Greene had fifteen hundred fine soldiers, Sullivan had nine thousand New England militia, and d'Estaing four thousand French regulars.

A force of fourteen thousand five hundred men threatened five thousand British.

But on the 9th of August Howe suddenly appeared near Newport with his smaller fleet.

D'Estaing put to sea to fight him, and a great naval battle was imminent, when a terrific storm blew up and separated and almost shattered both fleets.

D'Estaing then, in spite of American protests, insisted on taking the French ships to Boston to refit and with them the French soldiers.