The great fleet had heard of the surrender and had turned back to New York.
Washington urged Grasse to attack New York or Charleston but the French Admiral was anxious to take his fleet back to meet the British menace farther south and he sailed away with all his great array.

The waters of the Chesapeake, the scene of one of the decisive events in human history, were deserted by ships of war.

Grasse had sailed, however, to meet a stern fate.

He was a fine fighting sailor.

His men said of him that he was on ordinary days six feet in height but on battle days six feet and six inches.