General Rochambeau

⚜️ I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with the esteemed diplomat, His Excellency, Mr. Adams, at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival. A fierce advocate for the cause of American independence, he worked tirelessly to achieve that end. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ Mr. Adams played a central role in the design, negotiation & implementation of the commercial & military alliances between the United States & the Kingdom of France. In so doing, he helped pave the way for French aide to the former American colonies.

⚜️ Following the allied victory over the British at Yorktown, VA, Mr. Adams played a key role in negotiating the terms of the Treaty of Paris, working to achieve the best possible outcome for America’s interests.

⚜️ Several Americans worked with Louis XVI’s government to facilitate French assistance to the American War of Independence, & to ensure it remained sovereign once the war had been won. Visit us at next year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the diplomatic relations between France & the United States during the 1770s & 80s. Rendez-vous 2-5 July 2027 at Scera Park in Orem, UT.

⚜️ On behalf of the French Expeditionary Corps, I was honoured to present His Excellency, Docteur Franklin with a commemorative coin of his own design: a silver LIBERTAS AMERICANA.

⚜️ Following the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781, then-Ambassadeur Franklin created the LIBERTAS AMERICANA coin to honour the Franco-American alliance. Struck in limited number, the coins were packed with historical symbols depicting the United States’ fight for self determination.

⚜️ The historical figures on the coin’s obverse & reverse provide powerful & poignant representations of the alliance between our two great nations. It was our pleasure to explain the deep meaning of these figures as they relate to the American War of Independence.

⚜️ Our presentation schedule for next year is not yet fixed. We do, however, plan to return to the 2027 iteration of the Colonial Heritage Festival, scheduled over the July 4 weekend. We hope to see you there. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ The French Expeditionary Corps was honoured to share the story of France’s contributions to American independence with our many guests at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival.

⚜️ This year’s event, highlighting the 250th anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence, was unique in many ways. During our daily, noontime public lecture at the Faneuil Hall venue, our guests were able to meet and interact with additional members of my staff.

⚜️ We all count ourselves fortunate to promote a better understanding of French contributions to the cause of American self determination. We hope to see our many guests again at next year’s Colonial Heritage Festival, scheduled over the July 4 weekend, 2027. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ Just a few more days remaining until we open the French Expeditionary Corps Headquarters tent to guests at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival.

⚜️ Come meet the Comte de Rochambeau & members of his staff to learn about the various ways in which the Kingdom of France supported the American War of Independence from the British Empire. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ The Expédition Particulière - or the French Expeditionary Corps of 1780 - was composed of a diverse group of individuals. An entity of the Kingdom of France, its composition reflected the larger French empire & its alliances.

⚜️ Among its ranks were nationals of many European countries, of varied demographic, linguistic & cultural groups, some aristocratic, and others, not. At this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival, we will offer our guests the opportunity to learn more about some of these individuals.

⚜️ In addition to the Comte de Rochambeau, visitors this year will have the opportunity to meet & converse with the Marquis the Laval, commander of the Régiment de Bourbonnais, Colonel Desandrouins, the Expedition’s Chief of Engineers, & Count Axel von Fersen, Aide-de-Camp to Rochambeau.

⚜️ This year, some of our guests may also have the chance to make the acquaintance of Mme la Comtesse de Rochambeau - whose husband & only son served with the French Expeditionary Corps. Madame la Comtesse will also be accompanied by some of her close associates.

⚜️ Come see us at the French Expeditionary Corps headquarters tent to learn more about the why the Kingdom of France felt compelled to support the American cause for independence from Great Britain. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ After disembarking the French Expeditionary Corps in Newport, RI in July 1780, my staff & I began work on the series of monumental tasks required to achieve combat readiness. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ We did not reach full strength for several months after our arrival, since many of our personnel had fallen ill during the Atlantic crossing, & required months of medical care & convalescence.

⚜️ My staff soon set about resolving complex supply & logistical issues, including securing food for our constituent regiments, as well acquiring the large number of wheeled vehicles, draft animals & teamsters we would need to move overland to assist the Continental Army.

⚜️ Throughout this process, we worked with various provisioning agents, as well as prominent citizens of Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Connecticut to obtain the needed supplies & equipment.

⚜️ As our campaigns progressed, & as we travelled from state to state, we continued to work closely with several key civilians to provide for our material needs.

⚜️ We often paid in specie, &, as a result, we experienced little issue finding parties willing to transact with us. Once united with the cash-strapped Continental Army, however, we were forced to alter our payment methods so as to ensure that our allies were also able to secure their needed supplies.

⚜️ Come visit the French Expeditionary Corps headquarters tent to learn more about the fascinating supply, financial & logistical challenges faced by the allied armies as they worked to defeat British hegemony in North America. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ This year’s Colonial Heritage Festival will soon be upon us. Don’t miss this event of special significance: we are told that it will be the largest commemoration of this era, held west of the MIssissippi River. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ An assemblage of talented first-person reenactors & skilled historical interpreters are looking forward to sharing their unique insights & perspectives on this fascinating period. Artisans & trades folk, political figures & civil servants, & military personalities - each representing loyalist or revolutionary view points - will all converse with you gladly.

⚜️ During your visit, come see us at the French Expeditionary Corps headquarters tent to learn more about the why the Kingdom of France felt compelled to support the American cause for independence from Great Britain. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ Once an armed conflict has been resolved & a peace treaty signed, amiable associations between gentlemen of previously antagonistic states were not unusual. Indeed, in some instances, such as the aftermath of a battle, gentlemen of arms of the victorious side would graciously receive their adversaries - offering fine dining, mutual compliments, & perhaps even financial or material support. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷

⚜️ Such was the case following the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, where the British Crown Forces surrendered to the allied armies of the United States & the Kingdom of France. My staff & I were pleased to receive our British counterparts at a reception shortly afterward.

⚜️ Following the 1783 Treaty of Paris (that ended the war in North America), former adversaries of the French & British armies continued to receive each other with the dignity & respect due to a fellow gentleman of the profession of arms.

⚜️ Come visit the French Expeditionary Corps headquarters tent at this year’s Colonial Heritage Festival to learn more about the 18th century European concept of honour among gentlemen, & the correct treatment of prisoners during the American War of Independence. Rendez-vous 2-4 July 2026 at Scera Park, in Orem, UT.

⚜️ 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. 🇺🇸🏳️🇪🇸🇬🇧🇱🇺🇫🇷