On Saturday, July 22nd at 2:00pm, the 350th Anniversary Steering Committee and the Southbury Library welcome Damien Cregeau, a nationally-recognized scholar of the American Revolution, to present a history talk on Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, also known as General Rochambeau. General Rochambeau was a French nobleman who played a critical role in the American Revolutionary War. He passed through Southbury on his route to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781.

The talk is a visually rich look at the fascinating life of General Comte de Rochambeau, who led the French army that fought with the U.S. Army in the American Revolution. This talk will look at the several conferences held between Generals George Washington and Rochambeau, including at Newport, Hartford and Wethersfield. It will also look at the interesting primary source material that describes the partnership and operations involving Rochambeau's and Washington's armies along the Hudson River in 1781. The talk will include, of course, the operations of the Siege of Yorktown in the fall of 1781. It finishes with the letters of correspondence between Washington and Rochambeau following the American Revolution. This program is funded by the Bozzuto Memorial Fund, in honor of former State Senator Richard Bozzuto.

Damien Cregeau earned his B.A. in History from Hillsdale College and his M.A. in History from Colorado State. A scholar of the American Revolution since 2007, Mr. Cregeau has spoken throughout the northeast from Washington, D.C. to Boston and Vermont, and published numerous articles in national magazines including Financial History and the Journal of the American Revolution. From 2018 to 2021, he served as President of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. In 2021, he received the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution History Medal and Award in recognition for his many important contributions to educating the public about the American Revolution.

History Talks are a part of a year-long series of events and activities celebrating 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury. Like all Southbury Public Library programs, the talks are free with registration and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. It will take place in the Kingsley Room at the Southbury Library at 100 Poverty Road at 2:00pm.

Space is limited, so register at https://www.southburylibrary.org/event/general-rochambeau.

For more information about this program, please email Rebecca at [email protected] or call the reference desk at 203-262-0626 ext 130.