Marquis de Choisy
Encyclopedia
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
.
. On 2 February 1772, he led 270 men, in the capture of Kraków
Poland, from 1,500 Russians. A small party entered through a sewer, surprised the guard, and opened the postern gate. Not being reinforced in time, they retreated to the citadel
, Wawel Castle
. They held it through a siege
of several weeks against 18,000 Russians, until it fell to Suvorov
on 28 April 1772.
On 24 March 1772, he was appointed Brigadier General of Infantry, and in 1779 appointed to be Mestre of the Camp for the Fourth Regiment Chasseurs a Cheval.
Tensions ran high among officers in camp; he sought to reconcile officers who had fought a duel.
On 29 October, Rochambeau sent Brigadier General 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 Glouchester Courthouse.
, and 800 French Marines. Opposite them was Tarleton's Legion, Simcoe's Rangers
, the 80th Foot regiment, and the Erb Prinz (Prince Hereditaire) regiment.
On 4 October 1781, Marquis de Choisy was marching towards Gloucester by the Severn road (Route 17
), while John Mercer
, with the Virginia militia, "veterans", took the York River road. Tarleton, who had crossed the river the night before, led a covering force for a "grand forage", for supplies.
Lauzun and Tarleton charged and countercharged over the open ground. Tarleton was unhorsed, and Lauzun's Legion skirmished allowing the infantry to fire upon the British. Tarleton withdrew within his lines, and the French pursued, before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy.
The British lost killed or wounded one officer and eleven men; the French lost two officers and fourteen hussars.
Marquis de Choisy wrote Washington:
There was some controversy, about horses and lodging, and returning runaway slaves.
He returned to France with the Comte de Rochambeau, from Annapolis, sailing in January, 1783.
He was presented the medal, Libertas Americana, by Benjamin Franklin
. He was promoted to Maréchal de Camp
, on 5 December 1781, and commander in 1784. He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis
. He was promoted to be Lieutenant General, 20 May 1791, and honorably retired on 4 February 1793.
and Comtat Venaissin
with France, dispatched "civil police chiefs" who were escorted by troops placed under the command of the general Choisy (with the 9th regiment of dragoons). Arriving on the spot, they ordered, after the Massacres of La Glacière
, arrests, but on 19 March 1792, a general amnesty was voted by the National Assembly putting a rest to the inquiry.
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...
in command of Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion was a French Regiment in the American War for Independence: Lauzun's Legion principal engagements were White Plains 1781, and Yorktown.-Unit History:...
and Gen. George Weedon
George Weedon
George Weedon was an American soldier during the Revolutionary War from Fredericksburg, Virginia.He served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia militia....
's Virginia militia, at Gloucester, Virginia
Gloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County is within the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in the USA. Formed in 1651 in the Virginia Colony, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of Great Britain. Located in the Middle Peninsula region, it...
, under the command of Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
, opposite Banastre Tarleton
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
.
Capture of Cracow
France was allied with Poland against Russia, in the Bar ConfederationBar Confederation
The Bar Confederation was an association of Polish nobles formed at the fortress of Bar in Podolia in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth against Russian influence and against King Stanisław August Poniatowski and Polish reformers who were...
. On 2 February 1772, he led 270 men, in the capture of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
Poland, from 1,500 Russians. A small party entered through a sewer, surprised the guard, and opened the postern gate. Not being reinforced in time, they retreated to the citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
, Wawel Castle
Wawel Castle
The Gothic Wawel Castle in Kraków in Poland was built at the behest of Casimir III the Great and consists of a number of structures situated around the central courtyard. In the 14th century it was rebuilt by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. Their reign saw the addition of the tower called the Hen's...
. They held it through a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of several weeks against 18,000 Russians, until it fell to Suvorov
Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov , Count Suvorov of Rymnik, Prince in Italy, Count of the Holy Roman Empire , was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire.One of the few great generals in history who never lost a battle along with the likes of Alexander...
on 28 April 1772.
On 24 March 1772, he was appointed Brigadier General of Infantry, and in 1779 appointed to be Mestre of the Camp for the Fourth Regiment Chasseurs a Cheval.
Joining the Expédition Particulière
Competition was fierce among French officers to join the expedition to America, to gain fame and promotion. Marquis de Choisy arrived at Brest with five others officers to join the Army, but was turned away. Then he sailed, with ten officers, on the Sybille for Santo Domingo, changing ships to La Gentille, arriving at Newport on 29 September 1780.Tensions ran high among officers in camp; he sought to reconcile officers who had fought a duel.
On 29 October, Rochambeau sent Brigadier General Choisy with Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion was a French Regiment in the American War for Independence: Lauzun's Legion principal engagements were White Plains 1781, and Yorktown.-Unit History:...
, 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 Glouchester Courthouse.
Skirmish with Tarleton
Glouchester point was an obvious escape route from Yorktown. Marquis de Choisy was assigned the Virginia militia, Lauzun's LegionLauzun's Legion
Lauzun's Legion was a French Regiment in the American War for Independence: Lauzun's Legion principal engagements were White Plains 1781, and Yorktown.-Unit History:...
, and 800 French Marines. Opposite them was Tarleton's Legion, Simcoe's Rangers
Queen's Rangers
The Queen's Rangers was a military unit who fought on the Loyalist side during the American War of Independence. After the war they moved to Nova Scotia and disbanded, but were reformed again in Upper Canada before disbanding again, in 1802, a decade prior to the War of 1812.-French and Indian...
, the 80th Foot regiment, and the Erb Prinz (Prince Hereditaire) regiment.
On 4 October 1781, Marquis de Choisy was marching towards Gloucester by the Severn road (Route 17
U.S. Route 17 in Virginia
U.S. Route 17 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Punta Gorda, Florida to Winchester, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line in Chesapeake north to its northern terminus at US 11, US 50, and US 522 in Winchester. US 17 is a major highway...
), while John Mercer
John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Virginia and Maryland. Born in 1759 in Marlborough, Stafford County, Virginia, to John Mercer and Ann Roy Mercer, he graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1775 and was a delegate for Virginia to the Continental...
, with the Virginia militia, "veterans", took the York River road. Tarleton, who had crossed the river the night before, led a covering force for a "grand forage", for supplies.
Lauzun and Tarleton charged and countercharged over the open ground. Tarleton was unhorsed, and Lauzun's Legion skirmished allowing the infantry to fire upon the British. Tarleton withdrew within his lines, and the French pursued, before being ordered to withdraw by the Marquis de Choisy.
The British lost killed or wounded one officer and eleven men; the French lost two officers and fourteen hussars.
Marquis de Choisy wrote Washington:
Sir, I have the hounor to inform you that by our arrival at Saoul's Tavern we have met with the ennemi who was in number about 500 men Cavalry and Infantry, that the Cavalry of the Duc of Lauzun has attaqued them, pierced through and that we have had a great advantage on them We can esteem they have 30 men killed or wounded The 200 men grenadier Americans who were the only Infantry advanced enough to have part in the affair and who have behaved excedingly well have killed one officer who was at the head of the Infantry of the ennemi. T'is a general report that Tarleton has been wounded. The ennemi have retired to Gloucester and we are quickly in our Camp where I expect you will join to morrow as we have already agreed.
I have the hounor to be your
Most humble servant,
Choisy
After the battle
Washington corresponded with him about captured horses after the battle.There was some controversy, about horses and lodging, and returning runaway slaves.
He returned to France with the Comte de Rochambeau, from Annapolis, sailing in January, 1783.
He was presented the medal, Libertas Americana, by Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. He was promoted to Maréchal de Camp
Field Marshal (France)
Maréchal de camp was a general officer rank used by the French Army until 1848.The rank originated from the older rank of sergeant major general . Sergeant Major General was third in command in an army, after the General and the Lieutenant General. One of his tasks was to dispose the troops on the...
, on 5 December 1781, and commander in 1784. He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
. He was promoted to be Lieutenant General, 20 May 1791, and honorably retired on 4 February 1793.
Général of the French Révolution
The revolutionary government, which had just published, on 26 October 1791 the decree cementing AvignonAvignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and Comtat Venaissin
Comtat Venaissin
The Comtat Venaissin, often called the Comtat for short , is the former name of the region around the city of Avignon in what is now the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It comprised roughly the area between the Rhône, the Durance and Mont Ventoux, with a small exclave located to the...
with France, dispatched "civil police chiefs" who were escorted by troops placed under the command of the general Choisy (with the 9th regiment of dragoons). Arriving on the spot, they ordered, after the Massacres of La Glacière
Massacres of La Glacière
The bloody massacres of La Glacière that took place during 16–17 October 1791 in the Tour de la Glacière of the Palais des Papes at Avignon, then but recently united to France, were an isolated and early example of violence in the opening phase of the French Revolution; the massacres are...
, arrests, but on 19 March 1792, a general amnesty was voted by the National Assembly putting a rest to the inquiry.