Rodney, ignorant of his destination, and anxious about both North America and Jamaica, divided his fleet, leaving one half in the islands, and with the remainder sailing for New York, where he arrived on the 12th of September.

The risk thus run was very great, and scarcely justifiable; but no ill effect followed the dispersal of forces.[144] Had De Guichen intended to turn upon Jamaica, or, as was expected by Washington, upon New York, neither part of Rodney's fleet could well have withstood him.

Two chances of disaster, instead of one, were run, by being in small force on two fields instead of in full force on one.
Rodney's anxiety about North America was well grounded.

On the 12th of July of this year the long expected French succor arrived,--five thousand French troops under Rochambeau and seven ships-of-the-line under De Ternay.

Hence the English, though still superior at sea, felt forced to concentrate at New York, and were unable to strengthen their operations in Carolina.