Noailles, Louis Marie, vicomte de (1756-1804) to Henry Knox
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01415 Author/Creator: Noailles, Louis Marie, vicomte de (1756-1804) Place Written: Paris, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 May 1782 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 23 x 18.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written by the Count de Noailles, the well known French officer under Lafayette during the American Revolution to Major General Knox. Hopes Knox received a letter he directed from Boston. Hoped to see him this spring, but says fate has kept him in France. Says "the new ministry of England is in regard to the United States just like the quakers they won't fight against them but rob every advantage from their trade." Reports on rumors of Holland's recognition of American independence and a declaration of war against Britain. Thinks if things go as they are there will soon be an honorable peace. Says he met Henry's brother William in France. Docket says letter was written from Paris.
Noailles was the second son of Philippe, duc de Mouchy, and a member of Mouchy branch of the famous Noailles family of the French aristocracy. He served brilliantly under Lafayette in America, and was the officer who concluded the capitulation of Yorktown in 1781.He was elected to the Estates-General in 1789. On 4 August 1789, during the French Revolution, he began the famous "orgy", as Mirabeau called it, when all privileges were abolished, and with the duc d'Aiguilion proposed the abolition of titles and liveries in June 1790. When the Revolution became more pronounced he emigrated to the United States and became a partner in Bingham's bank at Philadelphia. He was very successful and might have lived happily had he not accepted a command against the English in San Domingo, under Rochambeau. He made a brilliant defence of the Môle St Nicholas and escaped with the garrison to Cuba, but en route there his ship was attacked by the English frigate Hazard, and after a long engagement he was severely wounded, dying of his wounds in Havana on 9 January 1804.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.