land. By this time, Sullivan,
contrary to the wishes of Lafayette, had landed on the island with his
10,000 men, and had commenced the siege of Newport. He also had
suffered by the storm, for it had blown down all his tents, damaged
his ammunition, and caused the death of several of his soldiers. When it
abated, Sullivan renewed the siege; but though the garrison of Newport
amounted only to about 1200 men, he only ventured to proceed by regular
approaches. Sullivan was not much encouraged by the re-appearance of the
French Admiral, and when d'Estaing announced his intention of retiring
to Boston to refit, the besiegers lost all hope, and numbers of them
deserted and crossed over to Connecticut. It was in vain that Sullivan
remonstrated with the French admiral: he had received orders from
his government to be very careful of his fleet, and having reasons
to believe that Howe had received reinforcements, he adhered to his
resolution of getting to a place of safety. Sullivan then implored him
to leave the French forces he had on board, and the bearer of his letter
was also charged with a protest, written in angry terms, and complaining
of the desertion of the French. This protest was signed by all the
general officers in Rhode Island, except Lafayette; but the French
admiral considered it as insulting, and sailed away for Boston in an
angry mood. Sullivan then abandoned the siege of Newport, and retired to
the north of the island. He was pursued by Sir Robert Pigott, commander
of the garrison of Newport, who brought him to battle on the 29th of
August. The loss was about equal, but Sullivan found himself compelled
to evacuate the island in haste. He retired just in time, for on the
following day a reinforcement, commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, arrived
at Rhode Island. The attempt on the island, therefore, signally failed,
and Sullivan laid the blame of the failure on the French admiral. He
even published some letters reflecting very severely on the conduct of
d'Estaing, and asserted that the Americans had been basely abandoned
by their new allies. The public feeling was so strong against him, that
when he arrived at Boston he met with a rude reception. The French were
everywhere hooted by the Bostonians, and in a scuffle between them a
French officer was killed. The French were also denounced by some of the
hottest members in congress, and even the alliance with the French court
was reprobated and reviled in bitter terms. Ab