Timeline of the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail in the State of Connecticut
January
Feburary
March
Washington departs from New Windsor with Major General
Robert Howe and his aides Tench Tilghman and David
Humphries to meet with Rochambeau in Newport.
Washington spends the night at the home of Col. Andrew
Morehouse of Dutchess County on the Fishkill-Hopewell road,
near the Connecticut State line.
Washington meets up with Governor Jonathan Trumbull and
his son Jonathan Jr. in Hartford. Washington and the younger
Trumbull continue on to Lebanon where they spend the night.
Washington arrives in Newport.
Coming from a meeting with Rochambeau in Newport,
Washington and his military family leave Providence and ride
to Lebanon in Connecticut via Canterbury, Scotland and
Windham, traveling more than 60 miles on horseback.
Washington leaves Lebanon for Hartford.
Leaves Hartford for New Windsor.
Washington is back in New Windsor.
April
Admiral de Grasse leaves Brest for the Caribbean.
May
Rochambeau's son returns from France with cash and the news
that the second division would not be coming after all.
Washington leaves New Windsor for Wethersfield. He spends
the night at Morgan’s tavern, 43 miles from Fishkill, NY.
Rochambeau and Chastellux leave Newport for Wethersfield.
Washington arrives in Wethersfield accompanied by Henry
Knox and Presle Duportail; lodges in the home of Joseph Webb.
Rochambeau and Chastellux leave Newport for Wethersfield.
Washington arrives in Wethersfield accompanied by Henry Knox and Presle Duportail; lodges in the home of Joseph Webb.
Washington arrives in Wethersfield accompanied by Henry Knox and Presle Duportail; lodges in the home of Joseph Webb.
Rochambeau and Chastellux spend the night at Daniel “White’s
Tavern at the Sign of the Black Horse” in Andover.
Rochambeau and Chastellux arrive in Wethersfield and lodge at
Stillmann's Tavern.
Washington and Rochambeau meet at Wethersfield to discuss
strategy. They decide to focus on New York City.
Rochambeau and Chastellux spend the night in Wethersfield.
Rochambeau and Chastellux spend the night at Daniel “White’s
Tavern at the Sign of the Black Horse” in Andover.
Washington leaves Hartford and spends the night in Litchfield.
Washington leaves Hartford and spends the night in Litchfield.
Rochambeau and Chastellux spend the night in Providence.
Washington arrives in New Windsor at about sunset.
Washington arrives in New Windsor at about sunset.
Rochambeau and Chastellux return to Newport.
June
Lieutenant-Colonel Hugau of Lauzun’s Legion receives orders
to march from Providence to Lebanon on Saturday, 16 June,
with the 31 healthy replacements for the Legion from the Royal
Barrois due to arrive that day from Boston.
The infantry and artillery of Lauzun’s Legion leave Providence
and spend the nights of 14/15 June in Plainfield, and of 16/17
June in Windham. They arrive in Lebanon on 17 June.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hugau leaves Providence for Lebanon.
Coming from Providence, Hugau quarters in Plainfield.
Coming from Plainfield, Hugau quarters in Windham.
Coming from Windham, Hugau arrives in Lebanon.
For the march to New York Rochambeau organized his forces into four divisions of one infantry regiment each plus its artillery complement and wagon train. Lauzun’s Legion took a route separate from the infantry that took it along the coast..
The Regiment Bourbonnois as the first French division is the first French unit to cross into Connecticut from Rhode Island on its way to its camp in Plainfield.
The remaining regiments, the Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow over the next three days.
For the march to New York Rochambeau organized his forces into four divisions of one infantry regiment each plus its artillery complement and wagon train. Lauzun’s Legion took a route separate from the infantry that took it along the coast..
The Regiment Bourbonnois as the first French division is the first French unit to cross into Connecticut from Rhode Island on its way to its camp in Plainfield.
The remaining regiments, the Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow over the next three days.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Windham. The remaining
three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge
follow over the next three days.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Bolton. The remaining
three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge
follow over the next three days.
Lauzun’s Legion, some 600 men strong including its infantry supplement which had wintered in Newport, leaves Lebanon for Philippsburg on a route on the left flank of the infantry.
The northern detachment of Lauzun’s Legion encamps just north of Amston on Amston Lake.
The column marching closer to the coast camps at Pine Swamp.
Lauzun’s Legion, some 600 men strong including its infantry supplement which had wintered in Newport, leaves Lebanon for Philippsburg on a route on the left flank of the infantry.
The northern detachment of Lauzun’s Legion encamps just north of Amston on Amston Lake.
The column marching closer to the coast camps at Pine Swamp.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Hartford. The remaining
three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge
follow over the next three days for three days’ rest each.
The detachment of Lauzun’s Legion coming from Amston Lake camps in Middletown on the west bank of the Connecticut River. 23/24 June 1781 are spent crossing the River.
The column from Pine Swamp marches toward East Haddam. There it crosses the Connecticut River and continues toward the coast through Chester until it enters the Boston Turnpike. It is unknown where they camp on 22, 23, 24, and 25 June.
The detachment of Lauzun’s Legion coming from Amston Lake camps in Middletown on the west bank of the Connecticut River. 23/24 June 1781 are spent crossing the River.
The column from Pine Swamp marches toward East Haddam. There it crosses the Connecticut River and continues toward the coast through Chester until it enters the Boston Turnpike. It is unknown where they camp on 22, 23, 24, and 25 June.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Farmington. The remaining
three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts, Soissonnnois and Saintonge
follow over the next three days.
The inland column of Lauzun’s Legion leaves its camp at Middletown for their next camp in Wallingford along East Center Street, Scard and Northford.
The inland column of Lauzun’s Legion leaves its camp at Middletown for their next camp in Wallingford along East Center Street, Scard and Northford.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps at Barnes Tavern in Marion/
Southington. The remaining three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts,
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow over the next three days.
Lauzun’s Legion unites at a camp in New Haven.
Lauzun’s Legion unites at a camp in New Haven.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Break Neck, today’s
Middletown. The other three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts,
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow over the next three days.
Lauzun’s Legion marches from New Haven to Derby/Oxford. In Derby the Legion was encamped on or near Sentinel Hill in East Derby, now a part of the City of Derby. In 1781 the area now called East Derby was a small port town at the confluence of the Naugatuck River and the Housatonic.
Lauzun’s Legion marches from New Haven to Derby/Oxford. In Derby the Legion was encamped on or near Sentinel Hill in East Derby, now a part of the City of Derby. In 1781 the area now called East Derby was a small port town at the confluence of the Naugatuck River and the Housatonic.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Newtown for three days
rest. The remaining three regiments, Royal Deux-Ponts,
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow over the next three days.
As it leaves Derby the Legion divided again: some of Lauzun's men cross the Housatonic Rivers with the help of the scow and march southwest through Ripton to North Stratford and North Fairfield to Ridgefield. They spend the night in North Stratford.
A second detachment marches northwest and crosses the Housatonic about 2 1/2 miles north of its confluence with the Naugatuck and then continued due west to Redding and New Stratford to Ridgefield. The column camps in Redding.
A note on place names: Ripton Society was established in 1717, North Stratford Society in 1744. In 1797, North Stratford was incorporated as Trumbull. New Stratford was created from parts of Ripton and North Stratford in 1762.
In January 1789, Ripton and New Stratford united to form the Town of Huntington. In May 1823, the Society of New Stratford was allowed to separate from the Town of Huntington again and was incorporated as the Town of Monroe.
As it leaves Derby the Legion divided again: some of Lauzun's men cross the Housatonic Rivers with the help of the scow and march southwest through Ripton to North Stratford and North Fairfield to Ridgefield. They spend the night in North Stratford.
A second detachment marches northwest and crosses the Housatonic about 2 1/2 miles north of its confluence with the Naugatuck and then continued due west to Redding and New Stratford to Ridgefield. The column camps in Redding.
A note on place names: Ripton Society was established in 1717, North Stratford Society in 1744. In 1797, North Stratford was incorporated as Trumbull. New Stratford was created from parts of Ripton and North Stratford in 1762.
In January 1789, Ripton and New Stratford united to form the Town of Huntington. In May 1823, the Society of New Stratford was allowed to separate from the Town of Huntington again and was incorporated as the Town of Monroe.
The Regiment Bourbonnois camps in Newtown. The Royal
Deux-Ponts arrives, the Soissonnnois will arrive on 30 June and
Saintonge on 1 July.
One detachment of Lauzun’s Legion camps in North Stratford, the other in Redding.
One detachment of Lauzun’s Legion camps in North Stratford, the other in Redding.
The Regiments Bourbonnois and Royal Deux-Ponts camp in
Newton. The Soissonnnois arrives around noon, the Saintonge
will arrive on 1 July.
The re-united Legion camps in Ridgefield.
The re-united Legion camps in Ridgefield.
July
Rochambeau re-organizes his troops into two-regiment
brigades. The First Brigade, i.e. the Regiments Bourbonnois
and the Royal Deux-Ponts marches to New Castle, today’s Mt.
Kisko. They camp in Bedford near the lake in the triangle
formed by Seminary, Court, and Poundridge Roads.
The First Brigade consisting of the Regiments Bourbonnois and
Royal Deux-Ponts camp in New Castle/Mt. Kisko.
The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois
and Saintonge marches to its camp in Ridgebury.
Continental Army leaves on a night march for an attack on Morrisania. It reaches Valentine’s Hill around sunrise on 3 July.
Lauzun's Legion joined Rochambeau and his First Brigade on the march to Bedford Village. Here Lauzun's troops rested briefly before taking off to join with General Benjamin Lincoln for a night attack on Morrisania.
Following SR 22, the Old Post Road, past Wampus Lake through Armonk south through East Chester and West Chester, Lauzun's troops are late in reaching Morrisania at the juncture of the Harlem and East Rivers in the morning of July 3. The attack fails.
Continental Army leaves on a night march for an attack on Morrisania. It reaches Valentine’s Hill around sunrise on 3 July.
Lauzun's Legion joined Rochambeau and his First Brigade on the march to Bedford Village. Here Lauzun's troops rested briefly before taking off to join with General Benjamin Lincoln for a night attack on Morrisania.
Following SR 22, the Old Post Road, past Wampus Lake through Armonk south through East Chester and West Chester, Lauzun's troops are late in reaching Morrisania at the juncture of the Harlem and East Rivers in the morning of July 3. The attack fails.
The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois
and Saintonge marches from Ridgebury to a camp near the
junction of Routes 117 and 172 in Mount Kisco.
Here it joins the troops of the First Brigade which had marched there earlier that day.
Following a brief encounter with De Lancey's Loyalists, Lauzun withdraws to Valentine's Hill and camps on East Chester Road.
Washington spends the day reconnoitering Crown Forces.
Here it joins the troops of the First Brigade which had marched there earlier that day.
Following a brief encounter with De Lancey's Loyalists, Lauzun withdraws to Valentine's Hill and camps on East Chester Road.
Washington spends the day reconnoitering Crown Forces.
August
September
Crown forces under Benedict Arnold burn New London.
Rochambeau and Admiral de Ternay set out from Newport at
around 9:00 a.m. to meet Washington in Hartford, CT. They
spend the night with Lt.-Gov. Jabez Bowen in Providence.
Washington leaves West Point for Hartford.
Washington leaves West Point for Hartford.
A broken wheel forces Rochambeau and de Ternay to spend
the night in an unknown Tavern in Scotland.
Washington spends the night at an unknown location.
Washington spends the night at an unknown location.
Rochambeau and Ternay take lodgings in the home of
Jeremiah Wadsworth in Hartford.
Washington arrives in Hartford.
Washington arrives in Hartford.
Hartford Conference between Rochambeau and Washington.
Another broken wheel at the same spot as on 19 September
forces Rochambeau and de Ternay to again spend the night in
an unknown Tavern in Scotland.
Rochambeau and Admiral de Ternay spend the night with Lt.-
Gov. Jabez Bowen in Providence.
Washington leaves Hartford and spends the night in Litchfield.
Washington leaves Hartford and spends the night in Litchfield.
Washington reaches Fishkill where he meets French
Ambassador the chevalier de la Luzerne. They spend the night
in Fishkill.
Rochambeau and Admiral de Ternay return to Newport at
around 7:00 p.m.
Washington returns to West Point where he learns of the treason of Benedict Arnold.
Washington returns to West Point where he learns of the treason of Benedict Arnold.
October
Rochambeau inquires of Governor Jonathan Trumbull about
the possibility of quartering the Legion in Connecticut.
The legislature agrees to provide quarters for the legion in
Lebanon and in Colchester.
In preparation for the march to the northward Rochambeau
had divided his forces in Virginia into five divisions of one
regiment each which marched one day apart. That structure
was maintained until the arrival of the Second Division, i.e., the
Bourbonnois Regiment, in Trenton on 3 September 1782.
For the march from there to Massachusetts, Rochambeau reorganized his forces again into two brigades with the Bourbonnois and Royal Deux-Ponts Regiments forming the First Brigade and the Soissonnois and Saintonge Regiments as the Second Brigade.
Lauzun’s Legion does not join the infantry regiments on their march to Boston. It marches instead from New York to winter quarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
Coming from North Salem the French First Brigade consisting of the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camps in Danbury. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois and Saintonge follows the next day.
For the march from there to Massachusetts, Rochambeau reorganized his forces again into two brigades with the Bourbonnois and Royal Deux-Ponts Regiments forming the First Brigade and the Soissonnois and Saintonge Regiments as the Second Brigade.
Lauzun’s Legion does not join the infantry regiments on their march to Boston. It marches instead from New York to winter quarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
Coming from North Salem the French First Brigade consisting of the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camps in Danbury. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois and Saintonge follows the next day.
Coming from Danbury the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camps
in Newtown. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follows the next day. Both
brigades have a day of rest.
Coming from Newtown the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camps
in Breakneck. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follows the next day.
Coming from Breakneck the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camps
at Joshua Barnes’ Tavern. The Second Brigade consisting of the
Regiments Sossonnnois and Saintonge follows the next day.
Coming from Barnes’ Tavern the French First Brigade
consisting of the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-
Ponts camp in Farmington. The Second Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day.
Coming from Farmington the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camp in
Hartford. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day. Here the
Regiments rest until 3 November.
November
Marching one day ahead of the infantry, the campaign artillery
leaves for Bolton.
Coming from Hartford the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camp in
Bolton. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day.
Coming from Bolton the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camp in
Windham. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day.
Coming from Windham the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camp in
Canterbury. The Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments
Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day. The Regiments
have a day of rest.
Coming from Canterbury the French First Brigade consisting of
the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-Ponts camp
near Dorrance’ Tavern. The Second Brigade consisting of the
Regiments Soissonnnois and Saintonge follow the next day.
Coming from Dorrance Tavern the French First Brigade
consisting of the Regiments Bourbonnois and the Royal Deux-
Ponts camp near Waterman’s Tavern in Rhode Island. The
Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois and
Saintonge follow the next day.
The hussars of Lauzun’s Legion leave Newport for Providence.
Second Brigade consisting of the Regiments Soissonnnois and
Saintonge marches to Waterman’s Tavern in Rhode Island. The
last French forces have left Connecticut.
Coming from Providence the hussars arrive in Windham.
The hussars are quartered in Windham.
Coming from Windham the hussars arrive in Lebanon.
December
Rochambeau, his son, the comte de Vauban and the comte de
Lauberdière leave Providence. Traveling via Angel's Tavern the
group spends the night at Dorrance' Tavern in Connecticut.
Canterbury, Windham, Bolton, Hartford, Farmington and
Litchfield take them to Moorhouse Tavern in Dutchess County.
He reaches Newburgh on 7 December. The individual stopping
places for 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/6 December are unknown.
Jacques Sauker, age 25, of the Second Squadron of Hussars is
executed for attempted desertion by firing squad in Lebanon.
Some time during the winter of 1782/83 a quarantine camp for French soldiers infected with smallpox is established in Coventry. Seven men are said to have died there.
Some time during the winter of 1782/83 a quarantine camp for French soldiers infected with smallpox is established in Coventry. Seven men are said to have died there.