Portsmouth Rhode Island 10 Aug 1778—
Dear General
The Count De-Estaing and myself were by Agreement to land our Forc[e]s here this Morning but I having received Intelligence early Yesterday Morning that the Enemy had abandoned the north End of the Island entirely in Consequence of the French Fleets coming up the River thought it best to push over without Loss of Time the whole of my Troops which accordingly was done— Almost immediately after our landing a Fleet of 29 Sail, 8 or 10 of which appeared to be Vessells of Force were discovered standing into Newport under Eng Colour-1 As the Wind was small & unfavourable the Count kept his Position but this Morning he got under Way with a fine Breeze, passed the Batteries at Newport and those which are below with all his Ships of the Line & went in Chace of the English Fleet—At 11 oClock I had the Pleasure of seeing them fly before him—
The Count has left three Frigates2 in the East Passage—It is out of my Power to inform You when we shall make the Attack on the Enemy as it is uncertain when the French Fleet will return and I think it necessary to wait their Arrival as their Troops are onbard—I have the Honor to be [&c.]
Jno
LS, DLC, Washington Papers, ser. 4. Addressed: “His Excellency/General Washington/Commander in Chief of the/American Forces/White Plains.” Notations: “On Public Service”; “M G Sullivan.” Docketed: “Gen Sullivan/Augt 10. 1778/ansd. 16—.”
1. The last three words in this sentence were written as a superscript with no indication where they were to be placed in the text.
2. French frigates Aimable, Lieutenant de vaisseau Antoine-Stanislas-Xavier de Curières de Castelnau de Saint-Cosme-Sainte-Eulalie, Alcmène, Lieutenant de vaisseau Pierre-René-Bénigne-Mériadec, comte de Bonneval Ruffo, and Engageante, Capitaine de vaisseau Charles-René, chevalier de Gras-Preville.
