The organization of a provisional army was now at once begun. 美国立刻着手组成一支临时部队，

　　Washington accepted the chief command on condition that Hamilton should have the second place. 华盛顿接受总司令任职，他接任的条件是汉米尔顿为副总司令。

　　There were already a few vessels in the navy. 法国海军已经有一些军舰，

　　A Navy Department was now organized. 现在美国组建海军部，

　　The building of more warships was begun, and merchant vessels were bought and converted into cruisers. 开始铸造更多的军舰。他们买来商船并将它们改造成巡洋舰。

　　French privateers sailed along the American coasts and captured American vessels off the entrances of the principal harbors. 法国武装快艇在美国的海岸附近游弋，并在远离重要港口入口处夺取美国的船只，

　　But this did not last long. For the American warships drove the privateers to the West Indies and pursued them as they fled southward. 但是，这种局面很快得以扭转，因为美国的军舰将这些武装快艇驱逐到西印度群岛，并在这些快艇向南逃窜时予以追击。

　　Soon the American cruisers began to capture French men-of-war. Captain Truxton, in the Constellation, captured the French frigate L'Insurgent. 不久，美国巡洋舰开始夺取法国军舰"星座"号，楚克斯顿船长捕获了法国"林瑟帧"号护卫舰，

　　Many other French vessels were captured, and preparations were made to carry on the naval war even more vigorously when a treaty with France was signed. 美国人还夺取了一些法国舰船。当与法国签订条约时，美国人已经做好继续进行更激烈海战的准备。