Instead, without considering the borders separating the states, considering the United States as a single power, a general plan of defense of the continent is formulated according to the knowledge of the country, then any constructed fortification would be infinitely better placed or many fewer would be constructed. They could all have the necessary conditions for grandeur, strength, etc. and thus contribute more effectively to the defense of the continent in general. That is the goal which we propose.
Note A—The present time does not give us proof of what I just proposed. We fear that the enemy would head to Boston by land as well as by sea; and as this city is not in the state of defense, the Continental Army is obliged to detach itself from New York and divide itself so that at least part of it might go to New England, in time of need, to join with the local militias to save the capital.
Several considerable drawbacks arise from this division. First it is clear that if Boston were sufficiently fortified to hold out for a fortnight, the Continental Army would have the time to arrive. Consequently, it would no longer have reason to be hindered in its operations.
It could change its position and make movements only after the real movements of the enemy without hindering itself by its feints, by the rumors which spread and even by the appearances which support them. What I just said about Boston should also be understood about all other important locations.
Note B—As long as the United States do not have any navy, it is necessary that the fleets of their allies protect them against those of their enemies. But can the friendly fleets come in this region if they cannot find safe harbor, ports where they will have nothing to fear either from the land or from the sea, where, after a long navigation, after combats, they might resupply, refresh themselves and find all sorts of stores to do that.
Note C—If the United States currently had a port in the South capable of receiving the French fleets, isn’t it evident that they would acquire large facilities for expeditions against the British Isles?
Note D—The three fortified locations that I proposed in this memoir would be the natural residences of the Continental troops engaged in time of peace. They would find an occasion to perfect the service and maintain military spirit.
These three sites which would contain the largest part of the navy, the troops, the stores, etc. and which would always be under the immediate direction of Congress would prevent any ambitious plans of the different states, would fortify the general government and restrain the bonds of political union.
“Memoir presented to Congress by Monsieur du Portail,” translated by Norman Desmarais. Benjamin Perley Poore, Faucher de Saint-Maurice, and Jean Gervais Protais Blanchet, Collection de manuscrits contenant lettres, mémoires, et autres documents historiques relatifs à la Nouvelle-France: Recueillis aux archives de la province de Québec, ou copiés a l’étranger (Québec: Impr. A. Cote et Cie, 1883–1885), 4:438–45.
15. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 260.
16. US Continental Congress et al., Journals, 25:74n; Washington, Writings, 26:480n.
17. Washington, Writings, 26:479–80.
18. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 261.
19. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 261.
20. US National Archives and Records Service, Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 1971), RG188, item 169, 9:370.
21. Elizabeth S. Kite, “General Washington and the French Engineers Duportail and Companions,” Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 44, no. 4 (December 1933): 332.
22. Founders Online, “George Washington to Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 23 September 1783,” https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-11845; Washington, Writings, 27:161–62.
23. Founders Online, “To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 30 September 1783,” https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-11871.
24. US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 8, no. 78, folio 61.
25. US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 2, no. 19, folio 167. Duportail’s letter of October 6 is in US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 8, no. 78, folio 31. See also US Continental Congress et al., Journals, 25:669.
26. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 272.
27. US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 2, no. 36, folio 237; US Continental Congress et al., Journals, 25:695.
28. Washington, Writings, 27:201–2.This draft was signed by Washington, but it has a marginal note that is impossible to know whether it was copied on the letter sent. If an organization, such as the one adopted by Congress for time of peace, it should refer to this memorial, but that is not decided at this time.
29. Founders Online, “From George Washington to François-Claude-Amour, marquis de Bouillé. 23 March 1783,” https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10897.
30. Founders Online, “From George Washington to Antoine-Charles du Houx, baron de Vioménil. 23 March 1783,” https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-10905.
31. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 275.
32. US Continental Congress, Papers, item 78, vol. 1, no. 19, folios 95–97; US Continental Congress et al., Journals, 25:771; 26:42–44. Duportail’s letter is in US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 8, no. 78, folio 43. Armand’s letter is in US Continental Congress, Papers, no. 164, folio 489.
33. Kite, Brigadier-General Duportail, 275–77.
34. US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 2, no. 19, folio 171; US Continental Congress, Papers, vol. 8, no. 78, folio 505; US Continental Congress et al., Journals, 26:42–43; Washington, Writings, 27:280.
CHAPTER 10
1. Archives of the Montgomery County Historical Society.
2. Deed recorded at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Norristown, Pennsylvania, quoted in Elizabeth S. Kite and Peter S. Duponceau, “General Duportail at Valley Forge,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 56, no. 4 (1932): 350.
3. Deed recorded at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Norristown, Pennsylvania, quoted in Kite and Duponceau, “General Duportail,” 350.
4. Deed recorded at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Norristown, Pennsylvania, quoted in Kite and Duponceau, “General Duportail,” 350.
5. Kite and Duponceau, “General Duportail,” 352.
6. Kite and Duponceau, “General Duportail,” 352–53.
7. M. Auge, Biographies of Montgomery County Men (Norristown, PA: n.p., 1879).
8. Serge Le Pottier, Duportail, Ou, Le Génie De Washington (Paris: Economica, 2011), 275.
9. Kite and Duponceau, “General Duportail,” 353.
10. The papers connected with the settlement of the estate of General Duportail are kept on file
