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

Washington replied, begging his excellency to be assured that he is most happy to have the opportunity of doing him a favor “but especially on the present occasion,” which he viewed as “diffusing the most sensible joy to the allied nations of France and America.”34

L’Enfant received his long-desired promotion of major by brevet, as did Major Villefranche and Lieutenant Colonel Cambray on May 2, 1783. This was shortly after Congress ratified the Preliminaries of Peace on April 15, 1783, and Washington’s announcement to the army of the cessation of hostilities.

L’Enfant’s most signal honor, however, was having his design chosen for the insignia of the Order of the Society of the Cincinnati, which was organized May 10–13, 1783, at Newburg on the Hudson, where the army was encamped. Washington, as the first president, had written to the major, asking him to suggest a design. L’Enfant replied in a lengthy letter on June 10, published many times since by the society in their records, in which he says in part,

Dear General:

Immediately on receiving your letter of the 20th May . . . I set about the plan of the medal: I send you the design with both faces made very large so that you may better judge of them. . . . I have not complied with your desire to make it oval, as such a form for a medal is not proper. . . . A medal is a monument to be transmitted to posterity and consequently it is necessary that it be executed to the highest degree of perfection possible in the age in which it is struck.35

The society approved his design at the next meeting:

Cantonment of the American Army, 18 June, 1783

Resolved that the bald Eagle, carrying the Emblem on its breast be established as the Order of the Society, and that the Ideas of Major L’Enfant respecting it and the Manner of its being worn by the Members be adopted. . . .

Resolved That the thanks of this convention be transmitted by the President to Major L’Enfant for his care and ingenuity in preparing the aforementioned designs, and that he be acquainted that they cheerfully embrace his offer of Assistance, and request a continuance of his Attentions in carrying the Design into Execution, for which purpose the President is desired to correspond with him.36

L’Enfant was given leave of absence from the army in October until May of the following year for the purpose of going to France on his own private affairs.37 Duportail, Gouvion, Laumoy, Cambrai, Villefranche, and others joined the Order of the Cincinnati before leaving America.38 Later, L’Enfant planned the national capital in Washington, DC.

Jean-Bernard Gauthier de Murnan

Jean-Bernard Gauthier de Murnan joined the Corps of Engineers while the Continental Army was at Valley Forge in 1778. He served as major to the end of the war and received honorable testimonials from his superior officers, Generals Sullivan, Lafayette, Hand, and Howe, and later from the Chevalier de Choisy, under whom he served before and at Yorktown. There was one unfortunate incident while he was in Connecticut that called forth a letter from the governor. He was said to have stabbed a sergeant in a quarrel, but the case seems to have been amicably settled, as he remained in the army there. When the French army joined that under Washington at Philipsburg before marching south to Yorktown, he stayed at Newport under the orders of Choisy, who was left to guard the port with a detachment of four hundred men. This detachment later followed Barras’s fleet and took up its post at Gloucester on the opposite bank of the York River.

Congress granted Murnan a certificate on May 24, 1783, attesting to his “activity, intelligence and bravery on all occasions.”39 There is no evidence that General Duportail attempted to secure a raise in rank for this officer at any time after Yorktown, probably because Murnan temporarily left the corps and joined the French army.

Jean-Louis-Ambroise de Genton de Villefranche

Major Villefranche’s painstaking, plodding part in the Revolution deserves special attention. He never failed in his duty, though he regretfully saw the opportunity of taking part in an active, energetic campaign pass him by more than once. The commanding engineer at West Point might have been called into active service had Washington’s favorite plan of attacking the British in New York become reality. But though the British soon lost control of the approaches to the defense of the Highlands and though there was no attempt to capture West Point after Arnold’s treason, the significance of the post on the Hudson remained unimpaired until the close of the war, and its superintending engineer was a person of outstanding importance.

Villefranche was ordered to West Point during the summer of 1780 to replace Colonel Kosciusko. Washington wrote to General Arnold, then in command,

Head Quarters, Peekskill 6th Augt. 1780

Sir,

Col. Kosciusko having permission to join the southern army—Major Villefranche has directions to repair to West Point and take upon him the superintendence of the Works. You will, I am persuaded, find this Gentleman fully acquainted with his Business, and I doubt not but he will give general satisfaction to those with whom he will be immediately concerned in the execution of the Works.

I am etc.

Go. WASHINGTON.

There are many letters, reports, and so on in the handwriting of Major Villefranche in the Washington Papers and from the generals immediately over him that show the painstaking attention to detail that characterizes his work. Finely drawn maps of the region (published by Justin Winsor in his history) also remain, testifying to his skill and knowledge of technique.

When the army moved south at the end of August 1781, Villefranche hoped to be allowed to go also. Instead, he was sent west into the Indian country to rebuild the defenses near Fort Herkimer. When he learned that the officers who took part in the siege of Yorktown were getting promotions in rank, he must also have expected a promotion. General Heath wrote to the commander in chief