forces on taking sugar islands in the West Indies or besieging Gibraltar or collecting an assault force for the invasion of Britain, because the place to defeat the English was in America. Pleas from the Continental Congress to the same purpose were having effect. From George Washington himself came a letter to La Luzerne, French Minister to the United States, stressing the need of naval superiority and asking for a French fleet to come to America. As forerunner, seven ships of the line under Admiral de Ternay, d'Estaing's successor, came into Newport in July, 1780, bringing a man and a small land army
The strategic focus for defeating the British forces shifted to America, moving away from attacks on sugar islands in the West Indies or sieges like that of Gibraltar. The Continental Congress was urging for this shift, recognizing the significant impact it could have on the revolution. George Washington emphasized the essential need for naval superiority in a letter to La Luzerne, the French minister, highlighting the importance of French naval support...
