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The Washington Library at Mount Vernon acquired six stunning George Washington letters written to François Jean de Beauvoir, Marquis de Chastellux, an Enlightenment thinker and general in the French army during the American War of Independence.
François-Jean de Beauvoir, chevalier de Chastellux was born in Paris, France in 1734 and died there on October 24, 1788. He began his military career at a young age as a second lieutenant during the Seven Years’ War, and rose to the rank of major general. He later served under Rochambeau, commander of the French expeditionary force sent to aid the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. He arrived in America in July 1780. After successful participation in the Yorktown campaign, he remained in America for over a year. He returned to France in January 1783; where he was made a Marshall of France and named Inspector General of Infantry. In 1784, he succeeded his brother as the Marquis de Chastellux.
Significance of the Chastellux Letters from Mount Vernon on Vimeo.
During Chastellux’s time in America he became a close friend to Washington and they maintained this friendship until Chastellux's death. Having immense respect for Washington, in 1780-1782 Chastellux commissioned Charles Wilson Peale to paint a portrait of him commemorating the victory at Yorktown. And, in April 1786 he published Voyages de M. le Marquis de Chastellux dans l’Amérique Septentrionale Dans les Années 1780, 1781 & 1782 (Travels in North America), a book on his experiences in America including a description of Washington in which he stated that “the strongest characteristic of this respectable man is the perfect union with reigns between the physical and moral qualities which compose the individual… .” In August 1786, Chastellux presented a French-language copy to Washington who then purchased the English translation in August 1787. The Washington Library is home to both of these editions.
Washington began corresponding with Chastellux, a fluent English speaker, on January 28, 1781 when he welcomed him to Newport after “traversing so much of the American theatre of War.”1 While much of the early correspondence related to activities of war, as their friendship grew, Washington revealed a more poetic and personal side. When Chastellux left for France, Washington remarked with much emotion that he “felt too much to express anything….a sense of your public Services to this Country, & gratitude for your private friendship, quite overcame me at the moment of our separation… .”2
Washington appeared to truly enjoy the intellectual exchange and these personal sentiments continued throughout their correspondence along with detailed accounts of the state of political affairs in American and growing international relationships. Five of the documented 21 letters written by George Washington to Chastellux are now back at Mount Vernon.
In this letter, written after Chastellux departed the headquarters at Newburgh to return home to France, Washington writes, “I felt too much to express any thing, the day I parted with you.” He wishes Chastellux a safe voyage back to France and expresses his hope that the two can take a tour of North America together.
Written from Newburgh, this letter was written in response to Chastellux’s return to Paris and demonstrates the great friendship between the two, “…your Letter…has convinced me that time nor distance can eradicate the Seeds of friendship when they have taken root in a good Soil & are nurtured by Philanthropy & benevolence.”
After successfully commanding the Army, Washington discussed his strong desire to retire: “Having the appearance, & indeed the enjoyment of peace, without a final declaration of it ... it being my axious desire to quit the walks of public life, & under the shadow of my own vine, and my own Fig-tree."
After returning to Mount Vernon on Christmas Eve 1783, Washington enthusiastically remarked that he was finally able to retire: “I am at length become a private citizen of America, on the banks of the Potowmac; where under my own Vine & my own Fig tree—free from the bustle of a camp & the intrigues of a Court, I shall view the busy world."
Washington hoped for peaceful trade and poetically outlined how nations might accomplish such a noble task: “It gives me great pleasure to find by my last letters from France, that the dark clouds which hung over you[r] hemisphere, are vanishing before the all-chearing Sunshine of peace. My first wish is to see the blessings of it diffused through all Countries, & among all ranks in every Country."
Washington reveals his humorous side after learning of Chastellux’s recent marriage: "A wife! well my dear Marquis, I can hardly refrain from smiling to find you are caught at last. I saw, by the eulogium you often made on the happiness of domestic life in America, that you had swallowed the bate and that you would as surely be taken (one day or another) as you was a Philosopher and a Soldier."
Special thanks to the following donors, who aided in the acquisition of these letters:
Learn more about Chastellux's life in our Digital Encyclopedia.
Research courtesy of:
Michelle Lee
Special Collection Librarian
George Washington Library at Mount Vernon
Iris De Rode, a Mount Vernon Fellow, studied documents from the private Chastellux family archive which contains numerous sources on the American War on Independence.
