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Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month August 1778
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
July in the New York area had been a month of adjusting to the new location of the opposing armies. British General Henry Clinton's return to New York City meant that in all of its North American colonies Britain now controlled only a portion of two; the area around New York City and the city of Newport, Rhode Island. In the entire summer there had been only one major land battle and that a defensive action. Was August 1778 the beginning of the end of hostilities? Had Britain's interest in the American colonies waned? Or was it just the lull before the storm?
In fact, the only major British activity in North America in 1778 would be defensive, while the only further significant American activity would be in conjunction with D'Estaing and the French fleet in the area around Newport, Rhode Island. The fleet arrived off Newport on July 29th for a combined operation against Newport. Unfortunately, Sullivan's army was not ready to cooperate with D'Estaing's forces until August 5th, so there was no action against Newport in July. The week's delay would in the long run doom the expedition. To this point, it appeared that the Franco-American forces assembled around Newport were predominant and held the upper hand. This predominance did not last very long; several things occurred to radically change the equation.
To counter D'Estaing, the Royal Navy had dispatched 13 ships of the line under Vice Admiral John Byron (the poet's grandfather) to bolster Howe's fleet. The original 3,000 redcoats in Newport were reinforced by 6,000 Hessians on an island near the city. By pre-arrangement D'Estaing landed 4,000 French marines and a sizeable patriot force on the island to oppose the Hessians. However, on learning of the arrival of Byron in New York, D'Estaing became fearful that Byron and/or Howe's fleet would arrive and trap him with a superior force. On August 10th, D'Estaing without a "by your leave" or warning of any kind scooped up his marines, hauled anchors and sailed away; leaving the patriots to get off the island as best they could.
If D'Estaing was fearful of a battle with a numerically superior British fleet and thought that he could escape combat, then he was mistaken. British Admiral Lord Richard Howe, reinforced with four ships from Byron's fleet, moved with the resoluteness that had given Britons the appellation of "Bull Dogs", and sailed to the general area of the French fleet. D'Estaing, now outclassed, but having the wind favorable and the first sighting, proceeded against Howe who declined engagement while seeking to gain the wind advantage from D'Estaing. This dance continued for two days until a great gale blew up separating the fleets. Some battles which had been joined between individual ships were terminated, ending in a draw. After the storm, neither fleet was in a condition to continue to fight. The violent, hurricane force storm had done more damage to the ships than actual combat. Gathering their scattered fleets, Howe turned back to New York while D'Estaing returned to Rhode Island.
On the 15th, General John Sullivan with 10,000 men moved down upon Newport. British General Pigot withdrew from his forward position and began building defenses; Sullivan followed and did the same. There was much cannonading against both sides with no appreciable results. On the 20th, D'Estaing’s fleet reappeared at Newport. Sullivan and General Lafayette pleaded with D'Estaing for aid but the Admiral, still smarting from an earlier slight, said that the condition of his ships required that he sail for Boston at once to refit. Sullivan, with Lafayette as a spokesman, again appealed, asking for but two days cooperation from the fleet and its marines. They believed that a combined effort would assure the immediate fall of Newport. Lafayette pointed out that the lack of a combined action would probably doom the expedition as Howe had been able to further reinforce the Newport ground forces. D'Estaing refused and on the 21st sailed for Boston, carrying with him his 4,000 marines.
D'Estaing's departure was a psychological defeat. Militia valiant in battle were also noted for their independence. Disgusted by D'Estaing's departure they began to disappear in droves. Their loss so weakened Sullivan’s force that there was no further ability to attack Newport. On the 28th Sullivan began a retreat followed by six British regiments, an undetermined number of Hessians, and a shadowing force of sloops of war designed to prevent any sea departure by the now beleaguered Continentals and the remaining Militia. The battle was joined, with the Americans in an orderly retreat. There was much cannonading in a battle that raged for hours in which even the British sloops of war moved into shore to fire on the patriot army. Only 1,500 of Sullivan's men had ever been under fire but they all fought well. After being forced back at one point they rallied and by their fire drove the British back in confusion. A newly organized Black Regiment under Colonel Christopher Greene of Rhode Island were mentioned in dispatches as having repulsed the Hessians in three successive assaults for which they were formally commended for their valor under enemy fire. Darkness brought a halt to the engagement. Boatmen from Marblehead, who had saved Washington on Long Island, once again proved their worth. By morning they had ferried the Continentals over the water to Tiverton, proceeding on to Providence where Sullivan's army spent the winter. American casualties were 30 killed, 137 wounded, 44 missing; British casualties 38 killed, 210 wounded, 12 missing. It was a fortunate escape as the next day a British fleet brought another 5,000 British regulars directly commanded by Sir Henry Clinton. Finding the French gone, the fleet ranged up the coast burning ships and the towns of New Bedford and Fairhaven.
The failure of the Newport operation can be attributed not only to the Americans' failure to be ready on time but also due to D'Estaing having his nose out of joint because early in the operation General John Sullivan had reacted to a minor tactical advantage and ordered American troops into a clash with British forces before the agreed upon first attack by French troops. D'Estaing felt that he had been deliberately snubbed by the less experienced and lower ranking American General; not only had it been agreed that D'Estaing would order the first attack but that the honor of the first action should have gone to French forces since D'Estaing was the ranking officer.
Commander-in-Chief General George Washington was furious with D'Estaing for abandoning the American troops but he could not afford a comment for fear of harming the delicate agreement with the French by further offending D'Estaing and the French government. Ward states that Washington reminded Sullivan that the French were "a people old in war, very strict in military etiquette and apt to take fire where others are scarcely warmed." He discreetly recommended to his generals to get along with the French and to keep from their soldiers any misunderstandings which might occur. Outside of Lafayette and a few others, Washington was sick of French officers who constantly acted in a condescending manner to him and his generals. Washington acted to smooth over relations with the French by an apology to D'Estaing which was accepted, but this was not to be the end of poor relations with the French forces in America.
It should be noted that Washington, during this time, had moved the main part of the army from Haverstraw to King's Ferry where he crossed the Hudson to White Plains. The same place where he had begun his retreat across New Jersey two years before. The difference was that previously the Americans were building defensive works to protect themselves; this time it was the British who were building defensive positions for protection against the Americans.
References: Christopher Ward's "War of the Revolution"; James Thomas Flexner's "George Washington, The Indispensable Man"; Don Higginbotham's "The War of American Independence."
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