The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-26
FRENCH ARMY'S SERVICES
TART TAKEN BY THE ARMY IN
 AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Probable That the Independence Gained by the Colonies Would Not Have Been so Complete Except for the Efforts of the French.
 It seems almost improbable that young nobleman with high rank, social position, great wealth and landed es- tates should leave their native coun- try and cross wide ocean to aid a young. weak and struggling nation to achieve her independence and thereby gain glory and honor in so doing And yet that is precisely what number of them living in the Kingdom of France and being part of Its brilliant court did even before the declaration of In- dependence was signed and declared. Some of these merely came to seek ad- venture In an untried field of glory without much concern about the well fare of the land they went to fight for. But fortunately for us and them too there were much more noble class who came fired with a spirit of true enthusiasm and patriotism mingled with sympathy for a people struggling for their freedom. To this latter class belonged Lafayette, the Knight of Lib- erty. and from Poland the gallant Kosiasko. Russia and France both gave us the stern and strict discipline rian, the Baron Steuben, and many other brilliant foreign officers too nu merous to mention. All these were pri- vate individuals who devoted their for tune, their lives and their skill to our cause and it was not until a treaty of offensive and defensive alliance be- tween the Kingdom of France and the United Colonies through congress, a committee of secret correspondence and their emissarles Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee who by adroit diploma cy brought about the sign ing on February 6, 177S, by the king and court. The king at that time being Louis XVI. When this news reached congress it was duly ratified on May 2, of the same year and this intelligence was received with great rejoicing by the people of our oppressed country. In this treaty it was stipulated that the United States should not while receiv- ing the aid and arms of France con- clude any treaty of peace with Great Britain until her absolute independence had been achieved. France agreeing to furnish money and men to help secure that result and also promising not to make any treaty of peace with Eng land their common foe. Commercial reciprocity between Finance and Ameri- ca was specified in the treaty.
 A fleet was fitted out at Brest and placed under the command of the Count d Estaing consisting of twenty five sailors of the line which immedi- ately sailed for America for the pur- pose of rendering assistance to our be- leaguered colonies. This squadron arriv- ed at Newport on August 8, 1778. On the following day Sunday, the 9th, d'Estaing began at a. m. to disembark his troops on Canoicut Island. It was his intention to cooperate with Gen. Sullivan in an attack on the Brit ish Notifications, but Sullivan seeing that the British had evacuated their work without notifying dEstaing and without waiting for the appointed time for their combined attack had crossed the channel and seized and oc- cupied the vacant earthwork at the North End. This greatly displeased d'Estaing and his officers. Notwith- standing the occurance d'Estaing did not permit his personal feelings which were much hurt to influence him against performing his duty. Accord ingly he ordered the troops landed on Canonicut Island to be transferred to Rhode Island and to join Gen. sulli- vans forces. He then detailed two of his ships, the Fantastic and the Sagit- taire, to protect their crossing. But, as these vessels were getting under way +J,a foe xx,J,f oh r, aI p6 . pletely yelled the entrance to the har- bor lifted and they sighted the fleet of Admiral Howe's twenty-six British war ships, which had left New York on the 9th of August, 177S. The French commander immediately ordered all the marines, sailors and infantry that were landed on Canonicut Island to return to their ship He called coun- ell of war on his flagship the Lan- guedor which was attended by all the captains and other officers of each ves- sel of his fleet They decided to bring the vessels closer together to eoncen- trate their force. This was effected with partial success and the next morning some of the French ships were still working their way to the positions assigned them when the wind changed lToul SOulIlWS SSI u llOIIiGdSl olld llle admiral of the French fleet decided tc stand out with his whole squadron and offer battle to Lord Howe and informed Gen. Sullivan of his intention. At 7:3C on the morning of August 10, ITS, or ders were issued to clear the decks for action. They put to sea and proceeded to attack the enemy. The British cast off their cables and stood out to sea also, under full sail making for New York. The French fleet pursued them It soon became evident they were over taking them. About p. m. the Count d'Estaing ordered a general attack which the British were preparing fol when suddenly the sea became rough and gale arose of considerable vio- lence which concealed the two fleets and scattered the ships of both squad rons and left them dismantled. While the Languedoc was drifting without sail or rudder she fell in with British frigate, the Renown, which immediate. ly attacked her and swept her gun deck from end to end. However, after having fired three volleys the Renowr hauled off. At last on August 1T d'Estaing collected his vessels and re. turned to Newport. Gen. Sullivan, the militia and the people of Newport de- sired the French admiral to remain ant