Caution to the Wind By 19olwery Jun 15, 1775 G. Washington appointed commander-in-chief Jul 4, 1776 Congress adopts Declaration of Independence Oct 26, 1776 Benjamin Franklin sets sail for France Jul 27, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette is received in Philadelphia Oct 7, 1777 American victory at the Battle of Saratoga Feb 6, 1778 France signs a Treaty of Alliance with America Apr 13, 1778 Admiral d’Estaing of France leaves Toulan, France for America Jul 10, 1778 France declares war on Britain Jul 11, 1778 d’Estaing reaches New York Jul 22, 1778 George Washington sends Lafayette to Newport Jul 29, 1778 d’Estaing reaches Newport Aug 2, 1778 Lafayette reaches Newport Aug 9, 1778 Lord Howe appears offshore Aug 11, 1778 A violent storm rages for three days Aug 20, 1778 Lafayette and Greene are sent by Sullivan to meet the damaged fleet Aug 21, 1778 d’Estaing’s fleet leaves for Boston to make repairs Aug 28, 1778 Sullivan’s inflammatory missives reach Congress Jan 11, 1779 Lafayette leaves for France to further alliance Apr 26, 1779 Lafayette returns from France May 10, 1779 Lafayette reunites with Washington in Morristown Jul 10, 1779 Rochambeau and Ternay arrive off Newport Sep 21, 1779 Rochambeau, Washington, and Ternay discuss at Hartford with Lafayette as translator Sep 2, 1781 De Grasse’s fleet arrives at Yorktown Sep 28, 1781 The Battle of Yorktown begins Oct 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrenders Sep 3, 1783 US and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris