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1781 Rev. War STEPHEN ROCHEFONTAINE Major of Engineers Corps of Sappers + Miners
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles / Autographs
Start Price:600.00 USD
Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
SOLD
700.00USD+ (175.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 May 27 @ 10:23UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Autographs
“Rochefontaine - Major of Engineers” Revolutionary War Corps of Sappers and Miners Autograph Document Signed
STEPHEN ROCHEFONTAINE (1755-1814). French military engineer who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolution, later promoted to Chief of Engineers. President George Washington made Rochefontaine Commandant of the new Corps on 26 February 1795, and Rochefontaine started a Military School at West Point, NY.
December 3rd, 1781-Dated Revolutionary War, Historic American Military Rare Autograph Document Signed, “Rochefontaine - Major of Engineers”, 1 page, measuring about 4” x 7.75” (8vo.), Philadelphia, About Fine. This being an war-date Order, stating that soldiers in the Corps of Sappers and Miners are entitled to gratuity. The light black ink is moderately faded but still fully legible. The laid period paper is evenly toned, has some small scattered stains, and is trimmed around the margins, reinforced with old archival tape on the right side, likely from prior mounting, as shown. It reads, in full:
“Philadelphia December 3rd, 1781 -- Sargeant John Lovely quarter master of the Corps of Mar(ine) Sappers, Michael Brown, Robert Clare, Stephen Licard & Davis O’Brian all soldiers in the Said corpswere all really from the Line of Pennsylvania & by resolve of the State are all entitled to Bounty pay, & other gratuities granted to the soldiers of the Said line. -- (Signed) Rochefontaine / Major of Engineers”. Docket written on the blank reverse reads: “Sappers & Miners who a(re) Intitled to gratuity”.
An Act of Congress on May 9, 1794, established a military school at West Point New York to train the newly-authorized Corps of Artillerists and Engineers. Stephen Rochefontaine, who had served honorably during the Revolutionary War was appointed by President George Washington as the military school at West Point First Director. The military school would be destroyed by a fire a year later, yet it was the first military school established by the United States, predating Thomas Jefferson's establishment of the United States Military Academy in 1801.
Stephen Rochefontaine was born on 23 February 1755 in Ay, Marne, France. His name at birth was Estienne Nicolas Marie Béchet, Sieur de Rochefontaine.
Rochefontaine came to the U.S. in 1778 after failing to gain a position in the French Royal Corps of Engineers. He volunteered in General Washington's Continental Army on 15 May 1778 and was appointed Captain in the Corps of Engineers on 18 September 1778. For his distinguished services at the Siege of Yorktown, Rochefontaine was given the brevet rank of Major by Congress on 16 November 1781.
He returned to France in 1783 and served as an infantry officer, reaching the rank of Colonel in the French Army. He came back to the U.S. in 1792 and anglicized his first name to Stephen. President Washington appointed him a Civilian Engineer to fortify the New England coast, in 1794.
After the new Corps of Artillerists and Engineers was organized, President George Washington made Rochefontaine a Lieutenant Colonel and Commandant of the new Corps on 26 February 1795. Rochefontaine started a military school at West Point, NY, in 1795, but the building and all his equipment were burned the following year.
He left the Army on 7 May 1798, and lived in New York City until his death.
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Rochefontaine died on 30 January 1814 in New York, NY. He is buried at Saint Paul's Chapel and Churchyard in Manhattan, NY.
On 16 June, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved, "That there be one Chief Engineer at the Grand Army... That two assistants be employed under him..." This marked the beginning of the Corps of Engineers. In the following year a number of individuals were given appointments as engineers or assistant engineers in the Continental Army.
Three years later, the Congress authorized the recruitment of three companies of engineers, generally referred to as miners and sappers. The organization of these companies and the officers having engineer responsibilities into a "Corps of Engineers," came on 11 March 1779. During the Revolution, these miners and sappers worked on field fortifications and roads. At the Battle of Yorktown, they joined in the assault of Redoubt No 10 in their secondary capacity as infantrymen. At the close of the Revolution, the Corps was mustered out of service.
Because of a recognized need for a regular military establishment, Congress took a number of steps in the early 1790s to reconstitute the American Army. One of these was the establishment of the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers in 1794 under Rochefontaine - Major of Engineers.
During the crisis with France four years later, an additional regiment of artillerists and engineers was formed. However, it was soon recognized that the duties and functions of the artillery and engineers, while connected, were distinct.
In 1800, a movement began to separate the two branches. On 16 March 1802, Congress authorized the President to establish a separate Corps of Engineers. The law also stated, "That the said corps when so organized shall be stationed at West Point, in the State of New York, and shall constitute a military academy..." By this action, the Congress recognized that military engineering was a science, and therefore required formal education and training.
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Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| CST |
8.25% |
California |
| SST |
8.75% |
San Diego County |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
25% |
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