The surrender of British General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga brought France into the war, and in the summer of 1778 a pincer plan was agreed to recapture Newport: the Continental Army would approach overland, and a French fleet would sail into the harbour. To prevent the latter the British commander, Captain John Brisbane, determined to blockade the bay by sinking surplus vessels at its mouth. Between 3 and 6 August a fleet of Royal Navy and hired craft, including "Lord Sandwich 2", were scuttled at various locations in the Bay. "Lord Sandwich" "2", previously "Endeavour", previously "Earl of Pembroke", was sunk on 4 August 1778.