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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC04322.04 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents relating to quarrel between French naval officers |
| Title | The Marquis de Monteil to François Joseph Paul comte de Grasse complaining about favoritism and tactics [in French] |
| Date | 13 October 1781 |
| Author | Monteil, Adhemar, Marquis de (1725-1787) |
| Recipient | Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, comte de |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Complains about de Grasse rejecting his proposal for a detached action near Chesapeake Bay. Also complains of de Grasse's favoritism towards Admiral Bougainville during the Battle of the Virginia Capes. Charges that de Grasse is not aggressive enough against the English. This is Monteil's retained copy. Written on board Monteil's ship, the Languedoc, in the Chesapeake Bay. |
| Subjects | Revolutionary War Military History France Navy Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Battle |
| People | Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, Comte de (1722-1788) Monteil, Adhemar, Marquis de (1725-1787) |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Foreign Affairs; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | 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. Marquis Adhemar de Monteil was a French naval officer who captained a ship during the American revolution. When he complained to his superior, Comte de Grasse, about a number of issues, a quarrel began between the two. This led to Monteil being demoted to the command of a smaller ship. Upset by this slight, it appears that Monteil later deliberately disobeyed de Grasse's orders, and ended up allowing Admiral Hood's fleet to outmaneuver him in the Caribbean. This mistake would later enable the British to soundly defeat the French at the Battle of the Saintes. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Letter from the Comte de Grasse to Adhemar Marquis de Monteil rejecting the latter's complaints [in French] |