“informed the mark of distinction conferred on him has occasioned a dissatisfaction in the army,” that “to obviate any embarrassment which may result from this disposition, by the consequent resignation of officers of merit, he begs leave to relinquish his brevet of brigadier, wishing to hold no commission unless he can wear it to the honor and advantage of his country;” and that “this conduct, however repugnant to fashionable ambition, he finds consistent with those principles on which he early drew his sword in the present contest.”
His resignation was accepted on the 6th of March, 1778; he was allowed to retain his rank of colonel, but was not again actively employed until near the close of the war, when for a time he filled the position of clothier-general to the army. Settling in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1783, he found the Mississippi River closed to American commerce, and Western produce rotting on the ground for want of transportation. Seeing he could speedily make a fortune, could he but obtain from the Spanish Government the exclusive right to trade with New Orleans, he paved the way by presenting to the commandant at Natchez a pair of Kentucky thoroughbred horses. Presently he loaded a boat with local produce and sent it down the river. It was seized, but of course released when he appeared as the owner. He now entered into formal negotiations. Taking advantage of the dissatisfaction in the West with the federal Government, because of its inability at that time to protect them from the Indians, and to open the Mississippi for purposes of transportation, Wilkinson covenanted, in return for a pension of $2,000 per annum, and the exclusive right of trade with New Orleans, to induce the Western States to separate from the Eastern, and place themselves under the protection of the Spanish Government. This plot had almost succeeded when it was discovered and defeated. Not finding trading as remunerative as he had hoped, he applied in 1791 for reinstatement in the army, and this request was granted by appointing him lieutenant-colonel, because, as was urged in Congress, being of a restless and intriguing disposition, “he was dangerous as long as he was unemployed.” His conduct justified this estimate, for he rendered such good service against the Indians that in 1792 he received the appointment of brigadier-general; and upon the death of Wayne, in 1796, he was given the supreme command on the Western frontier.
In 1805, Wilkinson was appointed Governor of Louisiana, when he discovered and disclosed the conspiracy of Aaron Burr to establish a separate confederacy beyond the Alleghanies. Burr and Andrew Jackson declaring Wilkinson to be implicated, he was tried by court-martial in 1811, but acquitted because of insufficient proof, though his correspondence with the Spanish Government, since made public, establishes his guilt. He was advanced to the rank of major-general in 1813, and employed in the North; but his operations were unsuccessful, owing to a disagreement with Wade Hampton. A court of inquiry in 1815 exonerated him, however; but upon the reorganizing of the army, he was not retained in the service, and retired to Mexico, where he had acquired large estates. He died in the vicinity of the capital on the 28th of December, 1825.
CHEVALIER DE LA NEUVILLE.
Chevalier de la Neuville, born about 1740, came to this country with his younger brother in the autumn of 1777, and tendered his services to Congress. Having served with distinction in the French army for twenty years, enjoying the favorable opinion of Lafayette, and bringing with him the highest testimonials, he was appointed on the 14th of May, 1778, inspector of the army under Gates, with the promise of rank according to his merit at the end of three months. He was a good officer and strict disciplinarian, but was not popular with the army. Failing to obtain the promotion he expected, he applied for permission to retire at the end of six months’ service. His request was granted on the 4th of December, 1778, Congress instructing the president that a certificate be given to Monsieur de la Neuville in the following words:—
“Mr. de la Neuville having served with fidelity and reputation in the army of the United States, in testimony of his merit a brevet commission of brigadier has been granted to him by Congress, and on his request he is permitted to leave the service of these States and return to France.”
The brevet commission was to bear date the 14th of October, 1778. Having formed a strong attachment for General Gates, they corresponded after De la Neuville’s return to France. In one of his letters the chevalier writes that he wishes to return to America, “not as a general, but as a philosopher,” and to purchase a residence near that of his best friend, General Gates. He did not return, however, and his subsequent history is lost amid the troubles of the French Revolution.