  w;vs  Mhiit^ter  of  War  during 
the  French  Kevohition. 


18  The  French  hi  America. 

fiub- Lieut e Hants  : 

De  Silly,  De  Catcy, 

Chevalier  Dufautc,  Giemard, 

Vidampicrre,  De  Haus.sen, 

De  Benic,  De  la  Garde, 

Pochard,  Villcmontes, 

Tugnot,  Hitton, 

Gaudin,  Gineste, 

Mellet,  Monmonnier, 

Busselot,  Marcognet.*'* 

CAMBRfiSIS. 

This  regiment  was  at  Mole  Saint  Nicholas,  in  Saint  Do- 
mingo, in   1777. 

Colonel, 
The  Marquis  d'Angosse. 

Colonel  en  Second, 

The  Count  de  Dimis. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 

De  Morisot. 

Major, 

De  Montgon. 

Paymaster, 

Joucn. 

This  regiment  was  afterwards  incorporated  in  that  of  Saiut- 
onge. 

CHAMPAGNE. 

The  second  battalion  was  sent  to  the  Windward  Islands  in 
1779,  and  several  of  its  officers  were  wounded  at  the  cajjture 
of  Saint  Vincent  and  in  the  iights  fouglit  by  de  Guichen. 

"See  in  the  J.ist  of  Ollicers :  Coussol,  Langoron,  Manny,  Montes- 
quieu, Muderie. 


List  of  Hcgimcnfs.  19 

On  June  IGtli,  1770,  Ca[)tain  Jjaritaut,  fightino-  under  the 
orders  of  tlie  Clicvalicr  du  Riuuain,  aided  in  tiie  capture  of 
Saint  Vincent,  and  on  the  17tli  received  the  ^^urrender  of 
Kingstown.  On  the  3d  and  4th  of  July  Grenada  was  taken. 
At  that  engagement  a  hundred  chasseurs  of  the  regiment  of 
Chamj)agnc  were  at  the  van  of  the  cohmm  on  the  right. 

Tlie  soldiers  of  C-ham])agne  did  n^any  deeds  of  valor  on 
the  24th  of  September,  1779,  before  Savannah.  Captain  I^a 
ISIothe  and  a  lieutenant  were  woiuidcd  there. 

A  detachment  of  the  regiment  was  on  board  of  the  ships 
of  de  Guiehen  on  A])ril  17lh,  and  May  15th  and  19th,  1780. 
Tiie  whole  regiment  was  on  the  fleet  of  Count  de  Gras.se  dur- 
ing the  9th  and  12th  of  April,  1782.  During  those  actions 
Lieutenant  Quetteville   was  dangerously   wounded.^^ 

ROYAL-COMTOIS. 

De  Blanchelande,  at  the  head  of  the  second  ])attalion,  the 
only  one  that  was  sent  to  the  French  "West  Indies  belbre  1781, 
left  Saint  Vincent  on  June  1st,   1 780,  tu  ciij)ture  Tabago. 

The  Chevalier  du  Frene,  the  major,  in  command  of  the 
chasseurs,  carried  the  defenses  of  Saint  Eustatius  on  Novem- 
ber 2Gth  of  the  same  yexir.  In  1781  this  battalion  was  sta- 
tioned at  Grenada  and  at  Saint  Christopher. 

Colonel, 
The  Count  de  Cast«'ja. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Chevalier  de  la  None. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
The  Chevalier  de  Pagny. 

Major, 
De  Frene. 

Paymaster, 
Lacroix. 

"See  in  the  Li.st  of  Oiiicers:   Pctitot. 


20  The  French  in  America. 

HOY  A  L-DEUX-PONTS. 

This  regiment  ^va.s  first  called  regiment  du  Palatinnt,  be- 
cause originally  it  belonged  to  the  prince  palatine  of  Deux- 
Ponts  (Zweibriieken),^'^  It  was  under  this  original  name  that 
it  took  jiart  in  the  German  campaigns  from  1757  to  1762. 
Chosen  to  form  part  of  the  corps  under  the  orders  of  Count 
de  Rochambeau,  it  embarked  on  the  4th  of  April,  17S0,  on 
the  FA-elUe,  of  sixty-four  guns.  Unfavorable  v»'inds  detained  it 
at  Brest  until  ]May  the  12th.  It  arrived  at  Newport  with  the 
squadron  commanded  by  de  Ternay,  after  a  voyage  of  seventy- 
two  days.  On  the  lltli  of  June,  1781,  it  encamped  at  J-*rov- 
idcnce,  and  from  there  followed  the  general  line  of  march  of 
the  army  to  New  York,  and  then  to  Annapolis,  from  where 
it  was  taken  by  the  DUkjcnte  to  the  mouth  of  the  York  Iviver. 

Four  hundred  men  of  this  regiment  were  detailed  io  attack 
the  strongest  redoubt  of  Yorktown  during  the  night  of  the 
14th  to  the  loth  of  October,  17S1.  Under  the  command  of 
Guillaume  de  Deux-Ponts,  they  formed  the  centre  of  the  col- 
umn, whose  van  and  rear  guards  were  composed  of  the  regi- 
ment of  Gatinais,  the  van  commanded  by  de  I'Estrade  and 
the  rear  by  de  Rostaing.  I  have  related  in  the  history  of 
the  campaign  of  1781  the  glorious  part  that  the  regiment 
took  in  the  triumph  of  the  allied  armies. 

This  regiment  returned  from  Boston  to  France  in  jMarch, 
1783. 

Titulary   ( 'oloncl, 
The  Count  Christian  de  Deux-Ponts. 

Colonel  en  Second^ 

The  Viscount    Guillaume  de    Deux-Ponts,  who    became    full 

colonel  in   1782,  and   whose  position  was  filled 

by  de  Fersen. 

"See  in  tlic  List  of  Ollkers:    Deux-ronts. 


Lid  of  Rrfjimenfs.  21 

Licidrnant- Colonels  : 

De  Hadeii, 

The  Baron  d']-]sebcck. 

J/fy'or, 
De  Prez  or  Dcsprcz. 

Paymaster, 
Anciaux. 

Caplain.H- Commandanfs : 
Baron  de  Furstonwacrthei-,  De  Sunnalil, 

Baron  De  Wiscli,  De  Stack, 

De  Klock,  Du  Ilainault, 

Dc  Flad,  Riilile  de  Lilienstern, 

De  Tliuillioros,  Charles  de  Cabannes. 

Captains  en  Second  : 

INlax  de  Cabannes,  De  Ludwig, 

Baron  de  JTaacke,  ]5aron  de  Joham, 

De  Furks,  Chevalier  de  Haacke, 

Baron  d'l].sebeek,  Baron  de  Closen. 
De  Miihlenfl-ls, 

First  Lieutenants : 

Connt  de  Spaner,  Baron  de  Bibra, 

Baron  de  Kalb,"  D'lclitersheim  the  elder, 

Baron  de  Schwengsfcld,  De  IToen, 

Baron  de  Glaubitz,  De  Lutzon, 
Baron  de  Truch.ses, 

Second  Lieutenants : 

De  Bertrand,  Stoertz, 

D'lohtersheini,  Baron 'de  Rathsaniluuisen, 

De  Schanenibonrg,  ]>aron  de  Giintzer, 

Du  Pugct,  De  Geispitzheini, 

Balthaz.  de  Schauenibour'r,  Baron  de  Galatin. 


"Son  of  the  general  of  the  same  name. 


22  The  F/'cvch  in  America. 

^Sub-Lie^dcn(l  ids : 

De  Pradcllcs,  De  Peschcry, 

De  Sc'hwcrin,  De  Ribcaupierre, 

De  Bcrgh,  D'EglofVstein, 

De  Humbert,  De  Zoller, 

De  Gallois,  De  L'upplin, 

Scliutz,  De  Savignac, 

Philippe  (Ic  ITocn,  De  ^Martines, 

De  GalonniC'  do  Varize,  De  Tscliiuly, 

Baron  dc  Liickuer,  De  la  Roche, 

De  Ciistine,  De  Vergct.** 

DILLON. 

WhcTi  James  the  Second,  driven  from  England,  sought  a 
refuge  \vith  Louis  the  Fourteenth,  Count  Arthur  Dillon,  who 
had  supported  James's  cause,  followed  him  to  France  with  a 
large  number  of  Irishmen,  and  received  ])ermi.ssion  to  form 
a  regiment  of  his  own  name. 

The  regiment  of  Dillon  distinguished  itself  in  Spain  un- 
der de  Noailles  and  dc  Yendome,  in  Germany  under  Villc- 
roy,  in  Italy  under  Vcndome,  and  fnially  in  the  cam})aigns 
in  which   Marshals   de  Villars   and   dc   Berwick   commanded. 

The  first  battalion  went  to  the  AVindward  Islands  in  1777, 
under  the  command  of  de  ])Ouillc,  and  aided  in  the  capture 
of  Grenada,  Saint  Eustatiiis,  Tabago,  and  Saint  Christopher. 
It  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Savannah,  under  the  command 
of  Arthur  Dillon,  grandson  of  the  one  above  mentioned. 

Six  hundred  and  thirty-three  soldiei's  of  this  regiment,  who 
composed  the  second  battalion  which  had  remained  in  France, 
were  joined  to  Bochambcau's  expedition,  and  endiarked  at 
Brest  in  March,  1780,  on  the  rronncc.  This  vessel  also 
carrietl  to  .America  the  legion  of  Lauzun.  These  two  army 
corps  did  not  leave  one  another  during  the  campaign.  They 
embarked  at  the  same  time  at  Head  of  Elk   and   were  de- 


"See  in  the  List  of  Ollioers:  Leval. 


List  of  Rcgimints.  23 

tailed  for  tlio  attack  on  Gloucester.  "While  Eobert  Dillon 
carried  out  this  attack  \\\\]\  (lie  second  battalion,  the  first, 
commanded  hy  Arihur  Dillon,  was  brought  before  Yorktown 
by  Saint-Simon.  Arthur  Dillon,  immediately  after  the  de- 
feat of  CornMallis,  returned  to  the  AVindward  Islands,^^  while 
Robert  Dillon  remained  on  the  continent. 

The  whole  regiment  returned  to  France  in   1783. 

One  battalion  of  this  regimeiit  was  in  Martinique  in  17S0, 
and  the  second  was  at  Lille. 

Its  list  of  officers,  at  that  time,  \vas  thus  composed  : — 

Colonel, 

The  Count  de  Dillon. 

Colonel  en  Second, 

Taaffe. 

Lieutenant  Colonel, 

De  ]\Iahony. 

Major, 

Browne. 

Paymader, 

Harvey. 

"The  French  called  at  this  time  Windward  Islands  the  present 
I-<;sser  Antilles,  from  Saint  Thomas,  Saint  John,  Saint  Croix  (the  Vir- 
gin Islands),  up  to  and  including  Saint  Eustatius,  Saint  Bartholomew, 
Saint  Christo{)ht-r,  Monserrat,  Desirade,  Guadeloupe,  Marie  Galante^ 
the  Saintes,  Dominica,  ^Martinique,  Saint  Lucia,  Barbadoes,  Saint  Vin- 
cent, Grenada,  Tabago,  and  Trinitj'.  The  Spaniards  had  thus  named 
them,  because  they  were  constantly  exposed  to  the  trade  winds. 

For  the  Spaniards,  the  Leeward  Islands  were  those  which  were  pro- 
tected from  the  trade  winds  by  the  coasts  of  America,  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Orinoco  to  the  (Julf  of  Maracaibo ;  that  is,  Margaritii,  Blanquilla, 
Tortugas,  Aves,  Bonaire,  Curacao,  and  Arouba. 

The  English,  like  the  French,  called  Windward  Islands  those  from 
Martinique  to  Tabago;  and  their  Leeward  Islands  were  not  the  South- 
ern Antilles,  but  tliose  of  the  Xortli,  near  the  Clreat  Antilles,  the  Car- 
aibes. 

To  sum  up,  for  all  nationalities,  the  French  possessions,  from  Saint 
Eustatius  to  Tabago,  were  the  Windward  Islands.  Saint  Domingo  be- 
longed 1o  the  Ix'eward  Islands  of  the  English. 


24  Tlic  French  in  America. 

Among  the  capfahm  tliore  were  : — 

Bartliolcmy  Dillon,  of  the  grenadiers, 
Count  Theobald  Dillon. 

Among  the  sub-lieutenants  was  : — 
Guillaume  Dillon. 

In   1781   the  regiment  was  commanded  as  follows: — 

Colonel, 
The  Count  Arthur  Dillon. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Count  Theobald  Dillon. 

JJcutenant-  Colonel, 
Barthelcmy  Dillon. 


Jfajo?', 

0'i\Ioi-an. 

Paymaster, 

Mencarely. 

Captains  : 

Gerard  jNIoore, 

Shee, 

Purdon, 

William  ?.Ioore, 

Banks, 

O'Neil   (with    rank  of  major), 

De  Xugent, 

O'lx'rin  or  O'Brien, 

Paul  Swiny, 

Taalfe. 

Captains  en  Second  : 
JNIandeville,  JMacdermott,  Jr. 

Maguire,  Xowlan, 

Maedermott,  Sr.,  O'Doyer, 

O'Reilly,  ■  Lyncii, 

Kelly,  Coghlan. 


lAst  of  Beghncnf:^ 


25 


First  Lieutenants : 


Greenlaw, 

Th.  Dillon, 

O'Keellb, 

O'Farcll, 

Bernard  ]\Iiictlcrmot(, 

Second  Lieutenants : 
D'Arcy,  Hui 

Fitzharris, 
Th.  Browne, 
Cliristoplic  TaafTe, 
Fennell, 


Welsh, 

Evin, 

Jose])h  Comerford, 

Jean  Browne, 

Diicrgan. 


!Maclosky, 
Maurgan, 
Mac-Entire, 
Edw.  Fitzgerald, 
Whill  Shee, 
Hyae.  O'J'^arell, 
Fitz  I^raurice, 
Ch.  O'Reilly, 
Macdonald, 
O'Meara. 


Ch.  Whyle, 
Edw.  Swyny, 
Denis  O'Farcll, 
James  O'Farcll. 

Sub-Licntenanl,'^  : 

Knopfr, 

Mahony, 

Sheldon, 

Char.  O'Moran, 

Owens, 

Strange, 

Purdon, 

INIurphey, 

Hays.^« 


ENGHIEN. 

According  to  the  archircs  of  the  War  D(>partnient,  this  reg- 
iment was  sent  to  the  "West  Indies  in  1777.  The  Ltats  Mil- 
itaires  from  1777  to  1783,  on  the  contrary,  tell  us  that  it  was 
sent  to  Saint  Domingo  only  in  1780.  At  that  time  it  was 
connnandcd  as  follows  : — 

Colondy 

The  ^lai-quis  de  Montazet,  who  was  replaced   in    1782 

by  Count  de  Canillac. 

*^Sce  in  tlie  Ivist  of  Oilicers:  Arcy,  Tarragon. 


26  The  French  in  America. 

Colonel  en  Second, 

The  Count  de  Canillac,   who  was  replaced  in   17S2  by 

de  Senecterre. 

Lieuiena  nt-  Colonel, 
Dehaumont. 

Major, 
Le  Beuf,  replaced  in   17S2  by  de  Cani})aguol. 

Payinaysier, 
Rollet. 

I  also  find  two  captains  of  the  name  of  Dudeniainc  and 
Lieutenants  Grandseignc  and  de  Bressoles.^^* " 

FOIX. 

The  EtaU  MUikiircs  do  not  even  mention  this  reginient. 
According  to  the  arcldvcs  of  the  A\'ar  I>e])artnient,  it  was  sent 
to  the  AVest  Indies  in  1777,  fuuglit  at  Savannah  under 
d'Estaing,  and  returned  to  France   in   1783.''^'^^ 

FOXTAXGES. 

A  legion  of  that  name,  composed  of  nmlattoes  and  free 
negroes  from  Saint  Domingo,  saved  the  French  army  at  Sa- 
vannah by  courageously  covering  its   retreat.'^ 

GATIXAIS. 

This  regiment  was  formed  by  the  splitting  in  half  of  the 
regiment  of  Auvergnc"'' and  Mas  sent  in  1777  to  Saint  Pumingo, 

"For  these  names  see  the  List  of  Ofiicers. 
"See  in  the  List  of  Officers:  Pit'vul.     - 
*^See  Hidoire  dc  Vinfantene,  by  General  Siisane. 
"  See  in  the  List  of  Officers :  Trenonay. 
''See  in  the  I>ist  of  Officers:  Fontan':es. 
» Order  of  March  the  25th,  1770. 


Lid  of  Rcglmcids.  27 

while  that  of  .Vuvcri2;n(^  remained  in  France,  The  .second  bat- 
talion was  at  Cape  Francais,  Saint  Domhijj^o,  since  1775.  It 
liad  served  in  (Jerniany  in  tlie  campaigns  from  1757  to  17G2, 
and  afterwards  fuui;lit  at  Savannah   under  d'Estaing. 

Sub-lieutenant  I^evert  was  the  first  to  enter  the  intreneh- 
mciiis  from  which  the  defendei's  fled  ;  but  the  English  soon 
returned  in  stronger  force,  and  the  French  had  to  retire,  car- 
rying Avith  them  their  dead  and  wounded,  among  whom  were 
Count  de  Buthizy,  colonel  en  ^second,  with  three  gunshot  wounds  ; 
Captain  de  Sireuil,  struck  by  a  gnipe  shot  in  the  side ;  Cap- 
tain en  Second  de  Foucault,  Lieutenant  Justamont,  instantly 
killed;  the  Chevalier  de  la  liochenegly,  wounded  in  the  head; 
and  the  Chevalier  de  Tourville,  wounded   by  a  bullet. 

In  the  naval  engagement  of  the  7th  of  April,  Sergeant 
Charles  Daurier,  later  general  and  baron  of  the  Empire,  was 
severely  wounded  on  the  ship  the    (Adon. 

Saint  Simon  brought  to  Yorktown  the  regiment  of  Giiti- 
nais,  who.-e  men   regretted  their  ancient  name. 

I  have  related,  in  the  account  of  the  expedition,  the  glori- 
ous role  that  this  regiment  played  during  the  night  of  the 
Htli  and  loth  of  October,  and  in  what  way  it  succeeded  in 
changing  its  name  for  that  of  lloyal-Auvergne.  I  will  not 
again   relate  this  incident  here." 

Gatinais  returned  to  France  in   1783. 

Colon  eh- Commandants : 

De  Caupcnne,   1777, 

The  Count  de  15riey,   1778, 


Colonels  en  Second: 
The  Viscount  de  Poudens,   1777, 

De  licthisy,  1778,' 
The  Baron  de  Saint  Simon,   1781. 

"See  Vol.  I.,  pajze  198. 


28  Tlie  Frcncli   in  America. 

Lieutenaiit-  Colonel, 
The  Clicvalier  de  I'Estnide. 

Major, 
Chapiiy  (le  Tourville. 

Payriuiders  : 

De  la  Passe,  1779, 

Dc  Yaiulriiue,  1779. 

Captains- Co  1 1  iinuml  ants: 
lialbcnquc,  Dudrol, 

De  Cabrieres,  De  Saint-Florent, 

Yaclieron,  Pecoinme, 

De  Cliauniont,  Langoii. 

De  Sireuil,  De  Coussol. 

Captains  en  Second: 
De  Jussy,  Mascaron, 

De  Foucaiilt,  Molliere, 

De  Bordenave,  Carrert^, 

S.  Morel,  Bertliclot, 

D'Assas,  Fontboinic. 

Fii'st  Lievtcnanfs : 

Dubroea,  De  la  Fabivgue, 

Boislevc,  La  ^Morandai.s, 

De  Chaleiidar,  Laubadcre, 

Clmbot,  Roussilhe. 
Basquiat, 

Set -ond  Licntenan ts : 

Terrade,  De  la  Poclienegly, 

De  Kcnty,  De  La  Pierre, 

Daliiias,  D'Emery, 

De  Gcnvillo,  Chappuv  de  Courville. 
Dc  Yiliaubois. 


List  of  Rajbnaits.  29 

Sab-LicutenaatH : 

Le  Vert,  De  Sillcgue, 

Diimont,  Dumnd, 

Cli.  dc  Diirat,  De  Navores, 

Calonnc,  Marain, 

Dcschaux,  Beaiirin, 

Pinray,  Palliol, 

De  la   Morandiero,  Dejcan, 

Desgouttcs,  Berenger, 

Dc  Caignct,  Bonneville, 

De  Leoiuirdy,  Sufiren.^ 

HAINAULT. 

This  regiment^  which  had  gone  to  the  colonics  in  1775, 
formed  part  of  the  troops  who  landed  at  Savannah. 

LAUZUX. 

De  Lauzun,  npon  his  return  from  a  short  and  fortunate 
exj)cdition  to  Senegal  in  1770,  received  the  colonelcy  of  a 
regiment,  composed  of  llungtirians,  that  was  then  in  process 
of  formation,  and  at  the  same  time  permission  to  recruit  a 
foreign  legion  to  })ear  his  name,  of  which  he  should  be  pro- 
prietary colonel.  It  was  to  consist  of  eighteen  hundred  in- 
fantry and  six  iuuidrcd  cavalry  ;  it  was  also  not  to  be  divided. 
But  in  fact  this  legion  never  had  more  than  eight  hundred 
infantry  and  four  hundred  cavalry ;  and  owing  to  lack  of 
transport's  to  c;irry  the  force  to  America,  a  third  of  the  legion 
had  to  remain  at  lirest.  During  the  absence  of  de  Lauzun, 
and  without  his  aj)])roval,  the  force  tiiat  remained  at  Brest 
was  sent  to  Senegal.-^ 

**See  in  the  List  of  Ollicers:  Bonnot,  Cornet,  Foret,  Galliot,  Laborde 
de  Beauinc,  Lanniet,  ^Slenou,  Stark. 

"See  the  first  part  of  this  book,  quoted  niid  followed  as  authority  by 
General  Su?ane  in  his  lately  published  (IS74)  La  cavalcrie  Frangaiae, 
article  Lau/un.     [Marginal  note  by  T.  li. 


30  Tltc  FrciicJi  in  America. 

The  part  of  Lan/im'.«,  legion  tliat  cm])ark('(l  on-  the  Pro- 
vence to  cross  to  Ainerieu  under  the  order*  of  de  Ilochaiubeau 
included  two  squadrons  of  hussars  and  lancers,  grenadiers  and 
chasseurs,  consisting  altogether  of  about  six   hundred   men. 

This  legion  arrived  at  Newport  on  July  iGth,  1780,  hut, 
OM'ing  to  lack  of  fodder  for  the  horses,  could  not  take  up  its 
winter  quarters  in  that  town.  On  November  10th  it  moved 
on  to  Lebanon,  and  on  July  21st,  1781,  it  started  Irom  there 
to  march  along  with  the  rest  of  the  army  towards  Xew  York, 
the  legion  guarding  the  right  ilank. 

I^auzun's  cavalry  rendered  great  services  during  the  cam- 
paign. It  reconnoitred  the  route  of  the  army,  sup])orted 
General  Lincoln  in  reconnoitering  before  Xew  York  on  Julv 
3d,  and  fought  successfully  with  Tarlcton's  rivalry  before 
Gloucester.  The  cavalry  of  the  legion  followed  the  land  route 
with  the  quartermasters,  the  baggage  wagons,  and  the  field  ar- 
tillery, Mdiile  the  infantry  of  the  legion  embarked  at  Head  of 
Elk  under  the  conuuand  of  de  Custine. 

The  whole  legion  was  united  before  Gloucester  under  the 
orders,  first  of  A\'eedon,  afterwards  of  de  Choisy.  It  was  the 
first  force  to  meet  the  corps  of  Tarleton,  and  it  was  for  this 
service  that  de  Lau7Ain  was  chosen  to  carry  the  news  of  the 
surrejider  of  Yorktown  to  France.  He  was  badly  received, 
and  none  of  his  officers,  he  says,   received  any  rewards. 

The  legion  continued  to  play  a  useful  part  in  1782,  under 
de  Rochambeau,  until  Lauzun  took  it  back  from  Boston  to 
Fi-ance  in  ;March,  1783,  with  the  rest  of  the  expeditionary 
corps.^" 

SAINTOXGE. 

This  regiment  went  to  Cayenne,  remained  there  from  17G3 
to  1708,  then  again  left  France  and  made  tlu^  campaigns  with 
Rochambeau  from  1780  to  1783.     Its  "lieutenant-colonel,  de  la 


*'See  in  the  List   of  Ollicers :  Anot,  Baudoin,  Beflroy,  Billy-Dillon, 
Dutertre,  Foks,  Killenmine,  Monthurel,  Nortnian,  S-heklon. 


List  of  Rcglmcids.  31 

Valcltc,  was  sent  with  one  lumdred  and  fifty  men  to  oecupv 
Conaiiiciit  Island,  but  as  Eochambcau  did  not  consider  it  a 
safe  position,  lie  ordered  him  l)ack  to  Xewport. 

The  history  of  this  regiment  blends  with  that  of  the  army 
itself. 

By  an  ordinance  of  April  '2Gtii,  1775,  this  regiment  was 
enlarged  from  one  to  two  battalions  by  the  incorporation  of 
the  regiment  of  Cambresis.  Still  the  Etats  Militaires,  which 
give  this  information  in  177G,  continue  to  speak  of  the  regi- 
ment of  Cambresis,  and  give  the  list  of  its  officers. 

The  regiment  of  Saintonge  was  composed  in  17S1  as  fol- 
lows : — 

Colonel, 

The  Count  de  Custine,  replaced  in   17S2  by  the 

Viscount  de  llochambeau. 

Colonel  eii  Second, 

The  Count  de  Charlus,   replaced  in   17S2  by  the 

Prince  de  Broglie. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
The  Chevalier  de  La  Valettc. 

Paymaster, 
Lafage. 

Major, 
De  Fleury. 

Captains : 
Baron  de  Ferrette,  De  la  Foluere, 

De  ]>eaumont,  De  la  Corbiere, 

De  Wonves,  Des  Forets,^^ 

De  Brie,  De  Bedee. 

Duchesne, 

"See  in  the  List  of  Oliicers:   Laforest. 


32 


The  French  in  America. 


Captains  en  Second : 

De  Roclie,  De  Champagne, 

Dcnos  or  d'Enos.  De  Saint-Cyr, 

Scot  de  Coiilauge,  De  James  de  Longueville, 

De  Laganiy,  De  Reciisson, 


De  Courvol, 


De  Dolomieii, 


De  ISrargucrIt, 
Du  Rozol, 
De  Vallcs, 
De  La  Chenaye, 
De  Coulaino, 


First  Lieutenants : 

De  Bellcmaro, 
De  la  Carre, 
De  Cliamj^ertier, 
De  VilleiVanclie. 


Second  Lieutenants  : 

De  Taelier,  De  la  Valette, 

D' A  r  pa  von,  De  Reste, 

De  Qnirit,  De  Mestrc, 

Desvignes,  Le  Momiier, 

Dupcrron,  Dntcil. 

Sub-Lieutenants : 


De  Joussclin, 

De  Seguin, 

De  Lauberdieres, 

De  James, 

De  Biotere, 

De  la  Chans-sec, 

Dague  de  la  A'outc, 

Fauste, 

Bellegardc, 

Ijccomte, 


Desprez, 

De  Taffin, 

Denis, 

Millevillc, 

Fauville, 

Bcaugendre, 

Dc  Bilhnnau, 

Ducluscan, 

Barbier  de  la  Serre.^- 


^'Scc  in  the  List  of  Officers:  BriCres,  Marcoii,  Montalcuibert,  Noes, 
Treesan. 


List  of  Regiments.  33 

SOlSSONNxVIS. 

This  regiment,  made  up  of  tliose  of  Briqueville  and  Segur, 
served  in  Germany  in  the  campaigns  from  17G0  to  17G2.  It 
distinguished  itself  at  Lanfeld,  where  de  Segur,  afterwards 
marshal,  was  shot  in  the  chest.  It  then  served  in  the  Cor- 
siciin  campaign  of  1709. 

Two  battalions  of  this  regiment  were  sent  to  follow  Eo- 
chambeau  to  America.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  was  left 
behind  at  Brest,  owing  to  lack  of  transport.  These  two  bat- 
talions left  Brest  on  ]May  12th,  arrived  at  Newport  on  July 
13th,  1780,  moved  on  to  Providence  on  June  11th,  1781, 
and  formed  the  rear  guard  during  the  march  from  Provi- 
dence to  Head  of  Elk,  where  they  embarked.  The  rest  of 
their  history  is  told  in  the  account  of  the  expedition.^ 

Colonel-ChmriKinddnt, 
The  Count  Felix  de  Saint^Maime. 

Colonel  en  Second, 

The  Viscount  de  Xoaillcs,  replaced   in   1782  by  the 

Count  de  Segur. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
D'Anselme. 

Major, 
D'Espeyron. 

Paymaster, 
L'Estrignier. 

^'The  Mercure  de  France  of  September,  1781,  page  33,  relates  the 
following  act  of  courage :  During  the  action  of  March  KJth  a  grenadier 
of  Soissonnais,  having  had  hU  leg  splintered  by  a  cannon  shot,  drew 
his  knife  and  cut  the  flesh  holding  his  leg,  wiiirh  he  then  tlirew  into 
the  sea.  lie  then  sat  down  and  loaded  his  gun,  and  said :  "  Thanks  to 
God,  I  still  have  two  amis  and  one  leg  left  for  the  service  of  my  king." 


34 


The  French  in  America. 


Copta  iih^-  C  oin  man  (hi  n(.-< 


Didicr, 

An.-elrne  de  la   Gardette, 

Dc  Bicii  dc 

Cheviyny, 

Dc  la  Boyere, 

De  Baud  re, 

Saint-Leger, 

De  Marin, 

Dupalais. 

De  Gillx-rt, 

Captains  en 

Second  : 

Le  Bret, 

Moyria, 

Sinety, 

Saint-A^ictor, 

Bazin, 

De  Lagi-ange, 

Baudot, 

Varcilles, 

Menou, 

De  la  Caterie. 

Fird  ]jicu(en(infs : 

Boi.<dellc, 

De  J^ahurtlic, 

AVindling, 

Giou, 

Barois, 

De  Bai.ssac, 

De  Cousin    ■ 

Duvalcs,"^ 

Saint-PIilaire. 

Caldague:>, 

Dc  Caumont. 

Second  Lieu 

tcitcinfs  : 

Marjuoi, 

De  Kninon, 

Mauvis, 

De  Bouillonev, 

De  ^lenou, 

De  Sully, 

De  Guerpel, 

Montcpin, 

De  Gotho, 

Dursue, 

Sub-Lieidc 

n<rut.<  : 

De  Bonne, 

Miollis, 

De  Gaillard, 

> 

Ban-as, 

D'Eroux, 

Villeneuve, 

D'Avalon, 

Pothonier, 

Clavi.s, 

De  Bn.yer, 

Bonnefo  ns. 

D'Arandcl, 

Loubat, 

Danncbault, 

Marin, 

Jjortliier  de  Berlhuis, 

Girard, 

D'Arihus.^ 

Robcniicr, 

See  in  the  List  of  Oflicors:  f^coussin. 

See  in  the  List  of  OHkers :  Coussin,  Dalplu'raii,  Guicliard,  Maj-'usis. 


182062G 

List  of  FiCgimcnts.  35 

TOURAIXE. 

This  )-cgImcnt  scrvwl  in  tlie  German  campaigns  from  1758 
to  1762;  was  sent  to  ]Nrai-tini(jiie,  and  remained  (here  from 
1780  to  1783.  Saint-Simon,  its  eohjnol,  took  the  regiment  to 
Yorktown,  together  with  tliosc  of  .\genois  and  Gatinais.  It 
was  stationed  on  the  left  of  the  alh'ed  army,  between  impass- 
able swamps  and  the  York  River,  at  the  same  time  having 
to  tlie  rear  free  communications  witli  tlic  rest  of  the  army. 
Saint-Simon  built  a  strong  l)attery  of  eiglit  Ciuinons  and  six 
mortars,  and  was  ordered  to  make  a  feint  during  the  niglit 
of  the  14th  and  lotli  of  October,  v.hilc  do  ViomOnil  in  tlie 
centre  and  La  Fayette  on  the  right  each  Ciiptured  a  redoubt. 
The  regiment  of  Touraine  returned  to  tlic  West  Indies  with 
Saint-Simon  on  the  ships  of  <k'  Grasse  November  4th,  1781, 
and  arrived  on  the  2Gth  at  Saint  Domingo.  It  returned  to 
France  in  1783.'" 

Colonel  Mcdre  dc   Ounp, 

The  Viscount  dc  Poudens. 

Colonel  en  ^Second, 

The   Count   dc   Flcdiin,   repkieed    in    1780   by   tlie   Chevalier 

de  Mirabeau. 

TAeutcn  a  ni-  Colonel, 

De  Montlezun. 

Major, 

De  ]\Ienonville. 

Paymaster, 

Heynaud. 


*A  soldier  of  the  iej,'iment  of  Touraine,  Claude  Tliion,  only  seven- 
teen years  old,  distinguished  himself  at  the  capture  of  Bristoiie  Hill, 
on  the  Island  of  Saint  Christopher,  by  an  act  of  great  heroism.  The 
20th  of  January,  1782,  Thion  was  ordered  to  carry  homlis,  from  the 
magazine  in  the  trenches,  to  the  batteries.  During  one  of  his  trips  a 
cannon  ball  cut  oil"  his  right  arm,  which  only  hung  by  a  tendon.  He 
borrowed  the  knife  of  one  of  his  conu-adcs,  cut  tiie  tendon,  had  the 
bomb  rcplaceil  on  his  left  shoulder,  and  carried  it  to  his  battery  before 
liaving  his  wound  dressed.    He  Wiis  admitted  to  the  Invalides. 


The  French  in  America. 


Ccipta  in  s-  Cohnnandan  is  : 
De  la  Coste,  Chariot, 

De  llomniofort,  De  Saver v, 

De  Beauregard,  Ducasse, 

De  Launay,  De  Thoreuc, 

Desbordes,  D' Artel  de  Weinsljcrji:. 


Captains  en  Second: 


D'Alozc  or  d'Alausc, 

D'Espenan, 

Do  Marcy, 

De  1/atour-Clamoiize, 

De  Posscplane, 


Normandin, 
De  Saint-Felix, 
De  Signy, 
De  C'anipan, 
De  Ve/jan, 


First  Liculciunds  : 
De  licaiidreuil,  De  Pontavis, 

Parnienticr,  Hemard, 

De  Vaiibercey,  Beatrix, 

De  Bonne,  De  Prechateau, 

De  Gonrcy,  Chevalier. 

Second  Lieutenants  : 
Desln-anches,  La  Rochevcrnay, 

De  Creiuoux,  Ponierry, 

Patet,  Vidampierre. 

Sub-Licutcnants  : 

Maqiiette  de  ]Marey, 

Banal, 

Dubac, 

Duhamel, 

De  Montleztin, 

De  La  Porte, 

Blondel  de  ]>onneuil, 

Du})eyron, 

Casteinau." 


Fran9ois, 

De  Bressoles, 

De  :Mathey, 

Lecoq, 

D'Albenas, 

De  Retz, 

De  Montaleinbcrt, 

Dujoncpioi, 

Latour  de  C'lanioiizo, 


*'See  in  the  List  of  Officers:  Bonne,  Cuzal,  Crozat  de  Sarrazin,  Des- 

p<^yroiis,  Fulquen'itte. 


JAM  oj  Regiments.  37 

VIENNOIS. 

This  regiment  served  in  the  AVindwiirJ   Islands,    under   de 
Boil i lie,  from  1775  to  1783. 

It  was  at    Martinique    in   1777,  and    was   thus   oflieercd  : — 

Colon  el-  Comman  rJa  n  f, 
The  Count  de  ]\lironieniI. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  iMarquis  de  Pardieu. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
Rouxel  do  Blanchelando. 

3Iajor, 
Villetard  de  Guerie. 

Paymeister, 
Mallet. 

In    1779  and    1780    the   colonel-coinniandani   was   the  Mar- 
quis du  Chilleau,  formerly  eulonel  of  the  regiment  of  Guyenne. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Count  dc  La  Porte. 

The  rest  of  the  staff  Avas  as  above. 

In  1781  the  regiment  was  at  Dominica,  and  was  commanded 
as  follows  : — 

Colonel, 

The  Marquis  du   Chilleau. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Count  de  La  Porte. 
Lieutemnit-  Colonel, 
])e  Blanciielande. 


38  The  French  in  America. 

3Tqjor, 
De  Gimat. 

Paymaster, 
]Mor«iu. 

In  1782  the  Count  de  liouille  took  the  phicc  of  du  Chil- 
leau,  the  Marquis  dc  Coigny  that  of  the  Count  de  La  Porte, 
and  La  Bcrillais  tliat  of  Gimat. 

WALSH. 

Tiie  second  battidion  alone  crossed  to  Aniericii  in  1780,  to 
the   West  Inches  ;  it  did  not  go  to  Yorktown.*^ 

Colonel, 
The  Count  de  Walsh-Serrant. 

Colonel  en  Second, 
The  Viscount  dc  Walsh -Serrant. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel, 
De  Butler. 

Major, 
O'Brien. 

Paymaster, 
Bamelin.^' 

*  We  find  the  name  of  IMac^Muhon  among  the  sub-lieutenants. 
"See  in  the  List  of  Ollicerrt :  IMafurthy,  Staack  (ICdouard). 


LIST  OF  THE  FEE^TQH  OFFICERS 

AVlIO    TOOK    TART    IX    THE    WaR    OF^    AMERICAN    InDEPENDENCI': 

either  as  voeunteers  with  a  commission  from 
Congress,  or  in  the  French  Expedition. 


A. 

Abovili.e  (FraiK;ois-i\Iuric,  Count  d')  was  born  at  Brest 
in  1730,  and  died  in  1817.  lie  served  with  distinction  un- 
der llochambeau  in  the  American  campaign  as  colonel-com- 
mandant of  tlie  artill(MT.  By  liis  able  arrangements  he  aided 
materially  in  the  caj)ture  of  Yorktown/**'^^ 

In  1789  he  was  a])])ointed  marfclKd  Je  camp,  and  com- 
manded the  artillery  of  the  Armies  of  tlie  North  and  of  the 
Ardennes,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  during  the 
French   llevolntion    in   1702.^    'In   1793   he  declared  against 

*Deux  Fonts,  70. 

*  One  may  jnd<j;e  from  tlie  following  incident  how  d'.Aboville  com- 
manded liis  artillery  : — 

The  15th  of  October  Lord  Cornwallia  wrote  to  General  Clinton: 
"  Last  evening  the  enemy  carried  my  two  advanced  redoubt.s  on  the 
left  by  storm,  and  during  the  night  included  them  in  the  second  par- 
allel, which  they  are  at  present  busy  in  perfecting.  My  situation  now 
becomes  very  critical  ;  we  dare  not  show  a  gun  to  their  old  batteries, 
and  I  expect  that  their  new  ones  will  open  to-morrow  mornimr.  Ex- 
perience has  shown  that  our  fresh  earthen  works  do  not  resist  their 
powerful  artillery,  so  that  we  shall  soon  be  exposed  to  an  assault  in 
ruined  works  in  a  bad  i)osition  and  with  weakened  numbers.  The 
safety  of  the  place  is  therefore  so  precarious  that  1  cannot  recom- 
mend that  the  lleet  and  army  should  run  great  risque  in  endeavor! ns^ 
to  save  us." 

^-.Manuscript  of  Dupetit-Thouars.  78. 


40  Tlic  French  in  America. 

Duniouriez  ;  tlion,  under  the  Ein]iirc,  he  beeame  inspector-gen- 
eral of  tlie  artillery,  .-enator,  and  grand  olfiecr  of  the  liCgion 
of  Honor. 

The  Count  d'Aboville  invented  a  kind  of  ^vheel  with  metal 
naves,  whieh  was  first  shown  at  the  Industrial  Ex])osition  in 
1802,  and  which  has  since  been  used  for  velocipedes, 

AiGUiSV  (D'),  an  infantry  officer,  was  killed  in  the  naval 
fight  olf  Saint  Eucia,  the  lOtli  of  May,  ITSO.*"' 

Aix,  an  auxiliary  officer,  was  killed.*^ 

Alausse,  Alozk  or  Ai.ause  (Joseph-Philemon  Galtier  d'), 
born  December  24th,  1742,  in  Languedoc;  was  in  the  three 
battles  fought  by  the  Count  de  Guichen  ;  captain  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Ton ra inc. 

Anselme  de  ea  Gatidette  (Joseph-Bernard-Modasto)  was 
born  the  2Gth  of  xUigust,  1737,  at  Apt  in  Provence,  and  began 
to  serve  in  1745.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  regiment 
of  Soissonnais,  and,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  day,  the 
son  was  inscribed  on  the  lists  of  that  regiment  when  seven 
yeiirs  of  age.  He  was  captain  in  1760,  major  in  1774, 
lieutenant-colonel  in  1777,  and,  in  spite  of  poor  health,  he 
followed  his  regiment  to  America  and  served  in  the  small 
expedition  that  started  from  Newport  on  the  squadron  of  Des- 
touches  for  Delaware  I'ay.  An  excellent  officer,  his  brilliant 
conduct  at  Yorktown  gained  for  him  a  pension  of  six  hun- 
dred Varcs  in  the  order  of  Saint-Louis.  He  was  the  oldest 
of  the  lieutenant-colonels  in  America  who  was  not  a  brigadier. 

Lieutenant-general  in  IN  Fay,  1792,  he  took,  at  the  head  of 
a  corps  of  the  Army  of  the  South,  Xice,  ISlontalban,  and 
Villefranche.      But,   having    suffi'red  a  defeat    at    Sospello,  he 

**  Manuscript  of  Dapetit-Tliouars,  413. 
^*  IManuscript  of  Dupetit-Thouars,  7,  180. 


List  of  Officers.  41 

was  accn-od  of  trcacliory   and   locked   up  at    I'Abbaye.     The 
9th   Thcrmidor  rclea.'^cd   him. 

Ansei.me  de  ea  Gardette  (Jacques),  brotlier  of  tlie 
precediu<i;  one,  was  born  at  Apt,  July  the  3d,  1740,  and 
served  in  America  with  the  rank  of  captain-commandant,  in 
the  same  regiment  of  Soissonnais.  At  first  he  only  bore 
the  name  of  do  La  Gardette,  which  was  that  of  his  mother.*^ 
He  died  in   1S12. 

Arcy  (Jacques-Philippe  d')  was  l)orn  at  Paris  in  1742; 
captain  in  the  regiment  of  Dillon ;  died  before  Savannah. 
It  is  })robable  that  he  was  a  son  of  the  celebrated  Patrick 
d'Arcy,  who  was  born  at  Galway,  September  27th,  1725; 
was  a  member  of  the  Academy  in  1749,  was  colonel  at  the 
battle  of  Rossbach,  and  died  at  Paris,  October  IStii,  1779. 
The  father  left  scientific  works  on  artillery,  the  moon.,  a  iiew 
gun,  eledriciiii,  and  other  subjects. 

AiiENDT  (Baron  d'),  commanded  Fort  Island  and  the  Ger- 
man battalion,  and  resigned  in  1777  on  account  of  his  health. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  to  euiraee  as  a  volunteer. 


■o"o" 


Armakd  (Charles,  Marquis  de  la  Pouerie),  better  known 
as  Colonel  Annnnd.  He  served  for  ten  years  in  France  in 
the  French  Guards,  but  left  the  service  to  enter  the  order  of 
the  Trappists,  owing  to  a  love  alfair."'^  He  stayed  M'ith  them 
only  a  short  time,  and  crossed  to  America,  where  he  received 
from  Congress,  March  the  22d,  1777,  the  title  of  colonel, 
and  the  permission  to  enlist  a  legion  of  two  hundred  men. 
He  fell  in  so  readily  with  the  republican  customs  of  the 
country   that  he  wished  to   be  known   only   by   his  baptismal 


^'See  in  tlie  List  of  Koyinients :  Soissonnais. 

"It  w;is  his  unfortunate  love  for  the  Boaumcsnil,  of  the  OjK'ra, 
which  first  caused  him  to  enter  tlie  order  of  the  Tra]>pists,  and  then 
induced  him  to  cross  to  America. 


42  The  French  in  America. 

name.  He  siiowcd  during;  tlie  Avhole  war  great  courage  and 
activity,  to  which  he  joined  a  gay  and  witty  character.  He 
fought  at  Red  Bank,  and  then  in  New  Jersey  under  La 
Fayette. 

In  November,  177<S,  he  commanded,  as  colonel,  at  the 
camp  at  the  Valley  Forge,  a  corps  of  light  armetl  troops ; 
he  was  then  only  twenty-four  years  of  age.  His  legion  was 
almost  entirely  destroyed  at  the  battle  of  Camden,  in  Caro- 
lina. He  captured,  near  Kingsbridge,  the  loyalist  Baremore. 
His  cor])s  was  incorporated  into  the  legion  of  Pulaski  in  1780. 

De  la  Ronerie  returned  to  France  in  May,  1781.  (icneral 
AVashington  intrusted  him  with  a  letter  for  Marshal  de  ]>iron, 
in  which  he  recommended  him  to  the  goodwill  of  the  French 
Minister,  saying  that  this  brave  officer  had  not  received  in 
America,  in  spite  of  his  excellent  services,  the  rank  he  de- 
served. 

The  ]Marc]uis  received  at  that  time  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis. 
But  he  did  not  wish  to  abandon  the  cause  that  he  had  already 
so  M'ell  served  ;  he  bought  everything  that  was  necessary  to 
arm  and  cqui})  a  legion,  and  returned  to  America,  where  he 
offered  to  Congress  his  purchases. 

Upon  the  signing  of  peace,  in  1783,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 

Iveturning  to  France  in  1784  he  took  an  active  j)art  in 
the  Jlevolulionary  moven\cnt ;  neverthele.rs,  he  op])osed  the 
excesses  of  the  Jacobins,  but  it  was  too  late,  and  he  had  to 
take  part  in  the  Royalist  revolts  of  the  Bretons  and  the 
Vendeens. 

He  organized  the  Royalist  insurrection  of  J^)rittany  and  pre- 
pared a  general  revolt  for  the  month  of  ]March,  17U3.  For 
a  long  time  he  was  able  to  esuipe  the  researches  of  the  agents 
of  the  Convention,  and  lived  for  six  mouths  at  Rennes,  in 
the  midst  of  his  (Micmics,  all  intent  upon  his  conspiracy,  dis- 
guised as  a  crij)plcd  bcggai-  with  a  ])laster  on  his  eye.  But 
he  was  so    nuich    alfccted    by   the   death   of  the    kin^r   that    he 


Lid  of  Officers.  43 

was  seized  with  a  violent  fever  and  died  on  January  oOrh, 
1793,  without  liaving  accomplished  anything.  He  was  buried 
at  night,  by  moonlight ;  but  his  body  was  exhumed  a  few 
days  later  by  the  Kepubliciins,  who  found  upon  it  pa})ers 
compromising  several  of  his  political  friends.  A  few  of  them, 
on  these  indications,  were  sought  for  and  guillotined. 

Arkot  (Viscount  d')  was  on  board  of  the  Provence  to 
cross  to  America  with  Count  de  Dillon,  under  the  orders  of 
de  Lauzun."*^ 

AliUNDEiv,  enlisii'd  as  a  volunteer,  was  aj^pointed  captain 
of  artillery  the  iDth  of  March,  1770,  under  the  orders  of 
General  I^ec. 

AasAS  (D'),  captain  en  second  in  the  regijnenl  of  Gatinais. 

This  d'Assas  was  the  ue])hew  of  the  famous  Chevalier 
d'Assiis,  who  fell  at  Clostercanij)  under  the  bayonets  whilst 
crying  out  the  famous,    "  A   moi,   Auvergne,   voila  I'ennemi." 

The  Clievalier  d'Assas  was  c<iptaiu  of  cha.sseur,'^  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Auvergne,  and  he  had  in  the  same  regiment  his  elder 
brother,  father  of  the  d'Assas  whom  we  find  here,  captain 
in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais. 

Ilochambeau  had  belonged  to  the  regiment  of  d'Assas,  and 
it  was  probably  on  this  account  that  he  chose  this  corps  to 
take  part  in  the  American  expedition  under  his  command. 
The  present  ]\Iuv(piis  d'Assas  must  be  the  grandson  of  the 
Captain  d'Assas  of  the  American  expedition,  and  he  con- 
tinues to  enjoy  the  pension  of  one  tlu)usand  francs  given  by 
Louis  the  Sixteenth  t(j  the  })ostcrity  of  the  hero  of  Closter- 
camp,  which  was  one  of  the  lour  pensions^'*  of  the  ancien 
regime  which  were  kej)t  up  by  the  National   Assembly."" 

*'  Manoires  de  Laiizun. 

*'" These    four    pensions   were    the    Ibllowin;^:   Heirs    of    Moiito;ihn, 
d'Assas,  de  Chanibors,  and  Mansluil  de  Luckncr."     ]ShirL;inal  note. 
*'^  Archives  of  war. 


44  The  French  in  America. 

AuiiKTKKitp:  ur  Optekre  (IT),  an  officer  of  engineers  at- 
tached to  ihe  expeditionary  corps. 

AuEiEii  (Charles,  Baron  d'),  officer  in  tlic  French  arnn- 
under  Eochanibcnu/" 

AUTICHAMP  (Antoliie-Josoph-Eulalie  de  Beaumont,  Count  d') 
was  born  October  10th,  1744,  at  Angers.  He  began  to  serve 
in  1759,  was  officer  in  1761,  captain  in  1763,  and  colonel 
April  the  11th,  1770.  He  served  in  four  campaigns  in  Amer- 
ica, and  especially  distinguished  himself  at  Yorktown,  where 
he  M'on  by  his  gallant  contluct  the  rank  of  brigadier  mcdrc 
de  camp  in  the  ivgiment  of  Agcnois  on  the  oth  of  December, 
1781.  He  was  endowed  with  nuich  talent,  activity,  and  firm- 
ness. He  distinguished  himself  at  Saint  Christopher,  and  upon 
the  signing  of  peace  was  appointed  marcched  de  camp. 

Cromot  Dubourg  found  him  at  AA'illiamsburg,  where  he  had 
returned  with  Saint-Simon,  and  Dubourg  says  in  his  ^Memoirs 
that  he  was  very  glad  to  see  him  again  on  account  of  the 
kindness  that  his  brother  had  received  from  him. 

Aymahi)  De  A^ilee  (Louis-Fi-ancois  d'),  a  captain  in  the 
regiment  of  Armagnnc,  born  at  Yerdun,  Xovember  5th,  1  740. 
He  was  severely  wounded  in  the  battles  fought,  from  the  Oth 
to  the  12th  of  August,    1782,  by  the   Count  de  Grasse. 

B. 

Baldivia  (Potthicr  de),  a  well  educated  young  man,  son 
of  a  chevalier  of  Salnt-I^ouis,  engineer  attached  to  the  Duke 
of  Orleans,  whom  Dr.  Dubourg  enlisted  for  America.  He 
started  with  Gil  let  dc  Lomunt. 

Bargues.     Sec   Chazelle. 

"^Admitted  (to  what  not  said)  July  -tth,  1S25,  upon  ajtplication  of 
La  Fayette.    Marguuil  note  by  T.  B. 


Ijist  of  Officers.  45 

Barolier  (I^'i),  captain  of  artillcrv,  was  almost  killed  dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  28th  of  May,  1781.  by  one  of  his  sergeants, 
who  gave  him  several  cuts  with  a  sabre,  without  known  ixason. 
The  would-be  murderer  was  immediately  tried  and  hung.^' 

B  Aim  AS  (Louis,  Count  de),  born  in  Provence  of  an  old 
family  distinguished  in  the  ])rofession  of  arms.  There  was  a 
saying :  "  Noble  as  the  Barras,  as  ancient  as  the  rocks  of 
Provence." 

The  early  jiart  of  liis  life  is  not  clearly  known.  He  first 
followed  d'Estaing  in  his  campaign  in  Xorth  America  and 
distinguished  liimself  in   the  fight  at  Grenada. 

After  the  death  of  the  Chevalier  do  Ternay,  Cajitain  Des- 
touchc,  as  the  oldest  ofilicer,  took  command  of  the  squadron ; 
but  the  command  was  given  to  de  Barras,  who  came  to  tike 
possession  of  his  post  on  the  8th  of  ^iay,  1781.  He  had 
left  Brest  on  the  2Gth  of  March  on  the  frigate  the  Concorde, 
with  Viscount  de  Ivochambeau  and  the  two  brothers  Berthicr, 
and  lauded  at  Newport.  He  was  escorted  by  tlie  Emcraudc 
and  the  Jkllone.  At  this  time  AVashington  was  inicertain 
what  direction  to  take  to  strike  a  decisive  l^low.  But  de  Bar- 
ras let  him  know,  by  a  disj>atch,  that  he  was  bringing  him 
six  millions  in  ])lacc  of  the  promised  trooj)s,  who  could  not 
come  for  lack  of  transport,  and  that  Count  de  Grasse  was  to 
start  on  the  4tli  of  August  from  Cape  Franyais  in  Saint  Do- 
mingo for  Chesapeake  Bay,  with  twenty-five  or  twenty-nine 
war  vessels  and  three  thousand  six  hundred  soldiers  under  the 
command  of  Saint-Simon.  The  allied  generals  then  immedi- 
ately made  their  arrangements  to  raise  the  siege  of  New  York 
unknown  to  the  enemy,  and  to  move  by  forced  marches  on 
to  Yorktown. 

At  the  same  time  tluit  the  trooi)s  under  the  conunand  of 
Washington  and  Kochambeau  executed  this  movement,  de 
Barras    remained    with    his    s(juadron    in    the    port    of  Khode 

"Bhvnchard. 


40  The  French   in  America. 

Island  under  the  })ro(octi<)n  ol'  Jive  hundred  Krenvh  soldiei-s 
under  the  command  iA'  de  Clioisy,  and  one  thousand  American 
militiamen.  Finally,  having  received  news  (»f  the  near  arri- 
val of  de  Grasse  in  Chesaj)eake  Bay,  de  Bai-ias  took-  on  board 
of  the  tQii  shij)s  he  conmiandcd  the  troojxs  of  de  Choisy  and 
the  artillery,  and,  ])rofiting  by  an  engagement  of  the  I'^rench 
admiral  with  Admiral  (Jraves,  he  entered  tlie  bay  and  suc- 
cessfully disend)arked   his  stores  and   his  troojis. 

De  Grasse  had  just  been  appointed  lieuteiuuit-general,  and 
Count  de  Barras,  although  his  senior  officer,  agreed  to  serve 
under  his  oixlers  until  the  end  of  the  campaign.  He  gave 
thus  an  example  of  devotion  Mhieh  has  had  lew  models  and 
few  imitators,  especially  at  tliat  tiiue.^- 

I)c  Barras  followed  Count  de  Grasse  from  Chesapeake  Bav 
to  tiie  West  Indies,  and  fonght  bravely,  on  the  25111  and  2(]tli 
of  January,  17S2,  against  Admiral  liood,  whose  squadron  was 
anchored  under  the  guns  of  Saint  Christopher.  De  Bouille 
having  captured  this  colony,  de  Barras  was  detached  to  «ip- 
ture  the  islands  of  Nevis  and  ^Nlontferrat,  mIucIi  surrendered. 
He  returned  afterwards  to  Europe  and  was  not  j)resent  at 
the  disaster  of  the  following  April.  He  retired  at  the  Peace 
of  1783,  and  died  shortly  after  the  French  Revolution. 

He  was  the  uncle  of  Jean  Nicolas  de  Barras,  one  of  the 
five  Directors  of   the  J'rench  liej)ublic. 

Barre  (De  La)  entered  the  service  as  cadet  in  the  tr<jops 
of  the  colonies  in  1 750,  passed  as  aspirant  into  the  artillery 
in  17G4,  volunteer  in  the  carabiniers  in  1707,  sub-lieutenant 
in  1770,  lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Conde  in  177G,  be- 
longed to  the  squadi-on  of  the  king  commanded  by  Count 
d'Estaing,  and  to  the  trooj)s  which  were  landed  at  the  siege 
of  Savannah  in  1780,  where  lie  was  wounded.  He  is,  per- 
liaps,  the  same  as  the  following. 


"See  Vol.  I.,  payes    1U!».  110,  and   padres  1(;S-1S2,  and   extracts   from 
"Journal  d'un  oj)i<:\,:r  de  ma  rim;"  page  24,  Paris,  1782. 


Ust  of  Ojjiccrs.  47 

Bahre  (I)e  La),   Fn-nch   L.^rncral, 

The  liiogrdphk  Ghifrale  .<ays  tliat,  carrial  away  by  liberal 
ideas,  this  one  followed  La  Fayette  to  Anieriea,  where  he 
distinguished  himself";  that  afterwards  he  returned  to  serve 
in  Franee,  and  was  aj)pointed  brigadier-general.  Fmployed 
at  the  siege  of  Toulon,  and  afterwards  in  the  army  of  the 
Pyrenees,  he  -was  nDrtall}'  wounded  between  Koses  and 
Figuiercs,  'J'he  Convention  decreed  that  his  name  and  his 
deeds  should   be  engraved  on  a  column  in  the  Fantheon, 

Baudin  de  ]3i:AiJin:GAi'vD  de  Komefout  (Charles-Pierre), 
major  in  the  regiment  of  Agenois,  born  at  Cognac  the  loth 
of  June,   1740. 

Baudot.     See  Tayet. 

Baudouin,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  legion  of  Lauzun, 
came  to  America  and  landed  at  Newport,  with  Jvochambeau. 
lie  returned  to  France  in  October,  1780.  JJlanchai'd  gave  hira 
a  letter  for  his  uncle,  Blanchard  de  Lavaric,  residing  in  Saint 
Domingo,  member  of  the  Sujjerior  Council  at  Port-au-Prince. 

BAUDiiE  (Olivier-Victor  de),  born  at  Bayeux  the  21st  of 
May,  173G  ;  served  since  17oG  ;  captain  in  17G2  ;  c-aptain- 
commandant  in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais,  and  the  oldest 
captain  of  tliat  regiment  during  tiie  American  War;  excellent 
officer,  full  of  honor,  zeal,  and  intelligence  ;  good  conduct  at 
Yorktown. 

Bazin  ((luillaumc  de),  born  the  21tli  oi"  ^farch,  1710,  at 
Marmande,  in  Guyenne,  captain-eonunandant  of  Soissonnais. 
Twenty-four  years  and  eight  months  of"  service ;  three  cam- 
paigns in  Germany,  two  in  Corsiai  in  1708-1709,  two  in 
America;  woundetl  at  Clostercamp  and  in  Corsica;  decorated 
for  his  good  conduct  before  Yorktown. 


48  The  French  in  America. 

Beauharxais  (Alexandre,  Viscount  do),  born  in  Mar- 
tinique  in  1760,  guillotined  in  Paris  in  1704;  served  as 
major  under  Rocliambeau  in  the  United  States.  Deputy  from 
Blois  to  the  States  General,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  join 
the  Third  Estate,  became  President  of  the  National  Assembly, 
general  of  division  in  the  Army  of  the  Phine  in  1792, 
minister  of  war  in  1793.-'^  Falsely  accused  of  having 
aroused  a  disturbance  at  .Nlctz,  he  was  arrested  and  condemned 
to  death  by  the  revolutionary  tribunal.  His  widow,  Josephine, 
became  Emjn-css  of  the  French,  and  his  son  was  made  Vice- 
roy of  Italy  by  Napoleon. 

Beaulip:u  (Dc),  former  captiun  of  infantry  m  Franco,  ob- 
tained the  same  position  in  America,  where  he  went  to  serve 
in  the  legion  of  Pulaski.  Aji  infantry  officer  of  this  name  was 
wounded  in  the  fight  off  Saint  Lucia,  on  the  fleet  of  Guichen. 
Pontgibaud  says  that  afler  the  war  he  married  an  ICnglish 
woman,  and  kept  a  tavern  at  Asylum.  We  think  that  per- 
liaps  he  means  de  Pontleroy,  secret  agent  of  Choiseul,  to 
whom   we  have  given  another  notice. 

BEAU.^rAIiCIrAIS  (Pierrc-Augustin  Caron  de).  We  do  not 
have  to  consider  here  the  man  of  letters  so  celebrated  from  his 
creation  of  Figaro,  but  only  the  merchant  ^^•ho  covered  his  specu- 
lations with  the  flag  of  liberalism.  Already  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1776,  Barbuc  Dubourg,  agent  of  the  Americans  in 
Paris,  liad  addressed  to  Congress  two  French  officers,  Penct  and 
de  Pliarne,  who  engaged  to  furnish  arms  and  ammunition  to  the 
revolted  colonies,  and  effectually,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1770, 
Penct  started  from  Nantes  with  liftoen  Thousand  guns  from 
the  royal  gun  shops.  They  wore  sent  under  the  name  of  la 
Tuilleric.  Beaumarcliais,  associated  with  Pelletier  du  Doyer 
and  de  jMontieu,  equipped,  in   January,    1777,  the  AmphitrUe 

"Did  not  accept  tliis  position.    Muigiuul  note. 


Lid  of  OJjkers.  49 

and  two  other  .ships,  on  whicli  were  Dueoudray,  de  la  Eon- 
eric,  de  Bore,  Conway ;  Captain  Fautrelle  was  in  command 
of  the  Ampliitriic.  Xi  the  same  time  Arthur  Lee  ratified  in 
Paris,  in  the;  name  of  Conj^ress,  M'ith  the  French  Government, 
a  secret  treaty,  by  which  the  latter  aii;recd  to  secretly  furnish 
arms  and  ammunition  to  the  Americans  under  the  cover  of 
commerce.  Ijcaumarchais  undertook  sending-  the  arms  and 
the  management  of  the  funds.  He  took  the  name  of  Plor- 
tales  Rodrigue,  residing  at  Ca[)e  Fi'anyais,  Saint  Domingo, 
and  he  had  addressed  to  that  residence  the  convoys  that  Lee 
sent  him,  under  the  name  of  the  manufacturer,  Mairy  John- 
son. The  treaty  was  not  carried  out  until  October,  1777  ; 
tlie  first  convoys  were  loaded  on  the  mercliant  vessel  the 
Heureux,  and  thiy  arrived  at  I'ortsmouih,  New  ITamjishire, 
on  the  1st  of  xSovember.  The  brave  Baron  Stenljcn  was  on 
this  same  vessel. 

The  Fler-Rodriguc,  Caj^tain  dc  ^Nlontaut,  then  the  Fcrragus, 
the  Zqihir,  the  Kdargdlc,  the  Thcrc.sc,  were  armed  in  177S. 
The  Fier-l\odri(jvc  was  a  real  war  N-es>eI  \\\\.\\  .--ixry  guns,  and 
was  convoying  some  ten  mercliant  ships,  when,  in  sight  of  the 
Island  of  Grenada  in  the  beginning  oi'  July,  1771),  it  met  the 
fleet  of  Admiral  d'Estaing  preparing  to  light  the  tleet  of  Ad- 
miral Byron.  The  Fler-llodrigxie  had  to  take  a  position  in 
the  line  of  battle  under  the  orders  of  d'Estaing.  De  IMontaut 
was  killed,  and  Gantiieaume,  afterwards  admiral,  replaced  him 
in  command. 

Tlie  arms  were  often  of  a  poor  quidity  ;  several  loads  were 
captured  by  English  cruisers.  Congress,  whose  finances  were 
in  a  bad  state,  could  not  always  send  to  Beaumarchais  the 
moneys  that  he  wanted.  Nevertheless  he  showed  himself  as 
able  a  financier  and  merchant  as  li<'  was  a  literary  man,  and, 
thanks  to  his  good  sens(^  and  his  activity,  he  acquired  some  for- 
tune which  he  augmcnlcd  by  other  six'cuhitiims.  He  nearly  lost 
his  riches  as  well  as  his  life  during  the  French  Jlcvolution  ; 
his  good   luck,  and   perha})s  his  exaggerated  love  for  money, 


50  The  French  in  Anurica. 

had  made  him  manv  enemies.     He   died  in   1799  at  the  age 
of  seventy  ;  lie  litid,  it  was  said^  committed  suicide.** 

Bp:aumont.     Sec  Gorat. 

BEAUMO^"T  (Antoinc-Franr-ois,  Viscount  de),  born  the  od  of 
May,  1753,  at  the  Cliatcau  of  la  Roque,  in  Perigord.  He 
■was  commander  of  sc^uadron  in  17S1,  and  brought  himself 
into  notice  in  the  battle  of  the  11  th  of  September,  17S1, 
where  lie  captured  the  English  frigate  the  Fox. 

Appointed  in  17S9  deputy  from  the  tribunal  of  the  nobil- 
ity^^  of  Agen  to  the  States  General,  he  steadily  voted  with 
the  right  in  the  Assembly  Constlhi.ante,  was  opposed  to  the 
uniting  of  the  three  orders,  and  protested  against  the  decree 
of  the  19th  of  June,  1790,  which  abolished  the  nobility. 
After  the  session,  he  withdrew  to  England,  then  to  Russia. 
Returning  to  France  during  the  Consular  Government,  he 
settled  at  Toulouse,  where  he  died  on  the  loth  of  September, 
1805. 

Bp:deaux  (Eebrun  de).  Appointed  brevet  captain  with  pay 
the  10th  of  ;May,  1777  ;  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  legion  of 
Pulaski  the  10th  of  December,  1777;^  died  in  America." 

BI^:i)1^:k  de  Boisbkas  (Ange-Armand  de),  born  at  Rennes 
the  1st  of  March,  1742;  entered  the  service  in  1757;  cap- 
tain-commandant in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge  the  2Sth  of 
August,    1777  ;    live  campaigns  at  Cayenne,  two  in  America. 

"This  extraordinary  man  (li}>ped  into  everytliiir_' ;  lie  was  indeed 
a  jack  of  all  trades.  He  almost  succeeded  in  everything,  so  ]>rodi;_dous 
were  his  abilities.  He  tried,  however,  in  vain,  one  must  admit,  to  be 
an  honest  man.  {Rtcae  JiCtrosprctlce,  15th  ol"  ^hirch,  1S70,  i^age  IGS.) 
See  Vol.  I.,  pages  S2,  S3. 

^  Xobh'Ksc  dc  Id  Sciicrhafim'C. 

"Perhaps  1778.     Marginal  note. 

"  Auberteuil. 


List  of  Officers.  51 

Beffkoy,  ofijccr  of  the  legion  of  Lauzuiij  wJio  distinguished 
himself  at  Glouccster.^'^ 

Bl^:iiAGLE  or  Bejiague  (Jcan-Baptiste-Emmanuel  de),  born 
at  Paris  the  3d  of  February,  1735  ;  captain-commandant  in 
the  regiment  of  Agenois  after  twenty-six  years  of  service ; 
served  in  the  campaigns  in  Germany.  Six  years  of  sojourn 
in  America  ruined  his  constitution  and  incapacitated  him  from 
continuing  to  serve.^'' 

Beleangeii  (De),  officer  of  artillery,  who  was  killed  in 
the  trenches  before  Yorktown  on  the  17th  of  October,  17S1, 
the  day  of  the  preliminary  steps  for  surrender. 

Bellecour  (Lebrun  de).     See  Bedeaux. 

Borage  de  La  Boykre  (Jean-Pierre),  born  at  Aix  in 
Provence,  the  24tli  of  Fel)ruary,  1730  ;  ca])tain-commandant 
in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais  the  7th  of  June,  1770,  after 
twenty-five  years  of  service.  He  made  two  campaigns  in 
America,  proved  himself  a  good  ollicer,  and  was  decorated  for 
his  good  conduct  at  Yorktown. 

Beraxd  de  Mauraige  or  IMorreige  (Christophe-Pliil- 
ippe),  born  the  lotli  of  !March,  1759  ;  appointed  sub-lieuten- 
ant in  the  regiment  of  Agenois  the  1st  of  Xovember,  1779; 
decorated  for  a  wound  received  at  Savannah,  where  lie  had 
a  leg  broken  the  9th  of  Octolicr,  17S0.  Pemained  on  the 
battlefield,  and  was  for  lour  months  prisoner  of  war  in  the 
enemy's  hospitals. 

Berguissoxt,  Bourguissox  or  Bourguigxoxt  (De),  cap- 
tain of  Agenois,  commanding  the  redoubt  on  the  right  against 
which  tiie  Kiiglisli  made  a  sortie  during  the  niglit  oi"  the  loth 


*^  Rej)ort  of  Kocliamljeau. 
''  Archives  of  war. 


62  The  French  in  America. 

to    the    IGth    October,    ITSl.     lie    was    wounded    and    made 
prisoner/^ 

Bekruet.     Sec  Bervkt. 

Bertiielot  (Aiigustin-Clement  de  Villeneiivo,  Chevalier 
de),  born  the  10th  of  Aii(2;ust,  1750,  at  Eesignc,  in  Anjon  ;  ap- 
pointed captain  in  the  regiment  of  (iatinais  (Royal-Auvergne) 
the  \1i\\  of  August,  1770;  died  in  17S1  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  tlie  siege  of  Yorlctowu. 

Bertiiier  (I.ouis-Alexandre),  born  at  Versailles  the  20lli 
of  Novenibci',  1753  ;  captain  of  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais 
the  2Gth  of  A])ri],  1780  ;  made  four  campaigns  in  America 
as  sub-assistant  <piartermaster."  "  The  tM'o  brothers  Berthier, 
recently  arrived  from  France,"  says  General  Dumas  in  his 
Memoirs,  "are  joined  to  our  staff.'"'-' ''^ 

Berthier  went  in  1783  to  Porto  Cabello  with  Segur  and 
surveyed  the  latter's  property  at  Saint  Domingo.  He  re- 
turned to  France  a  colonel,  served  the  Bepublic  with  distinc- 
tion, then  l)ccame  closely  attached  to  Bonaparte,  who,  having 
become  Emperor,  covered  him  with  favors,  made  him  his 
major-gencnd,  and  created  him  IMarshal  of  France,  Prince 
of  Neuchatel  and  ol'  Wagram.  He  died  the  1st  of  June, 
1815. 

*"  Manuscript  of  Cromot  Dubourg. 
^  Marcclial  des  logis, 

**In  the  roconnoiterircr  expeditions  tliat  were  made  on  tlie  21  st  of 
July  by  the  Count  de  Danias,  the  Count  de  Yauban  and  Berthier,  all 
aids-de-camp  of  the  Count  de  Kochambcau,  the  leg  of  the  Count  de 
Damas's  horse  was  broken  by  a  ball ;  de  Dainas  then  took  olf  the 
saddle  and  the  bridle  himself  in  front  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  put 
the  saddle  on  the  horse  of  a  hussar,  and  jrot  up  behind  the  latter  to 
return  to  the  generals.  De  Vauban  and  IJertiiier  each  took  a  prisoner, 
but  the  latter  ollicer  killed  the  one  he  had  made,  because,  having  sur- 
rendered, he  had  fired  at  him  with  a  pintol.  {Mt retire  de  France,  Octo- 
ber, 1781,  page  172.) 


List  of  OjlJlccrs.  53 

Bertiiip:h  (Ce-ar-Gabrlcl),  the  s^'cond  brother  of  tlic  pre- 
ceding one,  was  born  at  Versailles  the  4tli  of  ^lay,  1 765, 
was  only  fifteen  years  old  in  17S0,  and  consequently  could 
not  serve  as  aid-de-catu])  to  Koeliambeau,  but  he  also  went 
to  America. 

Bekvet  or  Bejiuet,  quartermaster-paymaster  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Ag6nois;  private  in  1708,  officer  in  1779;  was  pres- 
ent  at   the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

Betjii.sy  (.Licfjues-EK'onor,  Viscount  de),  born  at  Calais 
the  4th  of  December,  17-18.  Entered  the  service  in  176-1, 
captain  of  dragoons  in  1708,  colonel  en  second  of  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais^^  the  7tli  of  August,  1778.  AVas  unhappy  at  not 
having  been  on  the  expedition  to  Grenada,  and  did  all  he 
could  with  Count  d'Estaing  in  order  to  be  on  the  following 
expedition,  which  was  granted  him ;  obtained  the  position  of 
third  commander  of  the  column  of  Dillon.  He  received  two 
gunshot  wounds  before  Savannah  on  the  9th  of  October,  1779  ; 
one  went  through  his  left  hand ;  the  other  cut  his  skiu  near 
the  groin. 

Bj^:viele  (De),  served  since  1740.  I^ieutenant-colonel  in 
1761,  brigadier  in  1778,  marechal  de  camp  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1781  ;  went  through  the  German  AVar  on  the  staff,  and 
through  the  entire  American  A\'ar  as  quartermaster-general.'^ 
He  made  ten  marches  of  over  seven  miles  each,  crossing  fif- 
teen great  rivers,  with  the  whole  army  and  few  means,  with 
neither  delay  nor  accident.  His  distinguished  conduct  at 
Yorktown  brought  him  a  pension  of  twelve  hundred  lirres; 
asked,  in  1783,  for  a  ])lace  as  comuiancU'r  of  the  order  of  Saint- 
liOuis,  aud  hoj)cd  to   be  cmjiloyed. 

"Royal-Auvcrgne. 

'^Manchal  general  den  logis. 


54  The  French  in  America. 

B^viLLE  (Chevalier  do),  .son  of  the  former,  served  since 
1773.  Officer  in  1775,  captain  on  leave'"'  of  the  dragoons 
of  Noaillcs  in  1770.  In  1780  he  went  to  America,  where 
Rochambeau  first  employed  him  as  aid-de-camp  and  placed 
him  in  the  rear  of  the  army  as  assistant  (piartcrmaster-general 
of  the  regiment  of  Touraine. 

BiciiET  DE  EociiEFONTAiNE,  cnllstcd  as  a  volunteer, 
brevet  engineer  with  rank  of  captain  the  ISth  of  September, 

1778." 

BiEX  PE  CiiEYiGNY  (Frcderlc-Franyois-Louis  de),  born 
at  Avallon  the  13th  of  April,  1737.  Lieutenant  of  the 
chaAsciir.-i  of  Solssonnais,  and  commanded  that  company,  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  de  Tarragon,  before  Savaimah.  lie  was 
present  at  tiie  sortie  of  the  25th  of  Xovember  and  at  the 
attack  of  the  intrenchments,  where  he  lost  half  of  his  com- 
pany. He  made  as  captain  the  campaign  of  Yorktown,  al- 
though  already  on  the  retired  list. 

BiLLY-DiLEOX  (De),  officer  in  the  hussars  of  Lauzun; 
wounded  before  Gloucester  the  4th  of  October,  1781;''^  was 
guillotined  under  the  4Vrror  with  his  brother  and  Lauzun. 

Blanciiaed  (Claude),  born  the  lOth  of  May,  1742,  at 
Angers,  of  a  family  of  that  town  ennobled  by  belonging  to 
the  municipal  magistracy.^"  lie  began,  in  1762,  in  the  war 
office,  under  the  orders  of  one  of  his  relations,  Dubois.'"  Ap- 
pointed commissary  of  war  in  17GS,  Blanchard  made  in  that 

•*  lUformc. 

"Major,  Xovember  Kith,  17S1.     :MarLrinal  note  by  T.  E. 

"Manuscript  of  Croinot  Duboiirg. 

''^  Echtvlnnijc. 

'"Dubois  bad  for  successor  in  ITiiS,  in  the  position  of  secretary- 
general  of  SwitzeHand  and  the  Grisons,  the  Abbe  liartlielemy,  author 
of  tho    Yonnij  Anacharsis.     (See  the  Almamich  Jloijal  of  17(38.) 


Lid  of  Officers. 


00 


position  the  c-ami)aigu  of  Corsica,  ^-liere  lie  stayed  ten  yeai^. 
The  29tli  of  JamiaiT,  1773,  he  received  from  the  minister 
of  war,  Monteynard,  the  permission  to  marry  Therese-Char- 
lotte  de  Coriolis,  of  a  nol.K-  family  of  Provenee.  Principal 
connnissary  in  1780,  he  accompanied  in  that  position  Po- 
chamhean  to  America  and  I  have  indicated  in  my  account 
of  the  war  tlie  part  he  played  in  that  campaign.'^  In  1784, 
comraissaiy  of  war  in  Brittany.  In  1788  he  was  cojnmand- 
ing  commissary  at  Arras,  and  was  calk-d  the  following  year 
to  the  command  of  the  National  Guard  of  that  town^  of 
which  he  soon  became,  with  Carnot,  the  representative  in  the 
National  Assembly.  In  that  chamber,  with  Lacuee  and 
Mathieu  Dumas,  he  became  the  ordinary  reporter  of  military 
matters.  He  was  expelled  by  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety, 
and  was  obliged  to  hide  to  escape  pursuit.  It  was  then 
that  he  wrote  up  his  ''Journal  de  la  Campagne  d'Amirirjue,'' 
from  which  we  have  taken  interesting  extracts."-  "  Now  that 
I  have  some  leisure,"  he  says  (:\Iessidor,  year  II.  of  the  Re- 
public), ''  1  shall  make  u  clean  copy  of'  ray  diary,  without 
changing  anything  important  in  tlie  style  or  in  the  facts." 
After  the  fall  of  Pol)espierre,  J^lanchard  reassumed  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  commissary  to  the  Army  of  Sambre  and  IMcusc, 
then  to  the  Army  of  the  Interior,  then  to  the  Army  of  Ba- 
tavia^  where  he  was  sent  by  Ikn-nadotte,  who  thanked  him, 
in  1798,  foi-  his  y.val  and  devotion,  and  lastly  to  the  Hotel 
des  Invalides,  where  he  died  in  1802,  at  the  age  of  sixtv, 
leaving,  says   General   Berruyer,  Governor   of  the  InvalidJs^ 


:\e  ex- 


"  Blanchard  was  the  principal  commissary  of  war,  durinf^  the  ex- 
pedition, with  de  Tarle,  de  Yillemanzy,  Jujardy,  Chesnel,  and'de  Cornv 
{Etats  MUiiain's).  He  embarked  at  JJrcst  on  the  Con^ptirant,  and  slept 
on  board,  the  14th  of  April,  at  Sainte-Barbe,  with  thirty  or  forty  per- 
sons. Rochambeau  added  in  a  note  in  his  own  handwriting,  to  the 
report  on  Blanchard  which  the  Intendant  de  Taric  had  written  for  the 
minister  of  war  after  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  "a  man  of  the  crcatest 
distinction."    Still,  he  received  no  reward,  and  complained  about  it. 

"See  Vol.  I.,  page  9. 


56  The  French  in  America. 

in  a  letter  to  the  minister  of  war,  the  rc})utation   of  an  ad- 
mhiistrator  remarkable  for  his  talents  and  liis  virtnes.'^ 

Clande  Blanchard  had  a  son,  Edouard-Henri  Blanehard, 
who  also  beeame  eommissary  of  war,  and  who  died  about 
1865,  aged  ninety-two,  at  J.a   FkVhe,  Sarthe. 

Blanciielande  (Philibert-Fran9ois  Bonssel  de),  general, 
born  at  Dijon  in  173o,  guillotined,  together  with  his  son, 
on  the  11th  of  April,  1703.  He  went  to  Martinique  in  1779, 
with  the  second  battalion  of  the  regiment  of  Viennois,  of 
which  he  was  ]ieutenant-c<donel  ;"^  defended  Saint  A'incent,  on 
the  17th  of  December,  1780,  with  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
men    against  four  thousand  Englishmen,   and   was   appointed 

"See  Vol.  I.,  page  222,  note  222.  See  also  Journal  of  Claude 
Blanchard,  pages  1G0-1G9.  The  stations  on  the  return  journey,  accord- 
ing to  Blanchard,  were  the  following : — 

Dates.  Stops.  Distances. 

23  June,  17S2 Williamsburg. 

24  "        "      Drinking  Spring 9  miles. 

5  July,     "      Bird's  Tavern 8      " 

6  "        "      Kavelaf  House. 

7  "        "      New  Kent. 

8  "        "      Newcastle  (sojourn). 

10  "  "  Hanover  Town 5  miles. 

11  "  "  Hanover  Court  House. 

12  "  "  Brunk's  Bridge. 

13  "  "  ......  Bullengreen  (Bowling  Green). 

14  "  "  12  miles  south  of  Fredericksburg. 

15  "  "  Fredericksburg  and  Falmouth. 

IG  "  "  (Sojourn). 

17  "  "  Peyton's  Tavern. 

18  "  "  Dumfris. 

19  "  "  Coldiestcr. 

20  "  "  Alexandria. 

21  "  '•  Georgetown. 

22  "  "  Bladensburg. 

25  "  "  Rose  Tavern. 

2G      "        "      Spurier's  Tavern. 

27       "        "      Baltimore. 

^*De  Blanchelande  also  commanded  the  second  battalion  of  Koyal- 
Comtois  at  the  capture  of  Tabago.    E.  S.  B. 


List  of  OJJker.^.  57 

brigadier  as  a  reward.''^  After  the  ea])turc  of  ']"'a1)ago  lie 
was  appointed  its  governor ;  afterwards  he  ec^n-nnanded  at 
Saint  Domingo,  whieli  he  left  when  the  llevolution  broke  out, 
by  order  of  the  commissioners  sent  by  the  Convention.  He 
followed  ]\rauduit-Duplessis,  commandant  of  the  regiment  at 
Port-au-Prinee,  in  his  resistance  to  revolutionary  ideas  and 
to  freeing  the  negroes.  He  su]->ported  the  Poyalist  side ;  but 
the  assistance  which  he  had  as]<ed  from  France  was  fatal  to 
him,  as  the  Ivepublic  was  proclaimed.  He  had  to  liide  to 
escape  from  the  zeal  of  the  republican  soldiers  of  the  regi- 
ments of  Artois  and  Normandy,  who  had  landed  on  the  2d 
of  March,  1701.  He  was  taken,  brought  back  to  France, 
and  executed. 

Plaudat  (Malliieu),  born  the  17th  of  January,  1725,  at 
Mulan,  in  Franche-Comte  ;  enlisted  as  private  in  1740,  and 
reiichcd  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  of  Agenois  in  1777. 
First  lieutenant  in  1779.  He  was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball 
which  passed  through  both  thighs  at  the  siege  of  Tournay 
in  1745;  received  another  bullet  in  the  right  thigh  before 
Laufeld  in  1747,  and  was  cut  by  a  sword  on  the  liead  at 
Wartburg  in  1700,  for  which  wound  he  was  trepanned.  He 
was  killed  at  the  siege  of  Savannah  on  the  24th  of  Septem- 
ber,  1770. 

Bois-Pertkaxd  (De),  "  young  man  full  of  honor,  cour- 
age, and  zeal,  who  held  a  brevet  of  lieutenant-colonel  in 
France  in  June,  177G,"  and  whom  Dr.  Dubourg  engaged  that 
month  for  the  colonies.  "  He  asks  for  nothing,"  he  writes  to 
Franklin,  "and  will  be  placed  as  is  desired."  He  embarked 
with  Ducoudray  on  the  Amplutntc,  belonging  to  ]]eaumarchais. 
According  to  the  Amcrlcnn  Archives,  he  left  in  August,  1770.'" 


'*See  Relation  des  combats  ct  des  ircriements  de  la  gunre  maritime  entre 
la  France  et  VAnglrtcrrr,  by  Y.  J.  Kcr:^uolcn,  former  rear-admiral.  Paris. 
Year  IV.  of  the  Republic. 

"Sent  to  General  iMercor  by  Congress.     Marginal  note  Viy  T.  V>. 


58  The  French  in  America. 

BoiSi.OGER  (Ilenri-fimeiy  de),  cajitain  of  gunners  iji  tlic 
regiment  of  artillery. 

BoxNAFOKCE  DE  Bellinay  was  present  at  the  capture  of 
Grenada  and  at  the  naval  action  off  Saint  Lucia. 

]5oNXE  (Jean,  Chevalier  de),  born  the  22d  of  July,  17o0, 
at  Yivier-lcs  Montagues ;  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Touraiue ; 
pensioned  in  17S2  for  his  good  conduct  at  Saint  Cliristopher. 

BONXOT.  Private  in  17G5  ;  sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment 
of  Gatiuais"  in  1779  ;  %vas  present  at  the  attack  of  the  re- 
doul)t  of  Yorktown. 

Bony  made  the  expedition  of  17S1,  in  the  position  of 
paymaster  attached  to  the  army  of  Rochambeau.  ]\rentioncd 
as  liolding  this  position  at  the  camp  of  Dobbs  Ferry  by  Cromot 
Dubourg. 

BoRDA  (Jean-Charles),  born  at  Dax,  Landes,  the  4th  of 
May,  1733  ;  died  at  Paris  the  20th  of  February,  1799.  Cel- 
ebrated mathematician  and  physicist.  He  studied  at  the  col- 
lege of  La  Flcche,  entered  the  army  engineer  corps  while  still 
very  young,  and  Mas  at  once  noticed  for  important  scientific 
reports.  In  1757  lie  was  aid-de-camp  of  Marshal"^  ^Slaillebois 
and  fought  at  Hastembeck.  In  1707  he  was  attached  to  the 
navy  by  the  Minister  de  I'raslin  ;  ho  at  once  made  a  cam- 
paign and  never  ceased  traveling  and  doing  useful  things  for 
the  navy.  He  went  through  the  cam])aigns  of  1777  and 
1778  with  Count  d'Estaiug,  with  the  rank  of  naval  lieuten- 
ant, and  afterwards  reached  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the 
naval  army.  In  17S1  he  commanded  the  Gucrricr ;  in  17S2 
he  was  charged  to  escort  with  the   Solitaire  a  corps  of  troops 

^  F^oyal-Ainrrgiu'. 

'•  Lieutenant-general.     Marginal  note. 


Lid  of  Officers.  59 

that  was  being  sent  to  ]\rartinique.  When  these  troojis  had 
reached  tlieir  destination  lie  began  to  cruise  ;  but  attacked 
by  a  liostilc  fleet,  he  fouglit  a  hmg  action  and  oidy  sm-ren- 
dered  after  a  lieroic  struggle.  The  reputation  he  had  a(;(iuired 
as  a  scientist  caused  the  English  to  treat  hiui  with  distinction, 
and  to  send  liim  on  parole  to  his  own  country.  We  need 
not  speak  of  liis  well-known  works.  Perhaps  he  is  the  author 
of  Journal  iVun  ofjicicr  de  marine,^'  already  cited,  Vol.  II., 
page  4. 

BoKDKNAYE  (Jean-Ignace,  Chevalier  de),  born  at  INIont- 
Marsay  the  13tli  of  December,  1742;  captain  in  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais  tlie  28th  of  August,  1777  ;  decorated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Yorktown. 

BoiiE  (Prudhomme,  Chevalier  de),  French  officer  who  started 
in  January,  1777,  on  the  Ainpliltiite,  fitted  out  by  Beaumar- 
chais.  lie  embai-ked  at  Lorient  with  Ducoudray,  Conway, 
de  la  Pouerie ;  arrived  at  Portsmouth  in  March,  1777,  and 
enlisted  as  volunteer  in  the  army  of  the  Americiuis.  Elected 
brigadier-general,  he  resigned  the  14th  of  September  of  the 
same  year. 

BosNiER  DE  Saint  Cosme  (Jacques-Antoine-Fran^ois- 
Marie),  born  the  1st  of  February,  1750,  at  Montpellier ; 
entered  the  service  in  the  Grey  Musketeers  in  17GG,  whence 
he  passed  as  sub-lieutenant  into  the  regiment  of  Normandy 
until  1772;  lieutenant  in  waiting"^  for  the  colonies  in  1775; 
captain  in  waiting  of  the  regiment  of  Armagnac  in  1777  ; 
received  a  gunshot  wound  through  the  chest  at  the  attack 
on  Savannah. 

BoTZEN  (Baron  de),  Polish  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Americans  in  the  legion  of  Pulaski.     He  was  killed 

"Ji  la  suite. 


60  TJte  French  in  America. 

at  Egg  Harhor    in    1778.      Cited  as   the  Barou   de  Bozo  in 
Recorch  of  JU'volv.ilonai-ij  liar. 

BouCHET  (Deni.s-Jean-Floriinoiid-Ivaiiglois,  Marquis  du), 
born  at  Clermont,  Auvergiic,  the  20th  o?  October,  1752  ;  died 
at  Paris  in  October,  1820.  His  fnnn'ly  came  from  Xorn^andy. 
Entering  tlie  military  engineers  at  the  age  of  liitcen,  he  passed 
into  the  artillery.  lie  served  Avith  distinction  in  the  campaigns 
of  Corsica  in  ]  700  in  the  regiment  of  La  Marche-Prince ;  left 
in  1770  for  America  as  volunteer;  reached  the  rank  of  ma- 
jor-general after  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  It  was  then  that  Con- 
gress gave  him  a  pre.-ent  of  money  to  enable  him  to  return 
to  France.  In  1780  Eochambeau  chose  him  as  aitl-major- 
general.  Betuniing  to  Franco  in  1783,  he  re-entered  the 
service  as  colonel,  received  the  decoration  of  the  Cincinnati, 
then  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis.  He  emigrated  in  1791,  served 
in  the  legion  of  Conde,  and  -was  appointed  martchal  de  cump 
by  Louis  the  Eighteenth  in  1795.  He  returned  to  France  in 
1803,  and  commanded  for  Xapoleon  the  fortresses  of  Ypres 
and  Breda  from  1809  to  1810.  He  was  made  lieuteiiant- 
general  by  the  Bourbons  in  1810,  and  re.-igned. 

Bougainville  (Louis-Antoinc,  Count  de),  born  at  Paris 
the  nth  of  November,  1729;  died  the  30th  of  August,  1811. 
Son  of  a  notary  of  Paris,  he  studied  in  that  town  and  first 
intended  to  follow  the  law,  although  jt)ining  the  Black  ^lus- 
keteers.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  was  intimate  with 
d'Alembert  and  Clairaut,  and  published  his  Traiie  de  Calcul 
Inii'yrcd.  Jn  1753  he  started  as  aid-major  in  the  provincial 
battalion  of  Picardie,  and  Chevest,  \\\\o  conunanded  the  camp 
of  Sarrelouis,  chose  hiu)  as  aid-dc-camj).  He  went  to  Lon- 
don in  1751,  was  made  mcmbci'  of  tlic  l\oyal  Society,  and 
returned  for  the  war  <>f  1755  with  the  Duke  de  ^lirepois. 
As  aid-de-cam]),  with  tiie  brevet  of  lieutenant  of  dragoons,  he 
joined   his  former  general,  who  was  commanding  a   cam[)   of 


List  of  Officers.  61 

inaiKx^uvrcs  at  ]Metz.  Captain  in  1756,  lie  was  attached  as 
aid-tle-camp  to  tlie  Marquis  dc  Montcalm,  who  was  leavinj; 
for  Canada.  His  activity  in  this  campaign  won  him  the  rank 
of  quartermaster*""  of  the  })rincipal  corps  in  that  army.  He 
was  wounded  on  the  otli  of  July,  175S,  at  Ticonderoga,  while 
defending  victoriously  the  fort  against  Abcrcrombv.  Bougain- 
ville  returned  to  Paris,  sent  by  IMontcalm  to  ask  for  succor. 
He  only  obtained  four  hundred  recruits  and  some  ammuni- 
tion. Still  Louis  the  Fifteenth  appointed  him  colonel  in 
waiting  of  the  regiment  of  Rouergue  and  chevalier  of  Saint- 
Louis,  despite  his  short  service.  He  rejoined  his  general  in 
1759.  He  covered  the  retreat  to  Quebec,  and  wiien  Mont- 
calm had  been  killed  on  the  15th  of  September,  1759,  Bou- 
gainville kept  up  the  fight  for  a  year,  then  surrendered.  Can- 
ada was  lost  to  France.  Bougainville  returned  to  France  in 
]76L 

Bougainville  served  in  Germany  in  1762.  Then,  in  1763, 
he  obtained  permissitiu  to  change  his  title  of  colonel  for  that 
of  naval  captain.  He  had  built  at  Saint  Malo  the  Aijlc,  of 
twenty  guns,  and  the  Sphinx  of  twelve  guns,  and  sailed  on 
the  15th  of  September  with  families  from  Acadia  and  lauded 
in  the  ]Malouin  Islands  on  the  3d  of  February,  1764.  He 
founded  there  a  colony  which  he  had  to  give  up  the  following 
year  to  Spain.  He  returned  by  the  Pacific,  making  discov- 
eries, from  1767  to  1769. 

AVhen  war  broke  out  in  177S  he  commanded  the  Biai- 
Airiie,  under  the  orders  of  Lamotte-Piquet.  In  1779  he  was 
appointed  lleet  commander,  and  took  command  of  the  Lan- 
ffucdoc  as  flag  captain  to  Count  d'Fstaing.  The  same  year 
he  was  made  rncurchal  de  camp,  and  participated  in  various 
combats  fought  in  the  Antilles  against  Ilood.  At  Grenada, 
against  Lord  J^yron,  he  commanded  the  Gucrrio',  whose 
manreuvres  were  very  fine. 

^ Mai\chal  des  logls. 


62  The  French  in  America. 

At  tlie  action  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  the  5th  of  September, 
1781,  Bougainville  commanded,  on  the  Angustc,  the  vanguard 
of  the  fleet  of  Count  de  Grasse.  The  English  ship  the  Ter- 
rible was  taken,  and  Washington  and  Roehambeau  considered 
that  the  victory  was  due  to  l^ougainville.®^ 

The  following  year  he  participated  in  the  ca])ture  of  Saint 
Christopher.  The  25tli  and  2Gth  of  January,  1782,  he  fought 
in  the  vanguard  against  Admiral  Hood,  The  12th  of  A})ril, 
at  the  fatal  action  of  the  Saintes,  he  covered  with  his  ship  the 
Augude,  the  Xorlhianbcrland,  whifh  was  in  danger,  and  re- 
mained until  he  had  rallied  oiglit  sln'ps,  which  he  brought 
back  first  to  Saint  Eustatius,  then  to  Cape  Eranyais.^^  In 
1783  he  received  the  decoration  of  the  Cincinnati  and  was 
made  member  of  the  Academy  of  Science.  Vice-admiral  in 
1790,  senator  under  the  Empire,  grand  officer  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor. 

BouiLi.lo  (Erancois-Claude-Amour,  Marquis  de),  born  at 
the  Chateau  de  Cluzel,  in  Auvergne,  the  19th  of  November, 
1739;  entered  the  service  in  1754,  and  joined  as  cadet  gcni'd- 
hommc  the  regiment  of  infantry  of  which  the  Prince  de  Ilohau- 
Rochefort  was  colonel ;  the  following  year  he  passed  into  the 
Black  Musketeers,  and  in  June,  175G,  received  a  brevet  of 
captain  in  the  regiment  of  dragoons  commanded  by  de  La 
Ferronavs.     AVith   this   rank    he    fought    in   Germany   during 


''Good  action  of  Bougainville  at  the  battle  in  Chesapeake  Bay. 
Seven  vessels  against  fourteen. 

"When  General  Wasliington  and  General  de  Rochambeau  came  to 
compliment  him  (de  Grasse)  on  this  battle,  de  Grasse  told  them  that 
the  compliments  were  due  to  me  as  having  commanded  the  vanguard 
and  personally  fought  the  Ti  rrihk." 

P'xtract  from  a  letter  of  JJougainville  to  de  Y.iudreuil,  sliown  to  me 
by  M.  Pierre  IMargry,  tlic  learned  archivist  of  the  ministry  of  marine, 
to  whom  I  owe  much  useful  information. 

'^See  the  report  of  tlic  council  of  war  who  judged  his  conduct  in 
this  battle. 


List  of  Officers.  63 

the  Seven  Years  War,  from  17;")S  to  17C3.  De  Bouille 
showed  during  the.-e  eanipaiu;ns  great  eourage  and  mncli  skill  ; 
he  reeelved  several  wounds.  As  reward  for  the  important 
part  lie  had  played  in  the  sneeess  of  the  battle  of  Griinberg, 
he  received,  on  the  lUth  of  November,  17C1,  the  brevet  of 
colonel,  but  his  regiment  was  partly  destroyed  at  the  siege  of 
Brunswick,  ^vhere  he  ^vas  himself  -wounded  and  made  pris- 
oner. 

He  was  sent  in  17G5  to  ^Martinique  with  his  regiment, 
which  had  been  remodeled,  and,  anticipating  the  coming 
changes  in  the  English  colonies,  he  explored  the  Antilles, 
which  might  soon  become  the  scene  of  the  im])ending  struggle 
against  England.  After  a  journey  to  France,  he  returned 
to  take  his  new  position  of  Governor  of  Guadeloupe  in  1768. 
He  aided  the  prosperity  of  this  colony  by  his  wise  and  en- 
lightened administi-ation  ;  but  disappointed  in  his  hoj^e  of  hav- 
ing to  defend  it  against  England  after  the  dismissal  of  Choiseul 
from  the  ministry,  he  asked  for  his  recall,  and  returned  to 
France  in  October,   1771. 

In  1777  he  was  appointed  marCchaJ  <Je  camp  and  was  sent 
once  more  to  the  "Windward  Islands,  with  the  title  of  gov- 
ernor-general. At  the  outbi-cak  of  the  war  he  seized  Dominica, 
and  was  getting  ready  to  attack  the  other  English  islands, 
when  the  arrival  of  Count  d'Estaing  with  a  squadron  paral- 
yzed his  plans,  or  at  least  caused  them  to  partly  miscany. 
Placed  in  a  most  critical  position  on  account  of  his  isolation 
and  his  being  forsaken  by  de  Grasse  and  de  Guichen,  he 
created  resources  for  himself,  repaired  the  disasters  caused  by 
a  hurricane,  got  together  a  small  fleet  and  made  himself  feared 
by  the  English,  from  whom  he  took  Tabago  and  Saint  Eu- 
statius  in  1778,  then  Saint  Christo})lier  in  1782.  This  last 
success  brought  him,  on  his  return  to  France  the  same  year, 
the  rank  of  lieutenant-general. 

At  the  peace  of  1783,  de  Bouille,  having  finally  returned 
to    Europe,   received   the   title    of  chevalier    of  the  orders   of 


64  Tlic  French  in  America. 

the  king,  and  the  gift  of  two  cannon  captured  at  Saint  Chris- 
topher. The  Americans  on  their  side  announced  to  him  liis 
admission  to  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati  by  autograph  letters 
from  Genei'al  AVashington,  containing  the  expres.^ion  of  tlie  sen- 
timent of  admiration  and  i-c.-pect  which  tlie  character  of  the 
Marquis  do  Bonille  had   inspired   in   him. 

He  tlien  became  famous  in  France  for  his  affection  for  Louis 
tlie  Sixteenth.  Appointed  in  1790  commander-in-chief  of  the 
Army  of  the  ]Meuse,  Sarre  and  Moselle,  he  had  to  contend  at 
Met/,  with  the  spirit  of  insubordination  wlilch  tended  to  disor- 
ganize liis  army,  and  had  also  to  resist  the  town  authorities. 
He  grew  so  disgusted  witli  all  this,  that  he  had  decided  to  quit 
France,  when  he  A\as  prevented  by  the  pressing  letters  of  La 
Fayette,  of  I^atour  du  Pin,  minister  of  war,  and  of  the  king 
himself.  From  this  time  his  only  thought  was  saving  the  king 
and  the  monarchy  from  the  coming  disasters,  and  he  sounded 
on  this  point  I^a  Fayette,  who  did  not  seem  to  enter  into  his 
ideas.  A  formidable  military  in-urrcction  broke  out  among 
his  troops  at  Metz  and  at  Xancy.  This  time  again  his  cour- 
age and  his  ability  triumphed  over  the  danger,  but  not  Avitli- 
out  the  shedding  of  blood  (31st  of  August,   ITl'Oj. 

He  refused  })atriotically  the  baton  of  marshal  oi"  France, 
not  wishing,  he  said,  to  accept  a  reward  for  having  had  the 
misfortune  to  use  his  arms  against  Frenchmen.  Xcverthelcss 
his  victory  made  him  numerous  enemies,  and  brought  hiiu 
still  nearer  to  the  king,  to  whom  he  sent  his  eldest  son  to 
concert  the  plan  and  the  means  of  a  flight  prepared  and  med- 
itated by  Louis  the  Sixteenth  himself.  De  Bouillc  was  to 
advance  towards  the  king,  receive  him,  ju-c^tect  him  as  well 
as  tlie  remnants  of  his  authority  at  T'-Iontmedy,  in  a  camp 
composed  of  his  surest  and  most  devoted  troops.  This  plan 
failed  from  a  series  of  unexpected  events,  and  the  king  was 
arrested  with  his  family  at  A^arcnnes,  while  de  Bonille  was 
forced  to  quit  France  in   17W1. 

From  Coblentz,  where  he  took  refuge,  he  still  tried  to  serve 


List  of  Officers.  65 

Louis  the  Sixteenth  ])y  makin*^  oiTers  to  foreipfii  com't.s,.biit 
they  were  all  useless,  and  after  the  death  of  the  king  he 
withdrew  to  England.     He  died  in  London   in   LSOO.*^ 

BouiT.LET  (De),  offu-er  of  the  regiment  of  Agenois  ;  was 
present  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  The  30th  of  September, 
1781,  early  in  the  morning,  he  had  his  thigh  broken  by  a 
musket  ball  on  the  left  of  the  line  of  the  besiegers  while 
they  were  working  to  join  together  the  abandoned  forts. 

BoULAND,  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Armagnac,  thirty- 
Keven  years  of  service  ;  wounded  at  the  attack  on  the  intreuch- 
raents  of  Savannah. 

BoiiKAYNE  (Cesar-Jose])h,  Baron  de),  naval  captain,  born 
at  Brest  in  17G8.  He  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  on  the  Aur/usU',  commanded  by  Bougainville,  which 
formed  part  of  the  squadron  of  Count  de  Grasse.  He  was 
present  at  the  action  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1781;  at  the  cjipture  of  Saint  Christopher;  at  the 
actions  of  the  25th  and  the  2Gth  of  January,  1782,  off  Saint 
Christopher,  and  at  the  disastrous  battle  of  the  Saintes. 

Naval  ensign  in  1702,  naval  lieutenant  in  1703;  wounded 
and  captured  by  the  English.  Captain  of  frigate  in  170G  ; 
again  a  prisoner  iii  1810,  was  only  freed  in  1814;  baron  of 
the  Empire,  with  a  present  of  four  thousand  francs,  the  21st 
of  July,  1814.  Louis  the  Eighteenth  made  him  chevalier  of 
Saint-Louis.     Died  in  active  service  at  Brest  in  1817. 

Bourdon  de  Yatry  (^Nlarc-Antoine,  Baron),  born  at  Saint 
Maur  the  21st  of  Xovember,  17G1.     He  followed  de  Grasse 

'""The  Marquis  de  Bouilk's"  says  several  times  J.  de  Saint-Yallier 
{Ilisloirc  raisonnce  de  la  dernih-e  guerre),  "showed  in  all  liis  enterprises 
rapidity,  ability,  and  courage."  An  intcrcstinpr  bio<.'raphy  of  de  Bouille 
was  published  in  Paris  by  his  grandson,  the  present  ^Ian}uis  de  Bouill(5. 
This  book  has  the  merit  of  a  great  sobriety  of  style  when  the  author 
is  led  by  his  narrative  to  give  praise. 


66  The  French  in  America. 

in  the  position  of  general  secretary  of  the  expedition,  and 
was  present  at  the  battle  of  the  12th  of  August,  1TS2.  At 
the  peace  he  was  made  chief  of  tlie  division  of  the  colonics 
at  the  ministry  of  tlie  navy.  He  was  minister  of  the  navy 
under  the  Directory  and  under  the  Consulate,  occupied  various 
positions  under  the  Empire,  and  would  not  serve  under  the 
Restauration.  He  had  no  fortune  at  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  Paris  in   1S2S. 

BouRGET  (Geoflroy  de).  Colonel  of  engineers  at  Martin- 
ique. 

BouRGUissox.     See  Berguisson. 

BouVET  (Franyois-Joseph),  born  at  Loricnt  the  23d  of 
April,  1753;  died  at  Brest  in  1832.  Made  two  campaigns 
to  the  Antilles  and  to  Saint  Domingo,  He  was  auxiliary 
officer  on  the  Belle  Ponle  during  the  action  of  the  20Lh  of 
June,  1778,  in  which  he  was  wounded. 

Captain  of  the  ship  the  Audadeux  in  1793  ;  rear-admiral 
in  1802.  He  returned  at  this  time  to  Saint  Domingo  with 
General  Richepance.  He  became  vice-admiral  and  was  re- 
tired in   1817. 

Boyp:re.     See  Berage. 

Boys  (Pierre-Francois  de),  enlisted  as  a  volunteer,  brev- 
eted the  7th  of  October,  177G,  as  major  iu  waiting  of  the 
army.**^ 

Boze  (Baron   de).     See  Botzen. 

BozoN  DE  Pf:RiGORD  (Couut),  came  to  America  in  1782 
with  tlie  Prince  de  Broglie,  and  rejoined  the  tro()j)s  at  Cram- 
pond,  tlicn   went  from  Boston  to  Porto  Cabello  witii    Dumas. 

"  Auberteuil. 


List  of  Officers.  67 

]5nAiLM  (Fenlinainl  do),  eiiirincor  for  South  Carolina  the 
lOtli  of  Fe'oriuuy,  JTTC.^'  He  is  mentioned  also  in  Jicconh 
of  Jievolufionarif  ]V</r  in  these  terms:  "The  11th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1778;  Congress  gave  him  a  In-cvct  of  engineer  with  rank 
of  major  in  the  servi(,'e  of  the  United  St;ues."*° 

BiiEXTAXo  (de),  aid-de-eiimp  of  the  Chevalier  dc  Yiomenil; 
distinguished  himself  at  the  attack  of  the  redoubt  of  York- 
town. 

BiJESSOLES  (Gilhcrt  de),  born  the  3d  of  December,  1739, 
at  la  ]*]anchc,  in  Dourbonnais.  Entered  the  service  in  1757  ; 
wounded  by  several  sabre  cuts  at  the  l)attle  of  Mindcn  in 
1759  ;  badly  crushed  by  a  Jiorse  killed  under  him  at  Casscl 
in  17G2  ;  caj)tain  in  17G9  ;  major  in  1776  ;  lieutenant-colonel 
of  Bourbonnais  the  29th  of  December,  1777  ;  received  a  pen- 
sion for  liis  good  conduct  at  Yorktown.  "  Serves  with  much 
distinction,  and  is  one  of  the  best  lieutenant-colonels."^^ 

Bkice  or  Brue,**  enlisted  as  volunteer  aid-de-camp  to  La 
Fayette;  brevet  lieutenant-colonel  the  27th  of  October,  1778. 
Had  a  horse  killed  under  him  before  Gloucester,  the  25th  of 
November,  1777. 

Bjrip:  (Jean-Gcorges-Prosper  Dauricr  dc  Madron  de),  born 
the  25th  of  November,  1737,  at  Brie,  near  Savendun,  county 
of  Foix  ;  served  since  1749  ;  captain  in  1760  ;  captain-com- 
mandant in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge ;  received  a  pension  for 
his  good  conduct  before  Yorktown.*^ 

Bri]:res  (Zacharic-Jacques  des),  born  at  Paris  the  26th 
of  March,    1736.      Four   campaigns   at    the    lie    dc    France, 


** American  Arrliircs.    Series  4,  Vol.  V.,  page  584. 

**  Built  Fort  Moultrie.     Marginal  note  by  T.  B. 

"  Archives  of  ^^'ar. 

^  Manoires  of  La  Fayette. 

^Archives  of  "War. 


G8  The  French  in  America. 

two  in  America  ;  captain-coLiiinandant  in  tlic  regiment  of 
Saintonge.  His  good  coiKluct  at  Yorktown  brought  him  the 
cross  of  Saint-Louis. 

Broglip:  (Vietor-CLaude,  rrince  de),  of  an  iUu^trious  family 
from  Quiers  in  Piedmont,  \\\ne\\,  at  tlie  time  of  the  Ameri- 
can War,  had  already  given  to  France  several  marslmls  and 
otlier  eminent  men. 

The  grandfather  of  Yictor-Claude,  who  won  the  liattles  of 
Parma  and  of  Guastella  (1734),  afterwards  commanded  the 
troops  sent  in  1741  to  Bohemia  with  the  ]\[arquis°''  of  Belle- 
Isle,  and  was  created  duke  by  Louis  the  Fifteenth.  His  fa- 
ther was  appointed,  in  1759,  Prince  of  the  Holy  Roman  Em- 
pire by  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  in  return  for  the  services 
he  had  rendered  him  during  the  war  against  Prussia.  In 
1789  Louis  the  Sixteenth  intrusted  him  with  tlic  ministry 
of  war. 

Born  in  1757,  Yictor-Claude  de  I^>roglie  entered  the  service 
iu  1771,  and  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Saint- 
onge the  3d  of  June,  1779.  He  was  sent  to  America  in 
1782,  with  the  rank  of  moitre  de  camjj.  Mathicu  Dumas 
says  in  his  Souvenirs  that  he  started  from  liocliefort  on  the 
12th  of  May  of  that  year,^^  but  he  tells  him^^elf  in  his  Me- 
moirs"^ that  he  embarked  on  the  19th  of  ^Nlay  at  J3rest,  on 
the  Gloire,  commanded  by  de  Yalonge.  This  was  at  the 
time  when  several  superior  officers  of  the  expeditionary  corps, 
who  had  come  on  missions  or  on  leave  of  absence  to  France 
after  the  Ci^pturc  of  Yorktown,  were  returning  to  their  posts. 
Many  of  the  young  nobles,  anxious  to  share  in  the  glory 
and  the  dangers  of  the  Frenchmen  who  had  i)receded  them 
to  the  United  States,   had    also  obtainal    permission    to  join 


^Marshal.     Marginal  note. 

"It  is  by  an  error  that  Mr.  Drake,  in  his  new  anil  excellent  7)-V7)'o»an/ 
of  American  Biogrnplni,  makes  de  Broglie  serve  in  the  campaign  of  17S1. 
"  Vol.  I.,  page  15. 


List  of  Oflhrrs.  69 

the  afiny  of  lloe'liainbcau.  So  wo  see  leavin2;  on  the  same 
ship  as  the  Piiiice  de  J^roglie:  the  Duke  de  Lau/.un,  do  Shel- 
don, the  Count  de  Segur,  de  Lonicnie,  Alexandre  de  Ijaineth, 
the  Baron  de  Montesquieu,  de  Polereski,  the  Viscount  de  Vau- 
dreuil,  and  an  aid-de-eanip  of  the  king  of  Sweden,  do  Ligliorn. 

The  Aigle,  whicli  left  at  the  simie  time  as  the  Gloire,  liad  as 
passengers  Matiiieu  Dumas,  the  l>aron  de  Yioiuenil,  the  Count 
Rieci,  the  Duke  d(!  Laval,  de  I^angeron,  Count  ]jozon  de 
Talleyrand,  de  Floury.  This  frigate  was  commanded  l)y 
Latouche-Treville.  She  carried  two  million  five  hundred 
thousand  licrcs  for  Congress.  I  have  narrated  in  the  first 
part  of  this  book  the  events  that  hajipened  during  the  passage, 
and  the  circumstances  that  trouljled  the  landing  in  Delaware 
Bay.  De  Broglie,  after  liaving  aided  in  saving  tlie  barrels 
full  of  money  which  Latouche-Treville  was  obliged  to  throw 
overboard  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Delaware,  joined  the  army  at 
Cramjiond. 

The  expeditionary  corps  liad  done  its  work  ;  there  were  no 
more  laurels  for  the  young  oillcer  to  gather  in  the  now  defin- 
itely established  United  States.  So  he  s(.)on  em})arked  at 
Boston  for  the  United  States  of  Columbia,  which  he  explored 
in  company  with  several  of  his  fellow  passengers. 

After  his  return  to  ]*^rance  he  was  made  deputy  to  the 
States  General,  then  employed  as  rnarechal  de  camp  in  the 
Army  of  the  Rhine.  But  he  would  not  recognize  the  act  of 
suspension  of  the  king ;  he  Avas,  for  this  act  of  resistance, 
accused,  condemned  to  death,  and  guillotined  at  Paris,  the 
27th  of  June,  1794.     He  was  thirty-seven  years  of  age.^ 

"^lu  the  Magazine  of  American  Jlintory  for  1877  there  appeared 
the  translation,  by  my  sister,  of  the  narrative  of  the  Prince  de  Broglie, 
with  a  preliminary  notice,  by  my  father,  of  the  family  of  the  Prince 
de  Broglie. 

In  ISStj  the  same  nia;_'a7.ino  published  a  note  by  my  si-^ter  on  the 
family  of  de  Broglie,  quoting  pat^sages  from  a  letter  of  the  present 
Duke  de  Broglie,  in  which  he  says :  "  The  f;icts  quoted  by  your  father 
in  regard  to  my  family  are  in  absolute  confnnnitij  with  the  truth."   E.  S.  B. 


70  The  French  in  America. 

Bkomer  (De),  Swedish  officer,  wounded  at  the  naval  aetion 
off  Saint  Lucia.     He  was  present  at  the  attack  of  Savannali. 

Broves  (De),  officer  of  artillery  in  the  service  cf  the 
Americans,  returned  to  France  with  La  Fayette,  Pontgibaud, 
JSIauduit-Duplessis,  de  Ravmondis  and  others  on  the  Alliance, 
in  January,  1779.  They  arrived  at  Brest  on  the  Gth  of  Feb- 
ruary. 

Browne  (Thomas),  major  of  the  regiment  of  Dillon,  was 
born  at  Castelloffre  the  12th  of  October,  1732;  killed  the 
9th  of  October,  1770,  before  Savannah. 

BiuiE.     See  Brice. 

Brueys  d'Aigallier-s  (Franyois-Paul),  born  at  Vzb^  in 
1753.  He  entered  the  navy  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  in 
1780  served  as  naval  lieutenant  iu  the  fleet  of  Count  do 
Grasse.  He  took  part  in  the  five  actions  that  were  fought 
with  Admirals  Hood  and  Graves. 

Captain  in  1702  and  vice-admiral  in  1708,  he  convoyed 
to  Egypt  the  army  of  Bonaparte,  and  was  cut  in  two  by  a 
cannon  ball  at  the"  battle  of  Aboukir,  on  the  24th  of  August, 
1798. 

Bruix  (Eustachc),  born  in  Saint  Domingo  the  17th  of 
July,  1759;  died  as  admiral  at  Paris  the  18th  of  June,  1805. 
He  embarked  first  on  a  merchant  vessel,  and  made  his  first 
campaign  on  the  Fox  and  his  second  on  the  Connrrd  After 
having  served  on  the  various  squadrons  which  went  to  the 
assista'iice  of  the  United  States,  and  been  present  at  three 
actions,  he  was  ajipointed  ensign  in  1781.  After  much  work, 
and  repeatedly  distinguishing  himself,  he  was  made  minister 
of  the  navy  at  the  beginning  of  the   Empire.     At  the  time 


Lid  of  Officers.  71 

of  his   dcatli    lie   Avas   cliarj^eJ    by   Napoleon  with   organizing 
a  lancliiio-  in  Eiiirland. 


Bruyi^ues  (Count  de),  born  in  1734;  died  in  July,  ]821. 
He  entered  the  navy  very  young,  and  distinguished  himself 
under  d'Estaing  in  the  American  AVar,  and  under  the  Bailli 
de  Suft'ren.  Having  been  given  the  command  of  the  lUustre 
and  remaining  alone  with  the  Ilcros,  he  drove  away  twelve 
English  ships.  He  returned  to  Euro])e  in  17S4,  and  was 
despoiled  of  his  rank  and  fortune  during  the  Kevolution,  and 
even  of  his  liberty  in  1703.  Louis  the  Eighteenth  made  him 
grand  cross  of  Saint-J^ouis. 

BuissON  (Chevalier  du),  enlisted  as  a  volunteer,  brevet- 
major  the  4th  of  October,  1777  ;  retired  in  1781.  The  Poin- 
sylvanla  Gazette  of  the  4th  of  October,  1780,  printed  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  the  Chevalier  du  Buisson  to  Generals 
Smallwood  and  Gist.  It  was  dated  at  Charlotte  the  26th  of 
August : — 

"  My  Dear  Generals  : — Having  received  several  wounds 
in  the  action  of  the  ICth  instant,  I  was  made  prisoner  with  the 
honorable  major-general,  the  Baron  dc  Kalb,  with  whom  I 
served  as  aid-de-camp  and  friend,  and  had  an  opportunity 
of  attending  that  great  and  good  officer  during  the  short  time 
he  languished  with  eleven  wounds,  which  proved  mortal  on 
the  third  da)^ 

"It  is  with  pleasure  I  obey  the  Baron's  last  commands,  in 
presenting  his  most  affectionate  compliments  to  all  the  oflicers 
and  men  of  his  division.  He  expressed  the  greatest  satisfaction 
in  the  testimony  given  by  the  British  army  of  the  bravery  of 
his  troops,  and  he  was  charmed  w'ith  the  firm  opposition  they 
made  to  superior  force,  when  tibaudoned  by  the  rest  of  the 
army.  The  gallant  behavior  of  the  Delaware  regiment  and 
the  companies   of  artillery   attached   to    the   brigades    atforded 


72  The  French  in  America. 

hiui  infinite  ]-»le;i>nre,  and  tlie  exemplary  conduct  of  the  whole 
division  gave  liiin  an  endearing  sense  of  the  merit  of  the 
troops  he  had  the  honor  to  command. 

"I  ani^  dear  genei-als,  with  regard  and  re.-pect,  your  mo.--t 
obedient  humble  servant, 

"Le  Chevalier  Duijuys-son, 

"Lieutenant- Colonel. 
"To  Brifjadier-Generfils  Smallicood  and   Gist.'^^^-^^' 

BuzALET  (Charles- Adrien  de),  chief  of  brigade  in  the  reg- 
iment of  Auxonue,  royal  corps  of  artillery. 

0. 

Cabannes  (Charles-Guillanme  de),  born  the  21st  of  April, 
1742 ;  entered  as  second  lieutenant  the  regiment  of  Royal- 
Dcux-Ponts  the  9tli  of  April,  175S ;  captain-commandant 
the  4th  of  April,  1780;  made  five  campaigns  in  Germany, 
then  two  in  America,  where  his  conduct  before  Yorktown 
brought  him  the  decoration  of  Military  Merit. 

Cabannes  (Adam-]\Iaximilien  de),  born  at  Xassau-Sieghen 
the  4th  of  January,  1741  ;  entered  the  30th  of  June,  1758, 
as  sub-lieutenant,  the  regiment  of  Royal-Deux-Ponts ;  made 
the  campaigns  of  Germany  and  America  like  the  former,  and 
received  also  the  cnjss  of  Military  INIcrit  after  the  capture  of 
Yorktown,  but  was  not  appointed  captain-commandant  until 
the  30th  of  June,  1782. 

Cabrieres.     Sec  Rouverie. 

CaldaguivS  (Pierre-Kaymond  de),  born  at  Aurillac  the 
3d  of  August,  1747.     Entered  the  service  in   17G3   as  sub- 

**See  also  Mcrcnre  de  I-Yanci;  January,  IT'^l,  page  154. 
**He  is  not  cited   in   the   life  of  de   Kalb   by   the   Hon.  Friedrich 
Kapp.    Marginal  note  by  T.  13. 


List  of  Officers.  73 

lieutenant  in  tlic  regiment  of  Soissonnais,  a}>j)ointecl  Ciiptain 
en  second  in  this  regiment  the  12t]i  of  May,  1781  ;  had  no 
fortune,  and  received  a  pension  for  his  conduct  before  York- 
town. 

Ca]mrray  (Chevalier  du),  entered  the  service  as  amdi- 
date  (cisjnrant)  to  the  royal  corps  of  artillery  in  1770,  and 
was  not  made  officer,  as  there  was  no  vacancy.  He  left  for 
America  willi  de  Carmichael  in  1778,  and  arrived  in  the 
month  of  June.  In  the  Memoirs  of  La  l^ayette  at  that  time 
is  a  letter  where  he  writes  to  his  wife  that  du  Cambray  ^yill 
be  well  placed.  He  was,  in  fact,  appointed  by  Congress*"'  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  corps  of  the  engineers,  under  the  orders 
of  Du  Poi'tail,  and  fortilled  Charlestown  in  1779.  Then  he 
was  commander  of  the  artillery  in  the  Department  of  the  West. 
At  the  peace  he  was  appointed  major  in  the  provincial  troops. 

Campanhs  (La  Muderic  de).     See  ^MuDEiiiE. 

Cartel  i)'InI^:tevilee.     See  Daxetevilee. 

Caravagxp:  or  Gakavaque,  officer  of  engineers  attached 
to  the  expeditionary  corps.^' 

Carmichael,  arrived  in  Americii  with  du  Cambray  in 
June,  1778.  La  Fayette  writes  at  this  time  that  he  had  not 
yet  received  a   position.'^ 

CAKRf:RE,  enlisted  as  private  in  France  in  1752,  became 
officer  in  17G7  and  captain  en  second  of  the  grenadiers  of 
Gatinais  in  1779.  Distinguished  himself  at  the  attack  of  the 
redoubt  before  Yorktowu. 

*°  October,  177S.    Marginal  note  by  T.  B. 

"  Blanchard. 

^  Mcmoircs  of  La  Fayette. 


74  The  FreiKh  in  America. 

Catay  (Fran 901  s-Cesar  tic),  lieutenant  in  the  rco-imcntof 
Bourbonnais  durin^jj  the  expedition  of  the  United  States;  v.-as 
wrecked  during  the  action  of  the  Jason,  and  only  escaped 
with  difficulty. 

Cateime  (Julien  Drude  de  la).     See  Drude. 

CazaIj  (De),  captain-commandant  in  the  regiment  of  Tou- 
raine;  entered  the  service  in   1761. 

Chaeannes  (Jaccjucs-Gilbert-]\Iarie,  Count  de),  born  at 
Paris  the  3d  of  August,  17G0.  Officer  in  1776,  captain  in 
waiting  of  the  regiment  of  Royal-Piemont  in  1778.  !Made 
the  campaigns  in  America  as  aid-quartermaster-general  of  the 
army  of  J-?,ocham])eau.  lie  M'as  also  aid-de-camp  of  tlie  IJaron 
de  Viomenil,  who,  in  his  report  of  the  capture  of  York- 
town,  calls  attention  to  his  bravery  and  his  merit,  lloeh- 
ambeau  asked  for  him,  on  account  of  his  worth  and  his 
valor,  the  rank  of  mestre  de  camp  en  second,  which  he  ob- 
tained as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
1783. 

Cuabert  (Marquis  de),  born  in  1724,  died  in  1805.  As- 
tronomer and  French  admiral.  Entered  the  navy  as  guard 
in  July,  1741,  and  distinguished  himself  in  several  expedi- 
tions, notably  in  Acadia,  at  Louisbourg,  in  1746.  lie  left, 
February  the  28th,  1778,  on  the  sixty-four  gun  vessel,  the 
VaiUant,  which  he  commanded  and  which  formed  part  of  the 
fleet  of  the  Count  d'Estaing.  He  took  part  in  the  actions 
off  Grenada.  lie  changed,  on  the  20th  of  September,  1780, 
to  the  eighty-gun  ship,  the  Saint  Esprit,  in  which  he  took 
part,  under  de  Grasse,  in  the  actions  of  the  lOtli  of  ^Vpril, 
2d  of  June,  oth  of  Septend)cr,  1781,  and  at  the  coml)at  of 
the  8th  of  the  same  month,  where  he  was  wounded.  Ap- 
pointal  chief  of  squadron    the    20th    of  January,    1782,    he 


List  of  Officers.  75 

nevertheless  did  not  neirleet  hi.s  scientific  work.      Commander 
of  Saint-Louis  in   17S1  and  vice-admiral   in   1792.^^ 

Chaise  (De  la),  commanded  a  little  detachment  of  thirty 
men  who  captured  Fort  Loubieres  at  the  attack  of  Dominica, 
the  7th  of  September,  1778.  lie  was  detached  from  the 
regiment  of  Auxerrois,  under  the  orders  of  Viscount  de 
Damas.     Received  the  order  of  Saint-Louis  in  1779."" 

Chat.endar  (Jean-Baptiste-IMarguerite,  Chevalier  de),  born 
at  Bonay,  near  to  Le  Puy,  the  IGlh  of  April,  1751.  En- 
tered the  service  in  1771  as  sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais.  Distinguished  himself  at  the  attack  of  Yorktown, 
and  was  apj)ointed  ca})tain  in  October,  17SL  AVas  made  pris- 
oner the  12th  of  April,  1782,  on  the  ship  the   Cafon. 

CiiAMiLLARD  DE  Vakville,  lieutcnant-coloncl,  com- 
mander en  second  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  under  Paul 
Jones,  commanded  a  party  of  twenty  men  during  the  action 
with  the  Serapis}^^ 

CiiAMPAGNY  (Jean-Baptiste  de  Nompere  de,  Count  de 
Champagny,  Duke  de  Cadore),  born  at  Koanne  the  4th  of 
August,  1756;  died  the  3d  of  July,  1834;  entered  the  navy 
in  1775  as  naval  ensign  ;  was  wounded  in  the  naval  action 
of  the  ]2tli  of  April,   1782."- 

He  became  naval  lieutenant  and  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis ; 
was  deputy  to  the  States  General  from  the  nobility  of  Forez 
in  1789;  was  imprisoned  during  the  Terror;  was  in  succes- 
sion state  councillor,  minister  of  the  interior,  and   minister  of 


"  L.  B.,  96,  200,  204-243. 
^'^  Longchamj). 

'■'^Llfe  of  J.  I'aul   Jo/irx,   by   Sherburne,  1825,  page    129.     Life  of  J. 
Paul  Jones,  by  Jeannette  Taylor.     New  York,  1830.     Page  162. 
><»  L.  B.,  262. 


76  Tlie  French  in  Amrrica. 


was 


forcio-ii  aflairs  under  Najioleon,  and  also  senator.  He 
created  Count  de  Clianipa<,rny  the  24tli  of  April,  1S08,  Duke 
de  Cadore  (Picve  di  Cadore)  the  loth  of  August,  1809,  and 
peer  of  France  under  the  llestauration.  He  served  also  under 
Louis  Philippe, 

CiiATsri'CEXKZ  (De),  cited  in  the  oMemoirs  of  the  Prince  de 
Broglie  and  in  those  of  Dumas  as  having  made  excursions 
with  them  in  North  America,  then  in  Columbia.  He  was  on 
the  Aigle  during  its  passage,  and  showed  the  greatest  courage 
in  trying  to  save  the  vessel  and  the  crew  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Delaware. 

CliAPruY  DE  Coi:i:viLEE  (Toussaint-]\Iagloire),  born  the 
6th  of  June,  1761,  at  Viviers,  in  the  A'ivarais ;  cadet  r/cniil- 
homme  the  6th  of  June,  1776;  sub-lieutenant  of  Gutinais  the 
28th  of  August,  1777;  second  lieutenant  the  lOlh  of  March, 
1780;. first  lieutenant  the  2d  of  April,  178-1;  made  the 
campaigns  in  the  Antilles  with  his  regiment;  wounded  by  a 
musket  ball  at  Savannah,  and  made  prisoner  at  the  naval 
action  of  the  12th  of  April,  1782,  on  the  ship  the  Ardent. 


Chapuy  de  TouiiYiLLE  (Charlcs-Bertin-Gaston),  born  at 
Metz  the  4th  of  January,  1740.  Entered  the  service  in 
1765,  major  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  in  1776;  fulfilled 
for  a  year  in  America  the  duties  of  major-general. 

Charlot,  entered  the  service  in  1750  ;  made  the  American 
expedition  as  captain-commandant  in  the  regiment  of  Tourainc. 

Chaklus  DE  La  Ciioix  (Count  de),  son  of  the  Marshal 
de   Castries,   ndnister  of   war   in    1782."'     He  was  born  the 


^■^ Minister  of  the  navy  in  1780.    Marginal  note. 


Lid  oj  Ojlicers.  77 

3(1  of  May,  IToG;  entered  tlic  service  in  17CG;  captain  tlie 
4tli  of  April,  1774;  made  the  campaign  of  America  as 
mcMre  de  camp  ni  second  of  the  regiment  of  Saintonge,  a 
rank  he  had  obtained  the  '23d  of  May,  1779.  He  sliowed 
much  zeal  and  courage  in  all  circumstances,  according  to  tlie 
report  of  Rochambeau.  He  left  Bre.^t  with  the  expeditionary 
corps,  aud  embarked  on  the  Ja.Hon  with  Dumas,  Charles  de 
Lameth,  and  Fersen ;  then,  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown, 
he  returned  to  France  the  25th  of  October,  1781,  on  the 
Andromaqiic,  witii  CJuillaume  de  Deux-Funts,  the  Count  de 
Damas,  aud  the  ^lanpu's  de  Laval,  to  bear  the  news  of  the 
success  of  the  expedition.  They  had,  liowever,  beeu  antici- 
pated by  de  Lauzun. 

He  emigrated  during  the  French  Kevolution,  and  died  peer 
of  France  in  1842.^"* 

CiiASTELT.ux  (Francois- Jean,  Clievalicr  de),  Icnown  by  the 
title  of  jNIarquis,  which  he  took  only  in  1784.  He  had  be- 
fore that  only  the  title  of  Chevalier,  which  Lauzun  calls 
him  by,  and  which  he  calls  himself  by  in  his  Voijagcs. 
Born  at  Paris  in  1734,  died  in  17SS.  Entered  the  service 
in  1749,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  ;  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  his 
name  at  the  age  of  twenty-one ;  colonel  of  the  regiment  of 
la  ]\Iarche  in  17o9  ;  brigadier  in  1709;  made  the  campaigns 
of  Germany  ;  went  to  America  with  the  title  of  major-general 
in  the  army  of  Kochambcau  in  1780,  and  devoted  himself 
especially,  during  liis  stay,  to  studying  the  territory  of  the 
revolted  colonies  and  the  customs  of  the  Americans.  His 
observations  have  been  published  in  two  volumes  of  Memoirs, 

'''^On  the  frigate  the  Amazone  there  were,  besides  de  Charhis,  the 
Viscount  de  Rocluunboau  and  Guillaume  de  Deux- Pouts.  Tlie  -l/«/ro- 
viaque,  which  left  the  31st  of  October,  only  took  nineteen  days  to  cross. 
The  Eiigagamtc  arrived  at  Loricnt  four  days  later;  it  had  had  a  pas- 
sage of  t\venty-two  days,  and  aime  from  Doston.  {Mt  rcare  dc  France, 
1781.) 


78  The  French  in  America. 

under  the  title  of  Voijofjes  daus  rAmerique  Scjifcnfrhnale  en 
1780-81-82,  Paris  17SG,  in  8".'*^ 

He  was  present  at  the  principal  conferences  of  Count  de 
Rochanibeaii  with  AVasliington,  and  also  at  the  fii-st  interview 
of  the  American  generalissimo  with  Count  de  Grasse,  on  the 
Ville  de  Pai^is,  hefore  the  attack  ou  Yorktown,  togctlier  M-itli 
General  Knox  and  du  Portail.  T^auzun  reproaches  him  for 
his  frivolity  in  his  jMenioirs,  and  it  is  strange  to  see  such  a 
judgment  liy  the  man  who  was  considered  the  least  serious 
in  the  whole  army.  He  did,  at  any  rate,  nothing  of  im- 
portance during  the  campaign,  except  that  he  repulsed  with 
a  reserve  corps  the  six  hundred  English  Nvho  were  making 
a  sortie  on  the  batteries  on  the  right  during  the  night  of  the 
loth  to  the  IGth  of  October,  before  Yorktown.  He  com- 
manded, with  the  r>aron  de  Viomenil,  the  retreat  of  the  troops 
in  1782.  He  returned  al'terwards  to  France  ahead  of  the 
array  and  at  tlie  same  time  as  de  Ilochambcau,  de  Beville, 
and  the  staff. 

He  was  appointed  marcchal  de  camp  immediately  after  his 
arrival.  Since  1775  he  was  member  of  the  French  xVcad- 
cmy.^"^  He  married  in  1787  an  accomplished  woman  of  Irish 
extraction,  Miss  Plunkett,  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  at 
the  baths  of  Spa.  Washington  sent  him  his  congratulations 
in  a  letter  which  we  find  in  his  corresi)ondence.  But  this 
marriage  was  not  happy  and  a  year  after  the  marquis  died. 
His  fortune  was  doubtless  lost  during  the  Revolution,  for  in 
1795  his  widow  asked  help  from  the  American  Government 
for   herself  and   her    son,   invoking  the  remembrance  of  the 


**This  book  has  been  translated  into  English,  with  interesting  and 
instructive  notes.  Travels  in  Xorfh  Anurica  in  the  years  17S0-1-2,  by 
the  ]\Iarquis  de  Chastellux.  2  vols.  Du1)lin,  17S7.  Translated  by  an 
English  gentleman  who  resided  in  America  at  that  period. 

^'*l)e  Chastellux  also  pul^lished,  among  other  books:  Discours  sur 
Ics  avaiitagcs  qxii  pciarnt  rfmltrr  j)Our  I'Jiarope  de  In  (Itcouverie  dc  VAvu'r- 
ique,  I'aris,  1787.  Discours  en  vers  adrcsse  aux  ojjiciers  el  soldats  Amn-i- 
cains,  Paris,  1786. 


List  of  Oficers.  79 

services    performed    by   her    husband.     This    petition    luid    no 
result.     lie  was  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

Blanchard  says  in  liis  diary  :  "  He  was  received,  he  told 
me,  associate  member  of  the  Academy  of  Philadel]:)hia.  He 
has  had  printed  in  two  voUimes  the  account  of  his  journey, 
and  one  can  find  there  a  few  agreeable  details,  but  much 
minutiffi,  mediocre  jokes  and  praise,  often  ill  deserved,  of 
people  who  liad  flattered  him.  Brissot  de  Warville  wrote  a 
bitter  criticism  on  this  work." 

CiiAUSSi^E.     See  A^artn. 

Chaussepi]':d  enlisted  as  private  in  the  regiment  of  Agcnois 
in  1757,  made  the  campaigns  of  Germany  during  the  Seven 
Yciirs'  War,  was  apjiointed  sub-lieutenant  in  1779,  and  made 
with  his  regiment  the  campaigns  of  America.  He  took  part 
in  the  sieges  of  Savannah  and  Yorktown. 

CiiAZELLE  DE  Bahgttes  (Autoinc),  born  the  23d  of  No- 
vember, 1752,  at  Sales  in  Auvcrgne  ;  made  the  campaign  of 
1780-81  in  America,  with  tlic  rank  of  lieutenant  of  Bour- 
bonnais.  During  the  sortie  whicli  the  English  made,  during 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  against  the  battery  on  the  right,  dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  loth  to  the  IGth  of  October,  1781,  he 
was  dangerously  wounded  and  remained  crippled. 

Chexnevieres  (Guilhuune),  born  the  11th  of  June,  1734, 
at  FHermitage  in  Normandy;  eidistod  as  private  in  1754;  ap- 
pointed officer  in  17C7,  and  made  the  expedition  of  America 
as  captain  en  second  of  tlie  grenadiers  of  l^ourbonnais.  lie 
distinguished  himself  before  Yorktown,  and  obtained  a  pen- 
sion of  three  hundred  llvrcs. 

CiTESXE  (Du)  or  DiTCiiESNE,  entered  the  service  in  1758; 
made  two  campaigns  in  Germany,  ibur  at  the   lie  de  France ; 


80  The  French  in  America. 

went  to  Aincricn  wltli  Ivochambcau  ns  Ciiptain-commandant  of 
the  regiment  of   Saintonge. 

Chesnel,  commissary  of  war  of  the  expedition  of  Ilo- 
chambeau  nndcr  tlic  orders  of  Bhinchard.^"' 

Chevigny  (Bien  dc).     See  Biex. 

Ciif:zE  (De  la),  an  officer  of  artillery;  made  the  campaigns 
of  1780,  81,  82,  and  83  on  the  American  continent.  lie 
was  very  intimate  witli   Blanchard,  witli  whom  lie  lived.'"^ 

Chileeau  piarquis  de),  colonel  of  the  Viennois  regiment; 
distinguished  himself  at  the  Capture  of  Saint  Domingo^"'-*  under 
Bouille,  the  7th  of  September,  1778.  There  were  in  all  two 
thousand  men  in  this  attack  ;  they  were  drawn  from  the  Aux- 
errois  and  Viennois  regiments,  to  whom  were  added  a  hun- 
dred volunteers.  After  the  cajtturc  of  the  island  de  C'hillcau 
was  intrusted  to  guard  it  with  eight  hundred  men.  He  was 
also  at  the  capture  of  Tabago,  the  2d  of  June,   1780. 

Choisy  (De),  entered  the  service  in  1741,  was  major  in 
17G3,  lieutenant-C(.)lonel  in  17G7,  brigadier  in  1772,  nicdre 
de  camp  in  the  fourth  regiment  of  chasseurs  in  1779,  and 
resigned  this  rank  in  order  to  go  to  America.  "He  was 
very  brave,  and  feared  nothing,"  says  Lauzun,  "  but  had  a 
quick  and  violent  temper."  He  obtained  all  his  promotions 
by  deeds  of  valor,  and  had  distinguished  himself  especially 
in  Germany  at  the  defense  of  Cracow,  where  he  requested  to 
serve  with  the  expeditionary  corps  of  Bochambcau. 

He  arrived  at  Xew})ort  on  the  oOth  of  September,  1780,  on 
the   Gcnfille,  with  nine  other  officers,  after  having  touched  at 

^'"Etats  Mililairc.^. 
^'^Joarnnl  of  Blanchard. 
^"^Douiinica.    ]\rargiiial  note. 


U^t  of  Officers.  81 

Cajic  Fvan(;ais,  Saint  Doniiii;i;().     The  brothers  Berthicr   were 
witli  him."'' 

A\'liile  the  expeditionary  corps  ^vas  goinji;  first  to  New  York, 
then  to  Yorktowii,  he  was  charged  with  guarding  tlie  tieet 
and  stores  at  Rhode  Island,  with  one  thousand  American  mil- 
itiamen and  five  Innidred  French  soldiers.  At  the  news  of 
the  arrival  of  the  allied  armies  at  Yorktown  he  left  a  hun- 
dred men  at  Providence,  under  command  of  Dcsprez,  major 
of  Deux-Ponts.  Then  he  embarked  with  five  hundred  men 
and  all  the  artillery  on  the  ten  vessels  which  composed  the 
squadron  under  the  cuninKind  of  de  J'arras,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  1781,  and,  taking  advantage  of  the  action  between  de 
Grasse  and  uVdmiial  Graves,  he  penetrated  into  Chesapeake 
Bay,  and  landed  his  men  and  stores  in  sight  of  the  French 
camp.  The  27th  of  September  he  left  Williamsburg  to  take 
coumiand  of  the  siege  on  the  side  of  Gloucester,  until  then 
intrusted  to  the  too  pacific  General  AVeedon.  He  took  some 
artillery  thei'e  undisturbed,  and  assembled  under  his  orders  the 
one  thousand  American  militiamen  inider  command  of  Weedon, 
the  legion  of  Lauzun,  and  eight  hundred  men  taken  from  the 
marines  of  the  ships  furnished  by  de  Grasse.  The  Ameri- 
can general  henceforth  had  only  a  nominal  authority  in  that 
quarter.  jNIoreover,  A^'eedon,  at  first  scared  by  the  audaeity 
and  the  bravery  of  the  French  commander,  which  he  called 
foolhardincss,  never  foi-  a  moment  thought  of  taking  his  place 
at  the  head  of  the  troops  on  the  battlefield,  nor  to  conte.-t  the 
authority  which  de  Choisy  had  taken  in  the  camp. 

De  Choisy,  in  an  impetuous  charge  which  he  made  with  the 
legion  of  Lauzun,  l)r()ke  up  tlie  cavalry  of  Tarleton  ;  he  op- 
posed afterwarils  the  attemj)ts  at  flight  of  Lord  Cornwall  is,  and 
after  having  advanced  his  outi)Osts  up  to  the  walls  of  Glouces- 
ter, he  was  i)reparing  an  assault  on  that  side  when  lie  learned 
that  the  articles  of  surrender  were  signed.      He  was  ajipointed 


Mircure  de  France,  17S1. 


82  The  French  in  America. 

marcchcd  dc  camp  and  promised  the  governorship  of  a.  fortified 
town. 

CHRiSTOniE  (Henri),  King  of  Iluyti  in  17G7,  comnn'ttcd 
suicide  in   1820;  received  a  wound  at  the  siege  of  Savannah. 

ClaiPvAUD  (De),  infantry  officer,  killwl  at  the  naval  action 
off  Grenada,  tlie  7th  of  July,   1 779. 

Clavis,  enlisted  as  private  in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais 
in  1749,  passed  through  all  the  lower  grades,  and  was  apj)ointed 
officer  in  17G9.      He  received  several  wounds. 

Clocjietterik  (De  la),  captain  of  tlie  ship  the  Jason ;  lefl 
Brest  with  the  squadron  under  command  of  de  Ternay  ;  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  a  number  of  actions,  especiallv  at  the  one 
which  was  fought  on  the  IGth  of  March,  1781,  by  Dcstouchc, 
in  Chesajjcakc   Bay. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  English  vessel  the  ArefJixsa 
attacked  the  Iklle-Foidc,  commanded  by  de  la  Clochettcrie.  He 
sustained  gloriously  the  unequal  fight,  and  forced  his  antagonist 
to  fly ;  he  brought  back  to  Brest  his  frigate  riddled  with  shot 
and  a  crew  reduced  to  one-half.  He  was  received  with  enthu- 
siasm by  the  people  and  the  court. 

Ceozen^  (Jean-Christophe-Louis-Frederic-Ignace,  Baron  de), 
born  the  14th  of  August,  1752;  entered  as  sub-lieutenant  the 
regiment  of  Koyal-Ueux-Ponts  the  10th  of  September,  1769  ; 
captain  en  Kccond  the  4th  of  Api-il,  1780;  made  the  expedition 
of  America  as  aid-de-camj)  of  dc  liuchanibeau.  He  was  very 
intimate  with  Cromot   Dubuurg. 

CoiGNY  (l^^'ran^ois-^Marie-Casimir-Franquctot  de),  general, 
son  of  the  duke  of  that  name,  born  in  1750,  died  the  27th 
of  January,  1810;  served  in  America  under  the  onlcrs  of  de 


lAi^l  oj  Officers.  83 

Bouille ;  came  back  to  France  and  returned  in  tlie  beirinning 
of  1782.  He  was  made  inarcchal  de  camp  the  0th  of  March , 
1788;  emiVrated  during  the  Terror,  then  returned  to  France. 

CoLERUS  (Chretien  de),  servin^^  with  the  rank  of  major  tlie 
]9th  of  September,  177G."' 

CoLLOT,  entered  tlie  service  in  1705,  cjiptain  in  1778,  at- 
tached to  the  regiment  of  Eerclieny.""  jS'cpliew  and  aid-de- 
camp of  lloehambeau  during  the  expedition  of  1781.  He 
embarked  on  tJie  .same  vessel  as  Dumas,  who  mentions   him. 

Coj.OMBE  (Chevalier  de  la),  enlisted  as  volunteer  in  the 
Ameriam  service  ;  left  ]^>ance  with  La  Fa}-ette,  to  Avhoni  he 
was  aid-de-canip.  He  ^\■as  breveted  ca])tain  by  Congress  tlie 
16th  of  November,  1777.  lu  .January,  1779,  La  Fayette, 
about  to  start  for  I'^rauce,  wrote  to  Washington  a  letter  to 
recommend  de  la  Ccjlombc  and  ask  for  him  a  brevet  of  major. 
At  the  end  of  the  war  de  la  Colombe  returned  to  France  and 
was  enij)l(jyed  by  the  Republican  Government. 

He  was  made  prisoner  with  La  Fayette,  in  1792,  by  the 
Prince  of  Coburg,  and  shut  up  in  the  citadel  of  Olmutz. 
He  was  released,  and  returued  to  Fhiladclphia  to  await 
events."'' 

CONAVAY  (Thomas),  born  in  1735,  in  Ireland  ;  lieutenant 
in  an  Irish  regiment  in  the  French  service  in  1747;  served 
in  the  German  war  from  17G0  to  1701.  In  January,  1777, 
he  went  to  .Vnicrica  on  the  Aviphitritc,  fitted  out  by  Beau- 
marchais,  who  recommended  to  him  his  nephew,  des  Kiiinicres, 
also  a  volunteer  in  the  service  of  the  Americans."^     He  was 


'"Arch.     Sj)arkf?. 

"*For  subsequent  history  of  tliis  roghnent  see  Mhno ires  of  Baron  de 
Marbot,  who  at  lirst  served  in  the  liussars  of  Eercheny.    E.  S.  B. 
'"  Pontgibaud. 
"*  Lomenie. 


84  The  French  in  America. 

comini:5sionocl  l)y  Congress  the  IStli  of  May,  1777."^  It  is 
by  an  error  that  the  tran.slator  of  the  memoirs  of  Gouvcrneur 
Morris  .says  that  lie  c^ine  with  La  Fayette."^  He  served 
under  the  orders  of  La  Fayette,  and  commanded  a  division 
at  the  battle  of  t\\e  ]>randy\vine  and  at  Germantown. 

Congress,  fearing  the  influence  of  a  military  chief,  and  be- 
ing actuated  by  jealousy,  often  annoyed  Washington,  The 
most  detestaljle  inti-igues  were  at  work  to  replace  General 
Washington  by  General  Gates  or  General  Charles  Ia'C.  In 
these  intrigues  we  find  the  names  of  Conway,  Joseph  liced, 
and  others."^  The  conspirators  even  forged  letters,  which 
were  accredited  to  A\\ashington/^*  No  doubt  these  miserable 
inti'igues  were  kept  up  by  the  English,  who  had  discovered 
that  to  d'lHplace  or  fni.spoid  General  Was-hinr/ton  irmild  he  to 
finish  the  var.  This  was  also  the  real  aim  of  Arnold's  trea- 
son, and  we  know  to-day  that  it  was  declared  in  the  English 
camp  that  vo  reward  could  have  paid  so  important  a.  serv- 
ice}^^  Fortunately,  all  the  plots  to  accomplish  this  end  failed, 
including  the  conspiracy  of  Arnold. 

"Ambitious  and  dangerous,"  says  La  Fayette  of  Conway, 
"  he  wished  to  jnit  (loneral  Gates  and  "Washington  in  compe- 
tition. His  intrigues  in  this  direction  having  become  known 
to  the  latter,^-*^  an  explanation  followed,  after  which  he  re- 
signed." 

This  resignation  v.'as  handed  in  three  times,  and  only  ac- 
cepted the  fourth  time  by  Congress,  which  was  most  unworth- 
ily disposed  to  create  troubles  for  AVashington.  Conway  was 
wounded  in  1770  in  a  duel  with  General  John  Cadwalader, 


'•^Auberteuil. 

^^^  Memorial  de  Gouvcrneur  Morrl-^^,  Iroduil  <Ic  J.  Sparks,  par  Augustin 
Gandais.     Paris,  1842.     I.,  12S. 

"'See  Vol.  1.,  pase  82. 

*"Juue  and  July,  177G ;  reprinted  in  179."). 

"'See  Vol.  I.,  pages  GS,  82,  IIG,  124,  and  the  autliorities  niriitioned. 

'™The  letter  oF  Joseph  Kecd  to  Charles  Lee  only  becanii'  known 
after  the  death  of  Washington.     Irving  II.,  284. 


List  of  Officers.  85 

of  iscw  Jersey,  wlio  liad  sliarj)ly  (.-vitici.-^ed  liis  coutluct.  The 
American  oliiccr  Avoundcd  Coinvay  Avitli  a  bullet  which  en- 
tered lii.s  rig-lit  jaw  and  came  out  throui^h  his  neck.'-'  Think- 
ing lie  was  guiuL!;  to  die,  Conway  wrote  a  repentant  letter  to 
Washington.  All  the  men  who  led  these  intrigues  lell  into 
contem])t  sooner  or  later.  Aft^r  lie  had  recovered  his  health 
he  abandoned  the  cause  of  the  Aniericiins.'" 

Finally  he  returned  to  serve  in  France.  lie  received,  in 
1770,  the  raidc  of  aid-major-general  in  the  army  of  Flan- 
ders. Colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Pondichery  in  17S1,  inare- 
chal  de.  camp  hi  1784,  governor-general  of  the  French  sta- 
tions in  India  in   17S7.      He  was  still  living  in   1792. 

COPPIN  DE  LA  Gakde  enlisted  as  volunteer;  recommended 
for  some  position  in  the  division  of  General  Sullivan  the 
26th  of  May,  1777. 

CoPviUERE  (Rene-Anne-Gil  bert-Franyois  de  la),  born  the 
11th  of  February,  1742,  at  Saint-^lartin  de  Juliers,  near 
Avranches ;  entered  the  service  in  17G1  ;  went  to  the  col- 
onies with  the  reglm(!nt  of  Agenois,  in  which  he  was  captain, 
and  distinguished  himself  before  Yorktown.  He  was  deco- 
rated after  this  campaign. 

C0PJJif:P.E  (Antoine-Madcleine  de  la),  Ijrother  of  the  former, 
lx)rn  at  Avranches  in  1743,  was  also  decorated  for  his  con- 
duct before  Yorktown. 

CoRiOLis. — This  family  furnished  several  defenders  to  the 
American  cause.'-''     They  were  : 

CoRiOLiS  (Jcan-Baptiste-P^lzear,  Chevalier  de),  cadet  of  an 
ancient  and  illustrious  family  of  Provence,  born   the   ISth   of 

'"  Aubertcuil  II.,  277. 

'- 1779. 

'^Manuscripts  furnished  by  M.  Muurite  La  Chcsnai.s. 


86  The,  French  in  America. 

May,  1754,  at  Aix;  sub-HcutGnant  in  tho  rcgimont  of  Boiir- 
bomiais  tlio  7tli  of  April,  1773,  lieutenant  the  '29(li  of  De- 
cember, 1777.  He  embarked  at  Brest  at  tlie  same  time  as 
the  expeditionary  corps  of  Rochambeau  on  the  ti-ansport  the 
Tsk-de- France,  which  cai-riod  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  of 
his  regiment.  He  distinguished  himself  before  Yorktown,  ac- 
cording to  the  army  reports.  He  was  the  brother-in-law  ol" 
War  Commissioner  Blanchard,  who  speaks  of  him  with  much 
esteem  in  his  Journal  de  la   Campnr/ne  d''Ahirrlqv<\ 

Tiie  Chevalier  de  Coriolis  was  appointed  ca])tain  after  his 
return  from  America,  the  15th  of  July,  1784.  He  entered  with 
this  rank  the  constitutional  guard  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth  the 
13th  of  November,  1791.  This  corjxs  having  been  disbanded 
the  30th  of  May,  1792,  Coriolis  remained  none  the  less  de- 
voted to  the  king,  and  defended  him  as  a  volunteer  at  the 
Tiiileries  during  the  10th  of  August,  1792.  He  retired  to 
Niincy  during  the  Terror,  and  married  there.  He  n^-entered 
the  service  under  the  Empire,  and  in  1809  made  the  cam- 
paign of  Holland  as  captain-commandant  of  the  reserve  com- 
pany of  the  Meurthe.     He  died  the  15th  of  February,  1811.'-'* 

His  son,  Gustave  Coriolis,  who  died  in  1842,  was  a  cel- 
ebrated French  scientist.  His  works  on  Balional  Jfechan- 
ics^'^  brought  him  membership  in  the  Institute  of  France. 
The  Chevalier  de  Coriolis  also  left  a  daughter,  who  married 
the  learned  physicist  Peclct,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  cen- 
tral school  of  arts  and  manufactures. 


"^Tbe  Chevalier  de  Coriolis  left  an  iiupublishcd  nianu?crii.t  describ- 
ing a  few  episodes  of  his  return  from  the  expedition  of  America,  with 
the  troops  under  the  command  of  tho  Earon  de  VioinOnil.  The  most 
interesliiig  portion  of  this  manuscript  was  published  as  a  separate 
pamphlet  in  1S70  l)y  M.  INTaurice  l.a  Chesnais.  It  is  the  stirrinsr  ac- 
count of  the  shipwreck  of  the  French  vessel,  the  Bourgocinr .  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  on  the  coast  of  New  Sj^ain.  Part  of  the  crew  and  of  the 
passen;jrcrs  perished,  and  the  Chevalier  de  Coriolis  only  escaped  with 
difliculty  from  a  similar  fate. 

'^  Mccanique  Rationnclk. 


Ust  oj  Officers.  87 

CoRiOLis  (Picrrc-Gabriel-Xavier,  Clievalicr  de),  brotlicr  of 
the  former,  entered  the  royal  school  of  artillery  of  Grenoble 
the  1st  of  April,  1764;  second  lieutenant  of  the  reg^iment  of 
artillery  of  Grenoble  the  lotli  of  January,  1707;  sub-lien- 
tenant  of  the  second  company  of  artillerynien-6o/?j6a/Y//e/-.s  at 
Saint  Domingo  the  IDtii  of  September,  1770.  Resigned  the 
1st  of  INIay,   1775,  and  entered  the  navy. 

The  1st  of  April,  1780,  de  Coriolis,  in  command  of  the 
brig  the  JL'ros,  sailed  from  Cape  Conserve  at  Saint  Domingo, 
and  w:is  cliased  by  a  j)rivateer,  of  strength  superior  to  his 
own,  who  came  up  witli  him.  'i'lie  fight  whicli  toolc  place 
was  so  severe  that  one-third  of  the  crew  of  the  Heros  was 
disabled.  De  Coriolis  himself  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
head  by  a  grape  shot.  After  trying  to  board  several  times, 
which  tiie  enemy  avoided,  de  Coriolis  succeeded  in  getting 
away.  He  made  s(!veral  captures  on  the  same  vessel.  The 
20th  of  March,  1781,  pursued,  then  oiught  again  by  a  ves- 
sel stronger  than  the  lUros,  he  captured  it  by  boarding,  after 
having  been  wounded  in  the  thigh  and   tiie  hand.^^ 

Captain  of  a  fireship  the  12th  of  January,  1782  ;  naval 
lieutenant  the  1st  of  May,  178G.  On  leave  the  2d  of  May, 
1789.  Was  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis  from  the  5th  of  August, 
178G. 

Gabriel  de  Coriolis,  having  left  the  service  in  1789,  with- 
drew to  the  lie  de  France,  now  Mauritius,  where  his  son, 
aged  eighty,  still  lives  with  his  iamily,  who  is  entirely  set- 
tled there.*-^ 

Coiiioi.is  d'Espinouse  (Commandenr  de),  a  relative  of 
the  former,  became  chief  of  squadron  during  the  W-av  of  In- 
dependence. He  tooi<  part  in  the  principal  naval  actions  of 
the  war,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the  attack  of  Dominica. 


^  ArcJdvc^  of  the  Navy. 
1870.     E.  S.  13. 


88  Tlic  FrcncJi  in  America. 

Cornet  (Lo)  enlisted  as  private  in  the  regiment  of  Gati- 
iiais  in  1760,  sergeant  in  1789;  marched  at  the  liead  of  the 
attacking  cohmm  of  the  ])rinci])al  redoubt  of  the  English  at 
Yorktown.  lie  Mas  ehai'ged  with  Sergeant  Forct,  of  the  same 
regiment,  to  direct  the  sap})ers  or  axe-bearers  who  were  to 
break  down  the  palissades. 

CoivNY  (Louis-T)ominifiue-Tfithis  de),  commissary  of  war, 
wlio  stiirted  with  La  Fayette  from  ]tOchefort  two  weeks  be- 
fore the  squadron  Ashicli  was  at  Brest  under  command  of  do 
Ternay,  to  announce  to  the  Americans  the  succors  promised 
by  France  and  to  ])rcparc  for  the  landing  in  lihodc  Island.^-* 

He  did  not  belong  to  the  expedition  under  the  command 
of  Rochambeau,  and  he  was  sent  with  tlie  Marquis  de  La 
Fayette  when  the  latter  left,  because  de  Corny  happened  to 
be  at  A^ersailles  just  then,  and  because,  as  time  was  short,  it 
was  not  possible  to  send  to  Brest  to  inform  either  Blanchard 
or  any  one  else.  "lie  brought  about  large  expenditures,"  says 
Blanchard,  "  and  was  not  of  much  assistance."  Blanchard 
adds  later  in  his  diary  :  "  lie  left  in  the  first  days  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1781,  for  France,  on  the  Alliance.  He  was  a  clever 
man,  but  intriguing  and  grasping.  He  went  away  because 
there  was  nothing  for  him  to  do.  Still  his  stay  in  America, 
short  as  it  had  been,  had  not  hurt  his  success." 

De  Corny  was  better  known  as  a  writer  under  the  name 
of  lilthis.  He  was  born  at  ]Metz  in  1738,  and  was  at  first 
a  lawyer  at  the  bar  of  that  town.  He  kept  up  a  regular 
correspondence  with  Voltaire,  at  Ferney. 

On  his  return  from  America  he  was  appointed  attorney  of 
the  king.  He  was  in  favor  of  the  l\evolution,  and  was  one 
of  the  commissaries  sent  by  the  people  to  summon  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Bastile  to  open  its  gates  on  the  14th  of  July, 
1789.     He  died  at  Paris  in   1790. 

^'^Manoires  of  La  Fayette. 


Lisit  of  Officers.  89 

CoiiTE,  medical  director  of  the  cx])cditionary  corps,  wont 
to  visit  the  Jiospital  prepared  by  de  Corny  at  Rhode  Island 
immediately  after  the  landing:  of  the  expeditionary  cori)s.  lie 
was  with  ]>lanchard  and  Dcmars.  He  showed  nnich  zeal  after 
the  capture  of  Yorktown,  and  took  care,  with  the  same  devo- 
tion, of  both  allies  and  enemies. 

CoTTiNEAU  DE  ViLOGUENE  (de),  cuptain  of  the  Palla.^  in 
the  action    bctM-ecn    the   BoiiJiomme   liichanl  and   the   Serapis. 

CoUDio  (Louis-jSIarie),  rear-admiral,  born  at  Auray  the  17th 
of  December,  1752,  died  at  Pontivy  in   1822. 

His  father  intended  him  for  the  priesthood,  but  he  ran  away 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  embarked  at  Lorient  as  assistant 
pilot.  Ensign  in  1775  ;  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  the  Iplilgcnie 
in  1778,  he  went  to  cruise  on  the  coasts  of  Xew  England. 
He  made  an  expedition  to  Senegal  in  1779,  and  was  wounded 
in  an  encounter  l)y   tlie  explosion  of  a  package  of  cartridges. 

In  1780  Coude  took,  at  Brest,  command  of  the  Sauinon,  a 
rapid-sailing  brig,  which,  during  the  three  years  he  ]>assed  in 
the  Antilles,  served  successively  as  scouting  ship  for  dc  Ter- 
nay,  de  Barras,  and  de  Grasse,  and  Coude  was  present,  there- 
fore, at  the  various  naval  actions  fought  by  these  officers. 

He  re-entered  the  merchant  navy  at  the  peace,  and  re- 
called to  the  service  of  the  State  in  1792  as  naval  lieutenant, 
he  distinguished  himself  by  the  most  glorious  struggles  agaijist 
the  English.  Naval  ciiptain  in  1793.  Prisoner  of  the  P^nglish 
from  1795  to  179G,  and  from  1805  to  1814.  Kciir-admiral 
on  his  rctuj-n,  and  retired  in  that  rank. 

CouLANGE  (Scot  de).     See  Scot. 

Coussix  (He),  entered  the  service  in  17G3,  ca})lain  ni  sec- 
ond in  the  rcginujut  of  Soissonnais  in  1781  ;  had  made  with 
distinction  the  campaign  of  Corsica,  where  he  was  wounded, 
and  kept  up  before  Yorktown  his  rt'pulation   lor  courage. 


90  The  French  in  Aincrica. 

CoussOL  d'EsI'ARTAC,  oaptain-oominaiulant  of  15(>iirhonnai.s  ; 
made  tlie  campaigns  of  Germany  and  of  America. 

CrwOMOTDuF.OURG^-''(Mario-Francoi.s-Josepli-Maximc,  Baron), 
born  at  A^ersailles  tlie  28th  of  April,  1756.  Tiie  reports  of  his 
services  at  the  ministry  of  war  say  :  vohmteer  in  the  dragoons 
of  La  Rocliefoucauld  in  176S  ;  rank  of  sub-lieutenant  in  the 
dragoons  of  Monsieur  in  1770  ;  sub-lieutenant  of  infantry  in 
1772;  captain  in  1771;  put  on  the  waiting  list  in  1770,  at 
his   request. 

He  was  permitted  to  go  to  America  to  join  the  expeditionary 
corps  as  aid-de-camj)  to  Eochambeau ;  but  he  did  not  Iciive 
ou  the  fleet  under  the  command  of  the  Chevalier  de  Ternay, 
for  Blanchard  says  })ositively  in  his  diary  :  "  Cromot  Dubourg 
only  left  later."  He  says  liimself  that  he  embarked  at  Brest 
on  the  Concorde,  in  March,  1781,  at  tJie  same  time  as  Vis- 
count de  llochambeau  and  the  new  chief  of  squadron,  de 
Barras.  His  conduct  before  the  capture  of  Yorktowji  brought 
him,  after  itrf  successful  issue,  the  rank  of  assistant-quarter- 
master-general of  tlie  army,  with  which  rank  he  made  the 
campaigns  of  1782  and  1783.  He  returned  to  France  and 
became  successively  major  in  1783,  lieutenant-colonel  in  1787, 
colonel  in  1788. 

The  political  events  found  him  devoted  to  royalty.  He 
handed  in  his  resignation  in  1700,  emigrated,  and  was  aid-de- 
ramp  of  Monsieur  (Louis  the  Eighteenth)  in  tlie  ai-my  of  the 
princes  in  1702  ;  then  he  was  a  volunteer  in  the  cor])s  of 
Williamson  in   1705  and   1 70t). 

On  the  return  of  the  Bourbons  he  was  retired  as  colonel, 
and  in  1826  was  apj)ointed  honorary  martchal  de  ca;np.  He 
died  the  26th  of  A])ril,  1836.  He  was  member  of  the  order 
of  the  Cincinnati  and  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis. 


'^  ]Manuscripts    lent  to    me   by  his   prandson,    the    Baron   Varai^nu 
Dubourjj;,  and  by  M.  Caniille  Kousset,  of  the  French  Academy. 


List  of  Officers.  91 

Cromot  Dul)ourg  left  :iu  unpublished  diurv  of  his  first .cruii- 
paign  in  America  in  17S1,  of  which  I  have  a  copy,  but  of 
which  the  original  has  been  lost  or  mislaid.^"'' 

Crozat  de  SarPvAzin  (Jeau-Franjois),  born  at  Yienne, 
IsSre,  the  7th  of  January,  1733;  captain  of  the  regiment  of 
Touraine  in  1778  ;  killed  on  the  sc^uadron  of  de  Guichen  the 
15th  of  May,   1780. 

CusTiNE  (Adam-rhili])pe-Jarreek,  Count  de),  born  at  Metz 
the  4  th  of  Fel»ruary,  17-10  ;  entered  the  service  in  1747  ;  sub- 
lieutenant at  the  age  of  seven.  He  took  part,  at  the  age 
of  eight,  in  1  718,  in  the  campaign  of  Germany"^  under  Mar- 
shal Saxe.  Captain  of  dragoons  in  1758  ;  meslre  de  camp  in 
1763  ;  brigadier  in  1780.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the 
Seven  Years'  ^^'ar. 

After  this  war  the  Duke  de  Choiseul,  who  favored  him, 
credited  for  him  a  regiment  of  dragoons  by  the  name  of  Cus- 
tine.  He  exchanged  this  regiment  for  a  regiment  of  infantry, 
which  was  going  to  America;  it  was,  J  think,  the  regiment  of 
Saintonge.  It  was  under  his  orders  that  the  infantry  of  Lau- 
zuu's  legion  embarked  at  Head  of  Elk,  went  to  Annapolis, 
where  it  stopped  two  days,  then  reached  Cape  Henry.  Be- 
fore Yorktown  he  was  always  in  the  trenches  every  second 
day,  because  he  was  the  only  brigadier,  and  Rochambeau 
praises  in  his  reports  his  zeal,  his  courage,  his  talents,  and  his 
honesty. 

On  his  return  to  France  he  became  marechol  de  camp  and 
governor  of  Toulon.  Deputy  from  Lorraine  to  the  States  Gen- 
eral of  1789,  he  favored  the  Ivcvolution,  which  put  him  at  the 
head  of  the  Army  of  the  Khine  in  1792.  At  first  he  had 
some  successes  ;  but,  forced  to  n-tirc  before  the  Prussians,  he 
was  recalled  to  Paris  and  guillotined  the  28th  of  August,  1793. 

'''See  Vol    I.,  pages  12,  13,  and  14,  and  page  141. 
'^Flanders.     Marginal  note. 


92  The  French,  in  America. 

Tlic  good  opinion  Avliicli  Ilocliamboau  had  of  Custine  was,  tlicv 
say,  exaggerated.  He  was,  doul)tle.ss,  a  good  officer,  but  lie 
has  been  reproached  for  liis  bad  temper  and  his  excessive 
severity.^'-  It  is,  moreover,  extrcniely  dilllcult  to  judge  a  no- 
table man  l)y  tlie  invariably  partial  rc})orts  of  his  contempo- 
raries."^ This  is  almost  impossible  in  an  epoch  of  revolution, 
where  partisiuiship  destroys  all  sense  of  justice. 

D. 

Dalpiiekan  (Felix),  born  the  6th  of  April,  1744;  sub- 
lieutenant in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais  in  1781.  He  made 
the  campaigns  of  1780-81-82-83  in  America,  and  was  pres- 
ent at  the  capture  of  Yorktow)i.^"^ 

DALi'iii^:iiAX  (^I.),  naval  lieutenant,  who  came  on  the  Con- 
corde with  de  Barras.'^^ 

Damas  (Joseph-Fran9ois-Louis-Charles,  Count  de),  of  the 
older  branch  of  the  Damas  d'Anlezi,  the  only  one  sui'viving 
to-day;  born  in  1758;  served  since  the  9th  of  February,  1777, 
and  entered  as  second  lieutenant  the  infantry  regiment  of  the 
king.  He  went  then  to  America  in  the  position  of  aid-de- 
camp of  de  Rochambeau,  and  distinguished  himself  during  the 
entire  campaign  of  1781.     The   29th  of  April,  1781,  he  ob- 

^^De  Custine  left  a  diary  of  his  journey  in  Xorth  America,  says 
Blanchard.  The  latter  relates  in  his  own  diary,  the  17th  of  Febnrtry, 
1781,  that  those  memoirs  are  accurate  and  ven.-  sensiljle.  It  is  not 
known  what  became  of  this  diary  of  Custine,  but  from  what  Blanchard 
says  of  it,  it  only  contained  analogous  observations  to  those  of  de 
Chastellux  about  General  Washington,  the  nature  of  the  soil  in  the 
United  States,  the  climate,  «.<:c. 

'^The  diary  of  Blanchard  relates  an  anecdote  about  this  which 
explains  the  judgment  of  the  soldiers  about  this  general.  t?ee  in  the 
List  of  Oflicers:  Laforest.  See  also  the  Life  of  Cudinc,  by  one  of  his 
aids-de-camp,  1S02.  His  cliaracter  and  his  conduct,  as  general,  are  very 
severely  judged  there. 

'^Archirrs^of  War. 

'^Blanchard. 


Ust  of  Officers^.  93 

tained  the  title  of  colonel,  to  take  rank  from  tlie  1st  of 
September.  He  \va.s  present  at  the  interview  at  Hartford 
between  Washiiiirton,  Roehambeau,  and  T^a  Fayette  ;  had  a 
horse  killed  under  him  at  iMorri.^ania  while  reconnoitering  on 
the  23d  of  July,  1781,  and  took  ])art  in  the  attack  of  the 
great  redoubt  before  Yorktown,  although  lie  had  not  been 
ordered  to  do  so,  and  against  the  advice  of  Guillaume  de 
Deux-Ponts,  who  commanded  the  attack.  He  returned  to 
France  on  the  2Gth  of  October,  1781,  with  de  Charlus,  Guil- 
laume dc  Dcnx-Ponts,  and  de  ]vaval,  and  was  appointed 
gentleman  of  honor  of  the  Count  de  I'rovence.  Arrested  with 
Louis  the  Sixteenth  at  Varennes,  he  succeeded  in  emigrating, 
fought  in  the  army  of  Conde  against  his  country,  and  re- 
mained in  exile  the  faithful  companion  of  the  Bourbons,  who 
made  him  duke  and  jieer  of  France  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Restauration.  He  was  always  hostile  to  political  liberty.^^*^ 
He  died  in  1829. 

Damas  (Claude-Charles,  Viscount  de  Damas  de  Marillac), 
served  in  the  campaigns  of  Americn  at  the  Windward  Islands 
during  the  AVar  of  Independence,  but  did  not  set  foot  on  the 
Continent.  He  was  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Auxerrois 
when  Bouille,  su^iported  by  the  lleet  of  d'Estaing,  attacked 
Dominica  in  1778.  He  was  the  first  to  go  ashore  with 
his  chasseurs,  and  helped  in  capturing  the  island.  He  also 
took  an  active  part  in  the  capture  of  Tabago  on  the  2d  of 
June,   1780,  and  of  Saint    Chri.-topher  in  February,  1782. 

He  was  not  a  brother  of  the  before  mentioned,  but  came 
from  another  branch  of  this  important  family.  He  was  born 
at  Lyons  in  1731,  and  was  successively  ensign  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Beauce  in    1748,  lieutenant    in    1752,  aid-major    in 

'^The  Count  de  Damas  was  the  owner,  under  tlie  Restauration,  of 
the  Chateau  de  Livry,  near  Paris.  Louis  tlie  Eiirhteenth  slept  there 
the  18th  of  April,  1S14,  the  night  before  his  entry  into  I'aris.  Jas  En- 
virom  de  Paris,  by  A.  Joanne,  lluchette,  Paris,  lSo7.    E.  S.  13, 


04  The  French  in  America. 

1753,  caidain  in  IV-");"),  major  in  1763,  colonel  of  th-c;  regi- 
ment of  Auxerroiri  in  1776,  brigadier  of  infantry  in  1778, 
and  marcchal  dc  camp  in  1781,  the  5th  of  December.  lie 
was  apjiointed  Governor  of  ^Martinique  in  1783,  then  Gov- 
ernor of  tlie  ^\'in(l^v;u•d  Islands.  He  repressed  vigorously  the 
revolts  at  Martinique  during  the  Revolution,  defeated  the  in- 
surgents at  Saint  Pierre  the  3d  of  June,  1790,  but  was  ac- 
cused by  Barnave  and  some  of  the  colonists  of  being  the 
cause  of  the  disturbances  and  of  having  asked  the  help  of 
the  English  of  Snint  Domingo.  Impeached  in  February, 
1791,  with  all  the  members  of  the  government  of  ISIartin- 
ique,  he  was  set  free  after  being  cleared  ol'  the  charges.  He 
died  in  1800. 


Danetevilij-:   or  D'Annp:teville  (Cantel),  major  in  tl 
corps  of  engineers,  went  to  America  with  de  Kochambeau. 


le 


D'AuDiFREDY  or  Daumfeedy,  infantry  officer,  wounded 
at  Saint  Lucia  on  the  fleet  of  de  Guichen  the  ]9th  of  No- 
vember,  1780. 

Dauhe  (Hector,  Count),  superintendent  of  the  food  sup])lies 
during  the  campaign  of  America,^"  was  successively  chief  trcas- 
urer'^*  of  the  expeditionary  corps  to  Saint  Domingo  ;  then  in 
Egypt,  under  Bonaparte;  minister  of  war  and  of  the  ntivy 
at  Naples ;  without  employment  under  the  Bestauration  ;  ap- 
pointed, after  1830,  director  of  the  administration  at  the  min- 
istry of  war. 

Davin,  "former  very  distinguished  sergeant-major,"  says 
Dubourg,  who  engaged  him  in  June,  1776,  for  America, 
with  some  advance  pay,  the  journey  paid,  and  the  promise 
of  the  rank  of  captain. 


'"  Blaiicliard. 
^^  Ordoiuiateur. 


lAst  of  Officers.  95 

Decatouiis  or  Dkcatuh  (Junics),  volunteer  Freneli  lieu- 
tenant in  tlie  service  of  Congress."'^  Perhaps  a  relation  of 
the  celebrated  Commodore  Stephen  Decatur,  of  the  American 
navy. 

DKCRf:s  (Deni.s,  Duke),  vice-admiral,  minister  of  the  navy, 
born  at  Ciiaumont  in  1701,  died  in  1S20,  at  Paris,  Em- 
barked as  candidate  guard  of  the  marines  in  1780  oji  the 
lUchiiiond,  of  the  scpiadron  of  de  Grasse.  He  took  part  in  all 
the  combats  which  this  ileet  had  to  sustain.  In  the  action  of 
the  12th  of  April,  1782,  he  went  in  a  boat,  under  tire  of  the 
English  fleet,  to  tow  the  ship  the  Glorieiix,  whose  masts  had 
fallen,  out  of  the  danger  in  which  it  was  placed.  He  was 
then  appointed  naval  ensign.  Naval  lieutenant  in  1786,  cjip- 
tain  in  1793.  He  was  deprived  of  his  position  on  r^ccount 
of  being  a  noble.  Chief  of  squadron  in  1796,  rear-admiral 
in  1798,  minister  of  the  navy  from  1801  to  1814  and  during 
the  "Hundred  Days."  Retired  under  the  Pestauration.  In 
1820  his  servant  stole  some  of  his  things,  and  blew  him  up 
in  bed  with  some  gunpowder.  The  servant  was  killed  and 
Decres  received  wounds  of  which  he  died. 

Deidier,  sm-geon-major  in  the  regiment  of  Agtinois,  showed 
zeal  and  knowledge. 

Dp:  Kalb.     See  Kaeb. 

Delaunay  or  De  Launay.  See  Launay. 

Demars,  director  of  the  hospitals,  left  on  the  Anient  with 
de  Yillemanzy."" 

Desandhoixs  (Viscount),  brigadier-general  who  eonnnanded 
the  corps   of  engineers   under  the  orders   of  de   Rochambeau 

'*>  Elanchurd. 


96  The  French  in  America. 

during  tlic  caDipai;^!!  of  1781.  I'^alling  .sick  at  Williain.sbiiru;, 
he  was  ol)Iigf'cl  to  intrust  the  care  of  the  work  to  dii  Portail 
and  Querenot.  As  early  as  1740  ]ie  had  left  for  Canada;  in 
IMay,  1750,  he  M-as  appointed  captain  of  engineers,  and  be- 
came the  aid-de-eainp  and  the  secretary  of  Montcalm.  He  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Ticonderoga  and  in  the  other  operations 
in  Canada;  brigadier  of  infantry  in  December,  1781;  chief 
of  brigade  in  the  engineers  and  chevalier  of  I\Ialta  in  17S9  ; 
member  of  the  National  Assembly  for  Calais.  He  was,  j)er- 
haps,  a  member  of  the  Cincinnati. 

DESBorvDES  entered  the  service  in  1755,  was  appointed 
ciptain  in  the  regiment  of  Tonraine  in  17G9,  and  made  the 
campaign  of  17S1    in   America  as  captain-commandant. 

Des  Fokets.     See  Lafoeest. 

Desoteux  (Pierre-]\Iarie-Felicite,  Baron  de),  born  in  1750, 
died  at  Lyons  in  1812.  Son  of  a  surgeon,  lie  made  at  lirst 
a  few  journeys  in  Europe,  then  entered  the  service,  and  left 
for  America.  He  served  in  the  campaign  of  1781  in  the 
position  of  aid-de-camp  of  the  Chevalier  de  Viomenil,  and 
distinguished  himself  while  under  his  orders  at  the  attack  of 
the  redoubt  of  Yorktown.  He  was  captain  of  dragoons,  and 
aid-quartermaster-adjutant."'  He  embarked  the  following  year 
at  Boston  to  go  to  Porto  Cabello  with  de  Broglie,  Dumas, 
and  de  Segur,  who  mention  him  in  their  memoirs.  He  was 
especially  intimate  with  the  de  Lameths.  He  helped  the  side 
of  the  Revolution  in  Fi-ance,  and  Avas  amidst  the  women  who 
went  to  Versailles  on  the  5th  of  October,  1789.  ]>ut,  wit- 
nessing the  progress  of  the  demagogues,  he  turned  towards 
the  Iloyalist    party,  served  as  stalf  officer  to  de  ]>ouillc,   and 


^"Desoteux  drew  tlie  two  {^eograpliical  charts  in  tlie  Voijarjen  of  dc 
Cliastellux.  Sec^  preface  by  the  printer  of  that  work.  I'aris,  17So. 
Maririnal  note  bv  T.  15. 


Lid  of  Ojlicers.  97 

tried  to  hcl])  tlic-  iliL'lit  of  tlie  kin:;.  He  cniiiri'atcd,  returned 
and  cuiij^raicd  anew  after  tlic  10th  of  Auf^ust.  lie  landed 
in  Normandy,  with  a  mission  i'vom  the;  Count  d'Artois,  in 
July,  171*1,  and  went  to  de  Pui.-aye,  Nvho  eonmuindcd  the 
Vendeens  on  the  right  hank  of  the  lAjire,  and  who  made  him 
his  treasurer-i^eueral.  He  served  there  under  the  name  of 
Cormaiin.  A  treaty  of  pacification  having  been  signed  by 
him  on  the  2(Jth  of  April,  1795,  at  La  Mabillais,  Hoehe 
had  him  arrested  in  October  as  having  infringed  on  it.  He 
w^as  kept  under  ari-est  at  Cherbourg,  then  at  Ham.  The 
Consulate  freeil  liim,  and  he  withdrew  to  his  estate  near 
!Macon.     He  lei't  several  literary  M(jrks. 

Dkspkyi'.on  (Piprre),  born  the  21th  of  March,  1734,  at 
Barthelemy,  in  the  Perche.  He  entered  tlie  service  in  1747, 
was  made  caj)tain  in  17G0,  and  major  in  the  regiment  of 
Touraine  the  24ih  of  March,  1780.  He  showed  in  his  career 
much  valor  and  intelligence,  gave  u])  a  considerable  fortune 
to  pass  to  America  with  de  Ivochambeau,  and  obtained  a 
pension  for  his  conduct  in  front  of  Yorktown. 

Desphez  (Kticnne-Philil)ert  de  Crassier),  born  at  Crassier, 
Ain,  the  ISth  of  January,  1733,  died  about  1803  at  Ornaix.^*^ 
He  entered  the  service  of  France  as  cadet  in  the  Swiss  regi- 
ment A'igier,  which  became  Chateauvieux  ;  he  was  in  succes- 
sion ensign  in  ]May,  1748,  sub-lieutenant  in  A])ril,  1754; 
passed  as  ca])tain  to  lloyal-Deux-Ponts  in  April,  1757  ;  then, 
during  the  campaign,  became  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  same 
regiment  in  June,  17G2  ;  ])ut  in  waiting"^  in  17C3  with  a 
pension  of  eight  hundred  //r/'o-,  he  was  a])pointed  majitr  of 
Dcux-Ponts."''  He  made  willi  tliis  rank  the  canipaign  of 
America.       He   was    left,  with   a   hundred    men,  to   watch   the 

'^He  is  also  called  do  I'rez  in  many  memoirs  and  books. 

'«  Rt'forntc. 

"*See  Deux-l*onts  and  Cromot  Dubour?. 


98  Tlw  French  in  America. 

storelionsfs  and  the  l)ospilai.s  of  Providence  while  the  troops 
were  goini!;  by  land  to  Williamsburg,  and  while  de  Choisy 
M-as  enibarkini;'  at  Newport  on  the  21st  of  August,  1781, 
with  the  siege  artillery  and   the  rest  of   his  troops.**' 

Returning  to  Europe  after  having  been  appointed  adjutant- 
general  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  he  went  with  Count  de 
]Maillebois  to  Holland,  where  he  stayed  until  the  19th  of 
July,  1788.  His  corps  having  been  broken  up,  he  was  ap- 
pointed marC'chal  dc  camp  in  1791,  and  employed  in  the 
Array  of  the  North.  Lieutenant-general  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1792,  he  passed  to  the  Army  of  the  Centre,  where  he 
commanded  the  vanguard  which  repulsed  the  Prussians  at  the 
o^mj)  of  I^a  Lune  and  at  Fonton.  Suspended  as  a  noble  in 
April,  1793,  he  was  reinstated  the  6th  of  June  following, 
and  employed  in  the  Army  of  Italy,  and  later  in  that  of  the 
AVestern  Pyrenees.  He  retired  in  June,  1796,  and  withdrew 
to  liis  chateau  of  Ornaix. 

De  Staacic  or  Destaack  (Joseph),  born  at  Neukireh  the 
4th  of  ;March,  1737;  entered  as  ensign  the  regiment  of  Alsace 
in  1758,  and  was  appointed  captain-commandant  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Royal-Deux-Ponts  the  3d  of  June,  1779.  He  beg-an 
by  making  three  campaigns  in  Germany,  and  received  two 
wounds  at  Clostercamp.  He  passed  to  America  with  liis 
regiment,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the  capture  of  York- 
town.  He  received  the  cross  of  ^Military  Merit  and  the  order 
of  the  Cincinnati. 

Destouciies  was  the  oldest  naval  c;iptain  of  the  squadron 
under  command  of  de  Ternay,  which  left  Brest  with  the  ex- 
peditionary corps.  He  was  on  the  Duc-ch-Bourgognc.  He 
took  command  of  the  scpiadron  before  Newport  at  the  death 
of  de  Ternay,  and   until  the  arrival  of  de  liarras,  and  in  that 


^**  Deux- Pouts. 


List  of  OJJicers.  99 

slior(.  interval  lie  made  an  expedition  to  Clic.sai)cxike  Bay, 
having  on  his  ships  twelve  hundred  men  under  command  of 
the  Baron  dc  Viomc'nil  and  of  de  Laval.  He  could  not  force 
the  passage,  and  reuirncd  to  Ivhode  Island. 

Deux-Po^'ts.  The  town  of  Deux-Ponts  is  situated  on  the 
Erbach,  near  the  junction  of  that  river  "svith  the  Sarre,  five 
miles  to  the  west  oi"  Spcyer.  It  was  first  the  capital  of  a 
duchy  which  afterwards  passed  under  the  domination  of  Swe- 
den, then  of  Bavaria.  The  ducal  family  of  Deux-Ponts  gave 
kings  to  both   of  these  countries. 

Later,  Christian,  Count  Palatine  and  reigning  duke  of  Deux- 
Ponis-Birkenfeld,  uncle  of  King  Maximilien  the  First  of  Ba- 
varia, had  married  morganatic-ally  a  dancer,  famous  in  Paris 
under  the  name  of  Fontenay,  who  was  created  on  that  occur- 
rence Baroness  de  Forbach.  But  Christian  and  Guillaume, 
who  were  born  from  this  marriage,  were  not  admitted  as  heirs 
to  the  father,  so  thtit  it  was  Charles,  nephew  of  Duke  Chris- 
tian, and  elder  brother  of  King  Maximilien,  mIio  obtained  the 
government  of  the  Dukedom. 

The  two  sons  of  Christian,  Christian  and  Guillaume,  at 
first  took  the  name  of  their  mother,  then  they  joined  thereto 
the  name  of  their  father  and  called  themselves  Barons  For- 
bach de  Deux-Ponts.  Later,  they  took  without  contest  the 
title  of  Counts,  which  is  given  them  by  all  Frenchmen,  and 
by  which  they  are  indiscriminately  mentioned.  Their  con- 
temporaries, among  whom  I  will  cite  Franklin  and  Colonel 
Trumbull,  often  made  mistakes  about  their  titles,  and  have 
sometimes  mistaken  the  two  either  for  one  another,  or  for  a 
member  of  their  family  who  was  made  Jving  of  Bavaria  by 
Napoleon. 

These  explanations  have  seemed  to  me  necessiiry  to  establisli 
a  precise  distinction  between  the  two  members  of  the  family 
of  Deux-Ponts  who  made  the  campaign  of  America,  and  this 
distinction  is  all  the  more  neccssiiry  as  the  two  brothers,  having 


100  The  Frcncli   in  America. 

both  served  in  the  regiment  of  tlicir  name  and  liavinir  been 
present  at  the  same  actions,  have  often  Ix^en  mistaken  for 
one  another. 

To  finish  th.e  general  history  of  this  family,  I  will  men- 
tion that  Guillanme  married  a  Polignac  and  Christian  a  Beth- 
une ;  then,  after  the  French  Revolution,  the  two  brothers 
lived  in  Bavaria^  where  they  were  intrusted  with  important 
commands. 

Dj:ux-Ponts  (Christian,  Count  de  Forbach,  Marquis  de), 
born  the  20th  of  October,  1752,  at  Deux-Ponls ;  received  on 
the  20th  of  April,  17GS,  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  with- 
out })ay  in  a  French  regiment.  In  1772  he  was  ap])ointed 
colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Royal-Dcux-Ponts,  but  on  account 
of  his  youth  he  did  not  take  command  until  the;  20th  of 
September,  1775.  It  Mas  with  this  rank  that  he  M'as  in 
America,  under  the  orders  of  Pochambeau,  from  17S0  to 
1783.  lie  distinguished  himself  according  to  all  accounts 
during  this  expedition,  obtained  there  the  cross  of  Saint-Ix)uis, 
and  the  assurance  that  he  would  be  appointed  brigadier  at 
the  first  vacancy.  The  French  Revolution  forced  him  to  take 
service  in  Bavaria,  where  he  commanded  an  auxiliary  Ba- 
varian corps  against  ]\Iorcau,  at  Holienlinden,  in  1800.  He 
distinguished  himself  in  spite  of  the  defeat,  and  received  the 
grand  cross  of  the  order  of  Maxi milieu- Joseph  of  Bavaria, 
newly  created.  He  left  two  daughters.  One  of  his  sons-in- 
law,  Count  de  AVittgenstein,  was  killed  at  Borodino. 

Deux-Po^-'IS  (Gtiillaume,  Count  de  Forbach.  Count  de), 
born  at  Deux-Poiits  the  l^ith  of  June,  17<j1.  He  was  ap- 
pointed sub-lieutenant  in  his  brother's  regiment  rlie  12th  of 
November,  1770,  captain  the  25th  of  April,  1772,  then  lieu- 
tenant-colonel (II  sccoh'I  in  the  .-ame  regiment  the  2d  of  Oc- 
tober, 1777.  He  rtjoincd  his  regiment  at  Landerncau,  after 
the  useless  attem])t  in  1779  at  lauding  in  England.    He  made 


JAd  of  Oi)iccr.<i.  101 

the  campai<^n  of  America  mider  tlic  orders  of  de  Rochaniheau, 
and  left  an  interesting  account  of  it.""  He  embarked  at 
Brest  on  the  4th  of  April,  17S0,  on  the  flvdlU',  of  sixty-four 
guns;  disemljarked  at  Newport  after  a  seventy-two  days'  trip, 
and  went  info  camj)  on  the  llth  of  June,  at  Providence. 
During  the  march  of  the  trooj)s  towards  New  York  he  Avas 
given  the  command  of  the  grenadiers  and  of  the  cJuisscurs  of 
Bourbonnais,  between  New  York  and  Anna]X)lis,  and  he  em- 
barked on  the  21st  of  Sc})tember,  1781,  on  the  DUigentc,  to 
return  to  Cape  Henry,  then  to  \Villiamsburg. 

He  played  a  more  brilliant  role  than  his  brother  during - 
the  siege  of  Yorktown.  Although  only  lieutenant-colonel,  he 
was  intrusted  with  the  assault,  on  the  14th  of  October,  17S1, 
of  the  principal  )edoubt,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  men  of 
his  regiment.  lie  w^as  preceded  by  a  detachment  of  Gatinais 
under  command  of  dc  I'Estrade,  and  followed  by  the  remain- 
der of  the  same  regiment  under  command  of  de  Rostaing. 
Guillaume  de  Deux-Ponts  sprang  first  into  the  redoubt  and  gave 
his  hand  to  a  grenadier  to  help  him  to  follow.  This  gren- 
adier having  been  that  instant  mortally  wounded,  Guillaume 
withdrew  his  hand  and  gave  it  with  great  coolness  to  another. 
Guillaume  was  slightly  wounded,  l)ut  the  redoul)t  was  cap- 
tured in  seven  minutes  with  such  brilliant  courage  that  I^ieu- 
tenant-cohniel  Tarleton,  who  defended  it,  could  not  help 
mentioning  in  his  report  the  merits  of  his  adversary.  Koch- 
ambeau  was  so  much  plc^ised  with  tin-  exploit  that  he  asked 
for  a  I'cgimcnt  for  dc  Deux-Ponts  in  preference  to  his  own 
son.  He  was  made  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis  and  returned  to 
France  on  the  2Gth  of  October  on  tlie  Amlromdcpie,  with 
Damas,  Charlus,  and  de  I^aval,  to  carry  the  news  of  the 
ca})itulation. 

During  the  French  lievolution  he  was  captain  of  the  body 
guards  of  Iving  rslaximilien  of  l>avaria,  who  was   particularly 


'«Sce  Vol.  I.,  page  i: 


102  The  French  in  America. 

fond  of  liini.  He  diod  sixteen  years  befoi'c  liis  brotlior,  leav- 
ing two  sons,  Ciuirles  and  Chi'istian,  of  wliom  the  first  pei'- 
islied  at  Borodino.  The  Deux-Ponts  and,  I  tliiidc,  all  the 
superior  officers  were  members  of  the  order  of  the  CInclnnaii. 

Pii.LEMBOUKG  (Ciievalier  de  Hoehn,  rhilIppe-FrederI(!), 
born  the  IGth  of  June,  1759;  snb-licutcnant  of  grenadiers  of 
Ivoyal-Dcux-Ponts  the  ISth  of  October,  1777  ;  second  lieuten- 
ant the  2'2d  of  July,  1779;  was  at  the  attack  of  the  redoubt 
of  Yorktown  the  14th  of  October,  1781,  and  received  a  re- 
ward for  the  courage  he  showed  there. 

Dillon.  This  family  belongs  to  a  very  noble  house  of 
Irish  origin,  Avhose  members  received  on  three  several  occa- 
sions the  titles  of  Viscounts  of  Dillon,  Counts  of  Iloscommon, 
and  Lords  Clonbrock.  After  the  fdl  of  James  the  Second, 
Arthur  de  Dillon,  the  best  known  (1070-1733),  entered  the 
service  in  Fj'ance,  and  was  jjlaced  by  Louis  the  Fifteenth  at 
the  hea<l  of  his  Irish  guard,  which  took  the  name  of  regi- 
ment of  Dillon.''^'  lie  married  Christiana  Slieldon,  by  whom 
he  had  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  all  reached  high 
positions. 

Dillon  (Arthur,  Count  de),  grandson  of  the  former,  born 
at  Bray  wick,  in  Ireland,  the  3d  of  Septem'oer,  1750.  While 
still  a  child  Ik;  was  aj^pointcd  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  his 
name  in  the  service  of  France,  passed  to  the  Antilles  with  a 
battalion  of  his  regiment,  under  command  of  de  Bouille,  in 
1777,  and  helped  in  the  capture  of  Grenada,  Saint  Eustatius, 
Tabago,  and  Saint  Christoj^her.  lie  was  appointed  governor  of 
these  last  two  Islands.  lie  was  present  also  at  the  fruitless 
attack  on  Savannah,  went  to  Yorktown  with  the  troops  led 
by  the  IManpiis   de    Saint-Simon,    was  wounded   betbre  Glou- 


'See  the  historioul  notice  of  this  regiment. 


Ust  of  Officers.  103 

ccstcr,"''  'iiitl  returned  to  the  Antilles  witli  lilm."''  lie  mar- 
nVl  Lucie,  daugliter  of  the  Count  de  lloth,  who  died  in  1782. 
Afterwards  lie  married  a  widow,  cousin  of  the  Empress  Jo- 
sephine, Cotinle.-s  Delatouche,  by  wliom  he  liad  two  daughters. 
One  of  them,  Fanny,  was  married  to  General  Count  Bert- 
rand,  so  famous  for  liis  fidelity  to  Xapoleon. 

Having  returned  to  France  at  the  peace,  Count  Arthur 
Dillon  favored  the  cause  of  the  Revolution  of  17 89.  Still, 
appointed  deputy  IVom  ^Martinique  to  the  States  General,  he 
sometimes  voted  against  the  llevolutionists.  He  received,  in 
1792,  the  command  of  an  army  corps,  at  whose  head  he 
fought  against  the  Prussians ;  but  he  protested  against  the 
insurrection  of  the  10th  of  August;  then,  the  12t]]  of  Octo- 
ber, 1792,  he  retook  Verdun  from  the  Prussians,  yet  he  was 
wrongfully  accused  of  having  oi-ganizcd  a  conspiracy  to  save 
the  Dantonistcs.  He  was  arrested  in  1793,  and  freed  by 
Garat;  arrested  again  in  July,  he  was  defended  by  Desmou- 
lins,  vv'ho  compromised  him.  He  perished  on  the  scaffold 
the  13th  of  April,  1794. 

Many  members  of  his  family  were  in  the  service  of  France, 
so  that  contemporary  writers  often  mistake  them  for  one 
another.^^"  Thus  we  find  in  the  Archives  of  War  the  fol- 
lowing account : — 

Dillon  (Bartlu'lemy),  born  the  17th  of  October,  1729,  in 
Ireland;  lieutenant-colonel  the  2-1  th  of  June,  1780;  married 
Mademoiselle  de  La  Bourdonnaie,  widow  of  the  Marquis  de 
Montlerim,  and  no  mention  of  his  acts  in  the  service. 

From  the  memoirs  of  Lanzun  and  of  Mathieu  Duniiis,  and 
from  the  Altiianach   Tlojjal  for    1781,   it    appears    also   that: 

'**  Mentioned  by  Rorhanibeuu. 

'""De  Noailles  atul  de  Dillon  fought  a  duel  on  the  eveninj;  of  the 
6tli  of  September,  1780,  for  a  matter  which  is  not  worth  menliouing," 
says  Blanchard. 

'"'See  in  the  List  of  Oflioers:  Billy  DiUou. 


104  The  French  in  America. 

Dillon  (Count  t-Alouai-d)  was  also  wounded  M'hile  under 
the  command  of  d'Estainf^  at  the  action  of  Grenada  the  otli 
of  July,  1770,  a,2;ainst  Admiral  Byron,  Pie  commanded  the 
column  of  the  centre,  and  Arthur  the  one  of  the  right.  Born 
in  1751,  died  in  1839.  Colo)iel,  the  2d  of  Decemlxn*,  1781, 
of  the  regituent  of  Provence,  he  followed  the  Bourbons  in 
their  emigration,  and  returned  w'ith  them  in  1814.  lie  was 
then  appointed  lieutenant-general. 

Dillon  (Robert),  embarked  on  the  23d  of  March,  1781, 
at  Brest,  on  the  Coiwordr,  with  the  six  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  remaining  men  of  ihe  regiment  of  his  name,  under  com- 
mand of  de  Lauzun.  He  distinguished  himself  before  (Jlou- 
cester  in  a  charge  against  Tarleton,  and  commanded,  during 
the  return  to  Boston,  the  cavalry  of  Lauzun,  wdiich  he  brought 
back  to  France.  He  reconnoitercd  on  the  right  of  the  army 
between  AVilliamsburg  and  Boston. 

llobcrt  Dillon  had  made  the  campaign  of  1778  as  aid-de- 
camp of  de  Lauzun.  "  He  was  tliere  the  liero  of  an  adven- 
ture of  which  our  modern  dramatists  would  avail  themselves 
of  with  profit  if  it  Ciime  to  their  knowledge."^'^ 

DiLT-ON  (Count  Theobald),  colonel  en  secoufJ  of  the  regi- 
ment of  Dillon  ;  marechal  de  camp  the  13th  of  June,  1783. 
Served  under  lu>chand)eau  in  1792.'^'"  Assassinated  by  his 
soldiers  in  April,   1792. 

In  a  pamphlet  of  the  day  of  which  I  have  a  co]n',  "^Ic- 
curatc  account  of  the  capture  of  the  htawl.-i  of  Saint  J'Ju-'<tatius, 
Saint  Martin,  and  *SVi/yf;,  whcrr  iccj-e  found  tu-o  iniliions  J)rh»ajing 
to  Adinind  liodnei/j"^^^  the  ^lanpiis  de  Pxtuillc  praises  warndy 
the  conduct  of  the  Dillons,  of  de  la  Fresne,  and  others. 

'"See  Mhnolrcs  of  tlie  Ctnmt  i\o  Pontsiband,  page  1S7. 

'^"In  the  Army  of  the  North.     ]\I;u-<:;iii:il  note. 

^^ Detail  circonskuiti,'  dr  la  pri>ir  <h's  //r,>-  Sn'titt-JAisfacJie,  S'xi)lt■^[(t)•t^n 
et  Saha,  dans  ksriuiis  U  x'ctil  (ronir  drux  )iul!u)its  ap])artciiant  a  I'aiitirul 
Eodney. 


JJst  of  Officers.  105 

DoLOMiEU  i)E  ^Marguerite  (Cliarlcs-Franyois-Sebasticn, 
Chevalier),  born  at  Falaisc  the  21st  of  March,  1740;  captain 
the  9th  of  DoctMnbcr,  1780,  in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge  ; 
made   with  this  rank  tlie  campaign  of  America. 

DoiTERGUE  DE  Saint-Feorent  (Franyois-Isaac),  born  in 
1742  at  Conse  in  Languedoc,  twenty-one  years  of  service,  three 
cami)aigns  in  Germany,  six  in  tlic  colonies  ;  captain-command- 
ant of  Gatinais  the  IGth  of  Jnne,  1775;  was  decorated  with 
tlie  order  of  Saint-Tjonis  ibr  his  good  conduct  before  York- 
town,  whore  he  took   part  in  the  attack  of  tlie   redoubt. 

DoRRE  (FidMe),  volunteer,  recommended  on  the  29th  of 
July,  1770,  by  Congress  to  Washington,  that  he  shouUl  give 
jiim  emj)loyment  suited  to  his  ability. 

Dorset  (Chevalier),  adiuitted  as  lieutenant  in  the  volun- 
teers who  had  gone  to  America  with  Tronson-Ducoudray,  the 
17th  of  November,  1777.  Congress  gave  him  a  reward  to 
enable  him  to  return  to  France. 

DouviEEE,  infantry  ofllcer,  killed  at  the  naval  action  off 
Saint  Lucia  the   U)th  of  May,  17S0. 

DoYRE  or  D'Oyre,  son  of  a  mark-hal  dc  camp,  director  of 
the  fortifications  of  the  towns  of  the  jNleuse.  He  was  captain 
in  the  royal  cor])s  of  engineers,  and  directed  in  this  position 
part  of  the  laying  down  of  parallels  before  Yorktown.  His 
merit  brought  him  a  j)ension. 

Drouieiiet  DE  FiCJALAS  (Ignace),  born  the  2Gtli  of  Sep- 
tember, 1755,  at  ]\rarmande  ;  entered  the  service  in  1770  as 
lieutenant  of  tlie  grenadiers  of  .Vgenois.  \n  the  tlilse  attack 
made  against  the  right  of  the  enemy  on  the  1st  of  Sc^ptem- 
bcr  before  Yorktown  he  received  a  severe  wmnid,  from  which 


106  The  French  in  America. 

it  was  feartxl  he  would  remain  cri])ple<l.     The  1st  of  Decem- 
ber,  ]78],  lie  was  appointed  eaj)tain. 

Dkude  dk  la  Caterie  (Julien),  born  at  Vire,  in  Nor- 
mandy, tlic  1st  of  August,  1742.  He  entered  the  service  in 
1761.  He  h.ad  made  two  campaigns  in  Germany  and  tAvo  in 
Corsica,  when  he  was  appointed  captain  in  the  regiment  of 
Soissonnais  the  19th  of  March,  1780.  He  went  with  tlie 
expeditionary  corps  to  America,  wliere  he  gave  proofs  of 
bravery.  He  was  decorated  for  iiis  good  conduct  before  York- 
town. 

Dubois  (]jonis),  enlisted  as  volantccr ;  received,  witli  the 
title  of  colonel,  the  commajid  of  a  battalion  newly  rdi^M]  for 
the  army  of  Canada  on  the  26th  of  June,   1776.^''^*^' 

Du  Buissox.     See  Buissox. 

DuciiivSXE.     See  Ciiesxe. 

DucoUDitAY  (Pliilii)])e-Charles- Jean -Baptiste  Tronson-),'^ 
born  at  lleims  the  8th  of  September,  17o8,  the  third  of  ten 
children,  amongst  whom  we  must  mention  more  es]x'cially 
Guillaume-Alexandre  Tronson-Dacoudray,  defender  of  Queen 
Marie  Antoinette. 

Entering  the  service,  he  obtained  the  rank  of  lieutenant  of 
artillery  in  the  reginuMit  of  l^a  Fere,  and  deserved  the  con- 
fidence of  de  Gribeauval,  one  of  the  reformers  of  the  artillery 
in  France.  Amid  comj)anions  in  arms  who  were  ahnost  all 
nobles,  the  rather  modest  position  of  his  lamily,  which  was 
in  trade,  kei)t  him  long  iu  the  category  of  blue  ojjicers,  name 
given  to  officers  from  the  lower  classes. 


'"  Aubertcuil. 

'^  Resigned  2Slh  October,  177(),  by  leave  of  Coiisi'oss.     .Marginal  note 
by  T.  ]?. 

"*  Manuscript  cumniunicatcd  by  M.  Michelin  Tronsun-Ducoudray. 


JJM  of  Ojjicers.  107 

Of  a  naturally  ar!il)iti(ju.s  and  rather  iiaughty  character,  he 
found  it  hard  to  bear  the  consequences  of  this  })osition,  which 
wounded  his  vanity,  and  fonjjht  more  tlian  thirty  duels  after 
enteriuij^  the  rep,'in)cnt.  It  Avas  doubtless  to  these  social  dis- 
tinctions and  to  the  jars  (hat  resulted  therefrom  that  we  must 
attribute  the  unlcindly  judgment  that  the  Marquis  de  La  i^'ay- 
ette  gave  of  Tronson-])ucoudray,  saying  that  he  did  not  look 
on   his  death  as  a  loss. 

In  1770  he  be«une  chief  of  brigade  of  artillery  and  pre- 
cej)tor  of  the  ])ages  of  the  Count  d'Artois,  afterwards  Charles 
the  'i'enth,  and  formed  part  of  the  first  expedition  sent  by 
Beaumarchais  with  some  fifty  French  officers.  There  were 
three  vessels  laden  with  arms  and  ammunition,  of  which  the 
strongest  was  the  AmjjJutrite,  Captain  Fautrelle.  This  ship 
was  to  start  from  Havre  in  Dcccnd)er,  1770  ;  but  the  lazi- 
ness of  Ducoudray  resulted  in  its  still  being  at  Lorient  at  the 
end  of  Jamiary,  1777.  After  several  mishaps,  it  finally  ar- 
rived at  Portsmoutli   in  ]March,   1777. 

The  17th  of  Sej)tcmber,  1777,  lie  was  on  the  march  with 
u  troop  of  French  olficers  to  join  Washington,  w^hen,  while 
crossing  the  Schuylkill,  the  young  and  skittish  horse  he  w-as 
riding  backed  off  the  fiat  boat  where  he  had  embarked. 
Horse  and  rider  fell  into  the  river  and  were  drowned.  His 
aid-de-camp  Roger  tried  in  vain  to  save  him.^^'  The  body  of 
Ducoudray  was  buried  a  few  days  later  at  the  expense  of 
Congress. 

The  iiunily  Tronson-Ducoudray  is  represented  to-day  by  a 
daughter  of  G ail laume- Alexandre,  who  has  herself  two  chil- 
dren ;  a  son,  Miehelin  Tronson-Ducoudray,  inspector-general 
of  finances,  and  a  daughter  married  to  lulouard  Laboulaye, 
member  of  the  Institute,  member  of  the  National  Assembly, 
and  a  distinguished  writer. 

The  writings  <>i   Tronson-Ducoudrav  arc  all  about  artillery. 


•"See  Vol.  I.,  page  SO. 


lOS  The  Frcncli  in  Arncrica. 

DuDKOT  (Marc-Antoine),  born  at  Charleville  tho  lOtli  of 
Janiuiiy,  1743  ;  ap])ointed  captain-commandant  of  grenadiers 
in  tlie  regiment  of  Gatinais  the  23d  of  April,  1773,  and  made 
with  this  mnk  the  campaign  of  America,  ile  took  part  at 
the  head  of  his  company  in  tlic  attack  of  tlic  great  redoul)t, 
and  was  decorated  with  the  order  of  Saint-Louis  after  tlie 
capture  of  York  town. 

DuGAX,  enlisted  as  volunteer,  and  received,  among  the  first, 
on  the  27th  of  April,  1776,  a  reward  from  the  American 
Government  for  his  services  in  the  campaign  of  Canada,  and 
was  recommended  to  the  generals  of  the  Continental  Army  to 
be  employed  according  to  his  merit.  He  served  afterwards 
under  the  orders  of  de  ]x)nille.  I  find  his  name,  and,  T  think, 
his  portrait  also,  in  the  "Collection  of  engrurinris  reprexciitinr/ 
the  different  events  of  the  icar  lohich  brought  about  the  fniJejxnd- 
ence  of  the  United  Statej^  of  America."  Drawn  by  Codefroy, 
17  sheets.  ^'^ 

Dumas  (Count  ^rathieu),  born  at  Montpellicr  in  1753,  is 
silent  in  his  own  memoirs  about  his  origin  and  about  his  fam- 
ily, w^hich,  it  seems,  was  numerous.  He  entered  as  sub-lieu- 
tenant the  regiment  of  ^Nledoc  at  Montauban,  in  the  spring 
of  1773.  Appointed  captain  in  17S0,  he  was  attached  as  aid- 
de-camp  to  CTcncnd  Ivochambeau,  and  embarked  at  Brest,  the 
12th  of  April,  17S(),  on  the  Jason,  commanded  by  the  brave 
Captain  La  Cloehelterie  ;  but,  held  back  by  head  winds,  they 
only  sailed  on  the  2d  of  May.  During  the  whole  cam])aign 
he  served  as  oiliccr  in  the  engineers,  and  was  intrusted,  with 
his  friend  Charles  de  Lamcth,  with  leading  the  grenadiers  and 
the  cJKisseur.s  who  were  to  occupy,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
sictro  of  Yorktowu,  the  strong;  redoubt  of  Pii^con  Hill.      This 


^^ Rccucil  (Vcytantpcs  rrpn'sevtant  lea  dijlYrcnts  rrninncnts  (h-  l<i  (juirrc  rjui 
a  procuree  I'indtpoulance  dcs  Etats-Unii  iVAtnh-iquc. 


JAM  of  Officers.  109 

redoubt  M'as  already  al)aii(l()nc(]  by  llie  EiiL^b'.^li  and  not  a 
single  sliot  was  lired  there.  A  few  days  later  his  friend  de 
Laraeth,  who  had  just  re])laced  hi)ii  in  the  Irenehes,  was 
severely  wounded.  A\'hen  Count  de  ]\,oeiiainl)eaii  had  lell 
America,  Dunuis  ^;tayed  as  chier  of  ^tail"  under  the  orders  ot" 
the  15aron  de  ViouK'nil,  then  he  enibarlccd  with  this  general 
officer  the  24th  of  December,  1782,  on  the  Triomphant,  Com- 
mander de  Yaudrcuil,  to  go  to  Porto  Cabello  in  Venezuela. 
There  lie  explored  the  country  in  company  with  de  Segur,  de 
Broglie,  the  ]\Jar(|uis  de  Campccnetz,  Berthier  the  future  mar- 
shal. Count  ]jozon  de  l\'rigoi-d,  J)esoteux,  ajid  others,  and 
found  at  Caracas  the  ^Nlaripu's  de  l^^leury,  the  Duke  de  Ijaval, 
and  Alexandre  de  Lameth.  He  then  went  to  Capo  Fran- 
9ais,  Saint  Domingo,  and  afterwards  returned  to  Paris.  In 
1784  he  ^vas  ordered  to  cx])lore  the  coasts  of  the  cast  of  the 
Mediterranean  and  the  islands   in  the  Archipelago. 

On  his  rctuin  from  this  mission  he  organized  with  La 
Fayette  the  Natic^nal  Cuard,  escorted  the  king  and  protected 
him  while  returning  from  Varenncs,  and  fought  then  with 
might  and  main  against  the  anarchists.  Obliged  to  exile  him- 
self during  the  Terror,  he  reappears  after  the  18th  Brumaire 
and  served  in  the  administration  of  the  Em})ire.  He  hel[)cd 
the  Revolution  in  1830,  was  made  peer  of  France  in  1831 
and  died   in   1837.^'^ 

Dui'ETiT-TiKHiAits  (Gcorgcs- Aristidc- Aubcrt),  born  near 
Saumur  in  17G0.  lie  studied  at  the  College  of  la  Flcche ; 
entered  at  the  age  of  fourteen  the  ]\rditary  School  of  Paris. 
Cadet  gcniUliomme  in  the  regiment  of  Poitou  iii  1770;  sub- 
lieutenant in  1778.  ^Midshipman  in  the  navy  the  l.-~t  of 
March,  1778,  he  embarked  on  the  Fendant  and  took  ])art  in 
the  battle  of  Ouessant.     In  the  same  ship  he  was  present,  in 

"°I  have  cited  his  Souvenirs  in  several  places  in  the  fii>'t  volume. 
They  were  published  by  his  son  in  lS3i». 


110  The  French  in  America. 

1779,  at  the  capture  of  Saint  Louis  in  Senefi;al  and  at  the 
three  actions  which  dc  Guichen  fouglit  in  the  Antilles  in  1780. 
In  1781  he  changed  to  the  Cowonne,  and  returned  to  the 
Antilles  soon  enough  to  be  present  at  tlic  unfortunate  action 
of  the  12th  of  April,  1782.  He  visited  the  j)orts  of  the 
United  States,  the  Antilles,  and  Porto  Cabello.  Ensign  in 
1784,  I  have  often  used  the  manuscript^*'''  mentioned  as  by 
Duj:)etit-Thouars,  &specially  in  the  account  of  the  o})erations 
of  the  siege  of  Savannah. 

Naval  lieutenant  in  1702,  he  left  with  his  l)rother  to  sairch 
for  Lu  Pcrouse,  but  was  arrested  in  Brazil,  where  his  vessel 
went  ashore  and  was  confiscated.  He  went  to  the  United 
States  and  spent  there  the  years  1795  and  179(j.  He  tiien 
wisl'.ed  to  return  to  France.  But  his  rank  had  been  taken 
away  from  him.  He  received  an  offer  of  reinstatement.  He 
Icfl  Toulon  the  19th  of  May,  1798,  on  the  Franhlin,  which 
formed  part  of  the  fleet  under  command  of  Brueys.  The  1st 
of  August,   1798,  he  perished  at  the  battle  of  Aboukir.*" 

DuPLECix  (Colonel).'*^- 

DuPLEix  (Girard-Joan-Baptiste,  Chevalier  de  Cadignan  or 
de  Badiguay),  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Agenois 
the  19th  of  August,  1777  ;  distinguished  himself  es})ccially 
at  the  capture  of  Saint  Christopher. 

Du  PoxcEAU  (Pierre-]^]ticnne),  born  at  the  Island  of  Be  tlie 
3d  of  June,  1700,  where  his  father  held  a  military  command. 
He  showed  as  a  boy  much  ability  in  tlic  study  of  languages. 
Before  he  was  thirteen  years  old  he  knew  English  and  Italian 
thoroughly.     His  father  intended  him   for  an  engineer  in  the 


'*«See  Vol.  I.,  page  10. 

"•"At  Paris  mid  at  Cuhiis   there   were  stixetd   named  after  Dupetit- 
Thouurs.    There  is  also  a  Cape  Dupetit-Thouais  in  Korea.     E.  S.  B. 
'**See  Landais  Memoirs,  9.    ^Marginal  nute  by  T.  B. 


List  of  Officers.  Ill 

army,  but  lie  was  obliged  to  abandon  this  airccr  bcaiuse  he 
was  sliortsiglited  ;  he  was  then  sent  to  a  college  of  Benedictine 
monks  at  Saint-Jcan-d'AngC-ly.  Having  stayed  there  eighteen 
months  he  returned  to  the  Island  of  lie,  where  his  father  had 
just  died.  His  mother  wished  him  to  become  a  priest.  He 
long  resisted  her  desires,  because  he  had  embraced  the  })rin- 
ciples  of  Protestantism  ;  but  his  friends  pushed  him  on,  and 
lie  received  the  tonsure.  He  was  then  about  fifteen  years  of 
age.  The  }5ishop  of  La  Rochelle,  M'ho  was  a  friend  of  his 
family,  sent  him  as  regent  to  the  College  of  Bressuire,  where 
he  taught  Latin.  The  i)ersecutions  he  had  to  endure  from 
the  other  professors,  older  than  himself  by  nine  or  ten  years, 
caused  him  to  escape  from  the  college,  which  he  did  on 
Christmas  Day,  1775,  with  a  shirt  in  one  pocket  and  "Para- 
disc   Lost"   in   the  other. 

He  went  to  Versailles,  where  there  were  old  friends  of  his 
father,  who  received  him  with  kindness.  Going  thence  to 
Paris,  he  made  his  living  by  translating  English  books.  At 
de  Bcaumarchais'  he  was  presented  to  the  Baron  von  Steuben, 
at  the  time  when  Steuben  was  about  to  start  for  xVmerica. 
The  Baron  needed  a  secretary  who  could  speak  and  write 
English.     Du  Ponceau  suited  him. 

They  embarked  at  Marseilles,  and  arrived  at  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  the  1st  of  December,  1777.  As  the  Baron 
could  not  speak  a  word  of  English  his  secretary  accompanied 
him  everywhere.  At  a  dinner  at  George  Langdon's  they 
learned  the  defeat  of  General  Burgoyne. 

In  Boston  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  many  eminent  men, 
among  whom  were  •]o\in  Hancock  and  Samuel  Adams.  The 
latter,  hearing  Du  Ponceau  upholding  Eepublican  principles, 
asked  him  wliere  he  had  found  them.  He  answered,  "  In 
France."  Adams  said  that  was  impossible,  but  Du  Ponceau 
answered  immediately,  "  ]3ccause  a  man  is  born  in  a  stable  it 
is  not  necessary  that  he  should  be  a  horse."  This  proverb  was 
borrowed  by   Du   Ponceau  from  his  mother  tongue. 


112  The  French  in  America. 

Thev  were  three  weeks  going  from  lioston  to  York,  in 
Pennsylvania,  wliere  Congress  was  sitting.  At  the  request  of 
the  Baron,  Du  Ponecau  was  api)ointed   captain  in  the  army. 

At  Valley  Forge  Du  Ponceau  was  presented  to  General 
Washington,  and  endured  with  him  and  his  army  of  recruits 
the  sufferings  of  a  severe  winter. 

Baron  von  Steuben  having  been  appointed  major-genend, 
du  Ponceau  became  his  aid-de-camp,  with  the  rank  of  major. 
At  the  end  of  the  campaign  of  1779  the  Baron  and  his  sec- 
retary came  to  Pliiladelphia,  wlierc  Du  Ponceau  was  attacked 
with  trouble  in  his  lungs,  and  his  case  seemed  desperate  to  his 
physician.  To  cure  himself  he  lived  on  nothing  but  milk. 
At  the  same  tiuie  he  wrote  satires  on  consum})tion. 

Baron  von  Steuben  received  orders  to  join  General  Greene, 
who  had  been  put  in  couuuand  of  the  Army  of  the  South. 
Du  Ponceau,  thinking  that  riding  on  horseback  would  do  him 
good,  obtained  from  the  Baron  permission  to  go  with  him. 
His  heidth  grew  worse  in  Virginia,  and  at  the  express  wish 
of  the  Baron  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  soon 
appointed  secretary  of  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Secretary  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  who  was  living  in  a  house  at  the  corner  of 
Chestnut  and  Ninth  Streets,  where  Du  Poncciui  remained  until 
his  deatli.^''^  Pie  occupied  the  office  which  was  formerly  Mr. 
Livingston's. 

At  tlie  end  of  the  war  Du  Ponceau  decided  to  become  a 
lawyer.  He  studied  with  William  Lewis,  an  eminent  lawyer 
of  Philadelphia,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1785, 
and  soon  obtained  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  married 
in  1786. 

President  Jefferson  offered  him  tlie  position  of  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  which  lie  declined. 


^"Between  "Walnut  and  Spriu-e  Street*',  rhiladeli>lna,  opposite  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital,  is  a  small  street  called  Duponceau  :^troet. 
E.  S.  B. 


Lif^t  of  Officers.  113 

He  was  an  active  iiit'inbcr  of  several  societies  in  Pliiladcl- 
phia.  Aniong  tlie  offices  which  he  tilled  were  iliat  of  Chief 
Provost  of  the  Acadeniy  of  I.a\\-,  of  the  American  Philo-ophical 
Society,  and  President  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Thanks  to  several  learned  writings,  he  was  elected  in 
1827  corresponding  member  of  the  Institute  of  Fi'ance, 
Academy  oi'  I.nscri[)tion>,  and  in  1835  he  received  froin  this 
celebrated  body  the  pri/e  of  Iinf/iii.-<'iqi(c  founded    by  Yolney. 

In  1829  he  took  a  large  part  in  the  attempt  to  introduce 
silk   worms  into  the   United  States. 

Besides  being  nearsighted  he  was  very  absent  minded,  and 
some  amusing  anecdotes  are  told  of  him.  He  died  in  Phila- 
delphia the  1st  of  A])ril,  1844.  Among  the  papers  of  Du 
Ponceau  was  ibund   an    intcre.~ting  biography. 

DUPONT    D'AuiiEVOYJO   DK  I^AUBARDIJCKES  (Louis-Fraucois- 

Bertrand),  born  the  27th  of  October,  1759  ;  student  of  the 
Military  School  of  Cadets  in  177G  ;  entered  as  sub-lieutenant 
the  regiment  of  Saintonge  the  30th  of  January,  1778;  made 
tlie  campaign  of  America  with  the  rank  of  captain,  in  the 
position  of  aid-de-camp  to  Count  Rochambeau,  whose  nephew 
he  was.  After  the  Ciipture  of  Yorktown  he  obtained,  with- 
out paying  anything,  tlie  position  of  captain  in  waiting  of 
cavalry,  as  a  reward  Ibr  his  distinguished  conduct. 

DuPOHTAii.  (Louis  liC  Begue),  student  at  the  Military 
School  of  ^Nlczieres;  entered  the  engineers  as  officer  in  17()1; 
captain  in  1773.  The  28t]i  of  July,  1777,  he  was  sent  to 
America  by  Franklin  with  Gouvion,  Padiere,  and  Laumoy. 
He  obtained  from  Congress  the  title  of  chief  engineer  with 
the  rank  of  colonel;  brigadier-general  the  17th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1777.  Tlie  25th  of  April,  1780,  he  was  attached  as 
lieutenant-c()h»nel  to  the  corps  of  I'rench  infantry,  and  dur- 
ing the  siege  of  Yorktown  he  directed,  under  the  orders  of 
Desandroins,  the   work  on   the  trenches.      He   is  one  of  the 


114  The  French  in  America. 

higlier  officers  M'hom  ^^''asllington  mentions  particularly  as 
having  most  helped  in  tlie  ca])turc.  lie  obtained  afterwards 
the  cross  of  Saint-Ijoiiis,  with  a  pension  of  twenty-four  hun- 
dred Hires  and  the  promise  of  the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
after  the  peace.  Congress,  on  its  side,  raised  him  to  the 
rank  of  major-general.  He  returned  to  France,  -where  he  was 
marcchal  de  camp  in  1788.  Through  tlie  influence  of  La 
Fayette  he  obtained,  the  16th  of  November,  1790,  the  port- 
folio of  minister  of  M-ar.  lie  resigned  after  tlie  disgrace  of 
La  Fayette;  was  condemned  by  accusation  on  the  loth  of 
August,  1702,  and  hid  in  Paris  lor  twenty-two  months.  In 
1704  he  lied  to  America,  and  on  the  28th  of  June,  1707, 
Mathieu  Dumas  succeeded  in  having  his  name  struck  off  the 
list  of  emigrants.  He  died  at  sea.  while  ]-eturning  to  France 
in   1804.^^^ 

DuRAXD,  agent  of  de  Choiseul  at  London  from  17GG  to 
1770. 

Beaumarchais  also  took  this  name  in  December,  1776, 
when  he  went  to  Havre  to  send  ammunition  and  guns  to 
America  -with  Tronson-Ducoudray  and  some  fifty  officers. 

It  was  also  the  name  of  a  friend  of  Beaumarchais  who 
accompanied  him  to  London  about  the  sale  of  guns  to  the 
French  Government  in   1793. 

DuKAT  (Count  de),  coh)ncl  en  second  of  the  regiment  of 
Cambrcsis,  commanding  the  fifty  volunteers  and  the  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  grenadiers  who  composed  the  vanguard  of 
the  column  of  attiick  against  Grenada,  under  d'llstaing,  in 
July,  1770.  It  is  supposed  that  he  was  present  at  the  attack 
of  Savannah. 

*** Among  the  numerous  literary  ouricsities  wlnoh  I  have  examined 
is  "Love  and  ]'atr!olls-)ii,  or  tlic  extraordinary  adventures  of  ^Ir.  Du- 
portail,  late  major-general  in  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  1797. 
12mo.,  pp.  120." 


List  of  Officers.  115 

DuRSUS  or  DuRSiF,  (Jaoquc-s-riiili])pc-Anp;ustc),  bovn  the 
26th  of  April,  1758,  at  Moiuleville,  in  the  gencraliU  of  Caen; 
lientcnant  in  the  rcciimcnt  of  Soissonnais  in  1774;  was  se- 
verely wounded  at  tiic  siege  of  Yorktown  during-  the  night 
of  the  12th  to  the  IStli  of  October  while  laying  out  the  sec- 
ond parallel.""' 

DuTERTRE,  oflicer  of  the  hussars  of  I/auzun  ;  slightly 
wounded  the  -Ith  of  October  before  Gloucester.^'^ 

E. 

Ecoussix  (Jcan-Grcgoire  Duvales  d'),  born  the  27th  of 
January,  174G,  at  Montiuorin  in  Languedoc ;  served  since 
1703;  was  wounded  at  Borgo,  in  Corsica,  the  8th  of  Octo- 
ber, 17oS,  by  a  shot  in  the  left  thigh  ;  captain  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Soissonnais  tlic  15th  of  April,  1780  ;  made  the  cam- 
paign of  America,  and  received  a  reward  for  his  good  conduct 
before  Yorktown. 

Eglise  (De  L'),  volunteer  in  the  Army  of  the  North  ; 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  the  23d  of  October,   1778. 

Em^^^riau  (Maurice- Julien,  Count),  vice-admiral,  peer  of 
France;  born  at  Carhaix,  Finistere,  the  20th  of  October,  1762; 
a  descendant  of  an  old  family  of  Scotch  descent ;  embarked  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  on  the  ^ijlplic.  Volunteer  on  the  TntrC-- 
pidc  and  the  JTiadhnc,  he  was  present  at  the  action  of  Oues- 
sant,  at  the  attack  and  capture  of  Grenada,  where  he  was 
one  of  the  foremost  in  the  storming ;  at  the  action  of  the  4th 
of  July,  1771>,  in  front  of  that  island,  as  well  as  in  those 
of  the  20th,  21st,  and  22d  of  :\rarch,  1780,  in  one  of  which 


'®.-lrt7iur.s  of  liar  and  Cromot  Dnhouri:. 

*"  Mentioned  in  tlie  Mcmolrcs  of  llocluiiubcau. 


116  The  French  in  America. 

lie  -was  Avoundofl  in  tlic  riglit  foot.  At  the  siege  of  Savan- 
nah, in  Scptenil)cr,  17S0,  young  Emeriau  Avas  employed  in 
erecting  batteries,  and  at  the  time  of  the  general  attack  lie 
was  one  of  the  iirst  to  jump  into  the  trenches  and  was  se- 
verely wounded  in  the  right  eye.  His  good  conduct  in  this 
combat  made  d'Estaing  apjjoint  him  lieutenant  of  frigate.  He 
was  only  seventeen  years  of  age.  At  the  end  of  tlie  war  he 
received  the  decoration  of  the  Cinciimati.  In  November,  1781, 
lie  embarked  at  Brest  on  the  Triomphant,  Ca])tain  dc  Vau- 
dreuil,  of  the  squadron  of  the  Count  de  Grassc,  and  was  pj-es- 
ent  at  the  actions  of  the  9th  and  12tli  of  April,  fought  with 
Admiral  Rodney.  In  the  last  of  these  combats  a  splinter  from 
a  cannon  ball  wounded  Emeriau  in  the  small  of  the  back, 
anotlun*  wounded  him  in  the  groin.  The  ca])tain  of  the  Tri- 
omphanf  was  killed  and  the  shij)  lost  three  hundred  men. 

Emeriau  was  appointed  naval  lieutenant  in  1780,  captain  in 
1794,  chief  of  S(juadron  in  1797.  He  had  his  arm  shattered 
at  Aboukir  in  1798  on  the  Spartiafc  while  resisting  five  Eng- 
lish ships,  and  was  obliged  to  surrender.  In  1800  he  was 
made  military  commander  of  the  port  of  Toulon;  in  1802 
rear-admiral.  Every  advance  in  rank  or  distinction  he  won, 
was  the  reward  of  some  service.  Count  of  the  Empire  in 
1810,  vice-admiral  in  1811,  peer  of  France  in  1815,  ho 
kept  aloof  during  the  "Hundred  Days,"  and  was  called  back 
to  high   office  in   1831   by  Louis  Philippe. 

Epixiehes  (Des),  ]ie])hew  of  C\iron  dc  Beaumarchais,  en- 
listed as  volunteer  ;  appointed  brevet-captain  by  Congress  the 
11th  of  ^Vugust,  1777;  afterwards  appointed  major;  obtained 
permission  to  return  to  France  the  Ith  of  December,  1778, 
and  dieel  at  Paris  in  1782.  He  was  the  son  of  a  watch- 
maker, de  ljej>ine,  and  had  transformed  his  ntime.  He  started 
in  the  position  of  artillery  otlicer  on  the  Ainjiliiirite^  the  tirst 
vessel  armed  by  his  uncle  for  the  service  of  the  ^Vmeric^uis. 
He  was  with  Conway,   de   la   Bouerie,  and    Dncoudray,    who 


Lid  oj  Officers.  117 

all  arrived   in  America  in  March,  1777,  before  La  Fayette."^ 
Longclianips  calls  hi  in  IJc'ipinih-cs. 

EscURY  (Edouard  des),  born  the  3d  of  June,  17G0;  sub- 
lieutenant of  the  conij)any  of  clKusseurfi  in  the  regiment  of  .Vr- 
magnac ;  went  to  the  colonies  witli  that  regiment,  and  was 
present  at  the  siege  of  Savannah  in  1780.  Although  he  was 
shot  in  the  hand  during  the  sortie  of  the  4th  of  Septeinber, 
he  took  ]iart  in  tlie  bloody  and  useless  attack  on  the  intrench- 
nients  of  the  town. 

EsTAiXG  (Ciiarles-JIector,  Count  d'),  born  in  ]  729  at  the 
Chateau  de  Kuvel  in  Itouergue,  of  an  illustrious  family.  His 
first  rank  was  that  of  colonel  of  infantry.  He  endjarked  as 
brigadier  the  2d  of  May,  1757,  with  Lally-Tollendal  for  the 
East  Indies,  and  learned  thei'e  something  about  naval  matters  ; 
taken  prisoner  in  17;")!),  at  Madras,  after  having  been  wounded, 
he  was  put  in  lii)erty  on  parole.  In  October,  without  waiting 
for  his  exchange,  he  went  into  the  Persian  Gulf  to  take  the 
fort  of  Bender-Abasse,  with  three  English  vessels  ciiptured  at 
Sumatra,  manned  by  two  hundred  men.  He  was  anew  taken 
prisoner  while  returning  to  France  in  1760.  Appointed  lieu- 
tenant-general in  1703,  his  good  luck  raised  much  jealousy. 
He  showed  for  blue  ojicers^^"^  a  partiality  which  offended 
many  navy  officers.  All  say  of  him  that  he  was  a  brave 
soldier,  but  a  poor  general  or  naval  office]'. 

Vice-admiral  in  1777,  he  raised  his  ])ennant  on  the  LaiKj- 
uedoG  of  ninety  guns;  left  Toulon  on  the  13th  of  April,  1778; 
reached  llhode  Island  on  the  20i;h  of  July.  On  the  8th  of 
August  he  forced  the  passage  into  New  port,  and  entered  Con- 
necticut Jiay.  The  next  day  he  sailed  against  the  forces  of 
Howe,  who  had  joined  Byron.     A  tempest  which  raged  from 

"Me  Lonu'nie,  Life  of  Bcaumarchais. 

^'^Officiers  bleus,  name  in  the  old  navy,  applied  to  an  officer  a  captain 
appointed  on  his  own  ship.     (Littn'-.) 


lis  The  French  in  America. 

the  lull  to  the  12tli  of  Au,a;u.^t,  1778,  divided  d'Estaing's 
fleet.  The  Languedoc  only  escaped  by  the  unex])ectcd  assist- 
ance of  two  French  ships.  From  Newport,  -where  he  was 
kept  by  Sullivan  and  La  Fayette,  d'Estaing-  withdrew  to 
Boston,  and  aroused  thus  the  anger  of  the  Americans,  who 
accused  him  of  treason.  La  Fayette  defended  hira.  He  went 
to  the  Windward  Islands,  and  his  title  of  Commander-general 
of  the  Windward  Islands  aroused  the  antagonism  of  de 
Bouille.  He  tried  in  vain  to  take  Saint  Lucia,  but  captured 
Saint  Vincent  and  Grenada  on  the  4th  of  July,  1771>,  by  a 
sudden  attack,  at  the  head  of  thirteen  hundred  men.  The 
next  day  he  gave  battle  to  the  English  squadron  of  Byron, 
who  took  refuge  at  Saint  Christopher.  He  then  tried  vainly 
to  take  Savannah.^^^  Wounded  and  repulsed,  he  was  dis- 
graced in  1780  on  his  return  to  France,  and  remained  Mith- 
out  employment  until   1783. 

In  1787,  member  of  the  Assembly  of  the  Notables,  com- 
mander of  the  National  Guard  of  Versailles,  he  was  a  be- 
liever in  the  Constitution  by  principle,  but  wished  to  save 
the  king.  His  role  was  difficult.  His  deposition  about  the 
queen  before  the  Revolutionary  Tribunal  was  variously  criti- 
cised. He  soon  followed  her  to  the  scatlbld,  on  the  28{h  of 
August,  1794. 

"  D'Estaing  found  himself,  alone,  charged  with  a  very  im- 
portant mission  in  America.  Only  twelve  vessels  had  been 
intrusted  to  him,  and  no  hope  had  boon  left  him  of  any  suc- 
cor or  any  increase  of  strength.  He  might  meet,  not  only 
during  his  passage,  but  especially  in  the  Antilles,  torces  nnich 
superior  to  those  he  commanded,  and,  des])ite  this  incontest- 
able infei'iority,  he  was  able  to  raise  the  honoi-  of  llic  new 
French  navy,  to  obtain  genuine  successes,  and  dispel  the  very 
unfavoi-al)le  o})inion  then  general  in  Euro})e  on  the  possibility 
of  France   ever  placing  seriously  a   lew  vessels  on  the  ocean, 


'See  Vol.  I.,  page  SS. 


Ud  of  Opcers.  119 

and  cspocially  of  being-  able  for  one  instant  to  sustain  a 
strugcjle  with  England.  This  is  a  glory  which  the  contem- 
porary writers  accord  without  contest  to  the  French  admiral, 
a  glory  which  the  misfortunes  he  endured  and  tlie  actual  sit- 
uation  of  the  navy  of  France  has  too  much  etiliced."  ^'" 

I  lind  in  the  Journal  cV an  ojjiekr  dc  marine^'^  a  most  in- 
teresting accoiuit  of  the  manccuvrcs  of  the  fleet  of  d'Estiiing 
from  the  Dth  to  the  12th  of  August,  1778.  The  author 
blames  d'J']staing  for  "  the  worst  conceived  plan  of  battle 
possible."  Re  praises  the  ability  of  de  Barras,  who  com- 
manded the  vanguard,  but  as  soon  as  "  we  have  perceived 
the  Engli.-h  s(|uadr<jn  to  windward  "  the  author  changes  his 
criticism.  It  is  no  longer  d'Estaing,  but  the  officers  under 
his  comuiand.  He  reproaches  them  for  their  egotism  and 
their  insubordination.  "The  gcnci-al  gave  the  signal  all  day 
with  cannon  shots  to  ]nit  on  all  sail.  I  cannot  hide  that 
some  cai^tains  were  neglecti'ul  and  others  in  the  rear  took  in 
sail."  lie  says  also  that  on  the  morrow  "  d'Estaing,  in  the 
siimc  position  as  the  day  before,  gave  the  same  signal  to  form 
in  line  of  battle." 

"  The  intention  oi'  the  general,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
line,  was  doubtless  that  the  line  of  battle  should  be  formed 
as  soon  as  ])ossible,  without  regard  to  rank  or  seniority,  and 
for  each  one  to  take  his  ])osition  wherever  he  was,  which  was 
all  the  same  tor  success,  as  the  strongest  of  the  enemy's  ships 
was  not  stronger  than  the  weakest  of  ours.  I  do  not  know 
by  what  flitality,  nor  M'hy,  each  captain  understanding  the 
signal,  they  all  tried  to  take  the  position  given  to  the  rank 
of  their  ships  in  the  line  of  battle,  which  lost  nuich  time,  and 
once  more  the  best  o])portuniiy  which  was  ever  seen  to  fight 
and  conquer  the  English.  A\'c  shall  see  the  same  thing  arrive 
at  the  action  of  Grenada." 

"'^Hisioirc  raisonnee  dc  la  dcrniHrc  giurrt',  by  J.  de  Sivint-Vallior,  LiC't^e, 
1783. 

"'Vol.  II.,  page  4. 


120  The  Frenclt  in  America. 

I  quote  tlic.-c  remnrks  as  another  example  of  the  disasters 
brought  about  by  tlie  s})irit  of  iiidiUerence  and  insubordi- 
nation of  the  oili(,'ers  of  the  French  navy.  De  Grasse  in 
his  Mcmoire  ah-cady  nieniioned''"  attributes  to  the  same  causes 
the  fatal  consequences    of  the  action  of  the  12th  of  April. "^ 

EsTRADE  (Claude,  ]>aron  de  1'),  born  at  Puy-cn-Velay 
the  5th  of  April,  1730,  entered  the  service  in  1740,  was  ap- 
pointed captain  in  1757,  and  lieutenant-colonel  of  Gatinais 
the  17th  of  August,  1777.  It  was  with  this  rank  that  he 
made  the  carn})aign  of  America.  The  14th  of  October,  17S1, 
before  Yorktown,  he  served  as  second  for  Guillaumc  de  Deux- 
Ponts  in  recomioilering  tlie  great  redoubt.  The  Siinie  even- 
ing the  attiick  was  made  by  the  regiment  of  Deux-Ponts,  under 
the  lead  of  Guillaumc,  its  colonel,  as  commander-in-chief,  aided 
by  the  regiment  of  Gatinais.  A  detachment  of  this  formed 
the  vanguard  imder  the  command  of  de  I'Estradc,  the  remain- 
der of  Gatinais  was  in  the  rearguard  under  the  command  of 
de  llostaiug.  The  redoubt  was  taken  in  a  few  minutes,  and 
the  regiment  of  Gatinais  regained  there  its  old  name  ot"  Ivoyal- 
Auvergne. 

"He  was  as  much  respected  for  his  merit  as  for  his  age," 
says  Cromot  Dubourg  in  his  narrative.  "  Pie  was  present  at 
fourteen  sieges  or  battles.  He  marched  at  the  head  of  his 
grenadiers,  amidst  the  abatis  and  the  palissadcs,  as  if  he  had 
been  only  twenty  years  of  age,  and  Mas  one  of  the  first  in 
the  assault  of  the  redoubt.  A  soldier,  not  recognizing  him, 
seized  him  by  his  coat  to  help  himself  up,  and  caused  him 
to  fall  into  the  ditch,  where  nearly  two  hundred  men  walked 
over  him.  ]Ie  rose  nevertheless,  entered  the  redoul)t,  and  the 
next  day,  although  bruised  all  over,  he  did  his  turn  of  tluty 
in  the  trenches." 


"'Sec  Vol.  I.,  })age  9  and  page  109. 
"*See  in  tlie  List  of  Ollicers :  de  Grasse 


List  oj  Ojl'iccrs.  121 

Eyroux  (]\rai-i(>-Jean-Biil{ha.-ar  PontivGs  d'),  second  Hciitoii- 
ant  in  tlic  regiment  of  Sois.-onnais ;  obtained  a  reward  for 
his  servMces  before  Yorktown.     Entered  the  service  in  1777. 


F. 

Fabreglt-s  (Joan-Barthelcuiy  Monlalegre,  Chevalier  de), 
born  the  7th  of  January,  1755,  at  Vigan  in  Languedoc;  lieu- 
tenant of  chassciirs  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  in  1775  ; 
made  captain  in  tlic  same  regiment  the  1st  of  July,  1782,  for 
the  courage  he  slioweil  before  Yoi-ktown. 

Faiij.y  (Chevalier  du),  enlisted  as  volunteer  in  the  War 
of  Independence  the  1st  of  December,  1776;  brevet  lieuten- 
ant-colonel   with  salary  from   Congress  the   11th    of  August, 

1777. 

Faluer  (Le  Fcvre  de  la),  captain-conmiandant  in  the  reg- 
iment of  Saintonge,  entered  tlie  service  in  17G0  ;  made  the 
campaigns  of  Cayenne  and  of  the  United  States  with  his  reg- 
iment. 

Falqiiereitte  (I^ouis-l'^tienne-Aronde  de  Saint  Felix, 
Chevalier  de  Ivebourquil),  born  tiie  IGth  of  February,  1749, 
at  Milhau  ;  entered  the  service  in  1  700,  was  appointed  ca[)tain 
in  the  regiment  of  Touraine  in  December,  1770.  He  was 
employed  as  aid-major  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  ob- 
tained, the  5th  of  Dcceml)(T,  1781,  tlie  promise  of  the  rank 
of  major   in   recognition  of  tlie  zeal  and   talent   lie  showed. 

Faneitil,  enlisted  as  volunteer  in  the  VCtxr  of  Inde])end- 
ence  the  24th  of  March,  1777,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  with 
neither  pay  nor  rations.^''' 


"*  Auborteuil. 


122  The  Frcncli  in  America. 

Fauste  de  Mayence  (Charlcs-Gaspard),  born  the  23cl  of 
Fcbruaiy,  1735,  at  Blangy  in  Normandy;  sub-lieutenant  the 
12th  of  jNIarcli,  1780  ;  lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge 
the  8th  of  April,  1784.  Made  with  his  regiment  the  cam- 
paign of  America. 

Fautkelle,  captain  of  the  merchantman  the  Amphiiiih\ 
a  ship  equipped  and  loaded  with  stores  of  war  by  Beanmar- 
chais. 

Feuneau,  officer  of  tlie  Vengeance. 

Fekke'jte  (Jeiin-Baptiste),  born  the  13th  of  January,  173G, 
at  Cernay  in  Alsace;  entered  the  service  in  1753,  appointed 
captain  in  1758  ;  received  the  rank  of  majoi-  in  the  regiment 
of  Saintonge  the  3d  of  March,  177-i.  It  is  not  sure  that  he 
went  to  America  with  his  regiment,  on  account  of  his  age, 
although  his  name  is  mentioned  in  tlie  regimental  books  in 
the  ArcJuves. 

Fersex  (Axel,  Count  de),  born  at  Stockholm  the  4th  of 
September,  1754.  Son  of  a  minister  of  state  in  Sweden,  he 
came  in  his  youth  to  France,  and  entered  the  army  in  17()0,''* 
where  he  commanded  as  colonel  the  regiment  lloyal-Sucdois. 
Appointed  iirst-aid-de-camp  of  de  Kochambeau  for  the  expe- 
dition of  America,  he  embarked  on  the  Jason  with  Damas 
and  Mathicu  Dumas,  at  Brest,  in  April,   1780. 

He  played  a  rather  imjiortant  part  in  the  campaign,  and 
became  colonel  en  .second  of  the  regiment  Eoyal-Deux-Ponts 
in  1782.  The  15th  of  August,  1781,  de  Kochambeau  an- 
SM'crcd  the  letters  tluit  de  Barras,  who  had  just  arrived,  luid 
written  him,  and  (k'  Fersen  was  intrusted  with  taking  them 
to  Newport.  This  circumstance  was  commented  on,  because 
up  to  that   time   an   American   dragoon   had    been   clio'^en    for 

"*1779.    Manruuil  note. 


IJd  of  0(Jtc(rs.  123 

this  duty.  The  other  ofliccrs  drew  from  this  fact  more  or 
less  exact  inferences  about  the  projects  of  the  generals-in-cliief. 
De  Fersen  was  also  sent  from  Cape  Henry  to  Annapolis  witli 
ten  transports  of  the  squ:ulron  of  do  Barras,  by  "Washinirton, 
to  hasten  the  arrival  of  the  troops.  He  acquitted  himself  of 
this  mission  with  diligence,  and  the  troops  were  able  to  em- 
bark at  Head  of  Elk  and  at  Annapolis  to  reach  by  water  the 
James  River.  He  himself  took  the  land  ronte,  and  with  his 
friend  do  Damas  he  accompanied  dc  Rochambeau,  while  Vau- 
ban  and  Laubardiei-e  embarlced  at  Elk  with  the  trooj)s  nnder 
command  of  dc  Custinc,  and  while  Chiscn  and  Cromot  Du- 
bonrg  followed  the  same  route  as  tlic  cavalry  of  Lauzun  across 
Virginia.^'" 

On  his  return  to  France  he  showed  himself  entirely  devoted 
to  the  Court,  and  tried  to  protect  it  against  the  Repnblicans. 
For  instance,  disguised  as  a  coachman,  he  foHov>-cd  the  king, 
and  got  ont  of  Paris  the  coach  which  took  the  king  in  his 
flight  to  Varennes.  Arrested,  then  released,  he  tried  aftcr- 
Nvards  to  make  the  king  escajie  from  the  Temple.  After  the 
death  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth  he  returned  to  Sweden,  and  was 
there  in  great  favor  with  Charles  the  Thirteenth,  who  ap- 
pointed him  Grand  ^Marshal  of  the  l^ilaco  and  Cliancellui-  of 
the  University  of  Uj)sala.  He  was  sent  to  Vienna  with  a 
secret  mission  in  179E  Ambas.sador  to  the  Imperial  Diet  in 
1797,  and  afterwards,  in  1803,  at  Dresden.  Unjustly  accused 
by  the  peoj)le  of  having  heljxHl  in  tiie  death  of  the  Duke  of 
Align sten burg,    he  was   killed    in    Jnne,   ISIO,  during   a    riot. 

FiGANiKiiE  (Cesar-Henri  de  la),  of  the  Figaniere  family  of 
Provence,  entered  the  l^rench  navy  when  a  l)uy.  He  oifercd 
his  services  to  John  Paul  Jones,  who  gave  him  a  commission 
as  lieutenant  on  the  Jlonhommc  liichard  when  he  was  only 
seventeen   years   old.     A  certilicatc,    dated    Ortolier    the    20th, 


Various  nianuscripts  and  menioii-s. 


124  The  French  in  America. 

3779,  signed  l)y  Paul  Jones,  attests  the  couraiic  of  the  young 
officer,  who  afterwards  served  on  the  squadron  of  tlie  (\nnit 
dc  Grasse.     He  was  decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

He  served  afterwards  under  La  ^Nfotte-Piquet,  and  was 
badly  wounded  in  an  action  Ix'ibre  Trinconialee,  in  C'eyhju. 
When  the  Eevohitiou  broke  out  he  was  oflered  tlie  command 
of  a  frigate  by  the  Republican  minister  of  the  navy,  but  as 
he  was  a  Royalist  he  refused  it,  and  emigrated  to  Italy.  He 
then  served  as  lieutenant  in  the  British  navy,  but  resigned  in 
1797  on  account  of  being  a  Catholic.  Vriien  the  government 
of  Portugal  asked  the  British  government  for  some  ohicers  to 
serve  in  the  Portuguese  navy  de  Figaniere  was  one  of  those 
sent.  He  became  in  succession  captain  of  corvette,  capUun  of 
frigate,  and  naval  captain. 

In  Portugal  he  married  Donna  A'iolante  Rosa  Morao.  He 
died  at  Lisbon,  October  the  31st,  ISoO.^" 

Fladen  or  Flad  (Charles-Louis  de),  born  at  ]\Iaidieim 
the  17th  of  July,  173S  ;  cadet  in  the  service  of  the  Palatinate 
in  1757;  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Royal-Dcux-Ponts  the; 
18th  of  October,  1777  ;  made  the  campaigns  of  Germany  and 
that  of  America  with  Rochambeau ;  distinguished  himself  at 
Yorktown,  and  received  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis. 

Fleciien  de  Ya.mix  (Charles-Fran9ois- Joseph,  Count  de), 
entered  the  service  in  17G0;  was  appointed  captain  the  7th 
of  June,  177<),  and  mc-'^fre  dc  camp  en.  sccoiul  in  the  regiment 
of  Touraine  the  13th  of  April,  1780.  He  went  to  the  col- 
onies with  his  regiment,  and  distinguished  himself  especially 
at  Saint  Christopher,  where,  with  a  ,-mall  cor[is  of  three  luui- 
drcd  grenadiers  and  chd.^scur.^,  he  rejiulscd  a  trooji  of  fourteen 
hundred  men,  whom  the  I'^nglish  had  disembarked.  His  eon- 
duct  before  Yorktown   was  also  worthy  of  praise. 


'"Information  received  from   the  Viscount  dc  la   FiLranidie,  Porlu- 
"uese  minister  to  Saint  rctcrsbiirg.    T.  B. 


J  Ad  of  Officers.  125 

Fleuiiy  (Frai)ooi.s-Loui's  Teisscidrc,  ^Marquis  de),  tlie  hero 
of  Stony  Point ;  son  of  Franyois  dc  Flcury  and  ^Marguerite 
Domadieu,  liis  wife.  He  was  born  the  28th  of  August,  1740, 
at  Saint-Hippolyto,   in   Languedoe. 

La  Fayette  says  in  Ids  ^Memoirs  tliat  dc  Fleuiy  belonged 
to  tlie  regiment  of  Gatinais,  l)ut  in  a  doenmeni  in  the  archives 
of  the  French  A\'ar  De})artment  it  is  stated  that  he  entered 
the  regiment  of  Ilouergue  as  volunteer  on  the  loth  of  May, 
17G8,  and  served  in  it  during  the  campaign  of  Corsica,  ris- 
ing gradually  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 

In  1770  he  sailed  lor  America  with  Tronson  Ducoudray,''* 
liaving  received  a  leave  of  absence  and  the  rank  of  ca])taiu 
of  engineers  from  his  government.  On  his  arrival  he  joined 
the  American  army  as  volunteer,  and  accompanied  it  in  this 
cajiacity  during  a  part  of  the  campaign  of  3  777.  He  received 
the  rank  of  ca])tain  for  his  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of 
Biscatagua.''"  Hq  was  then  sent  to  Philadelphia,  coming  the- 
atre of  the  ^var,  to  map  its  suburbs,  sound  the  Delaware,  and 
fortify  Billingsjxjrt.  He  rejoined  the  array  with  the  rank  of 
major  of  brigade  when  the  enemy  landed  at  Hith. 

His  brave  and  gallant  conduct  at  the  Brandywine  on  the 
11th  of  Sei)tembcr,  1777,  where  he  remained  on  the  battle- 
field after  the  rout  of  his  brigade,  and  had  his  horse  killed 
under  him,  attracted  the  notice  and  admiration  of  ^^'ashing- 
ton,  who  drew  the  attention  oi'  Congress  to  him.  The  quar- 
termaster-gcuieral  received  orders  to  present  de  Flcury  with  a 
horse,  "  in  token  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  merit  was 
held  by  Congress. ''*°  He  served  as  major  of  the  brigade  of 
dragoons  at  the  battle  of  Cicrmantown  ;  was  wounded  in  the 
leg,  took  sevci-al  prisoners,  and  had  the  horse,  given  to  him  by 
Congress,  killed  under  him.  He  was  then  sent  as  enginecr-in- 
chief  to  Fort  Miillin,  on   Mud  Island,  which    was  thrcatenetl 

»"See  Vol.  I.,  pa-oy  SO,  SI. 

'"* Mimoire  of  de  Flcury  in  Archives  of  French  War  Department. 

^^Mauoire  of  de  Flcury  in  Archices  of  French  "War  L)ei)artuiont. 


12G  The  French  in  America. 

by  the  English  .s(|ua'lroii  and  army.  There  lie  sustained  a 
siege  of  six  weeks,  during  which  tlie  Au(/u.sf,  of  sixty-four 
guns,  and  the  Merlin,  of  twenty-two  guns,  were  blown  up  by 
the  fire  of  the  fort.  The  commaudant  and  the  garrison  of 
six  hundred  men  were  relieved  three  times,  but  de  Flcury 
steadily  refused  to  quit  his  post.  He  was  severely  wounded 
on  the  IGth  of  October,  and  the  same  night  the  fort  was 
evacuated.  ]Ie  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  and  received 
a  letter  of  thanks  for  his  able  and  valiant  conduct  from  the 
President  of  Co)igress. 

During  the  winter  of  177S  he  formed  the  bold  project  to 
cross  the  ice  and  set  fire  to  the  ]i]nglish  squadron.  The 
Delaware  not  being  entirely  frozen  that  winter,  he  invented 
"  batteaux  mines,"  \',  hicli  were  to  be  worked  by  the  repul- 
sion of  fusees;  })ut  whilst  he  Avas  working  on  them  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Army  of  the  Xorth.  The  expedition  into 
Canada  ditl  not  take  place.  On  his  return  he  was  made  in- 
spector, and  was  charged  with  instructing  and  disciplining  the 
troo})s. 

At  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1778  he  was  the  second 
in  command  of  a  picked  corps  (which  comprised  the  body- 
guard of  the  general)  of  six  hundred  men,  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  fifty  cavalry.  He  led  it  into  action  at  the  battle 
of  ]\Ionmouth.  ^^\lshington  sent  him  to  meet  the  Count 
d'Estaing  on  the  hitter's  arrival  in  xVmerica,  and  he  accom- 
panied him  to  Ifhode  Island,  which  was  to  be  attacked.  His 
entreaties  prevailed  on  the  admiral  to  raise  the  useless  siege 
of  Newport,  and  to  retire  to  the  north  of  the  island.  His 
company  repulsed  the  enemy  and  covered  the  retreal."^  Count 
d'Estaing  wrote  to  Genei'al  A\'ashington  :  "Allow  me  to  recom- 
mend ]M.  de  Fleury  especially  to  your  good  gi-aces.  General 
Sullivan  will  tell  you  all  about  his  conduct  at  IJhode  Island. 
He  is  an  excellent  ollieer  and  a  uscf'ul  Frenchman.     I  hope 


Mcinoirc  of  do  Floury  in  Archiirs  of  French  War  Dcpartuiont. 


Ust  of  Officers.  127 

to  sorve  again  witli  him.  Hft  is  a  man  nuulo  to  unite  })rivatc 
individuals  in  the  same  way  that  our  nations  arc  unitccL^'*- 

De  Floury  commanded  a  regiment  of  light  cavalry  when 
the  camjmign  of  177')  opened.  He  was  the  first  to  scale 
the  ramparts  of  Stony  Point,  and  he  carried  off  the  English 
flag  witli  his  own  hand.  For  this  brilliant  deed  Congress 
awarded  him  a  moJal,  which  was  fastened  to  a  band  cut  from 
the  flag  he  had  so  galhuitly  captured.  He  was  the  only 
Frenchman  to  whom  such  an  honor  was  accorded.  This  medal 
is  in  the  collection  given  by  M.  Vattemare  to  the  Bibliothequc 
Nationalc  of  Paris,  and  he  describes  it  as  follows:  "A  general 
in  lloman  costume,  standing  on  a  pile  of  ruins,  holding  in 
one  hand  a  drawn  sword  and  in  the  other  a  flag,  on  which 
he  is  trampling.  Legend:  A'^lirrUTlS  Et  AuDACIiE  MoNUif 
Et  ]?im:.mu.m. — Exeiyitc.  D.  t>f.  Fleury  Equiti  Gai.lo 
PiMMO  SuPKA  ]\Iuiios,  Respub.  Americ.  (Duvivicr  fecit.) 
Reverse — A  fortress  built  on  a  rock  and  besieged  by  a 
squadron,  Lee/end:  Aggeres,  Paludes,  Hostes  A^icti. — 
Exergue.     Stony  Point.      Jul.  mdcclxxix." 

The  President  of  Congress  wrote  to  him  :  "  Congress  hopes 
that  your  own  country  will  sho^v  its  appreciation  of  your 
merit."  ^^^  And  the  l^^'reuch  minister  wrote  "that  he  flattered 
himself  that  the  Court  would  give,  in  the  person  of  j\l.  de 
Fleury,  a  proof  to  America  of  the  satisfaction  with  which  it 
has  seen  that  a  French  officer  had  been  so  useful  in  her 
service."^*'*  When  de  la  Luzerne  arrived  General  Washing- 
ton begged  him  to  give  an  account  of  de  Fleury's  gallant 
conduct  to  the  French  Court;  and  de  la  Luzerne  wrote  to 
the  Council  about  it. 

At  the  end  of  the  eam])aign  de  Fleury  asked  for  and  ob- 
tained a  leave  of  absence  of  nine  months,  and  General  Wash- 
ington  wrote  to   Congress  on  de  Fleury's  departure   that  he 


^^  Letter  of  d'Estnint;. 

^^ Mi-moire  of  de  Fleury  in  Archives  of  French  War  Department. 

'"  J/twojrc  of  de  Fleury  in  Archives  of  French  War  Department. 


128  Tlic  French  in  America. 

liopcd  for  tlic  I'ctuni  of  un  officer  wlio  luid  rendered  such 
im})ortant  services. 

De  Fleury  retui-ncd  to  France.  ^\'liile  tliere  lie  addre.-.sed 
a  memoir  to  tlic  Court,  wlierein  he  gave  an  aeeount  of  Ids 
services,  endint^  as  follows  :  "  M.  de  Fleury  having  thus  by 
liis  services  risen  from  the  rank  of  simple  soldiei-  lo  that  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  honored  by  the  goodwill  of  the  nation 
and  the  army.  In-  the  esteem  of  Congress,  by  the  confidence 
of  his  general,  ventures  to  solicit  some  sign  of  tlic  ap])rol)ati()n 
of  his  prince  and  of  the  minister  under  who^c  auspices  he 
passed  into  the  service  of  the  allies  of  France.  Although 
convinced  that  he  owes  his  success  more  to  his  good  fortune 
than  to  his  talents,  and  that  his  zeid  alone  was  able  to  com- 
pensate for  his  inability,  he  ventures  to  hope  that  his  country 
will  not  disdain  his  services,  and  that  that  hapjMncss  of  every 
Frenchman,  the  return  to  a  loved  land,  will  not  lie  for  him 
a  sorrow  and  a  disgrace.  P.  S, — M.  de  Fleury  has  drawn 
some  plans  and  written  some  memoirs  which  have  received 
the  approbation  of  ]M.  Girard.  lie  asks  leave  to  i)resent 
them  to  the  minister." 

De  Fleury  received  the  rank  of  chevalier  of  Sainl-Louis 
on  the  5th  of  December,  1781,  and  a  pensiou  of  four  hundred 
livrcs  was  awarded  to  him  for  his  services  at  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Yorktown.  He  returned  to  America  on  the  Ai(//e 
with  the  Prince  do  P)roglie  and  several  other  oflicers,  and  re- 
joined the  army;  but  finding  that  the  war  was  ])ractieally 
over,  and  that  his  services  were  no  longer  necessary,  he  went 
to  South  America  to  make  some  explorations.  On  his  return 
to  France  he  Mas  made  colonel  of  a  regiment  at  Pondichery  in 
1784,  and  died  in  his  native  land  MJth  the  rank  of  mar^chal 
dc  c([)np}^ 

'^""This  notice  of  de  Floury  war?  dictated  by  my  fatlitr  to  my  sister 
and  jniblished  in  the  Mntjaziiw  of  Auurinni  Hn^ioni  lur  1S77,  j>aj;;es 
724-72(3.  I  liave  inserted  it  in  place  of  the  ori;j;inal  one  in  the  List  of 
Onicers,  as  it  is  more  complete.    E.  S.  B. 


lAd  of  Officers.  129 

Flokent  (Domcrguc  de  Saint).     Sec  D(>.mergue. 

FoKS  (])ar()n  dc).  Dc  Laiizun  in  his  i\[omoir.s  mentions 
this  officer  ;i.s  hU  aid-dc-cainp  at  K(nvporl  just  as  he  was  re- 
turning in  Mareli^   17S3. 

FoLiE  (De  La),  infantry  officer,  wounded  at  the  naval  ac- 
tion oir  Saint  Lucia  the  U)th  of  ^Jay,  1780. 

FoLUERE.     See  Faluer. 

FoNTA^•(;E,s  (Viscount  de),  born  tlie  21st  of  March,  1740, 
at  Monthiyon  in  Allier.  Entered  the  service  as  lieutenant  in 
the  infantry  regiment  of  Poiton  the  1st  of  Januarv,  1750; 
appointed  cajitain  in  the  same  regiment  in  1758.  He  made 
first  the  ciunpaigns  of  Germany  from  1757  to  1763,  was 
Avounded  at  llosl)ach  the  oth  of  November,  1757,  and  served 
with  his  rank  of  captain  until  May,  1775,  at  which  time  he 
passed  into  the  Dejiartmcnt  of  the  Xavy  and  of  the  Colonies, 
and  was  appointed  major  in  the  regiment  of  the  Cape  at  Saint 
Domingo.  He  reached  his  post  in  September,  1775.  Chevalier 
of  Saintr-Louis  in  1777  ;  lieutenant-colonel  in  1778;  colonel  in 
1780.  In  the  ])osition  of  major-general  of  the  landing  forces 
of  the  naval  army  of  the  Count  d'Estaing  in  July,  1779,  he 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Savannah.  He  commanded  there  a 
legion  of  mulattoes,^'"'  and  he  saved  the  army  ai'ter  the  useless 
assault  on  the  fortifications  by  bravely  covering  the  retreat. 
He  was  there,  on  the  7th  of  October,  1770,  dangerously 
wounded  by  a  gunshot.  Among  the  blacl-cs  who  distinguished 
themselves  in  this  action  were  Andre  Ivigaud,  ]>eauvais,  Vil- 
lattc,  Beauregard,  and  Landiert,  who  became  afterwards  gen- 
erals under  the  Convention,  and  also  Henri  Christophe,  the 
future  Kino-  of  Hayti.^'*' 


According  to  my  inuiinscripts,  of  more  than   eiglit  hundred  men. 

^f(nmscriJ)t  of  Dupetil-Thouars. 


130  Tlie  French  in  America. 

Dc  Foiilangcs  v.-as  in  command  at  Saint  Domin^-o  at  the 
time  of  tlie  revolt  of  tln^  negroes.  He  was  forced  to  tly  to 
France,  -where  he  died  on  the  13th  of  June,  1822. 

FoNTiVEAUX  (Chevalici-  de).  Lientenant  in  the  service  of 
Congress.^''^ 

FouET,  sergeant  of  chasseurs  of  Gatinais,  who  was  chosen 
with  Le  Cornet,  sergeant-major,  to  march  at  the  liead  of  the 
cohunn  of  attack  of  the  great  redonht  at  Yorktown,  and  to 
direct  tlie  men  with  axes  wlio  were  to  cut  down  the  palis- 
sades  and  the  abatis.  He  showed  mncli  bravery  on  this  oc- 
casion.     Pri\ate  in   17C9,  sergeant  in    17S1. 

FoRGEiiiE  (De  la),  infantry  officer,  sn])-lientenant  of  Age- 
nois,  killed  at  the  naval  action  off  Saint  Lucia.'**^ 

FOSSELIX    DE    Ll^AUMONT.       Scc    Ll^:ArMOXT. 

FoucAULT  (Jean-Simon-David  de),  born  in  the  Island  of 
Re  on  the  2Gth  of  February,  1741;  entered  the  service  in 
1760  ;  captain  of  chasseurs  of  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  the  2Sth 
of  August,  1777  ;  was  wounded  at  the  attack  on  Savannah  ; 
took  i)art  in  the  combats  of  La  IMotte-Pi(]uet ;  Avas  decoi'ated 
the  4th  of  April,  1781,  and  was  present  at  the  attack  of  the 
redoubt  of  Yorktown. 

FoUQUET  d'Auvileers  (Jcnn-Gabrk'l-]  Jene-Francois),  rncstre 
de  camp  conmianding  the  regiment  of  Armagnac,  born  at  Metz 
the  13th  of  jNIarch,  1751.  Decorated  for  the  bravery  he 
showed  at  the  capture  ol"  Saint  Christo))h('r. 

FraxciiIvSSEX  (Jac(jues-Antoine  de),  enlisted  as  volunteer 
the  2()th    of  July,    1770;   was   chevalier  of  Saint-Louis.      He 

^^Jiicords  of  the  JUvolidlon. 
»«»L.  B.,  2U1. 


Lht  of  Oficcrs.  131 

received   from  Congress  tlic  nmk   of  lieutenant-colonel   on   en- 
tering the  serviec.^''"^ 

Fkancy  (Thevencau  de),  after  being  a  student  in  the  navy, 
was  employee  of  I'eaninarchais  in  France.  He  showed  much 
intelligence,  and  obtained  tlie  coniidence  of  his  en^ployer  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  intrusted  him  to  go  and  look  out  for 
his  int<!rests  and  rej)resent  him  in  America.  Francy  started 
towards  tlie  end  of  1777.  He  had  accunudatcd  a  rather  large 
fortune  in  the  service  of  ]]caumarchai?,  and,  nevertheless,  while 
supporting  his  interest  before  Congress,  he  took  service  in  the 
militia  as  volunteer.  He  Ibught  bravely,  especially  at  the 
Brandywine,   un<k'r  the  orders  of  Conway. 

Beaumarcliais  asked  for  him  and  obtained  a  commission  of 
captain  for  the  colonics,  which  he  sent  to  him  in  America, 
witli  epaulettes  made  by  Madame  de  Beaumarchais.  But 
young  Francy  had  delicate  health.  He  was  troubled  with 
his  lungs,  and  having  returned  from  America  to  Paris  in 
1782,  he  died  in  that  city  in  1783.^''^ 

Fhkne  (Chevalier  de),  major  of  the  regiment  Royal-Com- 
tois.  At  the  head  of  the  chdsseur.s  of  this  regiment,  and  with 
the  help  of  that  of  Auxerrois,  he  co-operated  actively  in  the 
recapture  of  Saint  Fustatius,  the  26th  of  November,  1781. 

FurvSTENWEUTiiKK  (Cliarlcs,  Baron  de),  born  at  jMusenheim 
the  23d  of  August,  1741  ;  entered  the  service  as  ensign  in 
the  regiment  of  Koyal-Deux-Ponts  the  8th  of  January,  1758; 
made  the  cami)aigns  of  Germany  during  the  Seven  Years' 
War,  and  was  a])j)ointed  captain-conunandant  in  the  Siime 
regiment  in  177().  He  went  to  America  in  17^1,  and  ob- 
tained the  cross  of  Saint-Louis  for  his  good  conduct  before 
Yorktown. 


""Aubertcuil. 

^""De  Louienie.     JnainitarcJiaix  ft  ko)1  tfinjis. 


]32  Tlic.  French  in  America. 

G. 

Gaillot  (Aiitoino),  entered  the  serviee  as  jM'Ivate  tlie  1st 
of  February,  J  750  ;  was  a]>pointcd  sub-lieutenant  ol"  grenadiers 
of  Gatinais  tiie  21st  of  April,  1779.  Distinguished  himself 
before  Yorktown. 

Galatjx,  sceond  lieutenant  in  tlie  reiriment  of  lioyal-Deux- 
Ponts ;  entered  the  serviee  in  1770;  was  at  the  attack  of  the 
redoubt  of  Yorktown.  ]\Lr.  Galatin,  of  New  York,  told  me 
that  he  was  a  near  I'ekitive  of  the  fullowinj^  : 

Gai.atin  (Albert),  born  at  Geneva  the  20t]i  of  January, 
1761;  went  to  America  in  17S0 ;  served  as  vohniteer,  and 
comn^anded  for  some  time  Fort  Passamaquoddy  ;  Senator  of 
the  United  States,  Minister  of  Finance,  Ambassador  to  Saint 
Petersburg:^  London,  and  Paris;  literary  man  and  distinguished 
statesman.     Died  tlic  20th  of  August,  1841). 

GAT.TIER  d'At.ausse  (Josepli-Philemon).     See  Alausse. 

Gaevax  (De),  French  officer,  enlisted  as  volunteer  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  ;  was  charged  by  La  I'^ayette^'^'^ 
to  await  the  arrival  of  de  Pochambeau  at  Cape  Henry  in 
case  he  should  have  disembarked  at  tlie  entrance  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  instead  of  at  Boston.  (Jalv:;n  was  to  give  him  the 
instructions  of  de  Yei'gennes  and  valuable  advices  about  the 
situation  of  the  hostile  armies.  Another  officer,  wliose  name 
is  not  given,  had  received  the  same  inission  to  Rhode  Island. 

Gambs  (Jean-Daniel  de),  born  at  Strasburg  in  1741  ;  en- 
tered   the    service    in    1757  ;    was    appointed    captain    in    the 


■See  Mimolrcs  of  La  F;ivc'tte. 


Lid  of  Oficrrs.  133 

regiment  of  T'ourLomiais  in  1772,  aiul  major  in  tlie  same 
regiment  in  December,  1777.  He  made  tlie  eampaigns  of 
Germany  and  Corsica,  and  then  went  to  America.  lie  %vas 
an  officer  of  great  distinction,  and  the  oldest  major  in  the 
expeditionary  corps.  J  fe  M'as  in  the  oxjiedition  of  I^estouches 
in  Cliesapeake  ]>ay  in  tSei>tember,  1781.  He  received  a  pen- 
sion for  his  conrage  before  Yoi'ktowJi.  lie  died  at  Xaples 
the  8th  of  June,  1823. 

Gan,  commissary  of  artillery,  arrived  at  Boston  the  20tli 
of  August,  1780,  on  the  Alliance,  Avhich  brought  also  de 
Pontgibaud  and   Commissary  Lee.^^^ 

Gantheaumio  (TIenri-ITonore-JosepIi-Antoine,  Count  de), 
born  the  13th  of  April,  1755;  enlisted  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen as  a  sailor  on  a  ship  of  his  fiithcr's  ;  at  twenty-two  years 
of  age  had  made  seven  campaigns  to  the  East  and  to  the 
Antilles ;  then  officer  of  the  merchant  navy  in  the  service  of 
Beaumai-chals  ;  was  present  at  the  action  of  Grenada,  fought 
by  d'Estaing  with  A(hniral  Byron  the  12th  of  July,  1770,  on 
board  of  the  Fier-llodrif/iic,  which  was  much  damaged,  and 
whose  captain,  de  ]\lontaut,  was  killed.''^' 

Beaumarchais  made  Cantheaumc  enttu-  the  navy.^'^'  lie  was 
present  at  the  ca])ture  of  Grenada  and  at  the  siege  of  Sa- 
vannah, and  tot)k  part  in  the  last  actions  fought  by  the  Sar- 
veillante  and  the  Apollon}'^'^ 

Naval  ca])tain  in  17i>l,  he  made  the  cam})aigns  of  the 
Republic ;  was  chief  of  stalf  of  Brucys  and  wounded  at 
Aboukir ;    returned    from    Egypt    Avitli    Bonaparte,    and    was 

'^'Blanchard. 

"^^ Manuscript  of  Dupctit-Thouars  and  Joitriuil  (Vun  oiUncr  dc  rnai-iui'. 

'"Accordinj?  to  the  Archirrs  of  the  Freucli  navy;  but  the  Enci/do- 
pcdia  of  Chronology,  London,  Longmans,  says  lie  had  entered  tlic  royal 
navy  in  17(iO. 

**'De  Lomenie. 


134  The  French  in  America. 

covered  with  hojiors  al'ter  tiio  18th  r>niiuairc ;  vice-admiral 
ill  1801,  and  later  coinnuinder  of  the  naval  army  charged 
with  making  a  descent  on  England.  He  joined  tiie  Tvovalists 
wlien  tiie  Eniperor  ioll,  kcj)t  aloof  during  the  "  Iliiudred 
Days,"  and  .served  tlie  Jjourbons,  M'ho  gave  him  the  cross  of 
commander  of  Saint-Louis  and  the  peerage.  He  died  the 
28th  of  Sej)teniber,   1818. 

Gakavaque.     See  Caravagxe. 

Gauguet,  officer  of  the  Vcnjcance. 

Genville  (Barthelemy-Laurent  Lcvert  do),  born  in  1759 
in  Franche-Comte ;  ciidei  yeniiUiomnic  in  177();  second  lieu- 
tenant in  i\\ii  regiment  of  Gatinais  in  Xovember,  1781.  Fol- 
lowed this  regiment  to  tlie  colonies,  then  went  with  it  to 
America ;  distinguished  himself  at  Savannah,  at  Yorktown, 
and  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  action  of  the  12th  of  April, 
1782,  on  the  ship  the  Hector. 

Geogiteiiam.  Xame  of  two  brothers,  Irishmen,  mentioned 
by  Dr.  Dubourg  in  his  letter  of  the  10th  of  June,  1776,  to 
Dr.  Franklin.  He  has  not  been  able  to  jiromisc  them  any- 
thing, but  he  gives  to  understand  that  they  are  very  distin- 
guished, and  that  if  they  should  go  to  America  they  ought 
to  be  made  general  ollicers.  One  is  lieutenant-colonel  of  cav- 
alry in  France,  the  other  captain  in  India,  where  he  is  in 
reality  at  the  head  of  a  small  army. 

Gilbert  (]\relchior-Josei>h  de),  born  the  4th  of  October, 
1737,  at  Die  in  Dauphine ;  entered  the  service  in  HoG;  ap- 
pointed caj)tain-commandant  of  Soissonnais  the  11th  of  ^lay, 
1760.  Distinguished  himself  before  Yorktown,  and  was  dec- 
orated. 


List  of  OJJiccrs.  135 

GiMAT  (Dc),  enlisted  as  vulunlcer  ;  first-aid-dc-cani])  of  La 
Fayc'tto,  who  liked  liini  es])ceially.*'''  He  saved  perliaps  I^a 
Fayette  at  the  l)attle  of  llic  Brandywinc  in  1777,  by  givinjz; 
the  (general  liis  own  lioi-.-r;  at  the  time  La  Fayette  reeeived 
a  ball  through  the  leg.  lie  it  was  whom  La  Fayette,  in 
1778,  intrusted  a  ehallenge  to  for  Lord  Carlisle,  for  offensive 
remarks  to  the  honor  of  Franee  which  the  diplomatist  had 
pul)lished.  Lord  C'arlisle  declined,  covering  himself  by  his 
j)Osition  of  })lenipotcntiary. 

De  Gimat  also  had  the  mission  of  awaiting  the  Count  de 
Grasse  at  Cape  Ileniy  in  1781,  when  this  admiral  was  ar- 
riving with  Saint-Simon  and  some  troops.  He  gave  him  the 
instructions  of  La  Fayette. 

De  Gimat  was  ap])ointed  lieutenant-colonel  by  Congress  on 
the  17th  of  November,  1777,  was  promoted  the  following  year 
to  the  i-ank  of  colonel,  and  received  the  command  of  a  regi- 
ment of  rillemen.  He  was  wounded  before  Yorktown  at  the 
attack  of  the  redou])t  on  the  left  of  the  enemy.  After  the 
peace  of  1783  he  received  a  command  in  the  French  Antilles, 
and  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  ^Martinique. 
Decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 


GoRAT  ]JE  Beallmont  (Alcxis-Jean-Fraucois),  born  at  Li- 
moges the  25th  of  July,  1735;  entered  the  service  in  1754; 
was  appointed  captain-commandant  in  the  regiment  of  Saint- 
ongc  in  1770.  He  made  with  distinction  the  campaigns  of 
Germany,  then  served  with  his  regiment  in  Cayenne.  He  re- 
turned to  France,  where  he  was  appointed  ca])tain,  and  started 
again  with  the  ex])editionary  corps  of  Kochamheau.  He 
showed  zeal  and  bravery  before  Yorktown. 

'"De  Cliastellux  ppcaks  in  ]ii<rh  terms  of  de  Gimat,  t^aying :  "A 
French  oflicer  over  whom  1  chiim  the  rights  of  a  ?urt  of  miht;iry 
paternity,  having  brought  him  up  in  my  regiment  from  his  earliest 
youth." 


loG  TJiC  French  in  America. 

Gouviox  (Jeau-BaplL-tf),  born  the  7th  of  January,  1747; 
lieutenant  in  the  Military  Scliool  of  ^tezieres  in  1709;  in  the 
engineers  in  1771  ;  engaf2;ed  at  Paris  by  J^^'anklin  in  1777 
with  do  Launioy,  La  liadiere  and  Du  I'ortail  to  be  employed 
as  engineer.  He  had  served  sinee  17(U)  in  the  enjiineers. 
Congress  admitted  him  as  engineer  with  i\\c.  i-ank  of  major 
the  28th^»*  of  July,  1777,  and  breveted  him  eolonel  the  17th 
of  November  of  the  same  year.  He  was  appointed  eaptain 
on  tlie  lists  of  the  Freneh  army  in  1770,  and  the  services  he 
rendered  to  the  Americans  caused  him  to  receive,  at  the  peace, 
the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  j)rovincial  trooj^s,  rank 
he  already  held  in  the  United  States,  lie  was  decorated  with 
the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

La  Fayette  chose  him  in  1789  for  major-general  of  the 
National  Guard  of  Paris.  In  1791  he  was  deputy  from  Paris 
to  the  IjCgislative  Assembly,  resigned  in  1792,  and  sei'ved 
under  I^a  Fayette  as  lieutenant-general  in  the  Army  of  the 
North. 

Gouvlon  Avas  killed  the  lltli  of  June,  1792,  by  a  cannon 
ball  near  the  village  of  Griduelle,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Maubeuge.  He  was  the  son  of  a  lieutenant  of  j)olice  of 
Toul. 

His  brother  had  been  killed  while  serving  under  the  or- 
ders of  de  Bouillc  during  the  revolt  of  the  troops  at  Nancy 
in  1791. 

He  was  a  relation  of  Gouvion  Saint-Cyr,  Avho  did  not  go 
to  America,  as  has  been  sometimes  said.'^^ 

GouziK,  private  in  the  regiment  of  Agenois  in  1757  ;  was 
made  olllcer  in  1779.  ]Made  all  the  eamj)aigns  of  the  Seven 
Years'   A^"ar,  and  siu^wed  great   lirmness  bcl'ore  Yorktown. 


'"«8th  of  July?    :ilurginal  note  by  T.  B. 

"^Saint-Cyr   vas   captain   ea   siro)id  in   the   regiment  of  Saintouge. 
INIarLrinal  note  bv  T.  B. 


List  of  Officers.  137 

(ioVEKT  (.liicqiU'.^-lViul),  brcvctci]  ca])t:iin-]ic'uten:int  of  artil- 
lery by  C^.ii-T(-^  tlic  20tli  of  July,  177G.^'" 

Grancjiatn  (Do),  naval  captain,  who  was  joinctl  to  Lau- 
rens aufl  dv  Xuaill'js  to  arrange  tlie  articles  of  capitulation  of 
Yorktown.-'^^ 

GiiANDiKiiE  (De  La),  caj^lain  of  the  ship  the  Conqucrraity 
forming  pari  of  the  s(|uaJron  that  started  from  Brest.  Distin- 
guished himself  at  the  naval  action  of  the  IGth  of  April,  17SL 
His  son  had  been  killed  in  the  iiaval  action  off  Saint  Lucia 
on  the  101)1  ui'  March,  1780.  At  the  battle  of  Ouessant,  the 
20th  of  'Tilly,  1778,  he  commanded  the  ship  the  InJien,  of 
sixty-foin-  guns.-°- 

"  De  la  Grandiere,"  says  l^lanchard,  "  is  ill-humored,  big- 
oted, little  enlightened,  a  gambler,  self-interested,  taking  the 
communion  every  Sunday  without  being  more  Immane  for  his 
sailors  and  his  sick;  in  short,  a  Moliniste."-''^  Further  on 
the  same  writer  adds  :  "  But  one  forgives  him  his  defects  on 
a  day  of  battle.      He  has  much  activity  and  coolness." 

Grandsfjgxe  (Dv),  infantry  officer ;  wounded  at  the  naval 
action  oif  Saint  Lucia  fought  by  de  Guicheu  the  l*Jth  of 
May,   1780. 

Grasse  (Franyois-Joseph-Paul,  ]\Lu-(juls  de  Tilly,  Count  de), 
born  at  Yalette  in  Provence  in  1723  ;  entered  the  Galleys  of 
Bdigion  (Ships  of  INLalta)  as  early  as  July,  1734,  with  the  rank 


**Auberteuil. 

^^-L.  B.,  i;)2. 

»«L.  B.,  (iS. 

*^FoUo\vcrrt  of  ]\I.>liii;i,  a  Spanish  Jesuit,  of  whom  Pascal  (Pensi'cs) 
says:  "  Tliey  are  iiooplo  who  know  the  truth,  but  only  uphold  it  as 
lonj'  as  it  is  to  their  interest."     K.  S.  B. 


138  The  French  in  America. 

of  marine  miard,  and  made  several  cam))ai<i:n.s  again.st  the 
Turks.  Entered  the  J'' reach  fleets  in  1749,  and  served  nnder 
La  Jonquiere  at  Pondiehery ;  v,as  captured  by  Admiral  Anson, 
and  kept  prisoner  two  years  in  England.  Xaval  lieutenant 
in  May,  1754;  captain  in  January,  17G2.  At  the  battle  of 
Ouessant,  in  1778,  he  commanded  the  ship  the  Robn.sie,  of 
seventy-four  guns.  In  1779,  under  the  orders  of  d'Estaing, 
he  helped  in  the  capture  of  Tabago.  In  1781,  although  he 
had  been  a  shorter  time  in  the  service  than  the  Count  de 
Barras,  he  was  intrusted  with  the  command  of  a  fleet  which 
brought  succor  to  the  Americans,  and  received  the  title  of 
lieutenant-general,  which  gave  him  the  connnand  over  all 
the  other  general  officers.  The  Count  dc  Barras  had  enough 
greatness  of  character  to  serve  under  his  orders  in  these 
conditions  until  the  happy  ending  of  the  AVar  of  Independ- 
ence. 

The  co-operation  of  the  Count  de  Grasse  was  much  more 
profitable  to  the  Americans  than  that  of  d'Estaing.  Count 
de  Rochambeau  having  asked  him  for  help  by  the  Concorde, 
which  found  liim  at  the  Windward  Islands,  the  Admiral 
answered  that  he  would  start  with  twelve  hundred  tliousand 
Uvres^"^  and  three  thousand  five  hundred  men  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  ]\Lirquis  de  Saint-Simon.  Do  Ivochambeau  would 
have  liked  five  or  six  thousand  men.  Still,  this  news  brought 
by  the  Concorde  filled  with  joy  the  allied  generals.  De  Grasse 
kept  his  word ;    he  started  on  the  4th  of  August    from    the 


'^De  Grasse  tried  to  procure  this  sum  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Cape,  but  it  was  impossible  to  find  it.  He  sent  the  frigate  the  Aifjnttr 
to  Havana.  The  commander  of  this  jiort  made  known  to  the  principal 
inhabitants  the  needs  of  the  French  army ;  at  once  every  one  sub- 
scribed ;  the  ladies  especially  brought  their  money,  and  even  their 
jewfls,  and  the  same  day  there  was  collected  live  Imndred  thousand 
piadrcs  (two  milliou  tivo  liundri^l  thousand  lirrt.<),  whirh  tin-  Aigritli: 
took  to  de  (inissc,  who  then  wrote  from  rvhitan/.as  to  the  ladies  of 
Havana  to  thank  ihem  for  the  essential  service  they  were  doing  to  the 
French  army,  and  to  praise  them  for  their  patriotic  devotion. 


List  of  rjfjlrcrs.  139 

Antilles  witli  all  tlio  promised  siuvors.'-"'  lie  broiiglit  them 
to  tlic  shores  of  Chesapeake  Bay;  thcn^  the  3d  of  Septembei-, 
he  won  a  victory  over  the  fleet  of  the  English  Admiral 
Graves,  victory  which  allowed  the  tnjops  embarked  at  Annapo- 
lis under  the  command  of  Ciistine  to  make  their  junction  with 
those  de  Grassc  brought  himself,  and  with  the  army  of  La 
Fayette.  This  circumstance  decided  the  fate  of  Cornwall  is 
and  that  of   liis  army  shut  up  in  Yorktown. 

The  12th  of  A])ri],  1782,  forced  to  fight  Admiral  Rodney 
near  the  Salutes  with  inferior  forces,  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
Tiiere  were  only  three  men  entirely  sound  left  on  his  ship 
when  lie  was  forced  to  strike.""'' 

I  have  a  printed   sheet,  having-   for  title:  "  Accoimt  of  the 


**I)e  Grasse  had  on  board  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  men,  besides  the  ordinary  crews  of  the  sliips.  {Mcrcurc  de  France, 
October,  1781,  page  77.) 

Tliis  news  was  ])rought  to  France  on  tlie  cutter  the  Mouclie,  Captain 
de  Ncgrier,  an  English  prize  recently  captured  at  Tabngo,  which  left 
the  fleet  of  the  Count  de  Grasse  after  the  diliicult  passage  of  the  canal 
of  the  Bahamas.     {Idem,  page  123.) 

'^This  is  what  one  reads  in  the  book  of  ^l.  de  Saint- Vallier,  already 
cited.  It  is  an  example  of  the  insults  which  were  hurled  at  de  Grasse 
in  France  on  account  of  his  want  of  success : 

"After  his  important  victory  of  the  12th  of  April,  1782,  Admiral 
Rodney  hastened  to  send  de  Grasse  to  London,  as  the  principal  troi)hy 
of  his  victory.  The  French  admiral  was  well  received  ;  he  seemed  to 
be  assisting  at  a  real  triumph ;  he  was  received  at  Court,  and  he  never 
missed  accepting  the  numerous  invitations  he  received,  nor  to  show 
himself  on  the  promenades  or  on  his  balcony.  The  people  who  ac- 
claimed him  wished,  doubtless,  by  exaggerating  his  merit,  to  increase 
their  own  glory  and  the  success  of  Admiral  liodney  ;  but  Count  de 
Grasse  did  not  seem  to  look  on  it  thus,  and  until  the  peace  lie  enjoyed 
this  strange  infatuation  of  his  enemies. 

"  De  Grasse  stupidly  attributed  this  rece])tion  to  his  own  merit.  In 
France  he  was  treated  quite  otlierwise ;  he  was  jeered  at ;  the  women 
wore  golden  crosses  d  la  JeanneUe,  with  a  heart  on  them.  Those  made 
d  la  de  Grasse  had  no  heart. 

"De  Grasse,  in  his  naivetC;  told  how  the  King  of  JOngland  had  said 
to  flatter  him  :  '1  would  see  you  with  pleasure  again  at  the  head  of  the 
French  armies.'  " 


140  Tlic  French  in  America. 

naval  action  of  the  Count  dc  Ora.<isc  iclth  Admiral  Tiodncy.^]-^'' 
It  is  dated  from  jNIartiiiique  on  the  17th  of  April,  1782,  and 
begins  tlius :  "  Tlicre  has  arrived  to-day,  at  tliree  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  a  cutter  brin2;ing  the  following  news  of  the 
French  army,  which  is  to  M'indward  of  Gnadelouj)e."  They 
were  far  oil'  from  the  truth.  De  Grasse  only  returned  to 
France  two  years  later,  when  peace  was  concluded.  Pie  con- 
tributed, lioweyer,  during  his  captivity,  towards  bringing  about 
]:)caee.  lie  justified  himself  in  a  mcmoire-^^  on  his  return, 
and  was  acquitted  by  a  court-martial  held  in  March,  17S4. 
lie  died  the   11th  of  January,   17SS. 

In  a  letter  of  A\"ashington  to  Kochambeiui  of  the  22d  of 
April,  1788,  the  American  general,  alluding  to  the  misfortunes 
of  dc  Grasse's  later  yciirs,  said :  "  But  his  frailties  should 
now  be  buried  in  the  grave  with  him,  while  his  name  will 
be  long  deservedly  dear  to  this  country  on  account  of  his 
successful  co-operation  in  the  glorious  campaign  of  1781." 

Grassp:-Limme]IMONT  (Dc),"^"^  about  whom  I  have  no  in- 
formation. 

Gi{iLLif:RES  (l^^ranyois-Marin  dcs  Bouillieres,  Chevalier  dcs), 
born    the    28th    of    October,    1752;   captain  en  second   in   the 

^Detail  du  comhat  mn:al  dc.  M.  le  Comic  de  Grasse  avcc  I'cunlml  liodnri/. 
^Seo  Vol.  I.,  page  *J. 

In  his  mcmoire  he  said,  after  having  rehited  the  focts  of  the  hattle: 
"Such  are  tlie  circumstances  of  tliis  misfortune  to  tlie  arms  of  the 
king  and  to  mine.  One  nnist  not  be  surprised  thereat;  tlic  most  im- 
portant manu'uvros  were  not  carried  out;  nine  of  my  signals  were  ab- 
sohitely  neglected.  It  is  for  my  judges  to  decide  whether  the  move- 
ments ordered  were  suitable  to  the  circumstances  of  the  combat  and 
to  the  winds  then  blowing.  I  sul)mit  myself  to  their  knowledge  with 
as  much  confidence  as  resjK'ct.  It  is  my  signals,  it  is  the  defense  of 
my  ship  which  I  have  jnu-jiosed  giving  to  their  examination.  *  *  *  * 
1  am  the  first  general  of  the  French  army  to  be  judged  by  a  court- 
martial." 

^'L.  B.,  page  90. 


Lht  of  Ojjicers.  141 

rcginu^iit  of  Arm;!;i,nac;  (listiiio-uishcd  himself  at  tlio  taking  of 
Saint  Cliristoplicr ;  conimaiidcd  a  picket  of  hh  regiment  at 
the  attack  of  the  intrencliments  of  Savannah,  and  was  wounded 
tliere  by  two  gunshots.  He  was  then  under  tlie  command  of 
Count  do  DiHuii.  He  also  took  part  in  the  expedition  to 
Hudson's  13ay  on  the  13th  of  June,    17S2/"' 

GuiCiiArvD  entered  the  service  as  private  in  174G ;  made 
all  the  campaigns  of  Germany  as  non-commissioned  officer, 
and  was  wounded  at  LaufeKl.  Appointed  sub-lieutenant  of 
Soissonnais  in  1770,  he  made  the  campaign  of  America,  and 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  IGth  of  March,  17S1,  be- 
fore New  York. 

GuiCHKX  (Louis-Urbain  du  Boucxic,  Count  de),  born  at 
Fougeres  in  1712,  died  at  ]\[orlaix  in  1700.  Pie  entered  the 
navy  in  1730  as  guard,  and  went  through  all  the  ranks. 
A})pointed  naval  captain  in  175G.  The  following  year  he 
commanded  the  AtdUndc,  and  ciiptured  f<.>ur  English  privateers 
and  nine  mcrchantuicn.  \\\  1778  chief  of  squadron  and  com- 
mander of  Saint-I^ouis.  He  was  present  on  the  27th  of  July, 
1778,  at  the  battle  of  Oucssant,  where  he  took  the  place  of 
Count  Du  Challault  de  Ijcsuc,  who  was  wounded  while  com- 
maiiding  the  rearguard.  In  1779  he  became  lieutenant- 
general,  ruid  the  following  year  he  left  Brest  with  fifteen 
vessels  to  replace  d'Estaing  in  the  Antilles.  He  escorted  a 
fleet  of  merchantmen,  ami  arrived  .-afely  in  ^larch,  17S0,  at 
the  Martinique.  The  17th  he  met  Admiral  Rodney  and 
fought  a  successful  naval  action  wiili  him  near  Dominica, 
another  on  tlie  loth  of  ^lay  following,  and  a  third  on  the 
19th.  Ivodney  abandoned  the  town  after  the  hx-s  of  the 
Cormorant,  of  seventy-four  guns.  But  the  I^nglish  have 
always  held  that  Rodney  won  the  victory. 

""  See  in  the  List  of  Oflicors :  POrou.se. 


142  Tlic  French  in  America. 

In  1781  dc  Guich(Mi  was  made  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis, 
and  loft  Brest  on  the  lOtli  of  December  with  nineteen  war 
vessels  and  many  merchantmen,  some  of  wliicli  tlic  English 
Admiral  Kempenfeld  captured.  Let  us  note  that  at  this  time 
the  escorting  of  merchantmen  had  become,  for  the  ofHcers  of 
the  royal  navy,  a  si'condary  mattei',  a  thing  indeed  below 
their  dignity.-'^ 

He  did  nolhing  more  that  was  remarlcaljlc.  In  17>S4  Jiouis 
the  Sixteenth  made  him  elievalier  of  the  Saint-Esprit,  which 
position  was  not  generally  considered  suitable  for  the  dignity 
of  a  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis. 

H. 

PIaab  or  AiiAAiJ,  naval  ensign,  a  Swede.  Killed  the  .5th 
of  September,  17S1,  in  tlic  ojK-ratictns  before  Savannah."'- 

Haak  (Frederic-Charles,  Baron  de),  born  at  Lappe  the  1-lth 
of  March,  1744.  Made  three  campaigns  in  Germany  in  the 
regiment  of  Boyal-Deux-ronts  ;  was  appointed  captain  of  the 
grenadiers  of  that  regiment  in  April,  1779.  He  received  the 
cross  of  ]\[ilitaiy  ^lerit  for  the  bravery  he  showed  at  the 
attack  of  the  redoubt  of  Yorktown. 

IIaden  (Charles-Louis  de),  born  at  Manheim  the  17th  of 
July,  1738;  entered  as  cadet  the  service  of  the  Palatinate  in 
1757  ;  captain  of  a  conij)any,  lieutenant-colonel  of  Boyal- 
Deux-Ponts  the  ISth  of  October,  1777.  Received  the  cross 
of  Saint-Louis  for  his  conduct   before  Yorktown. 

Hainaui.T  (Charles-Theodore),  born  at  2ilanheim  the  1st 
of  October,  1738  ;  entered  as  cadet  the  service  of  the  Prince 


^^'See  Vol.  I.,   p;i:_'eH  10'.),  110,  and   pa-os    ir.S-177.     Also    an   extract 
from  "  JotinKil  (/'»/;  nijicicr  dr  marine"  pa.i^e  24,  Paris,  I7S2. 
'^' Maiin,'<cri])t  of  Dupelit-Tliouarti. 


Li^t  of  Officers.  143 

Palatine  tho  20tli  of  August,  1750;  captain-coniinandant  of 
Jloyal-Doiix-routs  the  22(1  of  July,  1779.  Made  six  cam- 
paif^ns  in  Gei'iuauy  and  went  to  America  with  his  regiment. 
He  received  the  cross  of  Military  ]Merit. 

H(EN  (Chevalier  dc   Dillenbourg).      See  DiLI.EXiiOUKG. 

HouDETO'J'  Di:  CoLO.MBY  (Marc-Joscpli  d'),  boi-n  the  18(h 
of  June,  1752,  at  Saint  Martin  in  Fressin ;  entered  the  service 
as  sub-lieutenant  of  Agenois  in  1777;  lieutenant  the  21st  of 
April,  1779.  lie  was  M'ounded  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  by 
a  bayonet  thrust  in  the  light  thigh,  in  the  sortie  which  the 
English  made  during  the  night  of  the  15th  to  the  10th  of 
October,   1781,  on  the  battery  on  the  right  of  the  allies. 

HoLZENiX)]iF  (Baron  de),  one  of  the  first  enlisted  volun- 
teers in  the  War  of  Independence,  received  the  brevet  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel the  29th  of  July,  1777,  with  pay  from  the 
preceding  17th  of  iS'ovendjcr.  He  resigned  the  31st  of  Jan- 
uary,  1778. 

HuMEERT  (Claude-dac(jues-Fran<,'ois),  born  the  J  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1757  ;  entered  as  sub-lieutenant  the  regiment  of  lloyal- 
Deux-Ponts  the  28th  of  August,  1777.  He  received  a  re- 
ward for  his  good  conduct  before  Yorktown,  and  tlie  rank  of 
lieutenant  in  Iioyal-Deux-l*onts  the  30th    of  January,   1782. 


IciiTEitsiiKiM  (Francois-Ciiarles),  born  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber, 175(5;  entered  the  service  in  the  regiment  of  Ixoyal- 
Deux-Ponts  in  1775;  second  lieutenant  the  28th  of  April, 
1778.  Received  a  reward  for  his  good  conduct  before  York- 
town. 


144  Tlie  FrciicJi  in  America. 

Imrekt  (Jean-Louis),  enlisted  as  volunteer  in  tlio  War  of 
In(le])eiKlencc ;  employed  as  engineer  v.ith  the  rank  of"  eaj)tain 
the  lOth  of  September,   ITTG.-^" 

iMr.KKT  DE  IjAIIRY  (Denis),  born  the  IHh  of  ]'>l)iuaiy, 
1742,  at  Pu}daurens  in  Lan(i;uedoc  ;  entered  the  scrviee  the 
4th  of  IMay,  1759,  as  sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Age- 
nois;  sub-aid-major  the  11th  of  August,  1771  ;  captain  in  t^ce- 
ond  tlie  lull  of  June,  177G.  Was  wounded  at  the  attaek  of 
Savannah  by  a  shot  in  the  lefb  arm  ;  distinguished  himself  at 
Saint  Christopher. 

J. 

James.     See  Loxgi-evjlle. 

Jones  (John-raul),  born  the  Gth  of  July,  1747,  at  Arbig- 
laud  in  Scotland;  died  in  Paris  the  ISth  of  Jidy,  170-!.  His 
family  name  was  Paul,  but  he  added  to  it  Jones,  to  show  his 
gratefulness  to  his  Virginian  benefactor.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  was  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  of  Whitehaven,  who  traded 
with  Amci'Ica,  and  he  made  his  first  V(jyagc  to  the  United 
States,  where  his  brother  was  already  established,  and  where 
lie  was  to  find  a  new  country. 

]n  1775,  when  the  ^^ar  of  Independence  broke  out,  and 
the  American  Congress  thought  of  organizing  a  navy,  Paul 
Jones,  who  had  already  commanded  several  merchantmen,  and 
wlio  found  himself  in  Virginia  in  very  straightened  circum- 
stances, acce])ted  the  position  of  first  lieutenant  on  board  of  the 
Alfred,  lie  was  soon  a])i)<>intcd  c;!|itaiu  of  the  l*rovidciice,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  those  little  known  but  heroic  early 
struggles  of  five  or  six  ships  against  the  numerous  vessels  of 
England.  In  ^Tay,  1777,  he  M-as  sent  to  the  American  com- 
missaries in  h" ranee  with  the  promise  of  a  more  important  com- 
mand,    lint  the  Court  of  A'ersaillcs  hail  not  yet  pronounced 

"'Aiibertcuil. 


List  of  Officers.  145 

officially  for  America,  and  they  had  to  be  content  with  sending 
him  to  cruise  with  his  frigate,  the  Ranger,  of  eighteen  guns, 
v/herevcr  he  wanted  to,  with  no  other  instructions  than  to  do 
the  most  harm   he  could  to   England. 

In  consc(iuence,  he  started  irom  Brest  on  the  10th  of  Aj)ril, 
1778,  on  that  famous  cruis(^,  which,  says  one  of  his  American 
biographers,  showed  the  weak  side  of  England,  and  showed  for 
the  future  where  to  attack  it  in  its  own  home.  Using  the  inti- 
mate ac(iuaintance  he  had  \\'\i\\  the  northern  coasts,  he  made  a 
descent  at  V/hitehaven,  burnt  the  port,  attacked  the  Island  of 
Saint  J^Iary's  and  s\n-priscd  the  r-astle  of  Lord  Selkirk,  of  which 
his  father  had  been  gardener.  He  also  took  the  sloop  the 
Dmhc  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  lie  made  a  second  no  less 
brilliant  e.\i)edition  in  August,  1770,  with  the  rank  of  conuno- 
dore,  and  at  the  head  of  a  little  squadron  composed  of  Erencli 
and  American  ships  and  ercws.  He  was  on  a  forty-gun  ship 
equipped  by  France  to  which  he  had  given  the  name,  popular 
in  America,  of  Jlonhotiunc  Ilichard.  These  forces  were  intended 
to  act  against  Liverpool,  and  La  Fayette,  on  his  return  from 
America,  was  to  command  a  landing  corps  of  seven  hundred 
men.  The  project  became  known  and  was  abandoned;  but  to 
make  this  cruise  famous  there  was  the  action  of  the  22d  of 
Septembei-  with  the  ."^entpis,  an  English  ship  of  greater 
strength,  which  Paul  Jones  took  by  boarding  after  an  en- 
gagement of  foni-  hours.  On  his  return  from  these  two  cruises, 
in  which  he  had  cai)tured  more  than  eight  hundred  prisoners 
and  spread  terror  on  all  the  coasts  of  England,  the  brave  sailor 
went  to  Versailles,  where  lie  became  the  hero  of  the  day.  The 
king  decorated  him  with  the  cross  of  ]\rilitary  I^Ieril,  and  gave 
him  a  sword  with  a  golden  handle  on  which  was  engraved  : 
Vindicaii  maris  Ludovicm  XVI.  rcniuncrator  drcnuo  riiidici. 
Other  honors  awaited  liini  at  Philadelphia,  where  he  returned 
on  the  18th  of  February,  1781.  He  received  there  the  con- 
gratnlations  of  Oongrcss,  a  gold  medal,  and  a  flattering  letter 
from   AVashinuton. 


;Il46  Tlte  French  in  Aw.rrica. 

The  rc<t   of  his   career  offers   few  remarkable   events.     He 
went   on   board    of    tlie   fleet   of   Count   <le  Yaucbx.nil    to  joni 
Count    d'Estalno;,    ^vho    was    plannin-    an    expedition    a-a.nst 
Jamaiea,   but  peaee  was   made.      He  tlien   returned  to  France 
for    the    liquidation    of   tlie    moneys  cumin,-:;    from    the    ]my.i^s 
made   in  common   with  that  ])ower,  and  ne.o-otiated  this  ai!a.r 
to  the  satisfaction  of  Congress.     The  following  year,  in  1784, 
he  entered  the  service  of  Russia,  and  was  employed  as  rear- 
admiral   in  the  war  against  the  Turks.      Court  intrigues  and 
quarrels  with  Poiemkin  and  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  his  su]KU-i- 
ors    made  him  leave  the   service   about    17S0.     He   asked   m 
vain  for  a  conunand  at  the  Court  of  Vienna,  and  returned  to 
Paris   in  1790.     He   lived  two   years  more  in  that  city   un- 
ki.own,  forgotten,  and  displeased  with   all  governments,   who, 
he  said,  did  not  appreciate  his  merit.     His  adventurous  career 
finished  on  the   ISth   of  July,   1792,  and  the  Legislative  As- 
sembly  decided   that   a   deputation   should   be  present    at    his 

interment.-'* 

Paul  Jones  had  all  the  instincts  of  a  real  sailor.  He  loved 
battle  as  did  the  battle-horse  spoken  of  in  the  Book  of  Job. 
As  he  was  very  able  in  manoeuvring  his  vessel,  he  always 
tried  to  o-et  as  near  as  he  could  to  the  bowsprit  of  the  enemy  s 
ship  aiuf  to  give  him  a  broadside,  l^Howed  by  boarding.  It 
was  to  this  manamvre  that  he  often  owed  his  successes.^  In 
the  action  between  the  Bonhommc  Biclmrd  and  the  Scropi.^,  he 
fastened  his  ship  to  the  enemy's  with  grapnels,  acc<.rding  to 
his  old  privateersman's  customs.''"^ 

='^"0f  whatever  si/.e  was  the  slup,  the  hnceaneers  went  without 
hesitation  to  boanlin..  A.  soon  us  the  ..-apncl  .as  thrown  it  was  a 
rintured  shin."     (l^.avnal,  lM<nrc  phih^ophique.    X.,  page  10.) 

is  adventures  furnished  the  matter  for  several  romanees,  an.ong 
others  the  lied  Hocer  of  J.  I'^cnimore  Cooper.  De  Pontgihaud  recounts 
r  in-'ular  occurrence,  ati  attempt  at  munler  on  Paul  Jones  by  Captain 
lSI  of  the  American  frigate  the  MUancc.  Amon,  the  curK>us  books 
whkh  i   have  collected  are:    Paul  Jones,  on  propJnUes  sur  lAuurxp^e, 


List  of  Oficcrs.  147 

Paul  Jones  left  llie  iiiiin-int  of  his  genius  on  the  Aniericiin 
Navy.  One  of  his  cardinal  iM-inci])]es  Nvas  ''the  largo  ball." 
He  said  that  one  hirge  bore  cannon  uas  worth  two  of  smaller 
calibre,  and  the  brilliant  and  numerous  victories  of  the  Amer- 
icans in  the  war  of  1812-15,  between  the  United  Slates  and 
England,   showed  the  truth  of  the  principle. 

JujARDV,  commissary  of  war  of  the  expedition  under  the 
orders  of  Blanchard.-'" 


JuMJ^:couKT  (De),  officer  of  artillery.  Freemason,  caused 
his  Iriend  JJlanchard  to  be  received  apprentice  of  the  Society 
of  Freemasons,  at  ]'*rovidence,  together  with  de  Pisanfon,  sec- 
retary of  Blanchard."''^' 

K. 

Kai.b  (Ilenry-Jules-Alexandre  von  Ilobaii,  Baron  De),-'* 
born  at  lliittendorf,  in  the  Margravedom  of  Baireuth,  the  29th 
of  June,  1721  (there  arc  ditferent  dates  given  in  dillerent 
notices);  served  llrst  in  the  French  army,  in  the  regiment  of 
Royal-Dcux-Ponts,  during  the  Seven  Yeai's'  A\'ar,  with  the 
title  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  infantry.  lie  rweived  from  de 
Choiseul  the  secret  mission  to  go  to  America  to  see  Mhether 
the  germs  of  revolt  were  sufficiently  developed,  and  to  stir  up 
the  feelings  of  the  malcontents.  He  left  London  on  the  4th 
of  October,  17G7,  and    acquitted  himself  with  intelligence  of 

VAngldcrr,',  la  France,  dc,  ;x7r  J'did  Jones,  corsctire,  proph'te  et  sorciei' 
comme  il  n'en  jut  jamais,  An  V  </-•  I'lndLpcndcnce  de  rAmirique.  There 
are  several  bio<,'nii)]ucs  of  Paul  Jones.  The  best  is  L[h-  of  raid  Jones, 
by  Shiims,  Ne\v  York,  1S45,  in  12nio.  See  also  the  MunUcur  Univcrsel 
and  Naval  Ilhtonj  of  tlw   United  Ulatcs,  by  J.  F.  Cooper. 

■''J'aats  Milllaiirs.  ' 

'^''Journal  of  lilanrhard. 

'"'The  knowled-^e  of  his  name,  von  Kobaii,  I  owe  to  M.  Pierre 
Maryry,  which  information  I  have  found  nowherea  else. 


148  The  French  in  America. 

this  dangerous  rolc.*^^  lie  traveled  under  a  disguise,  and  was 
arrested  in  Canada  as  a  susjiect,  but  was  Ireed  tlirough  want 
of  proofs.  He  returned  tlien  to  Franec,  hut  soon  .-tartcd 
again  for  .\nierica  with  La  Fayette  and  otlier  ollicers  in  the 
spring  of  1777. 

Dc  Kalb  held  in  Franee  the  position  of  brigadier  from 
1775.  Congress  comniissioned  him  major-general  the  loth  of 
Septend)er,  1777.  He  was  with  the  column  which  I^a  Fay- 
ette commanded  in  his  march  from  South  Carolina  towards 
Philadelphia,  and  always  sliowed  the  greatest  courage.  His 
death  was  most  glorious.""  He  fell  at  Camden,  pierced  with 
eleven  wounds,  and  died  three  days  later,  on  the  IGth  of  Au- 
gust, 1780.  Congress  proposed  to  raise  for  him,  at  ^Vnnajiolis, 
in  jSIaryland,  a  tondj  of  which  the  in.-cri])tion  said  that  he 
was  then  ibrty-three  years  of  age.  However,  (icneral  Henry 
Lee,  who  knew  him  inliniately,  says  in  his  memoii-s  that  he 
was  nearly  seventy,  but  that  the  vivacity  of  his  mind  and  the 
energy  of  his  physique,  kept  up  by  great  sobriety  of  living, 
M'ould  give  the  idea   that  he  was  twenty  years  younger."^ 

Kalij  (He),  son  of  the  former,  was  boi-n  in  the  ]\[argravc- 
dom  of  Baireuth  in  1753,  and  served  also  in  America.  He 
was  lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Iloyal-Hcux-Ponts ;  was 
present  at  the  assault  on  Yorktown  and  i'ec(.'!ved  the  onler  of 
the  Cincinnati.  He  is  juentioned  in  the  Eiati  Mililaircs  of 
1779-80  as  being  in   the   Antilles. 

Kkkan])Koax  (Dc  la  Jloche  de),  naval  ensign  ;  killed  on 
the  rnUc-Fouk-  the  20th  of  June,  1778.  In  July,  1770, 
Congress  appointed  him  engineer  in   the  service  of  the  Llnited 


^''See  Vol.  I.,  paj?e  54. 

'^'Seo  in  the  List  of  Oiliceivs  (for  tlie  IcttiT  of  his  aid-iU'-cani])) :  Dii 
Bnisson. 

^^  This  notice  of  De  Kalh  must  be  rewritten.     ]\Iar''inal  note  bv  T.  E. 


List  of  Officers.  149 

States,  vitli  sixty  dollars  pay  a  month  and  the  rank  of  licii- 
tcnunt-colonel.  lie  sorveil  in  the  army  of  Gates,  in  the  corps 
of  riflemen  commanded  by  iMoruan,  and  retired  from  the 
service  with  the  rank  of  colonel   the  5th  of  INIarch,  1778."" 

KEn^rAiJEC  (Louis-Jean -Eusebc  Ivoron  de),  born  at  Quiui- 
perle  the  8th  of  Deceml)er,  1749  ;  was  lieutenant  of  Agenois 
during  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Avlierc  lie  distinguished  himself. 
lie  was  wounded  at  the  action  of  the  12th  of  April,  fought 
by  Count  dc  Giasse,  and  received  the  rank  of  captain  the 
1st  of  February,    1782. 

Kermoiivax  or  Keu.movan  (Chevalier  dc),  one  of  the 
first  French  volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  Americans.  It 
was  r»arbier^-'^  Dubourg  who  sent  him  to  Franklin.  De  Ker- 
morvan  distinguished  himself  at  Saratoga  on  the  7th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1777,  by  turning  the  right  of  the  English,  and  by  oppos- 
ing thus  a  clever  maiueuvre  of  Burgoyne. 

Keiine  (IX'),  infiiiitiy  officer,  wounded  in  the  naval  battle 
off  Saint  Lucia,  fought  on  the  lOth  of  ]May,  1780,  by  de 
Guichen  with   Admiral    llodney. 

Kl^:iiovAN.     See  Quekouiiaxt. 

KEKVfeuEX  (Gauthier  dc),  entered  the  service  iu  1755  in 
the  position  of  naval  engineer ;  went  to  Saint  Domingo  as 
aid-de-camp  of  d'Fstaing  in  1700;  apj)ointed  cngineer-geog- 
rajjhcr  of  the  camps  In  17t)7;  was  sent  to  Coi'siea  and  stayed 
there  until  17(iO.  Ai)puinted  captain  of  Inlant ry  in  17(Jl), 
he  was  employed  on  the  coasts  and  on  tlie  frontiers  of  France 
until   lie  returned  to  the  Antilles  in   1777. 

^Auberttniil  and  Ainrricati,  Archive-i, 
'■^  Vol.  I.,  page  81. 


150  Tlie  French  in  Aynerica. 

He  was  present  at  all  the  battles  on  land  and  sea  wliieli 
took  place  during  the  twenty-one  months  of  oani]iaio;ii  of  the 
squadron  of  d'Estaing.  He  mounted,  one  ol"  the  first,  to  the 
assault  of  the  hills ^-"^  near  the  hosj)ital  of  Grenada,  and  he 
also  gave  proof  of  courage  at  the  attack  of  tlic  intrenchinents 
of  Savamiah.      Decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati."' 

Killp:maixe,  or  better,  Kil:\iaixe  (Charles-Joseph),--^  l)orn 
at  Dublin  in  175-1;  entered  the  service  in  France,  and  went 
to  America  as  snb-lieutenant  in  the  legion  of  Lauzun.  Dc 
Kochambeau  having  ordered  Dumas,  in  July,  17S1,  to  rec- 
onnoiter  as  near  to  New  York  as  he  could,  Durnas  took  a 
detachment  of  lancers  of  the  legion  of  Lauzun,  at  whose 
head  was  Kihnaine,  whose  vigor  and  intelligence  cnaljled  the 
reconnoltering  party  to  get  within  riilc  shot  of  the  enemy's 
works. 

Captain  in  17S0.  He  was  employed  later  in  France  in  the 
Army  of  the  North  ;  was  at  Jennnapes  and  in  the  Vendee ; 
general  of  division  in  1703  ;  soon  after  general-in-chief  of 
the  Armies  of  the  North  and  of  the  Ardennes.  Distinguished 
himself  in  Italy  under  Bonaparte ;  general-in-chief  of  the 
Army  of  England  in  1798.     He  died  at  Paris  in   1700."' 

Klocker  or  DE  Keock  (Rernard-Antoine),  born  in  the 
Palatinate  the  IGth  of  June,  1730;  enlisted  in  the  regiment 
of  Poyal-Deux-Ponts ;  Avas  made  sergeant  the  ISth  of  October, 
175G,  and  reaclu'd  the  rank  of  captain-coniinandant  in  the 
same  regiment  in  177S.  He  distinguished  himself  before 
Yorktown,  and  received  the  decoration  of  Military  ^lerit  on 
this  occasion. 

*=*  Momcx. 

^Manuscript  of  Diipclil-Thouius.     Marginal  note. 

^  }fi'moircs  of  Diiinas. 

"'The  En''>irh)piilit(  of  Chrmiolor/i/,  London,  Loncrinan?,  p;ivos  tlu'  name 
of  Charles  ■/('»»»»'/>■•  Kilinaino,  ajul  niake?  a  mistake  in  s;iying  that  he 
pcrvcd  under  La  Fayettti  inslcail  of  umler    Lauzun. 


Lid  of  O'Jlccrs.  151 

Kosciusko  (Tliaddous),  born  in  Lithuania  of  an  ancient 
and  noblo  family.  Tlie  date  of  his  birth  is  uncertain.  The 
Biof/raphic  UniverscUe  gives  the  2Sth  of  October,  174G,  wliich, 
I  think,  is  the  most  likely  (kite;  in  the  Convci:  Lev  and 
several  otlu^r  works  the  years  ]  753,  1755  and  175G  are 
Dientioned.  He  was  a  student  at  the  ^Military  School  at 
Warsaw;  studie(l  in  France,  in  Germany  and  in  Italy,  then 
served  in  Pokuid.  In  1775,  after  a  disappointment  in  love, 
he  embarked  on  a  shij)  which  was  going  to  Martinique. 
Tlience,  in  1770,  he  went  to  the  United  States,  where  he 
found  Pulaski,  who  presented  him  to  Washington.  He  was 
successively  aid-(kscamj)  of  Gates,  Armstrong,  Greene  and 
Washington.  He  was  a})})ointed  engineer  by  Congress,  with 
the  rank  of  colonel,  in  the  autumn  of  1777,  and  succeeded  to 
La  Ixadiere,  on  the  Upper  Hudson,  in  177S.  He  fortified 
the  eamj)  of  Gates,  and  directed  the  works  of  AVest  Point. 
Much  e.-teemed  by  the  .vmerican  oflicers,  and  a  member  of  the 
society  of  the  Cincinnati.  He  returnc;d  to  Poland  after  the  war 
in   1783;   there  he   became  major-ginieral   under  Poniatowski. 

In  1704,  when  a  new  revolution  upset  Poland,  he  was 
made  generalissimo,  with  dictatorial  powers.  He  won  a  victory 
against  the  Ilussians  at  Paclawice  on  the  4th  of  A])ril,  1794. 
His  defense  oi"  Warsaw  was  glorious.  The  10th  of  October 
he  was  wounded  and  taken  [)risoner  at  the  battle  of  ^Nlazciewice, 
and  taken  to  Saint  Petersburg,  where  lie  was  ke})t  until  the 
death  of  Catherine  in  17->(X  The  Emperor  Paul  restored 
liim  to  liberty,  and  wished  him  to  accept  a  command  in  his 
army,  but  Kosciusko  rcl"u.-cd.  ]le  then  made  a  journey  to 
the  United  States  in  17'-*7;  went  to  Philadclj)hia  and  >sew 
York,  and  Congress  oflcrcd  him,  as  a  rewanl  lor  his  services, 
a  land  grant,  which  he  i-efused.  He  returned  to  Switzerland, 
and  stayed  there  until  his  death,  on  the  IGth  of  October, 
1817.     His  remains  were  taken  to  Cracow. 

Popular  imagination,  in  Kngland  as  well  as  in  Amerii-a,  tt)ok 
hold   of  Jvosciusko.     The   sympathy    iclt   lor   his   unlbrtunate 


152  The  French  in  America. 

country  was  niucb  increased  by  the  virtues,  the  [)atriotisni, 
the  worth,  and  the  moral  height  of  the  man  it  had  chosen  for 
dictator.  He  was  the  hero  of  the  popular  romance  of  jNliss 
Jane  Portei",  Thaddcus  of  Warsctr,  and  in  one  of  the  finest 
poems  of  the  Eni^Hsh  hniiruaux",  the  Pleasures  of  Hope,  l)y 
Camj)bcll,  his  defeat  is  immortalized   in  bitter  regret: 

Hope,  for  a  season,  bade  the  world  farewell, 
And  Freedom  shrieked  when  Kosciusko  fell. 

L. 

Lablanque  or  Lakexque  or  Laijji:xque  (Jean-Francois 
de),  born  in  December,  1 730,  at  la  Touray  in  Quercy.  En- 
tered the  service  in  1744;  captain  in  1757  in  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais. 

Lahoude  T)E  Bplvume  (Jean-Francois),  born  the  7th  of 
Februaiy,  1743,  at  La  Bastide  in  Armagnac;  captain-com- 
mandant in  the  regiment  of  G'ltinais  the  17t}i  of  .Vngu.-t, 
1775.  ]Madc  the  campaigns  of  Germany  and  of  the  colonics, 
and  was  decorated  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown. 

LABOEDE-IMKRtviLLE  (Franyois-Louis-Josepli,  ^Manpiis  de), 
financier  and  ])olitician.  ]Made  the  American  campaign,  and 
was  filling,  in  1789,  the  functions  of  guard  of  the  royal  treas- 
ury. Signer  of  the  oath  of  the  Jen  de  Paumc ;  defended  and 
sustained  the  ideas  of  political  and  religious  liberty;  then 
retired  in  1791  to  Elngland,  and  died  at  London  in  1801. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Ijaborde-Bouteville  and  Laborde  de 
INlaichainville,  were  on  the  e.\])edition  of  J^a  Perouse. 

La  Comhe.     See  Qri:i:EXET. 

Lacy  (L'abbe),  chaplain  of  the  French  lutspital,  of  Irish 
origin.--* 

^  Blanchard. 


List  of  Officers.  153 

La  Fayette  (^^larie-Josoiili-Panl-Yvcs-r.ooh-GilUert  tin 
Mothier,  IManiiii.-.;  de),  born  the  Gth  of  September,  1757;  son 
of  ;\richel-I.ouis-Cbrlsio])lie-Iloch-Gilbcrt  du  :\rothier,  .AEarqnis 
de  T.:i  Fayette,  l'>aron  de  Vi?-ac,  Seigneur  de  vSaint-Romain 
and  other  phices,  and  of  the  Lady  ]Marie-Loni?e- Julio  de  la 
Riviere;  baptized  the  7th  of  Septeiul)er,  1757,  parish  of  Char- 
vanliac,  bishoprie  of  Saint-lHour.     His  army  records  say  : 

1771,  9th  of  April,  musket(!er  of  tlie  second  company;  1773, 
7th  of  April,  sub-lieutenant  in  tlie  regiment  of  dragoons  of 
Noailles;  1771,  IDth  of  jNIay,  captain.  In  waiting  in  1776. 
1777,  went  to  Xorth  America,  where  he  commanded  an  army 
corps,  lie  pays  eighty  thousand  //c/r.s  for  the  regiment  of 
de  Crequy,  whose  titulary  colonel  he  becomes.  1771),  od  of 
March,  wc4n-  de  camp,  commander  of  the  dragoons  of  the 
king.  1770,  1st  of  June,  returns  to  France  to  beg  help  in 
men  and  money  Ibr  the  Americans,  and  is  appointed  aid- 
quartermaster-general  of  the  army  of  Lrittany  and  Normandy, 
which  was  being  i)repared  Ibi-  a  desc(>nt  on  England.  1780, 
returns  to  America,  ]M-eceding  by  a  i'vw  days  de  Rochambeau. 
1783,  12th  of  March,  brevet  of  niarcrhcd  de  ecnap  sent  with 
the  date  of  the  1st  of  November,  1781.  Received  the  order 
of  the  Cinciimati. 

1788,  15th  of  July,  the  king  has  thought  fit  to  take  from 
him  his  letters  of  service  in  the  rank  of  acting  mcdrc  dc  camp. 
1789,  15th  of  July,  commander-general  of  the  National  Guard 
of  Paris ;  i^rotecled  the  royal  family  during  the  5th  and  6th 
of  October ;  dispersed  by  force  the  peo])le  assembled  on  the 
Champ  de  Mars  the  17th  of  July,  1791.  171'1,  iJOth  of 
Auirust,  commands  with  success  one  of  tlu;  armies  intended  to 
drive  back  the  foreign  invasion  on  the  frontier  oi  the  north. 
1792,  20th  of  Jmie,  is  phiced  out  of  the  pale  of  the  law  ibr 
having  tried  to  make  the  king  leave  Paris,  and  leaves  his  com- 
mand on  the  20th  of  Augu>t  with  I.aumoy,  Latour  Maubourg, 
Lallcmand,  du  Koure  and  others.  Arrotcd  din-ing  his  llight 
by   the  Austrians,   he  was  shut    u])   in   the   citadel   of  Olmiitz 


154  The  French  in  America. 

for  luivinj^  iudvd  in  tlio  revolution.  He  remained  tliere  a 
prisoner  until  ITi'T,  wlieu  a  special  article  of  the  treaty  of 
Canipo-Forniio  restored  him  to  liberty. 

He  would  not  take  any  part  in  ])uhlic  matters  under  the  Em- 
pire, and  was  elected  deputy  by  the  opposition  from  1814  to 
1830.  The  bitter  struggle  which  he  ke])t  up  against  the  Boiu'- 
bons  was  only  interrupted  by  a  journey  to  the  United  States  in 
1825,  journey  A\hieh  was  a  continuous  ovation.  After  the  Kev- 
olution  of  July,  1830,  and  for  the  second  time,  after  an  inter- 
val of  forty  years,  he  was  ai)pointed  gcncral-in-ehief  of  the 
National  Guard,  and  tried  to  Ibund  oji  a  liberal  basis  the  gov- 
ernment of  Louis  Piiilippe,  while  maintiiining  order  ;  but  by 
1831  he  had  recognized  that  the  hope  lie  had  jdaccd  in  the 
new  government  was  an  illusion,  and  he  re-entered  the  ranks 
of  the  op})osition.     lie   stayed   there   till    his  death,   in    1834. 

It  would  be  too  long  to  give  here  the  com])lete  history  of 
his  sojourn  in  America,  from  1777  to  1782.  It  would  be  to 
rewrite  the  story  of  the  War  of  Independence  during  that 
jjcriod.  The  reader  will  find  some  notice  on  the  character 
and  the  rule  of  La  Fayette  in  the  ehajjter  devoted  to  foreign 
volunteei's."^ 

I  will  summarize  this  part  of  his  life  by  saying  : 

He  arrived  in  America  in  July,  1777,  on  a  vessel  e([uij)pGd 
at  his  own  expense  and  accompanied  by  a  number  of  French 
officers,  among  whom  were  de  Valfort  and  de  Ternan.  He 
made  the  campaign  of  that  year  with  the  rank  of  major-gen- 
eral, and  was  wounded  by  a  gunshot  in  the  leg  at  the  battle 
of  the  Brandywinc.  "  Care  for  him  as  if  he  were  my  son," 
Siiid  on  this  occasion  General  A\'ashingtou  tcj  the  surgeon  who 
was  attending  him. 

In  1778  he  was  aj)})ointed  general  connnanding  a  corps  of 
troops  intended  for  an  expedition  into  Canada.  This  expe- 
dition did  not  take  place,  but  La  Fayette  stayed  at  the  head 


Vol.  I.,  Chapter  VII. 


List  of  Ofjlccrs.  155 

of  a  pari  of  the  American  army  aiul  lielped  in  the  defense 
of  Ivhode  Jshmd. 

He  lieljied  also  tlie  eanse  of  tlie  Americans,  dnrini::  tlie  year 
1779,  hy  going  to  France  to  ask  for  succors  ;  and  on  liis  return 
to  America,  in  March,  \1'^^\  he  commanded  a  picked  corps  in 
the  van  of  Washington's  army.  In  1781  lie  was  charged  with 
the  defense  of  Virginia  witli  a  little  army  of  ten  thousand  men, 
of  whom  three  thousand  two  hundred  were  French.  By  his 
brilliant  manteuvres  he  forced  Lord  Cornwallis  to  take  refuge 
in  Yorktown,  where  he  was  soon  blockaded  by  all  the  allied 
forces  on  land  and  sea. 

Before  Yorktown,  La  Fayette  held  the  right  of  the  line  of 
attack,  and  during  the  night  of  the  14th  of  October,  while  the 
Baron  de  Viomenil  captured  the  great  redoubt  on  the  left,  at 
the  head  of  the  American  militia  La  Fayette  carried  the  one  on 
the  right.  After  this  double  success  the  town  had  to  surrender 
on  the  19th.  In  November,  1781,  he  went  to  France  to  carry 
the  full  accounts  of  this  success,  i)ut  he  did  not  return.  His 
tiisk  was  accomplished.  Yet  he  was  still  under  the  ordei*s  of 
d'Estaing,  ready  to  fill  the  position  of  major-general  of  the 
combined  armies  of  France  and  Spain  that  were  to  be  sent 
to  Jamaica,  when  the  preliminaries  of  pe^ice  were  signed. 

Lafokest  or  Deh  Fokets,  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Saint- 
onge,  highly  esteemed.  Blanchard  speaks  of  him  in  his  diary. 
De  Custine  one  day  made  rei)roaches  to  him  in  such  terms  that 
the  eajitain  had  to  ask  for  satisfaction.  Xot  having  been  able 
to  obtain  it,  he  conunitted  suicide  from  despair.  This  event, 
which  became  known  a  few  moments  before  parade,  the  4tli  of 
March,  1781,  caused  a  great  sensation.  J)e  Custine  M'as  in- 
sulted, and  had  it  not  been  for  some  of  the  higher  oHicers,  the 
soldiers  would  have  given  him  a  severe  punishment.--''^ 


"°See  Vk  de  CuMine  by  one  of  his  aia-<le-canips,  1S02.     See  also  in  the 
List  of  Officers ;  Custine. 


156  The  French  in  America. 

Lalbexque.     Sec  Lablaxque. 

Lametii.  There  were  three  ofFiccrs  of  this  name,  three 
brotliers,  wlio  came  to  America  and  foiif^ht  there.  They  were 
iie})hcws  of  i\Iarshal  de  Broglie.  They  are  often  mistaken  i'ov 
one  another,  and  I  will  here  make  as  clear  as  possible  the  his- 
tory of  each, 

Lameth  (Theodore,  Connt  de,  and  later  Marquis  de),  the 
eldest,  was  bo)"n  at  Paris  in  17oG.  He  was  naval  ensign  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  wounded  in  tlie  naval  action  off 
Grenada  the  7tli  of  July,  1779.  Ho  it  was  who  was  ordered 
to  take  to  France  the  ne\ys  of  that  success.  He  scrycd  after- 
wards, at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  as  captain  of  cavalry  in  the 
French  army.  He  was  appointed  marcchal  dc  camp  in  1791, 
did  not  adopt  the  Republican  ideas,  took  no  part  in  the  llevo- 
lution,  and  was  content  to  maintain  discipline  in  his  regiment ; 
he  emigi-atcd  in  1793  to  Hamburg,  returned  after  the  ISth 
Brumaire,  and  took  no  further  part  in  politics.  He  died  in 
1834  at  his  niece's,  the  Marquise  de  XicolaV. 

Lametii  (Cliarlcs-]Malo-Francois,  called  the  Chevalier  A^'is- 
count  de),  the  second  brother,  was  born  at  Paris  in  1707  ; 
served  first  in  the  regiment  of  Poyal-Cayalerie ;  sub-lieuten- 
ant the  29th  of  July,  177G;  caj)tain  the  Gth  of  Xovember, 
1779.  He  started  as  aid-de-camp  of  de  liochambeau  with 
the  rank  of  aid-major-quartermaster-gencral.  In  the  cross- 
hig,  which  he  made  with  the  expeditionary  corps,  he  was  on 
the  Jccsoii  with  de  h\;rsen,  (\)llot,  Charlus,  and  his  intimate 
friend  Dumas,  He  showed  talent  and  courage  dui'ing  the 
canqKiign.  Dumas  tells  how  dc  J.ameth  wished  to  talce  part 
in  the  attack  of  the  great  rctldiibt  of  Yorktown,  although  it 
was  not  his  turn  of  soryice.  \\'hilc  lu-ading  the  assault  he 
received  t^v■o  gunshot  wctunds,  one  of  which  broke  his  knee 
ca]),  and   the  other   went  through   the  thigh   of  the  other    leg. 


List  of  Officers.  157 

He  "A'oukl  not  allow  his  Icixs  to  be  amputated,  luckily  for 
himself,  since  at  the  end  of  two  mouths  he  was  able  to  re- 
turn to  France  almost  cured.  He  received  then  the  command 
of  the  cuirassiers  of  the  king  with  the  title  of  colonel. 

Chosen  deputy  to  the  States  General  by  Picardy,  whence 
his  family  came,  he  v.as  noted  for  liis  advanced  liberalism. 
He  sat  with  the  left  and  voted  for  the  abolition  of  the 
j)rivi  leges. 

]n  1791,  he  fought  a  duel  with  the  Duke  dc  Castries,  Avho 
wounded  hini.  1'he  peojile  gave  him  an  ovation  after  this 
duel,  and  saelced  the  house  of  de  Castries.  Lameth  brought 
about  the  arrest  of  the  king  and  that  of  de  Bouille,  and 
was  elected  President  of  the  Assemby  the  5th  of  July,  1791. 

Appointed  commander  of  the  cavalry  of  the  Army  of  the 
North,  he  fled  on  the  10th  of  August,  and  took  refuge  at 
Hamburg,  where  lie  established,  with  his  brother  Theodore 
and  the  Duke  d'Aiguillon,  a  rich  mercantile  house.  He  re- 
turned to  France  after  the  ISth  Bruraaire,  re-entered  the 
service  in  1809,  and  was  lieutenant-general  in  1814.  He 
helped  the  Pevolution  in  1830;  was  deputy  from  Pontoise, 
and  died  in  1832. 

Lametji  (Alexand)'e-Tlu'odore-Yictor  de),  the  third  brother, 
was  born  at  Paris-  in  1700;  left  for  America  only  in  1782; 
arrived  there  on  the  15th  of  July  together  with  the  Baron  de 
Vionicnil,  who  was  returning  to  his  post,  and  with  the  Count 
de  Scgur,  the  Prince  de  Broglie,  Count  Picci  and  others,  who 
had  all  left  Ivochefort  on  the  Aicjlc  and  the  Gloiir,  under 
the  command  of  Latouche-Treville.  Alexandre  de  Lameth 
came  to  replace  his  brother  Charles  as  adjutant-general,  but 
he  did  no  fighting.  He  went  then  with  the  companions  of 
his  ocean  trij)  into  Cohunbia,  commanded  as  adjutant-genei'al 
the  attack  against  Jamaica,  and  was  made  colonel  on  his  re- 
turn to  Fraui-e.  A])p()int('d  deputy  to  the  States  (!eucral,  he 
distinguished  himseU",  like  his  brother  Charles,  by  his  eUxjuent 


158  TJie  Froich  in  America. 

speeches  oil  bclmlf  of  ])ul)lic  liberties.  He  re:?poctcd,  how- 
ever, the  royal  prerogatives,  and  had  on  this  subject  frequent 
quarrels  with  Mirabeau.  In  1792  he  served  under  I^a  Fay- 
ette, emijrrated  with  hiu],  and  shared  his  cii])tivity  in  Austria. 
Liberated  by  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  he  rejoined  his  broth- 
ers at  Hamburg.  He  was  employed  in  the  administration  of 
the  Empire  and  under  tlie  Ilestauration,  and  was  created  baron 
and  peer  of  France.     He  died  in  1829. 

Landais  (Pierre  dc),  of  a  noble  ruined  family  of  Nor- 
mandy, born  in  1734  at  Saint  Malo ;  died  in  1S20  at  Xew 
York.  He  was  lieutenant  in  1763  in  the  French  navy,  but 
he  resigned  to  go  into  that  of  the  United  States,  with  the 
rank  of  cajitain,  in  1773.  In  January,  1779,  he  commanded 
the  Alliance  which  bnjught  back  La  Fayette  to  France.  His 
extravagant  conduct  and  the  clouding  of  his  mind  made  it 
necessary  for  him  to  resign  ;  he  lived  afterwanls  poor  and 
forgotten. -'^^ 

LangePvOX  (Andrault,  Count  de),  born  at  Paris  in  17 Go. 
Entered  as  sub-lieutenant  the  regiment  of  Bourbonnais  in 
1780  ;  left  on  the  Aigle  for  America,-'^-  and  made  the  cam- 
paign under  the  orders  of  the  Baron  de  Viomenil. 

Captain  of  Conti-Dragoons-"^  on  his  return  to  France,  colo- 
nel en  second  of  the  regiment  of  Mcdoc  in  17S(3,  colonel  of 
Armagnac  in  1788.  Emigrated  in  1790  and  entered  the  serv- 
ice in  Eussia,  Mhere  he  distinguished  himself  against  Sweden 
and  Turkey ;  served  then  the  Princes  of  Nassau  and  Bruns- 
wick against  Frame;  in  1792;  re-entered  the  service  in  Eus- 
sia, -svhere  he  was  apjiointcd,  in  1799,  lieutenant-general  and 
count  by  Paul  the  h'irst;  was  at  the  defeat  of  Austerlitz 
under  Kutusoll',  and  afterwards  sought  cheai)er  laurels  against 


*"See  in  the  List  of  Oflicors:  Paul  Jones,  note  215,  and  Pontgi- 
baud.    See  also  Cooper's  Xaml  llidory. 

'""See  Mcmu'urs  of  de  SO;j;nr  and  dc  Proglie. 
^Conde-DraLTOons.     Maririnal  note. 


List  of  Officers.  159 

the  Turks  in  .Moldavia  and  A^'alacliia.  Eiitcrod  France  with 
the  Allies  in  IS  14;  took  the  Buttes  I\rontinartre,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  the  Russians.  Enijieror  Nicholas  the  First 
covered  him  with  honors.  He  died  ot"  cholera,  at  Saint  Feters- 
burg',  in  1831. 

Langon  (Jean-Jacques),  born  in  1737  at  Aire  in  Guy- 
cnne  ;  served  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais,  and  made  the  Seven 
Ycjirs'  AVar,  then  the  expedition  of  America,  as  captain-com- 
mandant.    He  was  decorated  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown. 

Lannet  (Franyois-Claudc  de),"^^  born  in  November,  1738, 
at  La  Garde  in  Berry  ;  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  ; 
decorated   for  his  conduct  before  Yorktown. 

La  I^eyeousi:.     See  Fekouse. 

Latouii-Foissac  (Philijipe-Francois  de),  born  the  lltli  of 
July,  1750;  entered  the  engineer  corps  and  served  as  captain 
in  the  American  War ;  returned  with  ideas  flivorable  to  the 
llevolution  ;  served  in  1791  in  the  Array  of  the  Xortli,  and 
was  present  at  the  siege  of  Naraur  and  the  battle  of  Jem- 
mapes.  Appointed  general  in  1793  ;  then  arrested  as  a  sus- 
pect, he  was  freed  at  the  fall  of  Robespierre  and  emjiloyed 
in  Italy.  Intrusted  with  the  defense  of  Mantua,  he  was 
Ciiptured  by  the  Austrians  with  his  array  in  Julv,  1799. 
This  surrender  excited  much  indignation  in  France.  After 
the  IStli  Brumairc,  Bona])arte  degraded  him  from  his  rank", 
forbidding  hira  to  wear  the  French  uniform.  He  then  witli- 
drew  to  his  estate  near  Foissy,  Mhere  he  died  in  I'Vbruarv, 
1804. 

LAUBARDlflRES   or    LAUJiERDII^RES,       See   DUPONT. 

*^In  the  List  of  Kesinients  De  Lauet  appears  as  captain-command- 
ant of  Bourbonnai.s.     E.  S.  B. 


IGO  The  Fmich  in  America. 

Laumont  (Do).     See  Lomont. 

Laumoy  or  Lo.MOY  (Dc),  \'.as  cai)t;iiu  in  llu'  I'oynl  corj)s 
of  engineers,  wlicn  he  was  cho.~en  by  l^ranlclin  lor  the  service 
of  Congress  in  the  position  of  engineer,  with  l)u  I'ortail,  La 
Radiere  and  Gouvion.  He  arrived  in  America  on  tlie  same 
ship  as  La  Fayette,  l)ecame  major,  tlien  cohmcl,  (hiring  the 
War  of  Indcpoulence.  It  was  with  this  rank  that  he  server] 
at  Stono,  where  he  was  wonndcd  on  the  20tli  of  Jnne, 
1779.-"'  lie  received  afterwards  in  France  a  position  of  heu- 
tenant-colonel  in  tlie  provincial  troo])s.-"" 

Lauxay  (De)  or  Delauxay  (.]ean-Bai)tisle-llcnc-CIement), 
born  in  1739  at  llatieville  in  Normandy,  lie  enlisted  in  the 
I'egiment  of  Tourainc  in  1757,  and  reached  tlie  rank  of  Ciip- 
tain  in  Jnly,  17G9.  He  made  the  campaigns  of  Hanover, 
then  went  to  t!ie  colonies,  where  he  obtained  in  succession,  a 
reward  after  the  captnrc  of  Saint  Christopher,  the  cross  of 
Military  Merit  after  the  battles  fonght  by  Connt  de  Cnichen, 
and  a  pension  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown. 

Lauzux  (Armand-Louis  de  Contant-Biron,  Duke  de),  born 
at  Paris  in  1747  ;  was  long  known  only  iui(k'r  the  name  of 
Lauzun,  and  only  took  the  title  of  Duke  d(^  J>iron  after  the 
death  of  his  uncle  in  17SS.  He  served  in  the  French  guards, 
as  early  as  1701.  In  17G7  he  made  the  expedition  of  Corsica 
as  aid-de-camj)  of  de  Chauvelin,  and  on  coming  to  tnmouncc 
the  success  of  the  ]''rench  on  dune  2'.)th,  17(>''',  he  was  made 
chevalier  of  Saint-iviuis,  After  beiiig  intrusted  Mith  varicjus 
missions,  which  he  pretends  in  his  Jluiwircs  only  to  look  upon 
as  the  occasion  for  various  love  aifaii"S,  he  was  sent,  in  1779, 

*^  Ramsey. 

^October  8th,  1783.  Congrei:.s  gives  "leave  to  retire"  to  I'.rigadier- 
General  de  Lauinoy,  Du  Portail  and  Oouvion.     ^Maiginal  iiotij  by  T.  B. 


List  of  Officers.  161 

with  some  ships  under  the  coniinand  of  dc  A'audrcuil,  to  Sen- 
egid,  txnd  caj)tiircil  this  budding;  colony  from  the  English,  mIio, 
however,  recaptured  it  directly  after  his  departure  durijig  the 
same  year.  He  received  on  his  return  to  Paris  the  title  of  col- 
onel of  hussars,  and  beciiuu^  pro})rietary  colonel  of  a  foreign 
reghnent  whicli  was  to  bear  lu"s  name.  This  legion  was  to 
consist  of  eiglitceu  hundred  infantry  and  six  hundred  cavalry, 
who  were  not  to  be  separated.  In  reality,  it  never  had  more 
than  eiglit  hundred  infantry  and  four  hundred  cavalry,  almost 
all  Germans.  Custine  served  with  or  under  the  orders  of 
Lauzuu,  h^)ur  hundred  uicn  of  this  reduced  legion  were 
kept  a(,  l>rest  diu'ing  the  exjicdition  of  ,V.merica  and  sent  to 
Senegal,  contrary  to  the  agreements  and  to  the  great  displeas- 
ure of  Jjauzun. 

Appointed  brigadier  the  1st  of  March,  17S0,  Lauzun  em- 
barked at  l)i-est  on  the  12th  of  A})ril.  Contrary  winds  held 
him  back  until  the  12th  of  Alay,  on  the  Provciicc  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  counnanded  by  de  Chamj)aurein.  He  arrived  Avith 
his  two  regiments  of  hussars,  his  grenadiers  and  his  cha.iscars 
on  the  13th  of  July  at  Xewj)ort,  and  took  up  iiis  winter 
quai'ters  at  Lel)anon,  During  the  march  between  Providence 
and  the  Hudson  River,  Lauzun  jn'otected  the  right  of  the 
army  with  his  cavalry.  He  also  su[>ported  brilliantly,  before 
New  York,  on  tlie  od  of  July,  17S1,  a  reconnoitering  party 
of  Cicneral   Lincoln. 

At  Elk,  the  infantry  of  his  legion,  with  all  the  grenadiers 
and  the  chasseurs  of  the  army,  were  embarked  on  all  sorts 
of  boats  and  put  under  the  direction  of  Custine.  They  hoped 
thus  to  bring  help  sooner  to  La  Fayette.  Custine,  in  fact, 
soon  arrived  alone  at  the  mouth  of  the  James  Ixiver.  Put 
Lauzun,  with  the  trooj)s  and  General  Ivineoln,  who  were  fol- 
lowing on  other  boats,  luul  to  stop  at  Annapolis  to  await 
news  of  de  (Jrasse.  The  presence  of  an  7-]nglish  fleet  had 
been  signaled,  and  it  was  necessary  to  wait  until  de  Grasse 
had   di-iven    it  oil'  or  dispersed  it,   which   took   place  two  days 


162  The  French  in  America. 

later,  on  the  3d  of  Se)')tember,  178 J,  after  a  ronil)at  o-loi-ious 
for  tlic  Frcncli  and  deeisive  for  the  success  of  tlie  eani]xiigii. 
Ijauzun  had  only  just  arrived,  with  neither  ai-tillerv,  men  nor 
powder,  when  he  was  charged  with  tlie  ])]ockade  of  Gloucester, 
already  Ijegnn  in  a  scarcely  serious  ^vay  l)y  General  Weedon 
and  his  three  th«)usand  American  troops.  Lanzun,  having 
asked  the  General-in-Chief  for  what  Avas  indisjiensable,  took 
his  place  under  the  orders  of  de  Choisy,  mIio  arrived  with 
the  artillery  and  eight  hundred  men  ta]<en   from  the  shi])s. 

Lauzun  had  immediately,  and  first  of  all  the  army,  tlie 
chance  to  show  his  brilliant  courage.  He  beat  back,  with 
French  impetuosity,  the  cavalry  of  Tarletnn,  three  times  as 
numerous  as  his  own,  and  forced  it  to  retire  precii)ilately 
into  Gloucester.  This  tight  brought  him  the  honor  of  going 
tx)  Paris  to  bear  the  news  of  the  caj^itulation  of  Yorktown 
with  Guillaume  do  Deux-Ponts,  wlio  bad  directed  the  attack 
on  the  great  redoubt.  They  left  on  tlu;  Survci/lanfe  on  the 
24th  of  October,  and  after  a  twenty-two  days'  })assage  they 
reached  Brcst."^'  As  de  Maurepas,  Lauzun's  protector,  had 
just   died,    Lauzun's  regiment   received   scarcely  any  rewards. 

Lauzun  started  again  from  Brest,  on  the  l'2th  of  May, 
1782,  with  de  Coigny,  then  from  La  Kochelle,  on  the  Hth 
of  July,  witli  de  Segur  and  de  Broglie.*^^  He  stopped  at 
Terceyre  and  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware,  whence  he 
rejoined  the  army  with  his  numerous  traveling  companions. 
Finally  Eochambeau,  on  his  departure,  left  the  command  with 
de  Lauzun,  who  received  the  order  to  sail  for  France  on  the 
11th  of  :\rarch,  1783,  at  AVilmington. 


*"De  Lauzun  returned  to  Brest  on  the  SimriUatifc,  Captain  dc  Cillart ; 
there  were  with  hhn  Du})lessis-t':iscaut,  captain  of  the  Intri'pUh;  wliich 
had  been  burnt  in  the  harl)or  of  tlic  Cape,  and  Avho  was  carrying  dis- 
patches from  Count  de  Grasse ;  Lord  Kawdon,  his  wife,  the  hrother  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  and  a  major  of  the  EngHsli  army,  captured  during  tlie 
siege.  Tlic  last  two  went  immediately  to  luigland.  I^ord  I'awdon  spoke 
highly,  in  a  letter,  of  the  courtesy  de  Lauzun  showed  to  him. 

^See  Mt-muurii  of  de  Segur  and  de  Broglie. 


List  of  Officers.  163 

On  liis  return  lie  acconijKuiiod  Tallevraiul  in  liis  embassy 
to  ]<]ng]and,  and  became  iriends  with  the  Prince  of  AVulcs, 
afterwards  (k'ornc  the  l'\^ur(h,  l^llected  deputy  to  tlic  States 
General  in  1781),  he  (iit(!red  the  j)arty  of  the  Duke  d'Orloans ; 
then,  acceptiufi;  tlie  ideas  of  the  licvolution,  he  served  the 
llejniblic  as  geniM'al,  was  ord(.'red  to  crush  the  insurrection 
in  the  A^cndec,  and  commanded  in  succession  the  Armies  of 
the  lihine,  of  Italy,  and  of  the  coasts  of  La  llochelle.  Becom- 
ing suspected,  he  was  called  Itefore  the  revolutionary  tribunal, 
condemned  to  death,  and  executed  on  the  31st  of  December, 
1703,  v/ith  the  two  Dillons,  who  had  served  with  him  in 
America. 

Besides  the  J/('/no//-c.s-  left  by  de  Lauzun,"'-'  there  are  Lcttrcr^'^ 
written  by  him  while  he  was  member  of  the  States  General. 

lie  was  courageous,  handsome,  and  well  educated  for  the 
time  when  he  lived.  He  conciliated  the  friendship  of  the 
Americans  by  his  bravery  and  his  good  looks.  But  he  liad 
tlie  fault  of  allowing  himself  to  be  carried  away  by  the 
easy,  loose  morals  of  the  time.  His  wife,  Anne  de  BoufHers, 
was  guillotined  on  the  27th  of  June,   1791. 

Laval  (Anne  -  Alexandres  -  Marie  -  Sulpice  -  Joseph,  ^Marquis 
de),  born  at  Paris  the  22d  of  January,  1747.  Entered  the 
musketeers  in  1702;  captain  of  the  regiment  of  cavalry  of 
Berry  in  1705;  colonel  of  Toui-ainc  in  1770,  and  of  Bour- 
bonnais  in  1775;  made  the  campaign  of  1769  in  Corsica  as 
quartermaster.  lie  started  for  America  with  his  regiment 
under  the  orders  of  de  Itocham])eau,  and  took  part  imme- 
diately in  the  expedition  to  Chesapeake  Bay  which  Dostouches 
commanded.  There  M'cre  on  the  ships  twelve  hundrcil  men, 
connnandcil  by  the  Baron  de  Viuuu'nil,  with  de  Laval  second 
in  command,     lie  was  present  thus  at  two  naval  battles.     In 

'^  Vol.  I.,  page  17. 

**■  Printed  by  Buchelin-Dollorunno,  rariij. 


164  TIlc  French  in  America. 

the  last,  on  tlie  IGtli  of  Marcli,  J  781,  lie  remained  alone  on 
the  rear  poop  deck  of  the  Conqutrant  with  his  major,  the 
enemy  having  killed  or  wounded  every  one  else.  This  at- 
tempt was  glorious,  but  useless,  since  it  was  lor  the  puri)ose 
of  putting  troops  ashore  in  Virginia,  and  they  could  not  even 
enter  Chesapeake  Bay.  He  distinguished  himself  also  before 
Yorktown,  and  left  on  the  26th  of  October,  17S1,  with  de 
Damas,  Christian  de  Deux-Ponts  and  Charlus,  on  the  Andro- 
maquc,  to  carry  the  news  of  the  surrender.  Lauzun  had  jnv- 
ccded  them.  De  Laval  returned  on  the  Gloirc,'^'^  with  the 
rank  of  brigadier  vie.strc  de  camj)  of  Bourbonuais,  and  l)r(»ught 
back  the  troops  from  AVilliamsburg  to  Boston  with  de  Viomcnil, 
Lauzun  and  Custine.  "  Laval  and  CiLstiue,"  says  La  Fayette, 
"never  stopped  quarreling  during  the  march.  At  every  place 
where  a  battle  had  been  fought  tlicy  said  that  the  English 
and  American  generals  had  bungled  the  matter,  and  that  they 
would  have  done  it  better.  Still,  they  were  never  of  the  same 
opinion." 

Laval  then  went  to  C-olumbia,  at  Porto  Cabello,  and  re- 
turned to  France  in  17S3. 

Laval  (!^rontmorency-]\Lithieu-Paul-Louis,  Viscount,  tiien 
Duke  de),  born  at  Paris  in  174S,  died  there  in  1S17.  Son 
of  the  Marshal  de  ^Montmorency.  Very  severe  about  dis- 
cipline. 

L.\VAL-M()NTMOi;en'C\'  (Mathieu-Jean-Fclicite),  son  of  the 
former ;  served  under  his  fathci-'s  orders  in  America,  and 
was  wounded  in  17S1  on  the  squadron  of  Destouches,  in 
Chesapeake  Bay.  He  was  minister  of  foreign  affairs  in  1S21, 
and  died  in    lS"2t],  at  fifty-nine  years  of  age. 

LiAZii:,  major  of  artillery."^^ 

^>  See  dc  Bro-lie. 
'"  Blauchard. 


TAd  of  Officers.  165 

L6AUMONT  (Mai-Ic-]vobei-t  do  Castile,  Chevalier  de),  born 
in  1762  on  the  Island  of  Saint  Domingo;  was  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown  as  siib-lieiitenant  of  Agenois,  and  Nvas  wounded 
by  a  bayonet  thrust  in  the  chest  during  the  night  of  the 
15th  to  the  IGth  of  October,  1781,  in  a  .sortie  of  the  English 
on  the  battery  on  the  right  of  the  besiegers.  He  received  a 
pension  from  the  king.  He  must  not  be  mistidcen  for  Gillet 
de  Lomont.'^^ 

Le  BiiET  (Jean-Fran9ois),  born  in  1742  at  Belusson  in 
Normandy.  Captain  in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais ;  had 
made  the  Seven  Years'  War  and  the  campaign  of  Corsica  of 
17G8.  Went  with  his  I'egimcnt  to  America,  and  was  deco- 
rated after  the  capture  of  Yoi'lvtown. 

LECO>rTE  (Joseph),  born  the  3d  of  January,  1743,  at  Beau- 
four  in  Calvados.  Private  in  the  regiment  of  Armagnac  the 
14tli  of  January,  1772,  cor])oral  in  1778,  sergeant  in  1780, 
sub-lieutenant  in  1792,  lieutenant  in  1793.  Commissary  of 
war  in  the  Army  of  the  Coast  of  Cherbourg  ;  died  at  the 
siege  of  Thionville  the  otli  of  January,   1795. 

He  made  the  campaigns  of  1778  to  1783  in  America,  and 
received  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis  the  17tli  of  June,  1792. 
He  was  the  grandfatlier  of  General  Lecomte,  who  was  shot 
by  the  Comnuniists  on  the  ISth  of  ]\Iarch,  1871,  at  ]\Iont- 
martrc.'*^' 

Le  l^'EViiE,  servant  of  Colonel  Armand  de  la  Kouerie,  who 
followed  his  mast(!r  to  America,  and  weu(  with  him  when  he 
was  presented  to  Congress,  "lie  was  a  very  handsome  and 
a  very  brave  man.  They  were  going  to  give  him,  lor  his 
good    looks,  a  brevet  of  colonel,  as  they  did    to    his   master, 

'"See  in  the  List  of  Otlicors:  Loinont. 
'"JManuscript  loanetl  l)y  M.  La  t'hesiuiis. 


IGG  The  French  in  America. 

wlicn  he  refu-^cd   it,  ealliiiir    attention  to  the    error  they  were 
making-  abont  liis  merit  and  his  social  position.-^ 

Le  Fevre.     See  Fall'er. 

Leiioux  (?,Iiclie]),  born  in  173G.  Lieutenant  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Agenoi.s;  Avcnt  to  the  colonies  in  1775,  and  took 
part  in  tlic  siege  of  Yorktown  in   17S1. 

Lexfaxt  (Pierre- Charles),  born  m  France  in  1755.  Was 
lieutenant  in  the  troops  of  the  colonies,  when,  in  1777,  he 
entered  as  engineer  the  American  army,  in  which  he  was  aj)- 
pointed  captain  the  Sth  of  February,  177S.  He  was  wounded 
at  the  siege  of  Savannah,  on  the  morning  of  the  Sth  of  Octo- 
ber, 1779,  and  was  left  for  dead  on  the  field.  He  serve<l 
afterwards  under  the  immediate  orders  of  AVashington,  and 
was  ap2)ointcd  major  the  2d  of  May,  17S3,  He  was  known 
as  Major  Lenilmt.  He  lost  his  fortune  during  the  War  of 
Inde])cndence,  and  received  at  the  peace  a  pension  of  three 
liundred  livrcs  and  the  rank  of  aiptain. 

Not  only  did  Major  Lenfant  receive  the  order  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, but  he  was  intrusted  willi  having  the  medals  of  the 
order  struck  in  Paris,  which  he  did  to  the  complete  sati>iac- 
tion  of  the  Council,  who  thank- cd  him.  He  was  still  in  Paris 
in  17S0.'^<' 

He  was  em[)loyed  as  engineer  at  Fort  Milllin  in  1704,  and 
refused  the  position  of  professor  of  the  department  of  engin- 
eering at  West  Point  in  July,  181 2.  He  was  the  designer 
of  the  plan  of  the  city  of  AVashington  and  architect  of  sevci'al 
important  buildings  of  that  city.  He  died  in  Prince  George 
County,  Maryland,   the   14th  of  June,   1S25. 

***  Pontgibaud. 

"*See  rrocoodhigs  of  the  llistoiii-d  Society  of  roniis_vlv;inia,  Vol-  ^I-. 
1858. 


lAd  oj  Officers.  167 

LfioxAKDY  (CharIc.-Jo.<c])h  de),  l)om  in  175S;  cadet  (/cn- 
tiUiomme  in  1777;  sub-lieutenajit  of  tiie  chu-^KCiirs  of  AgOnois 
in  1779.     Distinguished  liimself  at  Yorktown. 

LEsriis  (Jean-Joseph  dc),  born  in  1731  at  Mcugron,  near 
Sartres,  in  Gascony.  Ca])tain  of  the  regiment  of  Agenois 
in  1771;  decorated  after  the  capture  of  Yorktown,  and  died 
on  the  17th  of  jSlarcli,  1782,  from  wounds  received  at  the 
siege  of   Saint  Christopher. 

Lestrade.     See  Estrade, 

Levae  (Jean-Franyois),  born  in  1761  at  Paris;  died  in 
1834.  Son  of  a  goklsmith,  lie  enlisted  in  1779  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Poitou  ;  made  the  campaigns  from  1781  to  1783  as 
private  on  a  Avar  vessel ;  took,  in  1793,  the  command  of  the 
regiment  of  Koyal-Deux-Ponts ;  made  the  wars  of  the  Re- 
public under  Iloclie  and  Jourdan  as  brigadier-geneml.  He 
then  bec^ime  general  of  division  in  Sjiain.  He  was  retired 
after  1816. 

Levaeier  de  Saixte-^Iarie.-"  Captain  the  9th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1779,  in  the  first  regiment  of  South  Carolina.  ^ly  in- 
formation is  not  exact  enough  to  say  whether  he  was  a  French 
volunteer  or  descended  from  a  family  of  Protestant  refugees.^''® 

Levert  de  Gexvilee.  See  Gex-^^ille.  ]\rcntioned  in 
manuscripts  and  books  by  both  names. 

L'Hermite-Maillaxf.  (Joan-Marthe-Adrion),  born  at  Cou- 
tanccs  in  1766.     He  entered  the   navy  at  the  age  of  fourteen 

^"Manuscript  belonging  to  Mr.  H.  Carey  Baird,  brought  to  my  notice 
by  :Mr.  J.  C.  Sims. 
=^n'o!.  J.,  page  3G. 


168  The  French  in  America. 

as  volunteer,  an<l  embarked  at  r>rest  in  17S0,  on  tlic  Nor- 
ihuiiiberland,  of  the  .squadron  of  do  Grassc.  lie  was  present 
at  tlie  principal  actions  fouglit  witli  Admirals  Hood,  Graves, 
and  Rodney,  as  well  as  at  the  eaptuiv  of  Saint  Christopher. 
He  entered  tlie  juerehant  navy  in  17''o;  was  ap})ointcd 
naval  lieutenant  ;  eapt;un  the  same  year  of  an  En_«j;lish  frigate 
ho  had  cai)tured.  ?ilade  prisoner  by  the  English,  he  was  cx- 
clianged  in  1801.  Rear-admiral  in  1S07,  and  baron  of  the 
Empire  a  few  months  later.  He  was  retired  in  ISIG,  and 
died  near  Paris  in  182G. 

IviGLioiJX  or  EiLiEHORN  (Do),  aid-de-cauip  of  the  King 
of  Sweden  ;  mentioned  by  de  Broglie  and  de  Segur,  in  their 
memoirs,  as  one  of  the  passengers  on  the  Gluirc,  which  took 
them   back   to  America  in   1 782. 

LiTO.M.sKY  (Charles),  friend  and  companion  of  ]*ulaski  ; 
lieutenant  in  his  legion  at  Savannali.  "When  his  commander 
was  killed,  he  took  the  body  and  buried  it  at  tlie  loot  of  a 
tree  on  the  Island  of  Saint  Helena. 

LoGE  (He  la).  "The  Gth  of  October,  1781,  before  York- 
town,  the  regiment  of  Touraine  opened  the  trench  on  the  right ; 
seven  grenadiers  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  de  la  Lo<;e, 
ofliicer  of  artillery,  had  a  thigh  carried  away  in  his  battery 
and  died  from  the  etfects.  The  trench  on  the  right  was 
opened   more  quietly."'^' 

Lo>MKMi:  (Athanase-Louis-Marie,  Count  de  Brienne  de), 
born  in  1730.  Olficer  passenger  on  the  (Uo'irc,  in  1782, 
with  de  Segur,  de  J]roglie  and  oiliers.  ]ji'canu'  lieutenant- 
general  and  was  minister  o(  war  from  1787  to  1788.  He 
was  guillotined  niulcr  the  1err(n-. 


°*^C'roiuot  Duboun 


List  of  Officers.  169 

Lo^toxT  (l'^raiK;oi.s-l'ieiTL'-Nicli()las  Gillet  do),  born  tlic-^Otli 
of  May,  1747;  died  in  1S34.  Son  of  a  lawyer,  he  followed 
at  fir<t  the  career  of  his  father,  and  was,  in  170S,  lawyer  at 
the  j)'i-''^Ciafiit  of  Paris.  After  the  exiling:  of  tliat  court  he 
entered  the  ^Military  School  in  1772,  joined  the  royal  grena- 
diers, and  reached  in  less  than  five  years  the  rank  of  com- 
mandant, lie  entered  the  service  in  the  troops  of  Congress 
on  the  lOtli  of  June,  1776,  through  the  intervention  of  Bar- 
bier  Diibourg,  who  says  in  his  memoirs:  "He  is  a  young 
man  of  rare  merit,  to  whom  nothing  is  wanting  except  to 
have  served   in  wai'.'' 

Having  returned  to  France  in  17S4,  he  abandoned  the 
military  career  and  studied  mineralogy.  He  was  appointed 
inspector-general  of  the  mines  of  Brittany  ajid  of  the  Pyr- 
enees, and  discovered,  in  Finistere,  the  green  phosphated  lead 
and  the  fine  leolite,  whicli  Haiiy  called  "  I^uronite."  He 
studied  the  deposits  of  coal  in  F]-ance,  helped  in  the  or- 
ganizing of  the  School  of  Mines,  and  was  member  of  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  1S16.  A  fine  character  and  a  la- 
borious savant,  to  whom  France  owes  much."'" 

LoMOY.     See  Laumoy. 

LoNDEix  DE  LA  BiiosSE,  boDi  iu  1761;  lieutenant  of  the 
regiment  of  Armagnac  in  1779;  wounded  in  the  fiice  in  the 
battle  of  the  12th  of  April,   1782,  fought  by  de  Grasse. 

LoNGUEViLLE  (Jcau-Joachim,  C'licvalier  de),  born  in  1762; 
appointed  sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge  in 
1779  ;  was  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  l)ut  doulitless 
slightly,  fur  Cromot  Dubourg,  in  his  very  detailed  list  of  the 
killed  and  woundeil,  does  not  mention  him,  nor  any  olficer 
of  the   regiment   oi'  Saintonge. 

^^'See  in  the  Lisit  of  Otraors:  Loiiuinoiit. 


170  Tlic  French  in  America. 

LossE  i)E  Bayac  (Clmrles-Josoph),  l)oru  in  1742  at  Fim- 
eray  in  Pcrigord ;  captain  of  Bourbonnais  in  1771;  was 
at  the  battle  of  the  Jason,  undei-  Destouchc.^,  the  loth  of 
March,  17S0,  and  was  decorated  after  the  caj)turc  of  York- 
town. 

LoYAUT^  (Anne-Philippe-Dieudonne  de),  born  at  Metz  in 
1756,  died  in  1830.  He  served  under  liis  father  in  the  ar- 
tillery in  Germany  and  Corsica  ;  captain  in  177G.  Pie  was 
sent  with  fifty  ctmnons  and  ten  thousand  muskets  to  Virginia; 
stayed  in  America,  and  served  during  the  ^^"ar  ol"  Independence 
as  inspector-general  of  artillery  and  of  Ibrtilications  in  Vir- 
ginia, lie  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  and  served  nndor 
Stenben  before  Yorktown.  He  showed  himself  a  ])ai-tisan  of 
royalty  during  the  Fi'cnch  Ixevolution ;  was  arrested,  then 
exiled.  He  remained,  in  spite  of  this,  in  obscurity  under  the 
Kestaiu-ation. 

LoWEXDAL  (l)e),  son  of  the  marshal  of  France  of  that 
name ;  commanded  the  centre  of  the  attacking  corps  at  Saint 
Lucia,  on  the  14th  of  Decemi)er,  1778,  with  d'Estaing  on  the 
right  and  de  Bouille  on  the  left. 

Lucas  (Jcan-Jacques-Etienne),  naval  captain,  commander 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis;  born  at 
Marennes  in  17G4,  died  at  Brest  in  1810. 

He  enlisted  at  the  age  of  fourteen  in  the  navy.  In  1779 
he  went  as  under  assistant  pilot  on  the  Ilcnnionc,  Mhieh 
Latouche-Trcville  commanded.  This  vessel  joined,  in  1780, 
the  naval  army  of  Coiuit  de  Cjiiiciien,  and  Lucas  was  ])resent 
at  all  the  principal  battles  of  this  campaign  in  which  the 
Ilcrmione  took  part.  He  was  grievously  woundetl  in  tlie  aim 
in  one  of  them.  Assistant  pilot  in  1783,  ])ilot  in  17'-'1, 
ensign  in    1702,   naval   lieutenant  in    1701,  ca{)tain  of  iVigate 


Li  fit  oj  Officers.  171 

in  1790,  naval  cai)taiii  in  1S03.  He  di.-tinguislicd  liinisclf 
on  the  Rcdoulahle  at  Trallilgar,  and  was  wounded  there  and 
made  prisoner.  Liberated  on  parole,  he  was  able  to  return 
to  France,  where  Naj^oleun  appointed  liim  commander  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor.  The  fill  of  the  I'^nipire  pi'cvented  him 
from  obtaining  the  rank  of  j-ear-adnni-al,  Mhieh  his  bravery 
entitled  him  to. 

LuSTRAO  (Jean-Joseph  de),  born  in  1733  at  Aire  in  Gas- 
cony;  entered  tlie  service  in  1756;  made  the  campaigns  of 
Germany  ;  was  apjwinted  captain-commandant  of  Agenois  in 
17C0,  after  having  been  severely  wounded  before  Munster. 

It  is  lie,  I  think,  wliose  name  I  find  in  the  manuscripts 
as  liaving  been  at  the  siege  of  Savannah. 

LUTZON  (Guillaumc-Frcderic-Bcrnard  de),  born  in  1758  ; 
entered  the  service  in  1775  as  sub-lieutenant  of  Royal-Deux- 
Ponts  ;  was  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  at  the  attack 
of  the  great  redoubt, 

LuzEKNE  (Anne-Ccsar,  Chevalier  de  la),  descended  from  an 
old  family  of  Xonnandy,  and  nej^hew  of  Malesherbes  on  his 
mother's  side,  was  born  at  Paris  in  1741,  and  studied  at  the 
School  of  the  Light  Horse.  He  was  aid-de-camp  of  the  Duke 
de  Broglie,  his  relation,  made  several  campaigns  with  him,  and 
becjmie,  in  17G2,  major-general  of  cavalry,  then  colonel  of 
grenadiers.  He  abandoned  afterwards  the  military  career,  and 
was  sent,  in  177G,  on  a  mission  to  the  Court  oi  the  ]\ueti>r  of 
Bavaria,  ]SIaximilien-Joseph,  and  \v;is  aiijioiuted  minister  to 
the  United  States  in  1779,  in  place  of  ]\L  Gerard.  He  was 
not  long  in  acquiring  a  great  inlluence  in  the  direction  of 
aflairs  in  this  counti-y.  h'or  iiislanee,  in  17'^<',  he  arraugitl,  on 
liis  own  ]-es[)onsibiruy,  a  loan  which  was  to  helj)  tlu>  Ameri- 
can troops.     All   the  memoirs  of  his  time  speak  highly  of  his 


172  The  French  in  Amrrica. 

merit  and  his  |)loa>ant  manners.-^'  On  liis  dopartvire,  in 
1783,  he  reeoived  the  most  honoral)le  tokens  of  esteem  from 
the  Americans.  At  a  reception  which  was  given  to  do  la 
Lnzerne  the  Qualvcr  Benc/.et  said  io  liim :  "  Thon  knowcst 
I  cannot  use  the  ci>ni])h'ments  which  the  company  h.avc  ex- 
pressed, but  I  wisli  thee  tlic  favor  of  heaven  and  a  safe  re- 
turn to  tliy  country."  The  count  exchiimed :  "  Oli,  Mr. 
Bcnezet,  you  liave  exceeded  tliem  alh"  The  citizens  of  Penn- 
sylvania, as  a  mark  of  gratitude,  called  one  of  tlie  counties  of 
the  State  after  him.  ]n  January,  1788,  he  was  ai)pointed 
ambassador  at  London,  and  he  stayed  in  tJiat  city  until  his 
death   there  in   1701. 

Lynch  or  Lixcu  (Isidore),  born  at  London  in  1755,  of 
Catholic  parents,  mIio  sent  him  as  a  boy  to  France.  He  was 
studying  in  Paris  wlien  lie  was  taken  to  India  by  one  of  his 
uncles  on  his  mother's  side,  colonel  in  a  French  regiment. 
Lynch  received,  in  1770,  the  position  of  lieutenant  in  the 
regiment  of  Dillon.  lie  distinguished  himself  under  d'Es- 
taing  at  the  ca])turc  of  Grenada  and  at  Savannah,  where  he 
showed  extraordinary  coolness"'"  in  carrying  an  order  through 
the  cross  fire  of  the  combatants.  He  rejoined  the  army  of 
Rochambeau,  was  aid-de-camp  of  Chastcllux,  was  present  at 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  went  to  Porto  Cabello  with  de 
Segur.  He  was  nearly  ca])tured  and  shot  by  Nelson,  the  future 
admiral,  in  sight  of  the  port  of  La  Guayra,  and  owed  his  life 
to  the  generosity  of  the  young  English  captain.'*'^  He  re- 
turned afterwards  to  Paris,  where  he  was  a])i)oinled  colonel.-'^ 
Marcchal  de  camp  in  February,  1702,  shortly  afterwards  lieu- 
tenant-general. He  took  part  in  the  successfid  battle  of 
Valmy.     Arrested  in   1703  at  Dijon,  then  freed,  he  preferred 

""'See  Vol.  1.,  pa-e  2;]3. 

^- Mt'7)ioircs  of  dc  Srtjur,  })a^e  4G0. 

^^Manoircs  of  de  St'^'iir, 

«^ Walsh.    ZVIargiiud  note  bv  T.  13. 


lAst  of  Officers.  173 

to  resign   ratlicr    tliaii    to    go    to    figlit  in   Vendee.      lie    was 

division  inspector   under   the    Empire ;  was   retired    in    1815, 
and  died  in   1838.-'^ 


M. 


MACAr.Tny,  ofllccr  in  tlie  regiment  of  Walsh,  and  lieu- 
tenant of   volunteers  on  the  Bonhoriime  Bichard. 

INIacdermotc  (Tlionias),  Ix.rn  in  1742;  entered  the  service 
in  the  Irish  regiment  of  Dillon  in  1750  ;  made  the  campaigns 
of  the  Seven  Years'  War  and  those  of  the  Windward  Islands  ; 
was  present  at  the  capture  of  Grenada,  at  the  naval  battle  off 
Saint  Lucia,  and  at  the  siege  of  Savannah,  where,  although  he 
was  oidy  captain  en  second,  d'Estaing  put  him  in  command  of 
a  picket  of  sixty  volunteers  in  the  action  of  the  0th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1770. 

Mac-Maiion  (Ciiarles-Laui-e,  Marquis  de),  descended  from 
a  noble  Irish  family  who  ruined  itself  for  the  cause  of  the 
Stuarts,  and  who  followed  them  to  France.  He  was  officer 
of  artillery  on  the  Aigle,  in  1782,  with  de  Broglie  and  de 
Segur.^''  When  this  frigate  had  stranded  at  the  mouih  of  the 
Delaware,  and  after  the  money  had  l)een  saved,  he  escaped  on 
a  boat  with  the  eighteen  men  of  the  crew  who  remained,  in 
spite  of  the  steady  fire  of  th.e  Engli>h,  who  were  three  times 
as  uumerous.*  He  became  the  intimate  friend  of  Charles  the 
Tenth,  formerly  Count  d^Vi-tMi--,  was  made  mark-lnd  de  vamp 
in  1814  and  peer  of  France  in  1827.  He  married  ]\Iademo:- 
selle  de  Caraman,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. Marshal  :\rac-]Mahon,  Duke  de  ^Magenta,  Avas  the  last 
survivor  of  this  numerous  family. 

^'-^ .^fanu.^<crij)t  of  Dupetit-Tliouais. 
'^  Souixnirs  of  de  Sogur. 


174  Tlic  Frc/icJi  in  America. 

]\rAGOX  (Cliarlcs-ltone),  i-cur-tidiuiral,  bom  at  Paris  in  17G3  ; 
caiulidate  for  tlie  navy  in  1777,  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  guard 
in  the  marines  the  following  yeiir  on  the  Brdar/nc,  which 
d'Orvillicrs  coinmanded,  was  present  at  the  action  of  Oues- 
sant;  ensign,  in  1780,  on  tlie  Sol/lain',  which  took  ])art  in  all 
the  battles  of  de  Gnichen.  The  lollowing  ycai-  he  was  j)res- 
ent,  on  the  Calou,  in  the  fleet  of  the  Count  de  Grasse,  at  the 
actions  of  the  28th  and  29th  of  April,  and  of  tlie  oth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1781.  The  Caton,  having  been  captured  by  the  Eng- 
lish on  the  12th  of  April,  17S2,  ]Magon  was  kept  as  prisoner 
in  England   until  the  peace. 

Naval  lieutenant  in  178G,  ca))tain  of  frigate  in  1791,  na- 
val captain  in  1790,  chief  of  squadron  in  1799,  rear-admiral 
in  1802;  killed  at  tJic  battle  of  Trafalgar  the  21st  of  October, 
1805. 

Magusis,  entered  the  service  as  private  in  1742,  in  the 
regiment  of  Soissonnais  ;  went  through  every  grade,  and  was 
made  officer  in  1  7G;>.  He  was  present  at  the  siege  of  York- 
town,  in  spite  of  the  numerous  wounds  he  had  received  in 
preceding  wars. 

Malleyille  (De),  olficer  of  infantry  ;  wounded  at  Saint 
Lucia,  under  de  Gnichen,  the   19th  of  May,   1780. 

Maemady  (jNIarquis  de),  volunteer ;  breveted  major  by 
Congress  the  l,9tli  of  September,  1776."'" 

Malouin,  commander  of  the  AUiancc  after  Ivandais  re- 
signed. 

^Iakcogxet,  sub-lieutenant  of  J>ourbonnais  ;  became  gen- 
eral under  the  Convention. 

^'Auberteuil. 


Lid  of  Officers.  175 

Maijcou,  g-rcnadior  in  the  regiment  of  Saintongo ;  made 
the  entii'e  campaign.  He  was  wounded  on  the  Zclce  wliile 
boarding  the  JlGinuIm,  and  received  some  of  the  prize  money. 

Maikhjekite.     Sec  Dolomieu. 

Makigny  (Charles-llene-Lonis,  Viscount  de  Bernard  de), 
vice-admiral,  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis;  born  at  Seez,  Ornc, 
in  1740.  His  parents  intended  hira  to  enter  the  church,  but 
he  ran  away  from  tliem  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and  went  to 
his  brother,  who  v/as  guard  in  the  marines  at  Rochefort, 
and  embarked.  He  entered  tlie  marines  as  guard  in  1754; 
ensign  in  1757;  ca])tain  in  1778,  after  the  action  of  Oues- 
sant.  Ho  obtained  the  command  of  the  ship  the  Ardent, 
which  he  had  captured  in  1779,  and  which  formed  part  of 
tlie  squadron  which  saih'd  froin  Brest,  imder  command  of  de 
Ternay,  with  the  expeditionary  cor[)S.  He  distinguished  him- 
self at  the  naval  battle  of  the  IGth  of  March,  1781,  fought 
by  Dcstouches  at  tlie  entrance  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  Ardent 
had  fifty-four  men  killed  and  many  wounded.  On  the  '25th 
and  2Gth  of  January  of  the  following  year  he  took  part  in 
the  combat  of  Saint  Christopher  and  in  the  capture  of  that 
island.  Ordered  to  France  by  de  Grasse  to  inform  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  operations,  de  Marigny  embarked  on  the  Aig- 
rette, and  v>as  not  present  at  the  action  of  the  12th  of  April, 
1782,  where  his  brother,  the  Count  de  ]\Iarigny,  was  blown 
up  with  his  ship,  the  Ccmr.  In  1783  he  became  Viscount, 
and  commanded  the  Vldoire.  Kear-admiral  in  1702,  he  op- 
posed the  excesses  of  the  Revolution,  and  resigned.  Arrested, 
he  owed  his  safety  only  to  the  fall  of  Robespierre.  Did  not 
serve  under  the  Empire,  but  was  made  vice-admiral  in  1814 
by  Louis  the  Eighteenth,  and  died  in   1810. 

]\Iakix  (dean-l>aptiste,  Chevalici-  dc),  born  at  Tarascon. 
He  entered  the  service  in    1757  ;  N\as  captain-commantlant  of 


17G  The  French  in  America. 

Soissonnais  in   ^Vpril,    1702  ;    received    two    severe    wounds  at 
the  cajitnre  of  Yoi-lciowii,  and  died   from   the  eifects. 

Mascai^OX  (Philippc-Louis-Bean),  l)orn  in  Januaiy,  17-14, 
at  A^auvert,  Lan<i;nodoc.  He  entered  tlie  reg-inient  of  Gatijiais 
as  sub-lientonant  in  17G7 ;  was  captain  in  1771*,  ami  made 
with  this  rank  tlie  cani})aign   of  America. 


Mauduit  du  ri.E,ssis  (Thomas-xVntoine,  Chevalier  de),  bom 
tlie  12l}i  of  September,  1753,  at  Hennebont ;  massacred  at 
Port-au-Prinec  tiie  4th  of  March,  1791.  lie  was  scarcely 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  had  just  entered  the  artillery  school 
at  Grenol)lc,  when  he  ran  away  with  two  of  his  comrades  to 
travel.  They  M'ent  on  foot  to  jNIarscilles,  and  engaged  as  cabin 
boys.  They  visited  Greece,  the  East,  and  Alexandria,  where, 
attacked  by  fever,  they  went  into  a  hospital,  having  no  money. 
The  two  companions  of  Mauduit  died.  The  latier,  being  lei't 
alone,  Mcnt  to  Constantinople,  and  was  sent  home  by  the 
French  ambassador.  His  family  received  him  very  well. 
He  studied  for  the  artillery,  and  left  in    1777   for  America. 

He  distinguished  himself  on  the  4th  of  October,  1777,  at 
the  battle  ol'  Germantown,  Mdiere  he  attacked  with  twenty- 
eiglit  men  a  "white  lionsc,"  which  was  the  key  of  the  English 
position.  He  escaped  scot  tree  from  this  reckless  attempt.  All 
his  soldiers  were  killed,  and  his  friend,  Colonel  Laurens,  who 


^'■^  Massox,  born  aljout  1750 ;  died  at  the  a^e  of  ninety-seven ;  came 
to  America  as  a  volunteer,  and  t^crved  during  the  entire  war.  He  was 
for  some  time  under  the  orders  of  La  Fayette,  lie  wa.s  present  at  the 
battle  of  Saratoga  and  at  the  sieges  of  Savannah  and  Yorktown.  "The 
troops  suflered  greatly  at  times  from  exi)osure  to  the  weather,  from 
the  want  of  shelter  and  provisions,  and  hum  the.  fatiguing  marches  in 
thick  forests  and  desert  plains." 

Information  received  from  his  grandson,  M.  Masson,  librarian  at 
Laon,  France.    F.  S.  1>. 


Lint  of  Ojjicci-s.  177 

had  followed  liiin,  mrivo.l  n  woiiiul  in  tho  sliotiMcr.  Tluy 
liad  both  advanced  to  this  stone  fortress  and  tried  to  enter 
it,  Laurens  by  the  do^r  and  ]\rauduit  by  the  window,  and 
wlicn  they  saw  tliat  they  were  the  oidy  survivors,  and  tliat 
they  coukl  aeeoniplisli  notliin^u',  tliey  retired  (juietly  among  a 
sliowcr  of  bullets. 

The  22d  of  Oetober  followinti;,  dc  ^Vlauduit  was  at  Kcd 
Bank  at  the  head  of  three  luuidi-ed  men,  when  he  Mas  at- 
tacked by  a  corj)s  of  two  thousand  five  hundi'cd  Hessians, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Donoj).  xS'ot  oidy  did  he  refuse  to 
surrender  unconditionally,  as  he  was  ordered,  with  the  threat 
of  rceeivinjij  no  ([uarler  if  he  resisted,  but  he  rejndscd  the 
assault  so  vii;orous1y  that  the  Hessians  lost  a  great  many 
men.  Among  the  dying  was  found  Colonel  Donop.  De 
Mauduit  treated  him  with  all  the  respect  due  to  ill-fortuned 
bravery,  and  Donop  died  in  his  iirms  next  day.  The  colonel 
showed  him  much  gratitude  and  esieem. 

Dc  IMauduit  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  artillerv  at 
Monmouth,  where  the  English  lost  so  many  men  through 
cannon  fire.  His  character  -svas  as  original  as  Ids  valor  was 
brilliant.  It  Avas  on  account  of  a  bet  of  an  ecu,-^^  about  the 
real  position  of  the  Athenians  and  the  Persians  at  the  battle 
of  Plat;ea,  that  in  his  boyhood  he  ran  away  from  the  Mili- 
tary School  at  Grenoble  to  go  himself  to  verifv  the  fact,  and 
that  he  took  the  singular  journey  mentioned  above. 

Ordered  one  day  to  rcconnoiter  the  intrenched  camj)  of  the 
enemy,  he  approached  it  alone  imdcr  cover  of  night,  crawled, 
lying  down,  to  the  f  )ot  of  the  jvdi.v-ades,  tore  some  of  them 
aAvay,  and  only  relurned  to  the  American  camp  after  having 
penetrated  the  intreuchments  he  was  to   rcconnoiter. 

During  the  "NA'ar  of  Independence  de  Mauduit  carried  to  an 
extreme  his  love  oi"  c(iii:dily.  Tie  got  angry  when  he  was 
calleil  "Monsieur,"  and  had  himself  calletl  "Thomas  Duplessis." 


'The  ecu  was  u  ])iL'ce  of  money  in  U'^e  before   tlie   franc.     E.  S.  B, 


178  The  French-  in  America. 

Ou  his  return,  in  1770,  lie  Mas  made  chevalier  of  Saint- 
Louis  and  major  of  the  chasseurs  of  tlie  Vosges,  In  1787 
he  was  appointed  commander  of  the  regiment  of  Port-au- 
Prince,  when.  In-  a  singular  contradiction,  he  proved  a  most 
violent  adversary  of  revolutionary  principles  and  of  the  eman- 
cipation of  the  blacks.  Carrying  along  in  his  reactionary 
spii-it  de  Blanchelande,  Govei'uor  of  Saint  Domingo,  they  both 
refused  to  promulgate  the  orders  coming  from  the  metropolis, 
disarmed  the  ]S'ational  Guard,  and  arrested  the  members  of  the 
Colonial  Committee  on  the  29th  of  August,  1790.  ]\Iauduit 
even  formed  a  company  of  loyalist  volunteers  from  the  rich- 
est colonists,  Mhieh  was  called  the  *' AVhito  Pompons,"  with 
V\-hich  he  made  some  bloody  expeditions,  which  led  lo  no  other 
result  than  to  make  the  whole  island  revolt.  'J'he  battalions 
of  Artois  and  Normandy,  ,>ent  for  by  de  JJlanchelaude  a.s 
succors,  ari'ived  on  the  2d  of  March,  1791,  crying,  "Hurrah 
for  freedom  !"  and  wearing  the  tricolor  coeade.  The  regi- 
ment of  Port-au-Prince,  the  sailors  and  the  people  joined 
them.  Planchelande  had  to  hide  and  ]Mauduit,  after  trying, 
M'ith  the  brothers  d'Anglade,  to  rally  the  AVhitc  Pompons  to 
oj)pose  the  movement,  was  massacred  and  torn  to  pieces  by 
Iiis  own  soldiers.  A  mulatto,  who  was  much  attached  to 
him,  s])ent  several  days  in  collecting  his  scattered  remains, 
buried  them,  and  killed  himself  on  his  grave  with  a  justol 
shot.'''" 

Mauleyijieu  (Chevalier  de),  commander  of  the  cutter  the 
Giiepe,  which  was  lost  on  Cape  Charles  in  October,  1781. 
He  succeeded  in  saving  his  crew."'* 

Mau^'Y  (Loui--I''j-an(;()i>-Pliili])pe  de),  \iorn  in  1719;  ])uj)il 
at  the  jNlilitary  School  in   1707,  captain  of  vhdsscurs  of  Pour- 


'^De  la  Fosse  de  Rouville.    Elofjc  hhtontjac  ihi  chevalier  MuuduU  du 
Pless-is,  Senlis,  1818,  in  8". 

-"  i/c'mouvi)  of  DL'Ux-l\<nl.<,  jiage  28. 


Ust  of  Officers.  179 

boniiais  in  1770;  \v;i.s  at  the  attack  of  the  redoubt  of  York- 
town,  and  obtained  a   jjension  after  the  siege. 

Maujjaigk  (Jjerand  de).     See  Bekand. 

Mauroy  (IX'),  oflieer,  enlisted  vohmtcer,  who  left  France 
with  Iva  Fayette  in   1779."''" 

Maurville  (Count  Bide  de),  Frencli  admiral ;  born  at 
Rochcfort  the  17th  of  November,  1752;  died  at  Paris  in 
March,  1840;  embarked  at  the  age  of  twelve,  and  behaved 
bravely  at  the  battle  of  Oiiessint,  the.  27th  of  July,  1778. 
Ai)pointed  naval  lieutenant  the  following  year,  he  received 
the  command  of  tlie  lugger  the  Chnaseur,  and  was  employed 
in  the  wars  of  America  under  Guiehen,  then  under  the  Count 
of  La  ^lotte-Piciuet.  The  2Cth  of  April,  1781,  he  captured 
an  Fngli.sh  privateer  stronger  than  his  own  ship.  A  few  days 
later  he  captured  four  mereiiantmen  whicli  formed  part  of  a 
convoy  escorted  by  two  line  of  battle  ships  and  two  frigates. 
The  17th  of  January,  1783,  on  board  of  the  eighteen  gun 
cutter  the  MaVin,  he  was  attacked  in  the  Maters  of  Porto  Pico 
by  a  strong  Fnglish  frigate,  which  he  forced  to  retreat;  and 
afterwards  took  pai-l,  under  de  A'^audreuil  and  de  Soulanges, 
in  the  various  actions  which  jn-eceded  the  peace  of  1783.  Was 
naval  captain  in  1792,  and  emigrated.  Peturned  to  France 
in  1802  without  being  employed.  The  Bourbons  made  him 
rear-admiral  in  1810,  major-general  and  commander  of  the 
])ort  of  Pochefbrt,  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis,  ollicer  of  the 
Legion  of  Honor.     He  was  retired   by  Louis-Philippe. 

^lELFOiiT  (de),  oilicer  who  was  on  board  the  A'kjIi:,  in  1782, 
with  de  Scgur,  de  Jiroglie    and    otliers.      Jle    helped    to    sjive 

-'=  JA'//('-;,v.s-  of  La  Fayette. 


180  The  French,  in  uimcricn. 

the  tv.'o  inilUDii  Hvc  luindrcd   tliousaiul  llcrcs  that  this  frigate 
was  bringing  to  llocjianibcau, 

MfeoxVJFJj-]  (Franoois-Louis-Arthur  Thibaut,  Count  do), 
a  descendant  of  an  Englisii  family  wliicli  had  talcen  refuge 
in  France  during  tlie  troubles  caused  by  the  establishment  of 
the  Church  of  England.  One  of  his  ancestors,  Arniand  Thi- 
baut,  was  employed  by  tlie  Court  of  France  in  negotiations 
with  Cromwell,  and  obtained   letters  of  nobility  as  a   i-eward. 

Tlic  one  I  am  esjiecially  writing  of,  was  born  the  2d  of  July, 
1740,  at  the  Chateau  of  Ville,  near  Kambervilliers,  Vosgcs. 
]Iis  father  ^\•as  Francois-Louis  Thibaut  de  IMenonville,  coun- 
sellor of  the  king  and  commissary  of  war,  and  his  mother  was 
Marie-Anne  de  ]>a/.o]nire  de  I'lCsseu.  lie  entered  the  service 
as  student  of  the  School  of  AiiiHcry  and  Engineers  the  1st  of 
May,  1757.  He  had  been  from  the  1st  of  January,  1756, 
cadet  gcntilhoimnc  of  Leczinski,  King  of  Poland  and  Lorraine. 
Engineer  in  17C0,  he  served  as  such  in  Corsica.  He  was  sent, 
after  tlie  subnn'ssion  of  this  island,  to  the  assistance  of  the  Con- 
federuiion  de  Bur,  under  the  orders  of  the  Baron  de  Viomcnil. 
His  conduct  brought  him  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  the 
24th  of  iVIarch,  1772.  Tlie  1st  of  January,  1773,  he  was  put 
on  staft'duty  and  received  the  cross  of  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis, 
He  left  as  aid-major-general  with  do  Tarle ;  was  present  on 
tlie  ships  of  Captain  Destouches""^  at  the  action  in  Ch(\<apeake 
Bay  the  IGth  of  ^SFarch,  1781,  and  by  his  skillful  manage- 
ment during  the  siege  of  Yorktown  hel])cd  in  bringing  about 
the  sunvndcr.  JTc  was  mtide  major-general  in  Xo\-emb(i-, 
1781,  and  lieutenant-general  in  1782.  On  his  return  to 
France  he  married,  in  September,  178.T,  Mademoiselle  de 
Martim])rey,  of  the  same  family  as  the  jiresent  French  generals 
of  that  name.     He  was  brigadier  of   the  armies  of  the   kinir 


*"For  an  incident  sliowiii;^  tlic  coolncKs  of  de  IMeiionvillo  dmin-r  the 
action,  see  Vol.  I.,  page  136. 


List  of  Ojjkcrs.  181 

at  Saint  Di*',  wlicro  he  received  ])ei'inis-;ion  from  Louir;  the 
Sixteenth  to  wear  tJie  deconition  of  tlie  Cincinnati,  the  24ih 
of  Auy;ust,  1784. 

Marcchnl  de  camp  tlie  2l.st  of  Se])tcm]-)er,  17SS.  II<'  liad  at 
tliis  tijue  a  pension  of  eiirht  thousand  three  hnn(h-ed  and  ninety 
fj-ancs.  Deputy  from  the  nobility  to  the  States  General,  ho 
voted  the  abolition  of  the  privileges,  and  was  deprived  of  his 
pay  through  the  passing  of  the  mea^^ure  to  revise  the  pensions. 

The  king,  who  knew  his  fidelity,  had  asked  him  not  to 
leave  him,  intrusting  to  him  several  pieces  of  work.  JJut 
he  had  to  go  to  ]..orraine  to  look  after  his  affairs,  which  were 
in  bad  shajie.  He  was  arrested  in  1792  at  Saint  Die,  and 
came  near  being  torn  to  j)ieces,  as  happened  to  one  of  his 
friends  and  relatives,  de  Spisemberg,  whose  house  was  pil- 
laged. From  there  he  was  taken  to  E}>inal,  where  he  stayed 
four  yeai's,  J>onaj)arte  gave  him  a  ])eiision  of  a  thousand 
francs,  a  sum  much  inferior  to  what,  his  rank  deserved,  lie 
would  acccj)t  no  ollicial  ])osition  for  his  sttn,  and  left  no  for- 
tune  to   his  children. 

It  is  to  his  grandson,  Fran(;ois-?dichel-Antoine  de  ^lenon- 
ville,  present  head  of  the  family,  that  1  owe  these  notes.-'^^ 

Mexou  (liOuis-Armand-Francois  de),  born  at  ]\Ionsegui', 
Guyenne,  in  1744  ;  served  from  1701  ;  captain  in  the  regi- 
ment of  Soissonnais  in  1778;  ajipointed  major  of  the  regiment 
of  Gatinais,  which  became  lloyal-Auvergne,  after  the  capture 
of  Yorktown. 

"  lie  AS'as  a  distinguished  ofliccr  and  brilliant  in  war,"  says 
a  note.  One  must  not  mistake  him  for  the  Baron  de  Menou 
who  served  later  in  Fgypt,  and  who  took  the  command  of 
the  French  troops  after  Kleber,  wlien  the  latter  was  assas- 
sinated. 


"^General  do  Mt'nonville  loft  ii  jonriial  which    lias  been  very  useful 
to  me.    See  Vol.  1.,  page  10. 


182  TIte  French  in  America. 

Mexou  (Plerrc-ArinaiKl,  Chevalier  do),  born  at  Monsegiir, 
Giiyenne,  in  1755  ;  made  the  expedition  of"  America  as  caji- 
tain   in  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais. 

jMicoul  (Chevalier  de),  who  seems  to  have  been  at  Sa- 
vannah ;  defended  to  tlie  last  ditch,  with  de  liouille,  Saint 
liucia,  of  which  he  was  governor,  on  tiie  13th  of  November, 
1778,  against  Brigadier-General  jMeadows  and  General  Prevost. 
The  island  was  taken,  but  the  garrison  received  the  honors  of 
war,  and  Chevalier  de  Micoul  obtained  permission  to  remain 
long  enough  to  take  away  all  his  j^ersonal  effects.  He  was 
soon  exchanged  for  other  prisoners."''"' 

jSIiollis  (Sextus-Alexandrc-Fran(;ois,  Count  do),  born  in 
1759  at  Aix,  one  of  the  sixteen  children  of  Joscph-Laurcnt- 
ISIiollis,  counsellor  to  the  Ciiamber  of  Accounts  of  Aix;  en- 
tered, in  1772,  the  infantry  regiment  of  Soissonnais,  became 
sub-lieutenant  in  1770  and  left  for  America.  A\'as  wounded 
in  the  face  by  a  sj^lintei'  from  a  bomb,  before  Yorktown,  dur- 
ing the  night  of  the  13th  of  October,  1781,  in  the  line  of 
the  second  parallel;  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  1782  and 
captain  on  his  return  to  France.  Decorated  with  the  order 
of  the  Cincinnati.  Served  under  the  Kepublic  and  the  Em- 
pire with  distinction  and  was  made  general  in  1705.  lie  it 
was  who  carried  out  the  orders  of  Napoleon  against  Pius  the 
Seventh,  but  with  a  moderation  for  which  the  Pope  was  very 
grateful.     He  died  in   1828,  at  Aix. 

IMiRABEAU  (Audre-Ix)niface-Louis-liiquotii,  Clu^valier  de), 
born  at  ]>ignon,  Gatinais,  in  1754;  was  inscribed  at  his  birth 
on  the  lists  of  the  Knights  of  Malta.  His  studies  were  very 
poor,  but  he  had  much  natural  wit.  lie  went  to  Malta  from 
1775    until    1778,   and    then    embarked    to   serve    in    .Vmerica 


lvongchiuni>H. 


List  of  Officers.  183 

under  tlic  orders  of  do  Guidien.  He  showed  a  bravery  akin 
to  recklessness  in  the  actions  ])efore  Yorktown,  Saint  Eustatius 
and  Saint  Christopher,  where  he  was  dangerously  wounded. 
Later  he  was  deputy  to  tiie  States  General;  but,  a  Ivoyalist, 
he  was  constantly  annoying  the  left  of  the  Assembly  l>y 
pointed,  witty  and  sarcastic  remarks.  An  open  champion  of 
the  aristocracy  and  of  the  privileges,  he  attacked  even  his 
brother,  who  kept  sparing  him,  and  fought  with  Latour- 
jNIaubourg  a  duel  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded.  De- 
voted to  good  eating  and  creature  comforts,  he  grew  so  fat 
that  at  the  age  of  thirty  he  weighed  over  tAvo  hundi-ed  pounds, 
which  made  the  jjcople  nickname  him,  Jfirabeaa  Tonncau.  The 
Assembly  w^as  about  to  take  steps  against  hiin  when  he  emi- 
grated. He  raised  then  the  celebrated  Legion  of  Jlirabcau,  or 
Iliuisars  of  Death,  of  three  thousiind  men,  who  in  1792  fought 
a  bloody  skirmish  war  with  the  Republicans.  Died  in  1792, 
and  was  buried  at  Saitzbach,  at  the  place  Avhere  Turenne  was 
killed.     Decorated  with  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

ISIissiESSY  (Edouard-Thomas-Burgues,  Count  de),  born  the 
23d  of  A]n*il,  1754.  Enlisted  at  the  age  of  ten  on  the  vessel 
of  his  father,  the  AUier ;  marine  guard  in  1770,  ensign  in 
1777.  The  Vail/auf,  on  wiiich  he  then  served  under  d'Estaing, 
took  part  in  the  campaign  at  Newport,  and  in  the  actions  of 
Saint  Lucia,  Grenada  and  Savannah.  In  1780  lie  embarked 
on  the  frigate  the  Surveillanle,  Captain  do  Cillart,  which  was 
taking  troops  to  Rochambeau.  After  the  landing  at  Newport 
he  went  to  Saint  Domingo,  and  had  occasion  to  fight  a  brilliant 
combat  of  three  hours  against  an  J'>ngHsIi  ship,  the  fJ/z/Asr*-,  of 
sixty  guns.  The  frigate  had  t)nly  thirty-two,  of  smaller  size. 
INIissiessy  received  the  rank  of  ca])tain  of  frigate  in  ]May,  1781. 
He  served  afterwards  in  Europciui  seas.  Xaval  caj^tain  the 
1st  of  January,  1792,  rear-admiral  the  following  year.  He 
was  then  at  Toulon,  and  iled  to  Italy  during  the  Terror.  He 
returned    in    1795,    was    kc]>t   arrested    for    some    time,    then 


184  The  French  in  America. 

acquitted.  Vice-admiral  in  1800,  he  defended  the  mouth  of 
tlie  Scheldt  ag'uinst  the  Engli.^li,  and  >\as  made  count  by  Napo- 
leon, with  four  thousand  francs  income.  In  1811  grand  oflicer 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  w\\\\  twenty  thousand  francs  income ; 
made  grand  cross  in  ISli  In-  Louis  the  Eighteentli.  He  kept 
aloof  during  the  "Hundred  Days."  Commander  of  Saint-Louis 
iu  181G  and  grand  cross  in  1823;  chevalier-commander  of 
the  Saint-Ksprit  in  1827.     Retired  in  1832. 

MoLiERES  (xVudrt'-IiOuis-Floret  de),  born  in  1719,  ])ujnl  of 
the  Military  School  in  1707  ;  was  captain  en  tucond  in  the 
regiment  of  Gatinais  during  the  campaign  of  1781. 

MoNTALKCr.E  (Jcan-Bartliolcmy  Fabrcgue   de).     See  Fab- 

REGUK. 

]\IONTALEMBEiiT  (Louis-Fraucois- Joseph -Bonavcuture  de 
Tryon,  Count  de),  born  the  ISth  of  October,  1758,  died  in 
1831  ;  entered  early  the  army,  and  made  the  Amcri(^in  c;uu- 
paigns  with  the  regiment  of  Saintonge.  In  1789  he  resigned 
from  his  position  of  commander  of  squadron  in  the  regiment 
of  Gevaudan.  Under  the  Empire,  as  also  under  the  Ivestau- 
ration,  he  had  a  seat  in  the  Assembly.  He  was  chamberlain 
of  Napoleon  tlie  First. 

iNIoNTAUT  (He),  ca})tain  of  the  Ficr-llodrir/ue,  three-decker 
of  sixty  guns,  belonging  to  Beaumarchais,  and  serving  as  escort 
to  the  merchant  lieets  sent  by  the  latter  to  America.  The  12(h 
of  July,  1779,  d'Estaing  ordered  this  ship  to  ta.ke  its  place 
in  the  battle  line  belbre  the  Island  of  Grenada  to  light  the 
fleet  of  Jiyron.      De  ]Montaut   was  killed  in  the  action. 

i\lo^■TCAE:kr  (Paul-Francois-loseph,  Marquis  de),  born  in 
1750  in  the  Rouergue,  died  in  J'iediiiom  in  1812,  was  the 
son  of  the  General   killed   at  Quebec.      lOutcnd  the  navy  and 


List  of  Officers.  185 

served  as  naval  rajitain  under  d'E.-tainii;  and  Sullren,  lie  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  Grenada  and  at  Gil^raltar.  Deputy  to 
tlie  States  General,  he  pro])Osed  abolishing  the  pensions.  Those 
of  tlie  ^lontcalins  and  the  I)'>\ssas  were  i-etained."*^'^  He  emi- 
grated in  17U0,  and  went  into  Spain  and  j-'ledniont.  lie  died 
from  a  fall. 

MoNTcouuKiER  (De),  infantry  officer,  killed  in  the  naval 
action  olf  Saint  Lucia,  the   19th  of  May,   17S0. 

MoxTES(ji:iEU  (Baron  de),  grandson  of  the  antlior  of  the 
Spirit  of  titc  Dars,  went  to  America  in  1782  on  the  Gloirc  with 
de  Broglie  and  de  Segur.  He  had  made  before  this  the  expe- 
dition of  1780-81  as  aid-de-eamp  to  de  Ghastellux.-"  He  re- 
ceived the  oi'der  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  was  a])j)ointed  colonel 
of  the  infantry  regiment  of  Bourbonnais,  whence  he  went  to 
that  of  C\'inibn'sis.  He  emigrated  in  1792,  and  joined  the 
army  of  the  princes,  wlicrc  he  served  on  the  stalf  of  the 
Duke  de  l^aval  and  also  on  that  of  Lord  llawdon,  later  ^lar- 
quis  of  Hastings.  He  died  near  Canterbury,  in  England,  in 
1822. 

MoNTFOivT  (Count  de),  eidisted  as  a  volunteer  ;  sent  to  A\^ash- 
ington,  to   fill   the   position  of  lieutenant,   the  27th   of  Man-li, 

1777.-*''' 

MoNTiiuuEi.,  officer  of  hussars  of  the  legion  of  Lanzun, 
distinguished   himself  before  Gloueester.-'^^ 

jvIONTiKU  (De),  privateersman  at  Xante-,  Irieiul  of  Beaumar- 
chais,  desired   to   go   to  America,   although   no   longer  young. 


'"'See  in  tlie  List  of  Onicers :  Assas,  note  48. 

"'  r.lanchard. 

"^Auberlcuil. 

^^^  liejwrt  of  KoclKunbeau. 


18G  Tlic  French  in  America. 

Duboiirg  wished  at  first  to  cn<j;ao;o  him  on  account  of  his  tal- 
ents and  his  experience,  but  recoiled  before  his  pretensions.^"'' 
A  do  Monthieu  went  later  to  A  merica :  perha})s  he  is  the  same. 

MoNTLEZON  (Jean-Francois  dii  Moulin  do  la  Bastille),  born 
in  ]720  at  Aire,  Guyenne ;  entered  the  service  in  1744,  cap- 
tain in  the  regiment  of  Touraine  in  1755,  lieutenant-colonel 
in  1 770 ;  received  a  severe  1)ruise  in  the  action  fought  by  de 
Grasse  on  the  12th  of  April,  17S2. 

MoNTLONG,  served  in  1777  as  sub-lieutenant  of  Agenois^ 
and   Nvas  present  at  the  sieges  of  Pensacola  and  Yorktown. 

ISIOKAiiD  DE  Galek  (Justlu-Bonaveuture),  vice-admiral, 
grand  officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  senator ;  born  at  Gon- 
celin,  I)au])hine,  in  1741.  Private  of  the  marine  guard  at  the 
age  of  sixteen;  entered  the  navy;  flag  guard  in  1757,  ensign 
hi  17G5. 

He  was  naval  lieutenant  on  the  Ville  de  Paris,  under  de 
Grasse,  at  the  action  of  Ouessant,  the  27th  of  July,  1778.  In 
1780  he  was  present  on  the  Couromie  at  the  three  actions 
fought  by  de  Guichen.  He  served  afterwards  under  Suffren 
in  the  East  Indies,  and  died  at  Gueret,   Creuse,   in   1809. 

Mohreige.     See  Bkrand. 

MoiiY  (He),  infantry  officer,  wounded  in  the  naval  action 
off  Gi-enada. 

IMoTTE  or  ISIoTiiE  (Durand  de  La),  officer  of  the  regiment 
of  Champagne;  was  at  the  ca{)ture  of  Gr(>nada  and  at  the  naval 
action  off  Saint  Ijucia.      A\'ounded  at  Savamiah. 

""American  Arcltircs. 


List  of  Officers.  187 

MoTTE-PiQUET  (T()n.-.<aint-Guillaui!ic,  Cuunt  do  La),  licu- 
tenant-gcDoral  of  tlic  naval  armies,  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis, 
born  at  Ivonncs  in  172*),  ?i[arine  guard  in  1735,  naval  lieu- 
tenant in  1 74-'),  made  the  same  yea.r  a  canipaign  to  Canada; 
e<a])tain  t>f  eorvette  in  1755,  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis  in  175G, 
naval  captain  in  1763.  Chief  of  squadron  in  177S,  he  was 
])rcsent  on  the  >Saini-E.Yjrii  at  the  action  of  Ouessant,  the  27th 
of  July,  1778,  as  flag  captain  to  the  Duke  de  Chartres.  In 
1770  he  went  to  the  Antilles  under  the  orders  of  the  Count 
d'Estaing,  Mas  present  at  the  capture  of  Grenada  the  4th  of 
July,  and  at  tlie  action  of  the  (3lh.  AVhen  d'Estaing  resolved 
to  capture  Savannah,  the  Chevalier  de  La  Motte-Piquet  was 
charged  to  protect,  with  seven  vessels,  the  landing  of  three 
thousand  five  hundred  soldiers.  Ke  distinguished  himself  by 
several  brilliant  deeds ;  was  appointed  lieutenant-general  in 
1782,  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis  in  1784.  He  died  at  Brest 
the  11th  of  June,  1701.  Doubtless  decorated  with  the  order 
of  the   Cincinnati. 

MoTTix  DE  EA  Balme,  cnlistcd  as  volunteer  the  20th  of 
May,  1777  ;  brevet  lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry.  The  18th 
of  July  following  he  was  appointed  inspector  of  cavalry,  with 
the  rank  of  colonel.  He  resigned  on  the  12tli  of  October  of 
the  same  year. 

There  was  a  de  la  Balme,  infantry  olllcer,  wounded  at  the 
naval  action  otf  Saint  Lucia  the  10th  of  March,  1780.  He 
is  })erhaps  the  same  as  the  above,  who  may  have  re-entered 
the  service  in  the  Fi'cnch  colonial  troops. 

MoYELV  (Joseph-^^rarie-Annc),  born  at  Bourg  in  Bresse  in 
1744  ;  student  at  the  oMilitary  School,  then  ofliccr,  in  1702, 
in  tiic  regiment  of  Soissonnais,  He  made  campaigns  in  Ger- 
many, in  Corsica  and  in  America.  He  was  captain  at  the 
time  of  the  siege  of  Yorklown,  and  was  decorated  after  the 
siege. 


188  Tlic  French  in  America. 

Mudp:iiie  de  Campanjos  (Pierre  Ln),  burn  hi  1739  ; 
appoinled  captiiin  in  the  regiment  of  Bourbonnais  in  1777, 
obtained  a  pension  of  four  liundrcd  Uvrcs  at  the  time  of  tlie 
capture  of  Yorktown. 

MufiEENFELS  (C-hnrle.s-Adam),  born  in  1748  ;  sub-lieu- 
tenant of  Eo}al-Deux-Ponts  the  3d  of  August,  1705,  captain 
in  1770;  obtained  a  reward  for  liis  courage  before  Yorktown. 

MuLLEMS,  enlisted  as  volunteer  ;  private  in  the  regiment  of 
Berwick  in  1757,  sub-lieutenant  iu  1770,  lieutenant  in  1778 
and  ciiptain  in  1770.  He  made  two  cam])aigns  in  Germany, 
two  to  i\Iauritius  and  seven  in  America. 

MuiiNAND  (Jeau-l>ernard   de). 

MuY  (l^u),  name  that  de  Saintc-Mesme,  colonel  of  iSois- 
sonnais,  took  on  his  return  to  France.  See  Sainte-Mesme. 
The  notice  of  Didot  is  under  the  name  of  Du  Muy. 

Nadal,  director  of  the  artillery  trains  during  the  expe- 
dition of  llochambcau  ;-'^  lieutenant-colonel,  chief  of  brigade 
in  the  regiment  of  Auxonne. 

Neuius  (De),  oflicer  of  artillery,  who  belonged  to  the  ex- 
peditionary corps  of  llochambeau  ;  captain  in  tlie  regiment  of 
Auxonne.  He  was  intrusted  with  establishing  and  conunand- 
ing  a  battery  of  mortars  and  cannons  at  the  narrowest  point 
of  the  Xorth  lliver,  above  Peekskill.  The  ISth  of  July,  1781, 
he  did  much  ha)-m  to  the  English  scpiadron,  which  had  ven- 
tured into  this  [)art  of  the  river.-'- 

"•Blancliara. 

^^'^ Journal  of  Cruinot  Duliouig. 


List  of  OJjircrs.  189 

Neuville  or  De  ea  Xeuvii.ee,  culir^lcd  as  vohintcor'uii 
the  27tii  of  Oetuljcr,  1777;  served  as  aid-de-camp  of  Iju  Fav- 
ettc,  and  under  the  orders  of  General  Parsons. 

])o  Neuville  asked  for  iKjthing  less,  says  General  Washinii;- 
ton,-'^  than  the  creation  of  a  position  of  brigadier-general  for 
him,  tlie  24th  of  July,  1778,  to  which  Morris  answers  from 
Philadeli.liia  the  M  of  August,  1778:  "The  faith  of  Con- 
gress is  in  some  measure  plighted  to  M.  de  la  Xeuville,  but 
it  is  not  to  their  interest  that  his  l)revet  shall  give  command. 
The  Baron  has  a  claim  iVom  his  merit  to  be  noticed  ;  but  I 
will  never  consent  to  grant  M-Jiat  1  am  told  he  re(iuest-,  and 
I  thiidc  Congress  will  not."  lie  obtained  this  title  of  brig- 
adier-general, but  resigned  the  4th  of  December,   1778.-'^ 

Niemcewic/,  l)()rn  at  Skoki,  Lithuania,  in  1757;  entered  the 
service  at  A\"arsaw.  followed  Ivosciusk'o  to  Ainei-ica  ;  -wounded 
at  the  same  time  as  Kosciusko  at  Savannah,  Xiemewicz  took 
care  of  him  with  the  most  devoted  friendship.  Having  re- 
turned to  his  native  land  he  was  elected,  in  1788,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Polish  Diet  and  became  noted  for  his  eloquence 
and  his  liberal  writings.  In  1794  he  made  the  cam})aign 
against  Catherine  and  was  taken  j)risoner  with  Kosciusko. 
Eestored  to  freedom,  lie  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
only  returned  thence  in  1807.  He  died  at  ]Montmorency,  near 
Paris,  in  1841.  He  was  a  distinguished  man  of  letters  and 
a  poet. 

NoAiEEEs  (Louis-]\rarie,  Viscount  de),  second  son  of  Mar- 
shal de  Mouchy,  born  at  Paris  the  17th  of  April,  17.")<;.  He 
was  brother-in-law  of  La  Fayette,  and  a  great  friend  of  his 
and  of  de  Segur.  They  had  tbi-jned  the  ])r(>ject  of  starting- 
together    for    America,    but    their    parents,    having    discovered 

"'XZ/c'  and  Writings  of  Goarcrna'r  ^[ol■l•is,  by  J.  Sparks.  Vol.  I.,  paiie  174. 
"♦Auberteuil. 


190  The  French  in  America. 

their  plans,  prevonterl  tliem.  La  Fayette  alone  had  will  and 
independenee  enouoh^  thanks  to  his  fortnnc,  to  eany  out  his 
generous  project. 

Captahi  the  7th  of  iNlareh,  ITTo  ;  colonel  of  Soissonnais  the 
28th  of  February,  1778,  but  only  to  take  his  rank  when  he 
was  twenty-eigfht  years  old.  He  made  with  this  rank  the 
expedition  of  America  and  had  several  times  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  work'  on  the  trenches  before  Yorktown.  He  was 
intrusted  with  arran<2:in<:;  the  terms  of  surrrender  with  Col- 
onel I^aurens  and  de  Granchain.  AVashington  several  times 
pmises  his  courage  and  his  intelligence. 

On  his  return  he  was  appointed  nie.sfre  de  camp,  lieutenant- 
commandant  of  the  regiment  of  dragoons  of  the  king,  and 
was  replaced  in  his  position  of  colonel  en.  second  of  Soissonnais 
by  de  Segnr  in  1782.  lie  had  conceived  in  America  a  great 
enthusiasm  for  lil)erty,  and  he  took  u])  with  eagerness  the  cause 
of  the  French  Revolution  ;  he  proposed,  during  the  famous 
iiight  of  the  4th  of  August,  the  principal  reforms  against  the 
privileges.  He  commanded  the  advanced  posts  of  Valenciennes 
in  1792  ;  but  not  approving  the  excesses  of  the  Ten-or,  he 
resigned  and  withdrew  to  England  and  thence  to  the  United 
States,  where  he  played  a  strange  role.-'^  He  re-entered  the 
service  again  under  the  Consulate,  and  went  in  1803  to  Saint 
Domingo  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 

The  rest  of  his  life  is  so  well  told  by  his  sister-in-law, 
Madame  de  ^Montagu,  tliat  I  insert  here  her  account  which 
is  found  in  the  very  interesting  book  :  Annc-Paule-Dominique 
dc  Kouilles,  Jfarquise  de  Montagu,  by  the  Duke  de  Xoailles. 
Paris,  1808.-"'^ 

"  The  Viscount  de  Xoailles,  considered  one  of  the  best  of- 
ficers of  his  day,  who  had  followed  La  Fayette,  his  brother- 
in-law,  to  America  during  the   War   of   Inde])endeuce  ;    who, 

^^Pontgibaua. 

"^•See  that  book,  piigcs  3SG-392.    E.  S.  B. 


List  of  OlTicers.  191 

miicli  sniiltoii  with  tlic  itlc-as  of  17S0,  had  .'^at  in  the  Coii.<ti- 
tuiional  Assembly  bcsiilc  ]\[anry,  ]>arnave  and  oMirabcau  ; 
who,  in  the  fainons  i)i<;lit  (tf  the  4th  of  Aiigu.'-t,  lakini^  the 
initiative  of  the  tluee  propositions,  indispensable  basis  of  the 
great  reforms,  then  in  every  mind,  the  equal  distribution  of 
all  taxation  among  all  FreJichmcn,  the;  al)olition  by  purchase 
of  feudal  rights,  and  the  abolition  witliout  purchase  of  the 
coi'vccs  and  persontd  servitude,  had  given  the  signal  for  the 
enthusiasm  with  which  in  that  same  sitting  the  nol)ility  and 
the  clergy  despoiled  themselves  so  generously  and  so  patriot- 
ically of  their  i-ights  and  ])rivileges.  This  same  Viscount  de 
Noailles  was  none  the  less  an  oiUf/rc  like  the  others,-" 

"A\'hen  Mar  was  declared,  in  April,  1792,  he  commanded 
a  brigade  in  the  advance  guard  during  tlie  first  invasion  of 
Belgium,  and  he  found  himself  surrounded  in  the  flight  of 
our  troops,  which  took  ))lace  \vith  the  cry  of  "  Troiichcry  !"  and 
amid  which  General  Theobald  Dillon  was  massacred,  and  he 
himself  was  obliged  to  seek  a  refuge  beyond  the  frontier, 
wlierc  lie  was  immediately  declared  an  ctalgre  and  proscribed. 

"  He  first  went  to  England,  then  to  America,  where  he  en- 
tered with  success  into  the  commercial  operations  of  the  house 
of  Bingham.  JNIadame  de  Montagu  succeeded  in  having  his 
name  struck  off  the  list  of  tuur/rea.  His  return  was  retarded 
by  a  long  lawsuit,  where  he  argued  his  case  himself  in  Eng- 
lish before  the  American  courts.  So  well  did  he  speak  that 
language,  of  which  we  will  see  the  imiiortanco  to  him  later, 
that  he  won  his  suit,  amid  universal  a]i})lause.  But  the 
obligation  of  following  out  llic  conse(|Uences  forced  him  to  go 


^''"Tliose  who  liy  liutrt-d  for  llie  past,"  says  de  Cliateaiibriand,  "cry 
out  to-day  against  tlie  nobility,  forget  that  it  was  a  niembor  of  that 
nobility,  the  Visxouiit  de  Xoailles,  supported  by  the  Puke  d'Aiguillon 
and  -Mathieu  de  Montniorouoy,  who  overtlirew  tlic  edifice  which  was 
attacked  by  re])ublican  prejudice.  On  the  innlion  of  the  feudal  deputy 
the  feudal  rights  were  abolished.  As  the  old  France  owed  its  glory  to 
the  feudal  nobility,  the  new  France  owes  it  its  liberty,  if  tliere  is  lib- 
erty for  France.     {Mcmuires  iVOntrc-Tumhc,  Vol.  II.,  page  tit}.) 


192  Tltc  French  in  America. 

to  Saint  Domingo,  M-hcrc  oar  ])o>scs.sion.s  bad  falkn  iiito  tlie 
power  of  tlio  negroes,  and  wliicli  a  French  army  was  tiwing 
to  reconqner, 

"He  found  this  army  partly  destroyed  Ijy  yellow  fever,  and 
its  remains  attacked  on  one  side  by  tbe  negroes,  on  the  other 
by  the  British  squadrons,  liochambeau  was  in  command. 
Noailles  devotedly  put  himself  at  the  disposition  of  liIs  old 
comrade  in  arms,  and,  amongst  other  deeds,  helped  materially 
in  the  eaptui-c  of  Fort  Dauphin.-'^ 

"Ivoehambcau  gave  him  the  command  of  the  Mole  Saint 
Nicholas,  whose  garrison,  reduced  to  eighteen  hundred  men, 
was  besieged  by  twenty  thousand  blacks  and  a  I^ritish  scpiad- 
ron.  He  defended  himself  there  for  five  months.  ]3ut  Ivoeh- 
ambcau,  shut  in  at  the  Cape,  was  at  lengtli  forced  by  famine 
to  suri-ender  with  his  negroes.  He  Mas  going  to  retire  witli 
his  troops  on  neulral  vessels,  but  the  English  ileet  sur- 
rounded these  ships,  forced  them  to  sui'render,  and  pre])ared 
to  take  them  to  Europe.  The  commander  of  the  squadron 
which  was  blockading  Mole  Saint  Nicholas  informed  General 
de  Noailles  of  these  events,  asking  him  to  cease  a  useless  re- 
sistance. 

" '  A  French  general,'  he  answered,  '  cannot  surrender  with- 
out shame  as  long  as  he  has  supplies,  ammunition  and  de- 
voted soldiers.  France,  like  England,  has  fleets  on  the  ocean. 
I  will  wait.' 

"This  answer  hid  his  intrepid  ])roject  of  escaping  with  his 
entire  force  from  the  hostile  fleets.  Informed  that  the  con- 
voy which  took  with  it  the  ships  of  Rochambeau  M'as  to  pass 
three  days  later  before  the  jNIole  during  the  night,  lie  pre- 
pared his  men,  and  on   seven  ships  which   were   in   the  port 

"*In  striking  liirn  nfl'  tlie  lists  of  nuiijri'.'i  lie  had  beon  reinstiited  in 
his  military  rank,  fur  be  wrote  to  his  son  Alexis:  "I  have  not  yet  re- 
ceived the  coiilirmation  of  the  rank  of  acting  brigadier-general,  wliich 
position  J  have  Olleil  for  eight  months.  I  desire  that  the  ciiniiuiHt:ion 
bear  the  date  of  the  cai)ture  of  Fort  Dauphin." 


List  of  Officers.  193 

mounted  liis  soldiers,  his  cannons,  ln"s  aminuiiition,  with  some 
of  the  inliabitants  of  tlie  ]M6lo,  and  awaited  in  silence  the 
passage  of  the  convoy,  AVhen  the  ship's  lights  appeared  tlie 
order  for  departure  was  given,  and  during  a  dark  in"ght  the 
seveii  ships,  profiting  by  the  confusion  of  the  ])assage  and  de- 
ceiving the  blockading  sr[uadn>n,  joliu'd  the  convoy.  Xoailles 
himself  led,  and,  speaking  English  jx-rfectly,  answered  himself 
all  the  hails  from  the  nearer  ships.  Little  by  little  he  drew 
away  with  his  ships,  and  spread  all  sail  at  da^vn,  and  although 
the  English  then  discovered  what  had  happened  and  sailed 
after  him,  he  reached  successfully,  with  his  seven  sl)ips,  ]jar- 
acoa,  a  ])ort  in  the  Islaud  of  Cuba.  He  landed  there  the 
inhabitants  of  the  ]\Jule,  as  mcII  as  his  troops,  of  whom  he 
sent  some  back  to  France  and  kept  the  others,  intending  to 
lead  them  to  Havana,  where  General  Lavalettc  was  in  com- 
mand. 

"He  chartered  for  this  ])urpose  three  small  vessels,  got  as 
escort  the  war  schooner  the  Courric/-,  and  sailed  himself  on 
this  schooner,  which  was  only  armed  with  four  guns,  with 
his  staff  and  a  com])any  of  grenadiers  of  the  34th  half 
brigade.  Four  days  afterwards,  oit  the  31st  of  December, 
1803,  olf  the  Great-Xuevita,  he  met  at  dusk  an  English 
corvette,  tlie  llazard,  of  seven  guns,  which  hailed  him.  He 
hastened  to  raise  the  English  c(j1oi-s,  and  answered  in  sttch 
good  Euglish  that  the  commander  of  the  corvette  informed 
liim  that  he  was  in  search  of  a  French  boat  carrying  General 
de  Xoailles.  'I  have  precisely  the  same  mission,'  he  answered, 
and  began  to  sail  with  the  corvette.  Then,  when  the  night 
bccitme  dark,  he  ])n)p<)sed  to  his  soUliers  to  bcxird  the  ]-2nglish. 
The  proposal  being  received  with  ck'light,  Lieutenant  Do.-iiayes, 
who  was  connnandiug  the  Courricr,  sailed  it  so  as  to  bring  it 
all  of  a  sudden  alongside  of  the  corvette.  The  shock  was  so 
violent  that  the  stem  of  the  Conrricr  was  broken.  The  English, 
surjn-ised,  rushed  to  arms ;  but  de  Xoailles  dashed  with  his 
irrenadiers   on   to  their  deck,  and  alter  a  terrible  combat,  the 


The  French  in  America. 


194 

corvette,  whicli  ]ui(l  lost  half  its  crew,  surrendered.  Unr(>r- 
tunatelv,  at  the  er^d  of  tlie  battle,  an  enemy's  bnllet  strnek  tl.e 
heroic  'descendant  of  a  race  of  warriors,  of  whom  he  had 
showed  himself  so  worthy;  and  on  the  morrow,  on  hoard  o. 
his  prize,  but  mortally  wounded,  and  toNving  the  Conrrur,  hal 
broken  to  pieces,  he  entered  gloriously  Havana.  He  lived 
only  six  days  after  his  triumph,  and  died  on  the  5th  of  .)an- 
uaiy  ISO-L  His  heart  was  inclosed  in  a  silver  box  by  Ins 
grenadiers,  who  fastened  it  to  their  flag  and  l)rought  it  back 
to  France,  which  the  brave  Frenchman  had  desired  to  have 
reopened  to  him  by  his  glory." -'^ 

Noailt.es  (Viscount  de),  ])erhaps  a  brother  of  the  pre- 
ceding one,  was  with  Edouard  Dillon  at  the  head  of  an  at- 
tacking  eolunm  at  Grenada  on  the  Gth  of  July,  ITJdr'' 

Noes  (xVugustin-liousselin  de),  born  at  Caen  in  1741.  En- 
tered the  regiment  of  Saintonge  in  1702,  captain  in  177U; 
decorated  for  his  conduct  before  Yorktown. 

NOMPERE    DE    CIIAMPAG^•Y.       SeC    ClIAMrAGNY. 

NoRTM.VN,  officer  of  the  legion  of  Lauzun,  of  whom  Croniot 
Dubourg  speaks  as  follows:  "  AVhile  on  ])atrol  before  New 
York,  with  six  hussars,  during  the  night  of  the  17th  tu  the 
18th 'of  Julv,  1781,  a  few  pistol  shots  were  exchanged  with 
some  dra'.o(ms  of  Delancey ;  Nortman  was  killed.  The  in- 
fantry advanced  to  support  the  hu^>ars,  but  the  enemy  had 
gone  under  cover  of  the  darkn.-s.  The  riderless  hor>e  re- 
turned to  camp;  a  sentinel  hailed  it,  and,  reeeivmg  no  answer, 
killed  it  with  a  single  shot." 


^»"This  brilliant  foat  of  arms  nvus  paintoa  Iw  Gu.liu  in  one  of  liis 
best  pictures."  ,       ., 

s^"Tlie  Marquis  do  Noaillcs  has  written  to  nie  that  there  is  a  nub- 
take  here.    Must  be  looked  up."    IMar-inal  note  by  T.  li. 


Lid  of  Gjjicers.  195 

o. 

O'Faiiuel  (Claude),  l)oni  at  Aliiis  in  1751.  Served  four 
years  in  tlic  rej^iiueut  oi"  Jjally  in  India;  ])ut  on  tlic  Av;iiting 
list,  aiid  entered  the  regiment  ol"  Dillon  as  cadet  in  ITT-"),  He 
was  apjiointed  officer  in  1770,  ami  was  ])resent  at  the  assault 
on  the  Monic  of  Grenada,  at  the  naval  action  and  at  the 
assault  of  Savannah,  where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in 
the  leg.  He  served  in  the  campaign  of  America  as  lieuten- 
ant in  the  regiment  of  Dillon. 

Ollonj]  (Chevalier  d'),  sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of 
Schomberg  since  1773.  ^\'ent  to  America  as  aid-de-cam]3  of 
the  Laron  de  Viojueiill.  TTis  uncle  was  employed  on  the 
staff,  in  waiting.  lie  received  a  brevet  of  captain  after  the 
capture  of  Yorktown. 

O'MoPvAN  (Jacques-Joseph),  born  at  Elphin,  Ireland,  in 
1730.  At  the  Ilcvolution  was  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Dil- 
lon. Ap]-)ointed  marecJial  de  camp,  he  made  under  Dumoui'iez 
the  campaigns  of  Cham])agnc  and  Belgium.  In  1703,  he  took 
Tournay  and  Casscl,  but  accused  of  incapacity,  he  was  arrested 
by  the  orders  of  the  deputies  Levasseur  and  Delbret,  sent  to 
Paris  and  condemned  to  death.  Guillotined  the  6th  of  ]March, 
1704. 

O'Xeil  (Bernard),  born  at  Saint  Omcr  in  1730.  Was  the 
fifth  generation  to  serve  in  the  Irish  regiment  of  Dillon  since 
its  ibrmatiou  in  Fi-ance.  He  made  first  the  campaigns  of 
Germany,  ihcn  went  to  the  Antilles  and  Avas  present  at  the 
capture  iA'  Grenada,  at  the  naval  action  and  at  the  siege  of  Sa- 
vannah, where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  chest.  He 
died  in  America  in  1780,  after  twenty-nine  years  of  service. 

OuiUKUT,  lieutenant-colonel,  20th  of  June,  1770. 

Ol'TKKKK  (11).     See  AuiiKTEniiE. 


196  Tlie  French  in  America. 

P. 

Paiij.ot  or  Palliol,  enlisted  as  private  in  tlie  resxinicnt 
of  Gatinais  in  17'")0,  sub-lieutenant  of  grenadiers  in  1770;  was 
present  at  the  attaek  of  the  redoubt  of  Yorktown. 

Pange  (J^e),  aid-de-eamp  of  the  Chevalier  dc  Yiomenil ;  dis- 
tinguisiied  himself  at  the  attack  of  the  redoubt  of  Yorktown,-*^ 

Parent  (Charles),  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  ;  started  in  the 
beginning  of  the  war  with  another  volunteer  named  A^'ar- 
ren,  of  Englisli  extraction.  AVas  present  at  the  battle  of  the 
Brandywine.  lie  returned  to  France  after  the  war,  entered 
the  regular  army,  and  retii-ed  in  ISIG  with  the  rank  of  chief 
of  battalion.-"- 

Pah.mentieij  (Jacques-Jose])h),  born  at  Ileigen  in  17"2S; 
private  in  the  ivgimcnt  of  Touraine  in  1746,  officer  in  17G4, 
lieutenant  in  177G.  He  received  a  gratific-ation  after  the  cap- 
ture of  Yorktown. 

Pecosme  (Laborde  de).     See  Laboude.'-'^ 

P/:lissier  (Christophe),  enlisted  as  volunteer  the  20th  of 
July,  177G,  one  of  the  tirst  ;  appointed  engineer  with  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.-^'' 

Pi^:ROU.SE  (Jean-Frauyois-Galaup,  Count  de  La),  chevalier 
of  Saint-Louis,  chief  of  scpiadron,  boru  at  Albi  in  1741  ; 
sliijiwrecked  in   17SS. 

^^Dupctit-Thouars  and  Blanehard. 

-^Information  given  by  his  jrreat  nepliew,  M.  Chark'S  Louandre, 
literary  man  and  French  historian. 

-*^I  leave  tliis  as  it  is  in  the  French.  I  lliiiik  lie  is  perhajis  the  san^.e 
as  Laborde  de  Dcauine.    E.  S.  13, 

-**Auberteuil. 


List  of  Officers.  197 

Enlisted  as  marine  ;j;uanl  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  ensign  in 
1764,  naval  lientenant  in  1777;  eomniantled  the  Amazone  of 
twenty-six  gnns,  which  took  ]n\rt  in  the  captnrc  of  Saint 
Vincent  and  of  Grenada,  as  well  as  in  the  action  of  the  -1th 
of  July,  1779,  against  Admiral  liyron.  In  October,  1779, 
while  cruising  on  the  coast  of  Georgia,  he  ca])tnred  the  frig- 
ate Ariel,  of  twenty-six  guns,  after  an  hour's  fight,  and  on  the 
8th  of  December  following  he  captured,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Savannah,  the  Knglish  j)rivateer  the  Ti'jer,  of  twenty-two 
guns. 

In  A])ril,  1780,  he  became  naval  caj)tain,  and  was  a})- 
pointed  to  the  command  of  the  Asfrfc.  The  21st  of  July  fol- 
lowing, while  cruising  with  the  fi'igatc  the  Jlcnnione,  Captain 
do  La  Toiichc-Trcville,  he  fought  a  brilliant  action  in  sight 
of  Royal  Island  against  six  British  ships,  of  which  he  cap- 
tured two. 

In  17S2,  La  Perouse,  who  commanded  the  Scrptre,  was 
sent  to  destroy  the  English  establishments  of  Hudson's  Bay. 
The  Astree  and  the  En/jcujeeintc  were  placed  under  his  orders. 
On  these  three  ships  were  embarked  two  hundred  and  fifty 
infantry,  forty  artillerymen,  four  fu-ld  guns,  two  mortars  and 
three  hundred  boml)s.  I>,a  Bc'i-ouse  carried  out  his  mission 
with  skill,  and  ON'crcame  the  difliculties  of  navigation  in  these 
icy  regions.  He  reconciled  the  duties  of  a  soldier  and  those 
of  liumanity  by  giving  supplies  and  arms  to  the  Englisli,  who 
had  taken  shelter  in  the  woods  on  his  approach,  and  who 
were  there  in  danger  of  starvation. 

In  1785  he  started  on  a  trip  ai'ound  the  woi'ld,  with  tlie 
frigates  the  BoukxoIc  and  the  Astrolahc  and  a  hundred  men 
in  the  crews.  It  is  well  known  how  he  was  lost  on  the 
north  shore  of  the  Island  of  Vanikoro. 


Petjto'I',  officer  of  the  regiment  of  Champagne  ;   was  pre:^ 
cut  at  the  capture  of  (Ji-enada  and  at  the  naval   action. 


198  The  French,  in  America. 

PeyPvELOxguk  (Do),  infantry  officer;  wounded  at  the  naval 
action  of  Grenada. 

PiCHEGRU  (Charles),  born  at  Arbois  the  Ifith  of  Febru- 
ary, 1701 J  of  little-known  ])arcnts,  studied  there,  and  showed 
a  turn  ibr  the  matlieniatieal  scienees.  Enlisted  very  young 
in  the  first  regiment  of  artillery,  where  his  good  conduct  and 
his  education  caused  him  to  be  appointed  scrgciint  soon  after- 
wards. He  was  sent  to  America,  where  he  noticed  with  great 
benefit  all  the  relations  between  the  navy  and  the  siege  troops. 
He  was  going  to  be  )nado  an  officer  when  the  lu'volution 
broke  out.  He  adopted  the  new  ideas,  and  was  put  at  tlie 
head  of  a  battalion  from  the  Var.  One  of  his  contemjK)- 
raries  says  of  him  : 

"Pichegru  is  five  feet  five  inches  liigli  ;  he  is  very  solidly 
built,  without  being  fat.  His  constitution  is  very  strong ;  in 
other  words,  he  is  cut  out  for  a  man  of  war.  His  face  at 
first  is  severe,  but  it  softens  down  in  conversation,  and  in- 
spires great  confidence.  His  politeness  does  not  resemble  that 
which  is  called  of  etiquette,  which  is  ordinarily  only  duplicity 
and  deceit.  His  own  is  without  alFectation.  One  sees  that 
he  is  genuinely  obliging  and  by  nature  kind,  but  he  has 
none  of  that  which   formerly  made  courtiers  succeed. 

"I  do  not  know  his  family.  From  A\hat  he  has  himself 
told  me  it  is  neither  illustrious  nor  rich.  Jhit  men  of  true 
worth  do  not  need  the  help  of  their  ancestors  to  seem  great. 
Like  those  luminous  meteors  whose  causes  we  ignore,  but 
which  leave  us  charmed  \\'\{\\  admiration,  ev(Mi  after  tliey 
have  dis:i})]H'ared,  Fii-hcgru  ncctls  neither  an(vst<_)rs  nor  de- 
scendants; he  forms  alone  his  entire  race.  "We  have  shalcen 
off  the  prijudiccs  of  a  nobilliy  ol'  birth,  and  we  only  recog- 
nize })crsonal  nobility.  Nothing  is  more  sensible,  for  as  it  is 
no  use  to  a  blind  man  for  his  ])arents  to  have  liad  good 
eyes,  so  it  must  be  very  useless  to  a  coward  and  a  scamp  to 
liave  had  virtuous  parents. 


Usi  of  OJjkers.  199 

"  Piclicgru  !n;ulc  his  first  stuilies  at  tlic  Colle^^c  of  Arbols, 
and  stiulicd  iiis  philosophy  at  the  Minimes-"'  in  that  little 
town.  Having  passed  a  special  examination,  and  showing  a 
strong  turn  for  the  exact  sciences,  the  IMininies  advised  hira 
to  re})cat  his  conrse  in  })hiluso])hy  and  niatheniatics  at  the 
college  they  had  at  ]>ri(!iine.  lie  went  there,  not  only  to 
strengthen  himself  in  tlie  knowledge  he  already  had,  bnt  to 
teach  it  to  othei*s.  'J'his  is  what  has  made  some  think  that 
Pichegru  had  been  a  jNIinime,  bnt  this  is  a  mistake. 

"  In  teaching  mathematics  to  others  Pichegru  had  improved 
himself  in  that  science.  lie  enlisted  in  the  first  regiment  of 
artillery.  The  officers  of  that  corps  were  not  long  in  finding 
out  that  the  young  man  had  valuable  knowledge  in  the  art 
of  the  artillery.  They  appointed  him  sergeant.  One  knows 
that  that  was  then  a  great  gift  to  make  to  a  plebeian,  and 
that  it  was  the  ulltuiaiiuii  of  his  advancement,  because  the 
nobility  was  as  exclusive  as  the  Jacobins.  The  Revolution 
came  on  ;  Picliegru,  without  seeing  nuich  of  the  ])roconsuls, 
whom  he  did  not  esteem,  was  known  to  them,  and  he  rose 
rank  l)y  raidc  to  the  generalship  of  three  great  armies,  and 
he  led  them  as  well  as  if  he  had  been  taken  from  the  thigh  of 
Jupiter.  Jlose,  Fabcrf,  Chccai,  Laabanic,  Jixin-Bart,  lJu<juay- 
Trouhi,  should  have  proved  to  tlie  J'^rench  nobility  tliat  mili- 
tary talent  needs  no  genealogy,  but  that  caste  has  always  i)een 
inexora1)le  on  that  article.  Proof  that  it  prcicrred  its  })rivi- 
leges  to  the  weliare  of  the  Slate.  We  have  had  the  experience 
that  this  mania  is  inherent  to  the  species.  Our  dirty  sans- 
culottcs  were  as  intolerant  as  the  nobles."  -^'^ 


'^'^i^Iinimes.  A  religious  order  fouudod  in  the  fifteenth  century  by 
Saint  Francis  of  Panle  in  Calabria  (I-'rancesco  Martorillo,  whom  Louis 
the  Eleventh  .sent  for,  to  pray  fur  him  in  his  last  illness).  Littir. 
E.  S.  B. 

^^Jlistoirc  Chro)i(Aii(j'ique  ilrs  opu-ationa  dc  Vacm'i:  da  Xutd  ct  </t'  <y//('  de 
Sambrc-d-Miitfc  (March,  1794-95),  taken  from  the  books  and  orders  of 
the  two  armies,  by  the  Citizen  Jhukl,  a  witness  of  most  of  their  ex- 
ploits.    I'aris,  no  date. 


200  The  French  in  America. 

Pierre  (La),  ])rivato  iu  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  in  17-10, 
officer  in  1770;  lieutenant  of  grenadiers  in  the  ^^anie  regiment 
during  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

PiGXOE  DE  RocREUSE  (Gaspard-Jean-Joseph-OUivier),  lieu- 
tenant in  the  regiment  of  Ageiiois,  was,  during  the  crossing, 
on  the  ship  the  Trols-Henricttes,  which  was  wrecked  in  17S0. 
By  his  energy  and  his  courage  he  saved  from  death  one 
hundred  and  eiglity  men  of  tlio  two  liundrcd  whom  he  was 
commanding. 

PiSAXCON,  secretary  of  Ijlanchard,  a  Freemason,  wlio  wiih 
de  Junu'court  was  sponsor  for  Blanchard  when  lie  entered  an 
American  lodge  at  Providence,  on  the  7th   of  February,  1781. 

Planciier,  lieutenant  in  tlie  i-oyal  corps  of  engincei's  ;  re- 
ceived a  pension  after  the  campaign. 

Plessis  de  ]Mauduit  (Du).     See  Mauduit. 

Pl1^:ville  ee  Peley  (Georges-Kene),  admiral,  born  at 
Granville  the  2Gth  of  June,  172G  ;  died  at  Paris  on  the  2d 
of  Octol)er,  1S05.  He  ran  away  from  college  at  the  age  of 
twelve,  and  embarked  at  Havre  as  ship's  boy  under  the  name 
of  Du  Yivier.  After  having  gone  fisliing  for  (H)d,  )io  was 
employed  as  lieutenant  on  a  privateer  from  Havre.  ^Meeting 
two  lOnglish  ships,  with  ^yhom  lie  fought  a  sharp  action,  he 
lost  his  right  leg  and  was  made  prisoner  in  174G.  On  his 
return  to  France  he  sailed  on  the  Aiyonaidc,  commanded  by 
de  Tilly  le  Pele,  his  uncle  ;  but  lie  was  captured  afi;am  by 
the  English  in  1750,  on  the  Mo'cnrc,  which  was  part  of  the 
fleet  of  the  Duke  d'Anville.  A  cannon  ball  carried  olf  his 
wooden  leg  during  the  action.  lie  fell,  then  rose,  laughing 
and  saying  :  "  The  ball  has  made  a  mistake ;  it  has  only 
given    work  to  the  carpenter."      In   175!.>,  he  conunanded  the 


LiBt  of  Officers.  201 

IlironiJd/e,  of  fourteen  guns,  and  canscfl  tlireo  vc>.-^ols  stro^ngcr 
than  his  own  to  strilce.  His  wooden  leg  was  again  carried 
away  in  tJiis  aetion.  On  account  of  his  health  he  was  given 
service  in  ])ort.  He  commanded  at  Marseilles  in  1770.  He 
saved  from  a  tempest,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  the  ICnglish 
frigate  Alarm,  Captain  Jcrvis,  since  Lord  Saint-Vincent.  ]*le- 
ville  had  himself  tied  to  a  rope,  and  went  on  boaitl  of  the 
ship  in  distress.  The  English  Admiralty  sent  him,  for  this 
deed  of  bravery  and  generosity,  some  important  presents, 
wliich   Jervis  handed   to   him   himself. 

In  177S  he  emhai-ked  on  the  Jjiiir/Kcdoc,  and  served  through 
the  American  war  imder  the  orders  of  Count  d'Estaing.  He 
received  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

He  remained  on  the  side  of  the  Revolution,  but  served 
only  In  the  administration.  In  June,  1707,  he  was  minister 
plenij)otentiary  at  the  Congress  of  Ijille,  and  in  July  he  re- 
placed Truguet  in  the  ministry  of  the  navy.  His  healtli 
forced  hijn  to  I'csign  in  1708;  he  was  made  senator  in  1799, 
and  grand  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  in   1S04. 

Pluquet,  infantry  officer;  wounded  in  the  naval  action  off 
Grenada.-" 

PoiiiEV,  secretary  of  de  La  Fayette.  "  He  is  getting  jn-etty 
well  used  to  the  life  of  a  soldier,"  says  La  Fayette  in  his 
memoirs. 

PoLERESKi  or  SoLEPiSKi,  Polish  officer,  who  crossed  on  the 
Gloire  m  17S2  with  de  Segur  and  do  Broglie.-^ 

PoxoEVAUX  (De),  commanded  the  feigned  assault  on  the 
IMorne,  at  the  ca])ture  of  Grenada,  under  d'Estaing,  the  Gth 
of  July,   1779.      His   column   consisted    of  two   hmidrcd   men 

^■L.  15. 

**^  See  Manuscript  of  de  liroglie,  also  Dupi'tit-Tliouars. 


202  TIlc  French  in  America. 

of  tlic   rcijjinicnts   of  Clianipagnc,   Vieiinois,    ^Martijiique,   and 
legion  of  Lanzun. 

PoNTEVKs  d'Eyroux.     Sog  Eyroux. 

PoNTEVES-GiEX  (IIcnrI-Jea]i-Bai)t!.<ro,  Yiseonnt  ih),  sailor, 
born  in  1740.  Came  i'roin  the  family  of  the  Ponteves  de 
Carccs ;  cntci'cd  the  navy,  distinguished  himself  in  several 
actions  against  the  English,  and  received  the  position  of  ma- 
jor-general in  the  marines,  at  Brest.  Decorated  with  the 
order  oi"  the  Cincinnati. 

A])pointed  chief  of  squadron  in  170",  he  served  under  the 
command  of  Count  de  Yaudreuil,  who  sent  him  to  dt-siroy 
the  English  establishments  on  the  Gambia  and  at  Sierra 
Lconc.  He  captured  seven  hundred  prisoners,  seventy-six 
guns  and  fourteen  ships.  Appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
station  of  the  Antilles,  he  died,  l)efore  ^lartinique,  of  an  epi- 
demic fever  on  the  ship  the  llludre,  the  23d  of  July,   171JU. 

PONTGIBAIT])  (Count  dc  ^Nlore,  Clievalier  de),  born  at  Pont- 
gibaud,  Auvergnc,  the  21st  of  April,  17r>S,  was  a  younger 
son  and  as  such  not  well  off.  Shut  uj)  by  a  litre  dc  cdchet 
in  tlie  castle  of  l-*ierre-en-Cise,  near  Lyoiis,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  at  the  instance  of  his  ste})mother,  wlu)  was  too  se- 
vere with  him,  he  escaped  in  1777,  giving  thus  a  proof  of 
his  decision  and  his  energy,  lie  made  use  of  his  liberty  to 
join  his  countryman,  de  La  Fayette,  who  had  just  left  Ibr 
America.  .Ifter  his  father's  anger  had  subsided,  he  received 
from  him  an  allowance  of  a  hundred  lonis,  and  then  em- 
barked at  Xantes  on  the  Aroen-Ckl.  The  passage  took  >i.\ty- 
scven  days  and  terminated  in  the  cajUure  of  t!ie  little  I'^rench 
vessel,  which  had  strande<l  at  the  mouth  t>f  the  James  Piver, 
within  shot  of  the   hjiglish  shi[)  i.s'/.s  of  sixty-ibur  guns. 

Dc  Pontgil)aud  succeeded  in  escaping,  and  went  inuncdi- 
ately  to   ^^'illiamsbuI•g  to  (iovernor  Jell'erson,   who   gave   him 


Lid  of  Officers.  203 

a  sort  of  passport  to  go  to  Valley  Forge,  where  La  Fayette 
was  encamjied.  Finally,  after  a  most  arduous  journey,  in 
an  unknown  country,  all  forest  and  sand,  whose  rare  inhabit- 
ants spoke  a  language  ho  did  not  understand,  do  Pontgiliaud 
reached  La  Fayette  in  the  beginning  of  Xt)vember,  1777. 
La  Fayette  received  him  with  kinchicss,  and,  touched  In'  his 
youth  and  the  story  of  his  adventures,  enlisted  him  as  volun- 
teer on  the  oth  of  November,  1777,  and  soon  made  him  his 
aid-de-caiu}),  in  which  position  he  introduced  him  to  "Wash- 
ington. 

He  returned  to  Fr;incc  on  the  AUlanrc  with  de  La  Fayette 
and  Mauduit  Duplessis  in  January,  177^'.  He  was  warmly 
welcomed  by  his  family,  and  received  in  A})ril  from  the  king 
a  commission  of  captain  in  wailing,  for  which  he  did  not 
have  to  pay   the  brevet  price  of  seven    thousand  //f/vw. 

While  La  ]'\iyette  Mas  returning  to  America  on  the  A'kjIc, 
Captain  de  la  1'ouche-Treville,  de  Tontgibaud  embarked  once 
more  on  the  Alliance  with  C'a])tain  Landais,  mIio  went  mad 
during  the  passage,-""  Two  American  commissaries  were  on 
this  frigate. 

After  having  helped  his  general  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown 
he  returned  to  France.  He  was  on  the  Ariel,  a  fast  ship, 
commanded  by  his  iViend  de  Caj>ellis,  and  M-hich  had  been 
cxiptured  by  the  squad rcjn  of  the  Count  d'Estaing.  Still, 
they  took  fifty-six  days  to  reach  Corunna,  in  Spain.  During 
the  passage  the  Ariel  captured  the  English  ship  Dublin. 

De  Pontgibaud  emigrated  with  his  family  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  lu'volution.  He  was  complciely  ruined,  and  learnt 
just  then  that  Congress  was  paying  oil',  with  interest,  the  ])ay 
of  all  the  (jtficers  who  had  served  during  the  war.  He  em- 
barked at  once  at  Hamburg  for  Pliilaiiel])hia,  where  he  re- 
ceived   immediately    and    with    no    trouble    the    sum    of   fifty 


-^'Scc  Vol.   I.,  pa.^o   120,  and   in   the   List  of  Officers :   Paul   Jones, 
note  215. 


204  Tlic  French  in  America. 

tlio'.isaiid  francs.  He  vras,  with  his  brother  and  V\<  nephew, 
one  of  the  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  gentlemen  who  be- 
longed to  the  Coalition  of  Auvergne,  which  was  intended  to 
deliver   the  Icing  from  liis  ]n-ison.-'-"' 

He  returned  to  liis  elder  brother,  whet,  having  .-acrilieed 
all  his  foi'tuno  in  trying  to  save  tlie  king,  had  succeeded  in 
founding  in  Trieste  a  mercantile  house  under  tlie  name  of 
Joseph  I/i  lirossc.  This  establishment  succeeded  on  account 
of  tlie  confidence  that  its  director  insjnred.  Ho  had  gathered 
round  him  some  ol'  his  old  comrades  in  war.  Among  the.-e 
was  the  ]Mar(|uis  de  jMac-]\Iahon  and  several  other  meritorion- 
officers. 

Ti)e  Count  do  ]More  publis])cd  his  Mr  moires  in   1S2S. 

I  desire  to  publish  here  two  letters  which  I  have  received 
from  one  of  hi.s  descendants  : 

Rome,  this  20th  of  December,  18G9. 

SiK : — It  is  I,  who  am  to-day,  as  you  thouglit,  the  rei)rescnta- 
tive  of  the  name  and  of  the  collateral  descent  of  ]\I.  Charles 
Albert,  Count  de  JNIore,  younger  brother  of  the  Count  de  Pout- 
gibaud,  my  grandAxther,  and  formerly  called  the  Chevalier  de 
Poutgibaud.  We  had  the  sorrow  to  lose  him  in  1839,  when  he 
was  about  reacliing  liis  eightieth  yeax-,  after  a  green  old  age  still 
enlivened  by  the  remembrance  of  the  memorable  events  of  which 
he  had  been  the  bravest  witness  and  at  the  same  time  a  close 
observer.  We  have  often  regretted  that  his  memoirs,  i)crfectly 
exact  from  the  historical  point  of  view,  and  inexact  only  in  a  few- 
details  relating  to  his  elder  brother,  had  not  brought  out  many 
small  points  which  he  excelled  in  telling  about,  and  which  were 
the  delight  of  my  younger  years.  No  one  united  in  convei-sation 
a  quicker  wit  tu  a  more  delicate  courtesy ;  he  was  the  type  of  the 
French  chevalier  of  the  Old  Kegime.  His  bravery  was  ahvays 
ready  to  serve  the  cause  which  he  thought  just  and  his  cordiality 
had  no  limits.  He  often  said  that  Providence  had  done  him  a 
great  service  in  giving  to  his  face  a  certain  appearance  of  sever- 

^Sce  Vol.  I.,  page  1(3. 


Lid  of  Officers.  205 

ity,  "  f^or,"  he  ^lud,  "  ^vitllOllt  my  appearance  of  stiiTness,  ^vhat 
would  lieconie  of  my  pui>e."  Therefore  he  had  friends,  numer- 
ous and  devoted,  in  all  ranks  of  society. 

General  Washington,  wlio  had  i-eer;  him  at  work,  always  hon- 
ored him  with  his  kindest  friendshij).  Despite  the  divergence  of 
political  opinions  which  separated  him  from  General  La  Fayette, 
they  remained  bound  in  a  close  friendship,  and  during  the  revo- 
lutions Avhich  agitated  tlie  c»]d  world,  they  more  than  once  re- 
gretted the  happy  days  of  tlicir  cxj)e<litiou  to  the  new  world. 

During  half  a  century  the  Count  dc  'Move  held  in  France  a 
distinguished  position  in  society.  lie  had  v/edded  the  only 
daughter  of  ^NFarshal  dc  Vaux,  widow  of  the  Count  de  Fougiere, 
and  who  v.ns,  hefore  the  Revolution,  one  of  the  ladies  of  honor 
of  her  Ivoyal  Highness  IMadame  la  Comtesse  de  Provence. 

The  qualities  of  the  warrior  had  not  excluded  from  him  those 
of  the  writer.  His  private  letters  might  have  been  used  to  com- 
plete contemporary  histoi'y,  of  which  he  knew  how  to  bring  out 
the  princi])al  points  with  remarkable  truih.  He  had  written  anon- 
ymously different  comedies  which  were  given  on  the  theatres  of 
Paris.  The  fineness  of  the  allusions  sometimes  gave  them  a  bril- 
liant vogue.  But  he  would  never  make  any  profession  of  being 
a  literary  man,  so  as  not  to  damage  the  profession  of  warrior. 
Therefore  it  was  said  jokingly,  there  were  sometimes  fusees  ex- 
ploded in  his  kna])s:iek.  He  carried  to  the  highest  degree  the 
affection  f)r  his  family,  and  wlion  he  had  lost  the  faithful  com- 
panion of  his  l())ig  career,  he  wished  to  finish  his  life  near  his 
nephew,  whom  he  looked  on  still  as  the  head  of  the  family.-^^ 
He  had  been  made  chevalier  of  the  order  of  Saint-Louis,  and 
felt  an  especial  honor  in  the  decoration  of  the  order  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, which  he  had  received  at  the  time  when  that  order  only 
numbered  fifty  members. 

I  am  the  oldest  of  his  great  nciihews ;  it  has  been  given  to  me 
to  carry  out  one  of  his  wishes  by  restoring  in  Auvergne  the  fiiim- 
ily  mansion  Vvhere  he  was  born.    While  waiting  for  this  restoration 

'^^  Annand-Vietor  de  ]\Iorc',  Count  de  rontiribaud,  peer  of  France 
under  the  Piestam-ation,  wlio  made  in  France  notable  changes  in  tlie 
workhig  of  metallurgical  deposits,  and  the  work  begun  by  whom  still 
remains  in  the  mountains  of  .\uvcr-ne.  See  in  the  Tinus  the  Mines 
of  Tontgibaud  quoted  every  day  at  the  London  Exchange. 


206  The  French  in  America. 

to  be  coni})lctecl,  I  liavc  taken  u])  ray  residence  in  tlie  I\[anclie, 
devoting  my  spare  time  to  the  cultivation  of  my  lands  and  to 
literature  and  art.  I  see  my  successors  growing  up  around  me, 
and  I  like  to  hope  that  they  will  inherit  some  of  the  rightminded- 
ness,  of  tlie  delightful  wit,  and  of  the  bravery  of  he  who  was  their 
great  uncle. 

Please  accejit,  sir,  with  my  most  sincere  thanks  for  your  gracious 
letter,  the  assurance  of  my  distinguislied  sentiments. 

The  Count  im:  PoNTcm^AUi), 

Meinber  of  the  General  Council  of  tJw  Di'jxniineiit  of  ihe  Jlan'-hc. 

P.  S. — I  shall  be  much  obliged  if  you  will  let  me  know  when 
your  interesting  work  has  appeared. 

ClIAl'KAU    DE   FONTEXAY,    NEAR    ]M0NTEB0U1U;    (iNlANCJlE), 

the  1st  of  jNlay,  1870. 

Please  acce])t,  sir,  all  my  thanks  for  the  article  relating  to  the 
memoirs  of  the  Count  do  ]\rore,  my  great  uncle.  It  gives  a  true 
idea  of  his  style  and  of  his  character,  but  I  must  point  out  to  you 
a  slight  inexactitude  from  a  genealogical  standpoint.  The  Count 
de  More  had  married,  as  his  second  wife,  the  Coimtess  de  FougiOre, 
daughter  of  Marshal  de  Vaux  ;  it  is  one  of  )ny  cousins  of  the 
Gcvaudau  who  married  into  the  family  of  Chaulues.  Finally,  I  am 
not  the  only  representative  of  the  family  of  Pontgibaud,  but  only 
the  head  of  the  house,  being  the  oldest  of  three  brothers,  of  whom 
one  was  killed  by  the  enemy  at  Solferino,  leaving  a  son  not  of  age, 
and  the  other,  counsellor-general  in  IMaiue-et-Loire,  has  been  one 
of  the  most  active  propagators  of  the  best  agricultural  processes  as 
apj)lied  in  that  region. 

I  am  glad  to  lind  a  fresh  occasion  to  olier  to  you,  sir,  the  ex- 
pression of  my  distinguished  and  grateful  sentiments. 

The  Count  de  Pontguiaud. 

PoNTiiiEiiK  (Do),  enlisted  as  volunteer,  brevet  ctiptain  of 
cavalry  the  ISth  of  Febi'uai-y,  1778,-''  the  .same  as  Jjouis  da 
]*ontier,  ca})tain  in  the  sei'vict^  of  (on gross. -'^ 


•  Auberleuil. 
Kecords,  &c. 


Lid  of  Officers.  207 

POQUET     Di:     PUYLEUY     DE      SaIXT  -  SaU  VEUK      (MatluCU- 

Louis),  l)oni  in  1750  at  ]\[artiniquc;  lieutenant  of  Agenois 
in  1770;  captain  after  the  ea])ture  of  Yorktown.  He  was 
wounded  in  tlie  clie.-t  at  Savannali,  and  in  the  tliigli  during 
the  siege  of  Yorkto^vn. 

PoitTAiL  (Le  Beguo  du).     See  Dupohtail. 

PouDEUX  or  PouDEXS  (ITcnri-Fran^ois  Licniart,  Viscount 
de),  born  at  Paris  in  1718.  Served  since  1760;  captain  in 
17G8,  viedre  de  ccunp  in  1774,  colonel  of  tiie  regiment  of 
Tonraine  the  17th  of  April,  1780;  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown. 

PrJ:VAL  (Claudc-Antoinc,  Chevalier  de),  born  at  Salins; 
died  the  13th  of  January,  1808,  at  Besaneon.  Entered  as 
volunteer  the  regiment  of  Enghien ;  served  in  the  Seven  Yeai's' 
War,  and  in  two  campaigns  in  America;  captain  in  1793; 
brigadier-general  for  his  good  conduct  at  Landau. 

Pr1^:vai>AYE  (Picrre-Bernardin,  jNIanpiis  de  la),  bom  at  the 
Chateau  of  la  Provalaye  in  17-15;  died  at  tlie  same  Chateau 
the  2Sth  of  July,  1810.  Shov.od  as  much  courage  as  talent 
in  the  war  in  Xortli  .Vmerica,  and  ivceived  after  the  Avar  the 
rank  of  naval  cajitain,  with  the  decorations  of  Saint-IxMiis 
and  of  the  Cincinnati.  In  1783  he  was  intrusted  by  the 
French  Governnient  to  carry  to  America  the  treaty  which 
assured  to  the  United  States  their  indei)endence.  lie  returned 
to  Paris  to  serve  in  the  Council  of  the  Xavy ;  emigrated 
in  1700,  and  served  in  tlie  army  of  Conde.  Jveprievcd 
during  the  Consuhite,  he  liveil  In  relrcal  until  the  lH)ur- 
bons  withdrew  him  from  it  by  apj)ointing  him  rear-admiral. 
He  left  a  Jlcmoirc  Sa,-  (a  Campagnc  de  JJodon  ai  177S,  in 
folio. 


208  The  French  ia  America. 

Pulaski  (Casimir,  Count  do),  1)oru  at  AViniarv  in  Lithu- 
ania, the  4th  of  :^.Iarch,  1718;-^*  had  ^-ludied  law,  but  was 
turned  therefrom  by  tlic  military  events.  Jle  took  jiart  in 
the  revolt  of  his  coujitry  against  Stanislas  in  1700,  and  ^vas 
one  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  Confederation  of  Bar/^^ 
After  his  father  had  been  captured  and  executed,  he  "was  put 
at  the  heail  of  the  insurrection,  but  soon  had  to  take  rclu,i;e 
in  Turkey,  uhcre  he  entered  tlie  service  again.-t  ]vus>ia."'"  His 
property  was  confiscated,  and  he  came  to  Paris,  where  he  had 
an  interview  Mith  Franklin.  He  then  decided  to  start  for 
Amei-i(.-a.  He  end^arked  at  ^Marseilles  in  1775.  He  rejoined 
the  ai-my  of  A\'^ashinglon,  and  was  put  in  command  of  a  corps 
of  cavalry.  His  legion  rendered  great  services.  It  ^vas  sur- 
I)rJsed  at  Egg  Harbor  by  the  English  and   partly  dc'struyed. 


^  Life  of  Frederick  the  Great,  by  Thomiis  Carlyle,  Tauchnitz  edition, 
1865,  XIII.,  pages  92,  93,  94,  95,  for  the  defense  of  Klostcr  Czenstochow, 
Several  authors  spell  Pulawski,  but  they  mistake  two  diirerciit  families. 
One  comes  from  rulazie,  from  which  come  the  Pulaski^,  and  the  other 
are  natives  of  Pulawy,  whence  the  Pulawski.  The  first  alone  became 
celebrated,  after  the  Confederation  of  Bar.  They  were  seven  in  num- 
ber: Joseph,  his  three  sons,  L'asimir,  Francois  ixnd  Antoiae,  ixnd  his  three 
nephews.    I  have  to  consider  here  only  Casimir. 

^He  was  the  terror  of  the  Eussians,  whom  he  astonished  and  sur- 
prised by  the  rapidity  of  his  marches.  In  1770  he  shut  himself  in  tlie 
fort  of  Czenstochow,  where  he  repulsed  all  attacks.  He  tried  to  carry 
off  the  King  of  Poland  the  3d  of  ^'ovember,  1771,  but  the  plotters  did 
not  succeed.  They  were  declared  regicides,  and  Pulaski  was  obliged  to 
fly  in  1772,  after  the  Russians  had  carried  out  the  partition  of  Poland. 

"*  Marshal  of  Terre  de  Loznui,  in  the  Palatinate  of  INIazowie,  in 
1768;  military  chief  of  the  Confederation  of  Lar  from  1769  to  1772; 
general  of  cavalry  under  the  orders  of  "Washington  in  1777;  command- 
ing the  foreign  legion  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  1779. 
Marginal  note  by  T.  J]. 

A  cutting  from  the  l'hiladel])liia  rr>.<.<,  of  January  2'./th,  1S75,  says 
of  a  miniature  of  Pulaski  iu  the  author's  possession :  "  Mr.  Thomas 
Balch,  whose  investigations  into  the  antecedents  of  the  French  i)arti- 
sans  of  the  American  cause  during  the  Revolution  are  well  known,  has 
deposited  in  the  National  Museum  a  line  original  miniature  of  Count 
Pulaski,  a  gentleman  who,  having  fought  fur  the  independence  of  his 
own  country,  tenilered  liis  services  to  Congress  in  1777,  was  ajipointed 


List  of  Officers.  209 

Li'jateiiant-c'oloncI  Dnroii  do  ]iot;xni  M-as  killed  thorc.  In 
1779  Pulaski  was  serving-  under  the  orders  of  Linroln  at 
the  siege  of  Savaiuiah,  and  was  mortally  wounded  tlicvo  the 
9th  of  October,  1779.  J  lis  coiujKinion  and  friend,  Lieutenant 
Charles  Litoniski,  hurled  him  at  the  foot  of  a  large  tree,  on 
the  Island  of   Saint  Helena.-^' 

La  Fayette  says  of  him,  while  speaking  of  the  battle  of 
Gcrmantown,  that  he  was  a  brave  knight,  devout  and  dissi- 
pated, better  eaj>tain  than  genei'al.  lint  these  judgments, 
given  l)y  ofilcers  N\ho  \vere  generally  jealous  of  one  another, 
are  liable  to  be  inaeeurate. 

PusiGXAN  (De),  lieutenant  of  artillery,  regiment  of  Aux- 
onne ;  wounded  before  Yorktown  in  the  sortie  whieh  the 
English  made  u})on  the  batteries  on  the  left,  during  the  night 
of  the  loth  to  the  IGth  of  October,  17S1.-'-'' 


Q. 

QuJERENET  DE  LA  Co>rnE  (Do)  made  the  campaign  with  the 
expeditionary  corps  in  the  position  of  colonel-undcr-brigadier 
in  the  corps  of  engincoi-s.  He  contributed  greatly  to  the  cap- 
ture of  Yorktown,  and  received  a  pension  after  the  campaign. 

brigadier-general,  and  given  tlie  coininand  of  the  cavalry.  He  fell 
mortally  wounded,  gallantly  fighting  for  the  cau.se  of  American  inde- 
pendence, in  the  assault  upon  f<avannah.  The  identical  bullet  which 
caused  his  death  was  extracted  by  a  physician  whose  son  now  resides 
on  Chestnut  Hill,  and  who  still  cherishes  the  deadly  missile,  and  who 
will,  we  presume,  i)]ace  it  on  deposit  during  the  Centemiial  with  the 
portrait.  The  above  miniature  was  i)aiuted  by  FroissiU-d  jeune,  and 
possesses  additional  interi'st  tor  Amcrirans  from  the  ihcL  that  it  repre- 
sents him  in  his  uniform  as  conmiander  of  the  American  i-avahy, 
while  the  familiar  Chodzko  i^ulrait  was  taken  earlier  in  life,  and  in 
his  uniform  as  a  rolish  general."     E.  S.  B. 

^'The  gratitude  of  the  Americans  made  them  eroet  a  monument  to 
Pulaski,  of  which  the  llrsL  slone  was  laid  by  J^a  J'ayetle  in  \b2\. 

='U}erthier. 


210  The  French  hi  America. 

QuJiiKOUiiANT  (T)e),  Avliosc  name  should  porliajis  be  spelled 
KiiiKOUAX,  infuiitry  offiecr,  wounded  at  Saint  ]^ueia,  under 
Guichen. 

QuESNAY  DE  Beaukepaire,  grandsou  of  the  M^cll-known 
politiral  economist  Qucsnay,  entered  first  tlie  gendarmes  of  the 
guard  of  the  king,  and  on  the  remodeling  of  this  regiment 
went  to  America.  "  Carried  away/'  he  says,  ''  by  a  glow- 
ing hope  of  distinguishing  myself  in  the  profession  of  arms, 
I  went  to  serve  in  Virginia  during  the  years  1777  and  1778, 
with  the  raidc  of  cajitain  ;  but  the  loss  of  my  l)aggage,  that 
of  my  letters  of  reconmiendation,  mislaid  in  the  ofilees  of  (lov- 
ernor  Patrick  Henry,  to  A^hom  I  had  hitrustcd  them,  finally  a 
long  and  painful  illness,  together  with  a  lack  of  funds  at 
this  great  distance  from  home,  forced  me  to  give  up  the  career 
of  arms." -°^^^"'^ 

He  had  traveled  over  the  United  States  in  all  directions. 
Sir  John  Peyton,^"^  touched  by  his  ill  fortune,  with  great  kind- 
ness, took  him  to  his  house,  and  made  him  live  tliere  for 
nearly  two  years,  while  awaiting  assistance  from  his  home, 
giving  him  all   the  time  proofs   of  great  friendship. 

^^ Mcmoires,  SlatvtK  et  ProsjM'ctus  .vir  I'Acadimic  d(S  Sciences  cl  Ikaux- 
Arts  d'Anurique,  Taris,  1788,  page  19. 

^'"M.  IJeboul,  librarian  at  Albi,  France,  wrote  a  letter  in  June,  1802, 
to  my  brother,  about  Lcs  J'V«»;a(s  en  Amcrique,  in  ■which  lie  said  :  "  The 
only  tiling  I  can  certify  to  is  the  general  infatuation  of  the  aristocracy 
at  that  time  for  the  American  cause,  which  went  so  far  as  to  give  Amer- 
ican names  to  the  servants  of  good  families.  Thus,  my  mother  has 
spoken  to  me  of  the  valet  of  my  grandfather,  the  Count  de  Sampigny 
the  only  one  who  remained  f:iitliful  to  him  during  the  Terror,  and  whom 
he  only  spoke  of  by  the  name  of  IJoston,  liaving  entirely  forgotten  his 
family  name."    E.  S.  D. 

^^  He  was  called  Sir  John  Peyton,  but  was  not  a  real  baronet.  A  de- 
scendant of  his,  Colonel  Jesse  Enlows  IVyton,  of  Iladdonfield,  New 
Jersey,  was  the  proposer  and  organizer  of  the  centennial  celebration  of 
{lie  surrender  of  Yorktown,  which  took  jjlace  at  Yorktown  on  ()ctober 
the  19th,  1881,  and  at  which  some  of  the  descendants  of  the  French  olli- 
ccrs — the  Marquis  de  liochambeau  among  others — were  present.    E.  S.  B. 


List  oj  Officers.  211 

Diirijig  the  wliole  time  of  his  sojourn  with  Poyton,  the 
house  of  that  good  man,  as  well  as  those  of  dilfereut  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  seemed  to  him  refuges  for  opj^ressed  and 
unfortunate  sti'angcrs.  He  mentions  the  sons-in-law  of  J\y- 
tou  :  Traeher,  AVashington,  Throgmorton,  John  Dixon,  'J^abb 
and  Boiling.  lie  speahs  also  of  the  generosity  of  the  de- 
censed  Colonel  Samuel  Washington,  brother  of  the  General ; 
of  John  Page,  Whiting,  Perin,  the  Pev.  Mr.  Fontaine,  Willis, 
Hubard,  Xutal. 

He  says  in  his  Avork  already  mentioned:  "  If  part  of  the 
Amerieans  have  a  poor  opinion  of  Frenchmen  in  general,  it 
is  because  they  judge  from  a  few  adventurers  who  have  come 
to  America." 

He  heliK'd  to  found  an  Academy  of  Sciences  and  Fine  Arts 
at  Piehmond.  This  academy,  which  gained  rapidly  in  im- 
portance, was  inaugurated  the  24th  of  June,  17S6,  and  Ques- 
nay  de  Beaurepaire  was  a})pointed  president. 

QUETTF.VJLLE  (Dc).^"' 

R. 

Padiere  (De  la),  was  engageil  in  1777,  with  Duportail, 
Laumoy  and  Gouvion,  by  Franklin,  who  had  been  intrusted 
with  a  n)ission  to  engage  engineers.  They  were  all  lour,  of- 
ficers of  engineers,  and  received  permission  from  the  Fi'ench 
Government  to  enter  the  service  in  America.  '*  They  left  on 
the  same  ship  as  La  Fayette."^"' 

On  his  arrival  on  the  21)th  of  July,  1777,  de  la  Padiere 
was  a})poInted  engineer  Avith  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel, 
then  eoloJU'l  on  the  17th  of  November.     He  died  in  serviee.^'^'' 

»^  L.  B.,  2G2. 

*«  L.  B.,  202. 

^iV('//iO(Vt'.s  of  dc  Segur. 

**Dicd  at  "West  Point  late  in  1770.     I\l:u<'inal  note  bv  T.  15. 


212  The  French  in  America. 

Raffix,  ofilocr  of  infantry,  woundf^J  in  tlio  action  off 
Grenada/'"' 

liEEOURQini.     DK     FaLQUERETTE     DE     SaINT-FeLIX.        ScG 

Falquereite. 

Requier  de  Eosst,  lieutenant-colonel,  July  tlie  12t]i,  1777. 

lliBEAuriERRE  (Cliarlcs-Roger  de),  born  in  17o2  ;  entered, 
in  1778,  the  re;i,inieut  of  lioyal-Deux-routs  as  sub-lieuten- 
ant of  (7h7o>(!o>'.  Keceivcd  a  reward  for  his  services  before 
Yorktown. 

RiCCi  (Count  de),  left  Roehefort  on  the  Aif/k  with  do 
S^gur,  de  Broglie  and  otiiers,  and  accompanied  tliciu  in  South 
Amcricii. 

Ricoi>  (P.),  captain  of  the  Vau/cance. 

Rioxs  (Franc;ois-IIcctor  d'Alljcrt,  Count  de),  born  at  Avig- 
non in  1728,  died  the  od  of  October,  1802;  entered,  as  guard, 
the  marines  in  1743  in  the  company  of  Rochctbrt;  ensign 
in  1748.  He  was  naval  lieutenant  on  tlie  Foudroyant  when 
it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  in  the  battle  of  the  28th 
of  February,  1758.  After  having  served  in  the  infantry  and 
the  artillery  of  the  navy,  he  Mas  a]^}K)inted  naval  captain  the 
24th  of  ^larcli,  1772,  and  was  ])resent,  under  tlie  ordei's  of 
d'Estaing,  at  the;  attack  on  Saint  Lucia  in  1778,  and  at  the 
two  combats  of  Grenada  in  1771>.  During  the  American 
war  he  commanded  the  Ftalon  in  1781-1782,  and  was  pres- 
ent at  the  ciipture  of  Tabago  and  at  the  actions  of  Fort 
Royal,  of  Chesa])cake  Ixiy,  of  Saint  Christopher  and  of  Do- 
minica.     Jlls    brilliant    services   were   rewai'dcd    l)v   the   grand 


L.  B.,  lOG. 


I  Ad  of  Officers.  213 

cross  of  Saint-Louis  in  17S4,  and  the  position  of  naval  com- 
mander at  Toulon  in  1785.  A  revolt  having  broken  out  in 
that  town  on  the  1st  of  December,  1789,  he  was  beaten  and 
insulted  by  the  furious  jjopulation,  who  threw  him  into  a 
dungeon  with  a  former  convict.  The  National  Assembly,  on 
the  10th  of  Jamiar\',  17!H),  j)assed  a  decree  which  freed  him, 
without  doing  him  the  justice  which  was  his  due.  Called  af- 
terwards to  Kochefort  to  command  the  fleet  named  the  Ocean 
Fleet,  he  was  again  the  victim  of  a  revolt  which  the  publica- 
tion of  the  penal  code  jiroduced.  He  resigned  from  his  posi- 
tion. Appointed  rear-admiral  in  1792,  he  emigrated  shortly 
afterwards,  and  took  ])art  the  same  year  in  the  campaign 
against  France  in  the  army  of  the  princes  ;  he  then  with- 
drew into  Dalmatia.  Iveturning  to  France  under  the  Con- 
sulate, he  was  retired  with  a  jKuision  of  four  thousand  francs  ; 
he  only  enjoyed  it  one  year. 

RoBiLT^ATiJ),  sui-gcon-in-chief  of  the  expeditionary  corps,^"^ 

RoBix  (]/Abbe),  chaplain  of  the  expeditionary  corps;  left 
an  interesting  account  of  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

RociiAMiJEAU  (Jean-Jiaptisie-Donatien  de  Yimeur,  Count 
de),  born  at  A'^endome  in  1725.  His  father  was  Governor  of 
Yendomc  and  lieutenant  of  the  marshals  of  France.  Roch- 
and)eau  was  first  intended  for  the  church,  and  was  about  to 
receive  the  tonsure  at  the  Jesuits  of  Blois,  when  news  came 
of  the  death  of  his  elder  brother.  On  the  24tli  of  jNFay,  1742, 
lie  entered  as  cornet  the  cavalry  regiment  of  Saint-Simon,  with 
which  he  went  through  the  campaigns  of  Bohemia.  The  army 
re}u)rts  of  his  services  say  : 

1743,  23(1  of  -luly,  captain. 

1740,  aid-de-camp  of  Louis-Philippe  d'Ork'ans. 

^  Dumas. 


214  The  French  in  America. 

1747,  4tli  of  March,  colonel  of  the  infantry  regiment  of 
la  Marche.^"^    AYounJcd  at  the  battle  of  Laufekl. 

1755,  Ist  of  June,  Governor  of  Vendurae  after  the  death 
of  liis  father. 

1756,  23d  of  July,  brigadier-general ;  sent  to  Minorca  under 
the  orders  of  Richelieu.     He  received  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis. 

1757,  1st  of  May,  employed  in  the  Army  of  Germany. 
Distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Hastembeck,  then  at 
Crevcldt,  ^Nlinden,  Forl>aeh  and  Clostercamp,  where  he  was 
M'ouuded  in   17G0. 

1759,  7tli  of  ]March,  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Auvergne. 

1761,   20th  of  February,  mareclial  de  camp. 

1761,  7th  of  ]\Iarch,   inspector-general  of  the  infantry. 

1766,  1st  of  April,  commander  of  the  order  of  Saint-Louis. 

1771,  9th   of  December,  grand  cross  of  the  same  order. 

1776,  Governor  of  Yillefranche. 

1778,  1st  of  June,  employed  in  Xormandy  and  Jjrittany 
in  the  army  corps  intended  to  invade  England. 

1780,  1st  of  ]\[arch,  lieutenant-general  and  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  expeditionary  corps  sent  to  America.  He  em- 
barked at  Brest  on  the  Due  de  Boarr/or/nc.  Here  his  history 
is  so  intimately  connected  with  that  of  the  expedition  that 
we  refer  the  reader  to  the  first  volume  for  the  account  of 
that  memorable  campaign.  He  returned  in  1782,  leaving  his 
army  under  the  orders  of  the  Baron  de  Viomenil  and  of  de 
Lauzun.  He  was  then  overwhelmed  M'ith  favors,  received  the 
blue  ribbon  of  the  Saint-Esprit,  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  government  of  Picardie  and  Artois. 

In  1791,  marshal  of  France;   intrusted  by  Louis  the  Six- 


**He  had  become  aiJ-de-cainp  of  the  Count  de  Clcrinont.  At  the 
siege  of  Namnr,  sent  to  recoimoiter  the  place,  he  climbed  ii  hill  on  wliich 
he  found  only  two  sentinels  quietly  smokin<r.  He  sent  tit  once  word 
to  the  Count  de  Clermont,  wlio  made  an  attack  on  that  side,  and  Namur 
was  taken.  This  service  brouszht  him  the  rank  of  colonel.  lie  distin- 
guished liimselfalso  at  the  siea;e  of  Maestricht.  After  peace  was  made 
he  married  Mademoiselle  TellCis  d'.Vcosta,  in  174S). 


Lint  of  Officers.  215 

tecnth  with  tlio  coiiunand  of  the  Aniiy  of  the  Xortli,  he  tried 
ill  viiiii  to  e.st;ihli.',]i  c1i.sei[)liiie  there  and  re.~iii;ned  the  I'ulhnv- 
ing;  year.  Coiideuiiied  to  deatli  under  the  Terror,  lie  was 
about  to  mount  the  iiital  eart,  w Ian  the  executioner/"''^  seeing 
it  was  full,  said  to  him:  '*  AViilidraw,  old  marshal;  thy  turn 
will  soon  come."  A  tradition  says  that  Andre  Chenier  then 
mounted  the  cart.  The  fall  of  liobes])ierre  saved  llocham- 
beau. 

When  lie  was  ])resented  to  the  First  Consul,  the  latter, 
pointing  out  l»erthier,  Dumas  and  some  others  who  were  on 
his  stjiif,  said  to  him  :  "  ^Marshal,  iiere  are  your  pupils." 
"The  pupils,"  answered  Jvochambcau,  "have  much  surpassed 
the  mastc)'."  In  ISO-'i,  Xajxdci.n  made  him  grand  oificer  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor  and  gave  him  a  pension.  He  died  in 
1807,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 

He  left  some  memoirs  which   I   have  often  mentioned. 


Rociia:\[I1EA1i  (Donatien-Marie-Joseph  do  Vinieur),  son  of 
the  former;  born  at  Paris  the  7th  of  April,  1755.  Although 
very  young,  he  entered  as  sub-lieutenant,  in  1709,  the  royal 
corps  of  artillery;  \\as  captain  in  1773;  meshr  dc  camp  en 
second  of  ]3ourbonnais  in  1779.  He  served  with  this  rank 
in  the  campaign  of  America  under  his  father,  Init  the  latter 
only  speaks  of  him  as  of  a  stranger. 

After  the  interview  of  Hartford  between  AVashington  and 
Kochambeau,  the  son  made  a  journey  to  France  at  his  own 
ex]iense,  to  make  known  the  result  of  the  conference,  ha>ten 
the  departure  of  th(!  remainder  of  the  expeditionary  corps 
and  ask  for  new  succors.  He  started  on  the  17th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1780,  on  the  frigate  the  Amnzone,  CL>nnnaudcd  l)y  La 
Perouse,  and  returned  on  the  Conco7xle  with  de  Ibarras  and 
Cromot  Dubourg,  in   April,    17S1.      He  had  obtained    some 


*"It  is  said  that  this  iiuin  liad  been  one  of  Ivochanibcau's  sergeants. 
E.  S.  B. 


216  The  French,  in  America. 

h(-]p  in  moneys  and  the  ])r()Uii>e  of  the  co-opefation  of  tlic 
Count  de  Grassc.  Arrived  before  Yorktown,  he  phieed  tlic 
battalion  of  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  he  connnanded,  so  close 
to  the  intrcncliments  of  the  enemy,  that  the  latter,  without 
striking  a  blow,  abandoned  the  redoubt  of  I^igeon  Jlill,  which 
was  immediately  occupied  by  Dumas  and  Charles  de  Lameth. 
On  the  return  of  the  expedition  he  Avas  decorated  with 
tlic  orders  of  Saint-Louis  and  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  was  ap- 
pointed colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Royal-Auvcrgnc.^^'*  Mart'- 
chal  de  camp  in  1791  ;  was  sent  to  Saint  Domingo  in  1702 
to  replace  de  Bchaguo,  connuander  of  the  "Windward  I.-lands. 
Sent  to  Martinicpie  in  1793,  he  drove  out  the  English 
and  de  Behague,  who  had  joined  them  with  tlic  Royalists; 
forced  recognition  there  of  the  IJepublican  Government ;  but, 
besieged  by  superior  forces,  liad  to  surrender  in  1794.  He 
held  out  in  Saint  Pierre  tluring  forty-two  days  of  siege,  with 
six  hundred  men  against  fourteen  thousand.  On  his  return 
to  France  he  was  esnjiloycd  for  some  time  in  the  .Vrmy  of 
Italy  ;  but  he  soon  returned  to  Saint  Domingo  with  General 
Lcclerc,  whom  he  replaced  at  his  death  on  the  2d  of  Xo- 
vember,  1802.  Not  receiving  any  assistance,  he  was  ol)liged 
to  surrender  to  the  insurgents.  The  English  kept  him  ])i-is- 
oner  on  the  galleys  in  utter  disregard  of"  agreements,  and  he 
only  recovered  his  freedom  in  1811.  He  went  as  general 
to  tlic  Army  of  Germany  in  1813,  and  was  killed  at  Leip- 
zig, where  he  was  commanding  a  division  of  the  (ifth  corps, 
under  the  orders  of  Lauriston. 

Rociii^FEK^roY  (oNIathieu-Alcxandrc  dc  La),  volunteer  in  the 
service  of  the  Americans  the  5th  of  November,  177G;  one  of 
the  first  to  enlist;  was  ajipointcd  brigadier-general  of  the 
Continental  army.  Jxcsigncd  on  the  31st  of  January,  177S, 
and  died  away   from  the  service. 

^°  GAtiuais. 


Lid  of  Ofjlccrs.  217 

RociiEFONTAiXE  (Blclict  <lc),  fiilistcd  as  volnntocr  in  the 
service  of  tlic  United  States;  brevet  captain  of  engineers  the 
18th  of  September,  1778,  then  major  tlie  IGth  of  November, 
1781.  l\etiirneJ  alter  the  ])eaee  to  France,  and  was  employed 
as  captain  in  tlie  jtrovincial  troops. 

RociiEXEGiA"  (Gabriel-Fran^'ois  dc  La),  born  in  1757  at 
Chand)lay;  entered  the  service  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais 
in  1770;  was  wounded  at  tlie  attack  of  the  intrenchments 
of  Savannali ;  apjiointed  lieutenant  in  1779,  he  came  to  the 
siege  of  Yctrktown,  and  was  made  prisoner  in  the  action  of 
the  Gth  of  June,  1782,  on  the   CaUoi. 

Roches  (rhili])])e-IIenri  Des),  born  at  Perigueux  in  1742; 
entered  as  officer  the  regiment  of  Saintonge  in  1762,  and 
served  at  C.ayenne,  then  in  North  .Vmerica.  He  was  decorated 
after  the  capture  of  Yorktown, 

Roger  (Nicolas),  volunteer;  enlisted  the  loth  of  September, 
1777;  aid-de-camp  of  Ducondray,  with  the  rank  of  major; 
lieutenant-colonel  the  IGth  of  December,  1778.''"  He  tried  in 
vain  to  save  Ducondray  at  the  crossing  of  the  Schuylkill  by 
swinnning  to  him. 

RoMAix  (Jules),  born  at  Angers  about  17G3  ;  guard  in  the 
marines  in  1778  ;  embarked  on  the  Vengeui\  which  belonged 
to  the  scpiadron  of  the  Count  de  Grasse,  in  1770.  He  was 
present  at  the  ca])ture  of  Grenada  and  at  the  action  off  Sa- 
vannah, and  died  at  ]\rartini(|ue  on  his  I'cturn  i'mm  this  ex- 
pedition, Blanchard  Mas  a  relative  of  his,  and  s})eaks  of  him 
in  his  Journal:'^ 

^'Auberteuil. 

^- There  is  a  notice  about  tliis  interestintr  youivjr  man  in  the  book 
of  his  brother:  Snurcnirs  (Van  ojjlc'ur  roi/dllsic,  by  M.  de  Komain,  former 
colonel  of  artiUery.    Paris,  1824. 


218  Tlic  French  in  America. 

IvOMKFOliT.       Sec    BaUDIX. 

lloNCiiAXT,  gi-aiid-provost  of  tlie  cxpoditioiiaiy  corps ;  mca- 
tioned  by  Crouiot  J)ulwurg  at  the  cainj)  of  Dubb's  Feny,  and 
by  Blaneluii'd. 

]loQUELAURE  (Chcvalici'  dc),  an  ensign ;  escaped  from  the 
wreck  of  tlie  Bourgogne^^^"' 

KossEi.  (Klisalx'th-Paul-j^Mouard,  Chevalier  dc),  scientist 
and  French  saihjr,  born  in  1705  at  Sens,  died  in  1820  at 
Paris.  His  father,  Coloiuban  de  llossel,  hiarcchdl  dc  co.inj), 
was  killed  at  (^nibcron  in  171)5,  at  the  age  of  seventy,  and 
liis  mother  perished  on  the  revolutionary  scailbld.  He  was 
brought  up  at  the  College  of  La  Fleche,  and  entered  the 
navy  in  1780  as  marine  guard.  Took  part  in  all  the  battles 
which  de  Grasse  fought  up  to  the  i)eacc  of  1783.  Ue  served 
then  under  d'Entrecasteaux,  and  became  naval  lieutenant  in 
1789.  He  was  sent  in  1701,  with  Huon  dc  Kennadec  and 
d'Auribeau,  in  search  of  La  Ferousc.  But,  on  his  return,  in 
1705,  he  was  Ciiptured  by  the  English  in  the  latitude  of  the 
Shetlands  and  ke])t  a  ])risoner  in  London  until  1802.  He 
received  the  lionoi-ary  title  of  rear-admiral  in  1822,  and  was 
made  member  of  the  Institute  de  France.  His  work  in  nau- 
tical astronomy  is  remarkable.  He  wrote  numerous  pamjihlets, 
and  was  the  lirst  president  of  the  French  Geographical  Society. 

RoSTAiNG  (Juste  -Antoine  -  Henri  -  ]Maric  -  Germain,  ^Marquis 
de),  of  an  ancient  and  noble  family  of  Forcz ;  born  at  Mont- 
brison   in    17-10;  died   in  September,   182(),  at  the  same  ])Iace. 

He  belonged  at  first  to  the  huusehold  of  tlie  Grand  Dauphin, 
then  became  first  page  of  Louis  the  Filleenth;  cavalry  olliccr 
in  1750;  Avent  through  the  campaign  of  Germany  under  Mar- 


«'  BliiTichura. 


Ust  of  Officers.  219 

shal  tie  Jjro_i:;Iic;  ea])tain  in  1759;  became  colonel  of  tlie  re2;i- 
ment  of  Anxerrois ;  then  in  1770,  colonel  of  the  regiment  of 
Gatinais;  in  1778,  went  to  .Vmerica  with  Gatinais,  and  dis- 
tinguislied  himself  at  ]Martini(|ue  and  at  Saint  Lucia.  Came 
with  Saint-Simon  to  the  sie<j;e  of  Yorktown  in  1781.  Cromot 
Dubourg  relates  that,  at  de  Saint-Simon's,  on  the  0th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1781,  he  was  present  at  a  discussion  between  tliese  two 
superior  officers,  and  that  de  Ilostaing  did  not  show  all  tlie 
deference  which  is  due  to  a  chief,  especially  when  on  a  cam- 
paign. "We  sin  too  much,"  he  adds,  "by  our  want  of  sub- 
ordination." 

De  liostaing  was  chosen  to  command  the  rear  guard  of  the 
coluuni  of  attack  of  the  great  redoubt  of  Yorktown,  under 
lac  orders  of  Count  Guillaume  de  Deux-Pouts,  on  the  14:th 
of  October.  He  bore  hiuiself  bravely,  and  received  as  reward 
the  rank  of  brigadier  on  the  r7th  of  December,  1781,  the 
cross  of  Saint-Louis  and  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati.  Mi(rcchal 
de  camp  in  1783.  IJo  belon<i;ed  to  the  As.-^onbifc  Con.stiiuanfc 
in  1789,  as  de})uty  from  Forez,  and  was  then  ai)pointed 
lieutenant-general.  Soon  after  he  retired  to  his  country  seat, 
and  neither  served  again  nor  took  any  further  share  in  poli- 
tics. 

RouERiE.      See  Ahmaxd. 

KoussiLLE  (Raymond  de),  l)orn  In  l7oG;  sub-lieutenant  in 
the  regiment  of  Gatinais  in  1775,  lieutenant  in  1778.  AVas 
staif  officer  of  the  Baron  de  Viomenil  when  the  latter  was  in 
connuand  of  the  Intrciu-hments  before  Yorktown. 

RouvKrviH  (Chevalier  de  Cabrieres,  Charles  de),  born  at 
Nimes  in  1711;  scrvi'd  in  the  regiment  of  Gatinais  since 
1757  ;  went  through  the  Seven  Years'  War,  and  was  ap])ointed 
oa])lain    in    1701.      lie   commanded    at    Ydrktown    the   second 


220  The  French  in  America. 

battalion  beloiiuiiiLr  to  tlic  coliuun  of  attack  under  the  com- 
mand of  tlie  Baron  de  Viomenil.  Ilis  valor  brought  hijn 
tlic  cross  of  Saint-Louis  and  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

KuJiLE  DE  LiLiENSTEKN  (Guillaunic -  Charlcs),  boi'n  in 
Saxony  in  1740;  was  at  first  ensign  in  the  service  of  Hol- 
land. He  entered  the  regiment  of  Eoyal-Denx- Fonts  in 
1760,  He  went  through  the  Seven  Years'  War,  then  mad(^  the 
campaign  of  America  as  captain-commandant  of  Koyal-Deux- 
Ponts.  After  the  capture  of  Yorktown  he  received  the  cross 
of  Military  ^.lerit. 

s. 

SaIGE    de    YlLEEBRUNE.       ScC    YlLLEBRUNE. 

Sai>;t-Amand,  aid-dc-camp  of  the  Baron  de  Yiomenil  ;  dis- 
tinguished himself  at  the  attack  of  the  redoubt  of  Yorktown. 

Saint-Aulaihe  (Chevalier  de),  enlisted,  among  the  first, 
as  volunteer  in  the  United  States;  employed  as  captain  of  an 
independent  company  to  serve  in  Canada  the  21st  of  March, 

1770.=^^" 

Saint-Cosme  (Bosnier  de).      See  Bosxiek. 

Saint-Cyk.     Sec  Gouviox. 

Saint-Felix.     Sec  Falquekette. 

Saint-Flokent.     See  Do>meec;ue. 

Saint-Luc,  born  in  France.  After  having  served  in  the 
trooj)s  of  Canada  against  the  Fngli.-h,  he  j)ut  himself  at  the 
head  of  tlic  savages  of  J^ake  Ontario  to  massacre  the  An\cri- 

^^Aubcrtcuil. 


Lid  of  Officers.  221 

caiLs.  lie  quarreled  ^vI(:ll  llieni  in  1777,  before  the  defeat  of 
Biirgoyiio,  and  oifercd  liis  scrviees  to  General  (ilate.s,  who  re- 
fused them  with  indignation.^'' 

Saixt-Maime.     See  Saixte-INIivSME. 

Saixt-Mahtix,  enlist"d  as  volunteer  in  the  War  of  Inde- 
pendence ;  reeeived  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  the  23d  of 
July,   177G.'^*' 

SAiXTE-]\rESME  or  Saixt-]\Iatme  (Jean-Baptistc-Louis- 
Pliilippe-Felix  d'011i(-')-c.<,  Count  de),  born  in  1751  at  OIH- 
eres,  near  Aix  ;  took  later,  on  hi.s  return  to  France,  to  date 
from  1784,  the  name  of  the  ^Marshal  Du  ]\[uY,  his  uncle,  who 
died  withou.t  heirs.  J'^ntered  the  service  in  17G9;  officer  of 
cavalry,  in  the  dicvdu-Ji'fjt  r.-^,  in  1770;  colonel  of  the  regiment 
of  Soissoiuiais  in  1775.  Kemained  in  America  until  1783, 
and  was  on  his  return  a])pointed  brigadier,  and  received  a 
pension  and  the  cross  of  Saint-Louis.^^''  He  made  several 
campaigns  during  the  French  IJevolution,  was  intrusted  with 
the  siege  of  Lyons,  took  ]xirt  in  the  campaigns  of  Fgypt  and 
Syria;  was  created  baron  of  the  Empire  in  1808.  lletired 
at  the  Restauration,  he  was  made  peer  of  France  the  17tli  of 
August,  1815.     He  died  at  Paris  in   1820. 

Saixt-Ouahy,  enlisted  as  volunteer;  was  made  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  the  iJrandywine. 

Saixt-Sauveuu    (J)e    Fotpiet    de    Puylery).     See  PociUET. 

Saixt-Sauveuj?,  Frenchman  killed  in  a  riot  at  Boston  in 
1777.  The  ]>ostonians  accused  at  this  time  the  l^""rench  of  hav- 
ing jeopardized  the  success  of  the  campaign   by   the  defection 

'"  Aubcrtcuil. 
^"Aubertouil. 
'"I  think  he  returned  to  rhihuleli>hia.     Marginal  note  by  T.  B. 


222  The  French  in  America. 

of  their  fleet  l)eforc  liliode  I.-^laiul.  It  \vas  not  a  defection; 
but  the  Americans  did  not  understand  at  once  tliat  Count 
d'Estaing    had    been    obliged  to  retii'c    before  superior   forces. 

Saint-Sjmox  (Claude-AinK'-?^lontl)lcru,  TNlarquis  de),  born 
in  1740  at  La  Faye,  near  Ivnii'ee,  son  of  Louis-Gabriel  de 
Saint-Simon,  of  tlie  bi-anch  of  the  family  of  Montbleru.  On 
coming  out  of  the  ^lilitary  School  of  Strasburg  he  went  into 
the  regiment  oi"  Auvergne.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was 
a])pointed  lientenant-cliief-of-brigade  in  the  guards  of  King 
Stanislas.  Soon  colonel,  he  commanded  in  1771  tlie  regiment 
of  Poitou,  and  in  1775  that  of  Touraine,  with  \\]ii('h  he  left 
in  1779  for  America.  He  Mas  serving  in  the  AVindward 
Islands  when  the  war  with  England  broke  out.  He  started 
from  Saint  Domingo  with  about  three  thousand  five  hundred 
men  of  his  legiuients  on  the  fleet  of  Count  de  (Jrasse,  to  join 
La  Fayette  before  Yorktown,  which  he  reached  on  tlie  2()th 
of  August,  17S1.  On  the  17th  of  October,  lie  Mas  slightly 
M'ounded  in  the  trenches,  but  in  spite  of  this,  he  M'ould  not 
quit  his  ])ost.  After  the  surrender,  the  3d  of  Kovember,  17S1, 
lie  returned  to  the  Antilles  M'itli  Count  de  Grasse.  He  re- 
ceived the  order  of  the  Cincinnati. 

According  to  the  memoirs  of  tlie  time,  he  M^as  one  of  the 
handsomest  men  in  the  army.  He  sat  in  1780  in  the  States 
General  as  de})uty  from  Angoumois.  He  defended  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  nol>ility  and  of  royalty.  In  1700,  he  left  for 
Spain,  M'as  appointed  in  1793  marCchal  dc  camp  colonel  of 
the  i-oyal  legion  of  the  rnu'/rrs^  and  fought  against  France. 
He  received  two  gunslu)t  MOunds,  one  at  Iiini,  tlie  other  at 
Argeiisu.  In  170(),  he  was  appointed  captain-general  of  old 
Castillo.  When  the  h'reiich  besieged  ]Sladrid,  in  1S08,  he 
defended  the  town  ;  taken  and  condemned  to  death,  he  ob- 
tained a  delay,  then  a  eomnuitation  of  his  snitence.  He  was 
shut  up  in  the  citadel  (^f  lu'saiicon,  M  here  his  oiilv  daughter 
took  care  of  him.      Ijccoming  free  in  1811,  Louis  the  Eight- 


List  of  Officers.  223 

ecntli  {Icolared  tliat  Ik;  liad  done  wvl)  {or  the  liou.'^c  of  Bour- 
bon and  revoked  tlio  sentence.  lie  rcturnal  to  Spain,  where 
he  "svas  njade  duke  and  grandee  of  Spain.  He  did  not  occupy 
himself  furtlier   v\ith   politics.      He   died  at  ^ladrid   in  1810. 

Saint-Simon  (Claude-Henri,  called  Baron  or  Count  de),  a 
distant  connection  of  the  former  one.  This  one  belonged  to 
the  branch  of  the  family  of  the  Sandicourt.  He  was  born 
at  Paris  on  the  17th  of  October,  17(>0.  He,  who  was  to  be- 
come an  apostle  of  Socialism,  was  bi'ought  up  among  aristo- 
cratic prejudices,  as  a  descendant,  through  the  Counts  ofVer- 
mandois,  of  the  Em])eror  Charlemagne.  He  drew  from  this 
tradition  an  immoderate  love  i'ov  glory,  which,  joined  to  a 
vivid  imagination,  made  liim  do  the  most  ecc(,'ntric  things 
and  aided  him  to  endure*  the  greatest  misfortunes.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  refused  to  make  his  first  communion,  be- 
cause, he  said,  he  Avas  incapable  of  bringing  to  this  act  the 
slightest  conviction.  Shut  up  for  this  at  Saint-La/.are,  he 
beat  the  jailer,  took  his  keys  and  ran  away  to  his  fathei', 
who  forgave  him.  Soon  afterwards  he  was  bitten  by  a  mad 
dog,  and  cauterized  himself  with  a  red  liot  iron  to  prevent 
fatal  consecpieuces.  He  armed  himself  at  the  same  time  with 
a  loaded  pistol,  which  he  carried  for  a  long  while,  intending 
to  commit  suicide  if  the  cautery  proved  inefficacious.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  ordered  his  servant  to  wake  him  every 
morning  by  saying  :  ''Cet  uj),  Sir  Count;  you  have  great 
tilings  to  do."  He  studied  ])hiloso])hy,  as  was  the  fashion  of 
the  day,  and  attended  tlie  lectures  of  d'Aleml)ert.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  entered  on  a  military  career,  and  this  is 
what  he  says  himself  ol"  this   jieriod   of  his   life: 

"T  entei'cd  the  service  in  1777.  I  left  for  America  in 
1779;  I  served  under  the  orders  of  de  Bouillc  and  tlu»>e  of 
AVashington.  *  *  *  Qj,  jj,y  j-^.tm-n  (^  P^jancc  1  \\as  ap- 
pointed colonel.     I  was  not  yet  twenty-three  years  of  age."  ■'* 

"'*  Preface  to  Lcttres  au  bureau  dcs  Longitudes,  pages  1  and  2,  in  4",  ISOS. 


224  The  French  in  America. 

And  olsewlierc :  "The  year  fullowing  my  entry  into  tlic 
service,  France  declared  in  favor  of  the  American  insurgents, 
and  I  projited  of  this  circumstance  to  go  to  Ainerica,  where 
I  have  made  five  camjiaigns. 

"I  was  present  at  tiio  siege  of  Yorktown  ;  I  contributed 
in  a  rather  im])ortant  manner  to  the  ca])tnre  of  (jcneral  Corn- 
walh's  and  of  his  army;  I  may  therefore  regard  myself  as 
one  of  the  founders  of  liberty  in  the  United  States,  for  it 
was  tliat  military  operation,  which,  by  bringing  about  ])eaoe, 
fixed  in  an  irrevocable  way  the  independence  of  America."  ^^^ 

The  dearth  of  material  furnished  by  Saint-Simon  himself 
on  his  military  career  is  easily  explained  l)y  the  way  he 
looked  on  that  career  since  he  had  resolutely  plunged  into 
the  study  of  the  new  social  system,  which  he  elaboj'ated  from 
1803  to  his  last  hour.  I  have  given  in  jny  account  of  the 
camj)aigns  of  the  French  in  America  all  the  information  I 
have  been  able  to  find  altont  the  movements  of  the  corj)s  of 
volunteers  Nvhich  the  liaron  do  Saint-Simon  commanded  be- 
fore Yorktown. 

While  returning  to  France,  in  1782,  lie  Mas  present  at  the 
defeat  of  the  French  squadron  under  the  orders  of  de  (Jrasse, 
by  Admiral  Ivodney,  near  the  Saintes.  He  was  on  the  ad- 
miral's shi}),  the  Mile  de  P«/-w,  and  was  taken  as  prisoner 
to  Jamaica,  where  he  remained  until  the  peace."'-*'  lie  then 
went  to  ]\Iexico,  where  he  presented  to  the  Viceroy  a  project 
to  make  the  river  navigable  in  partido,  to  make  a  comnnini- 
cation  between  the  two  oceans. 

Scarcely  arrived  in  k^ance,  he  was  aji|)ointed  chevalier  of 
Saint-Louis  and  colnncl  of  the  regiment  of  Aquitaine.  He 
received  also  the  title  of  member  ol"  the  society  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati. As  ])eacc  ill  suited  his  active  s])irit,  alter  having 
passed  some  time  at  Metz  as  commandant  of  the  town,  and 


^^'^  L'industrit',  Vol.  II.,  p.iges  23  and  24  of  tlic  oricrinal  edition,  in  S''. 
Paris,  1817.    Ldlrcs  tl  u.n  Amcricain,  collection  of  "M.  Henri  Foin-nel. 
^"^  i^ainl-Simon,  sa  vie  d  scs  (ravaax,  paj^es  12  and  13, 185'J,  by  Hubbard. 


Lid  of  Oificcrs.  225 

followc.l  the  locturcs  of  the  matlicniatician  ^Moiicio,  ho  rosigiiod 
and  went  to  no]!;uiil  in  1785,  thon  to  Spain  in  17ST.  He 
afterwards  ;-U)i-lcd  various  entcr])rises,  which  he  luid  to  abandon 
at  the  devolution.  He  did  not  occupy  himself  mucli  -with 
polities,  but  speeulated  in  the  national  finances,  and  seen.icd 
especially  jmssessed  Avith  the  passion  of  growing  rich.  Arrested 
as  a  noble  in  1793,  he  .s])ont  eleven  monliis  in  })rison,  and  was 
only  freed  at  the  fall  of  ltobesi)ierre. 

Then  begins  another  phase  of  his  life,  lie  abaiuLjned 
financial  matters  fjr  the  study  of  social  questions.  He  re- 
appliei^l  hiniseli"  to  tlie  study  of  the  exact  sciences  with  an 
ardor  all  the  more  remarkable  that  he  was  thirty-eight  years 
of  age.  He  settled  down  for  this  purpose  op]">osite  to  the 
polytechnic  school ;  then  he  lived  \n\n'  the  medical  school, 
wliose  lectures  he  attended.  He  married,  and  ruined  himself 
with  sumptuous  entei-tainments,  to  which  he  iiivited  the  tlite 
of  Paris  society. 

Having  learned  that  ]\ladame  de  Stael  was  a  widow,  he 
obtained  a  divorce  from  his  first  wife,  and  proposed  to  the 
daughter  of  Xeeker  to  unite  their  existence  and  their  genius. 
He  hojK'd  from  this  union  a  most  brilliant  result  and  one 
most  useful  to  humtinity.  ^Nlatlame  de  Stael  rejected  this 
proposal.  Saint-Simon  tlicn  settled  at  Geneva  ;  he  wrote  there 
his  Letters  of  an  inhahltant  of  Geneva  to  his  vontcmporarics,^'-^ 
in  which  he  lays  down  the  basis  of  a  new  social  organii:a- 
tion,  where  ])o\vcr  is  divided  between  science  and  cai)ilal, 
and  ends  by  the  declaration  that  religion  is  only  a  human 
invention. 

Becoming  very  poor  in  1808,  he  was  taken  care  of  l)y  one 
of  his  former  clerks,  Diard,  who  paid  his  expenses,  and  even 
the  cost  of  printing  the  work  entitled :  Introduction  to  the 
scientific   u-orks  of  the  nineteenth   centuri/.^"     Saint-Simon  here 

*•''  JA'llrt's  (run  hdbitatif  iJc  Genlre  d  ws  cotitanporaiuft. 
^  Lili-uihirtiuu  (iii.r  tntraK.v  Sclci)tiji(jius  da  XIX*    ISih-lc. 


22G  Tlic  French  in  America. 

rises  to  n  great  lioi;^-lit  in  liis  g:eiiei'al  o]M'nions,  and  ho  asks 
for  nothiiii^  Jc.-s  tlian  tlie  complete  transformation  of  llio 
motliods  of  scientific;  instruction  and  the  substitution  of  in- 
duction for  analysis. 

The  death  of  Diard,  in  1810,  plunged  Saint-Simon  au-ain 
into  Avretchcd  ])overtv.  Cuvier  alone  sustained  him  ;  his 
petitions  to  the  em})eror  remained  fruitless.  Later  his  family 
was  able  to  make  him  a  small  allov.ance,  and  he  took  up 
his  woi'k  afresh.  Augustin  Thierry  became,  after  the  devolu- 
tion, his  most  intimate  friend  ;  he  co-operated  in  the  lic- 
orgcmizatiern  of  European  Society ^-^  a  work  wJiich  created  a 
great  stir.  Saint-Simon  afterwai'ds  took  as  disciples  and  col- 
laborators Saint-Aubin  and  Auguste  Comte. 

The  poverty  mIucIi  clnng  to  him  threw  him  into  despair. 
On  the  0th  of  ]\larch,  1813,  he  shot  himscll'  in  the  head 
with  a  pistol,  but  only  succeeded  in  disfiguring  himself  by 
bloM'ing  out  one  eye.  Olinde  liodrigucs,  Leon  Ilalevy,  J'ailly 
de  Blois,  Duvergier,  then  became  followers  of  his,  and  he 
published  in  1825  his  most  i-emarkable  work,  TJic  Xcw 
Cliridicmity^-^  which  was,  so  to  speak,  the  crowning  point 
of  his  life.  He  died  on  the  19th  of  March,  1825,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years  and  seven  months.  To  the  names  of 
his  disciples  whom  T  have  already  mentioned  I  nui'it  add 
Bazard,  Enfantin,  Buchez,  Carnot,  Michel  Chevalier,  Talabot, 
Pierre  Lerc»ux,  lOmile  Pereire,  Felicien  David,  Gueronlt,  Char- 
ton,  and  M.  Henri  Fournel,  wlio  has  kindly  furnished  me 
with  soaie  materials  for  this  notice."'-' 


^ litorgaii'atttion  df  hi  Socirtc  Enropienne. 

^*  Le  Nouvcau  t'hri.'<lifnii<iii(: 

^^  There  was  a  Saint-Simon  wounded  on  l)oard  of  tlie  ship  T7//<'  de 
Paris  in  1782.  (See  L.  B.,  2(52.)  It  was  undoubtedly  this  one,  and 
he  remained  so  long  insensible  tliat  lliey  w(mv  near  throwing  hint 
overboard.  {Sii!nt-J:^imon,  by  Arthur  ^o\\n  Eooth.  Longmans,  1871.) 
M.  Ilenri  Fournel  kindly  sent  mc  tlie  following  letter  a])Out  Saint- 
Simon  : 


List  of  Officers.  227 

Salle    (Dc    La),    infaiitrv    ofiicoi-;    wounded   at    the   naval 
action  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  tlie  lOtli  of  September,   1781. 


Paius,  the  IGth  of  :\Iardi,  1S70. 

Dear  Sik: — 1  have  been  lon;^  in  iin.swerini,'  the  question  which  you 
have  been  good  cnouglx  to  as-k  of  me,  and  yet  I  have  not  lost  sight 
of  it  for  a  single  instant. 

Earring  some  piecrs  Vvrilten  by  the  hand  of  Saint-Simon,  I  have 
gathered  together  the  oidi/  compUic  colledioa  of  his  printed  works, 
and  I  wished  to  find  among  these  numerous  works  anything  that 
might  touch  on  the  subject  you  are  working  at.  I  have  been  able  to 
find  only  the  two  following  passages: 

"Je  suis  entre  au  service  en  1777;  je  partis  pour  FAmcrique  en 
1779 ;  j'ai  servi  sous  les  ordres  de  ^I.  de  I'uiiilk-  ct  sous  ceux  de  "Wash- 
ington. *  *  *  De  rctour  en  France,  je  fus  fait  colonel.  Je  n'avais 
pas  encore  vingt  trois  ans." 

(Preface  to  Lcttrc-f  an  bmran  drs  IjonrjUuda^,  pages  1  and  2,  in  4". 
1808.) 

Saint-Simon  was  born  tiie  17th  of  October,  17G0.  It  was  therefore 
between  January  and  October,  1783,  that  this  appointment  took 
place. 

The  second  passage  is  found  in  Lcttrcs  il  ini  Ariu'rlcaio,  which  are 
part  of  the  work  which  he  published  under  the  title  of  Vlwhidfic. 
This  passage  is  thus  worded : 

"Dans  I'annce  qui  suivit  mon  entree  au  service,  la  Prance  se  declara 
en  faveur  des  insurgents  amcricains,  et  je  profitai  de  cette  circonstancc 
pour  passer  en  Amerique  oil  j'ai  fait  cinq  campagnes. 

"  Je  me  suis  trouve  au  siege  de  York ;  j'ai  contribue  d'uue  maniere 
assez  importante  a  la  prise  du  general  Cornwallis  et  de  son  arraee ;  je 
puis  done  me  regarder  comme  un  des  fondateurs  de  la  liberte  des  Etats- 
Unis,  car  c'est  cette  operation  militaire  qui,  en  determinant  la  paix,  a 
fix6  d'unc  maniere  irrevocable  Tindependance  de  I'Amdrique.''  {L'ln- 
dustrie,  Vol.  II.,  pages  2?>  and  21,  in  S".     Paris,  1817.) 

The  truth  of  the  explanations  furnished  by  the  Oeitrrr.^  of  Saint- 
Simon  on  his  military  career,  is  easily  explained  by  the  way  in  which 
he  looked  at  tliat  career,  from  the  time  he  resolutely  plunged  into  the 
study  of  the  new  social  system,  which  he  elaborated  from  1S03  (the 
date  of  the  publication  of  the  first  sketch)  up  to  his  last  hour,  on  the 
19th  of  IVlarch,  1825. 

I  should  have  much  liiaMl,  sir,  to  furnish  you  with  more  ample  doc- 
uments; but  if  tliey  exist,  which  I  think  doubtful,  they  have  escaped 
me  in  the  forty-two  years  during  wliich  1  liave  been  occupied  with 
tliis  collection.  If  it  were  otherwise,  I  slioukl  have  hastened  to  let 
you  know  of  them  ;  I  sliuuld  have  thought  it  only  a  duty  to  help  the 


228  The  Frcncli  in  America. 

Saxtp:!IIIE  (D<.>)^  was  captain  of  grenadiers  of  tlio  reoinient 
of  Martini(pic,  in  garrison  at  Saint  Domingo,  and  was  dcro- 
nited  with  the  order  of  Saint-Lonis''^-'^  after  having  >oi-ved  in 
Franee  for  t\vent}'-fonr  years.  ILe  was  reeonnuendcd  by  M. 
Moleau,  of  .l*rovidenee,  on  the  lOtJi  of  Febrnary,  1770,  to 
Washington,  as  possibly  nsefnl  to  the  Americans  on  account 
of  his  knowdedge  of  war.  "  He  has,"  adds  M.  Moleau,  "  a 
rather  large  fortune  in  France,  and  has  only  the  intention  ol* 
gaining  sonjo  glory,  lie  will  probably  settle  in  America,  if 
he  does  not  die  in  the  service."^-^  I)e  Santerrc  wrote  a  let- 
ter on  the   27th    of  January,    177G,   to   General   AA'^ashington, 


researclies  of  a  historian   wlio  is   trying  to  throw  licrht  on  the  youth 
of  the  man  whoso  name  will  l;e  so  great  in  the  future. 
Accept,  ]  i)riiy  you,  sir,  my  very  cordial  salutations. 

Henki  Fournkl. 

P.  S.— In  a  little  volume  published  by  ISl.  Hubbard  in  1857,  under  the 
title  of  >'^(tint-Simon,  m  rii:  d  scs  tramux,  one  finds,  on  pages  12  and  13, 
a  story  which  touches  on  the  subject  you  are  treating  of.  According 
to  this  account  Saint-Simon  was  on  the  Ville  de  ]\irh,  one  of  the  ves- 
sels of  the  French  squadron,  which,  on  its  return  from  America,  had 
to  fight  a  naval  action  with  the  ICnglish  fleet,  commanded  by  Admiral 
Ilodney.  I  do  not  know  from  what  authentic  pa]jer  this  account  was 
taken,  but  it  must  be  true,  for  the  work  of  jNI.  Hubbard  is  in  reality 
due  to  Olinde  Rodrigues,  who  died  on  the  17th  of  December,  ISol,  and 
who  often  spoke  to  me  about  it,  and  even  read  me  some  extracts. 

After  the  decease  of  Rodrigues,  several  manuscripts  of  Saint-Simon, 
perhaps  simply  consisting  of  loose  sheets,  were  not  found,  and  I  sup- 
pose it  is  I'nnn  one  of  these  lost  manuscripts  that  the  ejti.'^ode  on  the 
ViUc  ill-  I'uris  has  been  taken.  II.  F. 

If  you  mention  these  passages  you  have  here  the  urhjiiud  alitiotis 
from  wiiicli  1   take   thorn. 

(I  leave  the  quotations  in  the  note  in  French,  as  they  are  translated 
in  the  text.  In  A.  Jeianuc's  J-'iirimns  dc  Vnri^,  Ilaehette,  Paris,  lSo7, 
at  pages  100-1  Go,  there  is  an  account  of  the  life  of  the  diseii)les  of 
Saint-Simon  at  Memihnontant.  On  the  27th  of  August,  \'i>?>?>,  l-jifantin. 
Chevalier  and  Barraidt  were  lined  one  hundred  francs  eaeli  and  con- 
demned to  a  year's  impiisonment.     F.  S.  13.) 

*•■«  American  Arrlorcs,  Series  1.,  Vol.  IV.,  pages  1,  202. 

'"American  Avcldccs,  4th  Series,  Vol.  W.,  page  SG6. 


Lhf  of  Officer.'^.  229 

in  Avliicli  he  says  he  had  served  tweiity-foiir   years  and  gone 
lln'ougli  tlie  Seven   Years'    Wiw. 

Sarkazix.     See  Crozat. 

Sauvage  de  Servieaxge  (Jean-Gaspard),  born  in  1743 
at  Narbonnc ;  was  eaptain  in  tlic  regiment  of  Arniagnac,  whieli 
only  fought  in.  the  Antilles.  Pie  reeeived  a  severe  wound  in 
the  left  leg  at  Saint  Lueia. 

Scot  de  Coueax(;e.s  (Jacques),  born  in  1742  in  Touraine  ; 
captain  of  Saintonge  in  1777.  Served  in  this  regiment  at 
Cayemie  and  before  Yorktown. 

S/iOUiER  ri']  Tersox  entered  the  service  as  officer  in  175G  ; 
captain  of  Agenois  in  17G0;  captain  of  grenadiers  in  1777. 
Was  present  at  the  siege  of  Savaniiah,  where  he  filled  the 
functions  of  superior  officer. 

Sl^xunx  (De),  infantry  officer,  killed  the  10th  of  May,  1780, 
at  tlie  naval  action  oil'  Saint  Lucia.  He  appears  to  have 
been  ])resent  at  the  siege  of  Savannnh. 

Secur  (Louis-rhilij)])e,  Count  de),  Ijorn  in  1753,  of  an 
illustrious  Jiimily  of  liouergue,  son  of  the  marshal,  ^Minister 
de  Segur,  uncle  and  friend  of  I^a  Fayette.  He  entered  tlie 
service  in  17G1),  and  was  apj)ointed  ca})tain-commandant  of 
the  dragoons  of  Orleans  in  1770.  He  planned,  while  still 
very  young,  in  177G,  the  project  of  going  to  America  with 
La  Fayette  and  de  Xoaillcs,  but  was  kcj)t  back  by  his  par- 
ents, and  only  took  ])art  in  the  war  in  17S2,  when  he  went 
to  rephice  do  Noailles  as  coh)uel  en  .'<rcoiul  of  Soi>sonnais, 
under  de  Sainte-Mesnie,  coh)nel.  The  regiment  of  Soissonnais 
liad  been  formed  from  the  regiments  of  SOgur  and  of  Brique- 
ville,  which  had  fouglii  in  (u'l-iiiany  during  tlie  Seven  Years' 
War,   undci"  the  generals  of  tho-^c   nanus. 

He  k'lt  Ivochefort  on  the  loth  of  July,  1~^'2,  on  the  Gloirc, 


230  The  French  in  America. 

with  (1e  Liiuzun,  de  Broglio,  do  Moiitesqnion,  Slieldon,  de 
Lomenie,  de  Polercski,  de  Ligliorn  and  Alexandre  de  Lametli. 
This  frigate  was  commanded  by  de  Valonge.  At  the  sanu; 
time  tlie  Ai[/Ic  stiirted,  commanded  by  de  La  Tonche-TrOville, 
wliom  de  A'^alonge  was  jealous  of,  l)ecau.se  he  had  hcen  less 
loncij  in  the  service  tha?i  himself,  and  yet  was  his  superior  in 
rank.  Tiie  Aif/Ie  carried  as  jxissengers  the  Baron  de  Viomenil, 
de  Laval,  de  Yauban,  de  Mclfort,  Bozon  de  Talleyrand,  de 
Cham])cenolz,  the  ]Mar(juis  de  Flenry,  de  Chaltannes,  Tlic-ci 
and  others.  The  voyagi!  was  interru]ited  by  a  rather  long 
stop  at  Tcrceli-e  in  the  (,'anary  Islands,  wliere  the  young  of- 
ficers practiced  their  gallantry  on  the  young  nuns  of  a  con- 
vent f'^  there  was  then  a  very  sharp  and  brilliant  action  with 
the  Hector,  which  the  English  had  taken  from  de  Crasse  in 
the  battle  of  the  Saintes.  One  of  the  }.)assengers  of  the  (ilnirc, 
Grandeau,  lieutenant  in  the  merchant  navy,  M'as  very  lielpful 
in  the  manccuvring  during  the  action  ;  he  aided  in  the  dis- 
embarking off  Cape  Charles  at  the  juouth  of  the  Delaware, 
and  was  abk;  to  save  the  money  which  the  frigates  carried 
and  which  was  destined  to  the  ex])editionary  corps  ;  but  the 
Akjle  had  to  be  sunk  so  as  not  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
English.  Champccnetz  was  the  last  to  leave  the  sinking  shi]>, 
and  saved  by  his  firmness  ihe  eighteen  men  of  the  crew  who 
had  got  into  the  long  boat.  De  ]ja  Touche-Trevillc  was  made 
prisoner ;  the  disaster  was  somewhat  due  to  him,  as  lie  had 
embarrassed  himself  at  starling  with  a  merchant  vessel,  for 
the  sole  reason  that  tin*  latter  boi'c  a  wom-an  M'hom  he  was 
in  love  with.  This  vessel  and  the  woman  had  been  ca])tured 
on  the  way  by  the  English. 

De  Segur  joined  his  regiment  at  I'^I.-likill  on  the  21tli  of 
December,  1782,  after  having  loft  on  his  way  the  disj)atches 
which  the  jninister,  his  father,  had  given  him  for  dc  la 
Jjuzerno,  de  A^audrcuil   and  de   Rochambcau. 

^"Soe  the  Mnnoira  of  de  r.ros^lio  and  of  do  Scgur. 


Lid  oj  Officrrs.  231 

He  wont  to  (^oliinil)ia  tli(!  -aino  year,  then  to  Saint  Do- 
mingo, wliere  he  owned  some  lands,  of  wliieh  lils  friend 
Bcrtliier  niadc  a  siu'vcy  for  him.  Finally  he  returned  to 
Franec  with  the  latter  on  the  30th  of  April,  17S3,  was  ap- 
pointed ambassador  to  llnssia,  desj^ite  his  youth,  and  remained 
in  France  durljig  the  Revolution,  liviiii;'  by  hi.s  pen.  He  was 
academician  in  1797,  senator  in  ISlo,  and  peer  of  France  in 
1818.     He  died  in  1830. 

Sercey  (Picrre-Cesar-Charles-Guillanme),  born  in  17r)3, 
near  Antun.  At  the  age  of  thii-tcen  and  a  hall'  he  lett  for 
Brest  and  embarked  as  volunteer  on  the  frig^atc;  the  Lv^/rrc, 
which  made  a  cruise  to  the  Windward  Islands  in  1708.  He 
then  went  to  the  East  Indies,  to  the  Southern  Se^is  and  to 
the  Leeward  Islands.  He  commanded  the  Belle  Poule  while 
de  la  Clochetterie,  the  captain,  mIio  had  been  mounded,  had 
gone  to  Paris.  Xaval  ensign  in  177'*,  he  cruised  in  succes- 
sion on  the  ships  the  Triton,  the  Coiironnc,  the  Mile  dr.  Paris 
and  the  Concorde,  until  the  month  of  November,  177U,  when 
lie  was  commandant  of  the  cutter  Satis-Pareil.  He  served 
then  at  the  Windwai-d  Islands  under  dc  Guiehen,  and  was 
present  at  the  tliree  actions  de  Guiehen  fought  on  the  17th 
of  April,  and  loth  and  lOlh  of  May,  1780.  Sercey  Was  made 
prisoner  on  the  '20th  of  June,  and  returned  to  Saint  Domingo, 
in  October,  to  tal:e  connnand  of  the  cutter  the  Scrpcnf,  then 
of  the  Lrrrcllc.  Xaval  lieutenant  after  aiding  in  the  capture 
of  Pensacola  in  1781.  He  returned  to  France  in  1782,  and 
was  made  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine. 

He  served  then  in  various  quai-ters;  was  a]ipointed  ca})tain 
of  frigate  in  1700,  and  rear-adnu'ral  the  Ist  of  January, 
1703;  was  arrested  as  ;i  noble  in  duly,  but  was  liberated 
a  year  later,  and  then  made  a  seven  years'  cruise  in  the 
Indian  Ocean.  He  resigned  in  1801.  He  was  aj)pointed 
vice-admiral  in  1814,  commander  of  Saint-Louis  in  1810, 
grand   cross  of  the  same  order    in    1820,  and    grand   cross   of 


232  The  French  in  Amcrka. 

the   Legion    of  Honor    in    1S25.      He   was   pensioned    off  in 
1832,  with  tlie  title  of  peer  of  France. 

Serieui.  or,  better,  Suieuii.  (Jean  de),  horn  in  1742  in 
Pcrigord  ;  served  in  tlie  regiment  of  (u'ltinais  ;  was  W(nindcd 
at  Savannali,  and  was  present  at  the  three  naval  l)attles 
fought  by  de  Guichen.  As  captain  of  cha.sscws  of  Gatinais, 
he  was  present  at  the  attack  on  the  redoubt  of  Yorkto\vn, 
during  tlic  night  of  the  14th  to  the  loth  of  October,  17S1. 
He  had  a  leg  severely  injured,  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
this  wound  forty  days  later. 

Seryieange.     Sec  Saua^age. 

Shee  (Jaccjues),  burn  in  Ireland  in  1735;  went  through 
the  campaign  as  ea])tain   in  the  regiment  of  Dillon. 

SiiEEDOX,  oilicer  of  English  extraction,  related  to  the  Dil- 
lons ;  was  mcdre  de  camp  attached  to  the  hussars  of  the  legion 
of  Lauzun  and  distinguished  himself  before  Gloucester.  He 
returned  to  France  after  the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  but  re- 
turned to   America  in    1782  with   de  Segur  and  de  Broglie. 

Shwerix  or  SciiWERix  (Guillaume-IIenri-Florus,  Count 
de),  born  at  AYiedrangel,  Germany,  in  17o4.  Sub-lieutenant 
of  Royal-Deux-Ponts  in  1777,  he  took  part  in  the  attack  on 
the  redoubt  of  Yorktown,  and  received,  after  ihe  surrender, 
the  rank   of  lieutenant  and   a  reward. 

SiGAEA  (Drouilhet  de).     See  DROUiEiiEr. 

SiELKGUE  (one  fnids  Siryhqee  in  C'romot  Dubourg  ;  Jean- 
Francois  de),  born  in  17G1  ;  cadet  (jcnlUhommc,  then  ^ub- 
lieutenant  of  (ifilinais  in  1777  ;  was  present  with  this  rank 
at   the   siege  of  Yorktown,   and    took    part    in    the   a>~ault    of 


Lid  of  OJjicers.  233 

the  redoubt  dnring-  tlie  iiiii;lit  of  tlie  14th  to  the  l.'ith  of 
October,  17S1.  Having  mounted  llie  broach,  and  while  help- 
ing the  Yi.-connt  do  Deux-Ponts  to  mount  also,  lie  was  strurk 
by  a  gunshot  M'hicli  went  through  ]iis  thigh.  He  o])tained 
a  pension  of  tlirce  liundred  Uvres.  He  embarked  for  Saint 
Domingo  in  June,  1782,  bearing  a  letter  from  Blanchard  to 
the  lattcr's  uncle,  who  was  in  business  at  Port-au-Prince. 

SiNETY  (Francois-Bernard  de),  born  in  1743  at  Apt;  en- 
tered the  service  in  1701 ;  served  through  the  Seven  Years' 
War  and  the  ciimpaign  of  Corsica  before  going  to  America 
with  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais,  of  which  he  was  captiiin 
since  1777. 

SiEEUiL.     See  Sekieul. 

SniVEQUE.     See  Sillegue. 

SoEERSKi.     See  Poleresici. 

SoNTAG  (von),  later  admiral  in  the  service  of  the  Tsar. 

Staack  or  Stac^c  (Edouard),  lieutenant  of  the  regiment  of 
Walsh,  and  officer  of  volunteers  on  board  of  the  Uonhomme 
Richard;  commanded  the  main  top  during  the  action  with 
tlie  Scrapis. 

Stack  (Joseph  dc).     See  De  Staack. 

Stack  (De),  captain  attached  to  the  third  battalion  of 
mounted  chai>scurs  of  Gatinais. 

Steding  (Baron  de),  a  Swede,  who  served  as  volunteer 
with  the  title  of  colonel ;  was  M-ounded  at  the  siege  of  Savan- 
nah and  took   part  in  the  naval   battle. 


234.  Tlic  French  in  America. 

Steuben  or  Stuuex  (Frictlrlch-AVillu'lni- August,  Baron 
von),  born  on  tlie  lotli  of"  ^fay,  1730,  and  servc.l  witli  dis- 
tinction first  in  tlic  Prussian  army  as  aid-do-cain])  of  the 
Great  Frederic,  then  under  Prince  Charles  of"  ]>adeii.  He 
had  retired,  when,  in  goini^  to  England,  he  met  in  J'aris  his 
old  friend  the  Count  de  .Saint-(iermain,  who  advised  him  to 
go  to  .Vmeriea.  ]Ie  started  on  tlie  Jfcurcu.v,  from  ^Marseilles, 
the  '20th  of  Septeudu'r,  1777,  with  the  arms  and  stores  which 
Bciunnarchais  was  sending  to  the  Americans  under  the  name 
of  Ilortales  llodrigucs  &  CoS'"^  Steuben  arrived  on  that  ship 
at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  1st  of  Xovembei-. 
He  succeeded  at  once  to  Conway  as  inspector-general  of  the 
Continental  army  and  instructor  of  the  recruits,  with  i-aulc  and 
pay  of  m;ij()r-geue)';d.  lie  Ijrought  his  new  V(»lunteefs  into 
discipline,  and  America  liad  no  brav<'r  oflic.'cr  iioi'  one  more 
devoted  to  itd  cause. 

He  joined  the  army  at  Valley  Forge,  Vv-as  present  at  the 
battle  of  ]\Ionmouth,  and  connnand(^d  in  the  trendies  before 
Yorktown.  On  the  1-lth  of  Oetober,  17S1,  while  the  col- 
umn under  the  orders  of  Guillaume  de  Deux-Ponts  was  as- 
saulting the  redoubt  on  the  left,  Steuben  ciirried  the  one  on 
the  right  with  La  Fayette. 

After  the  war  he  remained  in  America,  where  the  State 
of  Xcw  Jersey,  the  State  of  Xew  York  and  the  (/Jovern- 
ment  of  the  United  States  ovi'rwliclmed  him  with  gii'ts.  He 
died  of  apoplexy  at  Steuben vi lie,  near  New  York,  on  the 
28th  of  Xovembcr,    170"),  at  sixty-fbm-  years  of  age. 

His  life  has  been  very  carefully  written  by  ^I.  Frederic 
Kapp  :  Lcbcii  <lcs  Amcri/canlscJioi  Generals,  Frudrich  Wilhelm 
von  Steuben,  Berlin,   1S.")8. 

SuNDiiAE  or  SuXNAiiL  (Chreticu-Louis- Philippe  de),  born 
at  Dcux-Ponts  in  1731;  ensign  in  the  service  of  the  Prince 
of  Waldeck    in    1754;    captain-connnandant   of  Royul-Deux- 


'For  the  iinpertincut  letter  of  IVaumarohais,  see  Vol.  T.,  page  82. 


List  of  Officers.  235 

Fonts  in    1779.     Kcccivcd  the  cross  of  Military  Merit  after 
the  capture  of  Yorktown. 

T. 

Taafe  (Georges),  born  in  1757  in  Ireland;  served  in  the 
regiment  of  Dillon  since  1777,  and  went  at  first  to  Germany 
and  to  Minorca.  He  was  taken  from  nnder  the  wreckage 
caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  mine  l)efore  Gloucester. 

Talleyrand  de  Perigord.     Sec  Bozox. 

Talsy  (Labbe  de),  colonel  in  the  royal  corps  of  engin- 
eers in   1777. 

Tahle  (De),  entered  the  service  in  1759  ;  was  aj^pointed 
captain  in  the  regiment  of  Bouillon,  and  received  tlie  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonef  tlie  21tli  of  March,  17S0.«^'^  Served  in  the 
campaign  of  America  with  tlie  rank  of  aid-major-general  f^ 
was  commissioner-'-  at  the  camp  of  Dol)l)'s  Ferry,  befor(>  Xew 
York    in   1781.     He  served  with  distinction   and  talent.    . 

De  Tarle  arrived  at  Brest  on  the  30th  of  ]\Iarch,  1780, 
teii  days  afier  Blanchard,  to  whom  he  bronght  the  commis- 
sion of  commissary-in-chief  He  embarked  on  the  admiral's 
ship,  the  Bourgorjne.  He  had  at  Newport,  in  August,  1780, 
a  rather  sharp  discussion  with  Blanchard,  in  the  presence  of 
de  Kochambeau  and  de  Yiomenil,  at  a  meeting  of  the  coun- 
cil of  administratio'n,  on  account  of  some  me;it  which  Blanch- 
ard reproached  him  for  buying  at  too  high  a  price.  They 
made  up,  thanks  to  tlie  intervention  of  the  Baron  de  A^'io- 
menil,  but  Blanchard  -peaks  of  de  Tarle  as  ''  but  ill  enlight- 
ened, cold,  surly,  and  %nili  an  unres])onsive  dispo.-ition."  De 
Tarle  stopped  living  at  the  mess  in  February,  1781,  and 
from  that  time  Blanchard  lived  with  his  friend  dc  La  Cheze, 
an  artillery  oflicer. 

^  Archhrs  of  War. 
^''  Blancharii. 

^  LdaahtuL 


236  Tlip.  French  in  America. 

TarlI^:  (ChcvaliiT  dc),  brother  of  tlie  jn-cceding  one  ;  aid- 
major-gciR'i-al   ^vi(Il  do  MOiiouville.^'" 

Tarragon  (Annc-Claiidc  de),  born  at  Bonncval  in  Bcnucc; 
entered  tlic  regiment  of  Dillon,  and  was  present  at  the  ex- 
peditions of  Savannah,  of  Tabago,  of  Saint  Lneia  and  of  Saint 
Christopher,  lie  had  a  leg  severely  injnrcd  on  the  Jason  in 
the  aetion  of  the  12th  oi"  April,   1782. 

Tasciiereau  (De),  infantry  oflieer ;  woinided  at  tiie  battle 
of  the  ChesajK'ake  in    1781. 

'J'ayet  de  Baudot  (Jean-Baptiste-Antoine),  born  at  Cliarle- 
mont  in  1730;  .served  since  1750;  captain-coinnrandant  of 
Soissonuais  in  1777;  had  l)eon  wounded  at  Minorea  and  at 
Borgo  in  Corsica.  Ixeceived  a  reward  for  the  courage  he 
showed  before  Yorktown. 

Teisseidre  de  Fleury.     Sec  Fleury. 

Terxant  (De),  French  oflicer  who  starle<l  foi'  America 
-with  La  Fayette,  de  Yalfort  and  others  in  1777.  lie  carried 
out  several  commissions  with  which  he  was  intrusted,  then 
took  sei'vice  in  the  .\merican  army  in  ]\larch,  1778.  lie  was 
appointed,  by  the  inlcrvention  of  A\'ashingto]i,  sub-inspector 
under  Steuben,  lie  had  nnich  wit  and  talent,  says  de  Chas- 
tellux  in  his  memoirs;  he  drew  well,  and  spoke  English  as 
well  as  he  did  French.  ISIadc  prisoner  at  Charleston,  he  did 
no  more  fighting  in  America,  but,  later,  took  service  again  in 
Holland  as  colonel  of  the  legion  of  ^lailldiois. 

Terxay  (Clx^valicr  dc),^'"  formerly  govci-nor  of  the  lie  de 
France;   tried  to  get  him>clf  ap[)ointcd   chief  of  the  scpiadron 

^«  Bhincliara. 

*'^For  tliis  notioe  of  de  Teniuy  soo  speeches  of  Si'imlor  Anthony,  let- 
ters of  de  Noailk'S,  and  Svdnov  KNcritrt;  article,     ^hux'inal  note  bv  T.  T.. 


List  of  Ofl'iccrs.  237 

M'hieh  M'us  to  make  an  ox[)cdition  to  India  auainst  tlic  lOiiji^lish. 
He  wanted  tlins  to  snpplant  do  Bussy,  bnt  lie  did  not  succeed, 
in  so  doing.  As  compensation,  lie  \vas  given  command  of 
the  squadron  wliieli  was  to  conduct  to  Amei'ica  t)ie  cxjiedi- 
tionary  cor})s  of  Kocliambeau.  On  the  ]2tli  of  ^Tay,  17S0, 
the  troops  embarked  were  able  to  ]>ut  to  sea;  tiioy  had  been 
kept  at  Brest,  since  the  12th  of  .^pi-il,  by  contrary  winds. 
The  fleet  was  comjwsed  of  two  vessels  of  eighty  guns,  one 
of  scvcjity-ibui-,  four  of  sixty-four,  and  two  frigates.  During 
the  passage,  de  Tcrnay  met  some  English  ships  on  the  20th 
of  June;  but  wisliiug  to  folloNv  his  instructions,  \vhich  en- 
joined him  (o  reach  America  as  soon  as  possible,^""^  he  declined 
the  combat  and  arrived  at  Newport  on  the  23d  of  July,  after 


***De  Ternay,  oil  startiiit/  from  Brent,  liad  taken  with  him  scaled  in- 
structions, wliicli  lie  was  only  to  open  ;it  f-ea,  and  if  he  sliould  meet 
the  enemy.  On  e^igliting  the  s(jiuuh-on  of  Captain  CornwalUs,  which 
was  taken  for  tliat  of  Admiral  Ciraves,  ^vllieh  lie  knew  was  ready  to 
follow  him,  he  opened  his  orders.  He  found  there  the  one  ordering 
him  not  to  attack  the  English,  no  matter  Avhat  good  opportunity 
should  j.resent  itself,  no  matter  how  inferior  he  found  them,  and  to 
sail  straight  to  IMiodo  Islaiul.  Time  was  important;  the  least  delay 
might  have  had  fatal  consequences.  A  battle  at  sea,  with  a  convoy 
disturbing  the  attention  of  the  commander,  would  have  retarded  his 
arrival  at  his  destination.  He  etlectually  only  anchored  at  Newport 
three  days  before  Admiral  Graves  and  General  Clinton  had  already  re- 
turned to  New  York.  The  latter,  at  the  first  news  of  the  arrival  of 
the  French,  had  hastened  to  abandon  Charleston,  in  hopes  of  being 
before  them  in  llliode  Island,  to  defend  that  island  and  prevent  them 
establishing  themselves  there.  A  brilliant  or  fleeting  advantage,  to 
which  de  Ternay  might  have  aspired,  might  have  rendered  dillicult  or 
murderous,  or  perhaps  prevented,  the  disembarking  of  the  army  of  the 
Count  de  liochambeau.  The  capture  or  the  destruction  of  some  English 
vessels  would  not  have  made  up  for  it.  Victories  have  a  brilliancy 
which  may  touch  ardent  imaginations  and  superiicial  minds,  wlio  only 
see  the  present  moment,  and  never  that  which  is  to  follow.  It  is  by 
their  eflects  that  we  must  judge  them,  and  those  of  de  Ternay  would 
have  been  more  fotal  to  France  and  her  allies  and  more  favorable  to 
England  than  a  complete  defeat.  {M-rccrc  (h-  Fnuur,  January,  17S1, 
page  11.) 


238  The  French  in  America. 

a  seventy-two  days'  cross! nn;,^^'^  By  uniiuimous  o])iiiioii  he  lost 
there  u  fine  occasion  to  begin  by  making  some  valuable  prizes. 
It  ^\•as,  in  fact,  a  convoy  of  three  thousand  troops,  escorted 
only  l»y  four  or  five  frigat(;s,  sailing  from  Charleston  to  Xew 
York,  which  he  had  let  escape.  He  -was  mucli  aflectcd  by 
the  unaniuK-iis  rc])r()aclies  of  tlie  army  on  the  subject,  and  the 
sorrow  he  felt  thereat  is  said  to  have  hastened  his  death,  on 
the  27th  of  Septem])er,  1780.  He  was  only  able  before  his 
denth  to  be  present  at  the  interview  of  Hartford,  between 
Washington,  Ivochambeau  and  Chastellux,  on  the  2Uth  of 
September,   1780. 

"  He  was  rougli  and  obstinate,"  says  La  Fayette,  '^  but 
firm  and  of  good  counsel.  On  the  whole,  he  is  a  loss  to 
France." 

Terrade  (Jean-jSIaric),  born  in  1731  at  Perissac  in  Guy- 
enne ;  private  in  the  regiment  of  Auvergne,  oilicer  in  17G0, 
lieutenant  in  1771',  lieutenant  of  grenadiers  of  Gatinais  alter 
the  caj)tiu-e  of  Yorkto\\n,  wJiere  he  had  di>tinguished  himself. 

Teksox.     See  Segujeu. 

Texiek    (Felix),  French    sergeant  in   the  service   of  Con- 

ThiebxVult  de  ]NH;xonville.     Sec  Mexonville. 

TiiUiLLiERES  (De),  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Royal-Denx- 
Ponts ;  arrived  at  Xewport  on  the  30th  of  September,  1780, 
on  the  Goilif/e,  coming  from  Cape  Fran^-ais  with  dc  Choisy 
and  eight  other  officers,  among  whojn  were  the  two  Perthiers. 


'^Thanks  to  Mr.  Shcniokl,  I  find  that  tlie  report  of  do  Tornay's 
liaviii;^'  been  killed  in  a  duel  by  a  lieutenant  in  tlie  navy  is  mentioned 
in  Ciovcrnor  Bull's  nu'inoirs  of  Newport.     jMargiual  note  by  T.  B. 

^^  Jii'cords  of  JicrululiuiKiri/    Wur. 


Ust  of  Officers.  239 

Tilly  (Dc),  niajor-gencral  of  the  t]-oops  at  3.rartinifjiio 
under  do  Bouille,  He  was  in  the  rear  guard  of  the  attack- 
ing column  against  tlie  Island  of  ^Martinique  the  2d  of  Sej-)- 
tember,  1778.  He  eoinmauded  al.-o  a  little  expedition  which 
was  transportetl  by  the  squadron  of  Destouches  to  Clie:-apeakc 
Bay,  where  he  captured  the  Eonudus  in  1780.^^ 

ToTT  (Chevalier  de),  arrived  from  Constantinople  in  Paris 
the  27th  of  June,  177G;  went  to  see  Dr.  Dubourg,  who  en- 
gaged him  for  America.  He  had  handled  with  talent  the 
artillery  of  the  Turks  in  their  war  with  the  linssians.  He 
left  with  Ducoudray  in  January,    1777."^^ 

TouciiE-TuEVJLLE  (Louis - Ecue- Madeleine  Ix'vassor  dc 
La),  born  at  Eochefort  in  1745.  He  entered  the  marines  as 
guard  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  became  naval  ensign  in  17G8; 
was  retired  and  enlisted  in  the  musketeers.  He  follo^vcd  as 
aid-de-camp  General  Dennery  to  Saint  Domingo,  with  the 
rank   of  captain  of  cavalry. 

In  1771,  he  entered  with  the  same  rank  the  regiment  of 
La  Rochefoucauld,  and  became  aid-de-camp  to  General  Ija 
Valliere,  connnandant  of  the  Windward  Islands.  He  was 
reinstated  in  the  navy  as  captain  of  a  fire  ship  in  1772,  and 
became  naval  lieutenant  of  the  liossignol  in  1778.  He  was 
in  command  of  the  Hennionc  when,  in  the  month  of  ]\Iarch, 
1780,  he  fought  a  two-hours'  action  with  the  English  frigate 
the  Iris.  He  lost  in  this  alTair  thirty-seven  men  killed  and 
fifty-three  wounded,  and  his  leit  arm  ^\•as  pierced  by  a  bullet. 
He  was  then  apjiointed  naval  captain  and  chevalier  of  Saint- 
Louis.  He  brought  back  then  to  America  on  the  Hcr)iuonCy 
La    Fayette    and    several    (.)thcr    oilicers.      On    his    arrival    in 


*^(I  think  this  must  be  the  De  Tilly  who  commanded  the  KrcUlc  of 
de  Tcrnay's  squiuhon.    Sec  Vol.  I.,  i>:ige  104.    E.  S.  B.) 
*" American  Arvhiics, 


2-10  The  Frencli  in  America. 

lihodo  Islninl  he  was  intni.sted  to  e.-tablisli  tlio  coast  dcfciiso 
batlcries,    and    j)n)vrd    liimsfll"   there  a   skillful   engineer. 

In  the  month  of  July,  17>S1,  tlie  Ilcnnion'-,  in  concert  with 
the  AstrC'C,  which  La  Perouse  commanded,  sustained  on  the 
coast  of  Acadia  an  action  of  several  lioui-s,  a^'ainst  four  Eng- 
lish iVigatos  and  two  corvettes.  Two  of  these  shij)s  were 
captured.  The  following  year,  La  Touehe-Tjeville  was  in- 
trusted to  carry  on  the  Ah/fc  and  the  Gloirc,  with  de  Broglie, 
de  Segur  and  many  other  oflicers  as  passengers,  the  three  mill- 
ions which  France  was  sending  to  the  expeditionary  corps. 
AA'e  have  relaled  this  trip  as  told  by  de  Broglie.  In  disem- 
barking. La  Touehe-Treville  was  caj)tured  with  tlie  Aigk,  and 
kept  prisoner  In'  (lie  English  until   the  peace. 

De})uty  of  the  nobility  from  INIontargis  to  the  States  Gen- 
eml  in  1780,  he  was  among  the  first  to  join  the  I'hird  Es- 
tate, and  then  f  )nncd  part  of  the  Assemblee  Condliunnle  until 
1701.  v\])p()inie(l  rear-admiral  in  1791.  Dej)rived  of  his  rank 
and  ke})t  }>risoner  as  a  noble  in  1703,  he  was  freed  in  1701, 
and  ^vould  not  serve  again  until  1700.  lie  became  vice-ad- 
miral in   180],  alter  an  expedition  to  Saint   Domingo. 

He  died  in  1801  at  Toulon,  where  he  was  in  command, 
on  board  of  his  admiral's  ship,  the  Buccnlaurc. 


TouzARD  (De),  was  caj)tain  of  artillery  in  the  regiment  of 
la  Fere,  when  he  obtained  leave  to  stai't  for  America.  He 
took  his  rank  on  the  27th  of  OetolKT,  1777.  In  September, 
1778,  he  lost  an  ai'm  Avhile  withdrawing  a  battery  at  lihode 
Island,  llo.  was  lilling  the  position  of  aid-dc-camp  to  La 
Fayette.  His  arm  was  amputated,  and  he  received  irom 
the  Amci'ican  Government  the  title  oi'  lieutenant-colonel  with 
an  aiHHiity  of  thirty  tlollars  a  month.  The  l*resident  sent 
liim   besides  a  most  ilattering  letter.^'^ 

""Longchanii)S  an  J  Mojtoiirs  of  Lu  Fayelle. 


Lid  of  Officers.  241 

TuAuno>;T  (Chevalier  do),  entered  the  regiment  of  Agi'nois; 
sub-lieiiteiuiiit  in   1771,  licntcnant  of  g-renadiers  in   1777. 

Tkessax  {Do),  captain   in   the  regiment  of  Saintonge. 

Trexoxay  (De),  licntcnant  in  the  regiment  of  Foix  in 
1757,  captain  in  1702;  appointed  major  at  Savannah  by 
d'Estaing  in   1779. 

Trogoff  (Jean-Honore,  Connt  de),  born  the  5th  of  ]May, 
1751,  at  Laumeur ;  died  at  the  Island  of  Elba  in  1794;  of 
an  ancient  family  of  Brittany.  Ensign  in  1773  ;  distingnishcd 
himself  in  the  AYar  of  America  and  fell  with  dc  Grassc  into 
the  hands  of  the  English..  Xaval  captain  in  1784,  rear-ad- 
miral in  1793.  He  surrendered  Toulon  to  the  English,  and 
fled  to  Spain  when  the  French  retook  the  town  in  1793. 
He  died  on  board  of  a  juerchant  vessel. 

Teoxsox.     See  Ducoudray. 

Troude  (Aimablc-Gilles),  rear-admiral,  officer  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor,  chevalier  of  Saint-Louis;  born  at  Cherbourg  in 
1762,  died  at  Brest  in  1824.  Embarked  as  under  pilot  in 
1776;  made  in  1777  two  cruises  to  ^Nfartinirjue  on  the  Ann- 
able- Victor.  In  1781  he  was  on  the  Hcrculc,  which  belonged 
to  the  naval  army  of  de  Gnichcn  and  de  Grasse. 

He  served  in  European  waters  from  1782.  Naval  ensign 
in  January,  1793,  lieutenant  in  July  of  the  same  year,  cap- 
tain of  frigate  in  179G.  lie  sustained  in  1801,  within  sight 
of  Cadiz,  on  tlie  Fonni'hiblf^  a  most  glorious  conilxit  and  was 
appointed  naval  ca[)tain.  Bear-admiral  in  1811,  he  was  re- 
tired in   181 G. 

Truguet  (I^aurent-Jean-Francois,  Count  de),  son  of  a  chief 
of  squadron,  was  bom  at  Toulon  in  1752,  and  entered  in 
1766  the  marines  as   guard.      Jle  was  naval  en>iL;n,  and  had 


242  The  French  in  America. 

already  made  eight  eniisos  wlien  tlie  American  \var  broke 
out.  At  the  siege  of  Savannah,  Truguet,  then  naval  lieuten- 
ant, saved  tlie  life  of  Count  d'Estaing,  wlio  was  nnahle  to 
move  on  account  of  his  "wounds.  De  Truguet  placed  Jiiui  on 
the  shoulders  of  two  grenadiers,  who  Vv'ere  killed  Ijy  gi-apc- 
shot,  but  were  immediately  replaced  by  othei-s,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in   bringing  d'Estaing  back  to  the  reserves, 

lu  1784,  he  aceouipanied  the  French  ambassidor  to  Con- 
stantinople, and  drew  the  first  marine  charts  of  the  Black 
Sea,  of  the  Sea  of  ]\Tarmoi'a  and  of  the  Archipelago.  His 
maps  are  to  be  found  in  the  Journey  of  the  Young  Anachar- 
sis.  He  returned  to  l^'rancc  in  17S9  and  was  a])pointed  naval 
captain,  then  rear-admiral  in  1702.  Imprisoned  as  a  suspect, 
he  was  delivered  on  tiie  0th  Thcrmidor  and  a})pointed  viee- 
adjiiiral.  Minister  of  the  navy  under  the  Directoire  in  1795, 
lie  gave  uj)  his  position  in  1707  to  l^leville  Lc  Peley,^^'  and 
was  sent  as  ambassador  to  Spain.  Disgraced  under  the  Em- 
pire, he  only  took  service  again  in  1809  as  vice-admiral, 
then  in  1811  as  ])refect  of  the  maritime  provinces  of  Hol- 
land.    He  remained  ]>risoi\er  of  the  allies  until    the  peace. 

Made  count  and  grand  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  by 
Louis  the  Eighteenth  in  ISl'l,  peer  of  France  in  1819,  hon- 
orary admiral  in    1831.     He  died   in   1839. 

Tutrix  (He),  oiricer  of  engijieers  wlio  w^orked  activi'ly  with 
Gouvion  in  laying  down  the  parallels  before  Yorktovv'n.  He 
was  attached  to  the  J-'reneh  expeditionary  corps  while  Gou- 
vion was  serving  with  the  Americans.^^^ 

Y. 

Vaciiox  or  Vaciiekox  (Pierre-Charles-Fran^ois),  born  in 
1742  at  Ivctournac  in  Vclay  ;  served  since  1760.     Captain  in 

^"Soo  in  the  iAst  of  OlUcers  :  riovillc  Le  Polov. 
'^'BlunclKinl. 


List  of  Ofircrs.  243 

the  rci^inient  of  Gfitinais  in  1771  ;  was  decorated,  after  the 
«t])ture  of  Yorktowii,  wiili  the  orders  of  Saint-Loul.s  and  of 
the  Cincinnati. 

Yai.ette  (Clrarles-Frauf;ois  Cliaudron,  Clievalier  de  I.a), 
born  at  ]Montfort-rAmaury  in  1731.  Entered  tlie  service  in 
174G;  lieutenant-colonel  of  Saintongc  in  1773;  brigadier  in 
December,  17S1,  after  the  capture  of  Yorktowu.  Although 
he  had  only  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  yet  he  was  in- 
trusted with  the  command  of  the  rear  guard  after  the  capture 
of  Yorktown  and  during  tlie  retreat.  He  was  leli  at  York- 
town  ^vith  six  hundred  men  and  the  siege  artillery,  wliile  the 
rest  of  the  army  went  ahead.  He  rejoine<l  the  bulk  of  the 
army  at  Baltimore. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  he  was  detached  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  guard  Conanicut  Island,  bat 
was  soon  called  back  to  Newport  by  Eochambeau,  who  did 
not  think  he  was  in  safety. 

Yalfort  (De),  captain  in  the  regiment  of  Aunis,  with 
brevet  of  colonel  in  the  French  Islands.  He  went  to  Xorth 
America  on  the  same  ship  as  La  Fayette,  de  Ternant  and 
others.  His  long  experience,  his  profound  knowledge  and 
liis  uprightness  drew  to  him  the  friendship  of  the  Americans, 
and  he  would  have  stayed  among  them  if  his  heahh  had  per- 
mitted, 1)ut  he  w^as  forced  to  return  to  France  in  October, 
1777.     La  Fayette  gave  him  a  letter  for  his  family. 

The  minister  of  war,  de  Scgur,  appointed  de  Yalfort  di- 
rector of  the  ]\rilitary  Sciiool  at  Brienne,  and  he  thus  became 
the   principal  instructor  of  Xapoleon   Ijonaparte.^^^ 

Yalt.kxays  (De),  enlisted  as  volunteer  ;  brevet  captain  of 
cavalry  with  pay  the  2Sth  of  July,   1777. 

="'  Sc-ur. 


244  The  French  in  America. 

Vai.onge  or  Vai.ogne  or  Yaeoncjue  (Chevalier  dc),  cap- 
tain of  tlie  Gloire.  a  fritiate  of  thirty-six  t-welve-pounder  can- 
nons, -whicli  sailed  for  America  on  the  19th  of  ^Iny,  1782, 
carrying  two  millions  of  livres  and  a  Jiumber  of  olliccrs.^'" 

Vamin  (Count  do  FlCchin).     See  Fl1^:ciiix. 

Varaic;:>']:,  ca])lnin  of  engineers  with  Dueoudray,  with  pay 
from  the  7th  of  November,   1777. 

Yaiux  dk  la  CiiAUSsf:E  (Charles-Alexandre),  born  in 
1759  at  ]{ouen  ;  sub-lientenant  in  the  regiment  of  Saintonge  ; 
was  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 

Yaubak  (Jaeques-Aim6-Josc])h  Le  Prestrc,  Count  de),  great 
grand-ne])hew  of  the  marshal  of  Louis  the  Fonrteenth  ;  born 
at  Dijon  in  1754,  died  there  in  1816.  He  entered  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  as  sub-lieutenant  the  regiment  of  dragoons  of  La 
Koehefoueauld  ;  Avas  captain  in  1775;  received  the  I'ank  of 
lieutenant-colonel  in  tlie  r/auhinneric.  in  1777,  mcsfre  dc  camp 
in  1779,  attached  to  the  regiment  of  Chartres  in  1780.  He 
obtained  permission  to  join  the  army  in  America,  which  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  he  did  not  go  with  the  ex])edition  in 
May,  1780.  He  was  attached  as  aid-de-camj)  to  the  staft'  of 
Rochambcau,  and  showed  the  greatest  valor,  especially  at  the 
attack  of  the  redoubt  of  Yorktown,  where,  ordered  by  de  Ko- 
charabeau  to  make  a  re[)ort  of  everything  that  should  happen, 
he  took  his  position  near  to  de  Yiomenil  and  de  Deux-Ponts 
and  shared  all  the  dangers  of  the  assault.  He  Mcnt,  in  1782, 
into  Columbia  Mith  di;  ]>roglie  and   de  Si'gur. 

At  the  French  Jicvolution  he  had  been  colonel  of  the  in- 
fantry regiment  of  Orleans  since  1781.  He  emigrated  and 
served  in  the  war  as  aid-de-camj)  of  the  Count  d'Artois.     He 


Narrative  of  the  Trincc  de  Biu^lie. 


List  of  Officers.  245 

took  part  in  the  expedition  of  C>nii^oron,  and  only  aba'ndonod 
the  Eoyal  can>e  wlien  he  saw  it  ^vas  hxst.  He  re-entered 
France  urider  the  Consulate,  was  arrested  in  ISOG  for  loyalist 
niananivres  and  intrigues,  but  was  released.  He  toolc  no  iur- 
ther  part  in  public  life,  and  died  without  having  been  able 
to  obtain  an  audience  from  the  J'^ourbons,  whom  the  pul)lica- 
tion  of  his  Rlifoire  de  la  Guerre  dc  Vendee,  revised  by  the 
Imperial  Government,  had  indisposed  towards  him.  He  died, 
it  was  said,   of   sorrow. 

Yaudkeuil  (T.ouis-Pliilippe  de  Uioaud,  Maripiis  de),^^'  son 
of  the  sailor  lieutenant-general  of  that  name,  and  gi-andsou 
of  the  Governor  of  Canada.  He  was  honx  at  lioeheibit  in 
1724;  fought  as  ensign  tlie  25th  of  October,  1747,  against 
the  English  on  tlie  Injlcxlhle,  of  wliich  his  father  was  cap- 
tain. Naval  lieutenant  in  1754.  He  escorted  with  the  frig- 
ate Ardhme  a  numerou.-,  convoy,  for  whose  safety  he  sacrificed 
himself  by  sustaining,  on  the  10th  of  ^Nfay,  1750,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Bay  of  Audicrne,  an  action  of  two  hours  against 
a  frigate  and  three  English  ships.  His  arm  was  broken  and 
he  had  to  strike.  Chief  of  scpiadron  in  1777,  he  sUirted 
from  Brest  in  December,  1778,  with  a  fleet  bearing  troops 
for  the  Antilles,  and  on  his  road  seized,  with  de  Lauzun,  the 
Senegal. 

Yaudreuil  took  part  in  the  actions  of  the  17th  of  April 
and  15th  and  IDth  of  May,  1780,  fought  in  the  Antilles 
by  de  Guiehen  with  Admiral  Rodney,  and  was  al'terwards 
made  grand  cross  of  Saint-Louis  and  Governur  of  Saint  Do- 
mingo. Preferring  an  active  life  to  this  sedentary  occupa- 
tion, he  asked  for  a  po-ition  at  sea  ;  joined  the  fleet  of  de 
Grasse,  and  was  present,  on  the  12th  of  ,\pril,  1782,  at  the 
battle  of  the  Saintes.     Feeling  that  tlie  critical   po-ition  of  the 

='^Sce  tlie  history  of  de  Vainlreiiil,  JIi--<''>li\'  rnisuiuu'c  <.h  hi  ihni:ire 
Gacrrc.  by  J.  Jo  Saint-Vullici-,  pa-cs  llC,  117,  US. 


246  The  French  in  America. 

Admiral's  sliij),  the  Mile  <lc  Faris,  miolit  prevent  do  Gra<se 
from  paying  attention  to  tlie  other  ships,  he  made  general  sig- 
nals, which  wore  approved  ;  bnt  when  the  Ville  de  Pdris  had 
struck,  de  Grasse  made  a  com})laint  against  de  Vaudreuil, 
wlio,  on  his  demand,  was,  as  well  as  tlie  other  ollicers  who 
had  l)ccn  present  at  this  action,  brought  before  a  council  of 
war  assembled  at  Lorient  in  ]\Iarch,  17S4.  On  the  21st  of 
May,  de  A^audreuil  was  freed  from  all  blame,  and  even  con- 
gi-atulated  for  his  conduct  in  the  battle. 

liaised  on  the  Litli  of  August,  ]  78*2,  to  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant-general, he  was  elected  de])uty  to  the  States  General 
in  1789  by  the  nobility  of  Castelnaudary.  He  sat  on  the 
right  and  opposed  the  revolutionary  measures.  During  the 
night  of  the  5th  to  the  6th  of  October  he  ])enetratcd  to  the 
royal  family,  and  by  his  firmness  held  in  check  the  people 
M'ho  were  invading  the  palace.  In  1701  he  emigrated  to 
England,  returned  to  Paris  under  the  Consulate,  and  died 
in  1802. 

Vence  was  at  the  head  of  the  fifty  fdibusters  mIio,  sus- 
tained by  a  few  soldiers  under  command  of  dt.-  lion i lie, 
bravely  seized,  by  a  sudden  attack,  Dominica  in  1778.  lie 
distinguished  hiiuself  aderwards  at  the  capture  of  Grenada 
and  at  Savannah. "^"^ 

Vermonet  (Jean-Arthur  de),  enlisted  as  volunteer,  and 
was  brevet  captain  as  early  as  the  25ith  of  July,  1770.  On 
the  ISth  of  September  following,  he  was  appointed  major  in 
consideration  of   his  >erviccs,  on  the  demand  of  A\'a.-hington. 

Yerton  (De),  ofliccr  of  artillery  ;  Mas  charged  to  defend 
the  passage  of  the  North  Kiver  again-t  an  English  s<juad- 
ron   which   was    annoying    the    allied    troops    at    the  camp  of 

^V\ubcrtcuil,  Vol.  II.,  i-age  300. 


Lid  of  Officers.  247 

Doblj's  FoiTv.     ITo  was  aided  in   lliis  duty  bv  another  artil- 
lery oflicer,  de  Xeuris.^^' 

Verton  (Baron  de),  lieuteiiant-eolonel  of  artillery;  was  a 
passenger  on  the  Aifjlc,  to  return  to  America  in  17S2  with 
de  S6gur.  He  savetl  the  money  which  was  aboard  of  the 
frigate,  with  the  help  of  Mac-]Mahon.  The  minister  of  war, 
dc  Segur,  addressed  to  him,  in  the  name  of  the  king,  a  letter 
of  congratulation. 

ViEBERT  (Antoine-Fclix),  enlisted  as  volunteer  on  the  2Gth 
of  June,  177G.  Kecomniended  to  General  AVa^hington  in  the 
capacity  of  engineer. 

ViEXNE  (Marquis  de),  enlisted  as  volunteer  on  the  15th  of 
June,  1770  ;  served  without  any  rank  during  one  campaign, 
and  was  then  breveted  colonel.  He  had  beibre  been  major 
the  French  army,  and  he  resigned  in  America  in  October, 
1777,  to  return  to  serve  in  his  own  country. 


m 


YuaJ-:  (Aymard  de).     See  Aymakd. 

ViLLEBRUXE  (Scrvaut-Paul  Le  Saige  de),  born  in  1747 
near  Saint  Malo ;  entered  the  service  in  17G2 ;  ca])tain  in 
the  regiment  of  Agenois  in  1759.  He  fought  bravely  at 
Pensacola  and  at  Yorktown,  and  was  killed  in  17S2  at  the 
siege  of  Fort  Saint  Christopher. 

ViLEEBRUXE,  Captain  of  the  JRotiwhis,  of  the  squadron  of 
Destouehes;  deserved  praise  for  the  handling  of  his  ship  during 
an  action  with  the  .Loiuhni,  a  three  decker,  in  Chesapeake  Bay, 
on  the  IGth  of  March,    1781.'^'^' 


'Cromot  Diibourg.    See  Vol.  I.,  i>ai:e  150. 
'Blanchard. 


248  The  French  in  America. 

Yjllkfranciie  M-as  in  succession,  student  engineer  in  1770, 
sub-lieutenant  in  1772,  lieutenant  in  the  dragoons  of  the  king 
in  1773.  He  resigned  in  1777,  to  go  to  America,  where  he 
received  the  rank  of  innjor.  lie  wasted  his  fortune  there, 
and  received  after  t!ie  war  a  pension  of  five  hundred  Urrc-i. 
He  M'as  then  ajipointed  cai)tain  in  the  provincial  troops  of 
France. 

Vii^iiEMANZY  (De),  commissary  of  war  who  followed  the 
expeditionary  corps  of  Eoclianibeau.  He  embarked  at  Brest 
on  the  Ardent  with  Demnrs,  director  of  the  hospitals.  He 
was  ordered  to  establish  bakers'  ovens  at  Chatham,  and  to 
pretend  to  bring  up  stores  before  Xew  York  and  Staten 
Island,  while  the  allied  army  crossed  the  Xortli  Jliver  and 
moved  towards  Baltimore.  He  acquitted  himself  ]>erfcctly  of 
this  mission,  got  himself  cannonaded,  and  ke])t  constantly  on 
the  alert,  the  garrison  of  Xew  Yo]"k  under  the  orders  of 
Clinton.     He  beciime,  later,  peer  of  France. 

YiNET,  oflicer  of  the    Vengeance. 

YlOMfiNiL  (Antoine-Charles  du  Houx,  called  Baron  de), 
born  at  Fauconcourt,  in  the  Yosges,  in  172S;  entered  the 
service  in  1740,  at  the  ago  of  twelve,  with  the  rank  of 
sub-lieutenant  in  the  regiment  of  Limousin,  and  became  cap- 
tain at  the  age  of  nineteen,  in  1747.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  siege  of  Berg-o])-Zoom  ;  served  afterwards  in  Hanover 
and  in  Corsica,  became  colonel  in  17;")!),  brigadier  in  17G2, 
marechal  dc  camp  in  1770.  He  started  in  1771  for  Poland, 
where  he  fought  against  the  Bussians,  and  directed  the  defense 
at  the  castle  of  Craco\v. 

The  Baron  de  Viomenil  crossed  to  ^Vmerica  on  the  Om- 
querant,  on  which  were  de  Custine,  de  MeMK>nvil]e,  Blaneliard, 
de  Chabaunes  and  de  Pange,  aids-de-camj) ;  Brizon,  naval 
officer,   secretary  of   the   liaron,  and   part   of   the  regiment  of 


List  of  Officers.  219 

Saintonge.  During-  tlie  oxpodition  of  17S1,  Baron  dc  Vionic'iiil 
pla}ed  a  very  important  part.  He  was  at  the  liead  of  the 
expedition  wliich  started  in  -March  on  the  vessels  of  Dcstouches 
to  take  succors  to  A'irginia  by  way  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  The 
expedition  was  fruitless  ;  Init  it  was  not  the  fault  of  de  Vio- 
menil  or  dc  Laval,  who  were  leading  it,  and  who  bore  them- 
selves bravely.  The  Baron  de  Viomenil  afterwards  commanded 
the  rear  guai-d,  during  the  march  between  Xew  York  and 
Williamsburg.  It  is  he  Avho  directed  the  two  simultaneous 
attacks  on  the  English  redoubts  during  the  niglit  of  the  14th 
to  the  loth  of  October.  AVhile  La  Fayette  and  Steuben 
were  ca])turing  the  one  on  the  right,  he  himself,  sword  in 
hand,  led  towards  the  enemies'  intrenehments  the  first  division 
of  the  column  on  the  left,  commanded  by  Guillaume  de  Deux- 
Ponts,  de  TEstnide  and  de  Kostaing.  The  success  was  ])rompt 
and  decisive.  The  Baron  de  A'ionicnil  then  went  to  spend  a 
few  months  in  France.  He  returned  to  America  on  the  Aif/le 
in  1782,  after  having  been  mtidc  commander  of  the  order  of 
Saint-Louis  and  lieutenant-general.  He  rejoined  tlie  army  at 
Crampond,  and  handed  over  to  de  Bochanibeau  the  two 
million  five  hundred  thousand  Uvrcn  he  had  bi-ought  him. 
He  took  tlie  troops  back  to  France,  and  lived  at  La  llochelle 
until  17S9,  epoch  when  he  made  ])art  of  the  Army  of  I'aris 
under  the  orders  of  de  Broglie.  He  opposed  energeticallv  the 
Revolution.  During  the  fighting  of  the  lOtli  of  August, 
1792,  he  proved  himself  one  of  the  best  and  most  courageous 
defenders  of  the  royal  family.  Severely  wounded,  he  was 
picked  u})  and  hidden  in  a  friend's  house,  where  he  died  at 
the  end  of  three  nionlhs.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie  order  of 
the  Cincinnati. 

YiOM]^:xii>  (Cliarles-Ju.-eph -Hyacinthe  du  IIoux,  called 
sometimes  Chevalier,  snnuiiiiies  N'iseount  de),  younger  brother 
of  the  fornuT,  was  IjDrn  in  17')  1  at  Rupjies,  in  the  Voso;es. 
He  entered  the  service  in  1717  in  the  regiment  of  Limousin, 


250  Tlic  FroicJi  in  America. 

and  ^vas  })resent  at  Iho  battle  of  Laufold  and  at  tlic  siege  of 
Berg-op-Zoom.  Dnring  tlie  Seven  Years'  War  he  was  aid-de- 
camp of  Chevert;  Avas  apj)ointed  colonel  of  the  legion  of 
Lorraine  in  1701,  and  made  tlie  eamjiaign  of  Corsica;  he 
was  appointed  brigadier  in  1770  and  niuricJud  iJe  camp  in 
1780. 

The  Viscount  dc  A^iomenil  crossed  to  America  on  tlie  Nep- 
tune, Ho  served  under  the  orders  of  his  brother,  tlie  Baron 
de  Viomenil,  who  Mas  six  ycirs  his  senior,  and  who  gained 
more  laurels  in  the  campaign.  AMiile  the  Banni  had  gone 
to  France,  after  the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  the  Viscount  re- 
placed him,  and  with  de  Chastellux  led  the  return  from 
Yorktown  to  Crampond.  The  Baron  rejoined  him  there,  and 
both  together  brought  the  army  b;ick  to  Boston,  while  de 
Bochambeau  was  with  the  legion  of  Txmzun. 

Despite  the  slight  nniown  ^vhich  the  campaign  of  Amcricu 
gave  to  the  Viscount,  yet  he  had  a  more  brilliant  destiny 
than  his  brother.  On  his  return  to  France,  he  received  frum 
the  king,  a  pension  of  five  thousand  Uvrcii.  He  Avas  ap- 
apointed  Governor  of  i\Iartini([ue  and  of  the  Windward  Isl- 
ands in  1789;  returned  to  Europe  in  1791  and  served  in 
the  Army  of  Conde  against  his  country  in  1792  and  1793. 
In  1794  he  was  put  at  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  his  name 
in  the  service  of  England;  but  in  1795  he  returned  to  the 
Army  of  Conde  where  he  commandc;d  a  brigade  in  179G  and 
1797.  He  then  went  to  Russia,  where  Paul  the  First  ap- 
pointed him  lieutenant-general  of  his  army  in  1798.  Later 
he  went  to  Portugal,  where  King  John  the  Sixth  gave  him 
the  title  of  ^Marshal-General  of  the  Kingdom;  he  had  re- 
ceived a  few  months  Itefore  the  title  of  lieutenant-general 
from  the  King  of  Fj-ance. 

On  the  return  of  the  JJourbons,  in  1810,  he  was  made  mar- 
shal and  jK'cr  of  France,  marquis  and  chevalier  of  the  Saiiu- 
Esprit.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Cincin- 
nati.    He  died  at  Paris   in   IS'27,  at   the  age  of  ninety-three. 


Lid  of  Officers.  .     251 

VirjNEJOUX  (Jean-Louis  dc),  volunteer  ;  employed  \vith  the 
rank  and  pay  of  captain  on  the  19th  of  September,  1776;^' 
bore  lii])iself  with  much  l^ravery,  when  he  was  made  prisoner 
at  Brunswick,  on  the  Hih  of  December,  1776.^''" 

VosSELi.E  (De),  infantry  officer ;  -wounded  at  the  naval 
battle  ofl'  Saint  Lucia  the  19th  of  >ray,   17S0. 

VpvECOUKt  (Count  dc).     Colonel,  April   the  12tli,  1777. 

VruGXY  (r)e),  enlisted  as  volunteer  ;  received  the  rank  of 
captain  the  15th  of  September,  J  777;  resigned  on  the  21st 
of  October,   1778.^^^ 

w. 

WiLEAUMKZ  (Jean-Baptistc-Philibert,  Count  de),  born  in 
1753  at  Belle-lie.  lie  embarked  as  cabin  boy  in  1767; 
was  present  at  sevei-al  fights  with  the  English,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  1782  as  first  pilot  on  the  frigate  the  Amazone, 
commanded  by  de  Vaudreuil.  Xaval  lieutenant  and  deco- 
rated with  the  order  of  Saint-Louis  in  1790,  captain  of  frig- 
ate in  1795,  naval  ciiptain  in  1798,  rear-admiral  in  1804, 
vice-admiral  in  1819,  peer  of  France  in  1837  ;  gave  the  first 
instructions  about  naval  matters  to  the  Prince  de  Joinville  ; 
created  count  in  1813;  died  in  1845  at  Suresnes  near  Paris. 
He  was  the  adoptive  father  of  Admiral  Count  Bouet-Will- 
aumez. 

WiMPFFEN  (Georges-Felix,  Baron  de),  born  at  ]Minfeldeu 
in  1741.  He  was  in  succession,  lieutenant  en  .second  in  the 
regiment    of  Boyal-Deux-Ponts    in    ]  757    during    the    Seven 

*^' Auberteuil. 

^George  Mooiv,  Trcasoji  of  La;  page  02. 

*■  Auberteuil. 


252  The  French  in  America, 

Years'  '\^'"ar,  comuiandant  of  a  corps  of  volunlfcrs  in  Corsica 
in  176G,  mesh'c  de  camp  of  the  regiment  of  Bouillon  in  ITvSO. 
He  took  ])art  In  llic  camjxiigns  of  America,  then  ^vas  pres- 
ent at  Ihe  sii\L:;e^  of  Mahon  and  Gil^rallar;  I)ocamo  lieutenant- 
general  aiid  commandant  of  Thionville  in  17^12.  Xo  lon- 
ger able  to  hold  the  place,  he  was  going  to  surrender  to 
the  Duke  of  Brunswick,  who  did  not  know  of  his  resolve, 
when  the  latter  oifered  him  a  million  if  he  would  ca])itulate. 
"Wimpifen  answered  :  "  I  accept  the  million  if  an  act  is  sworn 
out  before  a  notary  public."  Tliree  days  later,  the  20th  of 
September,  1792,  the  victory  of  Valmy  delivered  Thionville. 
AVimpflcn,  having  taken  sei'vicc  with  the  Girondins,  hid 
at  Baycux  during  the  Terror.  He  was  a  witty  man,  a  brave 
soldier  and  a  brilliant  general.^-'- 

"VVlSCU  (JcJin-Christophe,  Baron  de),  born  in  Holstein  the 
22d  of  May,  1739.  Furnisher  in  the  service  of  the  Emj)ire 
in  175G,  captain  of  the  regiment  of  Royal-Deux-Ponts  in 
1777,  captain  of  the  grenadiers  in  17S0  ;  was  wounded  at 
Yorkto^^'n  so  as  to  be  no  longer  able  to  serve.  He  received 
the  order  of  the  Cincinnati  and  the  cross  of  ^Military   ]\Ierit. 

WUIBERT. 


Yresoseer,  private  in  the  regiment  of  Agenois  in  17GS, 
reached  the  rank  of  oillcer  in  1779;  was  present  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown. 

*^' Perhaps  u  relation  of  the  Cleneral  de  WiniplTou  wlio  signed  the 
capitulation  of  Sedan.     i\Iar>;iual  note  by  T.  B. 


The  End 


MANCHESTER.