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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC04322.02 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents relating to quarrel between French naval officers |
| Title | Memoire du Roi pour servir d'instruction particuliere a M. le Cte. de Grasse [in French] |
| Date | 8 June 1780 |
| Author | Sartine, Antoine de, comte d'Alby (1729-1801) |
| Recipient | Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, comte de |
| Document Type | Military document |
| Content Description | Copy of orders sent to Admiral de Grasse. Orders state that he is to replace Comte de Guichen as the French naval commander. Also state that he is to remain in Newport, Rhode Island and protect the French squadron under Rochambeau. By the time de Grasse had received these orders he had already returned to France with Guichen. He quickly returned to America, and later played a vital role in the American victory at Yorktown. This copy was most likely intended to be distributed to de Grasse's subordinates. |
| Subjects | Revolutionary War Military History France Navy Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs |
| People | Sartine, Antoine de, Comte d'Alby (1729-1801) Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, Comte de (1722-1788) |
| Place written | Versailles, France |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Foreign Affairs; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Antoine de Sartine, comte d'Alby, was the French Minister of the Navy. François Joseph Paul comte de Grasse was a French Admiral who served under Comte d'Estaing during the American Revolution. Comte de Grasse and his fleet played a decisive role in the pivotal American victory at Yorktown. After arriving from the Caribbean they took control of the Chesapeake Bay and cut off any attempts to escape by sea. On 12 April 1782 at the Battle of the Saintes he was defeated by the British fleet under Admiral Rodney and taken prisoner. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Copie de la lettre ecrite par M de Sartine a M. le Cte de Grasse [in French] |