The Observant French Lieutenant

Form the Journal of Comte Jean-Francois-Louis de Clermont-Crèvecoeur  

The Comte de Clermont-Crèvecoeur came to America in 1780 as a lieutenant in the Royal Corps of Artillery—a unit of Rochambeau ‘s army. The young French aristocrat spent three years here and recorded them all in a journal, now translated for the first time. He proved to be an eager observer—interested in everything, open-minded, usually friendly, and tending to sweeping, youthful generalizations. As well as reporting on military matters, he described houses, people, religious customs, and food. But his principal interest was—vive la France!—in American women. 

AMERICAN H ERITAGE presents here some brief samples of his engaging journal.

 

More French army in the Revwar on my new Sabre and Bayonet blog