14. The French naval presence in North American waters was limited to the summer months
Once the French entered the war the Americans hoped to obtain the support of their new ally in a joint attack on New York, from which Washington had long hoped to expel the British. The French had other plans. Their intention was to keep the French fleet in the West Indies, protecting their own possessions there and attacking or otherwise threatening those of the British. Only during the hurricane season would the fleet come to North American waters. The French arrived in 1778, in an attempt to blockade the British fleet in the Delaware River, as well as land French troops for a possible coordinated attack with the Americans.
Weather was a problem, just one of many uncertainties which frustrated commanders in the days of sail, and after the French sailed from the Mediterranean port of Toulon the British were dilatory in following them. When the French arrived at Delaware Bay the British fleet was already gone, Philadelphia having been abandoned. The French fleet, commanded by Charles Henri Hector, Comte d’Estaing then sailed to New York preparatory to a proposed landing at Newport, Rhode Island. The British fleet in New York responded but the bad weather and the less-than-seaworthy condition of some of the British ships prevented a major engagement between French and British at sea.