Port Tobacco in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
On to Yorktown
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
— Road to Victory —
Upon arrival of French forces in Newport, Rhode Island in July 1780, Baron Ludwig von Closen, a captain in the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment, was selected by General Rochambeau as one of his aides-de-camp. Closen accompanied Rochambeau on most of his visits with General Washington and was chosen as courier of many important communications, including messages to the French fleet commanders Admirals de Barras and De Grasse. Closen kept a detailed diary of his activities throughout his stay in America, including the Yorktown Campaign of 1781.
At Baltimore on 12 September 1781, Closen and his fellow aide-de-camp Baron Marie-Francois Cromot Dubourg decided to separate from the main army and seek a shorter route to Williamsburg. That evening they set out with four servants and 10 horses. Traveling without a guide they lost their way and spent the night at a remote farm. The next day they rode through Queen Anne to Upper Marlboro from where they continued to Port Tobaccco on 14 September.
Closen described Port Tobacco as "situated at the foot of a hill, where there is a stream bordered by about twenty houses....In the evening we had time to climb up to the church, which is situated on a dominating height, from which we had a delightful view." The church was St. Ignatius, described by Cromot Dubourg as "very handsome."
The next day they traveled to Laidler's Lower Ferry Landing at Charlestown (now Morgantown) where they took Hooes' Ferry to Point Mathias on the Virginia side of the Potomac. They reached Williamsburg on 18 September, Closen regularly entered the trenches with the regiment and had the satisfaction of witnessing Lord Cornwallis surrender his forces on 19 October 1781.
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 July 1780.
Location. 38° 30.676′ N, 77° 1.195′ W. Marker is in Port Tobacco, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker is in front of the Port Tobacco Courthouse Museum on Chapel Point Road off Route 6. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Tobacco MD 20677, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Port Tobacco: A Maryland Mosaic (here, next to this marker); Port Tobacco (a few steps from this marker); John Wilkes Booth (a few steps from this marker); Port Tobacco: Commerce (a few steps from this marker); Port Tobacco: Conspiracy & the Plot to Assassinate President Lincoln (a few steps from this marker); St. Columba Masonic Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Port Tobacco Jail (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Port Tobacco (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Tobacco.
Also see . . .
1. Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2019.)
2. Port Tobacco Historic District. Maryland's National Register Properties website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2019.)
3. Port Tobacco Historic District. Maryland's Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2019.)
4. Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association. Association website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2019.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 996 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 21, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on January 17, 2019, by David Lassman of Waldorf, Maryland. 5. submitted on March 24, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.