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nordleuchten · 1 year

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24 Days of La Fayette: December 17th - Joseph-Pierre-Charles, Baron de Frey

Joseph-Pierre-Charles, Baron de Frey was probably, along with Pierre, Chevalier Du Rousseau de Fayolle, one of La Fayette’s unluckiest aide-de-camps. The poor man spend almost a year as a prisoner of war but nevertheless returned to La Fayette’s side after his release. I am getting ahead of myself though, so let me introduce you to the Baron de Frey. He was born in 1740 in Constanze, what belonged at that time to Austria and is today a part of (southern) Germany. He entered the Austrian Army and saw service in Poland in the Polish War. There are also sources claiming that he was a Swiss and moreover a veteran of the Austrian and the Polish army.

Frey was recommended to Benjamin Franklin, who in turn wrote a letter of recommendation to George Washington on June 13, 1777:

The Person who will have the Honour of delivering this to your Excellency, is Monsieur le Baron de Frey, who is well recommended to me as an Officer of Experience and Merit, with a Request that I would give him a Letter of Introduction. I have acquainted him that you are rather overstock’d with Officers, and that his obtaining Employment in your Army is an Uncertainty: But his Zeal for the American Cause is too great for any Discouragements I can lay before him, and he goes over at his own Expence to take his Chance, which is a Mark of Attachment that merits our Regard. He will show your Excellency the Commissions and Proofs of his military Service hitherto, and I beg Leave to recommend him to your Notice. With the sincerest Esteem and Respect, I have the Honour to be Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant

“From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington: Two Letters, 13 June 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 24, May 1 through September 30, 1777, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1984, pp. 156–158.] (12/17/2022)

Frey joined the Continental Army in September of 1777. Not much is found about Frey’s early years of service, but two interesting details stand out nonetheless. First, La Fayette choose Frey as one of the French officers to accompany him on the eventually doomed Canada-expedition and Frey was made an aide-de-camp. A resolution of Congress from February 2, 1778 reads:

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 273.

Frey fought in the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 while still being employed as an aide-de-camp. He was transferred to Pulaski’s Legion a few months later in the fall of 1778 and retained his captaincy there. A year later, Frey was also a witness on the court-martial of Lt. Stanislaw Kotkowski’s for “Riotus and Mutinus Behavior at the House of Daniel Westfall in Minisink the 9th January 1779”.

Westfall was supported by the testimony of four members of Pulaski’s Legion: Capt. Joseph-Pierre-Charles, baron de Frey, Adjutant Seidelin, and two soldiers. Frey and Seidelin, to whom Westfall and his crying wife had gone for help after escaping from the rioters, said that they went to the house and confronted Kotkowski. When Kotkowski tried to justify his bad behavior by saying that Westfall was “a Rascal,” Frey “told him that he was not in Poland.” Kotkowski then drew his sword and tried to attack Frey. Disarmed by Frey and Seidelen and unable to find a rifle, Kotkowski punched Frey in the face before a guard arrived to confine him.

Notes of “To George Washington from Brigadier General Edward Hand, 15 January 1779,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 19, 15 January–7 April 1779, ed. Philander D. Chase and William M. Ferraro. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009, pp. 3–6.] (12/17/2022)

Frey wrote to George Washington on September 28, 1779:

I am under the necessity of informing your Excellency, that the Situation of my private affairs at Home require my immediate presence and am therefore constrained to beg your Excellencys Leave of absence for Eight Months to go to france, to settle my Buisiness.

I hope your Excellency will be pleased to indulge me with the gratification of my request, as I Suppose my conduct in the Course of two y[e]ars Service in america will plead in my behalf, and having now the oportunity to go to france with the franch Fregate being now at Boston. I recomand myself in your Excellencys Protection

The furlough was granted by Congress in November and Frey promptly embarked on his voyage back to France. It appears that Frey was in financial troubles at the time since he borrowed money from Benjamin Franklin (20 Guineas on September 2, 1780). Benjamin Franklin wrote to Stürler on September 10, 1780:

M. De Frey has, I think, quitted our Service, and is excused by the Congress from the Necessity of returning. I nevertheless lent him 16. Guineas on his Promise of repaying me in a few Days. He broke that Promise and borrowed 4. Guineas more of me on a new Promise, which he likewise broke; for when he paid me it was much after the Time. I do not like to be troubled with such uncertain Borrowers or their affairs, or their Pledges. I therefore return the Billets he has sent me, thro’ your Hands and desire to be excused lending him any more Money.

“From Benjamin Franklin to Stürler, 10 September 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 33, July 1 through November 15, 1780, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1997, pp. 279–280.] (12/17/2022)

Despite his annoyance, Franklin would continue to lend Frey money and Frey eventually paid the money back.

Frey arrived in Bordeaux sometime in April of 1780 and was in Paris by July 1, of 1780. He aimed to return to America in October of 1780 but was captured by the British while at sea and not released until July of 1781.

Baron de Frey returned to America after his release and continued to serve as a volunteer aide-de-camp to the Marquis de La Fayette. He was a member of the Marquis’ staff during the battle of Yorktown in October of 1781.

Frey was desirous to continue to serve America even after the end of the Revolutionary War and he wrote to George Washington on October 29, 1781:

I beg leave to represent to your Excellency that I obtained a Commission of Captain from the Honorable Congress the 2d of february 1778. I Served in the family of Major general Marquis de la Fayette till after the battle of Monmouth. in the Month of July following general Count Pulasky gave me a Company in his Legion—but on its reform being at that time a prisonner of war, I was unavoidably without a Command. as Soon I was exchanged. by Count de Barras I followed and joined the army where I have had the Honor to act in the late Siege as a Volunter in Colonel gimats Regiment of light infanterie. all that I now find left me is to intreat that if your Excellency is Satisfied with my Services in the Several Situations in which I have been placed in your army; that your goodness would imploy me in Such a maner as you please, being very desirous to Serve longer the United States or if this can not be done that I might obtain from your Excellency a recommandation of my Services to Congress, as in this case I am determined to return to Europe—I hope Your Excellency will be pleased to take my present Situation into Consideration and let me Know as Soon as possible your intention. I have the Honor to be with the most profound Respect Your Excellencys most obed. humble Servant

“To George Washington from Baron de Frey, 29 October 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (12/17/2022)

George Washington therefor wrote to Thomas McKeene on November 2, 1781:

I do myself the honor of inclosing a letter from Baron de frey, in which after giving me a State of his services, he requests either that he may be employed suitably to his rank—or have a recommendation to Congress to facilitate his retiring to Europe. The former being impracticable in the present circumstances of the Army—the alternative cannot be refused him—I therefore do myself the honor of informing Congress that from an inspection of the certificates given him by the several commanding officers under whom he has served, it appears to me that his military conduct has uniformly gained their applause—and that he may retire from the service with the reputation of an officer who has on all occasions done his duty—I have the honor to be with the profoundest respect Your Excellencys most obedt Servt

“From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 2 November 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (12/17/2022)

Frey informed Washington on December 11, 1781 of his resignation:

I do myself the Honor to inform your Excellency that the Honorable Congress has been pleased, by their Resolve of the 28th November last, to accept of my Resignation, and as I had the Honor to serve in the army of the United States four year and upward, and conducted myself on all occasions as becometh an Officer of honor, as appears by the Several Certificates from the general officers under Whoes Command I had the Honor to Serve. Therefore my desire is, that your Excellency would be pleased, in consideration of my Services, to recommend me to Congress for the Rank of a Major by Brevet in the Service of the United States, which Rank would do me Honour in my Country, and would be to a great advantage to me in the Service of France. I doubt not that upon your Excellency’s recommandation the Honorable Congress will be pleased to grant me my demand as a gratification for my Services in this Country during four years. Therefore I recommand myself in your Excellency’s Protection, and Have the Honor to be with the profoundest Respect. Your Excellencys most obedient and humble Servant

“To George Washington from Baron de Frey, 11 December 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (12/17/2022)

Such a commission was of course not possible, and Washington told Frey so on December 12, 1781:

I have received your letter of yesterday’s date. After your application to Congress and their acceptance of your resignation, I do not conceive myself at liberty to recommend you to the Rank of Major by Brevet in the American service, because that would imply a new introduction into the Army.

Congress have in their Resolve of the 28th November expressed their sense of your Merits and have assigned a reason for accepting your Commission which reflects no dishonor upon you. I am Sir Yr most obt Servt.

“From George Washington to Baron de Frey, 12 December 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (12/17/2022)

Washington wrote a certificate of Frey’s honourable service on December 17, 1781:

Monsr Charles de Frey obtained the Rank of Captain in the Army of the United States in January 1778—At which time he joined the family of Major Genl the Marquis de la Fayette and continued with him ’till after the Battle of Monmouth in the Month of June following.

Capt. de Frey was then appointed to the command of a Company in the Legionary Corps of Brigadier General the Count Pulaski—In October 1779 he sollicited and obtained leave to return to France upon Furlough—On his passage back to America he was unfortunately taken prisoner and remained in Captivity untill July 1781.

Finding upon his release that the Legion to which he belonged had been dissolved upon the death of Count Pulaski, he joined the Army as a Volunteer at the Seige of York in Virginia and acted under the immediate command of the Marquis de la Fayette from whom he obtained a very honorable Certificate of his services upon that occasion.

By the testimonials of the General Officers under whom Capt. de Frey has more immediately served, it fully appears that during his continuance in the Army of the United States he acted with the bravery and good conduct of an officer and the Reputation of a Gentleman. Given under my hand and seal at Philadelphia the 17th day of Decemr 1781—

“From George Washington to Baron de Frey, 17 December 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Papers of George Washington. It is not an authoritative final version.] (12/17/2022)

Besides Washington’s certificate, Frey also received a letter of recommendation from Benjamin Franklin, bearing witness to his military merits and behavior as a gentleman. As with many other of La Fayette aide-de-camps, money and adequate compensation were a problem but Frey was rather lucky with the way his case was dealt with.

Robert Morris paid Frey all but 500 Dollar of the money due to him. For the remaining 500 Dollar he wrote a cheque on December 5, 1781:

The Bearer of this Letter the Baron de Frey will shew you a Certificate for five hundred Dollars signed by Joseph Nourse Esqr. Register of the Treasury of the United States and issued by Virtue of a Warrant of this Day from me. This Money is on Interest at six per Cent from the fifth of December and is the Balance still due after a partial Payment. Should it be perfectly convenient to you it will be [a] great Favor to him and agreable to me that this five hundred Dollars be paid to Baron de Frey taking his receipt in full of all Demands against the United States on the Back of the Certificate with three Copies signed by him and sending them by different Opportunities. I mention five hundred Dollars without noticing the Interest, because in Case of Payment by you the Transaction will be substantially as if I had given him here a Bill of Exchange. With all possible respect I have the Honor to be Sir your most obedient and humble Servant

“To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 5 December 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 36, November 1, 1781, through March 15, 1782, ed. Ellen R. Cohn. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2001, pp. 196–197.] (12/17/2022)

Joseph-Pierre-Charles, Baron de Frey was married and had at least two siblings. One brother, who served as a Captain in the Austrian Army (Belgiojoso regiment.) He met his brother in Paris during his return to France and on several occasions asked Benjamin Franklin if he could forward letters from him to his brother in America.

Then there was also a sister living in France with her husband. She was one of the “Favour seekers” that Franklin encountered in Paris.

Mme. Buzard, the sister of Joseph-Pierre-Charles, baron de Frey, writes, possibly in 1778, seeking Franklin’s protection. After the death of her uncle General Hille in the service of the King of Sardinia, she married the sieur Buzard, of known probity. He served for eight years in the artillery. Now, having suffered a number of setbacks, they and their children have no money. As a favor to her brother will Franklin obtain for her husband a place in the service of the U.S. or advancement in his French regiment?

“To Benjamin Franklin from James Harriman and Other Favor Seekers, 6 November 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 28, November 1, 1778, through February 28, 1779, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990, pp. 44–52.] (12/17/2022)

The Baron de Frey died in 1796.

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