Franco-Américaine de l'Amiral de Grasse du Bar

10/05/2026

Today I visited Sulgrave Manor with friends and we saw the wreath left by Michael J. Elston, President General of the Sons of the American Revolution, as a tribute to George Washington for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Sulgrave Manor is the ancestral home of the Washington family in Britain and a symbol of friendship between the two nations.

Washington was very grateful to De Grasse, victor of the naval battle of the Chesapeake (battle of the Capes), for securing the path to American independence.

We came to see Sulgrave Manor new exhibition 'Relics and representation' and always enjoy visiting this historic place and its gardens.

Aujourd'hui, avec des amis, j'ai visité Sulgrave Manor, où nous avons vu la couronne que Michael J. Elston, président général des Fils de la Revolution Américaine (SAR) a déposée en hommage à George Washington, à l'occasion du 250ème anniversaire de la Déclaration d’indépendance.

Sulgrave Manor est la maison ancestrale de la famille Washington au Royaume-Uni et un symbole de l'amitié entre ces deux nations.

Washington était très reconnaissant envers De Grasse, vainqueur de la bataille de la Chesapeake, pour avoir ouvert la voie à l'indépendance des États-Unis d'Amérique.

Nous sommes venus voir la nouvelle exposition de Sulgrave Manor "Relics and Representation" et nous apprécions toujours la visite de ce lieu historique et de ses jardins.

10/05/2026

Alexis de Tocqueville a 25 ans en 1831 quand...

07/05/2026

05/05/2026

On this day in 1778 General Washington issued a general order announcing to the army that France had recognized the United States and providing for an appropriate thanksgiving and celebration:

May 5th 1778

It having pleased the Almighty ruler of the universe propitiously to defend the cause of the United American States and finally by raising us up a powerful friend among the princes of the earth to establish our liberty and independence upon lasting foundations, it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the divine goodness & celebrating the important event which we owe to his benign interposition.

The several brigades are to be assembled for this purpose at nine o’clock tomorrow morning when their chaplains will communicate the intelligence contained in the postscript to the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 2nd instant and offer up a thanksgiving and deliver a discourse suitable to the occasion. At half after ten o’clock a cannon will be fired, which is to be a signal for the men to be under arms….

Upon a signal given, the whole Army will Huzza! “Long Live the King of France.” The artillery then begins again and fires thirteen rounds, this will be succeeded by a second general discharge of the musquetry in a running fire—Huzza!—“And long live the friendly European Powers”—Then the last discharge of thirteen pieces of artillery will be given, followed by a general running fire and Huzza! “To the American States.
…
Each man is to have a gill of rum (a quarter of a pint). The quarter-masters of the several brigades are to apply to the Adjutant General for an order on the Commissary of Military Stores for the number of blank cartridges that may be wanted.”

Joseph Clark wrote in his journal, “The day was spent in mirth and rejoicing.” Unfortunately for the men of Daniel Morgan’s rifle corps, they were assigned to keep watch on the enemy while the celebrations were ongoing. Tench Tilghman wrote Morgan, conveying Washington’s orders: “His Excellency desires that you will towards evening send out patrols under vigilant officers to keep as near the enemy as they possibly can. They are to continue out all night and until 10 o’clock tomorrow. The reason of this is, that the enemy may think to take advantage of the celebration of this day. The troops must have more than the common quantity of liquor and perhaps there will be some little drunkenness among them.”

The photo is from the National Park Service webpage commemorating “French Alliance Day” at Valley Forge.

05/05/2026

When fighting for a worthy cause, every little helps...

In October 1774 the Continental Congress banned theatrical performances, believing that the times were too solemn and dangerous for such frivolities and in order to, as they put it, “discourage every species of extravagance and dissipation.” On this day in 1778, General George Washington ignored the ban and staged a production of Joseph Addison’s play “Cato” at Valley Forge.

Addison’s play, first staged in 1713, had been popular in North America for decades, with only Romeo and Juliet surpassing it in professional performances between 1732 and 1774. The play was particularly popular with Patriots, inspired by its noble and self-sacrificing hero. Washington frequently quoted from the play and Isaiah Thomas used a verse from it on the masthead of his newspaper (“Do thou great liberty inspire our soul and make our lives in thy possession happy or our deaths glorious in thy just defense.”)

Whether the play was performed before the entire army (as has been traditionally believed) or only before the officer corps (as recent scholarship suggests) remains a point of historical dispute. We know from a letter Colonel William Bradford wrote to his sister that “Last Monday Cato was performed before a very numerous & splendid audience.” For now, just how “very numerous” the audience was must remain unresolved.

Regardless of the size of the audience, Washington’s motive in staging the play must have been to inspire his army for the arduous task before them, whether directly, or vicariously through the officers.

The photo is of a 1927 production of the play at Valley Forge National Historic Park.

03/05/2026

Belle réussite de notre premier Quiz-Apero franco-américain, grâce à 12 équipes de participants motivés, l'aide précieuse de nos membres actifs, leurs délicieux plats et la bonne humeur générale ! Bravo aux 3 équipes gagnantes qui vont célébrer aux restaurants L'école des Filles (merci pour votre générosité !) et Le Donjon, ou déguster Les Plats de Marjolaine en lisant la BD Chesapeake de JY Delitte chez Glénat.
La prochaine fois, venez participer !
Mairie Bar Sur Loup The American Club of the Riviera
Association France Etats Unis Nice Consulat Général des Etats-Unis à Marseille

02/05/2026

À Toulon, au Relais Peiresc, très intéressante conférence intitulée "Louis René Madeleine Le Vassor de La Touche, un marin d'exception", par M. BOURDET.
Celui que l'on connaît plus familièrement comme Latouche-Treville a commandé L'Hermione pour emmener La Fayette en Amérique en 1780, où il annoncera à Washington et au Congrès l'arrivée du Corps expéditionnaire français fort de 6000 hommes.
Il faudra toutefois attendre la victoire décisive de De Grasse à la Chesapeake le 5 septembre 1781 pour ouvrir la voie à l'indépendance des États-Unis d'Amérique.

23/04/2026

23/04/2026

22/04/2026