America's 250th Lecture and Art Show featuring Dr.Iris deRode

Enroute to Newport, RI  to meet French General Rochambeau, Washington stopped in Preston Connecticut. 

Washing arrives in Little Rest, known today as North Kingston, RI before boarding a ferry to Newport to meet Rochambeau. 

This depicts the first anchorage by the French fleet under Admiral DeTarney, which was carrying all of General Rochambeau's troops. After 77 days crossing from Brest, France, several encounters with British warships around Chesapeake Bay, and skirting the coast north in very heavy fog, the 54-ship convoy anchored off Martha's Vineyard and secured the services of three pilots who could navigate the Bay and Newport harbor. DeTarney's fleet consisted of seven ships of the line, three frigates, a supply transport, which served as a hospital ship, and thirty-two transports, which carried the bulk of Rochambeau's army numbering near 5,000. The crossing left over 800 sick among the land troops, and some 1,500 in the fleet. Most were down with scurvy.

Washington came ashore and was greeted by Rochambeau's land troops, standing several ranks deep on each side of the street all the way to the Colony House. As Washington passed by on his mile-long trek to the Colony House, cannon from the ships kept up a continuous salute and the troops came to attention, rank by rank. At the steps of the Colony House, he was greeted by Rochambeau and escorted to the Vernon House, where he would stay for nearly a week.

In July of 1780, a few days after the arrival of the French Fleet in Newport, the Selectmen of the town issued candles to the residents so that all the houses and churches of Newport might be illuminated as a welcome to the French. This brilliant display was repeated in March of 1781 during Washington's visit to Newport. According to The Mercury, the local newspaper of the time, both the town and the fleet were "brilliantly illuminated."

Four days after the arrival of the fleet at Newport on July 11, all of Rochambeau's troops left the ships and set up camp in and around Newport. Most stayed in tents and later in homes they repaired after the British occupation in 1778. The troops were complemented by a contingent of American troops under the command of General Heath, who had been so ordered by General Washington. Troops from Massachusetts and Rhode Island made up the force, although it is doubtful that many troops were raised. The Rhode Island Regiment is mentioned in many French journals as being among the best troops in the American Army.

After spending the night at Little Rest, Washington is welcomed aboard the 80-gun flagship of the French fleet by the Duc de Bourgogne. Washington tours the great ship, greeting the French officers and enlisted men in their best dress uniforms.

The First Rhode Island,  an all Black Regiment  marches into Providence ,RI as their first encampment. They would travel across Rhode Island on what is now RT 14, and camp again at Waterman's Tavern in Coventry. 

On September 9, 1781, Washington reached Mount Vernon following a six year absence. Within 24 hours he was followed by Rochambeau, Chastelleux and staff. They stayed one day and two nights. Shown here are the two generals relaxing for a short time, soon to be on their way to Williamsburg and the victory at Yorktown.

This was the first stop for the French army after leaving the Providence encampment. The scene shows army units preparing to leave while the tavern keeper and his wife bid farewell to Rochambeau.

Each of the four regiments had a train of artillery comprised of about a dozen cannon of various sizes. This was a part of the total of nearly fifty pieces for the whole army. The artillery shown here is arriving in the early morning at one of the encampments. It always arrived either very late or very early in the morning because of very bad roads and breakdown of the gun carriages. In addition to the soldiers who operated the guns, it carried about fifteen members of foresters and engineers who cut branches, downed trees, and filled potholes. Every few miles the axles had to be packed with grease, mostly lard, for lubrication.

One of the many fascinating stories connected with the movement of Rochambeau's 5,000 troops were events, encounters, and adventures that occurred aside from the great battles that took place. Along a section of Route 14 near what is called Rice City, one of the 300 wagons which moved supplies and equipment broke down, breaking an axle and dumping its contents all over the road. As the area was suffering its third year of drought and flour was in short supply, the French soldiers allowed nearby townspeople to collect most of the spilled biscuits that had been baked at Providence the day before. The area was henceforth called "Biscuit Hill," and a country lane nearby is still called Biscuit Hill Road.

Washington arrived at the conference in Weathersfield on the 21st of September and was late. Under ordinary circumstances, he would have made the journey on horseback; but Admiral DeTernay was sick and a coach had been provided for his convenience. A broken axle in Scotland, Connecticut necessitated a wheelwright; but when one was finally located, he turned out to be suffering from fever. The wheelwright stated that he would not leave his bed for a hatful of Guineas. With the help of Admiral DeTernay, Fersen convinced the shivering wheelwright to change his mind. The axle was repaired and the French party reached the conference without further mishap. However, on the way home, the axle broke again and again the village smithy had to be summoned from his bed. The white house seen in the background is the birthplace of Samuel Huntington, signer of the Declaration of Independence. This house still stands today along the same route over which Rochambeau's army marched.

This scene, although happening along the Connecticut River in East Hartford, shows a detachment of mounted troops of the first Rhode Island. The group provided escort for the Marquis de Chastelleux, a Major General under General Rochambeau. His diary entry reads as follows, "the fifth I did not set out until eleven, although I had a thirty mile journey to Lebanon. At the ferry crossing I met a detachment of the first Rhode Island regiment, the same corps we had with us all last summer, but have since been recruited and clothed. The majority of the enlisted men are Negroes or mulattos, but they are strong, robust men and those I saw made a very good appearance. I had fine weather all day and got to Lebanon at sunset." Not only were these troops black, but they were mounted, a factor not before mentioned in any text.

The Marquis de Chastelleux (in red cape) and the Duke de Luzon return from a squirrel hunt in Lebanon, Connecticut. The building in the background is the Redwood House, which served as the headquarters for Luzon's legion during the winter of 1781.

A view of the town of Newport and the arrangement of the combined French fleet in the spring of 1781, just prior to the army's march south to Yorktown. It was in position in and around Newport Harbor covering cannon, on shore and on ship, at all entry points to the bay. Admiral De Turney died on December 11, 1780 and was eventually replaced by Admiral DeBarras. This shows the combined French fleet in late spring of 1781, when additional vessels joined the fleet. Seen in the foreground are the land emplacements of cannon facing the channel. The view, looking north and east, shows Newport as it appeared at the time, with some of these same buildings -- the churches and Newport Tower -- still standing today.

On the evening of Washington's arrival, a great ball was held in his honor at Mrs. Crowley's Assembly Hall. The hall had been decorated with regimental flags, dress swords and pistols, and a civilian orchestra had been hired to provide music for the event. Soon after the ball was underway, Rochambeau expressed great displeasure in their musical abilities and promptly fired the entire ensemble. He called for any officers who could play an instrument to come forward, took up the conductor's baton, and conducted the group well into the night

Washington and Rochambeau review the passing of the French fleet from the East Passage in Newport in March 1781. The fleet returned three weeks later after having engaged the English fleets. They suffered 80 killed and 120 wounded.

This painting, entitled "Desperate Valor," shows the newly formed regiment in action against the Anspach Regiment in the Newport/Portsmouth area on August 28, 1778. This regiment turned back three attempts of the British to break their line. The delay allowed General Sullivan to escape to the mainland while these troops defended and held off the British advance. The biographer for General Sullivan recorded their action by this entry: "The black troops under Col. Christopher Green displayed desperate valor by holding off three attempts by Hussein troops to break their line."

In the early morning hours of May 14, 1781, a Tory unit operating in Westchester County under the command of Col. DeLancy was under orders to take Col. Greene dead or alive. With 60 horse and 200 troops, they assaulted Greene's camp and the house being used as headquarters. Before Greene could dress and leave his bedroom, he was cut to pieces by the Tory forces. Greene's Black Regiment put up fierce resistance, but were unable to prevent the Tory Loyalists from taking the mortally-wounded Greene on the road back to their headquarters. The Black Regiment pursued and, in what was later called the Battle of Pine Bridge in Croton, NY, managed to wrest Greene back from the Loyalists. The Black Regiment suffered 44 killed or wounded during the battle.

Lauzun's Legion was the only horse unit under the army of General Rochambeau to serve in America, and arrived with the fleet in July 1780 at Newport. It consisted of 230 mounted Huzzars and 300 light infantry troops. Due to the lack of forage for the horses in and around Newport, arrangements were made to have the Legion spend the winter of 1780-81 in Lebanon, Connecticut, some 60 miles from Newport. They left Newport on November 10, 1780 for Lebanon. Upon their arrival, barracks were constructed and the troops settled in for the winter. Lauzun, a French nobleman, called Lebanon "The Siberia of North America" and preferred the atmosphere and activities around Newport. The Legion moved out in force on June 21m 1781 and would join the main army in Phillipsburg, New York on July 2, 1781. It took part in the defeat of British forces at Yorktown on October 17, 1781.

Many local stories are connected with the Legion's stay in Lebanon. One observation was made by Mary Williams, second daughter of Governor Trumbull, two weeks before their departure. She wrote, "Oh, how glad and how thankful I shall be when they are gone, for never was I so sick of any people in my life. Joy go long with them and wish never to see another French man in my life and best of them are nothing but pride and vanity."

It was recently determined that the mounted troops wore the red pants of the First Division, not the yellow as shown. This change is reflected in the "Sabre au Clair" painting.

Sometime in early July of 1781, General Rochambeau gave Sara Bowen, wife of the late Lt. Governor of Rhode Island, a silver serving spoon manufactured in England. The gift was in appreciation for allowing the General and his staff to utilize the residence as his Providence headquarters. Many of the French officers and Gen. Washington spent several nights there at different times. It was the very place Rochambeau bid farewell to his troops in December of 1782 before returning to France.

On July 12, 1781 some 500 troops, originally left with the fleet at Newport as the main army began its march south, took part in the first actual contact with British forces at Fort Franklin on Lloyd's Point in Huntington, Long Island, New York. The force was to burn supplies stored there, as defenders were thought to be few. However, the fort was heavily armed and a number of cannon started to shell the French units preparing for the assault. Although the French far outnumbered the British, it was decided only to make a token exchange and then withdraw. It appears it was to be a feint, in that Washington's plan was to convince the British in New York that the combined French-American forces would next strike there. Washington and Rochambeau were already in the process of moving south to eventually engage Cornwallis at Yorktown.

A small detachment of the Soissonnais Regiment prevented the British from landing to burn the stores at Tarrytown, New York. The Americans under Shelton arrived later.

A short distance south of Philadelphia, on the Delaware, was a small fort which saw much activity prior to the British taking Philadelphia. The fort held out for a number of months, taking over 10,000 cannonballs in a 24-hour period. Rochambeau inspected the fort in the summer of 1781, just a few months prior to the victory at Yorktown.

Shown here is the Lauzon Legion together with the Rhode Island Regiment as they guarded Washington's 2nd Division from the Hudson south to Yorktown. It is the only time that American units and French units actually served together in a joint operation. This occurred along present-day Route 202 in what is now Oakland, New Jersey. The house is the Van Allen House, which served as Washington's headquarters on July 14 &15 in 1777. The 2nd Division was composed of over 500 wagons of supplies needed to sustain other armies.

According to oral tradition, Cadillac Spring was utilized by French and American forces during their march south to Yorktown. Water was as important as food, and only spring or well sources did not require a portion of rum to be added before it could be consumed. All other sources did; this treated the water for possible bacteria or other diseases that might be found. Natural springs were sought out as wells ran dry before a regiment could gain its fill. This scene shows French troops of the Bourbonnais Regiment filling canteens with water from the spring. Henrid Souffle, executive chef to Gen. Rochambeau, looking into the spring saw a large bull frog that had been known to keep the spring clean. The French like frog legs and must have abducted the large frog, as it was never seen again after that day. The spring is still visible today along a portion of Rt. 202 in the Rampo Valley.

Originally built by French engineers in 1781 at Chatham, New Jersey to create a diversion so that the American and French forces could make their way south to Yorktown while the British expected an attack on New York. Although the ovens were used to bake bread, their essential purpose was to convey to the English that an attack was planned against New York City, and that the allies would not construct such a massive oven complex unless an assault against New York were imminent. The ploy worked and, by the time the English heard of the movment of troops against Cornwallis, it was too late to intercept them.

The road occupies the approximate site of the Colonial era ford used by the Baltimore Light Dagroons, the French Army under Rochambeau and the Duc de Lauzun in 1781. "Once while the French soldiers were crossiing Rock Creek at this 'P' street ford, a wagon loaded with French specie, composed of gold and silver coins, turned over as it was going down a very steep part of the road to the ford crossing below. Much of the gold and silver coin poured out on the open ground." The second wagon seen in the painting is starting to pitch over. Lauzun's Legion and a contingent of the 1st Rhode Island were ordered to escort the second division by Washington.

The supply depot as it might have appeared at Danbury, Connecticut during August 1781. The depot supplied many  of the needs of both Washington's troops and Rochambeau's army just prior to their move across the Hudson River south to Yorktown, Virginia. As the British burned Danbury, leaving few structures standing, the Americans took over the Episcopal Church as a warehouse to store supplies as an affront to the British.