Lauzun's Legion
Encyclopedia
Lauzun's Legion was a French Regiment in the American War for Independence: Lauzun's Legion principal engagements were White Plains 1781, and Yorktown.
, duc de Lauzun. When in early 1781 the Expédition Particulière
was being organized, most of the 1778 organization had been deployed to overseas' posts. What remained in France, along with the duc de Lauzun, was reconstituted as the Volontaires-étrangers de Lauzun, and was part of Rochambeau's expedition.
. Rochambeau sent Brigadier General Marquis de Choisy
with Lauzun's Legion, as they marched from Rhode Island to Head of Elk, Maryland, traveled by water to Alexandria, Virginia
, and marched to Glouster Courthouse..
horsemen deserted and discharged themselves from their winter quarters in Lebanon and fled into the woods to the south . They may have wintered in Trumbull, Connecticut
according to Huldah Hawley who said she cooked for the French for fear they would kill her because her husband was a known Tory
. Lauzun's Legion or Hussars, encamped in present day Abraham Nichols Park in Trumbull from June 28 to June 30, 1781 . The Legion, an advance party, was ordered to protect the exposed flank of the main army and stayed ten to fifteen miles (24 km) ahead of and to the south flank of the main French army while encamped in Newtown
. The army was marching in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
south to reinforce American troops under the command of General George Washington
at the Siege of Yorktown
.French coins have since been found near the site of their camp in Abraham Nichols Park.
. On October 4, 1781, French and British cavalry skirmished at Gloucester. Tarleton was unhorsed, and the Lauzun's Legion drove the British within their lines, before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy. The Legion suffered 3 Hussars killed, two officers and eleven Hussars wounded. Fifty British were killed or wounded, including Tarleton.
about 11 June. On 05 Oct 1783, the Legion's two artillery companies, left Baltimore on the U.S. transport Lauzun, and the Pintade. The ships, guarded by two French frigates, arrived in Brest on 10 Nov. However, many soldiers mustered out in America, or deserted.
After Lauzun returned to France, the unit became regular hussar regiment. He remained its proprietor until French Revolution started, and the army was reformed in the summer of 1791. When the revolutionary government declared war on Austria, the regiment fell completely apart as the majority of its officers deserted, and the regiment's funds, supplies, and records were handed over to the enemy.
Unit History
Lauzun's Legion was a specially constructed unit that was formed in March 1780 from various detachments of French and many foreign volunteers in the French army and navy. Much of the Legion was composed of units from the Volontaires étrangers de la Marine created in September 1778 by the naval minister Gabriel de Sartine, and ‘propriétaire' status had been granted to Armand Louis de GontautArmand Louis de Gontaut
Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duc de Lauzun, later duc de Biron, and usually referred to by historians of the French Revolution simply as Biron was a French soldier and politician, known for the part he played in the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary Wars.-Early titles:Born in...
, duc de Lauzun. When in early 1781 the Expédition Particulière
Expédition Particulière
Expédition Particulière was the code name given by the French government for the plan to sail French land forces to North America to support the American rebel forces against Britain in the American Revolutionary War. In English they were known as the Special Expedition.The expedition of 5,000...
was being organized, most of the 1778 organization had been deployed to overseas' posts. What remained in France, along with the duc de Lauzun, was reconstituted as the Volontaires-étrangers de Lauzun, and was part of Rochambeau's expedition.
Lauzun's Legion in America
When the Legion arrived in America, they recruited from foreigners, mainly Hessian deserters. There were complaints about their conduct. The troops wintered in Lebanon, ConnecticutLebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
. Rochambeau sent Brigadier General Marquis de Choisy
Marquis de Choisy
Brig. Gen. Claude Gabriel marquis de Choisy was at the siege of Yorktown in command of Lauzun's Legion and Gen. George Weedon's Virginia militia, at Gloucester, Virginia, under the command of Rochambeau, opposite Banastre Tarleton.-Capture of Cracow:...
with Lauzun's Legion, as they marched from Rhode Island to Head of Elk, Maryland, traveled by water to Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, and marched to Glouster Courthouse..
Lauzun's Legion in Connecticut
In December 1780, two dozen HussarHussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
horsemen deserted and discharged themselves from their winter quarters in Lebanon and fled into the woods to the south . They may have wintered in Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
according to Huldah Hawley who said she cooked for the French for fear they would kill her because her husband was a known Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
. Lauzun's Legion or Hussars, encamped in present day Abraham Nichols Park in Trumbull from June 28 to June 30, 1781 . The Legion, an advance party, was ordered to protect the exposed flank of the main army and stayed ten to fifteen miles (24 km) ahead of and to the south flank of the main French army while encamped in Newtown
Newtown, Connecticut
Newtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.-Government:...
. The army was marching in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
The Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is a 680-mile -long series of encampments and roads used by U.S. Continental Army troops under George Washington and French troops under Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau during their march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The route...
south to reinforce American troops under the command of General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
at the Siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
.French coins have since been found near the site of their camp in Abraham Nichols Park.
At Yorktown
The legion was at Gloucester during the Siege of YorktownSiege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
. On October 4, 1781, French and British cavalry skirmished at Gloucester. Tarleton was unhorsed, and the Lauzun's Legion drove the British within their lines, before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy. The Legion suffered 3 Hussars killed, two officers and eleven Hussars wounded. Fifty British were killed or wounded, including Tarleton.
After the Battle
In December 1782, the Legion moved to Wilmington, Delaware. On 18 March 1783, in Delaware, their cash payroll was stolen but recovered. On 9–11 May 1783 the Legion embarked from Wilmington on five vessels la Goire, la Danaë, l"Astree, l'Active, and Le St. James, arriving at Brest, FranceBrest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
about 11 June. On 05 Oct 1783, the Legion's two artillery companies, left Baltimore on the U.S. transport Lauzun, and the Pintade. The ships, guarded by two French frigates, arrived in Brest on 10 Nov. However, many soldiers mustered out in America, or deserted.
After Lauzun returned to France, the unit became regular hussar regiment. He remained its proprietor until French Revolution started, and the army was reformed in the summer of 1791. When the revolutionary government declared war on Austria, the regiment fell completely apart as the majority of its officers deserted, and the regiment's funds, supplies, and records were handed over to the enemy.