NPS map of the W3R Route
The 680 mile long
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) is a series of
encampments and the
roads used by U.S.
Continental Army troops under
George Washington and
French troops under
Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau from
Newport, Rhode Island to
Yorktown, Virginia. Interpretive literature, signs, and exhibits will describe the key role of French diplomatic, military, and economic aid to the
United States during the
Revolutionary War. See the Official Site for information on current events and tourism options.
Background
Landing at
Newport, Rhode Island, on
July 10,
1780, Rochambeau and his 4,000 troops remained there relatively inactive for a year. In July 1781, Rochambeau's force finally left
Rhode Island to join the
Continental Army near
White Plains, New York.
Judging from the maps in the Rochambeau Collection and the early maps of Providence, the French army, on leaving the camp ground between Broad and Plane Streets, passed through the present Stewart Street to High Street, and west along this to the junction (Hoyle Tavern), where, leaving on their right the road to Hartford, they took the road to the left, then called the Monkey Town road, now Cranston Street, and followed this to Monkeytown, now Knightsville. The army here turned to the right following the old Scituate road over Dugaway hill by the late Pippin Orchard School house, over Apple House hill and Bald hill, crossing the Pawtuxet at the village of Kent and on to Waterman's Tavern, fifteen miles, the end of the first day's march and the first camp. Waterman's Tavern is still standing in good condition near Potterville on the old Scituate road a mile or so north of the new state highway. It is now the home of Mr. Elmer A. Havens, who shows two wells of small diameter neatly stoned, that are said to have been dug by the French troops that camped here, both on the march to Yorktown and on the return march. The instructions for the march say : "The camp is in quite a good position although in the midst of woods, having a brook in front, and behind, the tavern and the main road from Providence to Watermans much better than that by Angells tavern. The accommodations for divisional headquarters are not aboundant but more than at Angell's tavern or Whipple house."
On June 19, the regiment of Royal DeuxPonts under the Baron de Viomenil, set out for the camp at Waterman's, followed on the 20th by the regiment of Soissonnais under the Count de Viomenil (brother of the Baron), and on the 21st by Saintonge, under the Marquis de Custine.
With the departure of this last regiment, there were left in Providence a guard for the baggage and munitions stored in the Old Market House, and the surgeons and attendants at the hospital in University Hall.
The American and French troops took a combination of strategic roads and waterways from Philipsburg through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the future District of Columbia, and Virginia, reaching Williamsburg in late September 1781.
With a French fleet blocking the Chesapeake, barring British reinforcements from New York or a sea escape for Cornwallis' army, Washington and Rochambeau's three-week siege of Yorktown ended in Cornwallis' surrender to Washington on October 19, 1781. After their victory, Washington and the Continentals returned to defend northern posts while Rochambeau and his troops wintered in Williamsburg prior to marching north the following summer. Both armies were warmly celebrated by the towns and cities along their return routes.
Rochambeau and the French Troops in Providence in 1780-81-82 Howard W. Preston. (Read before the Rhode Island Historical Society,March 12, 1922.)
They marched across
Connecticut to join
George Washington on the
Hudson River at
Dobbs Ferry, New York. The advance party was led by
Armand Louis de Gontaut or Duc de Lauzun. Lauzun's Legion who marched ahead of the main army and stayed ten to fifteen miles (24 km) to the south protecting the exposed flank from the British .
The combined armies then marched through
New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,
Delaware, and
Maryland to
Yorktown, Virginia. On September 22, they combined with the
Marquis de Lafayette's troops and forced
General Cornwallis to surrender on
October 19 after the
Siege of Yorktown and the
Battle of the Chesapeake. After Yorktown, the French troops marched north again eventually ending in
Boston, Massachusetts.
On Monday, March 30, 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law
the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, one of whose provisions was to designate
the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route as a
National Historic Trail.
See also
