Beschreibung:

LAFAYETTE, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834). General, Continental Army . Autograph letter signed ("Lafayette") to Lieutenant Colonel Jean Baptiste Gouvion (1747-1792), n.p., 30 June 1780. 1½ pp, 8vo, light stains , in French. GENERAL LAFAYETTE DELIVERS NEWS OF NAVAL OPERATIONS AND THE ALLIANCE. An important letter in which Lafayette, the young French volunteer who won the affections of George Washington, gives to the engineer, Jean Baptiste Gouvion, the latest news about the progress of the war. From his headquarters in Virginia, Lafayette writes of recent victories at Martinique: "Good news from the islands. Rodney has been defeated in two different engagements and six of his vessels have for some time been out of combat. Mr. De Guichen has lost his oldest son." George B. Rodney (1719-1792), an elderly British admiral who received command of the Leeward Islands' station because no other captain would accept it, failed to issue proper instructions at the April 17, 1780 Battle of Martinique. The results of the engagement were inconclusive and the French commander, Admiral de Guichen, was able to draw the British away from the Carribean. Lafayette notes that the allied forces were growing: "We have heard the news that twelve Spanish ships of the line and 12,000 troops are going to come to the islands and the French generals are preparing themselves to cooperate with them. The Allies will have 42 ships of the line and a large army in this part of America, destined to strike decisive blows." With a continued positive outlook, he writes: "I pray that you will give your attention to the troops at West Point and the future arrangements of the army. It is more interesting than ever to see it growing." Jean Baptiste Gouvion was a French Engineer who came to America upon special request from the Continental Congress and played an active role at West Point and Yorktown (for more information on Gouvion's American operations, see lots 104 and 105).