two nations. One of the reafons affigned for the proteft 1778. was, that the army and ftores collected for the reduction of the island would be liable to be loft, by an op portunity's being given to the enemy to cut off the communication with the main, and totally to prevent the retreat of the army. The best apology that can be made for this proteft is, that it was defigned as a finesse to induce the captains of the French fleet to confent to its returning into the harbour of Newport. But it had not this effect, and met with a spirited answer from the count, who failed on the fame day for Bofton. Sullivan was fo chagrined at the departure of the fleet, that contrary to all found policy, he gave out in general orders on the 24th" The general cannot help lamenting the fudden and unexpected departure of the French fleet, as he finds it has a tendency to difcourage fome who placed great dependence upon the affiftance of it, though he can by no means fuppofe the army or any part of it endangered by this movement. He yet hopes the event will prove America able to procure that by her own arms, which her allies refuse to affift in obtaining." Two days after, in new orders, he endeavoured to fmooth off the reflection contained in it, by declaring he meant not to infinuate that the departure of the French fleet was owing to a fixt determination not to affift in the enterprise, and would not wish to give the leaft colour to ungenerous and illiberal minds to make fuch unfair interpretations. Count d'Eftaing, when arrived in Bofton port, wrote to congrefs on the 26th, and in his letter mentioned-the embarraffments of the king's fquadron as well on account of water as provifions, how his hopes were deceived with regard to these two articles,

1778. which were growing more and more important-that it was neceffary for him to confine all his attention to the preservation of the fquadron, and restoring it to a condition to act that he was no longer at liberty to depend on deceitful expectations of watering and getting provifions. He juftified his repairing to Bofton from the fituation of his fhips, the advices of a fquadron from Europe, the ignorance of what was become of lord Howe's fleet, and the advantage that his lordship would have had for attacking him had he returned into Newport. He also expreffed his displeasure at the protest.

It appears unreasonable to censure the count for repairing to Boston, when all his officers infifted so upon the measure; though had he returned into Newport, the garrison would most probably have capitulated before Howe could have fuccoured them. Upon the fleet's failing for Bofton, it was faid-" There never was a profpect fo favorable, blafted by fuch a fhameful defertion." A universal clamor prevailed against the French nation: and letters were fent to Boston containing the moft bitter invectives, tending to prejudice the inhabitants against d'Estaing and all his officers, to counteract which the cooler and more judicious part of the community employed their good services. Between two and three thousand volunteers returned in the course of 24 hours, and others continued to go off, and even many of the militia, fo that in three days Sullivan's army was greatly decreased: it was foon little more in number than that of the enemy. An attempt to carry their works by storm, would have been too hazardous, had all the volunteers and militia remained, for the bulk of the troops had never been in action: the neceflity of a re

1

treat was therefore apparent (as foon as there was a cer- 1778, tainty of the French fleet's being gone) though in the morning of the 23d the Americans had opened batteries confifting in the whole of 17 pieces of heavy artillery, 2 ten inch mortars and three five and a half howitzers. Greene was against retreating haftily, left the appearance of timidity and inferiority fhould bring out the enemy them: but he and Glover prepared for an expeupon ditious retreat, in cafe Clinton fhould arrive with a reinforcement, that so no damage might enfue from the delay. By the 26th all the spare heavy artillery and baggage was sent off the island; and on the 28th at night, between nine and ten o'clock, the army began to move to the north end. It had been that day refolved in a council of war, to remove thither, fortify the camp, fecure a communication with the main, and hold the ground, till it could be known whether the French fleet would foon return to their affiftance. The marquis de la Fayette by request of the general officers, fet off for Boston to request their fpeedy return. The count could not confent to the return of the fleet, but made a spirited offer of leading the troops under his command from Bofton, and of co-operating againft Rhode Island. The march of Sullivan's army was conducted with great order and regularity, and the troops arrived on their ground about three in the morning, with all the baggage, ftores, &c. About feven, they were alarmed by a brifk fire 29. of musketry in their front, between their advanced corps of infantry and the enemy, who had pushed out after them upon discovering the retreat. Sullivan asked the opinion of the generals upon the occafion, and Greene advised to march and meet them, for he truly fuppofed

Aug.

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1778. that they were come out in fmall detachments which might be cut to pieces; and further apprehended, that by advancing in force upon the western road, they might poffibly head that part of the enemy which marched down upon the eastern, and fo unexpectedly poffefs. themselves of Newport. Had this measure been adopted, the Americans would probably have gained very great advantages, as the whole of the enemy's force on the western road confifted only of the Heffian chaffeurs and the Anfpach regiments of Voit and Seaboth under gen. Lofsberg. On the eaft road was gen. Smith with the 22d and 43d regiments, and the flank companies of the 38th and 54th. To the latter were oppofed col. Henry B. Livingston and his light troops; to the former licut. col. Laurens with his. The enemy's fuperiority in numbers obliged each to give way, but a retreating fire was kept up with the greateft order. The advanced corps being reinforced, they gave the enemy a check, made a gallant refiftance, and at length repulfed them. But the British commander, fending reinforcements to both Lofsberg and Smith, the Americans were obliged to retire nigh to the front line of the main army, which was drawn up in order of battle. The British advanced very near to the American left, but were repulfed by Glover, and retired to Quaker-hill. The royal troops foon availed themselves of two heights on Sullivan's right; where they placed feveral pieces of artillery, and began about nine o'clock, a fevere cannonade on a redoubt, an advanced poft on his right, which was returned with double force. Skirmishing continued between the advanced parties until near ten; when two British floops of war and other armed veffels, having gained his

right flank and began a fire, their affociates on land 1778, bent their force that way, endeavoured to turn Sullivan's right under cover of the fhips, and to take his advanced redoubt; which brought on a warm and brisk fire of musketry between the contending parties, that was kept up by each fide's throwing in reinforcements, till the action became in fome degree general, and near 1200 Americans were engaged. The laft of thefe that were fent forward, got up just in time to prevent the fuccefs of the enemy, who were making their third effort to take the redoubt: but they were broken, and retreated to the heights in great confufion, leaving on the field many of their killed and wounded. After the retreat, the field of battle could not be approached by either party, without being exposed to the cannon of the other army. The heat of the action was from two till near three o'clock in the afternoon. The firing of artillery continued through the day; the musketry with intermiffion fix hours. The Americans make their lofs in killed 30, in wounded 132, and in miffing 44. The British account makes their killed 38, wounded 210, and misfing 12. Gen. Greene in a letter to the commander in chief faid, “Our troops behaved with great spirit, and the brigade of militia under gen. Lovell, advanced with great refolution, and in good order, and ftood the fire of the enemy with great firmnefs. Lieut. col. Livingston, cól. Jackson, and col. H. B. Livingston, did themfelves great honor, in the tranfactions of the day, but it is not in my power to do juftice to col. Laurens, who acted both the general and partizan. His command of regular troops was fmall, but he did every thing poffible to be done by their numbers." The brigade under

gen.