 The situation in Europe remained volatile into 1794 . Off Northern France , the French Atlantic Fleet had mutinied due to errors in provisions and pay . In consequence , the French Navy officer corps suffered greatly from the effects of the Reign of Terror , with many experienced sailors being executed , imprisoned or dismissed from the service for perceived disloyalty . The shortage of provisions was more than a navy problem though ; France itself was starving because the social upheavals of the previous year had combined with a harsh winter to ruin the harvest . By this time at war with all her neighbours , France had nowhere to turn for overland imports of fresh provisions . Eventually a solution to the food crisis was agreed by the National Convention : food produced in France 's overseas colonies would be concentrated on board a fleet of merchant ships gathered in Chesapeake Bay , and augmented with food and goods purchased from the United States . During April and May 1794 , the merchantmen would convoy the supplies across the Atlantic to Brest , protected by elements of the French Atlantic Fleet . 
 The situation in Europe remained volatile into 1794 . Off Northern France , the French Atlantic Fleet <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> mutinied due to errors in provisions and pay . In consequence , the French Navy officer corps suffered greatly from the effects of the Reign of Terror , with many experienced sailors being executed , imprisoned or dismissed from the service for perceived disloyalty . The shortage of provisions was more than a navy problem though ; France itself was starving because the social upheavals of the previous year <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> combined with a harsh winter to ruin the harvest . By <a href='None' title='3'><mark>this</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>time</mark></a> at war with all her neighbours , France had nowhere to turn for overland imports of fresh provisions . Eventually a solution to the food crisis was agreed by the National Convention : food produced in France <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>overseas colonies would be concentrated on board a fleet of merchant ships gathered in Chesapeake Bay , and augmented with food and goods purchased from the United States . During April and May 1794 , the merchantmen would convoy the supplies across the Atlantic to Brest , protected by elements of the French Atlantic Fleet . 
The shyt in Europe remained volatile into 1794 . Off Northern France , da French Atlantic Fleet done mutinied due to errors in provisions and pay . In consequence , the French Navy officer corps suffered greatly from tdaeffects of the Reign of Terror , wid many experienced sailors bein executed , imprisoned or dismissed from thdaervice fir perceived disloyalty . Thedaortage of provisions was more den a navy problem doe ; France itself was starvin because the social upheavals of the davious year done combined with a harsh winter to ruin the harvest . By no time at war with alll her neighbours , France had nowhere to turn for overland imports of fresh provisions . Eventually a solution to the food crisis was agreed by the National Convention : food produced in France  overseas colonies would be concentrated on board a fleet of merchant ships gathered in Chesapeake Bay , and augmented with food and goods purchased from the Udaed States . durin April and May 1794 , the medaantmen would convoy the supdaes across the Atlantic to Brest , protected by elements of the FrendaAtlantic Fleet .