In contrast to the British South, what about 1778 as an American Annus Mirabilis?
There were several possibilities for the French and Americans to inflict devastating blows on the British this year. A few near misses, which kept America from dealing death blows to the British. It's easy to see how each could lead to each other.
1) A victorious battle of Monmouth. This was damn close as it was, and with better leadership (Maybe General Lee dies in prison, and Lafayette leads American forces?) it’s easy to see a significant fraction of General Clinton’s troops captured.
2) Suppose Admiral D’Estaing’s fleet arrives in America a few days earlier? Mere days after Clinton’s army was carried from Sany Hook, New Jersey, to new York, Admiral D’estain’s fleet arrived on the scene. Had the French arrived only a few days earlier, they would have trapped Admiral Howe’s fleet, and General Clinton’s army. This could arguably be tied into a victorious battle of Monmouth, but it doesn’t have to be. You merely need the superior French fleet to make contact as Clinton tries to evacuate off of Sandy Hook.
3) Victory at Newport! Newport was garrisoned by 6,700 men under Colonel Robert Pigot. In July Washington and the French planned to trap the forces in the city, and the French managed to blockade the city. In OTL Washington left General Sullivan, who botched the Battle of Brayndywine in charge, despite pressure to appoint General Gates. General Sullivan promptly botched the assault. The original plan called for simultaneous landings by the Americans and the 4,000 Frenchmen under D’Estaing, but Sullivan landed a day early, and on August 9the British fleet under Admrial Howe, which had been reinforced by ships from Britain and the West Indies. But if Howe’s fleet had been destroyed off Sandy Hook, as almost happened….
In other words, we could see, by the end of August, 1778, approximately 17,000 British troops in North America killed or captured, with both Generals Clinton and Cornwallis captured.
Thoughts?
There were several possibilities for the French and Americans to inflict devastating blows on the British this year. A few near misses, which kept America from dealing death blows to the British. It's easy to see how each could lead to each other.
1) A victorious battle of Monmouth. This was damn close as it was, and with better leadership (Maybe General Lee dies in prison, and Lafayette leads American forces?) it’s easy to see a significant fraction of General Clinton’s troops captured.
2) Suppose Admiral D’Estaing’s fleet arrives in America a few days earlier? Mere days after Clinton’s army was carried from Sany Hook, New Jersey, to new York, Admiral D’estain’s fleet arrived on the scene. Had the French arrived only a few days earlier, they would have trapped Admiral Howe’s fleet, and General Clinton’s army. This could arguably be tied into a victorious battle of Monmouth, but it doesn’t have to be. You merely need the superior French fleet to make contact as Clinton tries to evacuate off of Sandy Hook.
3) Victory at Newport! Newport was garrisoned by 6,700 men under Colonel Robert Pigot. In July Washington and the French planned to trap the forces in the city, and the French managed to blockade the city. In OTL Washington left General Sullivan, who botched the Battle of Brayndywine in charge, despite pressure to appoint General Gates. General Sullivan promptly botched the assault. The original plan called for simultaneous landings by the Americans and the 4,000 Frenchmen under D’Estaing, but Sullivan landed a day early, and on August 9the British fleet under Admrial Howe, which had been reinforced by ships from Britain and the West Indies. But if Howe’s fleet had been destroyed off Sandy Hook, as almost happened….
In other words, we could see, by the end of August, 1778, approximately 17,000 British troops in North America killed or captured, with both Generals Clinton and Cornwallis captured.
Thoughts?
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