THEWashington-Rochambeau RevolutionaryRoute S TATEMENT OF N ATIONAL S IGNIFICANCE R EVISED DRAFT REPORT J ANUARY 30, 2003 T HE N ATIONAL P ARK S ERVICE G OODY, CLANCY & ASSOCIATES, PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE N ORTHEAST AND C APITAL REGIONS R OBERT A. SELIG, PH D, PROJECT HISTORIAN Contents 1 Introduction and Findings 2 Study Legislation, Purpose and Tasks 3 Historical Narrative 4 Significance Themes 5 Historic Use of the Route 6 Resources 7 Bibliographic Essay 8 Study Team and Illustration Sources C ONTENTS 1 1 Introduction and Findings (3) It must have significant poten- SUMMARY OF FINDINGS his report evaluates the national significance of the trail tial for public recreational use known as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, or historical interest based on The study team, comprising historic interpretation and professional staff from the NPS which leads from Newport, Rhode Island, to the siege of appreciation. The potential for Northeast and National Capital T such use is generally greater Regions, with assistance from Yorktown, Virginia, and back to Boston, Massachusetts. It is a network along roadless segments respected scholars and developed as historic trails and consultants, makes the following of land and water routes traversing nine states and the District of at historic sites associated with findings regarding national the trail. The presence of significance: Columbia over which traveled the American and French armies and recreation potential not related navies, either individually or combined, at different times between to historic appreciation is not (1) The Washington-Rochambeau sufficient justification for desig- Route is of national signifi- June 1781 and December 1782. nation under this category. cance as a domestic cross- cultural experience. Congress authorized the National (1) It must be a trail or route as motorized transportation This report focuses on Crite- Park Service to identify the range of established by historic use and routes may be designated and rion 2, national significance. The Route is significant as: resources and themes associated be historically significant as a marked on site as segments Future documentation will be a) an indispensable component with the route; identify alternatives result of that use. The route that link to the historic trail. prepared to evaluate the of the campaign of 1781: it for NPS involvement with the need not currently exist as a Washington-Rochambeau Route is the route that took the route’s preservation and interpreta- discernible trail to qualify, but (2) It must be of national signifi- against the other criteria, pending combined Franco-American tion; and provide cost estimates its location must be sufficient- cance with respect to any of review of this draft Statement of armies to victory; for any acquisition, development, ly known to permit evaluation several broad facets of Significance. Later phases of the b) a watershed in the develop- interpretation, operation, and of its public-recreation and American history, such as study include developing ment of an American maintenance associated with the historical-interest potential. trade and commerce, explora- management alternatives and identity: in 1781–82, the alternatives presented in the A designated trail should tion, migration and settlement, preparing an Environmental thirteen colonies took a study (PL 106-473). Although the generally accurately follow the or military campaigns. To Impact Statement as part of the gigantic step toward study authorization was not historic route, but may deviate qualify as nationally signifi- final report to be submitted to becoming a nation; structured as a proposed National somewhat on occasion of cant, historic use of the trail Congress. The ultimate objective c) a prime illustration of the Historic Trail (NHT) under the necessity to avoid difficult must have had a far-reaching of the study is to determine how American Revolutionary National Trails System Act (16 routing through subsequent effect on broad patterns of best to promote the preservation War as a truly diverse effort; USC 1241 et seq.), the study will development, or to provide American culture. Trails of, public access to, travel within, and apply the criteria of the Act to some route variations offering significant in the history of and enjoyment and appreciation d) a visible expression of the determine the feasibility and desira- a more pleasurable recreation- native Americans may be of the outdoor areas and historic hope for independence and bility of designation as one alterna- al experience. Such deviations included. resources associated with the the gratitude that greeted tive for NPS involvement. To shall be so noted on site. Trail Washington-Rochambeau the returning French army qualify for designation as an NHT segments no longer passable Revolutionary Route. on its march north in the the route must meet three criteria: due to subsequent development summer of 1782. INTRODUCTION AND FINDINGS 1-1 (2) The Washington-Rochambeau Route is of national signifi- cance as a manifestation of the international war effort. The Route is significant as: a) a symbol of the global character of the American War for Independence; b) the culmination of the crucial contributions of France to the achievement of American Independence; c) an example of joint Franco- American cooperation under Washington’s overall leadership; and d) the first true acknowledge- ment of America as a sovereign nation. Subsequent chapters present the study’s legislative background, a brief historical narrative of the route, a description of the signifi- cance themes in greater detail, a discussion of the historic use and development of the route, and a summary of the types of resources associated with the route. The report concludes with a biblio- graphic essay on historical sources. 1-2 INTRODUCTION AND FINDINGS 2 StudyLegislation, Purpose, and Tasks Cornwallis in one of the most route taken by General Washing- LEGISLATION The Washington-Rochambeau decisive victories of the American ton and the General comte de Revolutionary Route National Revolutionary War. Following Rochambeau to assess whether Heritage Act of 2000 directed the winter encampments, the French the National Park Service should Secretary of the Interior—in army returned to Boston, be directly involved in the consultation with preservation Massachusetts, in the summer of preservation and interpretation groups and agencies at the state 1782, along the path it had taken of its resources. and local levels—to submit to the previous year. Congress a study of the 600-mile Should the NPS determine that route followed in 1781 by Forty-two members of Congress, the route is nationally significant American and French armies including seven from outside the and has the potential for public under the command of General project area, joined the bill’s recreation, Congress could George Washington and General original sponsors, Representative designate it a National Historic Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, John Larson (CT) and Senator Trail. Designation could enable comte de Rochambeau. The allied Joseph Lieberman, (CT) in the NPS to assist a variety of forces marched through Rhode introducing the legislation. groups, projects and activities A scholars’ symposium on the Island, Connecticut, New York, associated with the trail’s preservation and interpretation. •Scholars’ symposium Washington-Rochambeau route New Jersey, Pennsylvania, was held at West Point in June 2002. Delaware, and Maryland en route PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The study will also identify •Draft determination-of- to Yorktown, Virginia, where they Under the act (now Public Law nonfederal alternatives for significance report engaged and defeated British 106-473) Congress authorized the preserving and interpreting this troops under General Charles National Park Service to study the important part of America’s historical heritage. •Management alternatives, with and without NPS involvement, for preserving TASKS and interpreting the route •Route reconnaissance • Cost estimates •Historical research >Historical narrative •Final report and EIS > Bibliography >Resource inventory •Recognition in place for the 225th Anniversary of the • Public meetings and Washington-Rochambeau The study team briefed the National Conference of State Historic Preservation outreach March in 2006 Officers on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route study in Washington, March 2002. At the podium is John Shannahan, State Historic Preservation Officer of Connecticut. •Newsletters LEGISLATION, PURPOSE & TASKS 2-1 2-2 SIGNIFCANCE THEMES 3 Historical Narrative he arrival of 55-year-old General Jean Baptiste Donatien de infantry, one battalion of artillery, Clinton, but concurred that the about 600 hussars and light fighting forces were not yet Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, with an army of 450 officers infantry in Lauzun’s Legion, plus adequate. The French army support staff—in all, nearly 6,000 wintered in Newport, while the and 5,300 men in Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode officers and men. But the troops cavalry wintered in Lebanon, T arrived too late in the campaign Connecticut. Late in May of 1781, Island, on 10 July 1780, marked the beginning of a most successful season and with too many sick to Washington and Rochambeau met embark on any military action. again at Wethersfield, Connecticut, military cooperation that culminated 15 months later in the victory Late in September 1780, Rocham- and decided to join their forces at Yorktown. beau met with