American Aurora
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Sunday, April 6, 1777. There is much speculation as to why Washington is so inactive. Today, John Adams evades the question:
You have had many rumors propagated among you which I suppose you know not how to account for. One was that Congress, the last summer, had tied the hands of General Washington, and would not let him fight, particularly on the White Plains. This report was totally groundless. Another was that at last Congress untied the General, and then he instantly fought and conquered at Trenton. This also was without foundation for his hands were never tied, so they were not untied. Indeed … a question has been asked Congress … whether the General was bound by the advice of a council of war? No member of Congress, that I know of, ever harbored or conceived such a thought … [T]he General, like all other commanders of armies, was to pursue his own judgment after all.950
Wednesday, April 9, 1777. Today, from France, Benjamin Franklin writes the Continental Congress:
The Desire that military Officers here of all Ranks have of going into the Service of the United States is so general and so strong as to be quite amazing. We are hourly fatigu’d with their Applications and Offers, which we are obliged to refuse; and with hundreds of Letters which we cannot possibly answer to Satisfaction …
We have purchased 80,000 Fusils, a Number of Pistols, &c … They were King’s arms and second-hand, but so many of them are unus’d and [so] good that we Esteem it a great Bargain if only half of them should arrive. We applied for the large brass Cannon to be borrow’d out of the King’s Stores … You will soon have the Arms and Accoutrements for the Horse except Saddles, if not intercepted by the Enemy …
The separate Constitutions of the several [American] States are also translating and publishing here, which afford abundance of Speculation to the Politicians of Europe. And it is a very general Opinion that if we succeed in establishing our Liberties, we shall … receive an immense Addition of … Families who will come over to participate [in] our Privileges … Tyranny is so generally established in the rest of the World that the Prospect of an Asylum in America for those who love Liberty gives general Joy, and our Cause is esteem’d the Cause of all Mankind.951
Monday, April 14, 1777. Today, a French noblewoman, the Countess Conway (whose husband Thomas Conway is en route to America) writes Benjamin Franklin:
I Commence to read and write a litle the english but I Know not Speak yet that language … I pray you to Signify to me a day and a hour where I can render homage to you; I am the wiffe of thomas Conway departed by l’amphitrite for to aid his Brother americains end to Share the glory with them.952
Sunday, April 20, 1777. Many other idealistic Frenchmen are volunteering to serve in the American Revolution, joining a parade of supply ships. Today, the French nobleman the Marquis de Lafayette, who is only nineteen years old, sets sail for America aboard his own specially commissioned frigate, Victoire.953 With him are other titled French soldiers, including the Baron Johann de Kalb bearing an offer from French Count Charles-François de Broglie (a marshal in the French army) to lead America’s army.954
A British pamphlet, published this year at the behest of the British government, warns French King Louis XVI against allowing French officers to fight in America:
You are arming, imprudent monarch. Do you forget in what century, in what circumstances, and over what nation you reign? … The legislators of America are proclaiming themselves disciples of the French philosophers. They are executing what these [philosophers] have dreamed. Will not the French philosophers aspire to be legislators in their own country? … How dangerous to place the flower of your officers in communication with men enthusiastic for liberty! You will take alarm, but too late, when you hear repeated in your court vague and specious axioms which they have meditated in the forests of America …955
Louis XVI will not heed such advice!
Today, from Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams writes her husband, John, that political wrangling is preventing adoption of a new Massachusetts state constitution:
I believe we shall be the last State to assume Government. Whilst we Harbour such a number of designing Tories amongst us, we shall find government disregarded and every measure brought into contempt … We abound with designing Tories and Ignorant avaricious Whigs.956
Thursday, April 24, 1777. Today, George Washington writes Virginia congressional delegate Richard Henry Lee:
I profess myself to be of that class, who never built sanguinely upon the assistance of France, further than her winking at our supplies from thence for the benefits derived from our trade …
The great delay in appointing the general officers, the resignation of some of them, the non-acceptance of others, and I might add the unfitness of a few, joined to the amazing delay in assembling the troops, and the abuses which I am satisfied have been committed by the recruiting officers … have distressed me …957
Friday, April 25, 1777. Today, Robert Gordon, British Commissary of Provisions, writes British Treasury Secretary John Robinson:
Captain [James] Grayson learned … that a ship from France had landed at Boston 15,000 stands of arms and some ammunition and dry goods on the 23rd March last; she mounted 20 guns.958
Sunday, April 27, 1777. Today, John Adams writes his friend Massachusetts political leader James Warren:
I must confess that I am at a Loss to determine whether it is good Policy in Us to wish for a War between France and Britain … I dont wish to be under obligations to [France] …, and I am very unwilling they should rob Us of the Glory of vindicating our own Liberties …
It is a Cowardly Spirit in our Countrymen which makes them pant with so much longing Expectation after a French War. I have very often been ashamed to hear so many Whigs groaning and Sighing with Despondency, and whining out their Fears that We must be Subdued unless France should step in. Are We to be beholden to France for our Liberties? … France has done So much already … She has received our Ambassadors, protected our Merchant Men, Privateers, Men-of-War, and Prizes, admitted Us freely to trade, lent Us Money, and Supplied Us with Arms, Ammunition, and Warlike stores of every Kind.959
Friday, May 9, 1777. Today, from Philadelphia, the Committee of Secret Correspondence of the Continental Congress writes the American commissioners in Paris:
This letter is intended to be delivered to you by John Paul Jones Esquire, an Active and brave Commander in our Navy … [W]e have directed him to go on board the Amphitrite, a French Ship of 20 guns, that brought in a valuable cargo of stores from Monsr. Hortalez & Co., and with her repair to France …
Capt. Jones is instructed to Obey your Orders … You see by this Step how much dependance Congress place in your advices …960
Monday, May 12, 1777. Today, in Paris, Ben Franklin records news from Boston about the arrival of French arms:
That a ship was arrived from Europe with 364 Cases of Arms containing 11,987 Stands; 1,000 Barrels of Gunpowder; 48 Bales of Cloth for Soldiers Cloathing; and other valuable Articles, which came very seasonably; and they had just received News at Boston that two other Ships were arrived at a distant Port, with the same kind of Cargo’s …961
Thursday, May 22, 1777. Today, from Paris, Ben Franklin writes Benny Bache’s father, Richard Bache:
I have just received yours of March 10 … I rejoice to hear that the Family are all well. I did not hear before that they were out of Town … Ben’s Letter is enclos’d. He dines with me every Sunday and some Holidays. He begins to speak French readily, and reads it pretty well, for the time …
I thank you for the News you send me of the Skirmish &c. As our Troops will be much better arm’d and cloth’d this Year than they were the last, and the Enemy with all the Recruits they can muster no stronger; I hope for a continual Amendment of our Affairs. War is not yet commenc’d in Europe, but all are preparing for it …
Our Privateers and Cruisers in the Channel have rais’d the Insurance in London. [American] Capt. Conyngham imprudently returning into Dunkirk with two Prizes, was …
put into Prison …
I wish to know some Particulars from you … Did you remove my Library and Instruments and where are they?962
Sunday, May 25, 1777. Today, Franklin writes Congress how his naval activities may force France into the war with England:
The want of such a free Port appears in the late Instance of [American] Capt. Connyngham’s Arrest at Dunkirk, [France], with the Prizes he brought in. For tho’ the fitting out may be cover’d and conceal’d by various Pretences, so as at least to be wink’d at by the Government here … yet the bringing in of Prizes by a Vessell so fitted out is so notorious an Act, and so contrary to Treaties, that if suffered must occasion an immediate War …
The Marquis de Fayette, a young Nobleman of great Family Connections here, and great Wealth, is gone to America in a Ship of his own, accompanied by some Officers of Distinction, in order to serve in our Armies. He is exceedingly beloved, and every bodys good wishes attend him … He has left a beautifull young Wife big with Child …963
Wednesday, May 28, 1777. Today, Abigail Adams writes her husband that she shares his objections to a single-chamber legislature:
I recollect a remark of a writer upon Goverment [you] who says that a single assembly is subject to all the starts of passion and to the caprices of an individual.
We have lately experienced the Truth of the observation. A French vessel came into Boston laiden with a large Quantity of dry goods … [S]ome things were offerd for sale by the captain at a higher rate than the Regulated price … Upon this a certain B[osto]n … Whig [democrat] Blustered about and insisted upon it, if he [the captain] would not comply, he ought to be orderd out of the Harbour, and [the democrat] procured a very unanimous vote for it in the House, but, upon its being sent up to the Counsel, there was but one vote in favour of it …964
The propertied class can afford the price!
Friday, May 30, 1777. Arms, ammunition, and money are now flowing from France to the United States. Today from Philadelphia, the Committee of Secret Correspondence (renamed the Committee of Foreign Affairs) writes the American commissioners in Paris:
The Amphitrite safely arrived Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Seine at Martinique … We request you to expedite the Loan of Two Millions…965
Wednesday, June 18, 1777. French volunteers are arriving. Today, John Adams writes Abigail:
We shall have all the Sages and Heroes of France here before long …
Our Fabius will be slow, but sure.966
Thursday, June 19, 1777. Today, George Washington writes:
An immediate declaration of War [by France] against Britain in all probability could not fail to extricate us from all our difficulties and to cement the Bond of Friendship so firmly between France and America as to produce the most permanent advantages to both … 967
Friday, June 20, 1777. Today, from Philadelphia, Tom Paine writes Benjamin Franklin:
I have … the pleasure of acquainting you of my being appointed Secretary to the Committee of Foreign Affairs [of the Continental Congress].968
Wednesday, June 25, 1777. Today, William Carmichael, a deputy to the American commissioners in Paris, explains Franklin’s plan to get France into the war against Britain:
[T]he [French] court shuns everything in Europe which might appear a glaring violation of their treaties with England. This line of conduct has delayed the stores so long promised … As such is their miserable policy, it is our business to force on a war in spite of their inclinations to the contrary, for which I seek nothing so likely as fitting out privateers from the ports and Islands of France … The natural antipathy of the nations is such that their passions being once fully excited, they will proceed to such atrocious acts of reprisal and mutual violence, as will occasion clamor and altercations, which no soft word can palliate …
As the English ministry seemed convinced of the pacific, or rather undecided, state of the rulers here, they hasten … to end the war … Could they be provoked to unequivocal proofs of violence and breach of treaty, it would be a great point gained …969
Saturday, June 28, 1777. Today, from the French port of St. Malo, American Captain Lambert Wickes reports to his commander, Benjamin Franklin, on the success of naval operations out of French ports (which Franklin has expanded in the hope of provoking war between England and France):
We sail’d in Company with Captains Johnston and Nicholson from St. Nazair May 28th, 1777, fell in with the Fudrion about 40 leagues to the West of Bell Isle who chased us, fired Several Guns at the Lexington … Nothing more happen’d till we Arrived of the No. end of Ireland June 19th when we took two Brigs and two Sloops one of which we sunk … took the Sloop Jassan from White Haven … took Scotch sloop from Prussia bound to Dublin … the Brig. Jenny and Sally from Glasgo bound to Norway … took a brig from Dublin bound to Irwain, Sunk her, took three large Brigs loaded with Coals from Whitehaven bound for Dublin, sunk them in Sight of that Port … took the Brig Crawford from Glasco bound to St. Ubes. 23d took the ship Grace from Jamaica bound to Liverpool … We stood down the Irish Channel 25th. took the sloop John and Peter from Haver de grass … 26th. At 4 PM took a Snow from Gibraltar bound to London loaded with cork … Saw a large Ship off Ushant, Stood for her at 10 AM discovered her to be a large Ship of War standing for us, Bore away and made Sail from her. She chased us till 9PM and Continued firing at us from 4 till 8 at Night … We escaped by heaving our Guns overboard and lightning the Ship … The Prizes is sent into L’Orient, Nantz …970
Wednesday, July 1, 1777. Today, from Philadelphia, Benny Bache’s father, Richard Bache, writes Ben Franklin:
I purpose in a few days to bring my Family to Town. Sally [Benny’s mother] expects to lay in about the middle of August. [S]he cannot be accommodated … where she now is; some people are of opinion that the Enemy will still push at this City. I cannot think they will ever get here …
My Love to Ben, tell him I want to know how his Head is, we flatter ourselves it is quite well by this time …971
Benny Bache will have a new sister, Eliza, very soon!
Friday, July 4, 1777. Today, in London, the British instruct their minister at Paris, David Murray (Lord Stormont) to give France an ultimatum on Franklin’s naval operations:
[P]eace, however earnestly wished, cannot be maintained unless effectual stop is put to our just causes of complaint … The views of the Rebels are evident[. T]hey know that the honour of this Country … will not submit to such open violation of solemn Treaties and established Laws … The necessary consequence must be a war, which is the object they have in view, and they are not delicate in the choice of means that may bring about an end so much desired by them.972
Monday, July 7, 1777. Today, from New York, British Commander in Chief for North America Sir William Howe writes British Colonial Secretary Lord George Germain that French military officers and French artillery may make a big difference in the war’s conduct:
[T]he war is now upon a far different scale with respect to the increased powers and strength of the [American] army … their officers being much better and the addition of several from the French service and a very respectable train of field-artillery. An officer of the 71st regiment lately arrived from Boston declares he saw fifty pieces of brass cannon landed there …973
Tuesday, July 15, 1777. Britain knows that Ben Franklin’s naval operations seek to instigate war between France and Britain. Today, the British Minister to France David Murray (Lord Stormont) meets with French Foreign Minister the Comte de Vergennes and then with Prime Minister the Comte de Maurepas. From Stormont’s report:
I likewise told [Vergennes] that I knew the Rebels had a Design of Purchasing more Vessels at Nantes to Cruize against us, that two Americans who had lately escaped out of an English sail … were sent to Nantz by Franklin with that view, and were amply supplied by Him with Money, as this was a Design He greatly encouraged, well knowing the direct and necessary tendency it had to a Rupture between the two Courts …
I spoke to
[Maurepas] of the two Americans gone to [secure] ships at Nantes—of the constant Encouragement Franklin gave to all such Designs, and of the aim that Franklin had in view; he admitted this, said it was clear that all this was done in Hopes of forcing a Rupture, that these insults on our Coast, and cruizing against us in Europe, could have no other Aim … He ended with saying that this Project should be prevented …974
Wednesday, July 16, 1777. Today, French Foreign Minister Vergennes submits a protest to the American commissioners at Paris:
You cannot forget that, at the first conversation I had with both of you, I assured you that … as to your commerce and navigation, we would grant every facility compatible with the exact observation of our treaties with England … I must point out to you the article of the treaty which forbids the power of allowing privateers free access to our ports, unless through pressing necessity, as also with respect to the deposit and sale of their prizes. You promised, gentlemen, to conform thereto.
After so particular an explanation, we did not press the departure of the Ship Reprisal, which brought Mr. Franklin to France, because we were assured that it was destined to return with merchandise. We had quite lost sight of this vessel … when, with great surprise, we understood that she had entered L’Orient, after taking several prizes …