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Documents relating to quarrel between French naval officers [in French] [Decimalized .01-.10]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04322 Author/Creator: Place Written: various Type: Header Record Date: 1 June 1780 - 15 February 1782 Pagination: 10 items Order a Copy

Documents relating to the quarrel between Comte de Grasse and Marquis Adhemar de Monteil. De Grasse commanded part of the French fleet aiding the Colonists during the American Revolution. Monteil served under him and commanded the Languedoc. Monteil became upset when de Grasse ignored an attack plan he suggested, and he was also angered by what he saw as favoritism towards other officers. De Grasse became upset when Monteil began to complain vehemently and demoted him to command of a smaller boat. The day after being demoted Monteil failed to follow de Grasse's orders and permitted the British ships under Admiral Hood to outmaneuver him, and seize a key position. This would later play a key role in France's crushing defeat at the Battle of the Saintes. By evading Monteil, Hood was able to join with Admiral Rodney, and this joint force would eventually defeat the French. It appears that Monteil intentionally disobeyed de Grasse's order and allowed Hood to avoid him because he was angered by their quarrel. De Grasse would be captured by the British at the Battle of the Saintes. Documents also include materials on Saint Kitts.

François Joseph Paul comte de Grasse was a French Admiral who served under Comte d'Estaing during the American Revolution. Comte de Grasse and his fleet played a decisive role in the pivotal American victory at Yorktown. After arriving from the Caribbean they took control of the Chesapeake Bay and cut off any attempts to escape by sea. On 12 April 1782 at the Battle of the Saintes he was defeated by the British fleet under Admiral Rodney and taken prisoner.
Marquis Adhemar de Monteil was a French naval officer who captained a ship during the American revolution. When he complained to his superior, Comte de Grasse, about a number of issues, a quarrel began between the two. This led to Monteil being demoted to the command of a smaller ship. Upset by this slight, it appears that Monteil later deliberately disobeyed de Grasse's orders, and ended up allowing Admiral Hood's fleet to outmaneuver him in the Caribbean. This mistake would later enable the British to soundly defeat the French at the Battle of the Saintes.

Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, comte de, 1722-1788
Monteil, Adhemar, Marquis de, 1725-1787
Sartine, Antoine de, comte d'Alby, 1729-1801
Castellane Majastre, Henri César, marquis de, -1789

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