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Generals Washington and Rochambeau from a painting by Auguste Couder at Versailles

Le Marquis de la Fayette 2010 Sept 06 is the 253rd birthday of Continental Army General Lafayette. Who was this man whom the U.S. Congress designated an honorary citizen of the United States? On Monday, September 13, 2010, Lafayette: The Lost Hero will premiere nationally on PBS television stations at 10 PM Eastern Time (Check your local TV listings for the date and time in your area.) Part adventure, part romance, part historical journey, the documentary chronicles the life and legend of Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette — an intriguing, neglected, and controversial figure from both the American and French Revolutions. See further information on the documentary

11th Annual National Historic Landmark Photo Contest You have until September 10 to submit photos of National Historic Landmarks for review by the National Park Service. Winners will be announced on Sept. 27, and the W3R-US would be pleased if one of the winning photos was a landmark along the W3R-NHT -- some of which are: Boston (MA) Naval Shipyard, Old State House (Newport RI), Samuel Huntington Birthplace (Scotland CT), Philipsburg Manor (Upper Mills, Westchester County NY), Old Barracks (Trenton NJ), Carpenters' Hall (Philadelphia PA), Jacob Broom House (Montchanin DE), Colonial Annapolis (MD) Historic District, Lafayette Square Historic District (DC), and Mount Vernon (VA). Winning photos will appear on the 2010 NHL event planners. Details of the Contest Flikr page for viewing and submitting contest photos NOTE: All entries must be photos of National Historic Landmarks, and you must tag all photographs "2010nhlphotocontest" List of National Historic Landmarks

Target Provides Grants for K-12 Field Trips You have until September 30 to submit an online application for the Target Field Trip Grants program, which provides funds for K-12 field trips in order to give students throughout the country the opportunity to explore more of the world outside the classroom. For the 2010-2011 school year, 5,000 grants of up to $700 each will be awarded to educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and classified staff who are employed by accredited K-12 public, private, or charter schools. Types of eligible trips include art, science, and cultural museum visits; community service and civic projects; career enrichment opportunities; and other events or activities away from the school facility. Suggestions for Visits Related to the W3R: MA: The Boston Navy Yard -- where the French navy squardon that supported Rochambeau's French Expeditionary Force (FEF) was repaired during 1780-1782 and from where the FEF departed the U.S. in December 1782. RI: Newport Harbor -- where Rochambeau's French Expeditionary Force (FEF) landed in June of 1780 and from where they departed for Providence and the march to the Dobbs Ferry area near White Plains NY in June 1781. CT: The Lebanon village green -- where the French hussars setup long ovens to bake their daily bread and practised making charges against enemy cavalry -- a skill put to good use a year later in Gloucester VA. NY: Hartsdale -- where General Rochambeau had his headquarters (now a museum) during the six weeks that the French army was camped here while seeking an opportunity to attack the British-fortified city of New York. NJ: Trenton -- where the French army column rejoined the Continental Army column marching south toward Yorktown VA. For days the city was bustling with horses, oxen, men, wagons, and boats that transported men and supplies south. Visit the German Barracks, a Revolutionary War site. PA: Fort Mifflin (just north of the Philadelphia Airport) -- which held off a much larger force of the enemy for six weeks in 1777. General Rochambeau was touring this fort when General Washington received Admiral de Grasse's message about blockading the Chesapeake, ensuring that the British army at Yorktown VA could not escape. DE: Christiana -- where the American cannon and the artillery corps were taken off barges and carted to Elkton MD to be taken by ship on their way to the siege of Yorktown VA. Visit the Pencader Heritage Museum, just off Old Baltimore Pike. MD: Annapolis -- where Lafayette's Continental Army troops camped on their way south in 1781, followed by Rochambeau's troops on the weay to Yorktown. Look for several French cannon next to the Naval Academy drill field. DC: Visit Rose Park near the bridge on P Street, recently named the Lauzun's Legion Bridge for the French mixed cavalry-infantry regiment that passed near here on their return after the siege and victory at Yorktown VA. VA: Yorktown -- where for a month in 1781 the armies of three nations clashed on land and sea, and the outcome led to independence for the United States and the raised the hope of liberty for all people. Funds may be used to cover trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, food, resource materials, and supplies. Online applications must be submitted by September 30, 2010. Visit the Target website (click on image below) to learn more about the program.

During the summer the highway departments of Rhode Island and Connecticut erected signs on Rt 14 near their border to mark the road where in June 1781 the French army column left Rhode Island on its way to join the Continental Army, camped north of New York City, which was fortified and occupied by Great Britain. See [photos]

The W3R-US Logo is a Registered Servicemark The W3R-US logo (at top of the menu column) has been registered with the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office. People, companies, and organizations who wish to use this logo should secure a limited license for the intended use. Further information is available from the chair of the W3R-US, Mrs. Charles G. L. de Barcza at .

An Introduction to W3R (Washington- Rochambeau Revolutionary Route NHT) You will enjoy reading this article by Dr. Robert Selig and Joe DiBello reformatted from Pathways Across America, Spring 2010, a publication of the Parnership for the National Trail System. The original article is at www.pnts.org/pathways/summer-2010-pathways/ an-introduction-to-w3r-washington-rochambeau-revolutionary-route-nht

Coming Events Click here for more details and for other W3R events scheduled for 2010: Read our E-news -- Archived issues of our monthly newsletter An Urgent Dispatch for the General Staff and of summaries of the W3R-NHT's Superintendant's reports. The most recently posted of these is 2010 July NPS [PDF]. Past Events in 2010: Gala Banquet in France [photos] NY-NJ-PA Planning Workshop [photos] MA-RI-CT Planning Workshop [photos] DE-MD-DC-VA Planning Workshop [photos] W3R-US Annual Meeting [photos] Tour of Charleville and Mézières (France) [notes] W3R-DE meeting [photo] Delaware ceremony honoring military sacrifice. [photo] Rhode Island Sixth Strawberry Buscuit Tea for Gen. Rochambeau [photo] Delaware and the national Let Freedom Ring event [photo] Dobbs Ferry NY's Fifth Annual Road To Freedom Walk [photo] Signage at the RI-CT Border [photos]

The March to Achieve Independence; History of Establising the W3R-NHT On July 4, 2010, Mrs. Charles G.L. de Barcza, chairman of the Board of the W3R-US, gave the keynote presentation to the Washington Campground Association. Read the text of this speech [PDF].

The Battle of Wyoming (PA) On July 3, 2020, W3R-PA member Denise Dennis gave the keynote speech at the commemoration of the 232nd anniversary of the Battle of Wyoming. On July 3, 1778, a large Loyalist force atacked and overwhelmed the garrison of a small fort at Wyoming PA. Over 200 defenders and residents in the fort were massacred and burned, including Gershom Prince. Gershom Prince was one of the many free blacks who served on the patriot side during the American Revolution. Even before the Revolution he had fought in the French and Indian War, and he carried a powder horn inscribed with his name, Crown Point (NY) and 1761. He served as a private at the Wyoming PA fort. Denise Dennis is an author and journalist and head of the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust, which maintains the farm (in Wyoming) on which her free black ancestors settled in 1793. She is a direct descendant of Prince Perkins, who was the uncle of Gershom Prince. See the on-line report in the Times Leader at www.timesleader.com/news/Stored-up_history_06-30-2010.html

The Grandest Things is a 116-page, hardcover book that tells the story of 100 national parks using photographs and postage stamps to illustrate important places, people, and events. Robert Reyes (a Director of the W3R-US and an employee of the Postal Service "who is very passionate about the National Parks") played a key role in developing the book, which is a joint effort of the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Postal Service. For details see the NPS Announcement

Two Brief Slideshows The Mason Neck Citizen's Association (in Virginia) has posted several slideshows (set to music) of (1) the W3R route in Virginia and (2) the everysday life of a Revolutionary War soldier. We have added links to them from our Slides page. Our thanks go to Jerry Lyons and his wife for creating the slideshows.

Battles of the American Revolution The Guide to the American Revolutionary War in Canada and New England (Busca, Inc., 2010), by Norman Desmarais, covers 403 battles, raids and skirmishes of the Revolutionary War in this area. It identifies the location of the sites, provides historical background, and lists the interpretive aids there. It has links to the websites of pertinent parks and tourist organizations that post upcoming events. There are many photographs showing details of historic buildings, monuments, battlefields, and equipment. A Glossary defines 18th-century military and historical terms. This is the first volume of a projected multi-volume series that will provide a comprehensive history of the military actions in the War of American Independence. The author has compiled data for almost 3,000 engagements (several times more than in previously published lists) and documents these in ample footnotes. To view the appendices (alphabetical and chronological lists of all 3,000 engagements), the bibliography, and the color photos see the publisher’s website buscainc.com/html/guidetotheamericanrevolutionarywar.html