_West Point, 28th July, 1779._
I certify that Lieutenant-Colonel Fleury has served in the
army of the United States since the beginning of the campaign
in 1777, to the present period, and has uniformly acquitted
himself as an officer of distinguished merit for talents, zeal,
activity, prudence, and bravery; that he first obtained a
captain’s commission from Congress, and entered as a volunteer
in a corps of riflemen, in which, by his activity and bravery,
he soon recommended himself to notice; that he next served as
brigade major, with the rank of major, first in the infantry
and afterwards in the cavalry, in which stations he acquired
reputation in the army, and the approbation of his commanding
officers, of which he has the most ample testimonies; that
towards the conclusion of the campaign of 1777, he was
sent to the important post of Fort Mifflin, in quality of
engineer, in which he rendered essential services, and equally
signalized his intelligence and his valor. That in consequence
of his good conduct on this and on former occasions, he was
promoted by Congress to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and
has been since employed in the following stations, namely,
as a sub-inspector, as second in command in a corps of light
infantry, in an expedition against Rhode Island, and lastly as
commandant of a battalion of light infantry, in the army under
my immediate command; that in each of these capacities, as
well as the former, he has justified the confidence reposed in
him, and acquired more and more the character of a judicious,
well-informed, indefatigable and brave officer. In the assault
of Stony Point, a strong, fortified post of the enemy on the
North River, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first
that entered the main works, and struck the British flag with
his own hands.