Learn More of the History of the W3R 

This page lists books and other resources that give additional details
of the aid given by France to the U.S. during the American Revolution.

Latest Changes: 2009-05-16: add Selig DE report / 2009-07-24: update Amer. Rev. Assn. listing / 2010-02-06: link to affiliate page /

Research Reports | Wash.-Roch. Rev. Route | France and the Am.Rev.
Documents of the American Rev. | Authors A-L | Authors M-Z
See also Our Affiliates

Research Reports 

Most of the states along the W3R have contracted with a professional historian to search through archival colllections to identify and catalog their documentary and architectural resources related to the W3R in that state. This research is then summarized in a report that details the historic route through that state, includes highlights of the documents placed in their historical context, and provides maps and photographs of the historic sites and buildings along the route.

NPS Full-
Route
Docs 		 The NPS Park Planning Site has PDF files of the main study documents prior to 2003:
  • Public Response Document and cover letter
  • W3R Study and Environmental Assessment, appendices, errata
  • Historic Route Map
  • Detailed Map of Potential National Historic Trail
Statement of Historical Significance of the W3R (2003) [PDF]
W3R Study and Environmental Assessment (October 2006) [PDF]
MA There is no project active for this yet (as of 2010 August)
RI Completed and reviewed in 2006; awaiting final corrected copy (as of 2010 April)
CT Vol 1: Rochambeau in Connecticut: Tracing His Journey
Vol 2: Rochambeau's Cavalry: Lauzun's Legion
Vol 3: The Archaeological Survey.
NY The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in the State of New York, 1781-1782 -- An Historical And Architectural Survey, (2001) The print version has been converted to an almost-identical W3R-NY report: online version
NJ The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in the State of New Jersey, 1781-1783: An Historical and Architectural Survey, by Dr. Robert A. Selig (New Jersey Historic Trust, 2006). See the descriptions and links to the three volumes.
PA The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route  in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1781-1783: An Historical and Architectural Survey, by Dr. Robert A. Selig (W3R in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Inc., 2007).
description and links to PDF files [W3R-US site]
DE The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route  in the State of Delaware, 1781-1783 -- An Historical And Architectural Survey, by Dr. Robert A. Selig (State of Delaware, Dover, Delaware, 2003)
MD / DC  Marching to Victory - a Guide to the Yorktown Campaign through Maryland and the District of Columbia, by Robert Reyes and Nicholas Fry (Maryland and District of Columbia Societies, Sons of the American Revolution, 2001).
report as updated in 2007 Nov (a 2 M PDF file) [W3R-US site]
To order a copy (price is $20) send an Email to bdaniel@typestylesdp.com. Since this 56-page report has many pages with color illustrations it may cost more than $20 to print it on your home printer.
VA Being funded incrementally by county; research in progress since 2007.

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Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route 

Campbell, Charles A. "Rochambeau Headquarters in Westchester County NY 1781", article in 1880 Mag. of Amer. Hist. 4 446-48.

The Expédition Particulière Commemorative Cantonment Society (EPCCS) has posted a description of the Expédition Particulière (or E.P., the French Expeditionary Force) in the English language and la meme chose, en Française
The (EPCCS) site also has
-- a one-page overview of the route and the stops
-- an extended chronological description of the regional strategy and of the movements of the French forces from 1780 July (starting in RI) to 1781 Sept (ending in VA)
-- encampments from Providence to Yorktown described in a one-page brochure with a map and a list of the dates and locations
-- the Washington-Rochambeau Route in Virginia
-- the French baggage train route in Virginia
-- a webpage on the Yorktown Campaign
-- the French Army's 1781-82 Winter Camps in Virginia
-- French Army's 1782 march north in Virginia

Greene, Carol W.,   "W3R: The March to Win a War" [GoogleBooks], pp 147-161 in The Revolutionary War in Bergen County, by Carol Karels (The History Press, 2007)

NPS = National Park Service  has a special project area for the W3R at www.nps.gov/boso/w-r/, including

  • Developing the W3R as a National Historic Trail (2001, PDF slides)
  • Statement of Historical Significance of the W3R (2003)
  • W2R Study and Environmental Assessment (October 2006)
  • several newsletters tracing the study's progress

The Redwood Library (Newport RI) has posted a helpful bibliography for Ternay and Rochanbeau in RI

Reyes, Robert and Nicholas Fry -- see the MD area in the Research Report area

Schecter, Barnet, and Robert A. Selig Walk Where They Fought: Path to Victory!
an article in The Armchair General The first section is a concise and well-illustrated discussion of the strategic issues with which the generals and admirals wrestled during the spring and summer of 1781. The second section is a list of the historic sites and interpretive markers related to the W3R in each of the nine states along the route.

Selig, Robert A. En Avant with Our French Allies is a richly-illustrated tour guide of the W3R in CT.
Selig, Robert A. Huzzars in Lebanon! describes the five-month stay of Lauzun's hussar companies in Lebanon CT over the winter of 1780-81

Selig, Robert:  vitae and list of articles. Several states have hired Dr Selig to report on the documentary resources in that state. See the Research Report area

Selig, Robert,  with many illustrations by David R. Wagner:
March to Victory: Washington, Rochambeau, and the Yorktown Campaign of 1781 [52-page PDF file] U.S. Center for Military History Publication No. 70-104-1 (April, 2007) This is well-illustrated and incorporates the latest historical research. [NOTE: The file is posted on the W3R-US site with the permission of the US Army Center for Military History, <www.army.mil/cmh-pg/> . If you wish to print multiple copies from the PDF file or if you wish to post the PDF file on your Web site, please contact Beth.Mackenzie@HQDA.Army.mil for permission.

Student Essay on Rochambeau [from the Half Moon Press]

Woodbridge, George C., "Rochambeau: two hundred years later", in Journal of the Newport Historical Society 249 (Newport Historical Society, RI, 2004) and following articles on the impacts of French troops presence in the U.S.

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France and the American Revolution 

Benninghoff, Herman: The Brilliance of Yorktown: March of History, 1781 Command and Control, Allied Style (224 pages softcover ISBN 1-57747-123-7) $19.95 + $5.00 shipping from Thomas Publications

Brennan, Linda: The Black Regiment of the American Revolution (Moon Mountain Publ, 2004) OUT OF PRINT is an illustrated book about the First Rhode Island Continental Regiment, written at middle school level.

Expédition Particulière Web site describes in detail French military efforts outside of the United States during 1778-1783
for example
      French naval actions worldwide
      French regiments worldwide

Jouve, Daniel, Les Amis de La Grive 167 (2002) article on Duportail, who was sent to aid the U.S. by the French government and founded the American Corps of Military Engineers

Richardson, Standards and Colors of the American Revlolution (Univ. of Pennsylvania Press, 1982) -- out of print, but may obtained through inter-library loan

Walker, Paul K. (Office of History, HQ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Engineers of Independence, a Documentary History of the Army Corps of Engineers in the American Revolution (Gov. Printing Office, 1981)

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