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Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month October 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
The Alliance with the French was not only a blessing to the new nation but a vital necessity to the continuation of the battle for independence. Washington recognized that France could do without the Americans on their side and any extra effort to make the relationship last would have to come from the American people and their leaders. There were many good French officers in the Continental army, particularly in the engineers and artillery. These established officers were not his problem. It was the hungry and seemingly unending horde who were descending upon him demanding command of troops based upon their desire for command. (see footnote).
Washington learned that fiery tempered American General John Sullivan had contributed to French Admiral Comte D'Estaing's upset by treating the Admiral as less than equal. This he attributed to the American spirit which considered all free men as equal and free to speak their mind unhindered by rank or inherited titles. Considering the many discourtesies from foreign officers, especially the French, he found it a necessary and bitter pill to swallow when he apologized to D'Estaing for Sullivan's actions. He then advised his officers and commanders to ignore French discourtesies for the benefit of the Army and the emerging United States.
If Washington thought that ended his problems with the French then he was mistaken.The settlers of the English colonies in North America had always seen France as their mortal enemy as well as the enemy of their mother country. That feeling of enmity increased through the French and Indian War and the attendant Indian raids led by Frenchmen. Nor did it dissolve with the separation from the mother country.
There had been great expectations from the combined expedition to Newport. When D'Estaing sailed from Newport to Boston harbor for refitting his men, he soon found that the Revolution had not changed the colonists feeling toward France. D'Estaing's abandonment of American forces at Newport hardened those feelings countrywide. At first, workmen in Boston refused to work on refitting the French ships. Washington, with some difficulty convinced local leaders that it was imperative that they cooperate and maintain good relations with the French. Even so, while refitting the fleet in Boston, a French officer was killed defending a French bakery. Washington has said that little of his time was spent on real military matters; the majority of his time being spent placating people and begging for arms, ammunition and basic necessities for the army. Now he wondered if the hard won treaty with the French was to be broken over a few loaves of french bread.
Was it these, as well as later experiences, that led him as President to warn the American people "to beware of entangling foreign alliances?"
October saw a repeat of September's savage massacre of Lt. Colonel Baylor's 3rd Light Dragoons. This time the blow fell on Little Egg Harbor in New Jersey. Privateers were a real thorn in the side of the British and Little Egg Harbor was a haven for privateers. The British decided to do something about it; sending against the small port two row galleys and four small armed vessels by sea with a land force of 300 men of the 70th Regiment under Captain Patrick Ferguson (whose services would be terminated at King's Mountain), as well as the Tory, 3rd New Jersey Volunteers. Ten large privateers, twelve houses and several magazines of supplies were burned. (Ward).
Many French officer volunteers in American service (see footnote) had long held a grievance against the American command. Complaining that they were not accorded the commands and authority which they deserved; they were arrogant, frequently deriding American officers and protesting what they considered their ill treatment. One such, a deserter, was a French Captain from Count Casimir Pulaski's Legion (an independent command) who informed Ferguson that the Legion was encamped some 8 or 10 miles from Little Egg Harbor.
Late in the evening of October 14th, Ferguson embarked for the camp's location. Arriving at the encampment, he set up a blocking force to prevent anyone from escaping. At 4 a.m. in the depth of darkness, he surprised the Legion infantry asleep in three houses; bayoneting fifty of the force including two loyal French officers, Lt. Cool Baron de Boze and Lieutenant de La Borderie. Pulaski, when alerted immediately brought up Dragoons and with the surviving infantry drove Ferguson off. In his retreat Ferguson took up the planks of a bridge, denying Pulaski any immediate pursuit. Pulaski, after overcoming the water obstacle, belatedly followed Ferguson but was only capable of capturing a few prisoners. While not overly effective, it must have been satisfying to capture even one of the attacking force in spite of the obstacles thrown in the way (Ward ) .
The British Army in America had made the bayonet their weapon of choice; lending weight in 1778 to Washington's words. "Nothing short of Independence, it appears to me, can possibly do. A peace on any other terms would, if I may be allowed the expression, be a peace of war. The injuries we have received from the British nation were so unprovoked, and have been so great and so many, that they can never be forgotten." It would appear that the acts of General Howe while in Philadelphia in allowing the unlimited massacre by bayoneting of helpless militia during the winter of 1777-1778, followed by the continued acts of massacre under Clinton in the fall and winter of 1778-1779, certainly justify Washington's words. Instead of instilling cringing fear in the patriots it made them more determined than ever. (George Washington in His Own Words) .
Note* "Our troops being already formed and fully officered, and the number of foreign gentlemen, already commissioned, and continually arriving with fresh applications, throw such obstacles in the way of any future appointments, that every new arrival is only a source of embarrassment to Congress and myself, and of disappointment and chagrin to the gentlemen who come over. . . To place them [foreign officers] at the head of companies, over officers that have been at great trouble, pains, and expense, in raising men, would be both unmilitary and unjust." -- George Washington, 1777.
References: Christopher Ward's "War of the Revolution"; Maureen Harrison and Steve Gilbert editors "George Washington in His Own Words".
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