THE WASHINGTON - ROCHAMBEAU REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 1781-1782 An Historical And Architectural Survey Project Historian: ROBERT A. SELIG, Ph. D. Project Director: Dr. James M. Johnson, Colonel, US Army (Ret.) Sponsor: Florence Gould Foundation Administered by: Hudson River Valley Greenway 2001 Hudson River Valley Greenway Capitol Building Capitol Station Room 254 Albany, NY 12224 Tel.: (518) 473 3835 Fax: (518) 473 4518 www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us Copyright © Robert A. Selig For additions/corrections/suggestions contact the author at www.xenophongroup.com/vita/selig For additional copies of this report contact: Hudson River Valley Institute Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, New York 12601-1387 Phone: Fax: 845-575-3052 845-575-3560
[email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 2. INTRODUCTION Purpose of the Project 6 Scope of the Project 7 Goals of the Project 8 Sources 9 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Criteria for Selection: How Sites Were Chosen for Inclusion 12 3.2 The Form 14 3.3 Other Parts of the Survey Report 15 3.4 Recommendations 15 4. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE ROUTE 17 5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 5.1 France and Great Britain on the Eve of American Independence 21 5.2 French Aid prior to the Alliance of 1778 24 5.3 The Failed Invasion of 1779 and the Decision to send Troops to America 33 5.4 The Comte de Rochambeau and the troops of the expédition particulière 35 5.4.1 The Officer Corps 36 5.4.2 The Rank and File 44 6.