First published in 1933, this book contains a collection of documents that tell the story of Louis Lebègue de Presle Duportail (1743-1802), a French military leader who served as a volunteer and the chief engineer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He also served as the French Minister of Defense during the beginning of the French Revolution. "Truly a soldier he was and then an engineer, such as we who now follow him most desire to be, and must be if we are to do our full duty to our country."—Lytle Brown