Journal du huit au treize à midi inclusivement / par Jean-François d'Arros, baron d'Argelos, commander of the Languedoc.

Journal du huit au treize à midi inclusivement / par Jean-François d'Arros, baron d'Argelos, commander of the Languedoc.

Journal du 8 au 13 à midi inclusivement
Journal, April 8-13, 1782
Account of the Battle of Les Saintes

[1782?]

In French.

43 p. ; 22.5 x 10.5 cm

MSS 2023 S2

Manuscript journal by Jean-François d'Arros, baron d'Argelos, defending his conduct as commander of the French ship of the line Languedoc during the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782. The journal gives a chronological account of events from April 8 to April 13, 1782, including the movements of the French and British fleets, naval signals and maneuvers, wind conditions, the damage sustained by Languedoc, and the difficulty of maneuvering the ship under enemy fire. The manuscript was prepared in the context of accusations by the comte de Grasse that d'Arros abandoned his post during the battle and includes legal and evidentiary material intended to justify his actions, including testimony from officers present during the action and observations by the marquis de Vaudreuil. D'Arros was later acquitted by the Council of War at Lorient.

Manuscript account in French.
Jean-François d'Arros, baron d'Argelos, commanded the French ship of the line Languedoc during the Battle of the Saintes.
Manuscript legal and personal defense concerning d'Arros's conduct during the Battle of the Saintes.
Cover dated: "Avril 1782."
Title from cover.

Sandra Carmona Antunes Purchase 2023

Jean-François d'Arros, baron d'Argelos, was born in Arthez, France, on August 26, 1726, and died in Martinique on September 9, 1791. A French naval officer, he entered the Marine royale as a garde de la Marine in 1744 and rose to capitaine de vaisseau in 1772, brigadier des armées navales in 1778, and chef d'escadre in 1784. During the American Revolutionary War, he served in the fleet of the comte de Grasse, including as commander of Palmier at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781 and of Languedoc at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782. After the Saintes, d'Arros was accused by de Grasse of abandoning his post, but was acquitted by the Council of War at Lorient in 1784. He was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati of France.

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