The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-20
WHEN AMERICANS WAITED.
Revolutionary Patriots AnxiOusly
Watched for Succor from
Foreign Country.

American feet carrying the army of
liberation, for which they had been
for weeks eagerly looking, the fact
was recalled that there was a time
when American patriots were as
anxiously watching for similar sue
cor from foreign country. The cap.
ture of Burgoyne's army on October
II, TIT. was followed few months
later, on February 6, ITS, by treaty
of alliance and commerce between
France and the United States. Pur-
suant to the stipulations of that
treaty a French squadron for the as
sistance of the American patriots was
fitted out at Toulon, consisting of 12
ships of the line and four frigates of
superior size. Count d'Estaing, q
brave and successful naval officer. was
appointed to the command, and on
April 10, ITS, the fleet sailed for
America carrying with it several
thousand troops. The American pa
triots had been at this time carrying
on single-handed for nearly three
years their struggle for independence.
All their important seaports. except
Boston, were at this time in the pos
session of the British
The surrender of Burgoyne had, of
course, greatly encouraged the Amer
leans, but after three years conflict
they were apparently not much nearer
driving the British from their country
and achieving independence than were
the Cubans a few months ago, after
similar period of struggle, before the
| United States decided to come to their
assistance.
Some idea of the eagerness with
which the Americans 100 years ago
looked for the arrival of the French
fleet and army can be gathered from
the longing felt by the Cuban patriots
of the present day for the appearance
of the United States troops upon their
shores. On May 5. ITS, Gen. Washing
ton ordered special thanksgiving to
be offered by the chaplains at Valley
Forge for the completion of the
French alliance and the whole army to
make an enthusiastic celebration of
the event. News travelled slowly in
those days and the treaty was nearly
three months old when this celebra-
ton took place. Finally, on July s.
ITS, it appeared off the Capes of the
Delaware and communicated it's pres
ence to congress. 1t was unfortunate
ly just a little too late to capture the
English fleet which had escaped and
taken refuge in New York harbor,
whittier d'Estaing followed. The
French feet had ships too large to get
over the bar which then existed at
Sandy Hook and the British were safe
behind it and near the forts of the har-
bor The French admiral then sailed
to aid the American troops under Cen
Sullivan besiege Newport, II. l., held by
British troops and naval forces. The
enterprise failed because the French
feet sailed off to engage British one
without first landing any troops to re-
enforce Sullivan. Thus the high hopes
built upon the coming of the French
were at first doomed to severe disap-
pointment, for d'Estaing then sailed
to tho West Indies.
Another disappointment followed
the next year, when, in September
1910, d'Estaiug appeared off the coast
of Georgia with 20 ships of the line and
II frigates, bearing about 6,00O sol
diers. In cooperation with the Amer
lean army under Gen. Lincoln, the
siege of Savannah was undertaken
but it also failed, and the French agar
returned to the West Indies. In June
1850, third French fleet and an army
under Count de Rochambeau arrived
in America. This force was increased
: ard finally, after much delay, proved
the decisive factor in securing the cap
ture of the army of CORVALLIS a
Yorktown on October II, 1871. But fol
the fact that the French feet under
Count de Grasse was strong enough t,
/ prevent the British from sending re
endorsements by water to CORVALLIS
and that one-hnlf of the land forces
under Washington were French, thu
: victory which practically ended tn,
t revolutionary war and insured Amer
! lean independence would not hav,
: been possible.-Pittsburgh TimeA