French Army Units in N. America - Scott and corrections from Yorktown Website only
Date Location Number duration (in months)source
July-Aug 9, 1778 4000
d'Estaing: DE to NY 1 Scott, p. 4
Sept 13-Oct 18, 1779 4000
d'Estaing: Savannah 1 Scott, p. 5 - note Chartrand puts this at 3,500+; d
Jan 1, 1780-July 19, 1780 NOTHING 0 7
July 19, 1780 - Nov 31, 1780 5470
Rochambeau: arrives in RI 4 Scott, p. 11&12, date fully disembarked p. 18
Dec 1, 1780-Feb 31, 1781 5205 3 Scott,
Rochambeau: death from disease and deserters p. 20 & 25
March 1, 1781-May 31, 1781 4795 3
Rochambeau: action in March and deserters Scott, p. 50, Rochambeau leaves RI with 4,000 b
June 1, 1781 - Sept 31, 1781 5455 4 Scott,
Choisy: reinforcements from France stationed in RI p. 51, note: 260 were unfit for duty due to
Oct 1, 1781 - Oct 19, 1781 8455 0.5 Scott,
Yorktown: 3000 Naval Infantry assist at Yorktown p. 70. Note: Scott cites 800 Naval Infantry
Oct 20, 1781 - Nov 2, 1781 8357
Yorktown: casualties 0.5 Scott, p. 73, 98 killed at Yorktown
Nov 3, 1781 - Feb 31, 1782 5317 4 naval infantry
Yorktown: de Grasse departs with 800 (3000)Scott, p. 75 - note: Naval Infantry removed imme
March 1, 1782 - June 31, 1782 5277 4 Scott. Half
Rochambeau: deserters over the 10 months in Virginia of deserters (74 - p.83), retirements, (
July 1, 1782 - Sept 31, 1782 5209 3
Rochambeau: died deserted and discharged Scott, p. 98 - half of losses over this period: 58 d
Nov 1, 1782 - Dec 24, 1782 5151 3 expeditionary corp
Rochambeau: maintained until bulk of FrenchScott, p. 98 & 103 leaves
Dec 24, 1782 - Feb 31, 1783 of French expeditionary corp embarks - the discharge and recruits are from
Disembark: bulk 1051 2 Scott, p. 103
March 1, 1783 - May 15, 1783 and
Lauzun: discharge721 recruit 2.5 Scott, p. 103 - the discharge and recruits are from
May 15, 1783 - Dec 31, 1783 Lauzun & LaValette: 0 disembark 7.5 Scott, p. 107 - no attempt is made to account for
Note : no attempt is made to include French officers under Washington's command such as Lafayette and Armand
Source : Scott, Samuel F. 1998. From Yorktown to Valmy. Niwot, CO: University of Colorado Press.
Yorktown Website only
rtrand puts this at 3,500+; dates from Chartrand
fully disembarked p. 18
beau leaves RI with 4,000 because 700 transfered to the fleet.
0 were unfit for duty due to scurvy
cott cites 800 Naval Infantry at Glouster, Yorktown Web Cite puts the total Yorktown figure closer to 3,000. The latter is used because it prod
aval Infantry removed immediately. Half of deserters (74 - p.83), retirements, (30 - p.84), and reinforcements (24 - p. 85) over the Nov 3- Jun
rs (74 - p.83), retirements, (30 - p.84), and reinforcements (24 - p. 85) subtracted this period, half subtracted the previous period. Combined
osses over this period: 58 dead, 68 deserted, 10 discharged
charge and recruits are from Dec 24 to May 15, all are taken on Feb 31 to get an average.
charge and recruits are from Dec 24 to May 15, all are taken on Feb 31 to get an average.
mpt is made to account for discharge and deserters on this page since the force left this month.
te and Armand
00. The latter is used because it produces a more approximate total of allied forces.
ments (24 - p. 85) over the Nov 3- June 31 period subtracted this period, half subtracted the next period.
cted the previous period. Combined, these changes occured over the period Nov 3 - June 31 (p. 93).
French in N. America (calculations based on months per year)
Year Annual Average Modal French per Year Avg. w/o zeros Largest force per year
1775
1776
1777
1778 333.33 0 4000 4000
1779 333.33 0 4000 4000
1780 2257.00 0 5417 5470
1781 5471.00 5455 5471 8455
1782 5235.00 5277 5235 5317
1783 325.38 0 868 1051
Avg size when disembarked = 4519