Two Narratives of the French Army’s March to Yorktown

French narratives of the march to Yorktown from the American Revolution Institute’s collection—written by Henri-Dominique de Palys, chevalier de Montrepos, and Robert Guillaume, baron de Dillon—are highlighted in this presentation by Rachel Jirka, an Institute librarian. The narratives detail the French army’s march to Yorktown in 1781 and provide insight into the French experience marching south from Newport, Rhode Island. The manuscripts contain the men’s personal impressions of the terrain, the American people and of George Washington himself.

Video courtesy of C-SPAN’s American History TV

Explore these narratives and others in our exhibition, Revolutionary Reflections: French Memories of the War for America.