Brothers at Arms: American Independence and the Men of France and Spain Who Saved It

461 Pages·2017·30.36 MB·English

by  Larrie D. Ferreiro

ALSO BY LARRIE D. FERREIRO
Ships and Science:
The Birth of Naval Architecture in the Scientific Revolution, 1600–1800
Measure of the Earth:
The Enlightenment Expedition That Reshaped Our World

To my family, Mirna, Gabriel, and Marcel:
an American family, which, like the American nation,
owes its existence to France and Spain
Contents
Cover
Also by Larrie D. Ferreiro
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
List of Illustrations
Maps
INTRODUCTION
Not Just the Declaration of Independence, but Also a
Declaration That We Depend on France (and Spain, Too)
CHAPTER 1
The Road to War
CHAPTER 2
The Merchants
CHAPTER 3
The Ministers
CHAPTER 4
The Soldiers
CHAPTER 5
The Sailors
CHAPTER 6
The Pieces Converge
CHAPTER 7
The Endgame
CHAPTER 8
The Road to Peace
CHAPTER 9
The Legacy
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
A Note About the Author
Illustrations
1 Johann, Baron de Kalb (1721–1780). Charles Willson Peale, from life,
oil on canvas. Courtesy of National Park Service, Independence National
Historic Park.
2 Diego María de Gardoqui y Arriquibar (1735–1798). Miniature. Family
of Cano de Gardoqui García, Valladolid, Spain.
3 Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732–1799). After Jean-Marc
Nattier, 1773, oil on canvas. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of
Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public
Library.
4 José Moñino y Redondo, Conde de Floridablanca (1728–1808).
Francisco de Goya, eighteenth century, oil on canvas. (Art Resource,
NY)
5 Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes (1717–1787). Vangelisti
Vincenzio, after Antoine-François Callet, engraving [s.n., between 1774
and 1789]. Reproduced by permission of The Society of the Cincinnati,
Washington, DC.
6 Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
(1757–1834). Charles Willson Peale, after Charles Willson Peale, 1779–
1780, oil on canvas. Courtesy of National Park Service, Independence
National Historic Park.
7 Bernardo de Gálvez (1746–1786). Attributed to Mariano Salvador
Maella, 1784, oil on canvas. Property of the family of De Haya-Gálvez,
courtesy of the Asociación Bernardo de Gálvez, Málaga, Spain.
8 Louis Lebègue de Presle Duportail (1743–1802). Charles Willson Peale,
probably from life, 1781–1784, oil on canvas. Courtesy of National Park
Service, Independence National Historic Park.
9 Frederick William Augustus, Baron von Steuben (1730–1794). Charles
Willson Peale, after Charles Willson Peale, 1781–1782, oil on canvas.
Courtesy of National Park Service, Independence National Historic
Park.
10 Charles-Henri, Comte d’Estaing (1729–1794). Charles Étienne Gaucher,
after François Sablet, engraving. Bibliothèque nationale de France,
département estampes et photographie.
11 Luis de Córdova y Córdova (1706–1796). Anonymous, eighteenth
century, oil on canvas. Museo Naval Madrid.
12 José Solano y Bote, Marqués del Socorro (1726–1806). Anonymous,
eighteenth century, oil on canvas. Museo Naval Madrid.
13 Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau (1725–
1807). Joseph-Désiré Court, eighteenth century, oil on canvas. (National
Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution /Art Resource, NY) 14
François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse (1722–1788). Jean-Baptiste
Mauzaisse, 1842, oil on canvas. (RMN-Grand Palais/Art Resource, NY)
15 The Capture of Pensacola: Explosion of Queen’s Redoubt Magazine,
May 8, 1781. Nicolas Ponce, after Berteaux Lausan [1784?], engraving.
Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
16 Battle of the Virginia Capes [Battle of the Chesapeake], September 5,
1781. V. Zveg (Vladimir Zvegintzov), 1969, oil on canvas. Navy Art
Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command.
17 Siege of Yorktown, September 28–October 19, 1781. Jean-Mathias
Fontaine, after Auguste Couder, engraving. The Miriam and Ira D.
Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The
New York Public Library.
18 Siege of the Mountain Fortress of Gibraltar, September 13, 1782.
Johann Martin Will, c. 1782, engraving. The Anne S. K. Brown Military
Collection, Brown University Library.
19 General Lafayette at the Anniversary of the Battle of York Town,
October 19, 1824. William Russell Birch after Ary Scheffer, c. 1824–
1834, enamel on copper. Reproduced by permission of The Society of
the Cincinnati, Washington, DC.