Life of General Lafayette; . DEstaing to co-operatewith Sullivan—Visit of Generals Hancock and Lafayette to Boston—Retreat of the Americans from the Siege of Newport—Retreat fromthe Island to the Main Land—Gallantry of Lafayette—His embar-rassing Position —Resolution of Congress—Difficulties between theFrench and American Sailors—Lafayette obtains Leave of Absence^^Resolutions of Congress—Embarkation of Lafayette—Mutiny on^([|Plird the Alliance—Noble Conduct of the Marquis. ARLYin July a powerful French fleet,under command of the Count DEs-taing, arrived upon the Americancoast. An unusually lo
Life of General Lafayette; . DEstaing to co-operatewith Sullivan—Visit of Generals Hancock and Lafayette to Boston—Retreat of the Americans from the Siege of Newport—Retreat fromthe Island to the Main Land—Gallantry of Lafayette—His embar-rassing Position —Resolution of Congress—Difficulties between theFrench and American Sailors—Lafayette obtains Leave of Absence^^Resolutions of Congress—Embarkation of Lafayette—Mutiny on^([|Plird the Alliance—Noble Conduct of the Marquis. ARLYin July a powerful French fleet,under command of the Count DEs-taing, arrived upon the Americancoast. An unusually long passageof eighty-seven days saved the Bri-tish fleet and army; for, had the Count foundthe former in the Delaware, and the latter atPhiladelphia, the loss of both would havebeen certain. Sir Henry Clinton had stillanother escape. The British army, in its retreatfrom Philadelphia, embarked at Sandy Hook forNew York. During the winter the storms had madean island of this peninsula, and the forces were. LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 59 compelled to cross over from the main land on abridge of boats. The passage was effected on thevery day Count DEstaing arrived with his fleet offthe coast of Virginia. Had a superior fleet to theBritish reached Sandy Hook, the embarkation wouldhave been impossible. Count DEstaing, upon examination of the har-bour of New York, decided not to attack the Bri-tish there, on account of the difficulty of getting hislargest ships over the bar; and offensive operationswere adjourned to Newport, Rhode Island, wherethere was a British garrison of six thousand was detached with two brigades to joinGen. Sullivan, who had command of the Americanarmy in Rhode Island. We have not space to de-tail the unfortunate train of circumstances which ledCount DEstaing to refuse his co-operation with theland forces, and induced him to proceed with hisfleet to Boston. It is sufficient perhaps to say, thatthey originated from that fruitful source of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectlafayet, bookyear1847
