The victory of the Americans would have been complete but for the jealous disobedience of General Lee.

Washington pitched his camp thirty miles from New York.
"After two years' marching and counter-marching," he wrote, "after vicissitudes so strange that never perhaps did any other war exhibit the like since the beginning of the world, what a subject of satisfaction and astonishment for us to see the two armies back again at the point from which they started, and the assailants reduced in self-defence to have recourse to the shovel and the axe!" The combined expedition of D'Estaing and General Sullivan against the little English corps which occupied Rhode Island had just failed; the fleet of Admiral Howe had suddenly appeared at the entrance of the roads, the French squadron had gone out to meet it, an unexpected tempest separated the combatants; Count d'Estaing, more concerned for the fate of his vessels than with the clamors of the Americans, set sail for Boston to repair damages.

The campaign was lost; cries of treason were already heard.

A riot was the welcome which awaited the French admiral at Boston.

All Washington's personal efforts, seconded by the Marquis of La Fayette, were scarcely sufficient to restore harmony.