Monteil, Adhemar, Marquis de (1725-1787) to François Joseph Paul comte de Grasse [in French]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04322.04 Author/Creator: Monteil, Adhemar, Marquis de (1725-1787) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 October 1781 Pagination: 3 p. ; 24.1 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy
Complains about de Grasse rejecting his proposal for a detached action near Chesapeake Bay. Also complains of de Grasse's favoritism towards Admiral Bougainville during the Battle of the Virginia Capes. Charges that de Grasse is not aggressive enough against the English. This is Monteil's retained copy. Written on board Monteil's ship, the Languedoc, in the Chesapeake Bay.
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.
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