on the heights of Springfield 11 June 1780
Dear Sir
As I Understand the General has desired you to
stop at
Providence, and there to Receive the French land
and Naval forces that are Coming to that port, I Beg
leave to adress you this Confidential letter
which
I shall send as soon as a good opportunity May offer.
My Meaning is not to point out Any
thing which may be done towards the helping the
French troops, as I know from experience that they
will meet from you with all possible Aid
and Civility.
I only desire as an American soldier and
one that looks upon you as an intimate friend, to give
you some previous hints about the people who are
Coming, and Communicate to you such ideas as derive
from my thoroughly thorough knowledge of
theyr Manners,
prejudices, &c., &c.
Major general Heath
The fleet is Commanded By the Chevalier de Ternay
Chef d'escadre, which is some thing in the naval line
equal to what Major Generals are in the British
service.
The Army is Commanded By M.
le Comte de
Rochambeau, Lieutenant General, By four Marechaux
de Camp, equal to our Major Generals. I don't
know
if they have Brigadiers, But those are not Called
By the Name of Generals. it is Compos'd of
Four French Regiments, two Germans, and the legion
of
Lauzun. they are commanded by one Colonel-
Commandant, one Colonel-en-Second, one Lieutenant
Colonel, and one Major. they Consist on the war
establishment
of 1,450 Men each Regiment, divided in two Battallions. the
number of the legion I do not know. there is
also a Corps of Artillery. the Colonels Commandants
and Second Colonels will expect particular attentions
from you. the French officers are Compos'd
of the first Gentlemen of the Nation. You know
in what high station is in France the Military
profession and how far superior to the other kinds
of life
to show you that we, from the prejudices of our
allies, are more bound to attend to the dignity
of the American Army. Nothing will more surprise
them than the denominations of Colonels, Majors, &c.
for people that are Nothing in the militia nor the Military
Line, unless it is put on the Account of the Militia
establishment. Accostum'd as they are to Regiments
of 1,450 men, we must not tell them the force
of ours till they are Reinforced, and Mention only that
they are upon the Same footing as the British Regiments
But lessened By the kill'd and wounded of past
Campaigns. for what Relates to the strength of
the Army, I think it Better not to Mention any
precise number, as we are going to be Reinforced
By drafts from the several States.
As Cloathing is Coming for the soldiers
from
France, as we must hope the States will Give some to
theyr officers, I should not wish them to know
that
we are so Ragg'd as we find ourselves, But however
not
to Raise too much theyr expectations on this subject.
Way, But suppose it was the case, we must show But
such of them as are decently cloathed, and Make a
good Appearance. for the Militia, the French don't
expect Any thing like dress and Uniformity Among
them.
When we talk to them of our troops I would
Not like Any thing of Vanity and self praise.
But I Confess I hate Apologies, and the soldiers
of America, the opposers to all the efforts of
Great Britain, the Conquerors of the British and
Hessian troops which are Rank'd among the Best
of
Europe, do not, I think, want so Much to
Apologize.
His Excellency has made a Regulation of Uniforms,
which we ought not to speak of as a Novelty
in our Army. The Majors Generals are to wear
a Blue Coat with Buff facings, and two stars
upon each shoulder. the Brigadier Generals the
without star. the Company officers one Epaulette,
and the Captain to Wear his on the Right shoulder.
the staff except such as have Military Rank in
the Army, Not to wear any uniform, But to
have a Cokade, and a sword. All Commissioned
officers to Wear a Black Cokade, a sword, and an epaulette
as Much as our circumstances admit of it. the
Aids de Camp to have the Uniform of theyr lines,
the Epaulette of theyr Rank, and a Green Feather.
the Aids de Camp of the Commander in Chief to
wear a green and white feather. I think,
my dear friend, that you, your aids, and such
officers as may be in the Way should Conform to
the said Regulations, and I Beg leave to send you
My Epaulettes with the two stars of Major
General ordered By his Excellency.
As a Balance of Ranks Between the American
and French officers has been proposed by the king
of that Balance which, I think, is a just one
shall be those of Marechal de Camp. General
Washington is to Receive the first that are paid
to Any Man except Crowned heads, those of
Marechal de France.
in the French service they Give to the
Marechal de Camp thirteen guns, to the Lieutenant
General fifteen which ought to be the quota
paid to Count de
Rochambeau. the honors paid
By the French troops are different from those
paid By the Americans, But I think it the Best
that each service salute according to its own
Regulations till it is settled at head quarters.
the French salute the Lieutenant General with
shouldered Arms, the drums Beating a march,
the Marechal de Camp with shouldered arms,
the drum being silent, the Brigadier with
ordered arms.
inclosed I have the honor to send you a letter
of
introduction to M. le Cte. de
Rochambeau and M.
le Chevalier de Ternay.
in case By chance any troops or guards
were to be seen by any French officer they
should be Repeatly Apprised Beforehand of
what any officer, private, sentry, or corps whatsoever
is to do in every case that May occur Before
foreigners.
the French officers should be acquainted
with our three distinctions of Militia, State,
and Continental officers and Men.
M. de Corny a
gentleman in the French
service, with the title of Commissaire des Guerres,
whom you have seen in
Boston, will Go to
providence for providing to the several wants
of the French army. I Beg leave to Recommend
him to you as a Gentleman of sense and Merit
whose Acquaintance will, I dare say, prouve
Agreable to you.
The Ennemy under Knypausen are at
Elisabeth-
town point, and we in this place looking at
each other, and not knowing yet what will take
place. But, I dare say, you will have an exact
account of every thing that may happen.
I Beg your pardon, my dear Sir,
for the scribling of this letter, But we are not
in a settled situation, and I write you as fast as I
can with Bad pens and Bad ink upon the
corner of a Bad table.
My letter will perhaps appear to you in
some Respects trifling. But from the knowledge
I have of European prejudices, and particularly of
the French nation, I do assure you that those articles
are important to the Consequence of our army, and
during a Cooperation. Nay it may extend itself
farther. I Beg most earnestly you will keep
this Confidential letter from Any Body whatsoever.
I want, I Confess, to support what I have already
Boasted off in
France in my Capacity of an American
soldier. In the fighting way they shall see that
we are Equal to Any thing. But for what Concerns
dress, appearance, &c., we must cheat a little.