Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807 to Benjamin Harrison

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06632 Author/Creator: Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807 Place Written: Williamsburg, Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: 24 June 1782 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 23.3 cm, Width: 19.3 cm Order a Copy

Informs Harrison that the French troops will soon be marching North out of Virginia. After aiding in the American victory at Yorktown, French forces had wintered in Virginia. Plans to leave behind a small French force under "Mr. De La Valette, Brigadier General" until American forces can replace them and defend York and Hampton. Suggests Colonel Charles Dabney's forces be assigned this task. Thanks Harrison for his hospitality. Says he has enclosed a letter from George Washington on these subjects. Docket reads "Count Rochambeau June 24 1782. See Gen Washington May 4 1782." The remaining French forces later became a source of friction with Virginians.

Rochambeau, Donatien Marie Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de, 1750-1813
Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Dabney, Charles William, 1745-1829

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources