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1778.

of nature, that fo often impede the defigns of CHAP. XIIL man, again defeated the proud expectations of triumph in both parties. A fevere ftorm that raged forty-eight hours, separated the two fleets; and fuch was the violence of a gale scarcely paralleled in those feas, that lord Howe in a very shattered and broken condition, was obliged to repair to New York to refit; and the French commanders thought themfelves happy to reach Boston, in a very wretched and difabled ftate. The admiral's own fhip was dif mafted the Cæfar of feventy-four guns, commanded by monfieur de Booves, met the Isis, a British ship of war of only fifty guns; a fharp conflict ensued; but the Cæfar having loft all her mafts in the ftorm, darkness approaching, moft of his men being flain, and his own right arm fhot off, monfieur de Booves found it neceffary to fheer off for Boston, where the whole fleet arrived in a few days.

The count was oppofed in the measure of leaving the harbor of Newport, by all the American, and many of the French officers, but by none more ftrenuously than the brave marquis de la Fayette, who followed him to Boston with the utmost celerity, to endeavour to expedite his return.* his return.* This misfortune

* Zealous to promote the fame object, the commiffioners of the navy-board at Boston, with great dispatch repaired, watered, victualled, and equipped the fhips under

CHAP. XIII.

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damped the ardor of the militia, fome of whom had, more from oftentation than bravery, voluntarily engaged in this expedition. expedition. Near three thousand men relinquished their posts, and left the island in a day. Many of them were influenced to this precipitate desertion, by the conduct of major general Hancock, who, in fpite of the remonftrances of friends, and forgetful of the hazard of popularity, left all in the moment of danger, and repaired to Boston,

General Sullivan, not difheartened by these unexpected events, nor discouraged by the untoward accidents that hitherto attended his operations, kept his ftation fourteen days after the feceflion of fo large a part of his forces. Nor did he fuffer his troops to be idle: several skirmishes took place, that kept up apprehenfion on the one fide, and a military ardor on the other; but none of more importance than an action on the morning of the twenty-ninth, when a cannonade began early on both fides, and continued fome hours with doubtful fuccefs. A detachment of the British troops under colonel Campbell, was routed and fled in confufion, leaving many dead on the field, among whom a favorite nephew of the comAfter this, mander was killed by his fide.

the command of the count de Eftaing. It not being practicable to return to Rhode Island, he in a few weeks after, failed in complete order for the West Indies.

Sullivan and his officers, judging it not prudent to attack a fuperior force entrenched within their lines, withdrew to their own camp, while the British employed the enfuing night in ftrengthening and fortifying theirs.

Within three days after this rencounter, an express arrived from general Washington with information, that lord Howe had again failed from New York, and that fir Henry Clinton had himself embarked with four thousand men, for the relief of Rhode Ifland. On the fame day the marquis de la Fayette returned from Bofton, and reported it impoffible for the count de Estaing to arrive there again, timely for any operations of confequence: and as nothing ef fectual could be done without the aid of naval force, general Sullivan thought proper to withdraw his troops from the island.

His retreat was conducted with fuch fecrecy, filence, and dexterity, as discovered the judgment and ability of the experienced commander. He had in his council fome officers of diftinguished name, who fully juftified his conduct through the whole of this unfuccefsful expedition. Greene, la Fayette, and Laurens,*

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* The noble, difinterested fentiments of this gentleman, who was then aid-de-camp to general Washington, were exhibited in his reply to congrefs, who for his distinguish

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Fleury, Wade, Glover, Knox, Livingston, and Talbot, with many other excellent officers, had the mortification to quit the field, without the laurels fo fair a profpect of military glory had waved in view.

This disappointment occafioned fome tempo. rary murmurings against the conduct of de Eftaing, and even the connexion with France. A fquabble foon after the fleet arrived at Bofton, between fome French and American failors, heightened the uneafinefs. But the most refpectable people, difpofed to view with a favorable eye, and to place the utmost confidence in their untried allies, all cenfure was hufhed; and a difcreet filence in the more prudent, prevented or counteracted all invidious obfervations from the lefs candid.

Lord Howe arrived in the harbor of Newport, with an hundred fail of fhips of war and transports, the morning after Sullivan's retreat.

ed bravery in this and other actions, had advanced him to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Mr. Laurens' acceptance would have fuperfeded fome officers in the family of the commander, earlier in commiffion. Apprehenfive that it might create fome uneafinefs among them, he declined the honor. He obferved, "that having been a spectator "of the convulfions occafioned in the army by difputes of "rank, he held the tranquillity of it too dear, to be instru "mental in disturbing it."

Admiral Byron was hourly expected to join him. Thus, fo fuperior in ftrength, there was every reason to expect Bofton would be the next object of attack. In consequence of this appearance, the count de Eftaing, who found it would require time to victual, water, and equip his fhattered fleet for a fecond cruise, judged it neceffary to fortify several advantageous islands in the harbor, and thus be in readiness for the reception of the British fleets, if they fhould be again difpofed to vifit Boston.

Lord Howe before he returned to New York, went round and looked into the harbor of Bofton; but finding moft of the ships belonging to the French fleet repaired, and Castle William and the islands in a defenfible ftate, he did not think proper to make any hoftile attempt on the town. Not perfectly pleased with the American war, and disgusted at some things relative to his own command, his lordfhip refigned his commiffion foon after this, and repaired to England. He left the American feas in September, one thousand feven hundred and seventy-eight.

When his lordship arrived in England, he complained publicly, that he had been deceived into the command, and deceived while in it. Tired and difgufted with the fervice, he had

CHAP. XIIL

1778.

VOL. II.

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