In these expeditions, a determination to CHAP. IX. destroy as extensively as possible, seems to 1778. have prevailed. Not only public stores, but the private buildings, and the property of individuals on the coast, within their reach, were reduced to ashes. For this distressing devastation, alike experienced about Bedford, and Little Egg Harbour, some apology was found in the peculiar objects against which those enterprises were particularly directed; both posts having been distinguished as the rendezvous of privateers, from whence they sallied out to the very great annoyance of British commerce.

As soon as admiral Byron, who reached New York and took command of the fleet about the middle of September, had made the repairs to his shattered squadron which were necessary to enable him again to put to sea, he sailed for the port of Boston, for the purpose of blocking up the count D'Estaing, and of availing him- October 18. self of any circumstances which might favour an attack on the French fleet. He had been but a short time in the bay, when fortune again disconcerted all his plans. A furious storm drove him out to sea, and damaged him so essentially, that he was under the necessity of putting into the port of Rhode Island, to refit. This favourable moment was seized by the count D'Estaing, whose fleet was now completely repaired, and he set sail on the third of November for the West Indies, where the

CHAP. IX. Operations of the war rendered his aid of essen1778. tial importance.

Thus terminated without any material advantage, an expedition, concerning the success of which the most sanguine hopes had, not without reason, been generally entertained. A variety of accidents had defeated plans judiciously formed, having every probability in their favour. The original object of the armament, to the attainment of which it was entirely competent, was the British fleet in the Delaware, and the army in Philadelphia. It has been already shown that a passage of most extraordinary length, on which it was impossible to have calculated, detained it at sea, until the fleet and army had abandoned a position of so much danger; and thereby saved the British power from a blow the most serious it had then experienced.

By a very few days too, the opportunity of finding lord Howe without the bar, and of obstructing the passage of sir Henry Clinton from the continent to the hook, now become an island, was lost.

Nor was the time of D'Estaing's departure from the hook less critical. Within eight days after his leaving that station, four ships of war, one a seventy-four, one a sixty-four, and two of fifty guns, came in singly, and, in all probability, had they reached their destination sooner, they would have fallen into his hands. This re-enforcement was the more essential,

as, without it, lord Howe could not have ven- CHAP. IX. tured to molest the operations against Rhode 1778. Island.

The storm which parted the fleets in the moment when an engagement was commencing, with the advantage of the wind and a great superiority of force on the side of the French, which dismasted and rendered unfit for immediate service the admiral's ship, and some others of their finest vessels, was another untoward occurrence, which as effectually defeated the enterprise against Rhode Island, and as effectually destroyed the brilliant prospects founded on that enterprise, as could have been done by a complete naval victory on the part of lord Howe.

So much are the best laid plans, and the most important human transactions dependent on fortune, and the judicious use of occurrences, in themselves apparently indifferent.

The marquis de La Fayette, ambitious of fame on another theatre, was now desirous of returning to France. He supposed it possible that war might break out on the continent of Europe, and he was desirous of tendering his services to his king, and to his own country.

General Washington, from motives of real friendship, and for political reasons also, was desirous of preserving his connexion with the army, and of strengthening his attachment to America. He therefore expressed to congress

CHAP. IX. his wishes that Fayette, instead of resigning 1778. his commission, might have unlimited leave

of absence, to return when it should be convenient to himself; and might carry with him every mark of the confidence of the government.

To this policy, congress was well disposed, and to the leave of absence which had been required, they added the most flattering resolutions. The partiality of America for La Fayette was well placed. Never did a foreigner, whose primary attachments were to his own country, feel more anxious solicitude for the welfare of another, than was unceasingly manifested by this young nobleman for the United States.

As there was very little prospect of an active winter campaign in the northern, or middle states; and the climate admitted of military operations during that season in a different part of the world; a detachment from the British army, consisting of five thousand men under major general Grant, sailed the same day that D'Estaing departed from Boston, convoyed by six ships of war commanded by commodore Hotham, destined also for the West India islands and towards the end of the same month, another embarkation took place for the southern parts of the continent. This second detachment was commanded by lieutenant colonel Campbell, who was escorted by commodore Hyde Parker, and was destined to act offensively against the southern states.

As there yet remained a force sufficient to CHAP. IX. secure New York, the American army retired 1778. into winter quarters. The main body was cantoned in Connecticut, on both sides the North December. river, about West Point, and at Middlebrook: while light troops were stationed nearer the lines, and the cavalry were drawn into the interior to recruit the horses for the next campaign. In this distribution, the protection of the country, the security of important posts, and a cheap and convenient supply of provisions, were as much as possible consulted. The great body of the army lay on the west of the Hudson, because the supplies of bread were to be drawn west of that river, while those of meat abounded most on the eastern side of it. The superior difficulty and expense attending the conveyance of flour, over the driving of live stock, rendered it advisable, with a view both to economy, and certainty of supply, to approach with the greatest numbers, that tract of country which could alone furnish the article most expensive in its transportation.

The troops again wintered in huts; but they were now accustomed to this mode of passing that inclement season of the year. Though far from being well clothed, yet their condition in that respect was so much meliorated by supplies from France, that they disregarded the inconveniences they were under the necessity of encountering.