An indecisive action ensued, in which the British suffered so much that five days later they burned one of their frigates and withdrew to New York.

De Grasse returned to his anchorage, to find that De Barras had come in from Newport with eight ships and ten transports carrying ordnance.
While everything was thus moving well toward the consummation of the campaign, Washington, in the midst of his delicate and important work of breaking camp and beginning his rapid march to the south, was harassed by the ever-recurring difficulties of the feeble and bankrupt government of the confederation.

He wrote again and again to Morris for money, and finally got some.

His demands for men and supplies remained almost unheeded, but somehow he got provisions enough to start.

He foresaw the most pressing need, and sent messages in all directions for shipping to transport his army down the Chesapeake.