In the midst of these anxieties and preparations, the French arrived at Newport, bringing a well-equipped army of some five thousand men, and a small fleet.  They brought, too, something quite as important, in the way of genuine good-will and full intention to do all in their power for their allies.  After a moment’s hesitation, born of unlucky memories, the people of Rhode Island gave De Rochambeau a hearty welcome, and Washington sent him the most cordial greeting.  With the greeting went the polite but earnest request for immediate action, together with plans for attacking New York; and, at the same time, another urgent call went out to the States for men, money, and supplies.  The long-looked-for hour had arrived, a fine French army was in Newport, a French fleet rode in the harbor, and instead of action, immediate and effective, the great event marked only the beginning of a period of delays and disappointment, wearing heart and nerve almost beyond endurance.

First it appeared that the French ships could not get into New York harbor.  Then there was sickness in the French army.  Then the British menaced Newport, and rapid preparations had to be made to meet that danger.  Then it came out that De Rochambeau was ordered to await the arrival of the second division of the army, with more ships; and after due waiting, it was discovered that the aforesaid second division, with their ships, were securely blockaded by the English fleet at Brest.  On our side it was no better; indeed, it was rather worse.  There was lack of arms and powder.  The drafts were made with difficulty, and the new levies came in slowly.  Supplies failed altogether, and on every hand there was nothing but delay, and ever fresh delay, and in the midst of it all Washington, wrestling with sloth and incoherence and inefficiency, trampled down one failure and disappointment only to encounter another, equally important, equally petty, and equally harassing.

On August 20 he wrote to Congress a long and most able letter, which set forth forcibly the evil and perilous condition of affairs.  After reading that letter no man could say that there was not need of the utmost exertion, and for the expenditure of the last ounce of energy.  In it Washington struck especially at the two delusions with which the people and their representatives were lulling themselves into security, and by which they were led to relax their efforts.  One was the belief that England was breaking down; the other, that the arrival of the French was synonymous with the victorious close of the war.  Washington demonstrated that England still commanded the sea, and that as long as she did so there was a great advantage on her side.  She was stronger, on the whole, this year than the year before, and her financial resources were still ample.  There was no use in looking for victory in the weakness of the enemy, and on the other hand, to rely wholly on France was contemptible as well as foolish.