PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
GRASSE TILY, Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de (1723-1788). Autograph journal, “journeaux des Campagnes fait depuis 1756,1757, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1767, 1768, 1772, 1776.”, various places, February 1756 - November 1776. 178 pages., 8vo. Bound in paper wraps titled in manuscript.
細節
GRASSE TILY, Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de (1723-1788). Autograph journal, “journeaux des Campagnes fait depuis 1756,1757, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1767, 1768, 1772, 1776.”, various places, February 1756 - November 1776. 178 pages., 8vo. Bound in paper wraps titled in manuscript.
The personal journal of the Comte De Grasse, chronicling his rise in the ranks as a young naval officer to his first commands. De Grasse would later figure prominently in the War for American Independence at the 1781 Battle of Virginia Capes, which secured Washington’s victory at Yorktown. An important record documenting the early career of an important French naval commander.
The densely-written journal covers de Grasse’s rise in the ranks from lieutenant de vaisseau. His journal opens on 26 February 1756 at Rochefort, aboard the 64-gun Inflexible, built the previous year. Although not yet a captain, two tables within the journal list de Grasee (“M. de tilly”) in command of the Hardi class ship of the line. During the campaign of 1757 he served in American waters, where on 2 July 1757, he reports on the arrival of the “regiment de Berry... 12 ou 13 cent hommes” en route to reinforce Montcalm in Quebec who would figure prominently in the 1758 defense of Fort Carillion (Ticonderoga). Of particular interest are his notes on the 1757 defense of Louisbourg, where his squadron was among those that successfully thwarted the landing of a major assault led by Lord Loudon and describes in detail the preparations to defend the town. The substantial French naval presence around Louisbourg convinced the British to call off the attack. (However Louisbourg would fall the next year).
The personal journal of the Comte De Grasse, chronicling his rise in the ranks as a young naval officer to his first commands. De Grasse would later figure prominently in the War for American Independence at the 1781 Battle of Virginia Capes, which secured Washington’s victory at Yorktown. An important record documenting the early career of an important French naval commander.
The densely-written journal covers de Grasse’s rise in the ranks from lieutenant de vaisseau. His journal opens on 26 February 1756 at Rochefort, aboard the 64-gun Inflexible, built the previous year. Although not yet a captain, two tables within the journal list de Grasee (“M. de tilly”) in command of the Hardi class ship of the line. During the campaign of 1757 he served in American waters, where on 2 July 1757, he reports on the arrival of the “regiment de Berry... 12 ou 13 cent hommes” en route to reinforce Montcalm in Quebec who would figure prominently in the 1758 defense of Fort Carillion (Ticonderoga). Of particular interest are his notes on the 1757 defense of Louisbourg, where his squadron was among those that successfully thwarted the landing of a major assault led by Lord Loudon and describes in detail the preparations to defend the town. The substantial French naval presence around Louisbourg convinced the British to call off the attack. (However Louisbourg would fall the next year).