French assistance.
In accordance with the spirit of the treaty of alliance between the
United States and
France (Feb. 6, 1778), a French fleet was speedily fitted out at
Toulon.
It consisted of twelve ships of the line and four frigates, commanded by the
Count D'Estaing (q. v.). This fleet arrived in the
Delaware on July 8, 1778, bearing 4,000 French troops.
With it came
M. Gerard, the first French minister accredited to the
United States.
Silas Deane also returned from his mission to
France in the same vessel (the
Languedoc), the flagship.
Having sent his passengers up to
Philadelphia in a frigate,
D'Estaing sailed for
Sandy Hook, and anchored off the harbor of
New York. Lord Howe, who had fortunately for himself left the
Delaware a few days before
D'Estaing's arrival, was now with his fleet in
Raritan Bay, whither the heavy French vessels could not safely follow.
On July 22 he sailed, with his squadron, to co-operate with
General Sullivan against the
British in
Rhode Island.
On July 10, 1780, another powerful French fleet, commanded by the
Chevalier de Ternay, arrived at
Newport, R. I. It was composed of seven ships of the line, besides frigates and transports.
The latter bore a French army, 6,000 strong, commanded by
Lieutenant-General the
Count de Rochambeau.
This was the first division intended for the
American service.
and was the first fruit of
Lafayette's persistent personal efforts at the
French Court.
With wise forethought the official relations between
Washington and
Rochambeau had been settled by the
French government.
In order to prevent any difficulties in relation to command beteen the
French and
American officers, the
French government commissioned
Washington a lieutenant-general of the empire.
This allowed him to take precedence of
Rochambeau and made him commander of the allied armies.
On all points of precedence and etiquette the
French officers were instructed to give place to the
American officers.
At the solicitation of
Washington, the French fleet at
Newport sailed for the
Virginia waters to assist in capturing
Arnold, then marauding in
Virginia.
The fleet was to co-operate with
Lafayette, whom
Washington had sent to
Virginia for the same purpose.
The British blockading squadron, which had made its winter-quarters in
Gardiner's Bay, at the eastern end of
Long Island, pursued the French vessels, and off the Capes of
Virginia a sharp naval engagement occurred,
[
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in which the latter were beaten and returned to
Newport.
This failure on the part of the French fleet caused
Lafayette to halt in his march at
Annapolis, Md. Two of the French vessels, taking advantage of a storm that disabled the blockading squadron, entered
Chesapeake Bay (February, 1781). Thus threatened by land and water,
Arnold withdrew to
Portsmouth, so far up the
Elizabeth River as to be out of the reach of the French ships.
There he was reinforced by troops under
General Phillips, of the
Convention troops, who had been exchanged for
General Lincoln.
The French ships soon returned to
Newport, after making some prizes.
When, on June 2, 1779, the legislature of Virginia unanimously ratified the treaties of alliance and commerce between
France and the
United States, and the governor had informed the
French minister at
Philadelphia of the fact, that functionary at once notified his government.
Vergennes, on Sept. 27, instructed the minister at
Philadelphia (
Luzerne) in these words: “During the war it is essential, both for the
United States and for us, that their union should be as perfect as possible.
When they shall be left to themselves the general confederation will have much difficulty in maintaining itself, and will, perhaps, be replaced by separate confederations.
Should this revolution take place, it will weaken the
United States, which have not now, and never will have, real and respectable strength except by their union.
But it is for themselves alone to make these reflections.
We have no right to present them for their consideration, and we have no interest whatever to see
America play the part of a power.
The possibility of a dissolution of the
Union, and the consequent suppression of Congress, leads us to think that nothing can be more conformable to our political interest than separate acts by which each State shall ratify the treaties concluded with
France; because in this way every State will be found separately connected with us, whatever may be the fortune of the general confederation.”
The policy of the
French as well as the Spaniards, towards the
United States was purely selfish from beginning to end. The two
Bourbon monarchs hated republicanism, and feared the revolution as menacing thrones; and the chief motive in favoring the
Americans, especially of
France, was to injure
England, humble her pride, and weaken her power.
The headquarters of the
American army were at
Verplanck's Point at the beginning of autumn, 1782, where (about 10,000 strong) it was joined by the
French army on its return from
Virginia, in September.
The latter encamped on the left of the
Americans, at
Crompond, about 10 miles from
Verplanck's Point.
They had received orders to proceed to
Boston and there embark for the
West Indies.
They left their encampment near
Peekskill Oct. 22, and marched by way of
Hartford and
Providence.
Rochambeau there left the army in charge of
Baron de Viomenil and returned to
Washington's headquarters on his way to
Philadelphia.
The French troops reached
Boston the first week in December.
On the 24th they sailed from
Boston, having been in the
United States two and a half years.
Rochambeau sailed from
Annapolis for
France Jan. 11, 1783.
