War of the Antilles (1782)

The war of the Antilles , between the France and the England, is one of the consequences of the Guerre of independence of the United States of America. The two belligerents are opposed for supremacy in the the Antilles.

Tacit armistice on the continent

There was a tacit armistice on the American continent during the winter 1781 - 1782. A large convoy and reinforcements for the the Antilles were in preparation in France in order to put the fleet of the admiral de Grasse in a position to support the fight against the English fleet, under the orders of the admiral George Brydges Rodney. In second half of January, the marquis of Bouillé included the islands of Saint-Eustace and Saint-Christophe and the general of Crillon that of Minorque, in February.

Battle of the Holy ones

See also: Battle of Holy the

But the large convoy left France under the escort of the admiral of Guichen is dispersed by the storm. The English join together all their naval forces with the Windward Islands, and the Grasse count, in spite of the inferiority of his fleet, puts at the veil to convoy the troops of Mr. de Bouillé which were to meet, with Saint-Domingue, from those which the Spanish general gift Galvez ordered. The admiral Rodney, operating to cut the French fleet of his convoy, can reach only the vessel the Zélé , the worst walker of the back keeps. The Grasse count wanted to save it and engages his avant-garde under the command of Mr. of Vaudreuil.

The French eont the advantage in this first combat, delivered the April 9th 1782. The admiral Rodney follows them, and, having gained the wind, engages the April 12th the French fleet. The flagship the Town of Paris and six others are disabled and taken in spite of their resistance. The Grasse count is made prisoner and obtains its freedom only with peace, the following year. The bridge of its vessel had been completely shaved by the English balls and the admiral with two officers only remained upright and without wound when it went.

The admiral Rodney cannot keep any of the four vessels which it had seized, because they were damaged too much.

Moreover, the César took fire and perishes with approximately four hundred English who had taken possession of it.

Peace proposal

When this news came from to the the United States, the Congrès precisely had just received from the general Carleton, who had replaced Clinton in the command of the English army, the proposal of the English government to recognize without restriction the independence of the United States, under the condition of giving up alliance with France.

The Congress is not let influence by the news of the disaster tested by the French in the Antilles. It shows only indignation and refuses to admit the negotiator who of it was charged. The States declared unanimously that they would regard as high treason any proposal tending to make a peace separated.

These openings, as well as the armistice which from the same time was requested by the commander of Charleston and was refused by the general Green, proved enough that, in spite of their last success in the Antilles, the English finally renonçaient to subject their old colonies.

The Americans wished certainly peace, but they showed greatest firmness and they proved their recognition towards France while being prepared with new sacrifices in order to obtain this peace under as honourable conditions for the allies as for themselves.

On its side the French government discontinuous to send helps as much as allowed him the bad condition of its finances. Two frigates, the Glory and the Eagle , under the command of Mr. of the Touches-Tréville, are dispatched of Brest, the May 19th 1782.

After the combat of the April 12th, where the Grasse count was made prisoner, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, who had taken the command of the fleet, accepted the order to come to Boston to repair its squadron there.

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