Hello, Rochlafayette. You have new messages at Aka042's talk page.
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--Aka042 (talk) 01:00, 2 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Parts of this were unintelligible. I gather that Pulaski's French was not perfect to begin with. I translated as much as I could, especially given the lack of context.

Sir

Jais l’honeur de Vous rapporter qu aiant rassemble toute La Cavalerie du Regiment Blan et de detachement que jais eu avec moi jais trouvè 44 Cavalie 5 bas Officiers pour les Services et quoique ils ne sont 698 pas dans le melieur etat jais marchè avec eux vers L’Enemi mais come le chemin est insuport.. je suis force de Passe la Nui a burlington de demain je Comte de reconoitre L’Enemi et jagirais de Consequence. je verrais le General Wayne et je concetrais avec lui je ne negligerais rieins que le biein du Service exigera mais pour etre sou Ses ordres je ne m’attends pas, je servirais neenmoins à mon prejudice à linteres Publique.

Aprè quois je tacherais Mon General de diminuer Vos embaras sur mon Comte me demetant de ma charge dont Le Congres ma honoré par Votre recomendacion.

J’envoiais d’ici deux batots armes sur Ancokes krik pour observé par la Riviere L’approche de LEnemi qui se trouvait a deux Heures apre midi sur quatres differents Batiments à L’endroit quon apele Sene Merize. Je repets à V. Excelence la plus grande Necessité de Soigne les besoins de La Cavalerie Elle manque dé tout j’aurais desire de faire aumoins bieins equipé Le Regiment de Blan avec les Lenceurs mais come cela mest deffendû il faut quon prene d’autres Mesures sans s’abandone trop sur les Colonels quis certainement seront hors d’Etat de remplire Leurs Objet, ce nest pas pour moi que je parle, je ne Comte davoire Lhoneur d’etre a la tete de cet Corps la Campagne Prochaine, mais Come je Serais toujours ami de L’interes des Ameriqueins, je suis forçe de dire ma façon de Pensè plus si apre Moi Le Comendement sera doné au Colonel Moilen, toute la Cavalerie sera en meme Etat que Son Regiment, Le Colonel Blan est un Activs Officier il Lui Convieidra cette charge, et Monsieur Moilen pourra etre contenté d’une autre chose je dis ce que je crois etre necessaire et jais Lhoneur d’etre avec respect de Votre Excelence Les tres humbl et tres obeissent Serviteur

Casimir Pulaski

Rochlafayette (talk) 00:38, 2 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I have the honour of reporting to you that, having assembled all the cavalry of the Blan (?) Regiment and a detachment that I had with me I found 44 Cavalry and 5 lower officers for the services, and even though there are only 698 of them, and not in the best condition, I marched them toward the enemy, but the road was impassible. I was forced to spend the night at Burlington and tomorrow I will attempt (?) to reconnoiter the enemy and do something substnatial. I would see General Wayne and join up with him, not forgitting that the good of the service makes it necessary to be under his orders, I will not tend to myself, I will serve notwithstanding any prejeduce to my public acclaim(?).

After that I will be silent, My General, to diminish your chagrin at my account and dismissing me from my charge which the Congress honoured me upon your recommendation.

I have sent two armed boats (?) on Ancoke's creek (?) to watch the river. The approach of the enemy which was found at two o'clock in the afternoon on four different buildings in the location that's called Sene Merize (?). I repeat to Your Excellencey the great necessity for care, the needs of the cavalry. They lack everything that I would have wanted to make them well equipped. The Blan (?) Regiment with the Lancers ; . . . . Because I have always been a friend of the American interest, I was compelled to speak my mind, more if after me the commendation given to Colonel Moilen, the whole Cavalry will be in the same state as his regiment. Colonel Blan is an active officer and he would do well in that office, and Mr. Moilen could be content with some other thing. I say what I believe is necessary and I have the honour to be with the regard of Your Excellency, Your most obedient servant....

- Smerdis of Tlön (talk) 15:48, 2 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, Rochlafayette. I am translating the letter into English. I see someone else is also translating it. Yes, it's difficult, considering the old terms in French. I will finish the translation tomorrow. Best regards from Mexico City. Gustavo Sandoval Kingwergs. --correogsk (talk) 17:12, 2 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi there. In case you didn't know, when you add content to talk pages and Wikipedia pages that have open discussion, you should sign your posts by typing four tildes ( ~~~~ ) at the end of your comment. If you can't type the tilde character, you should click on the signature button located above the edit window. This will automatically insert a signature with your name and the time you posted the comment. This information is useful because other editors will be able to tell who said what, and when. Thank you! --SineBot (talk) 00:22, 3 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, Rochlafayette. You have new messages at Ghaag's talk page.
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Ghaag (talk) 01:13, 3 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi there,

Glad to hear someone got back to you on the translation issues. As it happens, I'm actually in stronger in Spanish and (Brazilian) Portuguese than I am in French, but feel free to drop me a line in the future. If the text is short I'll give it a shot. babbage (talk) 01:21, 3 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi,

You may want to consider some wikiprojects and in particular WikiProject Military history as it may provide help and advice regarding some of the article you are creating.
Ghaag (talk) 01:44, 3 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hello there, Rochlafayette -

I would be delighted to help you translate further correspondance between Pułaski and LaFayette. It is an area that interests me a lot, and I am rather distinguished with the translation of French of the 1800s and older. Next time, though, you will have to give me more than one day to respond to you - in return, you will get a very good translation. Alas, I am very busy, and cannot check my messages every day all the time, especially at such odd hours (at the time you wrote, it was in the wee hours of the night.)

It is curious that they have not acknowledged Pułaski until now! Still, better late than never, I suppose.

All the best,

--It's-is-not-a-genitive (talk) 15:34, 5 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hi

My translation, for what it's worth. I have put a couple of phrases for which I had two possible translations into brackets. General Pulaski comes over as a great character, and his French is very idiosyncratic!

Trenton 27 February 1778. Sir. I return the letter of General Wayne who has honoured me with his order to join him at Mount Holly. I have replied to him that this will not be possible given that the Cavalry remaining with me present a small number for the services and that in all I cannot find more than 18 men of which I have sent the best on the road to Philadelphia to guard the passage of the cattle transports which march for the Army. I am obliged my General to ask you if being the youngest Brigade General I am under particular orders. This clarification is necessary to me. I know that in other services he who commands the Cavalry are only under the orders of the Commander in Chief. Thus entering into the services - I had believed - of yourself only, if this is otherwise it is important that I am instructed. I am with respect, of Your Excellency, the very humble and obedient Servant, C Pulaski, General of Cavalry.

The party around Germenton which Your Excellency orders me to relieve should be replaced by the Militia of that province. The Governor has amused me up to the last moment. At present he must still keep his counsel. (keep the Council as given?) The last resolution, as well as the delay, do not come from me, and if this relief of our Cavalry is necessary , it will be assembled very quickly in view of the fact that the Enemy has already taken our measure and knowing both the area and our weaknesses will always find the means to escape from our Cavaliers, which much discourages our men and emboldens the Enemy. I dare to represent to Your Excellency that it would be better to have our Cordon retreat to a certain distance and hold different parts of the Militia on the different roads where they are on guard.... backwards send closer to the Enemy line the patrols, we could even arrange to have with each party 3 or 5 Militia on horseback, it would not be difficult bec... there are few Militia than they... their horses, and each one loves better to be on horseback than to march on the ground. I await always the orders of Your Excellency.

Berlington [NJ] 28th Feburary, Midnight, 1778. Sir. I have the honour to report to you that having assembled the entire Cavalry both detached and of the Blan regiment which I have had with me, I have found 44 Cavalry five low grade officers for the Service, and whilst they are not in the best condition, I marched with them towards the Enemy, but as the road is insupportable... I am forced to spend the night at Burlington, tomorrow I count on reconnoitring the Enemy and I shall act in consequence. I will see General Wayne and I will concentrate with him. I will in no way neglect what the good of the Service requires but to be under his orders I do not expect. I shall serve nevertheless to my own prejudice in the Public Interest. After which I shall attempt, my General, to diminish your embarrassment on my behalf by carrying out the function with which Congress has honoured my by Your recommendation. I shall send from here two armed boats two Ancokes creek to observe by the River. The Enemy position was at two o'clock this afternoon on four different craft (in four different buildings?) at the place called Sene Merize. I repeat to Your Excellency the greatest necessity of caring for the needs of the Cavalry. They are in need of everything. I would have liked to at least equip well the Blan regiment with Lancers, but as this is forbidden to me we must take other measures without too much abandoning to the Colonels who certainly will be unable to fulfill their objects. It is not for myself that I speak, I do not count on having the honour of being at the head of this Corps during the next campaign, but as I am always the interested friend of the Americans, I am forced to speak my mind. Additionally, if after me the command should be given to Colonel Moilen, the whole Cavalry will be in the same condition as his regiment. Colonel Blan is an active officer, this task would suit him, and Mr Moilen could be content with something else. I say what I think to be necessary, and I have the honour to be with respect to Your Excellency the very humble and very obedient Servant Casimir.

JaneVannin (talk) 13:42, 10 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]