The Rhode Island Campaign: The First French and American Operation in the Revolutionary War, Hardcover

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p. Mso Normal, li. Mso Normal, div. Mso Normal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri; }table. Mso Normal Table { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div. Section1 { page: Section"Mc Burney has written an important book. Using sources that have been heretofore overlooked, he provides a fresh, nuanced, and compelling reinterpretation of the United States first joint operation. Moreover, he does it with readable style. This work will be the standard for years to come." Dennis Conrad, Editor, "Naval Documents of the American Revolution" and "Papers of General Nathanael Greene"On July 29, 1778, a powerful French naval squadron sailed confidently to the entrance of Narragansett Bay. Its appearance commenced the first joint French and American campaign of the Revolutionary War. The new allies goal was to capture the British garrison at Newport, Rhode Island. With British resolve reeling from the striking patriot victory at Saratoga the previous autumn, this French and American effort might just end the war. As the French moved into the bay, surprised British captains scuttled or burned many of their vessels rather than risk capture, resulting in the most significant loss of warships suffered by the British navy during the war. French Admiral Comte d Estaing then turned to sea to engage the main British fleet but his ships were scattered and damaged by a huge storm. After his flagship and two other ships were attacked, d Estaing s squadron was taken out of the campaign. The American army under General John Sullivan, meanwhile, was stranded on a small island near Newport without the expected French naval support. When they tried to retreat off the island, British and Hessian regulars were sent to destroy Sullivan s army; instead of a rout, a running battle ensued that lasted for more than six hours. Continentals, brimming with confidence after thei