First Salute (56 page)

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Authors: Barbara W. Tuchman

CHAPTER VIII THE FRENCH INTERVENTION

For political quarrel in the Royal Navy: Wraxall, Spinney. For the Carlisle peace mission: Townshend, McDevitt.

1
BATTLE OF USHANT AND CONSEQUENCES:
James, W. M., 124-42; Griffith, 518-19; Mahan,
Influence
, 350-3.

2
PALLISER-KEPPEL CONTROVERSY:
Miller, 336-7; Mackesy, 239-43; James, B., 135-42.

3
“FIERCE TORRENT OF INVECTIVE” AGAINST SANDWICH:
Jesse, II, 241.

4
LONDON MOB CELEBRATES KEPPEL’S ACQUITTAL:
Spinney, 292; Griffith, 542.

5
LORD NORTH CLIMBED TO THE ROOF:
Miller, 336.

6
REFUSALS TO SERVE UNDER SANDWICH:
Spinney, 292.

7
“SO VIOLENT WAS THE SPIRIT OF PARTY”:
Wraxall, 306.

8
HOOD ON “WANT OF DISCIPLINE”:
George A. Billias, ed.,
George Washington’s Opponents: British Generals and Admirals in the American Revolution
, New York, 1969, p. 297.

9
BARRINGTON, “WOULD HAVE MADE ME RUN MAD”:
q. Mackesy, 354.

10
A MODERN HISTORIAN:
Callender, 15-16; q. Lewis, C. L., 67-8. “A [British] victory at Ushant would entirely have changed the history of the world. It would have shut the French up in their own ports and rendered them incapable of assisting the Americans. The helplessness of the French would have kept Europe passive and Britain would not have been called to face the world in arms. If left to deal with her turbulent sons, uninterrupted by foreigners, she might well have subdued them. She might then in a happier hour have granted them the substance of their demands and the great republic of North America might today form an integral part of her world-embracing empire.” On the same theory, see also Kennedy, 109.

11
“WILDLY FALLACIOUS”:
Willcox,
Portrait
, 143.

12
“INTELLECTUAL SHORTCOMINGS”:
ibid.

13
STORMONT, “WE HAVE NO INTELLIGENCE”:
Walpole,
Last Journals
, II, 355.

14
GERMAIN, “UTMOST FORCE,” ON GENERAL BELIEF IN USE OF FORCE:
Miller, 338.

15
DUKE OF RICHMOND ADVISES KEPPEL:
q. James, W. M., 121.

16
PITT (LORD CHATHAM), “YOU CANNOT CONQUER AMERICA”:
November 20, 1777, GB Parl.

17
ASTONISHING REVERSAL OF LORD NORTH’S GOVERNMENT:
OFFER OF PEACE TERMS TO THE COLONIES: Willcox,
Portrait
, 219 ff.; Griffith, 469 ff.

18
JOHNSTONE COURT-MARTIALED FOR MANSLAUGHTER AND INSUBORDINATION:
Valentine,
Establishment
, II, 499.

19
JOHNSTONE’S BRIBES AND OFFER OF PEERAGES:
Miller, 332, 333n.

20
CARLISLE MANIFESTO OF 1778:
Miller, 333.

21
CONGRESS ON “INSIDIOUS DESIGNS”:
Carl van Doren,
Secret History of the American Revolution
, New York, 1951, 114.

22
UNPUBLISHED DRAFT (OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1778):
Stevens, B. F., V, 529.

23
TRYON PROCLAMATION:
Townshend, 24.

24
TRYON RAID IN CONNECTICUT:
ibid., 37-8.

25
MURDER OF BENJAMIN ENGLISH:
The Connecticut Journal
, July 3, 1779; q. Townshend, 27.

26
RESISTANCE OF REV. NAPHTALI DAGGETT:
Townshend, 74-5;
DAB
.

27
WALPOLE, AS INSIGNIFICANT AS DENMARK OR SARDINIA:
to Henry Seymour Conway, January 3, 1781,
Corres
., XXXIX, 354.

28
A FALL “LIKE CARTHAGE”:
unidentified q. Miller, 339.

29
D’ESTAING EXPEDITION:
Clinton, 99; Mahan,
Influence
, 359-63.

30
“DESERTED IN A MOST RASCALLY MANNER”:
q. Miller, 330.

CHAPTER IX LOW POINT OF THE REVOLUTION

1
SANDWICH TO KING ON A COMMISSIONER TO WATCH RODNEY IN PURCHASING:
September 17, 1779, Fortescue, IV, 448.

2
RODNEY, “DELAYS ARE WORSE THAN DEATH”:
Mundy, I, 173.

3
BIRON PROPOSES TO PUT HIS PURSE AT RODNEY’S SERVICE:
Rodney letter to his wife, April, 1779, ibid., 177 ff.

4
BIRON EPISODE:
Spinney, 283-8.

5

JE VOUS ENVIE”
:
q. Spinney, 286, from Comte R. de Gontaut Biron,
Le duc de Lauzun
, Paris, 1937.

6
LAUZUN’S HOUSE WAS THE PRESENT RITZ HOTEL:
Whitridge, 128.

7
EXPENDITURES OF DUC DE LAUZUN:
Manceron, 253n.

8
CREDITORS HAD GROWN SO “CLAMOROUS”:
Spinney, 284.

9
ON SIR CHARLES HARDY, “DOES THE PEOPLE AT HOME THINK”:
Kampenfelt to Sir Charles Middleton, letters of July 2 and August 6, 1779, q. James, W. M., 174-5.

10
ADMIRAL GEARY “WHOLLY DEBILITATED”:
q. Mackesy, 355.

11
ATTEMPTED INVASION:
James, W. M., 177-84; Mackesy, 280 et seq.

12
D’ORVILLIERS, “MEDIOCRE CAPTAINS”:
q. James, W. M., 177.

13
ALARM GRIPPED ENGLAND:
Griffith, 556.

14
“IGNORANCE AND VACILLATION”:
q. James, W. M., 181-2.

15
RODNEY AT PORTSMOUTH, “AN ABSENCE OF PROPER ZEAL”:
Mundy, I, 203.

16
OPPOSITION SPEAKERS, “SUPERLATIVELY WRETCHED”:
amendment to King’s speech from the throne on November 25, 1779, q. Griffith, 572-3.

17
SANDWICH, “FOR GOD’S SAKE GO TO SEA”:
q. Martelli, 215.

18
RODNEY WOULD BE HERO OF THE HOUR:
Walpole,
Corres
., XXVII, 46, n. 27; Hannay, 104.

19
“BRILLIANT RUSH”:
Hannay, 100.

20
HORACE MANN, “CAUGHT LIKE WILD FIRE”:
March 11, 1780, Walpole,
Corres
., XXV, 24.

21
LETTERS OF DAUGHTER AND WIFE ON MOONLIGHT BATTLE:
Mundy, I, 259, 262.

22
WALTER YOUNG CLAIMS CREDIT:
MacIntyre, 105.

23
SANDWICH CONGRATULATIONS:
Mundy, I, 265.

24
SIR JOHN ROSS, OUR EXPEDITION:
Sandwich Papers
, III, 204.

25
WALPOLE LETTER TO REV. COLE, “MY SYSTEMATIC BELIEF”:
February 27, 1780, Walpole,
Corres
., II, 84.

26
ADAMS, “NAVAL VICTORIES EXCITE THEM”:
q. Miller, 596.

27
RODNEY’S PENSION:
MacIntyre, 143.

28
“TO BE OUT OF PARLIAMENT”:
q. Spinney, 343.

29
MAHAN, “THE OBJECTIVE FROM WHICH HIS EYE NEVER WANDERED”:
Mahan,
Influence
, 378.

30
SIGNALING SYSTEM:
MacIntyre, 111-12, 120; Hannay, 125; Spinney, 321.

31
COMBAT OF APRIL 17, 1780:
Hannay, 129-35; Mahan,
Influence
, 378-80; Lewis, C. L., 86-93; MacIntyre, 177 et seq.; Spinney, 320 et seq.; James, W. M., 198, et seq.
ON “DISOBEDIENCE” TO SIGNALS
: to Germain, q. Spinney, 329.

32
RODNEY’S REPORT TO THE ADMIRALTY:
Mundy, [1836], 102 ff.

33
RODNEY, “MY EYE WAS MORE TO BE DREADED”:
Sandwich Papers
, III, 215; Mundy, I, 295.

34
PURSUIT OF GUICHEN FOR 14 DAYS AND NIGHTS AND SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR:
MacIntyre, 137.

35
RODNEY GOES TO THE AMERICAN COAST:
MacIntyre, 149; Hannay, 144.

36
CLINTON, “FOR GOD’S SAKE, MY LORD”:
q. Willcox,
Portrait
, 269.

37
CLINTON “IMPLORED” HIS MAJESTY:
Clinton, 137.

38
PLEA BECOMES A “PRAYER”:
ibid., 149 and 173.

39
CORNWALLIS, “WHAT IS OUR PLAN?”:
April 10, 1781, to Major General Phillips, Cornwallis,
Corres
., II, 87.

40
GENERAL MURRAY, “TO LOSE A BATTLE TO YOU EVERY WEEK”:
q. Mackesy, 407.

41
RODNEY “FLEW ON THE WINGS OF NATIONAL ENTHUSIASM”:
q. Spinney, 346.

42
ARBUTHNOT “DESTITUTE OF … NAVAL TACTICS”:
DNB
on Arbuthnot.

43
CLINTON, THROWN REBELS “INTO A CONSTERNATION” (TO RODNEY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1780):
PRO Clinton papers, document 30/20/12 102388.

44
CLINTON, “YOUR FORTUNATE ARRIVAL”:
ibid.

45
CLINTON ON ARBUTHNOT, “THIS OLD GENTLEMAN”:
q. Griffith, 596.

46
RODNEY’S CONDUCT “AS USUAL PRAISEWORTHY”:
q. Spinney, 353.

47
“FATAL MEASURE” OF EVACUATING RHODE ISLAND UNDER “ENFORCED” ADVICE OF ARBUTHNOT:
Mundy, I, 429; Spinney, 348.

48
ARBUTHNOT, RHODE ISLAND “WAS OF NO USE TO THE NAVY”:
Clinton, 145.

49
“THE GENERAL HATES THE ADMIRAL”:
q. Willcox,
Portrait
, 332.

50
RODNEY PROPOSES A SHAM BATTLE TO LURE FRENCH FROM RHODE ISLAND:
Clinton to Rodney, September 18, 1780, Clinton Papers, PRO, 30/20/12; Spinney, 348.

51
RODNEY, WAR CONDUCTED WITH “SLACKNESS INCONCEIVABLE”:
Mundy, I, 428.

52
WASHINGTON, PROSPECTS “INFINITELY WORSE”:
Fitzpatrick,
Writings
, XVII, 272.

53
RATIONS REDUCED TO ONE-EIGHTH OF NORMAL:
Morris and Commager, 121 under May 25, 1780.

54
MUTINY OF PENNSYLVANIA TROOPS:
Griffith, 618-20; Miller, 542-5.

55
VON STEUBEN, “CAESAR AND HANNIBAL”:
q. Miller, 562.

56
WASHINGTON DIARY ON MAY I, “WE HAVE NOTHING”:
Fitzpatrick,
Diaries
, II, 208.

CHAPTER X “A SUCCESSFUL BATTLE MAY GIVE US AMERICA”

1
LORD NORTH, “IF AMERICA SHOULD GROW”:
q. Miller, 585.

2
CLINTON, “I HAVE ALL TO HOPE”:
According to the Curator of the Clinton Papers at the Clements Library, this was a phrase that Clinton used from time to time, as seen in his Papers #133:8; q. Mackesy, 385.

3
GERMAIN, “SO VAST IS OUR SUPERIORITY”:
q. Miller, 612.

4
MURRAY, “I JUDGE THAT THE ENEMY”:
q. Mackesy, 384.

5
HORACE MANN, “UNLESS SOME DECISIVE STROKE”:
Walpole,
Corres
., XXV, 83.

6
CLINTON, “ARMY THREE TIMES IN DANGER OF STARVING”:
Clinton, 99.

7
WASHINGTON, NAVAL SUPERIORITY “WITH AN AID OF MONEY”:
to Laurens, January 15, 1781, Fitzpatrick,
Writings
, XXI, 108.

8
WASHINGTON, “WITHOUT THE SHADOW OF A BLANKET”:
to Fielding Lewis, July 6, 1780, q. Freeman, V, 177.

9
GREENE, “SPRAT IN A WHALE’S BELLY”:
ibid., 99.

10
WASHINGTON, “I HAVE ALMOST CEASED TO HOPE”:
q. Miller, 528.

11
LAUZUN “VERY AGREEABLE TO THE AMERICANS”:
Rochambeau,
Memoirs
, 28.

12
WASHINGTON TO BROTHER SAMUEL, “IT IS IMPOSSIBLE”:
August 31, 1780, Fitzpatrick,
Writings
, XIX, 482.

13
ALEXANDER HAMILTON ON GATES’S RETREAT:
Dupuy, 366.

14
CLINTON, “A FEW WORKS IF PROPERLY REINFORCED”:
q. Willcox,
AHR
, 5. “THESE COUNTRY CLOWNS”: q. Miller, 156.

15
KING OF FRANCE IN NURSERY RHYME (AS QUOTED IN BARTLETT):
Sometimes cited as “the Duke of York” but known in this form since childhood to the author and presumably to Bartlett.

16
LAFAYETTE, “WE ARE … DESTITUTE”:
Idzarday, S. J., ed.,
Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution
, Ithaca, N.Y., 1980.

17
HARTFORD CONFERENCE:
Sparks, VII, 110, 130, 137, 171.

18
COLONEL BALFOUR, “DEFECTION … SO UNIVERSAL” IN SOUTH CAROLINA:
q. Fleming, 58.

19
CORNWALLIS HAD A DORMANT COMMISSION TO SUCCEED CLINTON:
Wickwire, 107.

20
CLINTON, “I CAN NEVER BE CORDIAL”:
q. Larrabee, 104.

21
CLINTON, “I AM NEGLECTED AND ILL-TREATED”:
q. Miller, 597; primary source is believed at Clements Library to be a letter from Clinton to Germain (letter from Curator of Clinton Papers to author, March 25, 1988).

22
CURRICULUM AT TURIN:
Wickwire, 25-6.

23
LORD CAMDEN ON DECLARATORY BILL, “ABSOLUTELY ILLEGAL”:
February 24, 1776, GB Parl., I, 364-7.

24
CORNWALLIS VOLUNTEERED:
Wickwire, 79; Valentine,
Establishment
, I, 207.

25
CORNWALLIS TO MAJOR GENERAL PHILLIPS, “IF WE MEAN AN OFFENSIVE WAR”:
April 10, 1781, Cornwallis,
Corres
., I, 87-8.

26
“A SUCCESSFUL BATTLE MAY GIVE US AMERICA”:
ibid.

27
ARNOLD SOLD HIMSELF TO THE BRITISH FOR £6,000:
Willcox,
Portrait
, 341, n. 6; Morris and Commager, 122.

28
PRICE CALCULATED ON A BASIS OF 2 GUINEAS PER MAN OF THE WEST POINT GARRISON:
Griffith, 600.

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