French statesman and military officer (1757–1834) who became an intimate associate of George Washington, and who advanced the American cause on both sides of the Atlantic. Though he espoused many of the principles behind the French Revolution while advocating a limited monarchy, extremist elements in the French Assembly declared him a traitor, whereupon he was jailed for five years. In 1824–1825 he revisited America, where he was hailed as a hero and granted a generous stipend and parcel of land. Handwritten endorsement, in French, signed “Lafayette,” at the conclusion of a manuscript document, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 12.25, dated July 1, 1790. Document summarizes the military career of Caron de Raumont and solicits a post for him in the Quartermaster Department. Document reads, in part (translated): “Caron, formerly secretary to Minister Chastellux went to New England with that General Officer in 1780. He participated in the first two campaigns of the American War. Chastellux obtained for him a commission in the Supply Corps…he served with the Infantry in the Army of the Count de Rochambeau.” On the last page, Lafayette writes: “I recommend with the greatest intensity this petition to the Administrators; I know of Mr. Caron’s merits and the high regard my intimate friend M. de Chastellux had for him.” Document also bears five other endorsements, including one written and signed by Lafayette’s wife, signed “Noailles Lafayette,” as well as endorsements by Count D’Aure, who writes, in part: “I the undersigned, former Director General of the Quartermaster Corps of the French Army commanded by ther Count de Rochambeau in North America, certify that Mr. Caron was employed in that Army.” The other endorsements are by Chastellux’s widow, the Sieur de Villemaury, Commissioner of War, commended by Rochambeau in his report from Yorktown, and an additional unidentified veteran of the American Revolution. Central horizontal and vertical folds, and some light creasing and toning, otherwise fine condition.
At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, numerous Frenchmen volunteered for the American cause, including Lafayette. Upon returning to France in 1779, he used his position to lobby for military aid and helped secure 6,000 troops under General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau. In the letter, Lafayette attests that Raumont was among these expeditionary forces; he also mentions Major General François-Jean de Chatellux, one of his most outspoken admirers, who was also with Rochambeau’s army. The French troops landed at Newport in 1780, where they remained until Rochambeau and Washington combined forces in 1781, fighting in the Siege of Yorktown and the Battle of the Chesapeake. After uniting with Lafayette’s men, the combined armies forced Lord Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown in October. A fine document with outstanding Revolutionary War connections.
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