The Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary War Trail

The September Brown Bag Lunch program will feature author and scholar, Dr. Iris De Rode who will share the fascinating story of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary War Trail. This 680-mile trail between New Hampshire and Virginia tells the story of the beginning days of our Republic. Dr. De Rode will share a very unique perspective on Harford County’s portion of the trail. While working on her Ph.D. in France she met some descendants of Francois Jean de Beauvoir Chevalier de Chastellux, principal liaison officer, member of Academie Francoise, third in command of French forces at Yorktown during the American Revolution, and personal friend of President George Washington. Acting as Adjutant General to Rochambeau, Chastellux accompanied him on his journey through Harford County on the way to the Battle of Yorktown, keeping a journal along the way. Dr. De Rode gained access to this journal while researching Chastellux’s papers at the home of his descendants. Her talk will include details from these journals as well as the story of the Washington Rochambeau Trail which will soon be part of the national trail system transversing through Harford.