We need to do this across many hundreds of miles of poor roads in all weathers and in all seasons. The better wagon and barge routes being known to our enemies.[/B]
American armies moved faster than American ones. There was also a lot of gunpowder bought through the Dutch, either directly or in the Caribbean. So it wasn't quite "depending on the whims of a foreign king."
But yea, Americans were awesome to risk that kind of struggle for liberty.
My snarkiness was generated by the fact that I suggested they defeat the French navy in the atlantic to prevent the vast quantities of free gunpowder being shipped, which isn't the same things as blockading American ports at all.
Defeating the French fleet, even if possible, doesn't mean that gunpowder is no longer shipped.
As for the British military: apparently the force it deployed to Long Island in 1776 was the largest one it deployed overseas before WW1. Hrm.