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

themselves in their profession, during their service in America, as active, intelligent, and useful officers, and considering that they entered our service with the particular approbation and consent of their Sovereign, it appears to your committee that it will be expedient to grant them some peculiar testimonies of the sense Congress entertain of their services, as well as to expedite their return to the Corps to which they are attached in France; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Major General Du Portail, Brigadier General Laumoy and Colonel Gouvion, who have served with distinguished merit in the Department of Engineers, have leave to retire from the service of the United States, their affairs requiring their presence in Europe, and however desirous Congress might be of their continuing in service no arrangements in which they can be employed having been yet compleated no arrangements having yet been made by which Congress might employ the abilities of those gentlemen, however desirous they might be of their services.

Resolved, That the Secretary at War express to the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty in America, the high sense Congress entertain of the zeal, abilities and conduct of these officers during their service in the Army of the United States, to the end that the said Minister may convey to his Court, the approbation of Congress of their distinguished merit.

Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance cause the accounts of Major General Du Portail, Brigadier General Laumoy and Colonel Gouvion, to be immediately adjusted, and advance to them respectively, such sums as the state of the public finances will, in his opinion, admit, giving them certificates on interest for the balances which may be found due to them.25

RESIGNATION

General Duportail resigned his commission in the Continental Army that same day and returned to France on October 10, 1783. He rejoined the French army as lieutenant colonel attached to the infantry, which was his only option to advance to higher positions of responsibility, but he had to fight hard to get rewarded. He and his companions benefited from the king’s support when they left France and from the American commander in chief’s and Congress’s deserved praises during the American War of Independence. Fortunately, Lafayette’s support was most valuable.

Before leaving America, General Laumoy requested a certificate from Washington. Washington forwarded the request to Congress on October 14, along with a detailed account of his various employments in the service of America. He also wrote about the services of General Laumoy on October 18, in part, “[T]hroughout the course of his services he has shown great knowledge of his profession and has acquitted himself with that zeal, activity and bravery which entitle him to the character of a good officer and an able Engineer.”26

Congress ordered a few days later that their passage would be at the expense of the United States: “Resolved, (October 16) That the agent of Marine provide Major General du Portail, Brigadier General Laumoy, and Colonel Gouvion with a passage to France, in the ship Washington and that they be informed of the same.”27

General Duportail wrote to the commander in chief very soon after Congress passed a resolution excusing them from further service. The letter began by referring to General Washington’s expressions of regret to the two French officers to see them quit the service. Duportail pointed out that the same method of approach as formerly used would have to be followed if the services of any one of them were really desired. As Congress did not make any request to the French government through its minister, their only option was to return to France.

Washington replied promptly on October 18,

Genl Laumoy and Col. Gouvion did me justice in mentioning the regret I feel at your intention of leaving this Country. The personal attraction which naturally grows out of such a length of service together, had I no other motive would occasion a regret at parting, but it is considerably heightened by your quitting the service and thereby depriving me of the hope of seeing you return to benefit the country by your abilities and experience in your profession, [interlined, thought not clearly expressed] if such an establishment as this great Empire ought to adopt for the peace of it, should be finally agreed to, but which this moment is yet undecided.

It would afford me much pleasure to tell you this personally before your departure, but if I should not have this satisfaction I beg you to be assured that you carry with you every good wish I can form for you, also that I shall ever retain a grateful sense of the aids I have derived from your knowledge & advice and more especially for the repeated testimonials I have recd. of your friendship and attachment for me.28

Duportail’s mission and that of his companions came to an end. They were still in the United States on October 18, 1783, because Laumoy received a certificate from Washington attesting to his services. General Laumoy and Colonel Gouvion probably traveled to headquarters to take their leave of Washington. They must have departed shortly after because Laumoy’s letter of gratitude to Washington was addressed from Brest, where they arrived after a rapid crossing of thirty-one days.

Everybody who knew Gouvion loved him, and Washington seems to have held him in high regard. He wrote two testimonials to the French authorities, and Lafayette was particularly charged to acquaint the ministers with the high regard he enjoyed in America. The first testimonial is addressed to “His Exe. the Marq. de Bouille”:

Head Quarters at Newburg 23d March 1783

Sir

Tho a stranger to your person, I am not so to your character—of the last I have the honor to rank myself among the first of your admirers.—Under the sanction of this profession, which I assure you is sincere, permit me to introduce to your Excellency’s civilities Mons. Gouvion, a Colonel in the American Service of distinguished abilities and of whose intelligence, bravery and zeal I have had the most unequivocal proofs.

On whatever expedition your Excellency may embark, and