IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1004 
Recognizing the historical significance of the Washington-Rochambeau march 
through New Jersey in 1781 as part of the march of American and 
French forces from Rhode Island to Virginia that culminated in the 
American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, in October 1781. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 
Mr. FERGUSON (for himself, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. 
LOBIONDO, Mr. ANDREWS, and Mr. SAXTON) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the historical significance of the Washington- 
Rochambeau march through New Jersey in 1781 as part 
of the march of American and French forces from Rhode 
Island to Virginia that culminated in the American vic-
tory at Yorktown, Virginia, in October 1781. 
Whereas 2006 is the 225th anniversary of the Washington- 
Rochambeau march through New Jersey on the way from 
Providence, Rhode Island, to Yorktown, Virginia, for 
what became the climatic battle of the Revolutionary 
War; 
Whereas the American forces were led by General George 
Washington and the French forces were led by Comte de 
Rochambeau; 
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•HRES 1004 IH 
Whereas the plan of the two generals was to combine the 
American troops and the French allies to defeat British 
forces under the command of Lord Cornwallis in York-
town, Virginia; 
Whereas it was agreed by the two generals to keep up the 
appearance of an imminent attack on British General 
Clinton in New York City. The feint worked, and the 
forces joined up to continue the march to Yorktown; 
Whereas the Washington-Rochambeau March to Yorktown, in 
conjunction with the arrival of the French fleet off of 
Cape Henry, Virginia, from the Caribbean, has long been 
recognized as a military masterstroke, resulting in victory 
at Yorktown and bringing an end to the Revolutionary 
War; 
Whereas the march through New Jersey was part of a larger 
march occurring in August and September of 1781 
through nine States: Rhode Island, Connecticut, New 
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, 
Virginia, Massachusetts, and the present District of Co-
lumbia; 
Whereas the route of Rochambeau’s march to Yorktown 
across New Jersey required food for an army of 5,000, 
plus as many as 1,000 servants and civilian workers, and 
forage for no less than 1,500 horses and 600 oxen had 
to be provided at each campsite throughout the State 
along the way; 
Whereas the French march through New Jersey included 
parts of the Ramapo Valley, Whippany, Morristown, Mill-
stone, and Princeton; 
Whereas the American march, although less well documented, 
included parts of Bergen County, Paramus, Belleville, 
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•HRES 1004 IH 
Mahwah, and Springfield (from what historians are able 
to determine); 
Whereas as a result of the march, British forces under Lord 
Cornwallis were cut off from escape or reinforcement by 
both land and sea; 
Whereas the American and French forces laid siege to the 
British-fortified town of Yorktown, and with the land 
routes blocked and the Chesapeake Bay blocked by the 
French fleet commanded by de Grasse, Lord Cornwallis 
was compelled to surrender to the allies three weeks after 
the siege began; and 
Whereas in honor of the 225th anniversary of the Wash-
ington-Rochambeau march, the Washington-Rochambeau 
Revolutionary Route in New Jersey Association (W3R- 
NJ), a non-profit corporation formed to promote, pre-
serve, and commemorate the march of the French and al-
lied expeditionary forces through New Jersey, chose as 
its main commemoration a two-day re-enactment of the 
French encampment at Liberty Corner, formerly known 
as Bullion’s Tavern, on the actual site of the encamp-
ment of August 26, 1781: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes the historical significance of the Washington-Ro-
chambeau march through New Jersey in 1781 as part of 
the march of American and French forces from Rhode Is-
land to Virginia that culminated in the American victory 
at Yorktown, Virginia, in October 1781. 
Æ 
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