Custine, Adam Philippe, Comte de. French general; after serving in the Seven Years War, joined Rochambeaus Expédition Particulière to aid America in its War of Independence, being part of the Regiment de Saintonge, which participated in the Virginia campaign of 1781. Custine served with distinction against the British and received recognition of merit and a brevet from the fledgling U.S. Government. Made Maréchal de Camp on his return to France. When a series of military mistakes not of his making resulted in Custines failure to relieve the besieged fort of Condé, he was recalled to Paris during the Reign of Terror, arrested, tried for treason and guillotined. Autograph letter signed Custine, darted 30 March 1792, in which he begins We, Adam Philippe de Custine lieutenant general of the French Army, and discusses the defense of the frontier; also document signed Custine as Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Rhine, dated in Mainz, 24 Xieme 1792, concerning the appointment of Citizen Adjutant Major Barthelemé Roche. About very fine. Accompanied by a Delpech engraving of Custine. [2]
