Letter 11:
GENERAL ROCHAMBEAU REPORTS
THREAT TO FRENCH FORCES
The following is a letter from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
to General George Washington dated July 22, 1780, translated from French. Although
intelligence from multiple sources contributed to the safe arrival of Rochambeau's
French expeditionary force in Rhode Island, the threat from the British in close proximity
was ever present. This letter conveys to Washington the challenges Rochambeau faced
with a British blockade and the depletion of his newly arrived troops due to illness.
New-Port Rhode Island
22 July 1780
Sir,
The enemy are doing what they ought to do. Greaves
immediately after having joined Arbuthnot comes to
cruise before us, with nine or ten ships of the line five
frigates and four other small vessels. He moors at
present at Block Island, in the object of opposing our
designs, and intercepting the 2d division from France.
Our dispatch boat charged with letters, and escorted
by three frigates, has been obliged to return yesterday
pursued by all the enemy’s fleet. I see that it will be
good to have cruizers at the capes of Delaware and
Chesepeake, to advertise our second convoy as soon
as it shall appear, to debark at the South or at Boston;
the former will be best. I pray my General to transmit
this to the chevalier de la Luzerne, that he may act in
consequence. We are going to try to convey our
letters to France in a vessel from one of the Ports in
the State of Boston. I wait here that part of the
Bourbonne which have fortunately debarked at
Boston. We have more than 600 sick, besides 100
which the Bourbonnè left at Boston. The fleet has
more than 1000 sailors, and has not here wherewith to
change them as Greaves did at New-York. A good
months refreshment will reestablish the greatest part. I
am with respect.
L. Cte De Rochambeau
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE LETTER
