Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, Comte de, 1722-1788 to Adhemar Marquis de Monteil [in French]
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04322.08 Author/Creator: Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, Comte de, 1722-1788 Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript letter Date: 23 January 1782 Pagination: 6 p. ; 31.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
Responding to a letter from Monteil. Sarcastically informs Monteil that the he will command the Ardent and no other ship. Expresses surprise at Monteil's complaints. Denies Monteil's accusation that he intended to publicly humiliate him. Written the same day the French fleet set sail from Saint Kitts to engage Admiral Hood's fleet. The next day Monteil's failure to follow de Grasse's orders allowed Hood to outmaneuver de Grasse's fleet in what would later prove to be a pivotal action. Because of this maneuver, Hood would be able to join Admiral Rodney, and later defeat the French fleet. It seems likely that Monteil intentionally disobeyed de Grasse's orders because of their fight. Written on board the Ville de Paris, near Saint Kitts.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.