61. GW to Cornwallis, OCT 18, 1781, FGW 23:237–38. Laf claimed later, in the Memoirs and letters, that the Charleston terms were his idea, and his biographers have generally accepted his claim. The record shows, however, that the stipulation was GW’s own, as retribution for the insult to American arms during Lincoln’s surrender of that city. Besides, Laf’s resentment of Lincoln at Yorktown makes his version unlikely.
62. Palmer, General von Steuben, 292; Thomas S. Jesup to William H. Denny, JUL 13, 1859, in Denny, Military Journal, 282–83. Jesup heard this story from Major William Croghan, who had been on Steuben’s staff, and Laf’s aide Colonel Richard Anderson.
63. Freeman, George Washington 5:388–89; Boatner, 1095.
64. Lee quoted Unger, Lafayette, 159; Boatner, 1230. They played it at Saratoga because they had been ordered to play “something light.” There were countless versions, most of them obscene.
65. Freeman, George Washington 5:390–91. Of about 20,000 allied troops around Yorktown, casualties were less than 400. About 600 of Cornwallis’ men fell during the siege, and he surrendered 8,081 at Yorktown and Gloucester. Boatner, 1248.
66. Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 329–31; Laf to Cornwallis, OCT 31, 1781, ILA 4:434. Cornwallis later became a highly successful governor-general of India, where he grew grossly fat.
67. Laf to Ver, to Maurepas, and to prince de Poix, all OCT 20, to Adr, OCT 22, and to Samuel Cooper, OCT 26, 1781, ILA 4:422, 422n, 424–26, 429–32.
68. GWD excerpt, OCT 21, Laf to GW, OCT 23, and de Grasse to GW, OCT 14, 1781, ILA 4:427–28; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 332–35. The British left Wilmington on NOV 18.
69. Laf to Nelson, OCT 31, 1781, ILA 4:434–35.
70. Quoted Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 336.
71. GW to Laf, NOV 15, 1781, ILA 4:435–37.
72. Laf to PC, NOV 15 and 22, to NG, NOV 22, Resolutions of Congress, NOV 23, Congress to Louis XVI, NOV 29, 1781, ILA 4:437–43, 441n; PC to BF, JA, and John Jay, NOV 21, 1781, Tower 2:462–63; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 336–47.
73. Laf to GW, NOV 29, 1781, ILA 4:443–44.
74. Barry’s instructions, ILA 4:441n. Noailles was annoyed by the delays, telling a friend, “I think [it] more easy to take a British army than to have a frigate out of Boston harbour.” Noailles to Molly Robinson, DEC 14, 1781, quoted Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 343.
75. Laf to GW, DEC 21–23, 1781, ILA 4:449–50.
Chapter Thirteen
1. Both quoted Higginbotham, War, 383.
2. Ver to Laf, DEC 1, and Ségur to Laf, DEC 5 (two letters), 1781, ILA 4:444–48; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 350–51.
3. Gazette de Leyde, NOV 30, 1781, quoted Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 327.
4. Laf to GW, JAN 18, and GW to Laf, JAN 4–5, 1782, ILA 5:2–5.
5. Maurois, Adrienne, 101–2; Fraser, Marie Antoinette, 194; Belloc, Marie Antoinette, 135; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 348–49. These accounts differ on details, but the gist is similar.
6. Laf to GW, JAN 30, 1782, ILA 5:9–11.
7. Ver to Laf, JAN 23, Laf to PC, JAN 18 and 29, to BF, JAN 22, and to JJ, JAN 30, and BF to RM, JAN 28, 1782, ILA 5:6–8, 7n, 10n.
8. Ver to BF, FEB 6, BF to Ver, FEB 15 and 16, Laf to Ver, FEB 16, to BF, FEB 12, 16, and 25, and MAR 15, and JA to Laf, FEB 20, 1782, ILA 5:10–15, 13n, 14n; Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin, 410.
9. Ségur to Laf, JUL 7, 1782, ILA 5:51.
10. BF to Robert Livingston, MAR 4, 1782, Wharton 5:214; Laf to Ver, MAR 20, to JA, MAR 27, to JJ, MAR 28, and to Livingston, MAR 30, 1782, ILA 5:15–21; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 356–63. On Spanish interests in North America and border conflicts with the United States, see Weber, Spanish Frontier. Spain was fighting the British in the West Indies at the time.
11. Laf to GW, MAR 30 and 31, 1782, ILA 5:21–25.
12. Flexner, George Washington American, 476–77; Regulations for Hutting, NOV 1782, and Chastellux quoted Clary, These Relics, 11–13.
13. Laf to GW, APR 12, 1782, introducing de Broglie, GLW 250; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 363.
14. Maurois, Adrienne, 103–4.
15. Laf to HL, APR 14 and AUG 20, and to BF, JUN 12, 1782, ILA 5:28–30, 39–40, 53–54; Massey, John Laurens, 188–89, 201, 211, 287n. BF noted in his journal on JUN 12 regarding Laf’s conduct, “He appears very prudently cautious of not doing any thing that may seem assuming a power that he is not vested with.” Quoted ILA 5:40n.
16. Laf quoted Lycan, Alexander Hamilton Foreign, 65–66; Morris, Peacemakers, 246–48; JA to Laf, APR 6, BF to Jay, APR 22, and Laf to JA, OCT 6, 1782, ILA 5:25–26, 37n, 60–62, 62n; JJ to Livingston, NOV 17, 1782, Wharton 6:45.
17. Laf to GW, APR 12, and to Ver, APR 18, 1782, ILA 5:26–28, 30–32.
18. Laf to JJ, APR 28, and to JA, OCT 6, and BF, Memorandum of Peace Negotiations, MAY nd, 1782, ILA 5:33–36, 36n.
19. Laf to BF, JUN 20 and 25, to Livingston, JUN 25, to GW, JUN 25, and to PC, JUN 29, ILA 5:540–49, 41n, 47n, BF quoted 43n; JJ to Livingston, JUN 28, 1782, Wharton 5:527.
20. Laf to GW, JUN 25, 1782, ILA 5:48–49, and account of British diplomatic maneuvers, 47n.
21. Minutes of the Assembly of JUN 24, 1782, of the Worthy Lodge of Saint John of Scotland of the Social Contract, ILA 5:41–42; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 363–71.
22. Laf to GW, JUN 29, 1782, ILA 5:49–50.
23. Bernier, Lafayette, 148–50; Unger, Lafayette, 169; Laf to BF, and BF to Laf, both SEP 17, 1782, ILA 5:56–57.
24. Laf to GW, SEP 7, 1782, GLW 254.
25. Laf to Ver, SEP 10, and to BF, SEP 12 and 21, 1782, ILA 5:54–59; JJ to Laf, and Laf to JJ, both SEP 21, 1782, Wharton 6:21, 29. JA announced that he had nearly completed a treaty of commerce with the United Provinces (signed OCT 8), together with loans of cash and credit. JA to Laf, SEP 29, and Laf to JA, OCT 6, 1782, ILA 59–62; JA to Livingston, OCT 8, 1782, Wharton 5:803–5.
26. Laf to Livingston, OCT 14, 1782, ILA 5:79n; Laf to GW, OCT 14, 1782, GLW 254–56.
27. GW to Laf, OCT 20, 1782, ILA 5:62–64. Congress also told him, “You need feel no anxiety on the score of an apology for yr.absence. Every body here attributes it to its true cause & considers it as a new proof of your attachment to the interests of America.” Livingston to Laf, NOV 2, 1782, ILA 5:66–67. JL died in a skirmish at Combahee Ferry, South Carolina, AUG 27, Lee at Philadelphia, OCT 2. JL’s death devastated AH, then in Congress. “You know how truly I loved him and will judge how much I regret him,” he said. AH to Laf, NOV 3, 1782, quoted Chernow, Alexander Hamilton, 172. In the same letter he complained about how he looked forward to returning to private life. “You see the disposition I am in. You are condemned to run the race of ambition all your life. I am already tired of the career, and dare to leave it.” Excerpted Morris, Alexander Hamilton and Founding, 577.
28. Laf to GW, OCT 24 and DEC 4, to the American Peace Commissioners, NOV 21, to Ver, NOV 22, to PC, DEC 3, to BF, DEC 6 and 8, and to JJ, DEC 26, 1782, ILA 5:64–65, 68–71, 69n, 72–76, 74n; Dull, French Navy, 317–24.
29. Higginbotham, War, 424–27. These arrangements violated the prohibition against separate peaces in the Franco-American treaty. But as Ver or BF would have been the first to say, diplomacy, like politics, is the art of the practical.
30. Quoted Maurois, Adrienne, 106.
31. GW to PC, JAN 20 and MAR 19, 1783, FGW 26:82–86, 237–38; Livingston to Laf, JAN 10, and to GW, FEB 16, 1783, ILA 5:78–79, 116n. Roc landed at Nantes on FEB 20. There was no crowd to welcome him, but he was content with the respect of the ministers. Whitridge, Rochambeau, 253.
32. JJ to Laf, JAN 19, and Laf to Carmichael, JAN 20 and 29, and FEB 2, 1783, ILA 5:79–83. Carmichael’s letter has not survived. JJ was back on good terms with Laf.
33. Laf to Ver, to PC (two letters), and to Livingston, (two letters), all FEB 5, 1783, ILA 5:84–90. Ver’s letter has disappeared.
34. Laf to GW, FEB 5, 1783, ILA 5:90–93.
35. Laf to JJ, FEB 15, t
o d’Estaing and to Ver, both FEB 18, to Floridablanca, FEB 19 (and Laf notes, FEB 22), and to Livingston, MAR 2, Floridablanca to Laf, FEB 22, Carmichael to Livingston, to JJ, AUG 23, 1783, ILA 5:95–106, 107n; Carmichael to Livingston, FEB 21, 1783, Wharton 6:268–70.
36. Montmorin to JJ, FEB 22, 1783, ILA 5:102n; Laf to GW, MAR 2, 1783, GLW 262–63.
37. Laf to Aglaé d’Hunolstein, MAR 27, 1783, quoted Maurois, Adrienne, 108–9; Laf to Adr, MAR 27, 1783, ILA 5:117–18, Bernier, Lafayette, 147–481; Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 417–19.
38. On this system and Laf’s approach to it, see Gottschalk, “Lafayette as Commercial Agent”; Nussbaum, “Revolutionary Vergennes and Lafayette”; and Gottschalk, Lafayette and Close, 415–17.
39. Laf to Joly de Fleury, and to Ver, both MAR 19, 1783, ILA 5:110–13, 125n.
40. NG to Laf, JUN 10, 1783, and MAR 24, 1784, Laf to Ver, JUN 12 and 17, JUL 21, to PC, SEP 7, to BF, DEC 13, and Observations on Commerce Between France and the United States, DEC 13, Ver to Laf, JUN 29 and AUG 5, Calonne to Laf, DEC 18, 1783, ILA 5:133–35, 139–40, 144–45, 148–51, 178.
41. Calonne to Laf, DEC 15, and Laf to Ver, DEC 25, and to RM, DEC 26, 1783, ILA 5:182–84.
42. Laf, Observations on Commerce between France and the United States, DEC 13, 1783, and Calonne to Laf, JAN 9, 1784, ILA 5:382–88, 189. The most-favored-nation status grew out of Article Two of the 1778 Treaty of Amity and Commerce.
43. RM to PC, APR 16, 1784, Wharton 6:794; Laf to RM, JAN 10 and MAR 9, RM to PC, SEP 30, and to Laf, MAY 19 and SEP 30, Calonne to Laf, JAN 31, FEB 10 and 26, MAR 5 and 8, JUN 11 and 16, Laf to Calonne JAN 31, FEB 10 and 26, MAR 5, JUN 25, and to Ver, JUN 28 and OCT 12, Castries to Laf, JUN 17, 1784, ILA 5:190, 193–94, 198–200, 203–5, 218–19, 224–26, 232, 232n, 254–55, 269–70.
44. Recommendation of Lafayette for the Cross of Saint Louis, MAY 5, 1783, ILA 5:131; Gottschalk, Lafayette Between, 14–21, 66–68.
45. Elting, Sword, 15–16, 207–8.
46. Resolution of APR 10, 1783, ILA 5:90n.
47. GW to Livingston, MAR 29 and APR 16, 1783, FGW 26:267, 327; Livingston to GW, APR 9, and to Laf, MAY 1, 1783, ILA 5:93n, 128–30.
48. Laf to American Peace Commissioners, MAY 12 and JUL 22, to JA, JUN 16, to HL, JUL 6, to PC, JUL 20, and to McHenry, DEC 26, Barclay to Livingston, SEP 14, 1783, ILA 5:132–33, 133n, 136, 141–44, 147n, 150n, 184–86; GW, Memorandum of meeting with Sir Guy Carleton, MAY 6, 1783, FGW 26:402–5; Morris, Peacemakers, 274–81, 306–7. BF’s son had remained a loyalist, which caused his enemies to claim that they colluded, each taking a side to protect the family interest whichever side won. The calumny spilled over against Laf, who earlier had talked BF into withdrawing his request to go home. A New York gossipmonger wrote that their relationship “led people to suspect that he meant only to retain a man that was perfectly subservient to his court.” Wood, Americanization, 211. The true conspiracist can hold opposing ideas, in this case that BF was in cahoots with the British and the French.
49. JA to James Warren, APR 15, 1783, ILA 5:121–23; BF to Livingston, JUL 22, 1782, Wharton 6:582. BF told Livingston, “The instances he [Adams] supposes of their [French] ill will to us…I take to be as imaginary as I know his fancies to be that Count de Vergennes and myself are continually plotting against him.”
50. Flexner, George Washington American, 513–14.
51. HK to Laf, JUN 16, GW to Laf, OCT 20, Laf to Ver, DEC 16, and to GW, DEC 25, Ségur (war minister) to Roc, DEC 18, 1783, Thomas Mullens to Laf, FEB 5, Laf to JA, MAR 8, to GW, MAR 9, and JA to Laf, MAR 28, 1784, ILA 5:137, 158, 176, 179–80, 180n, 196–97, 201–3, 205–7, 211–12; Laf to GW, MAR 9, 1784 (second letter), GLW 278–81.
52. Laf to GW, MAR 9, 1784, GLW 278–81; Laf to JA, APR 9, JUN 2 and 25, and JA to Laf, JUN 11, 1784, ILA 5:222–23, 227, 229, 229n; Doyle, Oxford History, 64 (on BF and Mirabeau).
53. Quoted McCullough, John Adams, 308–9.
54. Maurois, Adrienne, 115–16; Laf to BF, OCT 20, to unknown (probably Adélaïde), OCT 21, to Mme de Simiane (Adélaïde), OCT 21, to William Temple Franklin, NOV 19, 1783, and to Linguet, APR 20, 1784, ILA 5:157–59, 183–84, 382.
55. GW to Laf, MAR 23, 1783, ILA 5:113–16; GW, Memorandum of War Plan, MAY 1, 1782, FGW 25:237–38. The only letter that did not get through in this period was GW to Laf, DEC 15, 1782, FGW 25:433–35. GW’s recommendation is GW to PC, MAR 23, 1783, FGW 16:250–51.
56. GW to Laf, APR 5, 1783, ILA 5:119–21. He also reported more deaths, including Lord Stirling’s in January, and mentioned that Tilghman was getting married.
57. Laf to GW, APR 19 and JUN 10, and GW to Laf, JUN 15, 1783, ILA 5:124–25, 132–33, 135–36; Laf to GW, JUN 12, 1783, GLW 265; Flexner, George Washington American, 500–8; Roc in Chinard, George Washington as French, 35.
58. Laf to GW, JUL 22, 1783, ILA 5:145–46, answering GW to Laf, MAY 20, 1783, FGW 26:420–22, which enclosed newspaper accounts of the Newburgh Addresses. GW told Laf that he planned to resign. In JUN 1783 he sent a circular to all the states and to Congress announcing, “I am now preparing to resign it into the hands of Congress, and to return to that domestic retirement, which it is well known, I left with the greatest reluctance…it is yet to be decided, whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing or a curse: a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will be the destiny of unborn millions be involved.” FGW 26:4830–96. It was published in Europe in AUG and SEP, but GW had sent Laf an advance copy.
59. Laf to GW, SEP 8, and GW to Laf, OCT 12, 1783, ILA 5:151–57. He also wrote on OCT 30, to ask Laf to buy some plated tableware for Martha. He canceled the order on DEC 4, because he had found what he wanted in New York after the British evacuated. Laf had already bought it, and in April GW acknowledged receipt, and asked for the price so he could reimburse him. GW to Laf, OCT 30, 1783, ILA 5:159–61; GW to Laf, DEC 4, 1783, and APR 4, 1784, FGW 27:258–59, 384.
60. Laf to GW, NOV 11, 1783, and JAN 10, and to HK, JAN 8, 1784, ILA 5:162–64, 186–88, 191–92; Laf to GW, NOV 29, 1783, GLW 272. See also Weintraub, General Washington’s Christmas.
61. GW to Laf, FEB 1, 1784, ILA 5:194–96.
62. Laf to GW (four letters), MAR 9, 1784, GLW 276–83. The third one is also in ILA 5:208–9.
63. Laf to GW, MAY 14, 1784, ILA 5:216–18.
64. Laf to BF, May 20, 1784, ILA 5:220–22; Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin, 426–27. The king asked BF to join a commission of scientists and physicians looking into Mesmer’s claims. One of Mesmer’s pupils had split from him and offered a competing theory. Mesmer refused to appear before the commission, but the challenger did, treating Franklin without noticeable effect. The group decided that animal magnetism was nonsense that demonstrated “the power of imagination.” Laf defended Mesmer and asked BF to give the quack another chance.
65. Laf to ADR, JUN 20, 25, and 28, 1784, ILA 5:226–27, 229–31. He sailed on the first ship to offer regular passenger service between France and the United States, Courrier de New York.
66. Shortly after his arrival, there was a gunfight between rival claimants and commissioners of Pennsylvania and Connecticut over disputed lands in the West. He used that news to urge TJ and others to proceed with a stronger constitution, although “it may be affirmed that this trifling affair is vanishing into nothing.” Laf to TJ, OCT 11, 1784, ILA 5:266–67.
67. Laf to Samuel Adams, AUG 7, Address of the Committee of Officers of the Late Pennsylvania Line, AUG 9, Laf to the Committee, AUG 10, and to Adr, AUG 13, and Minutes of the American Philosophical Society, AUG 12, 1784, ILA 5:233–36, 236n; Laf to GW, AUG 10, 1784, GLW 284–85.
68. Laf to Adr, AUG 20, 1784, ILA 5:237–38; Laf to Adr, nd 1784, quoted Maurois, Adrienne, 120–21.
69. Wiencek, Imperfect God, 259–64; Ellis, His Excellency, 160–64; Flexner, George Washington New, 39–41.
70. Laf to Adr, AUG 20, 1784, ILA 5:237–38. On the Potomac plan, see Achenbach, Grand Idea. See also Ellis, His Excellency, 156–58, and Fle
xner, George Washington New, 72–75.
71. Address of the Citizens of Baltimore, and Laf reply, SEP 1, 1784, ILA 5:240–41.
72. JMA to TJ, SEP 7, 1784, ILA 5:241–42. Spain had closed all its ports in Europe, the West Indies, and America to American shipping, including New Orleans.
73. Laf to Ver, SEP 15, and JMA to TJ, SEP 15, 1784, ILA 5:243–44, 243n.
74. Barbé de Marbois’ Journal of His Visit to the Territory of the Six Nations, Laf to the Commissioners of Congress, SEP 30, Laf, Account of Meeting with the Six Nations, OCT 3–4, Laf to Adr, OCT 4, to GW, OCT 8, and to prince de Poix, OCT 12, 1784, ILA 5:240–69; Lyon, Man Who Sold, 44–45.
75. JMA to TJ, OCT 17, 1784, ILA 5:271–74.
76. Laf to TJ, OCT 11, to Humphreys, OCT 31, and to Adr, OCT nd, 1784, ILA 5:266–67, 276–77.
77. Laf to GW, OCT 8, and to AH, OCT 22, 1784, ILA 5:264–65, 275–76; Laf to GW, OCT 22, 1784, GLW 287.
78. Laf, Recommendation for James, NOV 21, 1784, ILA 5:277–79, 279n. The emancipation was effected in JAN 1787.
79. Laf to JMA, DEC 15, 1784, ILA 5:285–87.
80. Both quoted Maurois, Adrienne, 123–24.
81. GW to Laf, DEC 8, 1784, ILA 5:279–80. This is quoted below. See also Maurois, Adrienne, 123–24.
82. Resolutions of Congress, DEC 9, 10, and 11, Laf, Address to the Continental Congress, DEC 11, Congress to Louis XVI, DEC 11, Richard Henry Lee to Laf, DEC 11, Laf to JJ and to PC, both DEC 12, to JMA, DEC 15, to GW, DEC 17, and to Samuel Adams, DEC 19, 1784, ILA 5:280–89, 281n, 282n, 285n.
83. GW to Laf, DEC 8, 1784, ILA 5:279–80.
84. Laf to GW, DEC 21, 1784, GLW 288–90.
85. GW to Laf, DEC 23, 1784, ILA 5:289–90.
86. Flexner, George Washington New, 414.
Chapter Fourteen
1. Faÿ, Revolutionary Spirit, 431–32.
2. Laf to Adr, JAN 23, to NG, MAR 16, and to Jeremiah Wadsworth, APR 16, 1785, ILA 5:292–93, 293n, 302–4, 318–19; Maurois, Adrienne, 125–28; Bernier, Lafayette, 148–50; Gottschalk, Lafayette Between, 162. The Indian boys stayed about three years.
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