Rhode Island Illustrated Event Covers
General Rochambeau Lands at Newport, RI on July 11, 1780
200th Anniversary - Newport - 1980 (Artcraft Cachet)

On February 6, 1778 the government of France signed a treaty recognizing the United States as an independent power and further agreeing that neither country would make peace or a truce with Great Britain without the consent of the other and further agreeing not to lay down their arms until the independence of the United States was won. General Rochambeau and his French troops landed in Newport, Rhode Island on July 11, 1780. He joined forces with General Washington in June 1781 and on October 19 they forced the surrender of the British troops under the command of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.