General Rochambeau

⚜️ By late 1783, with our North American mission completed, the majority of the French Expeditionary Corps had departed the United States for other duty assignments within the French Empire.

⚜️ My once regular associations with fellow Corps members were abruptly severed with our dispersal. It was my pleasure to remake the acquaintance of my beloved comrades, especially when our paths crossed unexpectedly.

⚜️ Created in adversity, the fraternal bonds developed during our duty in Amérique septentrionale endured far beyond the conclusion of America’s War of Independence from the British Crown.

⚜️ Come meet & visit with French Expeditionary Corps staff members at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the friendships formed during wartime - with our comrades in the profession of arms, in both the Continental Army & British Crown Forces. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ M. Desandrouins, Chief of Engineers of the French Expeditionary Corps, experienced no difficulty conversing in English. Indeed, students at the Royal Engineering School at Mézières were required to learn English as part of their curriculum.

⚜️ During his career in the French Royal Army, M. Desandrouins had ample opportunity to refine his linguistic skills: prior to his participation in our 1780-83 Expédition Particulière, he served in the North American theater during the Seven Years War. His distinguished work during this period was recognized with his award of the Order of Saint Louis.

⚜️ Come meet Colonel Desandroiuns - & other members of the French Expeditionary Corps - at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival. It will be our pleasure to explain the composition of the French Expeditionary Corps, our respective backgrounds, & our motives for helping the newly formed United States in its War of Independence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ At his year’s Colonial Heritage Festival, our guests will have the opportunity to hear from additional members of the French Expeditionary Corps. Select Corps staff members will share their backgrounds & perspectives on France’s support for the cause of American Independence.

⚜️ You can visit with these individuals, as well as General Rochambeau, during our daily group presentation, or find us at our Yorktown Headquarters Tent.

⚜️ Come see us at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the composition of the French Expeditionary Corps, & their motives for helping the newly formed United States in its War of Independence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ The Colonial Heritage Festival, a three-day event held annually in Orem, UT, offers unique opportunities to interact with a selection of talented first-person historical interpreters.

⚜️ Members of the French Expeditionary Corps of 1780 had the pleasure of visiting with one such man: the distinguished polymath, His Excellency, M. Benjamin Franklin. We were delighted to hear a selection of anecdotes of his time spent in Europe.

⚜️ While many individuals contributed to galvanizing French support for the cause of American independence from Great Britain, M. Franklin played a key role therein.

⚜️ Visit us at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about Franco-American diplomacy before, during & after the American War of Independence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ On 30 April 1789, my esteemed colleague & friend, His Excellency, General Washington, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States of America under it’s new, 1787 Constitution.

⚜️ I regret that I was unable to witness his inauguration, as my duties to the French Crown required my presence elsewhere. About this time, my service took me to England, to join dignitaries of other European countries in celebrating the recovery of His Majesty, King George III.

⚜️ During my visit to London, I was very pleased to be reunited with the officers of General Cornwallis’ Yorktown army then present in the City. Without reservation, these fine gentlemen openly expressed their gratitude for the humanity & kindness shown them by the French Army after their surrender, in October, 1781.

⚜️ To recognize the achievement of our dear M le President Washington, Mme la Comtesse & I will celebrate the anniversary of his inaugural event at a Ball in his honor, to be held later this month. Should your diary allow, join Old Glory Historical Dance on Saturday, 23 May 2026.

⚜️ Visit us at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the relationships between the United States, France & Britain, before, during & after the American War of Independence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ Enjoying a light-hearted moment with His Excellency, Don Bernardo de Gálvez, my Aide-de-camp M. von Fersen, & others, prior to taking the stage at the South Meeting House during last year’s Colonial Heritage Festival.

⚜️ Each of us feels honored to share the story of the powerful European alliances - both formal & informal - the combined influences of which ultimately turned the tide of the war in North America against Britain.

⚜️ Come visit General Rochambeau’s Headquarters Tent at this year's Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about European contributions to American independence from British rule. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ I remember with great pleasure our several gatherings with the good citizenry of the United States of America. Prior to leaving France, we did our utmost to anticipate & prepare for the challenges of conducting combat operations far from home. After our arrival, however, we discovered numerous unforeseen obstacles.

⚜️ The relationships we developed with our American counterparts were essential to our mutual success. Using the creativity & ingenuity of my staff, & drawing upon the resourcefulness of our American allies, we overcame these barriers.

⚜️ With hard work, good fortune & excellent timing, our combined labors convinced the British that their efforts to subjugate the American people were futile.

⚜️ Come visit General Rochambeau’s Headquarters Tent at this year's Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the challenges we faced, & the paths we developed to achieve American independence from British rule. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ During our stay in Newport, Rhode Island, it was our pleasure to make the acquaintance of many of its citizens, & to explain the French Expeditionary Corps’ purpose in the United States.

⚜️ Prior to our arrival in the summer of 1780, the people of this region had endured significant economic & material depredations at the hands of the British Crown Forces who had lately occupied this area.

⚜️ Their perspectives strongly influenced by their recent suffering, upon our arrival there, Newport’s residents viewed us with understandable caution & skepticism. They were uncertain of our mission & intentions. With time & effort, we succeeded in clarifying these points.

⚜️ Throughout our time in Newport & its surrounding areas, we enjoyed the hospitality of its distinguished residents. Once established ashore, we, in our own turn, reciprocated their generosity by hosting them at our own social gatherings.

⚜️ Come visit us at General Rochambeau’s Yorktown Headquarters tent at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the key roles played by the citizens of Rhode Island, Massachusetts & Connecticut in helping the French Expeditionary Corps counter British influence in the United States. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ Day two of last year’s Colonial Heritage Festival, just before taking the stage for our mid-day presentation on the French Expeditionary Corps’ role in the allied victory at Yorktown, in October 1781.

⚜️ In addition to our conversations with individuals visiting Rochambeau’s Headquarters Tent, we were honored by the opportunity to address a much larger group each day at the Festival’s South Meeting House venue.

⚜️ We’re planning to do the same again at this year’s event, so do come by and say hello. As the date draws near, the Festival will publish a map of locations - including ours - as well as an event schedule, indicating the date, time & place of various speakers & displays.

⚜️ Come visit us at General Rochambeau’s Yorktown Headquarters tent, or stop by for our daily, large-group presentation to learn more about the French Expeditionary Corps' support of the American War of Indpendence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ During the years we spent in the United States, I relied greatly on the talents of Monsieur Axel von Fersen - one of my very accomplished aides-de-camp, & an original member of the Expédition Particulière. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ A polyglot, Swedish Count, he hailed from one of that kingdom’s most distinguished & influential families. Their great wealth afforded him many excellent educational & travel opportunities, which he diligently pursued.

⚜️ Already a commissioned officer in King Gustav III’s army, His Majesty, King Louis XVI appointed him a Colonel of infantry in the French Royal Army, & commissioned him to serve the Expeditionary Corps’ staff as an interpreter.

⚜️ M. le Comte was present at the highest levels throughout the Corps’ three-year, North American mission. He accompanied my staff to Hartford, Connecticut, for our first meeting with His Excellency, General George Washington. Later, during the Yorktown Campaign, he served as a key liaison between the French Expeditionary Corps & the Continental Army, greatly facilitating the eventual success of our campaign.

⚜️ M. von Fersen was not the only young, Swedish nobleman to serve in France’s fight against Britain’s outsized influence around the globe: some of his close associates also participated in France’s military efforts during the American War of Independence.

⚜️ Come visit General Rochambeau’s Yorktown Headquarters tent at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to meet M. von Fersen, & to learn more about why young, European nobles were eager to join the fight against British Crown Forces. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.