On the arrival of the French squadron, he was sent to meet Count d'Estaing by General Washington, and he went with him to Rhode Island, where an attack was expected. It was by his advice that the fruitless siege of Newport was raised, and that the retreat to the north part of the island was resolved upon. The corps in which he served repulsed the enemy and covered the retreat. (_Certified by General Sullivan_). When he returned to the Army of the South, Count d'Estaing kindly wrote to General Washington: "Allow me to recommend particularly to your favour M. de Fleury. General Sullivan will tell you what he did at Rhode Island; he is an excellent officer and a useful Frenchman. I should be happy, if the occasion offered, to serve again with him. He is fitted to bring about good feeling among private individuals, and to make them as friendly as our two (p. 027) nations are." (_Letter of M. d'Estaing_). At the opening of the campaign of 1779 M. de Fleury was in command of a corps of light infantry; he was the first to mount the ramparts of Stony Point, and he took the enemy's flag with his own hand. (_Certified by the General and by Congress_). On this occasion the President of Congress wrote that Congress hoped he would receive some reward from his own country, and the French minister also expressed a hope that his Court would give America, through M. de Fleury, some token of the satisfaction with which the services of a French officer to America were viewed in France. (_Letter from Mr. Jay_). When M. de la Luzerne arrived, General Washington requested him to call the attention of the French Court to the conduct of M. de Fleury. At the close of the campaign, by the advice of his general, he asked for nine months' leave. At his departure, General Washington wrote to Congress that he desired the return of an officer who had rendered such important services. (_Letter of General Washington_). Though far from rich, M. de Fleury declined any pecuniary recompense on leaving America. M. de Fleury, having thus by his services risen from the ranks to a lieutenant-colonelcy, and having been honoured by the good will of the nation and of the army, the esteem of Congress and the confidence of his general, ventures to solicit some mark of the approbation of his Prince and of the minister under whose auspices he entered the service of an ally of France.