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47.

than before, as the inhabitants of this land had traveled up to 10-12 hours to look for those they might know, which they found, incidentally, in great numbers.

stärcker als vorher, dann die Einwohner vom Lande kamen auch noch biß 10-12 Stunden herbey um Bekande zu suchen allwo sie auch genugsam fanden.

It was a surprising thing to see those crowds and all those visitors: the people from around here had not seen their fellow countrymen for many years, as it is rare for troops to pass through here, therefore it was quite an event to see this and to be able to be involved in it. In particular they asked how things were in their homeland and if their friends or relatives were still alive etc.

Es ware zum Erstaunen was alda ein Zulauff und Besuch ware : Diese Leute haben schon in vielen Jahren keine ihrer Landsleute gesehen, weil es auch sehr rahr ist daß Truppen oder dergleichen Leute da-hin kommen, also ware es ihnen eine Neuigkeit solches zu sehen und zu besuchen. Überhaupt auch zu fragen wie es in ihrem Vatterlande zugeht und ob ihre Freunde und Verwande noch bey Leben seyn etc

When a soldier would be walking in town or elsewhere, and he would come across a German, the latter would immediately bring him into an inn, pay for his drinks until he no longer thirsted, to be able to talk with him etc.

Wann ein Soldat in der Stadt oder sonsten ginge und es begegnete ihm ein Deutscher so nahm er ihn ohne Ver-zug führete ihn in ein Wirthshauß zahlte ihm im Überfluß um mit ihm zu discurieren etc

On the evening of the 4th the order was given to march into the town the next day in the most exacting manner possible[137].

Den 4ten abends wurde die Order geben daß man morgen in gröster Probrität durch die Stadt defiffiliren thätte.

On the 5th we left and traveled 15 miles to Chester. We formed sections or squads to go through the town. The artillery was grouped into brigades, the fuses lit[138].

Den 5ten brachen wir auf 15 Meillen biß Sester. Wir marschierten in Zügen oder platonsweis durch die Stadt. Und brigadweis eingetheillet die Artillery mit brennenden Lunden.

Mister Rochambeau[139] was leading the first brigade, the Bourbonnois regiment and the Royal Deux-Ponts, as well as a Hussar company. The large artillery arrived first,

Monsieur Rochambo : führete das erste Brigad Regimen t Bourbonois und Royal Deuxponts nebst einer Comp[agnie] Hussaren. Die grosse Artillerie vorher

[réclame]

die

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f34/pct:50,0,100,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 67.

[agrandir]

 Notes

137. The military march was one of the memorable facts in the life of a soldier. Whether it be for training, or during parades as is the case here, the idea was to show the army as being well-disciplined. Marching was practiced as drill training, but even more so for show. It was a show meant to display strength to the people, but equally to demonstrate the men’s good conduct. It should not be forgotten that the armies’ image was not good in the eighteenth century, and there were many instances of marauding. Therefore the march had two functions: to impress and to reassure.
138. The artillery actually had an important ceremonial role. In Europe, when a prince entered a town, cannons were fired in his honour. In ports, the departure and arrival of boats was regulated in the same way. It is therefore not surprising that special consideration should be given to the artillery during military parades.
139. Rochambeau (Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Count), son of Joseph Charles of the same name, was born in Vendome on July 1, 1725. He entered the army in May 1742 and was: colonel in 1747 (Regiment de la Marche), brigadier in 1756, colonel of the Royal-Auvergne regiment in 1759, maréchal de camp in February 1761 for his conduct in the Battle of Clostercamp. He was then made infantry inspector in 1761. Named lieutenant general on March 1, 1780, he was appointed head of the expeditionary corps sent to America. His role in the War of Independence was praised both by the Court of Versailles and by the American authorities, notably due to his subordination to General Washington, commander-in-chief of the allied forces, and the cooperation between the two headquarters and Admiral De Grasse, which made the success at Yorktown possible. During the Revolution, Rochambeau was thought of as a liberal and was employed as major of Alsace from June 18, 1789 until September 4, 1790 when he took charge of the Northern Army. He was named Marshal of France on December 28, 1791 before suffering a relative disgrace. Having resigned in 1792, he was arrested in April 1794 and later freed in October. He died on May 12, 1807 in Rochambeau. [Gilbert Bodinier, Dictionnaire des officiers de l’armée royale, SHAT, editions Mémoires et documents, 2005, p. 468]. Cf. Anna M’Lea, Rochambeau, engraving, 1869. Extract from Balch, Thomas, Les Français en Amérique pendant la Guerre d’Indépendance des Etats-Unis, Paris, Sauton, 1872 [catalogue de la médiathèque Malraux].