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

to express his views in writing regarding the peace establishment of the engineering branch of the army. In reporting the matter to the commander in chief, he took occasion to explain more clearly the meaning of his last communication, which Washington had assumed was an offer of continued services by the members of the Royal Corps of Engineers. Duportail’s letter, dated April 29, 1783, assured Washington that “there is no appearance that those who belong to the French service will have the liberty of remaining” and that he had only meant to express his eagerness to render himself useful during the little time that remained before he and his fellow officers would be forced to return to France. He ends,

since my last letter a committee of Congress for the establishment of peace asked me my ideas respecting my Department. i will send your excellency my memorial to make the use of it that you shall thinck proper.

if your excellency has no occasion for my presence in Camp, i beg leave to stay here having many little business to settle. besides it would not be worth while for so short time to send my baggage to camp and establish myself it would be very expensive and troublesome. notwithstanding I will wait for the order of your excellency and i shall execute them always with the greatest pleasure.10

Washington answered this letter rather coldly on May 10,

Sir You have anticipated my wishes, in having, as you mention, communicated your sentiments on a peace establishment, so far as relates to your Department, to a Committee of Congress—as you promised to send me a copy of it, I shall be gratified by a sight of your ideas on the subject

As you mention it to be very inconvenient for you to come to Camp—I do not at present recollect anything of Importance enough to render your attendance here necessary.11

A document in the Papers of the Continental Congress dated May 4, 1783, shows that the French officers of the Engineer Corps were gathered in Philadelphia at this time, as Congress passed a resolution earlier in the year that required the signature of each member of the corps. The document read,

The officers of the Corps of Engineers having met for the purpose of giving their opinion respecting the commutation of the half pay, agreeably to a resolution of Congress of the 22nd of March 1783, have unanimously agreed to accept the Commutation agreeable to the term of said resolution (full pay for five years instead of half pay for life.)

signed by Duportail, Gouvion, Laumoy, Cambray, Villefranche,

L’Enfant, Wuibert, Murnan and Rochefontaine.12

Duportail’s first memorial to the commander in chief on the peace establishment of the army has not been found among the Washington Papers or among those of the Continental Congress. However, he wrote in the cover letter, “i have the honor to present you the memorial mentioned in my last letter. I composed it after the hints you have been pleased to give me when at head quarters. i beg your excellency to let me know if i have been happy enough to meet with your ideas, wishing not to propose anything to Congress but through you and what you approve of.”13

Duportail also wrote a memoir on fortifications, which he submitted to General Washington, who forwarded it to the president of Congress on June 7, 1783.14 The memoir was read in Congress on June 11 and referred to the Committee on Peace Arrangements.

Washington wrote a brief acknowledgment to General Duportail that same day (June 7): “I have been favored with your letter of 25th May, accompanied by your observations respecting the fortifications necessary for the United States. I was extremely obliged by the communication, and now enclose them under flying seal to Congress, with a letter to His Excellency the President, which is likewise open to your inspection.”15

Washington’s letter to the President said in part,

The sentiments expressed appear not only to be the production of a well informed mind, and the result of much experience aided by great professional knowledge, but because they seem also to be dictated by a disinterested zeal for the future tranquility and happiness of the United States.16

Regarding the principles of defence on which Genl. Duportail has particularly treated in a very important point of light, cannot help recommending a proper consideration of them in the adoption of a Peace Establishment, so far as they may be found practicable with our means, and applicable to our local circumstances. For although the subjects proposed are undoubtedly of very great & immediate consequence, & require that something should be done without delay, yet how far we are able at this time to enter into extensive arrangements for the fortification of Posts and Harbours, and the establishment of Military Academies etc. must be submitted to the wisdom of Congress and rest upon their decision.17

BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE FRENCH INFANTRY

Duportail was appointed a brigadier general in the French infantry on June 13, 1783, at the age of forty. He received a bonus of 2,500 livres and commanded two regiments. Only a few official documents remain about this stage of his life; most were destroyed during the Reign of Terror.

Baron von Steuben was ordered to Québec during the summer to confer with General Frederick Haldimand, governor of Canada, about the surrender of British forts along the frontier. He asked that Major L’Enfant might accompany him. When General Duportail heard of the matter, he wrote the commander in chief, begging him to be so good “if i or the first officers of the Corps have not been so unfortunate as to lose your esteem and confidence, not to trust any person with any business that belongs to our department.”18

Washington replied to this letter, saying that the commission was not of a nature to require an engineer and that he had not thought it important enough to send “one of your rank and abilities.”19 Villefranche ended up going with the Baron, and he later reported on