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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC04845 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1778 |
| Title | John Sullivan to William Whipple asking his opinion on the best course of action regarding the siege of Newport |
| Date | 23 August 1778 |
| Author | Sullivan, John (1740-1795) |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Requests Whipple's opinion on the best course of action regarding the siege of Newport now that "The Count De Estaing...abandoned us in the present Enterprise and opened the Harbour for...Reinforcements." Believes the British have only 6,000 men, while the American forces number "8,174. Rank & File exclusive of 628...Artillery Men." Asks Whipple whether he thinks it best to continue the siege without French naval support and risk the British reinforcing their position by sea, or to attack immediately with what seems a superior force, or to withdraw at once. Desires that Whipple's reply explain the reason for his choice and how best to carry it out. General Sullivan posed this question to a number of officers. GLC03232 is a reply by John Crane to a letter of Sullivan's that must have been almost identical to this one. The French and Americans had planed to mount a joint assault on the British at Newport. When many of the French ships were damaged in a storm their commander Vice Admiral d'Estaing was forced to move his fleet to Boston for repairs, taking his 4,000 French troops with him. Sullivan was furious at d'Estaing, and was forced to quickly abandon the siege. |
| Subjects | Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Continental Army Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs France Navy |
| People | Sullivan, John (1740-1795) Whipple, William (1730-1785) Estaing, Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, Comte d' (1729-1794) |
| Place written | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | John Sullivan served as a major general during the Revolution and also served in the Continental Congress and as the President of New Hampshire. Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, Comte d'Estaing, was a French Vice Admiral sent with twelve battleships and fourteen frigates to assist the colonies during the American Revolution. Also known as the Marquis de Saillans. William Whipple was an American Brigadier General during the Revolution, served in the Continental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide |