A Year With George Washington
On April 2, 1782, Benjamin Franklin wrote to General George Washington from France to congratulate him on his smashing victory over Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Franklin entrusted his letter to Count Segur, the son of the Marquis de Segar, Minister of War to King Louis XVI. Count Segur hand-delivered Franklin’s congratulatory missive to Washington.
Franklin, true to his style of framing epic events with fitting analogies to ancient times, describes Washington’s actions by comparing them to the infant Hercules strangling two serpents sent to attack him while he slept. By the two serpents, Franklin means General John Burgoyne, who was defeated at Saratoga, and General Charles Cornwallis, who suffered the same humiliating fate at the Battle of Yorktown.
The Greek mythological reference Franklin employs alludes to the tale of Hera, Zeus’ wife, who, having learned that Zeus had fathered Hercules by an affair with the maiden Alkmene, and in a jealous rage, sends two serpents to kill young Hercules while he sleeps. Hercules subdues and kills the serpents, thwarting Hera’s designs.
Below is Franklin’s letter to General Washington:
To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin
Passy, April 2. 1782.
Sir,
I received duly the Honour of your Letter accompanying the Capitulation of Gen. Cornwallis. All the World agree that no Expedition was ever better plann’d or better executed. It has made a great Addition to the military Reputation you had already acquired, and brightens the Glory that surrounds your Name and that must accompany it to our latest Posterity. No News could possibly make me more happy. The Infant Hercules has now strangled the two Serpents that attack’d him in his Cradle, and I trust his future History will be answerable.
This will be presented to you by the Count de Segur. He is Son of the Marquis de Segur Minister of War, and our very good Friend. But I need not claim your Regards to the young Gentleman on that Score; his amiable personal Qualities, his very sensible Conversation and his Zeal for the Cause of Liberty will obtain & secure your Esteem, and be a better Recommendation than any I can give him.
The English seem not to know either how to continue the War, or to make Peace with us. Instead of entring into a regular Treaty, for putting an End to a Contest they are tired of, they have voted in Parliament that the Recovery of America by Force is impracticable, that an offensive War against us ought not to be continued, and that whoever advises it shall be deemed an Enemy to his Country.
Thus the Garrisons of New York and Charlestown, if continued there, must sit still, being only allowed to defend themselves. The Ministry not understanding or approving this making of Peaces by halves, have quitted their Places, but we have no certain Account here who is to succeed them, so that the Measures likely to be taken are yet uncertain: probably we shall know something of them before the Marquis de la Fayette takes his Departure. There are Grounds for good Hopes however, but I think we should not therefore relax in our Preparations for a vigorous Campaign, as that Nation is subject to sudden Fluctuations; and tho’ somewhat humiliated at present, a little Success in the West Indies may dissipate their present Fears, recal their natural Insolence, and occasion the Interruption of Negociation & a Continuance of the War.
We have great Stores purchased here for the use of your Army, which will be sent as soon as Transports can be procured for them to go under good Convoy.
My best Wishes always have and always will attend you, being with the greatest and most sincere Esteem & Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Exy. Genl. Washington
