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Biographical Sketches of the Generals of the Continental Army of the Revolution

Chapter 85: COUNT ARMAND.
By Mary Theresa Leiter
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About This Book

The work compiles concise biographical sketches of the senior officers who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, arranged with lists of major and brigadier generals and summaries of each officer's commissions, service, and notable engagements. It pairs these entries with an index of dates and a collection of portraits assembled for display, and includes a preface explaining the provenance of the engravings and the editorial methods and sources consulted. Intended as a compact reference for visitors and readers, the volume emphasizes factual data—appointments, service conclusions, and commemoration—while providing bibliographic notes and acknowledgments of contributors.

COUNT ARMAND.

Armand Tuffin, Marquis de la Rouarie, born in the castle of Rouarie near Rennes, France, on the 14th of April, 1756, was admitted in 1775 to be a member of the body-guard of the French king. A duel led to his dismissal shortly after. Angry and mortified, he attempted suicide, but his life was saved; and in May, 1777, he came to the United States, where he entered the Continental army under the name of Count Armand. Being granted leave to raise a partisan corps of Frenchmen, he served with credit and great ability under Lafayette, Gates, and Pulaski. At the reorganization of the army in 1780, Washington proposed Armand for promotion, and recommended the keeping intact of his corps. In 1781, he was summoned to France by his family, but returned in time to take part in the siege of Yorktown, bringing with him clothing, arms, and ammunition for his corps, which had been withdrawn from active service during his absence.

After the surrender of Cornwallis, Washington again called the attention of Congress to Armand’s meritorious conduct, and he at last received his promotion as brigadier-general on the 26th of March, 1783. At the close of the war he was admitted as a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and with warmest recommendations from Washington returned to his native country and lived privately until 1788, when he was elected one of twelve deputies to intercede with the king for the continuance of the privileges of his native province of Brittany. For this he was confined for several weeks in the Bastile. Upon his release he returned to Brittany, and in 1789, denounced the principle of revolution and proposed a plan for the union of the provinces of Brittany, Anjou, and Poitou, and the raising of an army to co-operate with the allies. These plans being approved by the brothers of Louis XVI., in December, 1791, Rouarie was appointed Royal Commissioner of Brittany. In March of the year following, the chiefs of the confederation met at his castle; and all was ready for action when they were betrayed to the legislative assembly, and troops were sent to arrest the marquis. He succeeded in eluding them for several months, when he was attacked by a fatal illness and died in the castle of La Guyomarais near Lamballe, on the 30th of January, 1793.