In December 1776, a British force occupied
Newport, Rhode Island.
France decided to enter the war as an ally of the United States following the pivotal
Battles of Saratoga in September and October 1777. The two militaries then sought to link together and attack British forces in North America. The first significant effort in this regard took place in July 1778, when a French fleet under
Charles Henri Hector, Count of Estaing arrived off the east coast of North America. The ships originally were ordered to blockade
Delaware Bay, but Estaing altered his target to
New York City after learning that the British had
evacuated the city of
Philadelphia. However, he concluded that the
bar at the mouth of New York Harbor was such that his largest ships could not safely enter. As a result, French and American military leaders decided to operate against the British at Newport. American
Continental Army forces were dispatched to Rhode Island, and militia were raised from surrounding states to assist in the effort. A storm arose at a critical moment when the French and British navies were about to engage, scattering both fleets. By this time, American forces led by Major General
John Sullivan had already occupied the northern end of
Aquidneck Island (called Rhode Island at the time). The French fleet withdrew on August 22 to
Boston to repair, while Sullivan engaged in preliminary siege operations against Newport. The French withdrawal prompted an exodus of militia from the American camp. News also arrived that a relief force was being organized by the British in New York, so Sullivan decided to withdraw from Aquidneck Island. Newport's British commander Major-general
Robert Pigot led his forces out of Newport in pursuit and engaged the American forces on August 29 in the
Battle of Rhode Island. The battle was tactically inconclusive in its outcome, though the Americans retreated from the island. ==Battlefield==