September 16, 1781 Letter from Rochambeau regarding baggage train to Williamsburg (translated from French to English)
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS1931.17.0015

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At Williamsburg this 16 September 1781.

The present Circumstances demanding, Sir, that
the Corps of Brigadier General George Weeden
which is camped at Gloucester Court House be reinforced, I have
the honor to write you that the intention of General
Washington and myself is that you direct yourself there
with the cavalry of your corps, in order to
[place] yourself there at the orders, you will be followed by
the equipment as much for your cavalry as for your
infantry, because it is probably that as soon as
your infantry has arrived, it will go to
join you there with the Duc de Lauzun. [illegible]
I request you to order my Equipment and
all those of the army which follow you to take
the first route which was indicated to you in order
to go to Williamsburg in observing
meanwhile that the New Castle bridge being broken
it is necessary to direct on Tod's Bridge and Ruffin's Ferry,
in order to come to Williamsburg instead of following the
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p2 route from New Castle, I request you to leave an
officer at Bowling Green where I send you
to carry this letter to whom you deliver an Extract
of the route to which the equipment
of the army must hold in order to come to Williamsburg, and who
will stay at the said Bowling Green until all
the equipment of the army has passed in order
that there is no error in the Change of routes which
you took and which only regards those of your
legion.

It will also be necessary that you leave the [illegible]
of Mr. Wadsworth who marches with you in order
to conduct the column of equipment and provisions
in a devastated country, you will portion yourself
of it much more easily as you only have but
two small flour purchases in order to deliver yourself
to the Camp of Brigadier General George Weeden
and that you have more resources in chosing
some officer of your Corps in order to make your
provisioning in a country less devastated
than this one. I have the honor to be with
a most perfect attachment, your very humble
and very obedient servant.

le Comte de Rochambeau