Just at this time, a courier from Washington reached Sullivan’s headquarters with the information that General Clinton had sailed from New York with four thousand troops to reënforce the garrison of Newport; and strongly intimated “the importance of securing a timely retreat from the Island.” The suggestion was heeded. On the twenty-sixth, the heavy baggage was removed. On the twenty-eighth, a council of officers decided to withdraw to the north end of the island, until a messenger could be sent to Boston to urge the return of the French fleet. Lafayette was the messenger, and made the round trip in a few hours. Count d’Estaing very properly held, that to put in peril the entire fleet of France, in support of land operations so far from home and upon a strange coast, was a practical disobedience of his orders, and unjust to his sovereign; but, while he _would not return with his fleet_, he informed Lafayette, that he “_was willing to lead the French troops, in person, to Newport_,” and place himself “_under General Sullivan’s orders_.” In a manly explanation of his course, and notwithstanding General Sullivan’s proclamation, of which he was advised, he used this language: “_I was anxious to demonstrate that my countrymen could not be offended by a sudden expression of feeling; and that he who commanded them in America, was, and would be, at all times, one of the most devoted and zealous servants of the United States._” By three o’clock of the twenty-ninth, the Americans occupied Quaker Hill and Turkey Hill. These localities are still remembered for the gallantry of their defenders during subsequent British assaults. At eleven o’clock, Lafayette returned from Boston, and before twelve—as reported by Sullivan—“the main army had crossed to the mainland with stores and baggage.” As at Brandywine, Barren Hill and Monmouth, Lafayette remained with the rear-guard, and brought away the last of the pickets in good order, “not a man nor an article of baggage having been left behind.” On the morning of the thirtieth, one hundred and five sail of British vessels were in sight, bringing Clinton’s army to the rescue of the garrison. Howe returned immediately to New York, although Gray made an expedition from Newport which committed depredations at Bedford, Fairhaven, Martha’s Vineyard, and all places from which American privateers were fitted out for assaults upon British commerce. Admiral Howe afterwards sailed for Boston, but being unable to entice Count d’Estaing to so unequal a contest, returned again to New York. On the first of November, Admiral Byron appeared off Boston with a large naval force, but was driven to sea by a storm which so disabled his fleet that he was compelled to go to Newport and refit. On his voyage from England he had been compelled to stop at Halifax, and it has been well said of this officer, that he chiefly “fought the ocean, during the year 1778.”