Re: French "professionals"

From: Daniel Terp (dterp@tallcity.com)
Date: Wed Sep 12 2001 - 18:50:23 PDT


On Wed, 12 Sep 2001 20:31:18 -0400, you wrote:

>THAT IS A VERY INTERESTING REWRITING OF HISTORY.
>
>GO VISIT CONCORD & LEXINGTON AGAIN.

I suggest you visit Yorktown again.

Washington's army was sorely depleted and exhausted in May 1780. The
troops had not been paid in five months, and there were mutinies
organized. Many had deserted or gone AWOL.

The British had captured Charleston and its 5400-man garrison (the
entire southern American Army) along with four ships and a military
arsenal. British losses are only 225.

In January, Americans mutiny again. The crisis is eventually resolved
through negotiations, but over half of the mutineers abandon the army.

Finally, Washington got a letter from French Admiral Count de Grasse
indicating his entire 29-ship French fleet with 3000 soldiers would
arrive in the Chesapeake in two weeks.

 Washington then teamed up with French Gen. Rochambeau to trap
Cornwallis at Yorktown.

DeGrass' fleet engages the outnumbered British fleet. The British
fleet retreats to New York for reinforcements and repairs, leaving the
French fleet in control of the Chesapeake. The French fleet
establishes a blockade, cutting Cornwallis off from any retreat by
sea. French naval reinforcements then arrive from Newport.

Washington, with a combined Allied (Colonial/French) army of 17,000
men, begins the siege of Yorktown. French cannons bombard Gen.
Cornwallis and his 9000 men day and night while the Allied lines
slowly advance and encircle them. British supplies run dangerously
low.

Cornwallis surrenders.

Seven days later, 7,000 troops arrive under Clinton to reinforce the
British, but retreat when they hear of the surrender (and the superior
French forces in the Chesapeake).

If not for the French regulars, the colonials wouldn't have had a
chance. I'm not saying Washington wasn't a great general, or that the
colonials weren't brave. But it took the French "professionals" to win
the war.

This is not a concise history of the war, just the salient highlights.

And if Jim "Ike" Newton thinks this is another of my "wild statements"
he (and anyone else) is welcome to "look it up" at:
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/

History!! Read the history of your country!! - Joe Foley
Excellent advice! - Dan Terp



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