Lee Kennett's The French Forces in America 1780-1783 (Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1977) contains a final section, 'Sources', that provides a fine overview discussion on research into modern archives relating to the topic. However, since Kennett's work, Samuel F. Scott has provided a more detailed listing and guide to archival sources in the 'Bibliography' of his From Yorktown to Valmy (University of Colorado, Niwot, 1998). Scott's references identify many sub national archives in France and the US, and lists specific record folder identifications [control numbers and lot locations] for the contr�les records of Rochambeau's units and their successor regiments. Frequently inquiries to the Exp�dition Particuli�re website have sought information as to particular names of members in the French expeditionary army and associated naval squadrons that came to American during the American Revolution. A few published works provide relatively complete identification of the officers. Gilbert Bodinier's works cited in the Exp�dition Particuli�re webpage bibliography is the best and latest effort on the officers. A work that expanded the coverage to some, but not all, non-officers is Les combattants fran�ais de la Guerre Am�ricaine, 1778-1783 (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1903) and reprinted with an index as a Senate Document No. 77, 58th Congress, 2nd Session (Washington, DC, 1905; and later re-printed in 1969 by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore). This document attempts to list all the French army and seman who fought in 'American waters' and on 'American soil'. It includes forces other than just the 1780-83 expedition under Rochambeau. However, it does not include French military and naval actions in other theaters of the war that contributed to the American War for Independence. Even for the American theater, Les combattants fran�ais .... 1778-1783 is not as complete a listing of individuals as is the contr�les des troupes, from which it was drawn.
The contr�les des troupes, or the original roll rosters, are the most complete lists available of individuals in the French expeditionary army to North America in 1780-83. Many entries include some personal information. The contr�les, consist of a series of folders, divided by battalion and company within the battalion, beginning with the grenadiers in the first battalion and chasseurs in the second. The non commissioned officers are listed according to seniority and enlisted men listed according to enlistment date. This latter system of simply adding new names at the end of the company list was easiest for the company scribes at the time, but makes it difficult for a modern researcher who must examine the entire documents name by name.
The original contr�les are held by l'Archives de la Guerre. The French military historian, Andre Corvisier wrote a guide to these: Les contr�les de troupes de l'ancien r�gime (4 vols, Paris, 1970). The contr�les for Lauzun's Legion are not in the printed work just cited, and are held in the Archives Nationales. Some researchers have microfilmed copies of the these records.
The foregoing explaination has been kindly provided by Dr. Robert A. Selig, author of many articles and studies on the American Revolution. His extensive work is listed at Dr. Selig's web page.

Dr. Selig has also provided the following background information:

"The Rochambeau Papers and Rochambeau Family Cartographic Archive at Yale University is divided into two parts, the Rochambeau Papers, and the Cartographic Archive. The Rochambeau Papers consist of the correspondence and other documents of the comte de Rochambeau that document his role as commander of the French expeditionary force in the American Revolution. The papers also include the manuscript draft of his memoir, Memoires Militaires, Historiques et Politiques. The Cartographic Archive consists of atlases and maps collected by three generations of the Rochambeau family, from the reign of Louis XIV through the wars of the French Revolution and the Empire. It includes maps acquired by the comte de Rochambeau before he departed for America, and which he used in the field during the American campaign. The archive remained with the family at the ch�teau de Rochambeau until 1952, when it was purchased by the New York book dealer H.P. Kraus. Paul Mellon, Yale 1929, acquired the collection from Kraus in 1958 and gave it to Yale in 1992."

Suggested links for on-line research: Rochambeau Papers and Rochambeau Family Cartography Archinve at the Yale University 'Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Papers of George Washington at the Library of Congress.

Information about the French Government Defense Historic Studies and Archives at Ch�teau de Vincennes can be found at their website: Minist�re de la D�fense - M�moire Histoire et Patrimoine. Service Historique de l'Arm�e de Terre (SHAT) and the historic agencies for the other French armed services are explained at this site, which is in French. There is no e-mail, but the mailing address is: Service Historique de l'Arm�e de Terre Ch�teau de Vincennes B.P. 107 00481 ARMÉES FRANCE