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Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

This week episode 200, the Culper Spy Ring.

By the fall of 1778, it seemed clear that the British Garrisons at New York City and Newport, Rhode Island

were going to remain where they were for the foreseeable future.

The Continental's maintained armies nearby

both British garrisons in case they ventured out for any reason. But the

Continental's could not take either garrison while the British Navy controlled the waters around them.

Washington had hoped that the arrival of the French fleet under Admiral de Stang would assist in the recapture of these cities.

But, as I've discussed already, the Stang declined to attack at New York

and ended a planned coordinated attack at Newport after the British fleet arrived and a storm damaged both fleets.

After that, Dostang went to Boston for repairs.

In November of 1778, per his instructions from Versailles,

the Stang took the French fleet down to the West Indies,

...