Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route - Bolton, CT
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neoc1
N 41° 46.162 W 072° 25.989
18T E 713354 N 4627354
A marker describing the route that French General Rochambeau took from Newport, RI through Connecticut, via Bolton, to New York to join forces with General Washington is located on Bolton Green in Bolton, CT
Waymark Code: WM16TYH
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 10/06/2022
Views: 2
This marker is located on Bolton Green at the intersection of Bolton Center Road and Hebron Road in Bolton, CT.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
Bolton
French General Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de
Rochambeau, and thousands of French ground and naval forces
arrived in Newport in July of 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.
Welcoming
Our Allies
Prominent local figures in towns across Connecticut offered
their homes, and fields for Rochambeau, his
army as they made their way across the state.
French troops camped in the fields of what is today Rose
Farm on Bolton Center Road in Bolton. In 1781, the land
belonged to Reverend George Colton, a prominent local
minister. Rochambeau stayed overnight in the Cotton home
on June 21, 1781, the first night of the French army
encampment.
Rochambeau and other officers were also guests at Daniel
White’s Tavern on what is today Hutchinson Road in Andover.
It was used throughout the French army’s encampment in
Cotton’s field from June 21 to 24, 1781 (Camp 5) on the march
south to join the Continental Army and between November
4 and 5, 1782 (Camp 46) after the battle of Yorktown. Many
of Rochambeau’s officers also stayed at Oliver White’s Tavern
at the intersection of Brandy Street and Bolton Center Road
in Bolton, since it was across from Camp 5 and close to Camp
46, in what is today Andover.
Daniel White’s Tavern was a frequent place for Rochambeau
to stay when he came through Connecticut. It hosted
him in May 1781 on his way to and from an important
conference with General George Washington in Wethersfield.
Rochambeau stayed here again in December 1782 on his
journey to Newburgh, New York to bid farewell to General
Washington after the war.
The right side of the marker has pictures and text describing: Hutchinson Road, Oliver White's Tavern, Reverend George Colton, a Grenadier, and a map of Rochambeau's route with the locations of 10 other markers.
