Washington's Engineer by Norman Desmarais (speed reading book TXT) 📕

that he has suffered on the voyage, makes me hope his assistance may not come too late; and the critical situation of your affairs induces me to part with him, though in case of any active operations here, I should sensibly feel the want of him. From the experience I have had of this gentleman, I recommend him to your particular confidence. You will find him able in the branch he professes; of a clear and comprehensive judgment; of extensive military science; and of great zeal, assiduity and bravery; in short, I am persuaded you will find him a most valuable acquisition, and will avail yourself effectually of his services. You cannot employ him too much on every important occasion.9

REINFORCEMENTS

General Washington wrote to the Board of War on March 30, notifying them that he had received information that the enemy was preparing to send reinforcements to the South and that he was sending Major Lee’s corps there as quickly as possible. As they would need many items for the long march, he directed the officers to go to Philadelphia and apply to the Board of War. He requested a liberal supply, as the items could not be procured in the South.10

Duportail was undoubtedly moved by these testimonials of his ability, character, and zeal, coming as they did from a man as reticent as General Washington. His reply of April 2, 1780, says,

I have received the letter with which your Excellency has been good enough to honor me as also the one addressed to the President of Congress, I saw to it that it was immediately handed to him. This very evening I received a resolution of the Congress that I should go to Charlestown. Later I received by M. de Castaing the letter for General Lincoln. I cannot allow the opportunity to pass without expressing to Your Excellency how touched I am by the manner in which you have spoken of me in these letters. It is the greatest reward which I could possibly receive for my efforts in serving the United States. As nothing else could arouse me to efforts that would justify the good opinion your Excellency has wished to give of me, may I in this circumstance fulfill your expectations: and may it be possible for me to arrive before it is too late!

Conformable to your orders I will render to your Excellency as often as possible an account of our operations.

Although in the present circumstances I go South with pleasure, because I wish to be where I can be most useful, still I wish to express to your Excellency that in case Charlestown is taken or delivered from danger, in a word if the Carolinas do not become the principal scene of the war, I desire to return to this part of the country. My place, my veneration, my devotion to your person, binds me to the army which you command and it is only in such circumstances and the actual circumstances in which the Carolinas are placed that would permit me to leave you except with the greatest regret; and it is a very great pleasure for me to think that I can [manuscript faded] and open the campaign in that place.

During my absence I have the honor to propose to your Excellency to have M. de Gouvion replace me in the army here; and as you know we have to form companies of sappers and miners I propose that he be charged with those companies. The Board of War has assured me that the men we need have been included in those required of the different states; therefore it will only be question of taking them as they arrive.

I have sketched out a plan of instruction for the officers and soldiers of the company, but it is not in a state to be presentable. I shall have the honor of sending it to your Excellency from Carolina.

Colonel Gouvion wrote me recently that General Howe who commands at West Point asked for a plan of the place. It seems to me very proper that he should have one but I think that when the plan is made [illegible] who commands at that place without its being possible for it to be taken away. It seems to me very improper that copies should be multiplied.

I have the honor to be, with the most profound respect

of Your Excellency etc.

Duportail.11

Duportail was appointed to lieutenant colonel in France, attached to the infantry, on April 5, 1780, and General Washington acted on Dupor-tail’s suggestion to replace him with Colonel Gouvion in the Army of the North on April 28. Gouvion was still in the Highlands, and Washington sent the following order to Major General Howe: “General Duportail being gone to the southward, it is necessary that Colonel Gouvion should repair to this army. If there are any previous arrangements you wish him to make, you will be pleased to direct him to make them, and to set out for head-quarters as speedily as he can.”12

In the meantime, General Duportail had proceeded with all speed to Charleston, arriving at 7:00 a.m. on April 25, only a few days before the question of terms of surrender of the city was discussed in a general council of the officers present. As soon as he arrived, he observed the enemy, their positions, and their strength, then inspected the defenses. He concluded that the British could have captured Charleston ten days before he got there. Having determined the positions were untenable, he requested to depart the city, but General Lincoln refused to let him go.

General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered the city on May 12, and General Duportail was among the captives. He wrote a lengthy account of the surrender on May 17, and one of his letters was read before Congress on the same day.13

DUPORTAIL’S REPORT

He sent the report to the president of Congress, with a copy forwarded to General Washington and another to the French minister, the Chevalier de la Luzerne.