Preparations Made for the Return of the French Fleet

In July 1778, a large French fleet anchored just south of Sandy Hook. The French outgunned the British fleet inside Sandy Hook, but their largest ships—when loaded for battle—sat too deep in the water to cross the channel into lower New York Harbor. Continental and state authorities attempted to supply the French, but provisions arrived slowly. After a two-week stand-off, the French sailed for Rhode Island. In October 1779, the French fleet was again expected to anchor off Sandy Hook and new preparations were made to provision the French, but the French steered for Savannah, Georgia instead.

In April 1780, there were new rumors about the French fleet’s arrival at Sandy Hook. The French officer, Francois Louis de Fleury, wrote John Adams on May 1, 1780, that his fleet was headed for New York, but might not attack. The fleet "will in the mean time cruise before Sandy Hook to starve the British in their inexpungible lines."

British Moves to Defend Sandy Hook

As they had in July 1778 and October 1779, the British moved to defend the entrance of New York Harbor and block the channel above Sandy Hook. On April 27, the prominent Loyalist, William Smith, wrote about preparations for the French arrival: "The project of sinking 20 hulks in the channel at the Hook, which is about 800 yards wide. The expense of the hulks about £1000, not to be sunk until the moment of the enemy's approach." A few weeks later, Governor General James Robertson wrote of preparations to defend New York against the French Fleet: "twenty five vessels lye loaded with stones at the Hook, ready to occupy their places on the bar at the approach of the enemy's fleet."

Also in May, General James Pattison wrote Lord George Germain about the expected French fleet and the defense of New York:

Everything is preparing a vigorous defence on both the land and sea sides. Batteries are made and guns placed on them where ever they can most effectually damage the enemy's ships, but these can only annoy, a fleet with a favorable wind & tide can't be prevented by any number of cannon from coming up to our wharfs, to prevent this, twenty five small vessels are ready loaded with stones, they lye at the hook [Sandy Hook], and on notice will be taken out to the bar and sunk there according to a plan formed with exactness, a few anchors are sufficient to render the inner channel impracticable even for frigates. The bar will not be spoiled nor the vessels be sunk till the enemy's approach makes it absolutely necessary.

Pattison noted that fortifying Sandy Hook was not a priority:

No part of Sandy Hook is within three miles of the bar, guns placed there could not annoy a fleet in passing so well as they could on places nearer at hand and which we can better support, there is no time to make a work that could stand a siege—a fascine work that can contain one hundred men is all that is constructed, and this is round the light house.

British moves in New York Harbor and at Sandy Hook were known within Continental lines. On May 25, the Connecticut Journal, reported: "They [New York Loyalists] are under so much fear of a visit from our allies [the French navy] that they have laden large ships with stones, ready to sink in the channel way at Sandy Hook, on the shortest notice of a fleet appearing." On June 17, two privateer sailors, prisoners in New York, escaped and landed on the Monmouth shore. They were examined by David Forman and provided a detailed report on the small British squadron in New York Harbor:

Naval forces at New York and cruising about Sandy Hook -- Iris, frigate, a mere wreck now docked; two frigates, the names they had forgot; Galatea -- twenty gun ship; Delight -- sloop, 18 guns; Sloop - 14 guns; 30 sail of old vessels, brigs, schooners and sloops lay at Sandy Hook loaded with stone for the purpose of stopping the channel on the appearance of a French fleet.

Lt. James Home, an officer on one of those frigates, the Europe, wrote about the British squadron on June 28. He wrote that his vessel and others were expected to sail but were detained at Sandy Hook because of the expected French fleet. Horne "was disappointed.” He noted, “We had heard of a French fleet sailed for this coast, which I believe was the cause of our not leaving." He concluded: "There is now nothing new going on here, for we are waiting for the French fleet, which I dare say will not come here."

Continental and Local Authorities Prepare for French Fleet

George Washington was well aware of the French fleet’s potential to attack on the weakened British fleet at New York. On May 16, he wrote the Marquis de Lafayette:

I observed that the French Squadron would find no difficulty in entering the Port of New York, with the present naval force of the enemy there. The only possible obstacle to this is the obstructions the enemy are preparing; but I am inclined to hope these will be ineffectual and will be easily removed. They last fall made an attempt of the kind on the expectation of Count D'Estaing, but it failed from the depth of the water and rapidity of the current. Pilots for the harbor can be ready at Black Point from which they can go on Board the fleet at its first appearance.

A week later, Washington wrote General William Maxwell, commanding the New Jersey Line, about the need to verify rumors that the French fleet had anchored on the Monmouth shoreline: “We have had repeated accounts that a considerable Fleet has been seen off the Coast of Monmouth, but as none of them have been sufficiently accurate to determine whether it is really so.” Washington was sending a French officer to the shore and ordered Maxwell to send a New Jersey officer with local knowledge:

You will therefore be pleased to make a choice of an intelligent Officer of your Brigade, well acquainted in the County of Monmouth, to meet and accompany Colo. Jimat, and that they may be secure against the disaffected, you will be pleased to order a party of eight or ten Dragoons from Bedkins Corps, if he can mount so many, and if not, to take some of the Militia Horse to make up the number.

Washington enclosed an order to the selected officer:

You are to accompany Colo. Jimat to the County of Monmouth and to such parts of the coast as he may find occasion to visit. You are, I imagine, well apprized of the disaffection of many of the inhabitants in that Quarter and of the necessity which there will be of guarding against any attempts of theirs to take you off. It may perhaps add to your security if you can prevail upon some of the well affected Gentlemen of the Country to accompany you whenever you ride towards the shore.

While Washington was not convinced that the French fleet was on the Monmouth shore, others were. On May 24, the New Jersey Journal reported that the French fleet was on the Monmouth shore and several "officers have been ashore." The next day, Robert Morris, the former Chief Justice of New Jersey, wrote of the arrival of the French fleet. He wrote Colonel Asher Holmes: “I congratulate you on the arrival of a fleet that I hear is off Toms River… this we heard yesterday, & I believe is true.” Morris was mostly incorrect. The French fleet had not arrived off Toms River—though a single French frigate had. On June 6, the 36-gun Hermione cruised the Jersey shore and mauled the British frigate, Iris, outside of Sandy Hook, killing seven and wounding nine more British sailors.

On June 11, Washington made preparations for the arrival of the French fleet. He wrote Captain William Dobbs, the resident pilot at Sandy Hook before the Revolution:

The French fleet have been in route and hourly expected. You will be pleased to repair to this place with all practical dispatch and bringing with you such pilots as may be acquainted with the navigation into the Harbour of New York. If these are not at hand or in perfect readiness, you will not delay on their account but direct them to follow up.

A month later, Washington was still seeking pilots. He wrote Captain Patrick Dennis on July 11:

Upon receipt, you will repair to the station of rendezvous for the pilots in Monmouth, to which place Major Lee [Henry Lee] is ordered with his horse. Perhaps you may fall in with him. It is essential that no time be lost, as it comes from New-York, from tolerable authority, that the French fleet is near the coast. You will take with you the pilots which are near you.

David Forman Provides Intelligence

In 1777, David Forman was a Brigadier General of the New Jersey Militia and the Colonel of the Regiment of Continentals defending Monmouth County. However, a string of scandals pressured him to resign his militia commission and Washington stripped him of his regiment. Afterward, Forman largely receded from public life, but the French fleet’s expected arrival was Forman’s opportunity to again raise his profile.

As noted above, Forman interrogated two privateer sailors who escaped from New York, gathered intelligence from them on the strength of the British squadron, and sent it forward to Washington. Forman sent another report on June 30 after interrogating a British deserter. Forman discussed British plans to sink hulls off Sandy Hook: "They should sink their store vessels in the place they now lay, which will, I apprehend, for a time render the passage of large ships up to the Narrows impracticable."

Forman wrote Washington again on July 9. He was receiving reports from Captain Joseph Stillwell, watching British movements from the Highlands. Forman worried that the British might block the French from entering New York Harbor "by interrupting the channel way at the point of the Hook [by sinking hulls] & at the same time taking possession of the Hook with a body of troops and heavy cannon, they would make the passage almost impossible.”

Forman wanted to attack Sandy Hook. If the Army could "take possession of the Hook, every difficulty would be removed in a very short time - by landing a few pieces of heavy cannon, the troops could cover the French ships while they drew the sunk vessels out of the channel or until they could wrap their ships through them.” Forman believed that Sandy Hook was weak, guarded by only “a Lieut and twenty of the new raised troops at the Light House - in the cedars are about 60 or 70 refugees, white and black.” He wrote about the battery built for the French in 1778, “The enemy erected a battery at the point of the Hook... the works are now entirely out of repair, the cannon has long since been removed.”

Forman also complained about the lack of men to menace Sandy Hook and the lack of horses to carry intelligence: "There is so few militia horse ordered out and so much use for them that in many instance I cannot be furnished with one in twenty horses, and never until I send 15 or 20 miles for them."

The next day, a frustrated Forman wrote Washington again. On the expected French fleet, he wrote: “It would give me great pleasure to give our allies assistance - [but] in the present situation of officers in the county I fear little will be in my power.” Forman was referring to the “mansteaing” raids that took a dozen militia officers out of Monmouth County that spring and drove other militia officers into inactivity. He also spoke of seizing provisions from the largely disaffected Monmouth shoreline:

I imagine that a very pointed order from your Excellency to impress provisions and teams will be abundantly necessary - when Count D'Estaing lay off Shrewsbury, he was exceedingly imposed on in point of price & could draw but little supply - the disaffection in Shrewsbury is since that time greatly increased...  yet I am convinced that several hundred sheep and some cattle might be taken from some people who at several times withheld supplies from the American army & are strongly suspected of sending supplies to the enemy.

That same day Washington wrote Forman. He acknowledged Forman’s report and request for men. In consequence, "Major Henry Lee moved down yesterday to Monmouth with his corps of horse to protect the pilots and keep open the communication between me and the French Admiral and the General [Forman] upon their arrival. This will render the hiring of the persons you mention unnecessary."

The French Fleet Does Not Arrive

Just as Washington was sending in Lee, the need to do so was fading. On July 12, Nathaniel Scudder, Monmouth County’s top political leader, wrote his son about British moves at: “Something troubles them much - it is supposed they have sunk their vessels to obstruct the channel - we presume it probable that the French fleet is near.” But just five days later, Scudder doubted the French arrival:

We have been for some days past, amused with accounts of the appearance of the French fleet near Sandy Hook - indeed the day before yesterday the account seemed to be so well authenticated that for a few hours we believed it - but they prove to be a British squadron.

That same day, Washington wrote Forman: "We have an account of the arrival of the French Fleet at Rhode Island, which may render the collection of any considerable quantity of stock unnecessary."

On July 21, the Loyalist, Wiliam Smith, wrote that the hulks brought to Sandy Hook (to be sunk on the arrival of the French fleet) were returned to New York. The British had apparently learned that the French fleet was not bound for New York.

On July 31, Washington wrote Forman that he “desired Capt. Dobbs to assemble at Capt. Dennis's at Basken Ridge as soon as possible.” Washington gave Forman the ability to summon the pilots back to Black Point if the French came: “You will please to give order to the Pilots to repair down, where they [the French] may be at hand.”

July 1780 would be the last time that Monmouth County leaders scrambled to accommodate a French fleet that would disappoint them. But the false alarm was still consequential because it returned David Forman to an active role in local affairs. This, combined with the crisis posed by Loyalist manstealing raids, enabled Forman establish the Association for Retaliation, a vigilante group that Forman and allies likely promoted while traversing the county on behalf of the French fleet.

Related Historic Site: Sandy Hook Lighthouse

Sources: William Smith, Historical Memoirs of William Smith: From 26 August 1778 to 12 November 1783 (New York: Arno, 1971)  p 257; Francois Louis DeFluery to John Adams, Massachusetts Historical Society, Online Collections, John Adams Papers; Robert Morris to Asher Holmes, Monmouth County Historical Association, Cherry Hall Papers, box 5, folder 9; James Robertson, The Twilight of British Rule in Revolutionary America: The New York Letter Book of General James Robertson, 1780-1783 (New York: New York State Historical Association, 1983) p 113; The attack on the HMS Iris is discussed in The Remembrancer or Impartial Repository of Public Events, 1780, p148; George Washington to William Dobbs, July 11, 1780, https://www.sethkaller.com/slideshow.php?id=1983&t=t-1983-001-21195_p1_w.jpg ; George Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw180426)); James Pattison to George Germain, Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York (Albany: John R. Broadhead, 1857), vol. 8, p791-2; Connecticut Journal, May 25, 1780; George Washington to William Maxwell, 23 May 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-01839, ver. 2013-09-28; Archives of the State of New Jersey, Extracts from American Newspapers Relating to New Jersey (Paterson, NJ: Call Printing, 1903) vol. 4, pp. 386, 395; American Journal (Providence), June 7, 178; Monmouth County Historical Association, Diaries Collection, box 2, John Stillwell's Diary (photocopy); James Home, letter, June 28, 1780; NYHS, Gilder-Lehrman Collection; David Forman to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, series 4, reel 67, June 30, 1780; David Forman to George Washington, Monmouth County Historical Association, Diaries Collection, box 2, John Stillwell's Diary (photocopy); George Washington to Patrick Dennis, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw190184)); David Forman to George Washington, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, series 4, reel 68, July 12, 1780.; Nathaniel Scudder to John Scudder, New Jersey Historical Society, Letters: Nathaniel Scudder; George Washington to David Forman, in John Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1932) vol. 19, p 183; George Washington to David Forman, Monmouth County Historical Association, Collections Alphabetical, Letters 1770-1780; George Washington to David Forman, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, series 4, reel 68, July 12, 1780; Nathaniel Scudder to Henry Laurens, Pennsylvania History Society, Dreer Collection, Nathaniel Scudder, August 17, 1780; George Washington to David Forman, Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw220484)).