Chastellux, François Jean, marquis de, 1734-1788

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed in French. Paris. Chastellux writes of the departure of the Marquis de Lafayette to America. He imagines the scene if he, instead of Lafayette, might return to America and visit with Washington. He reminisces about the weeks spent at Albany and Saratoga during the Revolution and follows with a postscript regarding Madam Carter now Madam Church.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed. Blindstamped "Archives de Chastellux." Rochambeau writes about Washington's plans for the 1782 campaign and news from Europe.

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed. Washington writes about the sorrow he felt when Chastellux departed to return to France: "A sense of your public services to this country, and gratitude for your private friendship, quite overcame me at the moment of our separation." Washington adds, "I truly say, never in my life did I ever part with a man to whom my soul clave more sincerely than it did to you." Washington hopes that, after the war, he can accompany Chastellux on a tour of North America. In the...

Scope and Contents

Mount Vernon. In this letter, after returning to Mount Vernon on Christmas Eve 1783, George Washington enthusiastically remarked that he was finally able to retire.

Scope and Contents

Princeton. In this letter, after successfully commanding the Army, George Washington discusses his strong desire to retire and concludes the letter with updates on the state of independence and his continued travels to explore western lands.

Scope and Contents

In this letter, George Washington continued with an update on the changing and hopefully improving state of affairs in America.

Scope and Contents

In this letter, George Washington reveals his humorous side after learning of Chastellux’s recent marriage and Washington ended the letter with important information on the Constitution and methods of united the now new nation.

Scope and Contents

Mount Vernon. George Washington opened this letter with a response to Chastellux’s previous flattery, he continued with his hopes for peaceful trade and poetically outlined how nations might accomplish such a noble task, and he concluded with his plans for the Potomac Navigation Company, further identifying peaceful trade as a means of uniting nations.