In 2017 , one of the alleged perpetrators , Michael Hayes , also claimed Statement that the intention of the bombings Attack had not been to harm civilians , and that their deaths Death had been caused Causation by an unintentional delay in delivering Sending an advance telephone warning Warning to security services Supply .

In the aftermath of the cyclone Catastrophe , convoys delivering Sending aid were hindered Hindering by the destruction Destroying .

British naval forces in North America and the West Indies were weaker Cause_change_of_strength than the combined Cause_to_amalgamate fleets of France and Spain , and , after some critical decisions Deciding and tactical missteps by British naval commanders , the French fleet of Paul de Grasse gained Getting control Control over Chesapeake Bay , blockading Cornwallis from naval support and delivering Sending additional land forces to blockade him on land .