French General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, and thousands of French ground and naval forces arrived in Newport in July 1780 to assist the Americans in the War for Independence. After wintering in Newport, Rochambeau's troops marched through Connecticut to join General George Washington's Continental Army just over the New York border. The combined forces moved down the eastern seaboard and confronted Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis and the British army in Yorktown, Virginia. After a prolonged siege, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, virtually ending the war and ensuring American independence. Along the route through Waterbury, Middlebury, and Southbury, some of the 4,700 French soldiers who started from Newport succumbed to illness, and two believed to have died in Waterbury were likely buried in what is now East Farms Cemetery after the town paid Joseph Beach 15 shillings for land for a burying ground near his inn, where the soldiers were believed to have been cared for before they died. The army continued westward through Waterbury into Camp 9 at what is now Middlebury, then the hamlet of Breakneck, on June 27, 1781, where the stony roads and endless mountains described by Baron Closen made travel difficult, the Josiah Bronson Tavern hosted French general officers from June 27 to July 1, 1781, and again October 26-28, 1782, and the miles leading to camp severely tested the animals pulling heavy supply and artillery wagons, with diary entries noting that the artillery of the first division did not arrive until early morning as the infantry prepared for the next day's march. After less than a fortnight's rest at Breakneck, following entertainment and trading with local residents, each division started early for the 13 mile march through what is now Middlebury and Southbury to the next camp in Newtown.

Photo: Michael Herrick

Photo: Michael Herrick

Photo: Michael Herrick

Photo: Michael Herrick