Sold – George Washington Expects the Imminent Arrival of French “Land and Sea Forces”

On May 4, 1778, the alliance between France and the new United States of America became effective. The Americans had high hopes for this venture, but those hopes were initially dashed. The French sent a fleet under Admiral d’Estaing in the summer of 1778; but after failing to encounter the British in the Chesapeake Bay and making unsuccessful moves at New York and Newport, it abandoned the offensive. However, the French were determined to play a role in the outcome of the American War and planned to send a significant number of troops and ships for the next campaign.

Count Rochambeau was appointed to command of the army that was destined to support the Americans, and on May 2, 1780, he sailed for the U.S. Washington eagerly anticipated the active intervention of the French. He planned a joint Franco-American late- summer campaign against British-held New York, and in expectation of his ally’s arrival, set about making sure that all of his preparations were complete.

Clement Biddle, a Philadelphia merchant who joined the Continental Army in 1776, had become its commissary general of forage in July 1777. Washington depended on him to see that the Army’s horses were supplied, and Washington found that he had just submitted his resignation from this key post. Well aware that without sufficient forage supplies there would be no artillery or cavalry and thus no campaign, and wanting to rely on an experienced man he knew and trusted, Washinton determined to appeal to Biddle to remain with the Army. Washington was a reserved man, not known for showing his emotions, yet he could not repress his excitement over the imminent arrival of the French and what that would mean to the American cause.

George Washington on a Letter Signed as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, two pages folio, Head Quarters, Morris Town, N.J., May 27, 1780, to Colonel Biddle. "From the opinion I entertained of your services I was sorry to hear in the first instance when the matter was communicated to me, that you were about to leave the army & had actually resigned your Commission to the Quarter Master General. An event is soon to take place which will still increase my concern on this head. We have every reason to expect that an armament composed of Land & Sea forces will soon arrive from France in these States, to cooperate with us against the common Enemy. The department you filled is a very important one, and, on a proper discharge of its duties, our abilities to move in case of active operations will greatly depend. I should therefore be happy if you would remain in it, as from your experience, activity and entire knowledge of our resources in the line of it, I am persuaded, the public service would derive many great advantages at this interesting juncture. But I find on recurring to your Letter of the 16th instant, by which you communicated your resignation, that you are to be in Philadelphia on the call of the Honble. the Board of Treasury by the 1st of June. If you consent to remain, and on which point l request your answer, I will take occasion to write by you to the Board and inform them of my wishes for your earliest return. In this event I shall consider your stay at Philadelphia as rather unlucky however short, as we have not a moment to spare in concerting our arrangements.”

Expecting help against the enemy soon, having not a moment to spare, anticipating active operations, seeing great advantages, calling this an interesting juncture; for Washington, these were unusually vibrant terms. Washington was right to be excited about the coming of the French, though he would have to wait over a year to reap the benefits, as it developed that no campaign against the enemy could be implemented in 1780. So in due time, no longer imminently needing Biddle’s services, he allowed him to resign.

At the letter’s conclusion, Biddle has written a note explaining his response to Washington’s appeal. “In consequence of the foregoing, I continued to serve til the latter end of September when a successor was appointed to fill my office.” In 1781, Washington’s vision of the Franco-American juggernaut finally took shape. By September 28, the combined armies with the French fleet – some 16,000 troops – had arrived in Virginia and set up camp outside the British defenses at Yorktown. Just three weeks later, the seige of Yorktown ended with the complete surrender of the British. As a result of this catastrophe to their arms, Britain sued for peace; the war was over. So Washington’s dream, the one we can virtually feel in this letter – that the arrival of the French would make the difference and secure American independence – though delayed, became a reality.

The body of the letter is in the hand of Washington’s aide, Col. Robert Hanson Harrison; the signature is Washington’s. It is published in The Writings of George Washington.