In July 1780, a French army of 5,500 professional soldiers arrived on American soil under the command of Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, a veteran of two wars with almost 40 years of military experience. General George Washington warmly welcomed Rochambeau and his forces, and two months later the two men met for the first time, establishing a military spirit of cooperation aimed at defeating the British. During the Yorktown campaign a year later, Rochambeau provided expert military counsel to Washington, and his troops formed the left wing of Washington’s Allied Army while American forces held the right. Rochambeau’s headquarters were located here near Washington’s headquarters, allowing the two commanders to meet and confer easily on siege operations. One day after the victory, Washington publicly offered his most grateful acknowledgements to Count de Rochambeau for his counsels and assistance at all times.
