This newsletter is to provide a means for keeping historians,
re-enactors, and other interested people aware of the activity
to list the Revolutionary Road on the National Register of Historic
Places. Rochambeau's French army defined the Revolutionary Road
when they marched from Newport to Yorktown and back to Boston.
The goal is to encourage creation of a National Historic Trail
with the registration of the entire route that passes through
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, and to raise
to a higher level the quality of heritage preservation all along
the route.
Feel free to extract any information you may need when writing
letters for support.
Irreconcilable Similarities
Who can doubt that Britain, France and America are peas
from the same pod when it comes to the national ideals of liberty,
independence, freedom of religion, fraternity, tolerance, and
the social contract? Four of the British kings had chosen to
be buried in France. But as is so often the case, family arguments
often arise out of irreconcilable similarities that become battles
of the will.
America was lucky to have such a fine, honorable, and like-minded
enemy against whom she could lean and become strong. If only
all our enemies could be like the British, then we would have
no need for friends. And so it is no surprise that when British
and American Rev war re-enactors clash, more often than not
it is a draw and ends with a handshake. Americans who re-enact
the British do so with the utmost respect and affection for
our honorable opponents who gave their lives for very similar
ideals.
The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route -What it is
about.
The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route stretches
across Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and on the return trip, Massachusetts.
Much of the route is on the original colonial post roads. Therefore
abandoned sections of the route are often also the oldest existing
stagecoach routes in America. The route was used by the American
Continental Army to deploy troops in more than five military
engagements, including the successful battle to drive the Redcoats
out of Rhode Island. That victory made it possible for the French
to land an army at Newport, Rhode Island to join us in our fight
for American independence. It took a year for the French army
to purchase the necessary horses and forage for the military
campaign in America. During that time George Washington waited
anxiously as our Continental Army dwindled to less than 3,000
troops and America teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and defeat.
When General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de
Rochambeau's French Army transported their artillery across
the American states to Yorktown, not many people were aware
that the hardships of the war and disease were taking their
toll. There were French and American graves all along the route.
The route commemorates a Franco-American campaign to immobilize
the Redcoats in New York City and lay siege to their main Southern
army at Yorktown. A decisive intervention of the French navy,
under Admiral de Grasse, drove the British Navy from Chesapeake
Bay, and trapped the Redcoats at Yorktown, Virginia. Rochambeau
joined forces with General Washington on a forced march to Yorktown.
Additional French troops and heavy siege guns were landed near
Yorktown to help lay siege to the British enclave. Total French
army and navy forces grew to 19,000. As the fall harvest was
completed and the news of the march of our French allies spread,
the American Army swelled to almost 9,000.
Fifteen Redcoats were to perish for every one American
soldier before the British surrendered in that final battle
at Yorktown, ending the American Revolutionary War. The French
casualties at Yorktown were 50% greater than those of the Americans.
The French documents show that more than 2,000 French foot soldiers
gave their lives in the fight for American liberty, and if sailors
and other support are included, over 4,000 of the French perished
at our side. And just as General Eisenhower allowed General
DeGaulle to liberate Paris, General Rochambeau declined the
sword of Cornwallis and allowed General Washington claim our
liberty at Yorktown.
Let us also remember that the American Revolution had many
allies, allies from every major European country, of every continent,
and of every race. It was the French who coordinated with the
Spanish and Dutch and lead that allied and very diverse army
and navy under the French flag to help liberate the US. There
is no question that we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to
the French, and it is time that we show our gratitude by honoring
their sacrifices by making the entire Washington-Rochambeau
Revolutionary Route a national historic trail. Britain may have
fathered America, but France was the midwife that brought America
into life.
The Newburgh News
On December 16th approximately fifty delegates attended a meeting
at George Washington's Newburgh, N.Y.
headquarters hosted by Dr. Johnson and Dr. Bossière.
Col. Dr. James Johnson is the former head of the military history
program at West Point and consultant for the Hudson River Conservancy
as the military historian of the Hudson River Valley. Dr. Jacques
Bossière, is a former Yale professor active in Souvenir
Français, and was one of the first to promote the vision
of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (WRRR). Not
many people know this Frenchman is not only a man of wonderful
hope and possibilities but also wonderful contradictions. Reverend
Jacques Bossière is also a Bishop in the Anglican Church.
The meeting was well run under the able and dynamic leadership
of Dr. Johnson. Attending were historians, educators, representatives
of the National Park Service, re-enactors, SAR, DAR, Cincinnati,
Souvenir Français and other Societies from states along
the route. Discussion ranged: Tourism is one of the largest
industries of these states and heritage tourism is the fastest
growing segment. The WRRR would need to be properly marked with
turn offs at historic tourist sites. Tourist maps would show
detail of the route with linkage to related nearby sites.
While states work to accurately define the local route
for the National Register of Historic Places, the states along
the route need to begin to request funding for the NPS to bring
the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route into reality.
The goal for completion is the 225th anniversary in 2006. France
will send a tall ship at that time commemorating the voluntary
and spirited service of Lafayette in our revolution.
See http://www.ville-rochefort.fr/Roch/Aul-uk.html
Dr. Johnson formed a steering committee. Immediate goals
were defined. The approximate route and location of each campsite
are to be defined within the first year. A template of actions
will be defined post haste based on the Connecticut experience.
Governors, Senators, and Congressmen representing districts
along the route will be asked for support for the state site
and historical documentation work and for the funding of NPS
work. Historian David McCullough will be contacted.
Lunch was compliments of Souvenir Français and after
the meeting the participants were given an interesting tour
of the headquarters.
The Crossing-Jan 10
For better or worse, this made for TV movie is bound to shape
the view of the American Revolution and the patriots.
The Newport Candles
Some communities are returning to the early custom of putting
a small light in each window of the home to celebrate the holiday
season and share the candle's warmth and glow with the passing
world. Some say it originated in Newport RI and is a tradition
that is worth spreading along the Revolutionary Road. The light
event was repeated the week of March 6, 1781 when Washington
reviewed the French troops in Newport. Then they also had a
precession with candles. But the story goes back further to
the arrival of the French fleet.
The town of Newport was at first stunned by the size of
the French fleet and some were afraid they were about to be
invaded. The story goes that revolutionary Committee of Safety
knew otherwise and offered free candles so that every house
would have a candle in every window that night to welcome the
French. Rich and poor gathered up the free candles. When everyone
had been served, it was announced that the candles were no longer
free but that the display of lights had become mandatory. Those
who had wanted to boycott this warm display of gratitude to
our allies then had to buy their candles.
Is it up to snuff?
Why is something sub-standard said to be "not up to snuff"?
Aristocrats in the 18th century often carried a snuffbox. They
would take a pinch of snuff and practically stick it up their
noses. Snuff was a powdered form of tobacco. It was very important
to the self-indulgent aristocracy. Commercial brands took over
and soon came the dandies who, like some of today's wine experts,
lorded it over everyone else because they knew the good from
the so-so. Anyone who didn't just wasn't up to snuff.
American Religion, In the Words of Rochambeau
In the last newsletter I quoted the prayer that General Washington
was supposed to have given at Newburgh. Is it possible that
someone dared to alter the prayer and yet quoted it as Washington's?
So far one person says it is in fact a raging controversy in
Virginia. Perhaps someone from the Newburgh Headquarters could
confirm the correct prayer. Historically religious groups seemed
to side with the powers that be. The Quakers were powerful in
Pennsylvania until the revolution when due to their reluctance
to fight they lost influence. Rochambeau points out some of
the problems of the church ministers. He leaves no doubt that
while our forefathers were devout, Christian, and simple or
fundamental in their beliefs, they would have no part in forcing
their beliefs on others.
"Every kind of religion was equally tolerated, the most numerous
sects being those of the church of England, the presbyterians
and the quakers; the former, on account of the supremacy of
the head of their church, whom they recognize in the person
of the sovereign of Great Britain, were most dangerous. The
first act of Congress was to exclude from political as well
as civil assemblies all ecclesiastics without exception.
The ministers were forced in many Communes to abandon their
churches, and it was not until peace that several of them, having
got themselves consecrated by the Lutheran bishop of Denmark
and Sweden, were reinstated in their livings; by these precautions,
religion was prevented from taking a part in political deliberation;
every one professed his own religion with exactitude; the sanctity
of the Lord's day was scrupulously observed. At all public feasts
the minister of religion held the first place; he blessed the
repast; but his prerogatives in society extended no further.
Such preamble must naturally lead to pure and simple manners."
Happy New Year!
