Plantsville in Southington in Hartford County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Rochambeau
Lieut. General
Commanding
The Auxiliary French Armies
Under
Washington
July 10, 1780 Jan 11, 1783
"We are your brothers. We shall
conduct ourselves as such with you.
We shall fight against our enemies
at your side as one and the same nation"
Quotation from General's letter
[ back ]
General Rochambeau and 6000 French forces under his command camped here in June 1781 They then continued their march through Connecticut to join General Washington and the American troops in successfully defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown.
The French forces again camped here in Nov 1782 after gallantly helping in our fight for independence.
General Count de Rochambeau was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati formed by General Washington and his officers in 1783 to perpetuate their fellowship.
Erected 1971.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, and the The Washington-Rochambeau Route series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1781.
Location. 41° 34.177′ N, 72° 55.389′ W. Marker is in Southington, Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is in Plantsville. Marker is at the intersection of Marion Avenue and Burritt Street, on the right when traveling north on Marion Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1036 Marion Ave, Plantsville CT 06479, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Forever Honored Forever Mourned (approx. ¾ mile away); Washington – Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (approx. 2.2 miles away); Maxwell Noble Drive (approx. 2½ miles away); Dedicated to All Veterans (approx. 2½ miles away); Southington Recreation Park (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Forever Honored Forever Mourned (approx. 2.7 miles away); Reverend Zygmunt Woroniecki (approx. 2.8 miles away); a different marker also named Forever Honored Forever Mourned (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southington.
Regarding Rochambeau. Marion is the site of an encampment by the French general, Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau and his troops during the American Revolutionary War. In June 1781, the French troops under Rochambeau's command left Farmington and marched 13 miles to their eighth camp through Connecticut, near Asa Barnes's Tavern in the Marion section of Southington. They camped there for four days. Rochambeau and his officers took shelter in the tavern, and the troops set up camp on a hill on the other side of the road. The area of the encampment has since become known as French Hill, and a marker on the west side of Marion Avenue commemorates the French campsite. According to Rev. Timlow's Sketches of Southington (1875), "Landlord Barnes gave a ball at his tavern, at which a large number of the young women of the vicinity were present; and they esteemed it something of an honor to have had a 'cotillion' with the polite foreigner." The celebrations—infused with spirits provided by Landlord Barnes—spanned the four nights they were in Southington. Rochambeau revisited Barnes's Tavern again on the return march on October 27, 1782. According to Timlow's Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn., coins, buttons and other things were picked up in the vicinity many years after the two encampments. The Barnes Tavern is now a private residence very near the camp site at 1089 Marion Avenue.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . The Rochambeau Monument at Southington Conn. The Journal of the American-Irish Historical Society,. Vol. XII 1913. (Submitted on May 26, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,904 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 28, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 7. submitted on July 30, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 8, 9. submitted on May 26, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.