Description:

George Washington
Newburgh, NY, May 30, 1782
General Washington Orders Celebration of Birth of French Dauphin Near End of Revolutionary War
MD
[GEORGE WASHINGTON.] Jonathan Trumbull Jr., Manuscript Document, Duplicate of Order, [May 30, 1782], [Newburgh, New York]. 1 p., 9" x 13.875". Toning and edge tears; some soiling at folds.

On May 28, 1782, General George Washington ordered a feu de joie at West Point on May 30 to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin of France, Louis Joseph (1781-1789), the son and heir of French King Louis XVI, in the previous October. The event was later postponed until May 31. A feu de joie is a form of formal celebratory gunfire in which soldiers fire into the air sequentially in rapid succession. The Continental Army also used the feu de joie to mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and to commemorate other special events.

Surgeon James Thacher described the event in May 1782: "The arbor was, in the evening, illuminated by a vast number of lights, which, being arranged in regular and tasteful order, exhibited a scene vying in brilliancy with the starry firmament. The officers having rejoined their regiments, thirteen cannon were again fired as a prelude to the general feu-de-joie, which immediately succeeded throughout the whole line of the army on the surrounding hills, and being three times repeated, the mountains resounded and echoed like tremendous peals of thunder, and the flashing from thousands of firearms in the darkness of the evening, could be compared only to the most vivid flashes of lightning from the clouds. The feu-de-joie was immediately followed by three shouts of acclamation and benediction for the Dauphin by the united voices of the whole army on all sides." Another observer observed that General Washington "gave the example of uncommon gaiety in the celebration of so happy an event."

In addition to the feu de joie, the Continental Army also built an ornate pavilion at West Point to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin.

Complete Transcript
The Troops having previously cooked their Provision, are to march out of their respective Cantonments at such an Hour as that they may arrive at their Ground assigned them by 12 oClock, where they will remain in Columns under cover, untill by the discharge of three Canon they are ordered to display in full view of the [Alcove?] & they will stack their Armes. All the Officers, except our field & nine company Officers to each regt who are to remain with their Corps, are [to] repair to the Point where they are invited to dine—at four oClock. Dinner will be on the Table at which Time the Liquor designed for the Troops will be delivered them by their Quartermasters—each Toast will be followed by a Discharge of Artillery from the Park drawn up on the bank of the river in front of Head Quarters—at half past six, the Officers will rise and repair to their respective regiments—at half past seven the Feu de Joy will commence by the discharge of thirteen Canon from the Park followed by the Infantry in the following order.
To the 2d Mass Brige—1st do—1st Cont—2 do—10 Rgt of Mass 1st do--& the 2 other regts of the same Brigade which will be repeated three times, after which three Cheers for the Dauphin of France after which the fireworks will be played off from Constitution Island the Discharge of three Cannon will conclude the Ceremony, and be the signal for the Troops to retire to their respective cantonments

[in different hand:] 2d Gover Jonathan Trumbull of Cont. Washington's aid
duplicate

Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (1740-1809) was born in Connecticut and graduated from Harvard College in 1759. He received his master's degree in 1762 and gave the valedictory address. He served in the Connecticut legislature three times (1774-1775; 1779-1780; and 1788, when he was Speaker of the House). During the Revolutionary War, Trumbull was the paymaster of the Northern Department from 1775 to 1778. In June 1781, he became secretary to Commander-in-Chief George Washington and served in that position until December 1783. He represented Connecticut in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1789 to 1795, and in the U.S. Senate from 1795 to 1796. He resigned from the Senate to become lieutenant governor of Connecticut. When Governor Oliver Wolcott died in December 1797, Trumbull became Governor of Connecticut and was re-elected to eleven consecutive terms until his death. His father and namesake had been the first Governor of Connecticut from 1776 to 1784.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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