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i
OUR FRENCH ALLIES,
ROCHAMBEAU AND HIS ARMY, LAFAYETTE AND HIS DEVOTION.
D'ESTAING, DeTERNAY, BARRAS, DEGRASSE,
AND THEIR FLEETS,
GREAT WAR
FROM 1778 TO 1782,
IVCIXDINO
MILITARY OI'KUATroXS IN lillnDK ISLAND, THK SlItRKyDKEt OK YORK-
TOWN, SKKTCIfKj: IIP FRKM n AM) A.MKKICAN OKKK'KRS, AND
ISCIUKNTS (IK MXIAI. I.IKK l\ XKWl'DliT, I'RUVI.
DKNCK, AMI Kl.MAVIIKRK.
WITH NLMEBOrs I L L V S T H A T 1 1) N 8 .
n ■> 1-- I ''A' ; N i\; A HI IN S'lT) N I-.
rnoviDExcK:
I'KINlKn riY THK I'KOVIltlCX* K l-RKSS COIII'AXY.
■1 ;
it
^i(fh
r~\
(c
)U
^
One Huni>rbd Copiks Robbicatkd. Four Extra Stkrl Pobtraits.
CorTKIIiKT ESTUKD 1881.
LVrTRf.HT Sr>rBEi>.
All IttcHj* Kesebtkd.
ittarquis tit Borjjambcau,
THK
lIONOItlCt) IlKIMIt-^iENTATIVK
OK
A XOIII.K XAMK, Till H VOT-.IJMI:,
COMlIEMUltATINti TllK IMitHtTANT All* itKNI>F.KKD BY FRAKfE
To TDK
t'MTKU STATES l.\ TllEIlt ,->TI{f(Ji;i.E Wn ISDKl'EXDKNCE,
Is
■..^KKfSPKt^TFUIiIiY : I\SCKIBED>
HV
riii: AiTiioii.
--TT-T-i ^V
it-T.AiHE v:kF t^ 5^«Ht«s: rrac in iht h»iffrr « E»^ « •'ric- w «9n«nvc fau^mst-jiHi: Tvouirvd K -^^K ^iiTiSiaiiiii Ic ^hviq^ litr- iiw&cbi- : «c « WMicuij nannc tn ifar Xmtk Amrri- ^ L<«riBfic, Bf«« ko)£i^ a JfOOMtn tm^ in
in ^ivinr inr:*- i. rrr^-p*^ lia: iiave Tvmm-ro ihf soub of dmnrAir BliiveT7 mm. i> ■•iitt^"!** aiir t*r^ir"tttot. and iha: hav(^. in no mod- era.!* €H;^T»=t. m-diS-c lirt iwtUiinL idotr mnil l^nsbaion of »11 £unnni. itrr Ame-t^Bi. H^vutuboi. msy «-iili imtb hf rluinsd «» £&•
iii lin- !U>iiut[t r.i:i:-r^ Tiii it*!pe% eruTJ. iii, "1 am bTi Amerirar ril»- zeii." tr !»•>» fc^ fr-'-^sr.^ «;- «-ar iim- p:^", " 3 am a fininaii riiiwi*."' in till T^iijT. ■: zur C^rsit^-
lii nf-DTmr "i«- naiEi^aJir^ *r »iiirh »-f no*- Iwiasi.. and ihc niuleria] pro^tuc-Tr^. t-¥t».'.^*^ rirtCi- and libenk* »>iirli wr nom so uliuudHUth fTi.i'''- F-*!*^ SI'-* u lite ihjneen fwlilc, bni •*sironr mJDdfd " roiniih^. i»e- ii>iL TW apirii nf ihai qkIios and of her moDurcii. L«iuK ;ite A\ i.. » iDusraied in the fnDowiii^ uarraiivf. Tin- B!»?isiMurt ii^ Tr-itotr^i » a* liiDelT. mjti hasicned to a siipcessfu] lennmaiKFii a simcrW- uta: lOffVf ibac onre ntDM^ prpai anxiclx lo r^eu lin- ImjH-fu! WB*."iiiiun^ii- li hitf Iteen said, in tb«- war <.f crii- i'"i^m. liiRi bin ittr liH- iifif«e (rf crippUu^ ibe po^er of Ejurlaiid-
X PREFACE.
aod of extendiog liis coloninl dominiotis, the French King would never have consented to an alliance fraught with the remarkable con- sequences that followed it. Whatever niay have been the motive that governed his action, the benefit to the struggling colonies soon became apparent, nnd on that fact we rest.
According to a statement made by the Prince de Joinville, France, in the War of the American Revolution, "lost thirty-five thousand men and twenty-five ships of the Hue." AH this logs, did not, of course, occur in America, nor in the waters of t)ie United States, but was an aggregate growiug out of the alliance witli the American Confederacy. A conservative ministry was disinclined to commit France to such a relation. "The King," the Prince says, "encount- ered an opposition from the Count de Vergcnues and the Court, when he took the suffering cause of the Americans in hand. He was moved by the rcpresculations of the American Commissioners, and the Queen was no less urgent to save the sinking cause ef the Amer- ican people. My gnindfjithor and my father were present when the last struggle took place between the King and the niinis^try upon the article of alliance with tlie United Colonies of America. That day — it was a happy day for the Americans — but for the King, it was the day of liis death I Yc^i, on that day when the King put his name to the inslrument, he scaled his death warraut." . . . . " Hut for these powerful aids, no monuments are raised to per[)etUHte their memory. Lciuis XVI. ought to be placed next to General Washing- ton as a liberator of the American people." *
The Amcriciius are not an unapprecialive nor an ungrateful peo- ple. This is shown in the commendatory general orders issued by Washington, immediately after the surrender of Cornwallis, and the equally expressive resolutions of thanks to "Our Frkscii Allies," so promptly passed by Congress, at Philadelphia, together with a vote ttulhorizing tlie erection of a nuuiunicnt at Yorktown to perpet- uate the memory of the gallant services of the allied arniii'r' of
* Prince do Jolnvillv'v cunvprvuliOD wirh the Rev. Elraitr WUllains.
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. XI
Fninctf Mild the United States. When tlie monument on that spot, the corner-stone of which was laid Oclobcr lOtlu 1881, shall be completed, ample justice will be done to the memoi-y of Louis XVI.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
To Henry Thayer Drowne, Esq., of New York, whose knowledge of Rhode Ittland hiatory is iinsurpassed, I am deeply indebted for mucli vahiahle assistance in prosecuting my I'cscarches. For special courtesies my grnteful acknowledgments are also due to Governor Alfred II. Llttlefiehl, Lincoln; Ilun. Joshua M. Addeman, Hon. Henry H. Anthonyi Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, lion. John it. Bart- lelt, Hon. William W. Iloppin, Mr. Frederick Street Hoppin, Wil- liam Buweu, Esq., George L. Cooke, Esq., Rev. Henry H. Norllirup, George W. Danielson, Esq., Sir. Charles W. Hopkins, Sir. George H. Peck,* Zacliariali Allen,* LL. I)., Reuben A. Guild, LL.D., Zubuloc L. White, Esq.. Albert Holbrook, Esq., Caleb Fiske Harris,* Esq., Mr. Albert V. Jcnks, Mr. John Morris, Mr. Russell M. Larned^ Mr. Henry R Davis, Mrs. Harriet A. Brownell, Miss, Mary W. Armin^tou, Miss Ellyu A. Clarke, Miss Charlotte K. Clarke, Mr. Thomas V. Carr, and Mrs. Anun R. Carr, Providence ; David King, M. D.,* Henry E. Turner, M. D., Hon. Francis Briiiley, James Eddy Slauran, Esq., George C. Musoii, Esq., Hon. William P. Shetficld, Rev. Charles T. lirook-i,* Sirs, Martha SL Anderson,* Mis. James Bircklieiid, and SIihs Emily Hazard, NtMvport ; William J. Miller, t^q., Bristol; Sirs. Annie (i. Bowen, Tiverton; IIoii. Wil- liam Greene,* Prof. George Wasliington Greene,* East Greenwich ; General George Sears Greene, Cowoset ; Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, lion. Samuel A. Green, 31. D., John Ward Dean, Esq., Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D., Sir. Samuel Adams Drake, and Mr. Francis S. Drake, Boston ; William P. Uphnm, Esq., Sidom. SInss. ; Oliver Wendell Holmes, SI.D., Rev. John L. Sihiey, Cambridge, Miiss. ; President Noah Porter, S.T.I)., LL. D., Addison Van Name,
*T1ie tlamd namei are of those pcrraus who, nltli a lingli' exccplioD, dvccated trlille tbb TOlnme wmi bring printed.
Xll PREFACE.
A. M., Franklin B. Dexter, A. M., New Haven, Conn. ; Hon. J. Hammond Trumbull, LL. D., Hartford, Conn.; Mr, Antlioiiy Lawton, Troy, N. Y. ; Townaend Ward, Esq., Mr. John A. McAllis- ter, Mr. Dexter S, Stone, Mr. William S. Scliofield. and Miss Elisie Willing Balch, the accomplished translator and historical writer, Philadelphia, Penn. ; Robert A. Brock, Esq., Richmond, Va. ; MisB Kate Nelson, Yorktown, Va. ; Hon. William Hunter, Hon. John S. Tucker, , A. R. Spofford, Esq., Washington, D. C. ; Miijor Asa Bird Gardner, LL. D., Judge Advocate United States army, George H. Moore, LL. D., Lenox Library, Mr. Jacob B. Moore, Librarian New York Historical Society, Thomas Vernon, Esq., and Charles T. Congdon, Esq., New York city. To Mr. Joseph E. C. Famham, the sole compositor of this volume, my thanks are tendered fur the prompt, neat and satisfactory manner in which he has per- formed the task assigned him ; arid also to Mr. Henry F. Doherty and to Mr. Alexander M. Robertson for office attentions.
Tlie mechanical excellence displayed in the printing of this volume is highly creditable to the Providence Press Company, which has long been distinguished for superior boo1( printing, and numerous historical works bear the imprint of that establishment.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
No historical work has ever before been issued by a Rhode Island press 80 largely illustrated as this. The illustrations number two hundred and nineteen. Of these, including eight silhouettes, seventy- two are portraits of French and American officers, and of distin- guished civilians. Of this seventy-two, twenty-nine are steel engrav- ings. The portrait of Queen Victoria, (page 558,) in the early days of her domestic sorrow, was engraved in England. The portraits engraved on wood are mostly from the burin of Mr. John 0. Thomp- son, of this city, whose taste and skill are too well knoiyn to require further commendation. The historical buildings, aut(>graph3, revo- lutionary relics, and other objects of interest, were produced by the same band. Several reproductions were furnished by the Photo-
OUB FBENCH ALLIES. XIU
Electrotype CoinpHny, Koston. Among tlie illuBtrntioDS that will most readily attract the attention of historical students are the sections of riie maps of Blaskowitz and Lcwin ; General Sullivan's battle map, (page 109) ; the flag of-the Second Rhode Island regiment, carried at the siege of Yorktown ; and the plat of the French encampment in North Providence, now included in tlie city of Providence. I consider it a suhject for congratulation that so much of the plan of the encampment has been saved from the deatniction of the plough. A hydrographic chart of Narragansett Bay, with the soundings care- fully laid down, was published in 1776 by J. T. W. Des Barrea, *' in pursuance of directions from the Lords of Trade," and dedicated to *' the Riglit Honorable Lord Viscount Howe." This is probably the first hydrographic 8ur\'ey of the bay ever made. The chart shows the station of each of the British guard vessels, and the pointa at which these were severally destroyed, as described on page 69. The cliarta of Blaskowitx and Dc Barres are rare and iD\'fthiable illustra- tions of Rhode Island in the War of the Revolution.
AKNOTATIONS.
As will be seen, numerous annotations appear in the following pages, and material that came to hand while the printing was in progress, but too late to be used in its appropriate place in the narra- tive, will be found in the appendix. For tlic convenience of readers to whom the lives or biographies of distinguished characters of the Revolution are not easily accessible, upwards of eiglity notices and biographical sketches of Amerienii and French officers are here inserted.
ROCnAHBEAU PARK.
On page 316, the story of a movement to open a park on the French Camp-ground is told. It is there said, "the long desired park has been ensured." As a sequel to the story, it inay be said, that the ^nerous offer of nearly thirty-two acres of land, for the pur- f09e above designated, was made by the owner, Henry T. Beckwith,
XIV PREFACE.
Esq., to llie Cilv CouiifU, Ijut at ilie lime of tliu ivritiiig of tliis pre- face, it had not been acted upon. The Park is still hoped for.
ItKLK-ei.
A niimher nf mementos of tho Fi-encli olfi<'er!" who passed their time so agivrnhK- in IVovidi-iice and Xowpcirt. is nu-ntiom^d in tlie narrative. A tliorongh investigation wonlil donhticss bring to li»lit many mon-. The Count de Noaillos. on liia de])ai'tnre from New- port, where lie pa-<Si^'d the winter oi' ITmO-SI in the faniih' of Mr. Thomas Robinson. left some of tiis camp t-qnipagi- iK-hind. Ileiija- miii II. Smith. Ksc|., liHr< at his residence in Phiiadclttliia a eiiiii]>- kettle that belonged tt» the Count, and a teli'-a-tete set of Sevres china, Rent by the Countess de Noailles, to ^Irs. liobinson, as a token of her friendly regards. Tiie gift was aeeoni|>anied with the following letter :.
"Madam:— I do not Itnow wluther yon will forsivo luy iaillseretion, but your fricmlly kindness for my liiinlimul uffffls nic so truly tlmt I cnnaot deny myself ttie iiti-asiire of tilling- you how niiich ami witli wliut sini-erity I unile with hlin in ^Tutitmli.' tor all your fn\~ors. Siiii:t< you know liiiii, Mmliuti, yon will be to jii(I{ri! of my iin<'n^iat:s!) and of tliv eoniinual alarms I am v\poHK<l to oa his ac'i-oiint. From what be has told mt- uf your Hvosiliility an<l teiitler feelingH, I ]io]hi it will be a iibnsiire to you to bear in proiuring him a buppy litu, you also Rive sotiif. coiisoliktion to u heart altnust broken with sueb a vari- ety of afflii'tionl I liavea dimlile oblij^ation to you, Muilam, for liaviiiK otlniitttHl him into un inlliimlo n<'<iuaiiiiuii<'e in your family. He wilt see there, each (lay, that real hnpiiiiiess is ant fotiiid In the jiiirsuit of military glory, to wbldi, neverihejess, men make fnu-h erufl siu:riti('esl
" May I hoiie, Miulam, that yoii wilt i>eruiit aie to present yon some tea-cniw of a nianufaetory we have here, anil that in drinking your te.-i with ytmr ehanning daughters, yoa will sometimes think of me. I should look upon it as a great liappiness if eireumatanees shonld ever procure me an oi)portunity to offer myself ibe bonm^e of all those sentiments you inspired me, nnil witli which I bavo the bonor to be, .Muilam,
" Tour most bumble and most obedient servant,
"Xo.VILLRS UE NOAILI.ES.
" Paris, Gth month, 17»1."
OUR FRBKCH ALLIES. XV
BATTLE OK RHODE I3LAXD.
The following extract is from aii uiiptiblistied diary kept by the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. 1)., pastor of tlie Congregational church in HainiltoD> Mass., and should have followed the account of the battle given by Colonel Trumbull, (page lOG), but waa mislaid and not recovered until after the entire volume had been printed. Dr. Cutler was a voluuteer chaplaiu in General Titconih's brigade, which he joined nt Tiverton. He remained on the island ia the discharge of his duties until August 26, 1778, when he left to visit his lather in Killiiigly, Conn.*
August 0, Sunday. "This morning thn army was ordered to parade near Howiand's ferry. In ordur to cmliark and rujiuliark in tbe boats that they might tlie better understand suL-h a nmnotuvre, but a recoDiioltcTing party having disL-overed that the (jneuiy had luft the iigipcr end of the Uland, and retreated into Newport, the troops embarked and iirnceeded over, formed on the opposite beach, and marelied up and took i)os.session of their works, which vere not at all damafred. They evaunated tlieiii Saturday evening, upon finding our troops intended to land six miles liulow, and cut off their retreat. They drove off all tho horsey and all the cattle from the inhabitants, except one cow to a family, destroyed all their wheels and carriages of every kind, took quantities of provisions, and filled up niUHt of their wells.
"10. Monday. Tbitt morning I crossed on lo Rhode Island, and Joined General Titcomb's brigade. Oined with Iiiin and a nuTiilwr of gentlemen on the ground abroad, not having any ijuartcrs. Sleep this night in the officer's room in the barracks in tlm furt taken up by Colonel Wade.
•' Last evening a fleet was seen olT the harljor, of about eighteen or twenty sail, came up near the lighthonse and anchored. Several ships of the line, but unknown who or from whence. Abont 10 o'clock, the French fleet that lay alMfve the town of Xcwpurt, canm lo sail, and went out in pursuit of them. As they passed the totvji and forts the ship^ Vgan and kejit up an incessant fire, until they were all |m«»cd. The roar <jl iiuuiun at times was such aa to make but one continued sound, without any distinction of guns. The fleetln the offing, which proved to be from New Vork. immediately put
*Ke*. Dr. Culler was boru in Klllitigly, Conn., Muy 3, 174'J; j,'riiduatril Mt VbIk Col- lege In 17fl6; received from his Alma Multr Ilie lionorury ilc^rfc of LL. 1>. In irm, anil died Id IlamlltOD, Mom., July ^'>>. It^'^l. Ht- nui. a rii[Uiriil [>ii«tor, and wui- illstlnitultlicd for MlenllAo atlklniDeDta.
XVI PREFACE.
to sea, «nd hj dark th» Frroch fl«ei in jwrsah td ibt^ was mt (d si^it of Imnd.
" 11. TaeMlaj-. The G«aml itrorared a rihMitilxs tor gn>neis at cne Browning's, a Quak^T. Invii«d mf to Ut« wiili bin. 7%» ^>or«ii4; ite wind at oortbeast lilew pretty hard. cIondT and raiST. At 4. tbc wbole amj paraded, and was reviewMl by the j^>ti«ral oSccn^ Ttw order of tank and encampment. Ftom linf,— Vamnm'!! an>l C<viK-irs lai^Ead** aa tfae ri|^t. — Glover's and Col. Coin. Gr^'^noV do onihelefl. Tbe M<cor>d tinr, ccnuDanded by MaJ.-43en. Hanrock, LAtvol's bri)FMdr on i)ie ri^l. TiTccnoVF on the left. The light corpii. conflislinc ot Jatk^ia's civps. BoRtea iDdepeadeBlB and Light Infantry, and fitly men fr\^m ea^^'h brijndc in tl»e trrat line, comnaBded by Col. Leul.iton. [Ijvinpsion?] The r««one, oon»»iinf oi Holdea's asd Brown's refpnienlii, isxiiiiiandeil by Col. Com. Wrst. A VifufciTig diriiikiB ob each wing of the army, and a Hankin); party to each wing <J each line, con- sisting of rohinteer and militiA. A Kidy of boT»ie. cximntaitdtid by Oencral Whipple. Tlie ritrht wing ot Ute mh^le army oommanded by Mai..Gca Greene. — the left by tho Manjuis <lt> la Fa^'rlte.
" 12. Wedno!ida,v. Thin niornin;; or Irrs (or tb^ whole ara^ to be panwled at 6, for advani'ing towi»i>i> tb*- eni ««»■.«' linoj^ Bui the i^tvn incTvaring violently, piwi'nti<Yl. A iin-ai nutiiNT of the militia hai~iiig bo tests were obligMl to f.^ntinuo out in tbe siorm without any shelter. Col. Tbcwinlike maigned. Col, Wade *piv.*int<>il, Capt*. llniwn and CaKtl took lodgings at our quarters.
•- IX Thunhlay. Thostorm exi^islinj; severe, — wind TeiTr hi{:b. Mr. Nat. Trary lodgtHl with us. l>r. Clark and l^us>ins. d-ils. \Vadsworth aad Tbont- dike with us. A Serjp>ant and nine mon dfsert*»l. btloagiiitg to il«e S3d Rgi- roeut, British. Say the Fnni'li shiiv, diMuonni<<d ibe gnns and almost demol> ishetl two fort.t. and killed several nn'n on Monday.
"14. Friday. This uiorning the wind ehsn)p\i to the southward. At 4 in the miu-ning. tr<.x>|i:» turned out, I'XMmineil ih^-ir amis, and rrnewtd their eartridgfs. Capl.*. I'aUtt, lln^wn and ni>-seU nvle down near the enemies* lines. Saw Col. IlichUirn and bis linMher Samnd. Oidrrs for tbe army to mareh at t! to-morrow morning. S<>\ ersl desi'Tters.
" 1.1. Satnnlay. At ti o'l-Uvk a signal gun fr<>m the right, as a signal for the whole army to g^rade. Half after A, two >-annons firei) for signals for fonning into oolumns. Three eannons. signal for marvhiikg. Tbe front line a<lvanred in four oohimns. and the sti-ond line in two >-oluinns, «nn- manded by their resptvtivo Brigadiors. FUnking divisions and flanking partie.i marched in their n'S|»eiiive stations. The light r*»rp* adranced. The light horse advamvd on the right for reconnoiterinp. lioneers marvbed ad\-anoi>tl of eai-h division to n^move walls, et<-. Tbe artillery and ammunition wagt^ns lietween the flrsl and second line,— tbe baggage
OUR FUENCH ALLIES. XVII
l>etweeo tlie secund lino and the reserve. The reserve moved in one ool- umn, I ha<l a fine proflpcot of the whole army an it moved off from Butts' Hill, where we first encamped. They made a very grand apiwarance. The army marched about three miles, and halted. A council of war was held by the general ofHcers, who advanced and marked out the ground for eucamp- fog. No appearance of an attack from the enemy. The aroiyextended quite across the island, from water to water. At 2 o'clock, advanced and came upon the ground, about a mile and an lialf from the enemy's lines, directly in theirfront. Theyfireda fewcannon. As soon at unr brigade was halted, on the ground, I returned to our old quarters and tarried the night. Was much pleased with the kiudneMS and l>enevolence of Mr. Thomas Browning, at whose house we quartered.
" IG. Lord's Day. Returned to Cam]>. Gen. Titcomh took quarters at Mr. Peleg Laughton's, a friendly Quaker, where we had very good accommoda- tions. Almost the whole brigade on duty. No opportunity to attend public worship. At night began to throw up a redoubt upon an high eminence near the enemy's lines. Went in the afternoon with a number of ofHcers to view a garden near our quarters, belonging to one Mr. Bowler,— the finest by tar 1 ever saw. It is laid out much in the form of my own, contains four acres, has a grand aisle in the middle, and is adorned in the front with beautiful carv- ings. Near the middle is an oval, surrounded with espaliers of fruit trees, in the centre o( which is a pedestal, on which is an annillary sphere, with an equatorial dial. On one side of the front is a hot-house, containing orange trees, some ripe, some green, some blooms, and various other fruit trees of the exotic kind, curious flowers, etc. At the lower end of the ai.sle is a large summer-house, a long square containing three rooms,— the middle paved with marble, — hung with landscapes and other pictures. On the right is a very targe private lilnairy, adorned with very curious carvings. The collection of French and English authors, mnps, etc., is valuable. The room is (urnlslied with a table, cliairsi, etc. There are espaliers of fruit trees at each end of the garden, some curious flowering shrulis and a pretty collection of fruit trees. The room on the left in the sumnicr- honse, beautifully papered and designed tor music, contains a spinet. But the whole garden discovered the desolations of war, and the want of a gard- ener to dress It. The Marquis de la Fayette took quarters at this house.
"A nnmbcrof cannon fired from the enemy's Inn-s this aflernoon, but no damage done.
"17. Monday. Morning foggy. After it cleared away, rode down to the lines with Col. Thorndike. Hod a fine view of the enemy's lines from the top of an house about a quarter of a mile di.stance, atul little advanced of our picket. The enemy had fired for some ti me iu the morning, but had ceased (or some hours. While we were on the hou.-tc, begun their tire again from the
XVIIl
PKCPACB.
reJtitilitK. SvrvTttl thot pnwml tia on «ncli Ritle, iin<l M) beyond iw. Made « afawking wlilnllinji. Soon ttder vtv \rlt tlio lintiH<- n ^hot iiiiiiti lliroiigb it. Foiinil our diliintioii not V4T.v hsIi- nor imrtrcKlOv. Htvtxl liv tlu' Marqiii* vvlieii ft rmiriion liiitl jiiHt [iMHL-4] u*. Wax [tlnuicil with Iuh llnnrii'iui, I mi fun nil I lt»tt iKiiliiiijt ti» l>wiHi ot my own, nml us I luii) no buslne«H tn dungor, runcluUi^d to nitty no lonKfr lp«t 1 hI)oii1>I ha]ip(>n l« |it«y tor) ilfur fnr my ^^lIIol^lt,y. (Ilearil trnin my frirmlH In (?otin<'i-tk-nt.}
■■ I« Tiii>ai]av. Murninc f"«iiy. AcPDOniiK it clt^reil orr.tbe encniyb«Kaii to nrr on tilt wurliii (farown up laiit dI(iIiI, wliloh vteie votialiltrulili?, but our men wtrrii md covvivil that tlipy mntlnupil the worlis tor lh« while d&y, — no ilimtiiitr' rlonc rxr^iil unt- lann woiiniU-il. One iiiwi hail bin mrtoiK'h-box cw- rtt'il awny. Nln<- unrit l>i-li>.n;ciiig to onr brigtiiii> {iftrrulol on tlir f;rmintt tn-at th<.' iniri!Ui'hiiii<-ui i.'urriiM iLway by two bnllH. Cnpi. Doil;*i' ■■si-ii|ic(l iiurrowly. tl»d the ItonoT Id ilSn« n'itb<>i!urra1 Hanvcwlt by pariinilar invUmion. l>ine(l In grcftt 4latp. A iHive nuinluTof ofliitn. The Godi-ibI vury coniplaianDt. Iiivit«(l niP to Oinr, brcakfiut or to sup wttii iiini wlR-neVL-r 11 snirtd nie, with- citit nny i-i^rouiony. Atlft iliniirr, n niiinWr oF jjoimI ■ohk'*-
" in. W<-iIn«Mlny. Kog(Ey mnrning. Onr Unit bntli-ry npeaicil. ,^ Mnuly firv from both liAv*. Tlirtrir liiindnil Miiinon dnvl by 10 o'cliH-k. The cnviu^ evaciiiiteil one r<rOo)il<1 lierurc I'l ii'cjiH'k. At the f-rent rOL-k «>n cnir li.-rt. hud a flne view, sccurf fiotn UaiiKer. Koilv In tlic lifteruooii in punull ol a flabiuu bOftC. A luftn in on^ of thv trenrlitHi 1i«i1 bin tlitifh iriit oR by ■rttnnon hMll, and expired In nn hoiir aiid a IinK.
"30 Tbiiraduy. KiTq-y tiioriiinn- Aateody llr« tlironsb tbi^ day. Altuitded ptAycrit tltln ttvpitin^ \tilb ib« brigwlc for the flrat time, our Hltuation not admiciinti of ti Iwiforv.
" SI. Fridfty. The Frenrh fle«l trtiiTiiiHl itnd citiiie (o iLinliur ott ibi; lighU houBe. j^rcntly dnmaffed by th<- atom. The LiwKniuIoc, on lioard of which Count C>'E«tainK liolstvd IiIh tlii^, wnn dliinia*led und lo^t lioi rudder. Ocie T4 ijtlMing, Took il)'- S^-ncgnl and rme bi^uib Ki't<-b. OcnoTnl and all of lis iuviivd lo tukc 1uiivh>;on with Gcii. Hnoi^ovk. Fuuud il nithcr nn vieitunt dinner tlian u liincbeun. We all nvlndowu to the rack. Hnw thn tie«t. We had two or three more lialterlef opened. W&rm firing. Coniiuiinlly tlirow- tnii b1ii«Hs from both p»illL>s, Saw several bnrat In Ibu nlr. Allendud pruyerjt iiioriiinj; and vi'vriing.
" ^. Rntunliiy. Wind out. The tlircu fri^IuB In th« riVLr joltiod iho Aeal, Wnrm flrini;. FrMynnt inorningiMEicl t^v)>ning.
■' 2S. Lord's Day. ExpPi'l<>d lo pr>-ft.'h, and just prpparnl Irt no up U> tho lirJuade <vlieii tlie G^■neral received n letter truu General Snltlvau, tnlorin- iun him that the French fleet were ao dtMBtered they could by qo mnanit afford U8 »)iy usaivtiince, but were ^oni} to Doeton to riitlt. Aa the plan hul ever bean tii liihe off eight or ton ihoiiaiincl tni-ii from the ii.>ri of the army,
OUK FRKNCH AIJ.IBS
XIX
•ml Uitd ibotn on Br«nton> Neck in Uie tmeroy's rear, unil«r corvr of th« . Fnnch BhlfM, for il wan w«U known ilirlr ISitc» vri>in> liii|>rp|[nM)iIr. ibU lOiilit not be txecatMl wilh any dtftttt of wtfrty ot jitimpea^t nf aiii^ceiu without any oavn, all th« OoiicraU wcte cnllcd u|>un to sive Uielr uplnlon wbetbvt an' Immediate ntrent was not alDMitiiU-l; nM«auirf . TI>i> iint-xfH-^-l«<l tlmertlnn o( tb« flMt, wUlrh wiu Uic uuun aprinc el the expetlltlon, <-rut a nuivonMtl gtootn on Iba •rmy.aitd ihrvw ii§ ail loht vonalt-rnallon. Oiir moat ii)uit^in« liopM w^tti i-roppol In tlir bad, mud wv exprct>:<l imni'Httule iird«ni U> prepare lo more off llie Krunnd. Thto prcr«Dtr<i Ibf briffHic'it UM-viiux. A very bvvy are froo) the batlnrie* nil day. Itralti dowti lo Die Uaen. Ilail a Doc pcoapMt of lbs tnetni's llnu. Kaw all our »bot strike whltli w«r« waII dircebod. Onu man killwl bj a cannoa ball at ooe of our guns,— anotli«r dlod t^ xbe wound hp rcc*lvi^ y<tiit«nl»y by tlip bunting of a »lt*ll. A groat number of nhclls Ihrown In i)ic nigbt. Our pi-oplc ^plit ou« IK-jiouudcr and oo« t>^ ItKrli taor- tmr.
" H. Monday. Aa much ol the >i«ary iMtfUpiga inoved off last night aa po«- alMft, A lH>dy of men ruiraalcd to Blrfingthen the wnrkH at Butts' Hill. Al Ihn lincm— Itravy Hrw — array prspariag to rt'treat-
" 33, TiieHday. Very h«ary firing — >4hell« nl aight — ordem to he ready to rrirvotl at a moment's notice.
"M. Wedneiiday. Especti^ lo ri.-treal al <i, tliU morning. Brigada pan»d«d— wot alloor baggttgeoR the island ~ extnato bot. But rumalued on tltv grotiuil. Concludml lo Ml out mynett for Connecticut, ('aiiie off tlie Island at 4 P. M. CrOHac«l Bflalui f«rry. Bode to rrovUlcnco, and lodged ■bout a mile out of town."
Tm SOCIBTt OP Tap. cntOINSATI. — AN KRIIUH IN lll«TO»r (.-01UtlH-tKl».
This .Sueivlv, of wliicb Wiuliiuglou wai> Ibe flret President, was QrgnDit<»I iu Ai>ri], 17tj3. Stale Miodetiea wuro fdrnicd tlw Mtmc ye»r. For rcuotts not ocwwary hero to cotwidcr, the Parent and SUh' .Soriclios wi'Pi' bUlcrly nssailwrl lij- mt'ii |iriirniijfiil in public affnirfi and hI' mmmmiiliti<,' inlliiviK-is «lii> predicted llie dirvat cuuw- ()Ul'IH»!I froiu ihftr cxlsteuce. Tbo uvwspupen* "f (lie diir, with few i!xw|rtiun«, gave ciirrvnry to llieiie lioMilu iculimentji, while fnittluHH effon* wero made to ahlnin their siipprcitfion hy K-giiOAlivc urtiou. Willi a b«UHr midersift tiding of the design and npiril of ihe C'luciji- miii, lite liuslililr 9o strongly displayed gradually di»Hpl«ar«l. k
been ic auv wi,*. -■ iia2*e^Hx» ii :.•- toit-.. zjisrr:. mx. amisr=- of lie UuioE," «iic I'aaz ivyi^-^'l ix^ir r^ti-rrsa azt Mus'twasK »iae- la^ have, with Iik ii^iluiv-. eaJ ri *?T«j'a». *^c±M»»rt- Ii. IK iituilK
Hevulutiot t>v-:iH t'r^ i' W (*-," :at-> > su: ^— ^•3bH'«- «a,fcf»ffc -nio- iup i*» Rmnk- IsiMud. » ui,*L •.; fc- p~i'iv- *f^. ;. r»T-*«, 1; &. ib«: "Rbo^ l*i«iui iiis:"ii:K'ii.-«eHl *ii.-z iv »i— ■t:ij»ir- •?■ »p?^ immimTT of ibo (.^nlcr." Wbt'iix— tii^- s::i:-. n*-.:. s> t»*c^ o"'— a T»-«irTui CK«1 tu tiif Hisi.i-Ti , i^kTi. T-na: :;-. 3^.!_*vSls :.» - f ■■■-jniML"? Jttir- dhU" April i>, ITm. • iii.-: A.-v-i^ -• * -. .r,:»- -.i*,- :Be >:ah re dtnde lelitud is (iflcniiiiKv !.^ .itsr-j-iirur^ »t ' »i:v :'v--- icf^ia. «m i» • meiuWr of tin- ».>\Wt t-:' :ik l :!»,-:::'ai.:-. ii:'il -^'Mrr uaeir iann»liit of ImWiuiT «IM I'.'s; 1-: i>.'i'.*r .-.n- :-u< i;i»ii"- Tte r..\i-- smnc" i«e»
iv«»r^, «iiJ (>;' ".in U:<.vk l-viv : ,L :•; •■siw.wr^ ;»:' !7SS kbc 17?4.
auUittrist'^ Q>«' t.> s*;* ;iiK; ;■-, :;:f^r .-.: -.i"^ sa-iiiDfr-:* s? ^cKawd hr f»rts. TIk- Giiii--^; A^s^ :::;■-■'. . s. >.- k> -it* T^-.-sv^ai- sjk-w. aera- " drtrnuhit-il "' i.^ *;:>:'-*i>.- :S4 »; ■» ,■ 1-,- ,-i;:j!i» j.c tit*- re**»a «t
nils evor iitu-iu}t:(^. NiiuiVrs .n:" ::< ii>-*i: ^5s:ii^i#ii*«c ^lex Ja. ike Sute. who wvri- tth'i«lvr> .»;' ;ix- S.*-?.-:* .«;" lit. CinrniBaii- i«> tW cKww of ihfir Ihi-s, ItfW iiu:vw-:»-.:: rvlC->- iJ&."«^ Ro: t »* D«dleae tu pursin? llu> Mil'iiv: I'tiri'nr, V^v •\;*.vr»;<- »tsi"<s 7C- Kara more of ibf IVu-iit Stx-ii-rv s;m < !" i:;. Ki-^-^^" I*iAT>.A i»ssvx"ifcie. is r»*erprd to the *' Moiiu.it> A i!ii- H:s;on.-;<"i S.x!v:v ,-• IV^T^fvS^'-a.'" V<4- uiiie VL. aiiJ l.> iIk- ovlwMsli^c !:i»;or\ i>:" :Sc Rivvii I?^T»d Socirtr by Miijor As* BiM llsrvhicr, IX, O,, l'-^;U>i S;*Sf# *raiy.
THE svKitn v>»' iu»; -."ixciNNxn in FR-KXCX.
As the rr«.Mii'Ii «ii\iU.trv frnvs Iwvi Vft the rni:«J Saa«s before the iQslituiiou of tliv Ot\ior. Ot.":ion»l \Vas4uUj:tv»a. *s IVwsiJent-GeD- eral, OQ ib« ^'Jih of CK'tol>cr. IT^, wivt« to L« Comte de Bocliam-
«KM WKXSKM *B^rpff SOU
«&£. ttiL cfis' QCrit uT EMtARimiMir. astnsmuzwf cliuu IM di» Kmiiosr 4^ T«r- til. iitt raii£ iittthm- iie- £1115,
•OtL die ItltiL uf ±111: auuidt- ILtiu* XTH- mi tft* nuwc fflifWriiM^
juts wi» liluiwttt 31 ^vtar ^tti^ :iimii^ -i&amrxinn. •acfx^ Dli» eBMRlb'
;iil. 3iB ^niimr gipriiJHaiiiL-
ITiar jfimdnirTr ^pmKiiuk: -v'uim utiiBliatfc aij di«^ yMWummt -v/f mem*- Ii*tmuti uiiuctii'iiitt-'tiBiiiiKuiiu- .itiiii:li& .pufMC -oMpffiMst \w>» miib- JtMShrt. 11 ittuw iiH mcuiiiniR nuiiiilKtdftnifc
J^iilit^ due: LnraoMKti liter uuuunhMt jJuunniMR 1^ riinr 'flMSimdnik. 3>iiiiiik. rliac x ww- :iir- :v«utatiillt- -wtntim in. :« .^nac ranaK,. ,ii«j|U>tiw u5 viinh .lonKiiMtm'itui jidt^nenri^ jianMiiuti.
ITie oignjri. jmniiMffwiiiii Trifc iI^h iwvwnMrTlu ,Itmtt*ti flf j wwr .olut' iaiii dniB- ^nrixTiBKadl- imC ■niumiueuU'' «i. -thBiimt: v/t ^tagtiuuKomum ■Miimlmi. -a ijiit Tjuatseaim- u* :!)«: laut si^«- ^vtiiiO-'Wi* :ti« ibiagiiMi ■IT -iuflirian.
Tie ^rrsmar mn vnt- -iiiiin :n 'Iik fsosnitiadnn it* mnllmmifc. nM:
3U OML.-EVSL dlf?- WVTMr tUUM 'U V<*M9*- tw. TV(fllMU« ^fUUlttnitiiuUI;,.
-fn» Mnnuutt imii tie £111^ iwt hmunlr «^tiKt lur mmruvit..
Hje 4Mr»er n- 'lir-'L'ii*?ini«i- n ^'■mins )««iaie.'tirft4}in<!:;..ifiR u! "be noBT. ditin^nutiM Mai. ■sk^tuitv* I'jmKn- .n. Sutnge,- nvt vun^ ^^TiM. n. tse itoBr nanr o^ -tie vmroMl i?"i>ne:i DbsRL.
y^'"- rfW -^■"" vti:M«».» :-^ awn -pr7 jMnUar «: 'tie't.(nrr u* ^«nniU»L. am., mantr a'- tie 'Homer ?<T?mi. 3afc>Uiv« hhI MMKifvLU ae'ii; lie attaxtftrBaa *na- iimaiir' 'sx-tautvttr wndwcL-u lii*' ^aaoi-
-fe. •TFas- «!»• t» Ksne riur mimtmvTUHu tiai: » .ja«: at- Snttmmr^:
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iMuuw a!' fieitcM) wiif' iw£ -tcrcvc n. ^bt JHU — JLaaDKT' taxrr-l" Mud werf tMusidenc It jMaiiet- ZUc UKtaaHrr oaui&aDiiiiiit.
Tiw 'fine meAiiir «f Hit Cfcvtc ii Trmaet w ikiac a fic^ m. iW TtL u'' Jhuubtv. 1~*^.
Iv sli UK niinciuenu- uf ^Jm- Siaie(-4!^*«iM!nL n:' Z/rfi'. hwsf^ im- eHiaidiBhiDeui uf etnucincioiiMl fiwenmeic tim FTVina. Cnirmnaxi werv cuut^ucoooH.
Hie aiTva <c kbe Ki&£ uic xbi: iiiuirir-ariiu. re um tviti. (C ler- rur ptn an toid it' iIh- mtviius^ nf lix- C*rdtr. uid. ■? utc- mfanlicn-
deveeuL. uid a^ios: ubirfc iefisliibia: was lakiik. xtx-^ -wr^ iarvri w tuui^mitt. or wttre imnri^MiDpd or rn3koiN^. — mH} Tvt nr sbrre ii«T- in* bv«] able i(> rvUUL ilM-ir ;dacv> in Tbr ancj- nr ut^.
Tbf rwpord uf nrtrina] TiwjDi<«^ it Fr»nf» sbo»^ tiiai nearer all in tbe miiharv nerticf rts<t* ic In reaerju iiffirrrj : vliDe of ibojv in tbe navT, a lar^- DinDlvr wa? jirmuotcd tmn the ^radt- of C-^uuunr 6e VaisMan lo W C'hefe d'Eat-adrv. Rear w >"i«' AdmiraK and a frw to the QDU9ua] diriiiiT of Admirml.* «
On papep ^0i■^-,^^^* i# a di-scripliou oi' tJw «*)phr«rk»n of ihe hinh of the DaupliiQ. pnnided bv ttn* Frcitch niintittor. M . I^irome. at which WashiogtOD and RiH-hatiilit'tiu were prosl*. iVvr xhe life of ihi? heir to tlie Fprnch ihnnw it rtond tti inyslt^ri- hai^rs. Oii the one baud, it is affimit'd tliat lie di«>d iii 1 T9A, and on ibo olh*'r that, hi the age of I*u years, he wrs' (V»iisipiied lii tho I'aTv nf >• Simon, the cob- bler." a brutHl man rmiding in raris, timW whivM' inhuman Irwtt- mvDt he became idiotic, and in thai condition it-a>- clnndc!>tin.>ly cai^
• Begirter of the So<4f ty of ihc t'titdtiMll (n Mm- n\mlf nf Hh<Mti- t»hnHl ami l^wMfaoe
PluutiotM, 1783-180, bj Aw Bird itardnN,!.).. IV,. t«iV* a<It^w«I«' Vm\r** SMmuM^. A Intuit SecretWT.
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. XXIU
ried to America, and placed in the cnre of an Indian family at Cauglinawaga, N. Y. ; that at about t)ie age of thirteen or fourteeu years he recovered liis reason ; that he wascducated for the ministry ; that H missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the Indians, known as the Rev. Eleftzer Williams, was none other than the son of Louis XVI. ; that the Indian woman, his reputed mother, did not acknowledge him to be lier child ; that he had none of the character- istics of an ]ndian ; that he closely resembled Ix>nis XVIII.; that in nhildhood, boxes of clothing an! medals of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette were luft with him ; that various marks on his body cor- responded exactly with those known to have been on the body of the Dauphin; that Belanger, in 1848, confessed, when dying, that he brought the Dauphin to this country ; and much more of this sort ; that, in 1818, at a dinner party given in New York, the French Minister, Genet, said, "the Dauphin of France is not dead, but was brought to America"; that the first knowledge Mr. Wil- liams had of his royal descent was received from ihe Prince de Join- ville, by whom he wns visited, in 1841, for the purpose of obtaining, for a princely consideration, " a solemn abdication of the throne of France in favor of I^uis Philippe,'* then King of the French, which proposition, much to tlie chagrin of the Prince, Mr. Williams declined. Mr, Williams does not appear to have been elated with this assurance of his royal parentage, nor did he ever take steps to assert his claim to the throne. In " Putnam's Magazine " for Feb- ruary, 1853, under the head, " Have we a Bourbon among ns?" this remarkable story is told in detail by the Rev. John H. Hanson, with an introduction by the late Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, of New York. Of the merits of its claim to an aflirmative belief, the reader will judge.
THE YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION.
It will be seen (pages 537-568) that considerable space has been given to an account of this commemoration, in which Rhode Island
XXIT
FVXF^CX
Wi-; it-t-^-ii: »: V. »-«.-. » : Jinr^ :"h! t-ia-s irrG^-o-?^ u»£ ik««£ sit »? WY-i ** lis iirr>vT.: *:-4.-\«oo ;<ir^ •fc;^ r-v^a a. ^ oissiB-
J .■lr■,',"v^■7^"^^■s■ |; «*>*■ .■\\ «■>*-'•. i'-\*.-i ■,; ■•••y N'..-<t-.; irinx*
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OUE FBEXCU ALLIES. XSV
Al-THORITIKS.
Id coUecting materials for this volume, I Imvo hv»» many ytmn engaged. Xot le88 than two hundred printed author it ivn, iii('hitliii;( the publications of twenty French officers in the army tuid iiHvy wlio participated in the American Revolution, have Ihh'u plactMl within my reach. By the cordial permission of Henry V. A. JohUii, Kiuit the Providence City Clerk, I have made a careful exumination of the proceedings of the town and of the town council during the entire war. An exaroinalioQ of the Fawtucket (North Providence) rewmlo liiui alto been made. By similar cordial permixHionH of the Khotle iNland State Executive Department, the Rhode lalaml IliHtitrical Society, the Ma.asachu9ett9 Historical Society, the American Anti<|UArian Society, the New England Hintoric-Genealogical Society, tlie New York His- torical Society, the PenDDylrania Historical Society, artd the J'ruMi- dent aod Librmriao of Vale College, I have t*een made ac4|uaiutc(I with the numoscripts in their retipective arehiveD, i>earing upr^n my line of inquiry, besides which I have had the um: of a largir number of nDpabUsbet] diaries and tKher family pspers of tlie K<!Volutiouary period. Bot BTfCwkhManiiii^ tbU wide ncr«pK, aitd with uiiwiMirie«l emieavor u> be thf^mzh. I dr> tKit aif^iime tlmt tit*; fusU) iuu> been exhau.'ftriL I bav« frfyb^rffrird Ur \it: a^Turat*; in my rmrrativf. but will wA t^ifma(Ut»Ilj aifino tbal no «;rTor in iitM.tHW*:iii '^n ht: fouud. It bar \0rr:i an- ai^ l>> 4>i Wwjrabk juHi'^ t/t tit*r inialiiabl'^ M;rvi<.-ei- of "One FcrvH AxjJtw.'' awi u» fi pr^mtrut tb* »iilU;nt points in the tu><ese3> '^ tbr^ I4a»j if^/fi*. aod tl>*: itetKiti of th>: SlitU: ambormefe. m* Vj *%JAk. uwtxr mnaaal fatrvAMu in tiiuei- of tit*; grea&esi *:mKST'rvrT. 1: lii* I brif«t I ba»«r «*^*fcd«*l. I u»:e<l •jIi\'- a<ld tine s. fcw-tjhig ^ ««H9«^^ '^. KJw^ L>4Hbd. itw] ul.-'. n. ^Ter^ X tw iM^iffn^Mur:^ «wS»rW». I i^tf. luwk ins*: u.tf. ot Ui.
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
I'OKTRAITS.
AilatuK, John Qiiincy, (steel jilatt^)
Allen, Za<-hariali, (hU>p1 {ilAt«,).
Arnulil, <i«iieral Beneilict, ((rlwtrotjpc.)
Artbiir. Prtisiilent Chester A., (hU'pI jilnte,)
Andre, Miijur John,
Anthony, Hon. Ilunry R., (steel pliite,) .
Ahlrieh, Hon. NelHon W., (Ht«ol plate,}
Bowen, Depnty-Governur Jal>ez, (HSIhuunltr,
Barnui, VU'c-Ailiniral,
Cralk, Dr. Jaine^, (ftjlhonettc,) .
Giistine, Ic Comte <le,
Chautclhix, le Couite tie,
Cornwallis, General Lord, .
Chowy, General,
Dearborn, Colonel Henry, .
D'E-staing, Vice- Admiral,
Doyle, Hon. Thoiuaa A., (steel plate,)
Drowno, Captain William,
Drowne, Dr. Solomon, (wti-cl plate,)
Drowne Henry Thayer, (steel plate,)
Dumas, Count de, ,
Dc GroHse, Ic Comte, .
Denx-Ponts, Count William dc,
Eames, Hod. Benjamin T., (sterl plate,) .
Fcrsen, Count, {steel plati-,)
Franklin, Benjamin, (9t«el plate,)
Garfield, President James A., (stocl plat«,)
Glover, General John, (phot<>-lifh(i(;raph from litliopjaph,)
Gates, General Horatio,
Greene, General Nathanael, (steel plate,)
Greene, Colonel Christopher, (steel plate,)
.■520
r>az
22 549 2>M
:hs
.142 244 ?81 100 225 22li 4(» 40H 4fi0 «7
r.79
279
.T20
;i3]
aiKi, .'198
4;h
»4li 40!l .Ml> .^46 130 132 496 384
OUR FRENCH ALLIES.
XXIX
HISTORIC BUILniNGS, &r-
Brick Hoiisn, Noa. .VIZ ami .1*1 Nortli Main struift,
" Brimllvy Hoiise," utid Battlc-flelil,
Bri<:k HoiiHc, near Snim Point, .
BatUTiea of Light Artillery,
Continental Currency, upeeimcn of,
Calouiul Cnrrency, npeciiuen of, .
City Hall, Provideneo, ....
KlBR-Ship " Ville de Paris,"
Hancock Mansion, Boston,
Home of Depnty-Governor Jal>ez Bnwcn,
Hacker's Hall, ....
High School, Providence, ....
Lafayette, baa-relief pf, ...
Library Building, Brown University,
LilRTty Tree, Providence,
Moore's House, near Vorktown, Va.,
Narragansett Hotel, Providence,
Nelson Mansion, Yorktown, Va..
Ulney Homestead, ....
Rliuile Island CoUe^^e, (hospital,)
State House, Newport, (hospital,)
Surrender of Cornwallis, ban relief,
Trinity Chiircli, Newjiort,
Vernon Mansion, Newport,
Vernon Arms, .....
Wanton Mansion, Newport,
Webb Mansion, Wethers field, Conn.,
Washington Ring, .....
Yorktown Monument, ....
31
324
fi7
58
.■Ml
lit
247 252
mi
520 .V$3 .■><H> 4(>ri
nso
428 444 196 218 477 33B 22!) 230 2(52 39;i 518 544
AUTOGRAPHS.
Angell, Colonel Israel,
Arnold, General Benedict.
Andr<^, Major John,
Barras, Vice-Admiral, .
Btfville, M. de, Quartermaiiter-General ,
Bowen, Colonel Ephraiui,
Bowen, Deputy-Governor Jalfez,
Cooke, Governor Nicholas,
4:t»
22 2110
:m, vm, fXNi .wo
147
240, 450
4S
XXX
AUTOGBAPHS.
|
Cnrnoll, Goneral Ezekiel, . |
m |
|
Cornwallifl, Lord, |
4^,468,482 |
|
Criiik, Dr. James, . |
190 |
|
Gliantellux, 1e Coiiite i1«, |
226, .W3 |
|
CIioiRy, General Lewis Etliis, |
408 |
|
t>'E»ttain(;, Vice-Admiral, |
99 |
|
Do Grasae, Admiral, |
396 |
|
De Ternay, Admiral, |
603 |
|
Doonellan, Thoin&H, |
117 |
|
Drowtie, Captain William, |
279 |
|
De Prctr, Major, - |
328 |
|
Dela Touclie, Captain, |
4U |
|
Dumas, Count de, |
331,603 |
|
Duportail, Chevalier Lewis LebeRiir, |
40!) |
|
Foster, Theodore, |
. . 116 |
|
Glover, General John, |
91, 130 |
|
Gates, General Horatio, |
114, 132 |
|
Greene, Governor William, |
158 |
|
Hancock, Governor John, |
78 |
|
Halsey, Thomas L., |
250 |
|
Heath, General William, |
19,l!M,ti02 |
|
Howe, Sir William, |
.■505 |
|
King, Dr. David, - |
347 |
|
Knox, General Henry, , |
410 |
|
Lafayette, Marquis de. |
443, 605, 614 |
|
Levy, v., . |
57 |
|
Luxerne, M. de la, . |
170,605 |
|
Malmedy, General, |
36 |
|
Nelson, Governor Thomas, |
. 426 |
|
Noaillcs, Count de, |
465 |
|
Olney, Captain Stephen, |
440 |
|
Olney, Colonel Jeremiah, |
449 |
|
Peek, Solomon, |
001 |
|
Uochambean, General le Comte de, |
201, 20(i, 20K, Hm, .502. rtl2, 001, (Ktt |
|
Rush, Dr. Benjamin, |
mi |
|
Silly, M. de, Lieutenant, |
008 |
|
Spencer, General Joseph, |
49 |
|
Sullivan, General John. |
117 |
|
Symonds, Captniu Thoiuas, |
468 |
|
Tnimbull, Governor Jonathan, |
149 |
|
Taric, Commissary M. de. |
217, 21!", 501 |
|
Tilghman, Colonel Tench, . |
491 |
ore FSZXCH *irnB^ rxxi
Vmmam,G*mtnlJa^t»M^ .... M
Vernon. Wiltiaa. ....,., *3J
Wud, Secntarr Hcair. ..... S»
WMhingtoB, G«Mssl G«ocip. 4J. fT. Q4. JKT. «». «H
SOSCfLLAXBOCS ILUTSTRATIOSS^ Be»con on Procpcct Hill. ...... M
BUskowitz'f Topognphknl Chan of ^">mc»»"'" Bmt. 'WvtiitM of. ^
Battle Map. fK. I..t ...... M*
Cannon pr«9eated to G«n«nl Natbasa^l Grc«*e. WH
CornTallis. Locd. Ajks of. ..... -DM
EHagnm of Freseb EngMtanint, Xorth Pronfean. 3IT
Fon on ProH>«r( HOI, ...... H
French Heajqoaiten' Tent. ..... 310
Flag of Second Bbode IslMd Beeineai at Torfctowa. 1711. 43
Flag I British j taken at TorittowB, ..... <73
Oranite stab over the gnn of AdBtiral be TenaT. :U3
lodiao I>anc«. , .251
Inriution to balla, ..... St, 3K, Stl
Lewis' Map of part of Bbode Island. . . m
Ij^nding of French TitK^M at Xewpovt. .... 30S
Moral Tablet to Admiral De Temar. . Mt
Pass to Sheriff John BeTcrtr. ..... 3W
Plan of Siege of Torfctown. . .IS*
Retreat from Bbode Island, ..... 110
Rochamheaa <SUver> Spoon, ..... iVl
Bo-hambean Walch. ...... 244
Bochambeaa Sword, exchanged with General Xaihan Miller, 315
Sahtn. CsHar. discharge of, .... . )C
Sword of General Jamea M. Vamnm, . M
Sword and PMoU belongiiig to C<rfonei Ephraim Bowen, I4»
Sword of Lafajette, . .173
Ship " General Washington," ..... t!T6
Sorrer of French Encantpmeni. Xorth Providence, . 310
Sword of Colonel Christopher Greene, . . . 3M
Sword ot Colonel Jeremiah OIne;, .449
Surrender of Cornwallis, (Trmnboll,) .... 478
PART I.
PRELIMINARY EVENTS.
.JTTO one who rends the history of lUiode Isliind in its ^^> documents Jind well authenticated traditions can fail to jierccivc traits inherent in its found<T. Before and snb- scqiiently to the granting of the Cliartor of l()43-4 by the home government, which imitcd the three colonies as "The Incorporation of Providence Plantations in the Narragansett Bay in New England," the people evinced loyalty to the mother country. But while loyal they were independent. They understood their rights, and were prompt in resisting encroachment upon them. Indeed, they were a people who believed they were capable of t;iking care of themselves, who chose to manage their affairs in their own way, and %vho asked no aid from the Throne other than the protection in their prerogatives that would secuie them from unauthorized foreign molestation. Yet they honored the King. They respected the government, whether a monarchy or a com- monwealth, and the tone of individual and legislative expres- sion was in accordance with this spirit. It was only when the English Parliament passed measures so oppressive to the American colonies, and attenii>ted to enforce them, or the minions of the government made themselves oppressive to the people Ity annoying and irritating conduct, that attach- ment to King and Parliament gradually weakened. The
2 RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
temper of the colony for si senes of ycsirs was trutlifiilly exhil>itcd in firinjr upon the jirnied schooner St. John ; in the pi-otosts agahist the ".Molussea Act," the "Stamp Act," Ihe tax on tea, and refusal to use it ; the lejrend ()n an extra issue of tlie Providence Gazette, of " Vox Populi Vox Dei," and " W/iere (he Sj>lrit of the Lord is there i.'* Lih- i-i'fij " ; the bontirc of tea juid the Royal Anns in Providence ; tlio hanging, in effigy, in Newport, of the Attorney General and two stamp officers ; and the seizure of cannon on "Fort Island," with (he avoM'cd ]inrj)osc of using them in self defence, if necessary.
The rc(^klessncss of the Parlijinient, and the ftdly of Lord North, notwitlistandiui: the warnings of far-seeing states- men, hastened events that issued in ii tinal separation of the colonics from tlic mother country ; and, as for Ithodc Island, tlic exaspeniting course jiursucd hy Ijicutenant William Dudingston, in the (iaspee ; and later, of Sir Jiimes AVal- hurc, Captain of the frigate; Hose, together with other excit- ing causes, severed tlic ties of aHection, aroused a defiant spirit, an<I prepared tlic puhlic niiiul to join heartily with the other colonies in ahjuring "all allegiance to the llritisli crown," and to "solemnly puhlish and declare that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent States." Such was the growing tenij)er of Ithodc Island up to the oi)ciiing of the year 177;').
The Gaspcc, before referred to, was a revenue vessel of eight guns. Her commander had n()t only been unnecessa- rily annoying in the performance of his official duties, but hiid jussnmed an uncourteons attitude towards (iovcrnor Wanton. On the !Hh of June, 1772, in giving chase to :i packet for Providence, commanded by Captain Ilenjamin Lindsay, he grounded on Namquit P{)int, (afterwards called Gaspee Point,) about seven miles below the town, and the tide being on ebl), could not get off. Captain Lindsay carried the news to Providence. That same night the Gas- pee was attsicked and btn-ned by a body of volunteers, in
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 3
eight long boats, comuiiinded hy Abriiliam "Whipple. Lieu- tenant Dudiiigrttoii wns severely woiuuled.
The l)oats for the expedition, funiished by John Brown, n prominent niercliant of Providenre, were gathered, before starting, at Fenner's wharf, nearly opposite the public house of James Sabin, on South ^litin ^^trcet, where the company cast bullets and niiide other i)roparalions for the assault. Conspicuous in this atliiir besides John lirown and Abraham "\^'hipple wore John 11. Hopkins, sou of Connnodore Esek Hopkins, Dr. John Afawney, Benjamin Page, Joseith liuck- lin, Turpin Smith, and Ephraim liowon. A compuny of boys manned a boat with tlio intention of accompanying the expedition. Of the number was the late venerable Presi- dent of the Khodc Island Historical Society, John Howland ; but he was taken from the boat by his master Ohidding, and thus, as he says, had "no part in the boast of being of Iho (iiL-ipee party." AVheihcr his companions carried out their design does not appear — probably not.
The destruction of the Gaspce stirred greatly the crown authorities. A reward of £1U0 was otlered for the discovery and conviction of the perpetrators of the deed; but though well known to many in Providence, the secret was sacredly kept, and no arrests were made. The story appeared at the time in the form of a ballad, attributed to Caittain Swan, of Itristol, K. I. It is here given as a curious relic of tlic l)eriod :
'■ 'Twas ill the rclyn of George the Third, Our public i)eace was much Oisturhcil By shlpH of wiir, that caint mid laid U'lUilii our ports, to stop our trade. Seventeen hundred and seveiitj'-two. In Newport hnrbur Iny ii erew, That played the part of pirates thore, Tlic sons of frei'dom could not bear. Roim-tinies they weighed and gavu them chase, Such actions, sure were very base. No honcHt coaxtcr could pass by But what they would let some shot fly;
RHODE ISLAND IN THE HEVOLUTION.
And did provoke, to tiigrli degree,
Those true born sons of liberty ;
So timt tlipy could not longer bear
Those sons of Ileliul stnying there.
Bnt 'twas not long 'fore it fell out,
That Williiini Dudlngston, so stout,
Cominnnder of the Gnspeo tender,
Which he has reason to remember.
Because, an people do uHxert,
lie almost Iiiul his just desert;
Here, on the tenth day of lust June,
Betn'lxt the hours of twelve luid one. ^
Did chase the sloop called the Hannah,
Of whom, one Lindsny, wus cominamler.
They dogged her up Providence Sounil,
And there the rascal got aground.
The news of it flew that very dny,
That they on Nani<iult I'oint did lay.
That night, about half after ten
Some Narriigansett Indian men.
Being sixty-four, if I remember.
Which made the stout coxcomb surrender;
And what was best of all their tricks,
They in his breech a Imli did fix ;
Then set the men upon the laud,
And bnrnther up, we understand; -
Which tliliig ])rovoked the King so high
He said those luen stiail surely die;
80 if he could but And them out.
The hangman he'll employ, no doubt;
For he's declared, in his passion,
He'll have them tried n new fashion.
Now, for to And these people out,
King George has offered very stout;
One thousand pounds to llnd out one
That w()unde<l William Dudingston.
One thousand more, he says he'll spare.
For those who say the sheriffs were ;
One thousand more, there doth remain
For to find out the leader's name;
Likewise, live hundred pounds per man
For any one of alt the elan.
But let him try his utmost skill,
I'm apt to think he never will
Find out any of those hearts of gold,
Though he should offer Ufly fold."
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 5
Captain Wallace Tvas even more iinnoying to the com- merce of the colony than Lieutenant Dudiugston, and his frequent raids for cattle and other supplies on the towns bordering the Narragnnsett and Mount Hope Bays, as well us upon the islands in the former, made him alike dreaded and hated. In 1775, when Sir James had learned who com- manded in the attack upon the (laspce, he addressed the following threatening letter to that brave leader :
" Yoii, Abraham Whipple, on the 10th June, 1772, burned his Mfjesty's vi'ijsel, the Gospec, and I will hang you at the yard arm,
"James Wali,ack."
To this AVhipple returned the following characteristic reply :
"To Sill Jamrs Waixacb: " Sir: — Always catch a man before you hang him.
"Abraham Wiiipplk."'
In 182G the fiftieth anniversary of American iiulependence was celebrated in Providence with great spirit. The mili- tary and civic procession numbered more than one thousand persons. To the concourse of citizens thronging the streets a special attraction was an elegant barouche in which rode the four survivors of the Gaspee exploit in 1772, viz. : Col- onel EpliRiim Bowen, Colonel John Mawney, Captain Ben- jamin Page, and Captain Tuqiin Smith. The barouche was drawn by four white horses, driven by Mr. Horatio Blake, landlonl of the Franklin House, who volunteered the ser- vice. Over the heads of these venerable patriots waved a splendid silk banner, designed and painted for the occasion by Mr. Samuel J. Bower, of Providence, whose pencil exhibited the skill of an accomplished artist. Within wreaths and appropriate devices, bearing the names of the sm-vivors, the "Gaspee," and tlie date 1772, appears a rep- resentation of the ill-fated I'essel in flames, with a boat con-
tl RHODE ISLAND IS THE REVOLUTION.
Iiiiiiing a minihcr of tlic during assailants rowing from the Imrriinjr "reek. On tlio reverse are the Arms of Kliode Island, with llie legend : ''July 4, llHi. In God we Hope. For LilKTty and Indei>endeni-e. July 4, is2i;." In tho right hand (-(mier of the obverse jiiettirc is the record Ijy tlie artist: "Presented to the Commiltee of Arningenients hy Samiiel J. liowcr, I'inxt." After tlic eelehration the ("oni- mittcc presented it to the llhode Lshnid Historical Society, in whose cabinet it is stilt preserved.*
Till-; BALL BKCLN'S TO KOLL.
ENLISTMENTS. — HOSriTALS. — ARM V OV OUSERVATION. — EM- nrtVO OF THE AMKltlCAX NAVY. — FEMALE PATRIOTISM.— SOLIHEUS' UATIONS. — CorXCIL OF WAR.
^^ROM the I!tth of April. 177.7, when the news arrived fvJj^ that liritish troop.s, nnder Major Pitcairn, had marched from Boston to I^exington aiid(''oncord,to seize military stores
•Siiinufl J. Il'uvf-r, •'tin iif .lulin mill Hmmr Bowit, wns liorn In J'rfiviik-nui'. I'rinr Id uiiil after tin' K"''>t Si'iili-iiibrr gii^f in 1^1.1, lie ki|il ii ilry ^vdtU store on C'ht-ii|isidi', Xiirtli Muiti wlrt'tl. On tlir iiii'nirmil)li; iliiy, h1ii>ii iIic HikhI Ii:ii1 Mii>]it nHiiy till' !»riii)ri' fonncH- \nf till' I'ust ullil wi'-t jiiili— of tilt' rivpr, lie wun miibli'ii to n'm-li lii-i liomp i>ii riiir alrcH only !))■ (jnshlnt; up nmnil tlic nortli ^illl■ of tin- Cuvr inul -wiumiinK iutiitis a iiiirriiwiT |>'>r- llciii of 1 tip imury si renin. Mr. HiiwerV" fiillier nns ill-tiiiBui»ln-il a- ii ciirver in wikmI. Iieing cim.-'klereil oiic of the most exjifrl In lii» iirufes-inn in llie eoiinlry. Ilii- " Turk'* Uenil," U'liicli for many yewr'' Inokei] ilowii witli liercimiiiK flriivity iijKin ]iiis»i'r.- Iiy from its eli-vu- lion on WliilniiWi'H ISlork, at Ill>> junction of Weslnihisteraml Wcylxi.MM-t street:!, iinti wliiull WH" subat'iLiently n^iiion-'l iin'l curried to llie Sonlli or WeM, unil a sliitni- of WufliiliBtou, which >ti)«il ul llie wi-l end of M'liahinjjlon Ilridpe ut Iiiilhi ruiiil, nnd whidl wilS swept nwny in the September giilt- of Ihlo. were tiieelineii!!' of his hiindinork.
Mr. llower enleri'd llie nrniy In llie war of 1^|■,■, uiid in n in I its loud to Inive lleld ti Mlbor- (llnnte comiiinnil. lie WHS on hi» nay to New (Irlcim-i al tlic time of llic liiitlle there. He iiutH<ei|ueully niuri'hed to (ieorgla, where lie o'ltiiineil some exjH'rience [n skirniivldni; witli tlie Iniliui)!!. Aflerlenving the urmy lie- neiit South, u»<l spent fomr lime In Millnlf'rvjlle iinil SiLVHitnah. Keturiilnc to I'rovidence, he rnfriij:i>d anew In III- liusine.i.''. which he i>iir- rued Ht ililTerenC IliiieH on Mui'ket t^c|iiiire, Weyl>os>et Htreel, iiml in the llmnillon unil till- Dyer IjullUini;!' on We!<tmin*ter street. The ludtr In- cMTiipieil until his ileitlli, whleli orcurred March 7[li, ISflO.iiI the njre of sixty-three yeiirn. Mr. Jlower wbh liiaiily reiiiierted In the cuniiEiuuily fur hl> inurul und iiuciiil worth.
OUlt FRENCH ALLIES. I
tliere deposited b}- patriotic coUmists for expected use, until the clo.se of the wjir of the Kevohitioii, the p;itrioti.sni of Rliode Ihihind W!i.s iLstir. Matcriiils for the inmiufaetiire of powder were eollceted, a powdex-mill was built,* magazines were cstabli.-;hcd, tire ships were procured, a tloating battery was ordered, obstructiori.s to the approach of the ci i c my "^ ships were jirovidcd, and oi'diuince was east at Hope Fiirniicct in Cranston. J
The (Spirit of this period is ilhistnitcd by the fact that with the exception of a small number of loyalists, neai-ly every able-I)odied male person in the colony between tlie apes of sixteen years and sixty, ftu" a lon^rer or shorter time, bore arm.s. Providence, during thi.s same period, was literally a military camp, and the street.s were daily enlivened by thc^ presence of 8()ldiers and the sound of martial music. The Providence (Jazetle of December l!S, 177.^, says "not n i-hiy passes, Sundays exeei)ted, but some of the companies are under arms," while Stephen Jenks, of North Providence, and others skilled in the manufacture of Jire-arnis, were indu.-jtriously engaged in furnislung muskets f(»r the approaching time of need.§ Hesides the constnnt
*Or tliiit Mill Caleb Hnrria iva" Rppijiiiltsl ovcrsi'cr.
* Ku'k nnpklni' niiit Jo<{>pli Itronii wi-r^ n]>|iiiiiit('il h Coiiinillli-i' 1ii fro t)irmt|:li l)iv i-ol- iiiiy iiMil I Id en III 1 11' in ivliat plHrcs il luuy W ul.■l1■^?l^r>- lu iTi-a Imtli'rirs or uiilri'noliiin^iila for its (liTi'ilfi-.
lA|iril, irr.1, in Uip iliatriliulliiii i>f ^..'i^iil |niiiii(ls of powiliT, mill (lur-iiURrliT jmrl of the Icuil, liulli'l:' mill flhilH 1ii'li>ii(;iiip 1(1 (lie rolmiy, rriiviilciKV.' nri-lvi-it 14> jnmiuls of powiliT. 3:;r ixiiinihurii'Hil, UIS fllulr'; Ntivjiorl rcfilii'il :w.i piminU of iH.wclir, r.-MiH.umls iif Ifuii, i:,isri Hint".
ni Aiipiiil.urilic Kunii' yi'ur, llii' GciiituI A^'sfiiilily volcil, " Mini tliis coluiiy will ]mri;lium all tlic |tiiii)i<iwiliT Ilmt nlinil lie liiiportcil licrc txTori' llii- 1st uf A|iril iii'Xt, ul liip nilf ot llircv Kliilliiijis, tuwrul iiiuiiry, h jiuiitiil."
In 1770 tliiTi' Hcrt.' I-IA ouinmii ill t)ir .'^Inli-, (INtriliiiliil a.^ fiilliitvi! : Ni'n|iort I'liiiuty, U; I'mviili-npecuiinty, ^; llristiil ciiiiiity, 15; Ki'iit cutiiity, 17.
{ ChI>Iii1ti Sti'|>h('ii Ji-iik* matiiiriiirliiml inni'krts fur si'vcml nf llii' milillii i.'oiii|iHiiiva of tilt- ciilciiiy. ni- ri'i'lilcil Iti I'nH'tiK'ki-t. Hi?' Krrat uim-^Inr ninit to Niirtli Truvlili'iirv, nrrorilinif to tra'llllon, us parly u.- Ifiia. IIi-wii* a iMilous ijiitrkit ntul aiirimiliiciii cliizeti, prci-UIIng Ht most uf llii- imlilic LitiKliiFtiH mi'i'tlngs ur tliv town. Hi' 'lli-d >iii Siiiiilur, Nor, ItlMi, IMNI, Iti tlii' Ki-vi'iily-l'iiiirtli yi'ur <if lii- iif;c, Ivitviii;; ii u iilou- ami sixly ili-ncciiiliintii Ici mourn IiIk ilcpHrtiirv. lie wa..| n kiml liii..t<nn[l, tin [nilii1|;i>iit purcnt, iiiiil an ubli)!lii|; iiHkI>- txir. Till' wiiluw, till' tiriiliaii. nml nliivrs in dlslrr>.'> ivcro jiartnktr-i or liiri iH'iirvutfnvv. Ilf Iran a miiii of nun ml jiiitjcini'iil and iuli'^rily. Hi-, iatt hk-kiii-^s was iHirnu witli a calm n^igtmtlon lo lliriviil of OihI. Uii funeral took iiliirc from ilir iii<'«tiii>!.|iiiUM' on the Tiii-Hlay after lila deceasp, on wtildi iM-cuiilon a jHTtliiciil itircoumr won dellrrrcd by tbe U«v. Ur. Ilurlej', of Cambridge, Slaaa. — Sre note in CtHtennial Uiatory of J'aKlucttt.
8
nnODE I8LAKD IK THE KEVOLUTIOS.
enlistment of men to fiil tlie rejrimcnta of ColoueU Lippitt, OIncy, Kirhmoml, Hilcht'oclt , Criiry, Topliam, <ireeneT Varnum and Klliott, troops frecjncntly passed through the town, (sometimes GQtiimpin;r for the nijrht on "Atatthew- son's Plain,") on their raaa-h to join tlie jirniy inwler the imm<*<liitte comiuund of Wiishinf^on. The General .Vssom- bly dirtttc<i the cstalilishni<'nt of Ilospitiils, und Dr. Jona- than Arnold was nppointcvl " Director and Providetor," Dr. Isaac Senior, of Xewport, liospilal burgeon, and Pre. Stephen Wigncron and Joseph Joslin, Keginientid Snrgcons. Publiu necessities led to taking posscittiion of Khodc Island Collogo ns early as 1776, to Iw use*! as a Bjimivk and Hos- pital. Aticrthe liattle on Ithodc l.shiiul the niimhcr in the hoS]7ital was increased to about one htindi'ed.
In I77S, the late Dr. Levi Wheaton liehl the position of Hospital Steward, "in point of fact a Surgeon."* George Stainer was AVai-d Ma.ster: William Temple, Thomas Pig- gin, and John Stantield, Tendeiv : Sandi Slniner, Mrs. Darnes, Mi-s. Poltitiger. Air-*. Biiiles, and Snkey Olnej, J^urses; Samuel Tlinrlicr, Hospital Commissary. Mr. Thnrhor serve*! about n year, nnd was siu'ceeded by Oltiey Wiiisor. For a short time Drs. Jackson. Hutchinson, Hugun, Sweet, Wilson, Hardin inid I'arsons, were Svirgt^ns. Dr. Peter Tiinier was a Surgeon in Colonel Isnicl .Vngell's Battalion. Dr. John IWtlett sened as a Surgeon in a l{liode Isliuid Urigade, luid was, in 1777. a Director of tlio Rhode. Tsl.-ind Hospital. I>r. M'illiam Whitcridjie altendcd on sick soldiers at flowhmd's Ferry. Dr. William Chacc attended on siek and wounded stddiers. Dr. Caleb Fiske, of &'itnate, performed simitar sen^ices. Dr. Solomon Drownc. of whctm a more extended notice will Iks found Jn another i)art of this volume, served as a Sui^eon on boartl the private sloop^f-war Hope, during a cruise in 1780. He also served for sevcml years in the same capacity in various hospitals and regiments.
■CowiU.
^ •
OCB FRENCH ALLIES.
9
There were liotipiluls at itmlul, Warren, Tiverton, and elsowhpre, liiit no com|>l(!lG list oC surgeons employed in tlicm Iiiis conic to light.
At an tsiirly (lay, an "Army of ()I»servul)«n " of l.SOO men was misod, of which, before Juno 1, 1775, more than 1 .000, bpsirlfs the I'niteJ Train of Artillery with fonr tieM pieces iiml twelve siege gnn8, liatl joined the Anicri^in iirniy cuenmpm) at Iloxbnry, near Itoatnn. In 1778 Khodc Islimd had tive reginieiats in the lieM,and in addition to tiie^e there were olevt-ti ind»'])endcnt. eharteivd companies ; ainonp them, the Kcntiph tiimrds, the Kingston Reds, ihc I'awtuxct Rangers, and the I'rovidcnco eompunies of Cadu(8, Artillery, and Iitfimtry, ready as minute men for any ^rvJcc required. Kor was llti:» cxhiltition of jmtriolism confined to men. It was shared equally (ils in the lute war of the Kehellion) by wivcB and daughters. They siuin flax and wotd and wove cloth niid made gnrnienls and knitted &tocking>J for the army with an enei'gy and a pcr-iistence which only a tnie love of freedom coidd have inttpired. They took the places of their hnshiinds luul lirothem on the farm. — jdotighliig, planting, and harvesting the crops, — and thus helping, in an import- ant way. the achievement of a Xnlional Life.
For army rations the (ieneral A^seuildy made the follow- ing allownm-*- : "One pound of l»rea(| ; one pound of beef or pork; a half-jwuny for vegetables ; half a gill of rico ; one pint of milk ; one quart of ifccr per day ; and one pint of niola.s.^es per week. That once a week in^^ead of meat they have a |>oinid rtf tish, nn ounce of l>ut(.er, and half a pint of viiu'gjir; Ihat If they have no milk they he allowed a gill and a half of ri«! per day ; that if the half peruiy per day for vegciidjies he not sufficient, the Hrig)idier-( lenoral be em|iowered tii increase the snme to a sufficient allowance ; au<l that the ('^munissjiry furnish tlicm with the »amc qutui- lily of soap ns i* allowed by the colony of Massachusetts Bay to their lri>o|«s." It waj» further provided tiir all [K-rsoos who entertained soldier» on Uic march, that, " if they bupply
10 RHODE ISL.\KX> IN THE EEVOLITK'K.
Iwt thrve nieals of riciuaU l»efore the troops loave the house ihey shall l*e allowiM nine penot per meal ; if more than tfarf« mesiU that they l>e allon^e^i for ihe whole at the rate of nine sthillin^ jxt week : that in eolJ weather two fienee yiCT night shall l*e allowed for eaoh <<^<linerV l**doinff: and that T>t> liijuor he found ihem on the colony"? a<-eouni."
To leave noihinij undone thai woiiKi impart increased effi- ciency to pwhlir a<-lion a borne Council of War. con>isiin<r of Governor Nicholas Owke. Dc-j'iny-Govemi^r William Brad- foni. Stephen Hopkins. Ara^mse Paire. John Fenner. John IVxler, Jfishua Ba>>ooek. Cromwell (.Tiild. William Grci-ne. and Henry Ward, Secrt-Tary of State, was apjviinted l"y the (teneral AssemTOy. and measurv-s were contx-rted "for the well heing and soturiiy of this >tau-, and lie Uniw^i States in ffeneral." At different fK-riod* diirinir the war the follow- ing per<«ons were niemlx-rs vif ihJs C- -until : Ebenezer Thompsf»n. Daniel CaJuxtne. Chri>to]fher Kllery, Oiristopher Lippilt. Janie* Arnold. Thomas Romreil, Samuel BaKx>ck, Gideon Hoxsie. Jolt Conis!*"K-k. tiideon <_"omstofk. Imman- nel Ca*»e. "niomas Willis. John Vjx^ike. JaT«ez Bowen, Par- don Gray. Ks<-k Hopkins. John Jf-nekes. John Northnp. Jonathan J. HaAzard. Jnsjjih Humphrey, TV(^-*c'riod Pearf*. Panl Mnmford. CAleh Gan^ner. Peter Philli]>s. Xnthan Mil- ler, Thomas Tillinffhast. AVilliara M'esl. John T. Clarke, Jowph Stanton, Sylvi-ster Gardner. Eoliert Elliott, William Ijidd, Beniionin JVuime. Gideon Mumford. Thomas Hnlden. William Tiu^rarl. and Jeremiah Clarke. At first, nine shil- lings, law fill money, w en- alkiwed for each dny's utiendance. to memW-rs residing onl f.f Providenc-e, and six shilling*! to members ro^iding in town. In ]7>i] the compensation was incrpAsed to fifteen shillings ywr day.
At the beginning of the war the confederation was dcsti- tnte of a nnyy, and although yirivat^wrs were industrions in their m(Kie of warfare, this desritmion was severely folt. Tlhode Island l^ogan the work of supplying this nped. Two vessels, the AVnshington and the Kuty, were equipped and
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 11
placed in command of Abraham AVhippIe, with the title of Commodore. Subsequently the number of vessels was increased, which may be regarded as the embryo of the American Navy, commanded by Esek Hopkins, who had been a Brigadier-Genei-al, while Whipple continued in com- mand as Captain of the frigate Columbus. The exploits of Commodore Hopkins at Nassau and elsewhere, gained for him among the enemy the reputation of a brave and ener- getic officer, greatly to be feared. A poet of the day repre- sents Neptune as being disturbed while he lay
"111 dalliance soft and anxious play,"
with his favorite goddess, and directing the winds to go forth and make known who dared to shake his coral throne and fill his realm with smoke. The winds obeyed, and having witnessed a battle —
" Amazed they fly and tell their Chief That How ia ruined past rellur, And Hopkins conquering rode. * Hopkins ! ' said Neptune, ' who Is he That dares usurp this power at sea, And thus insnlt a God?' The Winds reply : ' Id distant Land A Congress sits whose martial Bands Defy all Britain's force. And when their floating castles Roll From sea to sen, from Pole to Pole, Hopkins directs their course. And when their Winged Bullets fly To reeufttate their Liberty, Or scourge oppressive Bunds, Then Gallant Hopkins, culinly Great, Tho' Death and Carnage round him wait, Performs their dread command.'"
The result is that Neptune, in amazement, resigns his Tri- dent and Crown to Congress, and says, aa
*'A tribute due to such renown, These Gods shall rule for me."
12
ItnODB ISLAND IN THE BEVOIXTIOS.
Esek Ilopkiua, »au of William and Kuth Willduson Hop- kins, and lirnlhcr of Uovcninr .Stephen Ilnpkin.s, was bora in Scitiinto, R. I., April 2C, 1718. lie wn« in youlh lii-ed a farmt-r. 1ml occasional visiU to Provideufo, wIk'il* lie saw- ships and sailonn, awakened a desire to plough the son, which he did for several yeai-g. Tlie primary lessons in scaman- sthip Uiiia taken ])rovud of grejil lietTice to him in t^nbdetpient years. It was while so enwai^^d thiit he saw the pcniieious effects upon sailors of the prevalent piactice of using "grog" at eleven o'eloek in tlic forenoon, and fonr o'clock in the ntteniunii, a custom be ahjuix^d, and during his long lifo totally abstained from the use of intoxicating liipioi-s a& a bevenige.
On XorcmUer 2>i, 174fi, "Mr. Hopkins married Desire J. B«rro!i<;fhs, of Nc^vport, by whom ho had four children. — John H., Heart, AbigijII, and Samuel. About 1751 be removed to Providence, where he took i)ai't in public affairs, and frcijuently represcnletl the town in the fJeneivd Assem- \)\y. He nfVervvards settled in \orth Pn>vldence. At the (jpening of the Revolnlioii he sided, as already seen, with the sons of freedom. Uy (iovernor L'ooke he was eomiuis- eioncd a» Brigadiei"-Gencra] in command of mx himdred men. In 177.1 Congress a])poiuled him ('ommander-in-t'liicf of a navy then to ho croiifed, and which he did miieh to create.
In Febnuiry, 177G, Commodore Hopkins with a fleet of eight vessels sailed on a sneecssfnl expedition against New Provideuee. The forts at Xawaii were taken, and all the cannon and military stores brought invay. Tliese consisted of eighty-eight cannon, fifteen mort^irs, fi\'e thousand four bundled and tifty-eight shell, and upwards of eleven thou- sand round shot. On his return thiilv-six of ihese ciumon were landed at New London for the defence of that place, twenty-six of which were subfie(|Uently transferred to .\cw- iwrt for tlic same ptu-pose, greatly to the joy of the inhabit- ant*. Twenty of these wei"e ordered by Cougresa to be
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 13
sent to Philadelphia, but upon a spirited remonstninec by a committee of the General Assembly being made, showing the great danger from the enemy to which Xewix>rt was exposed, the order was modified to six Trom Xew|H>rt and fourteen from Xew London. AVhen off Block Island, on his retum voyage, he fell in with and captured the British sloop Hawke and the bomb brig Boltou, both well provided ■with ammunition and stores. For this act the President of Congress complimented him officially.
Two days after these captures, the Alfred, (the flag ship,) the Cabot, Captain John B. Hopkins, and the Columbus, Captain Abniham AVhipple, attacked, unsuccessfully, the British ship Glasgow, of twenty-nine guns and one hundred and fifty men. For this failure, arising from imavoidable causes, both the Commodore and Captain Whipple were censured. The latter, justly indignant, demanded a court- martial , which was not called. With a better understanding of the affair, the President of Congress addressed a letter to Commodore Hopkins, saying: "Though it is to be regretted that the Glasgow Man-of-War made her escape, j-et, as it was not through any misconduct, the praise due to you and the other officers is undoubtedly the same."
When the Warren and the Providence were built Commo- dore Hopkins was appointed to the command of the former. The committee appointed by Congress, under whose super- vision these vessels were built, consisted of Kicholas Cooke, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Russell, Joseph Brown, John Brown, John Smith, William Kussell, Daniel Tillinghast, John Innes Clarke, Joseph Nightingale, Jabez Bowen, and Rufus Hopkins, all of Pro\idence. The master-cari>enter of the Warren was Benjamin Tallman, and of the Providence, Sylvester Bowers. Mr. Tallman was born in Portsmouth, R- 1., in the year 1741. He established himself in Provi- dence as a ship-builder, and was regarded as one of the niost skilful naval architects of his time. He built about one hundred sail of merchant vessels, some of them of the
u
RHODK ULAKD » TllK KEVOLtTJOX.
Iwymt cUuiof j4jt|M (Vfurimctcd En IboM days. Two of thrm, Um Aiiii hikJ Itui IIo|M% owned hy Broun and Ivr^, aad tlitr (iwirtpT H'«ttbin;r1^iii, ownnl l>y Jittm Itruvrn, atluined ■ di»- Uugui»lu-4 n\tulaiitm. Mr. TkIIiuuii tuok au active pgirt in liie wtir of iUt! llfvoliiliiMi, aiui hiu-4-(*>Mirely held the mnk of Mnjur, lAfuti'naitt-C*AotnA, dik] (Colonel. ^Miiltr «enin}; in CnUfUi-l Itii-hiiinti'l's ru^iuiviil he waa engaged in the Imttlc uf I>i/ii;{ Jklniiil, hIu'I'c hu! HiifrL'rcd M>vcrcl,v. Ho died at hta b'iDie in VntviAt'iH'ct, JiimT 10, 183i», agtrd ninety-five y«ara, univerMilly n.'specled.
It hnii Iwuii ttiD eoniuiori lot of men of ])iircrit motives who hav<» randeri^d vnlmililit »virv\ce» to their country, to he HitNiJIed by tha lunj^iic nf nlaiiiU^r, and to luive vile insinuations ur |Hi»irlvi' I'liiir^'ffl niiide fur llio drhlriK-tinii nf ilipir cbur- uelL-r>4. U »viin Ml uitli Wunliingtuii. Tl w;w m) vvilU Grt'vne. TbU (irdi-al llii|)ltiuH liid not eiteape. 1'herc were, unfoi-tti- iiHtidy fur Ihi' credit of a tnio in«iil»K)d, tjiasc who could dot iiiipreviate liiit patriotic /.4>al and di->lntcrc>sled efiur1« in the caniiO nf freedom. Wiit popularity excited euvy, and hl« n<l\n(iil lo nulionltniite piildic inleresU to private, created hualilily. Itii Hun in ixiniidHfdy'it wny and niic^t he rcrnuvcd. Hoan HM lu>ai-<l the voice of mliiiuny, and in Jutie, 177(>, he (net tin* Marino ('onnnitlee a1 11iiliid('t])hiM in reference to cinlain chniTtca tlml liml hceii ]>rcferr<<d a^ipiiiist him. He waft aldy dcffiidt'^d liy •Inliu AdantM, actpiitted, and rctainc<l hUi iNUuiiunid. 'Ilic eonunitliic ilirected bini to ])urchu!iu a tKihwmcr he Imd taki'U, antt added, "thi» schooner must he called till' IlupkiuM," — u fcigniticaiit i^miplinient. umler the i-ircni)ihi«ni-cH, to an etticient and fnithfu) officer. The ilis- (tngiii»h(H] ConmuxUuxi John I^iul Jone«, an intimate friend of t.\immi>tlore Hopkins, writing to him in reference lo bis PhUatlulphia exiwrii'nce, says :
" I kihfw yvKi win iiui sHipect uw ot Omturf nrh«n I ilDriu I have not n^tfltracail » wore alncvrv plMAar* for a loa<; lime pAsl thu) thr ac«Mtat I b«w lud of roar tevlNg galtwd yoor cutM* »l PtiUadclpht*, In »plc« of f*tiy. Y^«w- bic muMv wltl Urwl U> jrow (kitim MtTmta^ ; by poiotlns
OUR FRENCH AI^UBS.
IS
ont jnnr fHeiMts and eneml<», jou ttUI bu thereby cunbK'd to retain IIm nnv purl, niilk yoii aro giiAnlliii; agiiltiHt the utlirrs. You will be thrice welroinp to yonrnntlvc land nud to your nrareat conccniB, Afltr your Ute Hhnrk, ih^y will mirv you, »» golJ frmn tin* lire of more wortli nnd value i uud kiMiider will ktvp Hflvnce wlivn A Jmlnil llopkhiN Is meiitlonvd."
The next ymr h« wua Hgnin cited to appear before the same committee, iiiit as no s[>euitic charges were made H^iiiiKt him, he neglected (bp citation^ niid January' 2, 17(7, vroA ■iismiit.'if^d the i^erviee- Hut thi.s lU't did not dim- inish the contidenc-e and rasped of his rellovr-citizonM. His iittefiihiess to the Colonies nt a moment when they were stmjffiling into national birth no one questioned. His bravery was Iteyond dispute, nnd his worth us a patriotic citizen was universally Acknowledged.
Wiiilc of nn independent nuiid, and deeidedly pronounced in his opinions, (he Coniniodoi-o wa-t, in private life, social and hearty in his wetcouies. flis title " Comnninder-in-Cbief of the Navy," i-onftrred u]>on him by a law of Congress, was desifHi^d to make his position correspond to that held by Wu!<h)n<^ton iis Couimanilor-in-Chief of the anny. H\a pay was $125 per month. In otKciitl correspondence ho was addres«<ed as Comiuodore ; but in private and in the papeni of Ihe day he wius frcijiiently styled AtimivoJ.
In nJiO, while a reprosentitive for the town of North Providence, he was ia^truuiental in securing the nnaniuious ap[H)iittttient of President Manning, of Rrown University, na a delc<mt6 t" 'he t'ontinental Coniircss.
His death took place February 2fi, 1^02, in the elghty- fimrtli year of his a^fc. His reutoiniD lie in the family groiuid in North Providence. A fine portrait of him, painted by Hcfulc, is in the jwsiM'ssion of Ilrown Univei-sily.
Thus closed the earthly career of the founder of the American Navy. IliK publiL- nnd private papei's irarae into the Iiand»i of .ludpe J. Dorranw, who had liin estate in charge. Subsequently they wore obtained by the late Judge WiUiain R. Staples, who, under the sanction of the hoirs-al-lflwc, deposited theu in Ihe lilitHk' Island Historic^d Society.
16 RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
FORTIFICATIOKS.
GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD.— COMMODORE AltRAHAM WHIP- PLE.—THE PROVIDENCE COMPANY OF CADETS.
'3[(^K{>M 1774 to 1777, Providence became well guarded. ,*Jj) Forts on Prospect Hill and at Fox and Field's Points bristled with cannon ready to thunder dcfiiuicc at invaders. The town ordei-cd an intreuchnient to be thrown up, to extend from Sflssafras Point to Field's Point, "sufficient to cover such a body of men as may be ordered there on any emergency. "* A breastwork for the protection of sharj)- shooters was thrown up a little north of llowci's' Cove, and a redoubt at Bullock's Point. Mr. Thomas X. Sumner, a former resident of Providence, in a letter of "Kcmiuis- cences" addressed to his daughter, dated "Brookline, May 13, 1834," says:
" I remember In ndditlon two clrcnlar forts called reiloiibts, south of the miiin furt on the height of the hitl — one noith and one south of the powder house which stood on Powder liuniie lime. Tliis lune was then the only road to what wfl» called the upper ferry, now cuntrul liridge, I believe. It led by where Mosea Brown now lives, or did live."
The Fox Point Fort, or "Fox HiU," as styled in the town records, was built I)yC:iptain Nicholas Power, "in consulta- tion with Captain Ksek Hopkins, Amlirosc Page, Esq., Captain John Updike, Sir. Samuel Nightingale, Jr., Captain William Earle, and Captain Simon Smith." Although Blaskowitz, on his " Topographical Chart of the Narragan- sett Bay," 1777, nites the fort at ".50 guns, 18 and 24 pounders," the town at first, whatever incrt^ase may after- wards have been made, ordered " a battery of six 18 pound-
*"Onc day last week, Mr. Crompton, with one of Ills Light Tnfiinlry ilrumirxTS nnd two of the CuUct flrerf, wmt rouitdto nollt^' tlie SonR of Freedom wlio liad tlic imblic good and emfety at heart, to repair to Itackcr'ii Wharf, with sucti Implf ments a,* art u»ei1 in Intrenchtnjt, wiiere a boat wst reaity to take tlicm on board and trani<pori llieiu to the
■hore between SHi»a(Vai and Kidd'i I'olnt Wltii what liiid Ix'eii dune by a
liDntb«r wiio went ttie day before, we liirew up a brea^twoil that extetitlrd near one quar- ler of a mile."— Letter /tQot Dr. Solomoit Drowne, I'rovideiue, Augntt 13, 1 113.
OUR FBEXCH ALLIES. 17
era," four of the cflnuon "to be mounted as field pieces." Captain Esek Hopkins was appointed to the command of this fort ; Captain Samuel Warner was appointed Lienten- ant ; and Captsiin Christopher Sheldon, gunner. Seven men Tvore appointed to cjieh gun, who were authorized to select from their numlier a captain and !i gunner. A watch of two persona for day and night was also provided.*
The items of expense are preserved in the following bill brought to light in removing the town archives from the city l)uilding on Market Square to the new city hall :
Tuw.v OF Pitovii>KVCK To Nicholas Power, Db.
1775. Aug. 16. To H8i Daya'work for mcu bulUIlng Battery
at Fox III!], . . «t 3 p day. 22 4 »
To paid ThoH. PIttmnn'a wages ami billot for
3 months' Guard at the Battery ft-om Aug.
30tli to November 30lli, . . . .9 15 To p'd John Jouca wages iind billet fur same
time, 7 IC
To pd. Tlios. PIttmaii for 3 montbs &. 7 Days
at [obscure] 10 11 3
1776, To pd. Jiio. .lones bill for 8 weeks £ 3 Day,
from Apr. S to May etli, . . . 2 11 6|
To Bamanl Eddy's Bill for ProvisloBa for
men at work ou Breast Work at Field's
Point, 16
To .Toliij Pitts' Bill for Guarding Battery &
Billet 2 months, 6 9 5
To David Lnwrince's Bill for Stores, . .314 To .Johii Browu's Bill, 13 >i
£63 IS 3i To Addiugton Davenport's aid for nse of his Shop for 11 Watch House for Towu Watch, 13
£61 IC 5i
•The Uiuird«forFux I'oixT, frnm Janunry to Julr, 1778, wpn- arrangoil asfollown:
Cnjit. SiiU. Srrgt. Corp. Kififr. Privalei.
Jannar7 4 0 1 1 1 1 ao
M»y 31 0 1 1 3 0 ao
JoneU 0 I 1 2 1 18
Juoe 17 0 0 1 1 g 12
July H 0 1 :: z
FiKtD'9 Foist,
Jonei;, .... 0 1 1 2 1 .16
JoIyH 0 1 1
8
18
RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLITIOX.
•. ^
eiTCH ALL HOIIHD.
The Foi't nil Pros- pect Hill, coniiuiindiiig ull the iiiipiuat-lics to the foiitrc of the town, was built hi 1777, with the approviil of (icn- enil SiiciK-er, iiinicr the direflioii of Ma- \ Jor Jauics .Siuiiiior, by whom it was plaiiiiecl, then Chief Engineer of the Khode Island Dejiai-tinent. It oceiipicil the site now covered in part by a brick block of
dwelling-houses at
the corner of Uowen and Oiiigdon
streets, and was at onoe garrisoned. In the i)rosecntion of this work the town authorities heartily eoncnrred. At a town meeting held May Tith, when Major Suumcr presented his plan, it was voted to approve the measure as one that " would be of the greatest advantage to the public as well as to this lown hi particular," and General Spencer was assured that the town would "cheerfully concur in any general mea- sures for cairying the plan aforesaid, or sneli other as His Honor may adopt, into execution."
At a meeting held May Kith, it was resolved, "to recom- mend to the commanders of the severiil companies of Alai-m Men, Independent Companies and Militia in this town, to call their respective companies together, and in turns to go upon Jleacon Hill, there to give all assistance tlicy are able to complete the fortifications there erecting for the common defence — that Colonel Bai-zillai Kiehmond's c(mipany go upon duty to-morrow ; Captain Russell's the next day ; Cap- tain llurriU's on Monday; Captain Kecne's on Tuesday; Captain Snow's and the Grenadier Company on Wednesday ; and that the captains keep lists of all persons who work, as also of Ibose who do not work, to be returned to the next town meeting, and that the s:iid companies begin on Thurs- day next, and go through a second tour of duty in rotation
OVB. FKKNCn AIXIES.
19
in tlio same manner, each person to fiimlsb himself with proper tools, etc."
Tlio (Uint-nsions of the fort wvw tlirec hundred by one hiindreil »nd \\l\y feci, wilhiii llic [mnipei. It was Kiirrounded. hy a fos^c or dit<.-h, and wa* capuhtc of nimintitig lifty-etght gun*. In Ihe i;«ntre was erect«d a lai-gu pole or urnst at the top of wliich WHS attached an iron cnine, and from the crane was ^-uspended a liii^* ii-on kettle tilled with tar, to lie ignitc<l hi an emergency, to warn the siirronnding conntry. Soon after its completion nn experiment was made hy Major Perkins, who oi-dered three eaunoiis to he (irod. and the lar in the kettle, to he wt on fire. It bitrned sevenil liuiirK with the desired elfecl. The light was seen in the moMi di-slaiit parts uf the State. The rountry was alarmed, and the next d:iy the militia in ^eal oiiml>era 6ocked into the lonn. The use made of this heaeon jravc to the locality the name of Jieavon JJill, a name it retained for sevenil years.*
It vns tL part of the plan of iVftijor Simmer to bilild harrneks on the side hill west of the fort, ncniss "Dorr's Lane," near U'healon street. The hiiilding wa» to 6ice west, to l>e two stories Iii^h in the centre, and one story in eath wing. Aa lo the erection of sueli a huihlin*^ on tlio spot designated the records of the town are silent. Tradition is also silent, and prohahly the Major's plan was not eonsumniated. The town, however, did what it eonld to (iiniiHh aceonntioda- tions, and among other arningeiuents the Work House, at
■ Vcr ll>p |>liin lit lltl. Von I an liiilibrcil to tliv cainirt; uf thi- llvfi. /^oIivIbIi Alleti, Btbolw ■•llMldi't m"ll«<nliinof it. I'rivr lu niidln); (he ilr«n co|>M ■■I'llr. •iiiiiiiirrf^am (to «rl|lMl. Mr. Albrn prvntniwl mo with ■ <1ran nuilr frtna mttmry, whieli. »n ouHi|)arl> Hk, ivM (hiiml (II twaiir»«e1 r*t<rr>cnlu(laB. 1b liiouiltHc, of tbaane licraproriuiifl. llr, Allra. Iii>|mikliif ofthUiM»>n«ri»l<ir the Rr'oladuti, uirt ; "llM'OOpvaf IW fl-XXof tlw Oli> Ki>it •Iiows Dini tl wan^xcriilrd firtt-utlllfuJIy. bmI it>»( t( wm (lir ii><ib( perteci IbrllA- Cmlion 111 Ihp luirlh imrl of (hr ^laic. Tlir lurrnllon of itiv tr«( rx)jrrUQ*iii* ■ill! rtKirtart •wl t|ir[l>, wn'i>( to «lMi<f (lia vtnrf nMac la ptrparc tat ikfrlK* of ' tnttUtm tforni imxar tUm wakaut Uw rifht of fvpn>Muilatli>n ' bj ckrijr oUonitU."
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 21
the corner of Smith und Ghnrles streets, was given up to the use of the soldiery. At a town meeting heUl May 17, 1779, Mr. John Brown, the Hon. Jabez 15owcn, C()h)nel Jonathan Arnold, Welcome Arnold, Escj., and David Howell, Esq., were appointed a conmiiltcc to request General Gates "to direct that suitable barracks be built at the expense of the continent, tor ti-oops, in case any shall be barracked in this town the next winter," and that they also " rctpiost the Gen- end to direct that the Work House which has been improved the winter past for barracks, and damaged thereby, be repaired at the gencnil expense."
Mr. Sumner, iKjfore quoted, in pursuing his reminiscences, says ;
'-During the Ruvolutlonary Wnr there wns a reg;inieiit of artillery iinilcr Cohint'l Crniic for some cspLrlmeiUs hi throwing nhells. A (Ictachnient under Captnlii CiiHeiider, were on duty with a mortar on tliis lot.* The carrinpc vvsis placed on a. )ltllo knoll of ji^rountl, immediately In front of iht: old ctlhir. This knoll, no donht, was formed when the cellar wan dujj;. The dirt belny thrown down hltl to the west, formed a terrace whereon the carrlnye waa placed. — the only level spot near the vicinity. I reraein- btr very well after loading, ranging It south of (ireat Point, so that the fall might he in the river, and tiring two or three dead or hlank shells, irkich ih'<l not burst, -the next one, nry the. furirth, burst in the air. It did not do any inlNChtef, but before they wure ready to Arc again, Tolonel Crane came driving a foaming horse, and reprimanded Callender for firing live shells before dark. More blanks were tired before dark, and after dark a number of live ones, which burst before striking the water, and made a line show."
On the 12th of January, 1777, Brigadier-General Bene- dict Arnold arrived in Providence, to as.sist in the defence of Rhode Island. His quarters were taken in a hou.sc west of the Market square bridge, owned by Xathanael Greene, and subsequently purchased by Governor William Jones. The General does not appear to have done much here besides
•Thplot on which hU ftitlier, Mttjur Sumner, proposod to erect barrackfl. Major Sumner camv irtlh lii» bm[ly IViim Butiton, in 1774, and livnl <u rroviilpnee until 17St, when he n-moveii to Brookllne, Mbiik. HU son Tliomax, in hi« " reminiscences " communtcnted to bl* daufhrer In ISH, appears (o have been ncnerBlIy correct in his recolieclion of localities ■ml event*. MMJor .•'unnier »iu|ierlnl ended tlic oreotlon of the meellng-Uouie of the First HaplUt Society In TrovWencf , in 177t.
BHODE ISLA^T> IS THE RKrotmoy.
displaying bU military scailel tout, of which he was quite Viiiii. Al this time he w«s M)un'(! l>y what he toiisldorpd a want of appreciutiou of his merits as an officer, ami fre-
S^^^- ^^^i^^
qiienlly threatened to r^vsign his ronimission if not soon pi"o- moted. lie uiico made {lli^ dticlumliou iii tht; pn^scnco of Commodore Whipple, who shrewdly rapUcd, "General, I
1
OUB FRENCH ALLIES.
S9
knoir you won't resijni-" "Why do you doulit my word?" inqnirad Arnold. "Because, General," answered the Com- modore, "yuu lire the [innidest ninn I uvor seed ; iind I know you won't iiuil your unif'nnn, your e])JMilet(* and Lomnuind to be a private mau — for I tell you, you are the proudest roan that I ever «pct/.*' • The C^omniodoi-e was correct. The General did nol resign, but after obtaining pmmotion, bocamo » traitor to his conntry — huviu": four years previ- ously made ii good military record at Snrato^ii. Well for Ills reputation had it ItetMi that lie had closed his life on that field. Hut of hiiu more hciviifter.
Commodore AhnUium Whipple, a descendant of John Whipple, one of the original proprietors of Providence Plantations, and an associate of Uoger Williams, was honi in Provi(iciicr, IJ. I., Hepteinbcr 2<», 1733. He early took to sea life, and sailed in the service of Nicholns Iti-own, one of Uie leading merchants of Providence. Towards the close of the ohi French war he conmiandcd the privateer "(Jame Cock," in which, in a single cruiw, he captured twenty-three prizes. The part ho took in the du^lruction <if the Gaspee, in 1772, is rehitcri In prcredinfi pa^^^s. In 1775, two days lieforc the battle of Ihinker llill, the ficiienil Assembly of Rhode Island purchased and armed two sloops, one currying twelve guns and the other eight, and appointed Captain Whipple to the command of the larger vessel, named the Providence, and Captain (Irimcs to that of the smaller, who acted under the orders of Whipple. The duty assigned him was to clear the luiy of the tenders of the British frlgsite Rose* which prevented many vc^sids fi-om getting to sea. This he did offeclually by an engagement with two of the tenders, June irtth, in which he dis;ililcd and forced them to retire nnder the guns of the frigate, Iwsides capturing a third. This feat of valor won for him the honor of hnving tii-ed the first gun on the sea at the British, in tlie opening of the
• Lift qS UowbBd, p. ».
nnODB ISLAlfD !>■ TUK REVOLUTION.
Kcvoliilionnry wiir. Stibsc<jncntly ho wns pincetl in com- mnrnl of Tbe ColumltUii, in llio tontinentiil service, in which ho wajr very adive. Ho pariiciiKiu-d in tin- oxpeililidii Against Xew Piovidcnce, At ii later day he was appointed to the commniid of the tnj;:atp I'rondpncp, a. new ve«i*ol of twtinty-riirlit giins, hn\-ing C'nptain, aitciwnrds Gnvrnior JoDes, for \m tJint oHiiftr. In 1778 he oscuped tin* Uritish blorkadiii^ sqiiiidron occnpyinj^ thn hnrlmr uf XuwjKirt lUid various |>osltion.s in th« hny, n»d l»orr* impoi*t;int <U'S[KilHirs from Congn;.KS to our Mitiisl<:rs in Knirn-e. TUu iippeamnco of the Providence at Nante« ntti-«cted much attentioi), as tbe sight of iin American vnssel of wur in Ihat hnvUor •nun rare, Cnittuiii .Jkdos whs sent without delay to Paris with the dei*- patchtrs. uhero he met a M'arm reception. He «'«» presented to the King, who ri'ceived him in the most coi-dial manner. Comniodorc Whipple returned in safety to Riisinn. after a aoniewhut perilous voyage, witJi a muek needed c^i^o of clothing, arms and ammunition. For this service be received a eomplimenhiry letter from Washington.
In eniisinjf on and ort' the <'oiuit of Xewfouudland. In •T«Iy, 1779, he iVll in with the homewaitl bound .lanniiea fleet of nearly one hundred and fifty sail, eonvoyed hy a seventy- four ^nin ship !ind several snuiller vessels. This eonvoy lie joined, nnch-r the British (lajr. got iK>sses*ion uf the sig;nals of tbe Conimndnre, and by an adroit movement tn the night drew a nnndier of vessels ont of their course, of whieli he raptunnl ten. Kijrht of these prizes, havinjr eai-goes valued at more than a million of dollars, were brouifht safclv into RoHton harlior.
In openitinj; in the South in 1780. nnri endeavoring to save ChaHeKton from the enemy, he m'hs compelled to sur- T*nderhi« sqiuidrnn to Adniinil Arlmthnot, niid was hold a prisoner to the close of the war. Ho retunied to his fam in Oonstrm ptxiror than when he cnlcrud the sorviee of the United Stales, with a Ini^o sum due him. On the scturiliea in which he waa finally paid bo realized, owing to the low
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 25
credit of the government, only two shillings and sixpence on the pound, a discount of more than eighty per cent.
In 1784, Commodore M'hipple engiiged once more in the merchant service, and as commander of the General Wash- ington, a fine ship built by John Brown, he had the honor of fir^t unfurling the American ting on the river Thames.*
In 178)) he represented Cnmston in the General Assembly, ^n the foimation of the Ohio company he removed with his family to >Iarietta, and finally settled on a small farm bor^ dered by the Muskingum river, a few miles from Marietta.
While living in his new western home a company of enter- prising men of Marietta built a vessel named the St. Clair, of which he was given the command. Laden with provis- ions he made a successful voyage to Havana. In commem- oration of this event and of his naval exploits, Captain Jona- than Bevol, a native of Tiveiton, K. I., wrote as follows, kying the scene at the mouth of the Mississippi :
"The Triton crleth, ' Who conivLl) now from shore? '
Neptune repUeth, ' 'TIs the old Commodore ; Long has it been since I saw him before. In the year sevcnty-flve from Columbia he came, The pride of the Briton on ocean to tame : And often, too, with his gallant crew, Hatti he crossed tiic belt of ocean blue. On the Gallic coast T have seen him tost, While his thundering cannon lulled my waves. And roused my nymphs from their coral caves, When he fought for freedom with all his braves, In the war of the Revolution.
*' ' But now he comes from the western woods, descending slow wUh gentle floods. The pioneers of a mighty train. Which commerce brings to my domain !
*A recent vriter in the New York Tribune claims tlits honor for Caplain WJUlam Mooere, who comnuinded the Bedford, of Nantucket, which, he uiy«, was "tliv first ship to dlfplar the thirteen stripes Id the river Thames, Febraary 0, 17S3." No authorities are at hand to settle these conlllcllnft claims. 4
26 BirODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
T'p, sons of tlie wave,
Greet the nohle brave ! Present your arms unto liiiii.
Ills gniy hair hIiows,
Life iicnrs Its close : Lei's piiy the honors line hira. Sen-mnhls attend with lute and lyre. And hrhig your coiichs, my Triton sons, In clionis lilow to the aged sire A weltoine to my dominions.' "
Commodore Whipjilo was for several years active in stimu- lating ship ImikUiig at ilarietla, but after this voyage to Havana he retired from business life. He died at his home, alter a short illnews, May 2!tth, 18li>, at the age of cighty- tive years. His wife, a sister of (lovernor Hoi)kins, pre- ceded him to the gnivc by only a few months, at th« ago of seventy-nine years. His only son John was never uuin'ied, and in the male line the family of this eminent patriot has become extinct. The tombstone over his remains at Mari- etta twars the following inscription :
" Sacrctl to the ni< mor)' of
COMMOIIOKK A Bit AH AM WlllPn.E,
Whose nnnie, skill and courage trill ever remain the pride and boast of hl^ country. In the htte lievointloii he was the tirst on the seas to hurl defi- ance at proud llrlton; ^llantly lending the w:iy lo arrest n-om the Mis- tress of the (H-enn lier scepter, and tiiere to wave the Star Spangled Ban- ner. He nlso onndnt-ted to sea the tlrst sipiure-rigfied vessel ever built on the Ohio, opening to commerce resources Iwyond c.ilculutlon."
It has been truly said that the success of Commodore AVhippIe on the ocean " was not exceeded by that of any other in the navy," and that "his exploits and chai-actor will l<mg be i-eniembered by the inhabitants of Khode Island and Marietta."*
The l*rovidenee ct>mpany of cadets, under Colonel Night-
■ For ■ miiTv I'XttMuli'il notice of the life and MTvin>* of Coinmodorr Whipple, ^ev " Hvmvlm of tlii> K«t\y VUmvet S«-tiI>n of 01iiti,~ )>p. I.v-IM.
OUR FRENCH ALLIES.
27
ingalo, was stationed at Pawtiixet from Jsinuary 7th to Feb- ruary 7th, 1777. The command comprised the following i-oU:
Joseph Niglitftigalc, Colonel.
Willlum Uuesell, Nntli'l Greene, Paul Alleu, Belu Whipple, CliriHtoplier Oliicy, Jo. Dolbeare Kusscll, William Corlis, Caleb Gardner, Arthur Fenner, P<!ni Bowler, Priinns Tliunipson,
Lientunant-Colonel.
Major.
CuptHin.
Isl Sergeant.
2d
8ti
4th
FIfer.
At
Drummer.
John Innes Chirk, Samuel Young, LuwU Peck, Nicholas Power. John Angell, Wlllium Bowen, Zacharlah .\llen, John Mumfiml, Daniel Smith. Nathauld Jaeob.«, Peter Taylor, Thomus Ghukling, Joseph Parker, John Gihlis, James Hill, S:imuel Hamlin, William Karl, Job Page,
Frivalen.
Joseph Aiigell, William Co2zenH, Pepp'l Tyler, Itobert Lawton, Oliiey Wiiisor, Samuel Dnnu, Nicholas Cooke, James Munroc, Thomas lUiHsell, John Muinford, JeHxe Cooko, George Gluey, Joseph Greene, Joseph Cooke, Daniel Kogors, Beiijamiu Alger, John Itogers, William Uhodca,
Jeremiah Fones Jenkins, Kiirus Hopkins, John Green, Daiih^l Cooke, William Kui^sell, Jr. Aaron Wrlghl, Pardon Bowen, Arthur Crawford, Siimuul ChacB, Beuj»niln Bowen, Jeremiah Jenckes, Samuel Chace, Jr. Daniel Tilliugha»t, John Kllton, Sylv'o Jenks," Nehemiah Sweet,t Joseph Green, t
Jeremiah Whipple, Sick, absent.
John Murray, Absent by leave.
James Morrill, Absent.
Joseph BncklUi, Jr., Absent In service of the State.
Prince, Primus
M
loneers.
Thomas Thayer, ' Benjamin Camp, Samuel ,
Walters.
•Tlow In Mr*l«r, (bur dayg.
I In tervlce, two dayH,
t In tervice, one daj'.
2S
BHODB ISLAND tS THE REVOLDTIOS.
The" total expense of the eoniiMiu^' diiritij^ their month's encnmpriieiit wtva £2:Jf> IU9 4d.
This company of cmiets was one of the early oi^uized infantry companies of I'l-ovidnnce. In coniiectiim with the regiments of Colonels Little nnd Hitchcock, then i|uartercci in town, it purfonued earort duty lo Ginicnd Wu»hin;;toii on his visit to I*r(ividt'iiir, April .'», IV7H. In the wnr of 1812 ihe compntiy rendered iiiiportaut services n^ 11 home gnard, and when, un the return of peace, I'lvsidunt Mutirue viiritcd Providence, the cndets. under the conininnd of the late CtdoucI George Baker, were selected for the e<»cort. The eompuny no longer exidtd, its charter having been aunvn- dercd in 1865.
THE KAKLIEST OF OUR FKKM*]! ALLIB.
JylxHE l^eehindion 0? hulcpondcncc found cordial sym- (^J'palhy uumnt,' the lihenil spirit* of Kunipe, and was looked upon with favor in France liy men in liigh sorial posi- tion, who were not slow in making known their opinions. French military officers flocked to America and applied for positions ill the Continental Anny. Of ihese the following is a list :
Monsieur Dtigan, M. Arnndol, Lc Chevalier de Saint Anlaire, Aiilolnc Felix Vieliert, Louis I>uhois, Le Chevalier de Kermnrvan, Jac. Ant. de Fninchesseii, Saint-MartJn, Jcan-Arthnr de Vermonet, Fidelo I>orr6, ChriHlophe Pellis- sier, Jacqnes-PanI Govert, Manpiir* de ^falmedy. Chevalier du I'lcssis Mtmduit, tlcan-Louis Imhert, Chretien de Colenis, .Tean-Lodis de ^'irnejoix, Pierre Fram^-ois de Boys, Mat-Al de Ui Hochcformoy, Le Comie de Montfort, De la Neii^ille, BcFaiieiiil, Charles ,\rmand Tufin, iMarfiui.^ de la Kouerie. >L^rqui3 Fningois Lonis DcFleury, Thomas Conway, (of
ODB PltENClI ALLIES.
29
Scotch origin, nml one uf tlio Ciilml to tle])o^e Wiisliuigloti.) Mottin dp hi Ihilme, Copiihi <li' la Ganle, Maniuis ilu la Fayottc, Dc Viillonnys, I>c Chevalier cUi Pon:iiI, Do la R-ulitire, iJe Gouvioni Baruti tie Ilolzcndorf, PruiUiutiiiiiu de !Jorre, Troimoii ilii Coiidnii. Cheviilier do Failly, Dea E|)m- icrei, l^e Onutc de Pidapki, (a Pole Uy birlh, »Dd killyd at Snvanimh,) NtcoliLS Kugcr. Dc Ucdonux, •John llnroit do Kalt). (iturii in (ionuiiiiy ), Dc Vvigny. Chevulicr dii Uiiiiison, Chevalier de la Colouibe, Chevalier Dorset, Do Liiumoi, De Giitiut, Chevalier de Villefranehe, Denis do llonohet, Ferdi- nand de Bmhm, De Fonthiore, De Ponccanx, Du Camhray, Marquis dc ViiMine, ISerhet de Rucht'fontainc, Do L'Eelise, M. Tituzrir, M. Urice, De Neville, De Pongilieaii and Chev- alier de Creniis.
These np|)li(-ant8 received nppciiiitnientti, in various grades, from I>it'()tenant9 to Majora-Geucml. Some of Iheni gained 9i>efiul renown ; us, for example, Kouerio, Fleiiry, Dii Por- tail. Puhi:^ki, De Kalh, Mauduit, De Giuiat,* Ikmeliet, and Tonznr, who lost an arm in the service. Rut higii over all towered Ijifayotte, who, at Ihe age of nineteen yeans, in wanii ra5>*nipatliy with the Amcrlcnn caiiso, secretly lilted out a vessel at his own «xp(-nr>e, and e]u«ling the Royal officers 6ent to prevent his departure, reiwhcd this eotintry and asked permission of Congress to .verve in the army as a vol- luiteer without pay. His cowjmynoini t/t vot/mjc w«re the Itai-un De Kalh and ten other military gentlemen. If this ttct di»tui-bed the equanimity of consen-ative.** at the Koyal Court, it i>rovcd a udght}' power in strengthening the cour- age of a sorely pre.'tsed people, belonging to an ancient, honored and induential family of the French Xohility, he was a favorite with Ixinis XVI. and his fascinating Queen, Maria Antoinette, and did ranch to bring them inio clojier eymputhy with the struggUug Americans, despite the coun- teracting influence of the cautious Prime Miniater. 'J'lie
*alDnl,»hiH|iMnilr Ki.'ol'inpluf AtUUvrj *t Toritlawn, tlriee I>» la CokwulMt. kimI tto
30 RHODE ISLAND IX THE REVOLUTION.
spirit which actuated him throughout his military career in this country is well expressed in a letter addresser! to Henry Laurens, President of Congress, in acknowledgment of a commendatory resolution transmitted to him from that body :
" Tlic moment I licard of America I loved lipr; tlie moinciit I knew iilie was tl};liliny for fVt'etlout 1 burnt witli a desire of bleeding for tier; Hud the moment I fliall be able to serve her at any time, or in Kny part of the world, will be among the hiippleNt ones of my life."*
Lafayette was received into the military family of AVash- ington, between whom and himself there grew up a tender, contidential, life-long fnendship. By Congress he was com- missioned a Alajor-Geneml, and served without abatement of ardor until the conclusion of the revolutionary struggle.
AVhen Lafayette came to Khode Island it was with a re|> utation for unusual military ability, — a reputation well won at the lirandywinc and elsewhere. In Providence, his youth, intelligence and manly bearhig, not less than his vigilance and prudence as an officer, made him a welcome guest. The homes of the I)est families were eovdially opened to him, and wherever he went he was the life of the social circle. He found great delight in the society of the llow- ens, the Niglitingales, the Browns, Foster, Corliss. Jones, Tillinghast, Madame Dexter, and many others, while the simple pleasures sure to await him and his otHcers at the house of William Field, of Field's Point, or at the " Gairi- son House" in Cranston, compensated in no small degree for the home enjoyments he had temporarily laid aside at La Grange, that he might serve the cause of freedom in America. The late Miss Polly Feimer, a descendant of Major Thomas Fenuer, who died some years ago. distinctly remembered having seen Washington, Lafayette and other officers "with swords dangling by their sides as they danced" at a
• Sinrlu.
Ol'R FREXC'H AU.TE». 31
ball given lU the (iarrison House* Tlieliulics ]>i-cscnt, she said, were conspk-Dous "with powdered heads and apnu^led dresses. "
Arnnn^ the plnces id Providence fteleet«d for quorters for a night or nuue when in town, tradition nssiiii^s us that Liitiijietle snnielimes found ir.sl in the ^inibi-el-roof brick house, now niitnliered 537 and 539 Xorth Miiin sii-oel.
f*l
IgtMIITfllin II.' LAVJt% CTItUl
This oldest brick hotuo in Providence, an engi^ving of which is hero given, was built between K.")!) and 1760 hy Lieutcniml-(>ovomor Klis-bii Brown, whose home was neur by in t)m then ntmosl |>iihitttil residence, at present known as ''the Butler House,'' in "Otrj^enter's Yard." LieiitennnMiovenior Brown was the youngest son ot" Klder .lames Krown^nnd the imitle of Moses Brown. August 21), 1770, he sold the briek house to Piiul Bunker, of Shcrboum, now Xantueket town, and April \2, 177f), it wai; again sold to Thomas Shcrboum, of the same town. It has st'voral tiwcH since changed hands, but while it stands it will attract
*TkB"n«rriM>ii lloiiM''mubaUtniilannipl«I breifttAln Aniiar Finntf, OM of t&e mrlf Mtltiir* 'it I'mtttti*. iwiil lir<»riip ■ ron>Kf lu nrlglibor* (■ ■ranMik of tlaiifrr fWiu ItidUtK. Thv Itoiiw •iMita about haJf « inllt* nDrtliHT^tpriy arilivCwHlan l>liit Worfc*. Il U bui Inliatiltiil, iiikI U ni|>ftlly nitMni to di-cay. TIi« tiouar Iwili by Kniat lliOMittt I'ru- mur, ■ brullirruf <'N)ilalii AMIiur. It in ilio iklnll;, »(iil lu Kooil npi«'''.
82 RIIOUE IKLAKD TK THK REVOLrTIOy.
Attcntiou as a relic of the revolutionary period.* Of Ijifty- ette more litrealler.
Sr^vcml of the officers in the preceding list were well known in IVovidence. l*roujiueutl_v aiuung tbcm stood tlic MarqiiJti Fraii(,'oi8 Lellonjiiis De Miilroedy and the Marquis Pe Fleiiry. Malmedy came t<> Prriviil^-nrt; in DeeeniUer, 177ti, on the recommendation of (Jeneral Charles I^ce, and was appointed CTjief Engineer and Director of tbe works of defence witltiti the State, with the rank fiwt of Colonel and tlien of Hrigiulicr-^ienera]. In hiti letter of inlroducliuu to Governor Cooke, General Lee wiy* :
"Bbod« T«laiid will |>robttbljr he attjickc<1; jronr mcu flnd jrouugcr offl- txn AT*: ifood, t>ut I nin (KTmiiiili^ ^ou Imvi- do man with yoD ctpftble of coodtictlng an nrmy ; do man who has snffiriciil kiionlrdgr M an rn^l> ueer. f Uitvi- tlirix-r<>ru r«voU-cil to ftcmJ n t;vii(l«ititin wllb nhoiiv );rriil Uloota. ncliiity atjil zval, I am well acquBlut(.-0 ; Ills imiiie Ik Ma1in«lr, a Fri'iK-tiraati. 1 cutrvat j'ou to glvi- lilm the eaUru commatul to be directed by Ills couneik."
With this viiih tho Oovcmor complied, and important elianges in tJie defences iirvMUid Pi-ovi<Iencc were made.
A defence had been estrihlished at Warwick Neck, which the Cicnenil early inspcctc<I, and which he decided was not athipted t<t the purjiosc intended. Concerning tlils |M)st he writes 10 General Lee, December 20, 1776, as follows:
■>Ttie getitJrnieB or Ute comitiUlec Imagliirfl that Warwkk Nock was iDOn; ImimrlAiil, since the Miemyart- in Ithoile Inland. I nMitniiil the ■wueevenlne- I litive traiened all ucar tu ttic point of Connecticut, all llio ovck of Warwick. I cautiuL [ktcvIvu In all ihnl pnrt the pi>9)tiblllt)' of klndcrlng itia cn«n)' h'oiti making a dG^ceni. The bankft throiiuhoul aru oaajr or aecesM, aad tti« Te.-<8i?T« can com« clo^c to the land, Tlicrv in,
■■•Ttw iMraw «'Ui Bii (m|io»lnx atnuiuti' fttr ili* iIhii:<>, nail iliitv mil iipw irfvc ■mrirci M» of R* tbcB apixAMDer, Tnn Ike fact thai kbout une-thlrd of Its IniKtli on Iht nonh «■• inki'M dowii aBil llir wimmIrb eeUmge anw NtBndlng lliere liullt upon 111 ilte. Till* ttai twoiifhl alHWI (ID ■cnmnl at ah latpmrv Aniiulallnn at (hi^ nortli rod, which raoicil t1 tu IMdc aoil tbaw tlffua of lUanjc, *nA wat laken ihiva irttlitn ili« mr-mory or iicr>oiu now Ur\m$. A look at Um tnmt rl«aih>a will rvrral ita or1|[l>ial pm[urlt(in, (pbubucIi aa llw oniral wUiAitw of ih« Ibna wnili ow* Ha> vrMaait* tb« evvtn ut IIm nvKli and mniUi IUd *■— ^. /r . in froMne* Jmrnai.
OUR TBENCH ALLIES. 33
however, an advanta;>:i>ou» situation for n camp upon the hl^h ground, ft-om wbt^nce we can hliidvr tiie ent'tny from forming mid witlidruwing thwiiselvvs from the Are of llicir ciuiiioii. It raiglit servo n.s a cnrnp of observatiou. On my return I gnve a narticiilar account of this matter.
"You know. My Ueiieriil. llie KJtuatl<m of the town of Warwick. It is mere foliy to attempt to defeml it, in case llie enemy makes a descent in Its neighborhood. I there found some works begun. I thouglit It my duty not to oppose the desire of the roinniamlaiit. We liave liierefore comlnued to prolon;; tiiem, with some ro^iiihirity, adapted to the ground.
" The hame niglit I returned to Providence and gave an account to the Governor of the dllllculty of deleiidiiig tlie town, and that the poHt ought t«i be evacuated. I liave sent him an order of retreat for liie detachment, with the out-guards, and requested liim to drive from I'awtuxet the great number of cattle and forage, which arc on tlie Seek. I cannot doubt but from lt«i Hituatlon, tliut is the place where the enemy will make their descent, if they him).
"I think. My General, ttifit after making efforts at l'»wtuxet, and all along the river, we ought to defend Providence, and there engage them. I presented la the Governor four reasons to support this determination. I believe the |)liiee wiiere I am, will, in a month, be out of danger of a covpdemaia In that case, a general who slinll comnmnd a force, sup- porting his left, and extending ohliqnely on the right, will cover Boston and that province; and I do not believe the enemy dare enter Connecticut, and by that means separate themselves iVom their vessels, wliich is their place of arms ; nor are they no numerous a^ to render ttiemselves masters of the river."
Under the same date, he writes : "I should go t«-duy to Bristol and Ilowland's Ferry, but it snows to such n degree that there U no travcllitig." Of the local mihtary asijeet he gives the following description :
" Notwithstanding the proximity of the enemy, and the ease with which tlii-y muy land, E do not see alwve six or .seven hundred men at Warwick; one thousand or eleven liundred here; four hundred citizens, at the most, ready to take arms, and only one company of artillery. The colonels of the regiment do not know wliere to rendezvous. In case of alarm; I see no posts established ; I see no artillery in motion, nor any preparations for that purpose. No exercise at cannon, notwithstanding the great want of Instruction.
" MeantlEue. the enemy are ten thousand. They do not make any gen- eral movement; but they can, in one tide, embark In flat-bottomed boats, and land at Warwick Neck, and arrive at Providence In four hours, that town is worth such an attempt at this motuent. It is very important, on account of the great quantity of inerchaodlze and ships in its port. I S
34 RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
cannot nccouiit Tor tlie coiiditct uf the En^Udli fteiivruls, If tbcy li:ivc rooU intelligence. The people here ^\\v themselves up to n Ii-thnrKk- hien, bccau.se they are not nuiiierou.«, mid bee:iiisc they serve as a ileTenslve post to Hhotle Ishtnil. The Amerieiiiis oiicht to Tear the Illusion; for thL>HC two moiitlis it has been very destnictivc."
Provision wiis imiilo for the (leiicnirs accoiiim(Kliition in tbe house of widow Eliziibeth Arnold, whieh proved to be very satififjietory to him. He appears to have been active in the discharfje of his duties, and to have sttMjd well approved, but Washington having sent two eontinental general officei"s to Providence competent to perform the duty of engineers, and the Genend Assembly considering the heavy dcmiuids upon the State treasury, felt constniined to close their rela- tions witii tlio General, which they did " with ii very grateful remembrance of his abilities, activity and zeal,'' and n gift of £50. In acknowledgment of the courtesies shown him, he wrote to Governor Cooke its follows :
"MoitmsTowx, May U»th, 177T.
"HiiNouAni.K Sill: — I'erinit nio to remind yoii that the Awsenthly of Rhode I.-laiui, in coiisideralion of the small uuiiilter of troops ralse<l in that State, (wliicli was a prudent measure, and from wise motives of economy.) resolved to dismiss iheir three hriyaditr-Kenerals, It even cou descended lo offer me a j^nililleatiiin for my st'rvi<'es, as a teslimony of their saU>lac'iion ; and Your Honor hsis heen pleased, likewise, to nialte an
;advautiti:eous n.'presentatioi) of my conduct ; nil wiilcb. does me honor, and has disposed the llnnoralde (.'on;;ress. His Kxeellency and all worthy
.persons to thinic favornlily of me: lioivever, this ^ood di>pi)sttion towards luc is not universal: fur evil-minded people, ever ready to miseon.strue
•factx, have interpreted my dismisalou In a manner hi<;hly Injurinus to my reputation.
"I know and retipect the j^ood intentions of the gentlemen wtio cum-
. pose your Assembly ; and tlierel'ure cannot heticve thai they iiieaiil tii do me harm In sending me to the army; and after premisin;: (his. I siiall hes- itate not u moment to ac<|ualut yon wltli the snhject of my ujiprehvnsions and uuensliiess. imping from a eontinnanee of {rood ollli-e>, to remove the prejudices and malicious Insinuations of the uintevolcnt aiiainst my char- acter.
" I came into America with the consent of the Frencli K'-niTids. and upon assurance that my services here would be asri-eabie to my country. I um obliged to render them an account of my conduct In the arndes of the
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 35
Stalon. I couUl not do this better tlmii by liironnlng them that through the rocoiiiiiicii(lntloi) ami confldciicc of Geiierni Lee the Stiite of Rhode lHl:iiid liHN hoiiorG<l mi; with the riiiilc of 13ri;;ndlGr-Geiu<rnl; iiud I've just miw rocoivcd the Geiiernl of Mnrtiiiluo's comiinmeiita therfupoii.
'■ If tlie ri-i>iitation of a French ollk-er through the afleetiou of his coiiii- trjr for your cause, be al>soliitcly esublli'lied, by his fiilllllin!; his duty In your aniiiv.s, I be:; yon will consider how critical the sltuutlon the bare nnspiclon of the contrary must brln^ him into; my dismission after Uvc months' [>romotloii must necessarily leave some susiiicion^ in a kingdom where the spirit of honor and K"od conduct can alone reconimtnid to and maintain olUcers In posts and phices.
" He pleased to put a favonilile constrnctlon on my Infinietude. I know not what judj;miiit the people in yeneral of this continent may pass on these matters, nidess 1 may be iillowid to form an Idea from the expres- sive letter which General AVashlnifton wrote upon the subject.
" Wherefore, since my services at Khodelslcind have met \rttli your appro- bation, permit me, through Vonr Honor, to ask a favor of the Assembly, that will be of iiillnite service to me, Yonr Honors dismissed me fi'om the maxims of economy, and because you had but few troops. I entreat you will ayain houor me with the rank of Bri^jndier- General, without any pay, and without the least pretenslou of ijcing employed by you, unless Tour Honors should think proper to deninnd my services. This will be r rank merely honorary, which will eonlirm the distinction you formerly conferred on me without any solicitation on my part.
"If the principles of your udmiinsiration, sir, permit yoti to pay any attention to what so essentliilly concerns my reputation, and to grant my petition, be pleased to grant this rank to Monsieur Frau(,'oIs de Molmedy, Colouel. The Congress sent me thU commission on the 10th May. lo which ease there will be no degrudatlou, nud I shall enjoy In trauqulUIty the effects of your bounty,
" I am, with profound respect, honored sir,
" Yonr most obedient and very humble servant,
(Signed) y Oy
"To Honorable Governor Cookk."
The Colonial Records do not show that any action was taken upon General Malmcdy's rc<|U08t. There may have been reasons of State for not calling the attention of the General Assembly to the subject.
The Marquis Do Fleury passed a consideniblc time in Providence, and while here held very intimate relations with
?fi RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
the lion. Theodore Foster, with whom he boai"ded, and who entertained for him a high esteem. Mr. Foster represents the Colonel as " sociable, jocose, and very agreeable in con- versation, of a free, libend turn of mind in matters of religion." September 13th, 1778, he went to Bristol, and i-eturncd to Provident-o on the 24th. October 4th he left. Providence to join Washington. lie was an oflScer of supe- rior ability, and served In the American army as Captain, Snb-Inspcctor under Steuben, Adjtitant-Genenil under Lee, and Ijieutenant-Colonel. For distinguished services at Fort Mifflin and at the battle of the Brandyvvinc Congress pre- sented him ^ith a horse. He served gallantly under Sulli- van on Rhode Island, and for the brilliant part he took in the atorniing of Stony Point received the commendation of Wayne. Congressvoted him thanks and a silver medal. The •medal was j>robably never in his possession. It appears to have been lost, how and when are unknown, in Princeton, N. J., where it was found in 1850. De Fleury accom- panied Hamilton in a visit to D'Estning in 177**. to conuuu- nicate AVashington's views in regard to mutual operations. Washington speaks of him as "an amiable and valuable efficer," whose sen'ices he had received on numerous occa- sions.
In 1780 he placed himself under the command of Rochambeau, and served at Yorktown. The following let- ter written by the Colonel at Yorktown subseciuently to the capitulation, addressed to James Duane, a member of the Continental Congress from New York, and recently brought to light, exhibits an admirable, patriotic spirit. It is printed without any coiTCction of an imperfect orthogi-aphy, pardon- able in a foreigner of that period :
" Dear Sir
"I have wrott to yoii twice clnrinf^ tlic Biegc, I hope my letters arc arrlv'd Mk Into your liandH : but I couldn't forbear conp^mtulating you on thlB Lucky and gloriuas event. Our successes hnve not Indeed costed very dear to oh; however you inuat not meaiiure our i^iory, by the dangers we
OITU FRENCU ALLIES. 37
run lo obtain it, but by tlicir utility, ('ornwnllyx. the »oiitlii>ru Lyoi), Imst been very tame to lis ; he hail neither teetli, nor chiws, OihI bl(;s«i him, for he has diim! no mitichicr. We shall 1 hope hy this last blow yet the better of the )iritti!>h olistiiiaey to enslave amerkii. Don't yon think that the Congres we have li»Ul at York will promote pence sooner than Ihe Coiiyres iit vrenini? If we eonki hold the next session at churh-htown, [ do not <)nestir>n but we should come to au end of this war next spring. Mr. Oe grusse is sailed yesterday morning nflor the brlltish licet, which eame in si;;ht and disappeared; if we heiir aiiylidnk of an action, you sliall have the parileiilars. U'e expect to take our (iiiarters at Lampton [Hampton?] york and wiUiainshiirsh. The nmerican army will divide, part to your liiver, part to urcen's army. }>eneral Washington, O'"'' <"j""'"- 's y»lnf! back to yiiur Country, which 1 hope he will protect, from the Indians of nin;;ara and new york.
" fivrcwell. and believe mc forever with great respect your devoted and oblijteit servant and friend
■'Fleiiry "i Dined yesterday with Lord Coruwnllya & o'hara; i«;issobokl as lo inquire of the Lord, why they took so many nigros, by (loil said he whe had no other alllee.H left iu this Country, you forget did i answer, your faithfuU friends the itulians
"31 October 1781 Cninp near york."*
Oil returning to France the Colonel was miidc a Field Marshnl.
Worthy to be associated with I)e Fletiry is Charles Animnd TuHn, Mnrqnis do la Itonerie, who was bom at the Castle of do la Hoiierie, near Basonge in Brittany, in 175(5, and early entered a regiment of the French Guards, under the cointnand of the Duke de Biron. lie came to America early in the struggle between the colonies and the mother eonntry, and near the elo.se of his voyage narrowly escaped death, Init succeeded in prcsenirig (lespatches fi-om Dr. Fnnikiiti i)Iaced in his care by Captain Anderson of the ves- sel in which he sailed, anil in delivering them to Congress. May 10, 1777, he was eonnntssioned as Colonel in the conti- nental army.
The Alaninis saw much sor^'ice in the Xortli and at the South. He commanded an independent legion, with which
*Ni-w York Kvoning I'oi-t, Outobi-r IS, ItU^t.
RHODE tSLANt) DT THE BKVOLTTTKW.
he prti-ticipjitcd in the siege of Vorklowii. After llie surren- der of (Jdrnwiiilis, Ijr was directed to n'[>nrt to (Jenenil Greene in the I>epai-tmont of the South. Mafcb 2G, 1783, he was ennimit^sioncd ii Itrlgadier-Genernl. He wiw u brave and HI) efficient officer, and was greatly esteemed Iwth hy A^'nshinu:ton and Rochamlieaii. Coiijarrcss passed vcrj' coni- plimi,'iit«ry reaohtfions in nttknowIedgTiicnt of his servicec. In 1784 he returned to Franoe, where he particiiwtcd iu the excitinjr I'vents of llie time;?, ile died in 1T!*2 of grief for tlie exL'ciitidn of Lonis XVI., to whom he was fnilhfnily devoted."
Baroti De Kalb vnis bom in Geminny. and in early life entered the French service, in which he continued forly-two ycare. On his ari-ival in America ho [ifrore<l his services to tho CongiTss. which were flc<icptcd. He was commisHionod n Mnjor-Genenil, and commanded the right wing of the iinny under Genersil Gates, in the battle near Camden, S. C, in ivh!c-h he was mortally wonnded.
■An fnifrrtTltis Ucmotrof Ike H«rqul«, vrrlltra br Townivnd Wtud. Ew)., of ttillAfM. plllit, b i>ulilt>Ncil In tlir IViinijIvnaIn UftKiuInn of niilorj nnil DiD|t«phr( 'Ol. lit No> l> liCR, llliulralnl with a Itnely rnffrnrt^ porri-Rll.
BAKRArKH.— On paK" 1* dmibt* wmw cxiwn-fd wliellior b«mwrk»w<Te pr»ctnl on I lie Ull-*Me wnl uf (he tort on I'rmnH'Cl lEUL Mnn- thai imfft- «w prlntri a iXuj hu been
ptMtd in my liktiiln III Mhli-li I llinl Ihr fiitlinriiix i-nlT] :
"I7K. JiiiirSI. TItclMmtckaUndliiKoii Hip luml of Dr. Wllllnm Dowva wu lolil Uilt rlaj at pnbllc vumliir lo Ibc >iUd L>r. llowra Tor il dullnn •pretr."
A« th»laDil upon which 3tajor .'•umnf r pro|io«rd lo rrMt the bnimdti vai ownnl br I^. William thinrn, llir aburr nKlract iiukui 1( apimrtliat. Ibpy ncrc built.
KfiTK— It appMra IImI prior iu ImHok Fmbiw, tjUhjrHtA (nlrrrd Into an agrpeinml wHIi !)flai t>niiH-, ihi>« In raH> » a jmIUImI »f»d fnwBivnial afrnl gf CQngrim to pto- L-nn dot III nf, arm -I atKl aauDMintlkm, by whkh ww t-nrnttit tn tlir Airmrr Ihr rank or Malnr-limcral. nlilch Mr. Ihranr ba^xnl raonn-iu ii> ^onlimi. ^IniHar rMiinu^n wera insdf- with tti.^ R«n>ii IV Kalb, tmd nlhcr oWff r» llit«idiii< lo IdfottT^ Hielr mlMlarr ftrr tUOM wKh Ilie uiuilDcntal «tnic(lr tat • natioualil.v, llx-w contract* nrv rmhnn-d in tlie Drant paitpn. aou In pauriiloii o* iIm> Trromri 1 '•■partiiH-iJl In Watlilnrlun. Ilwj wpo- iHM-wti-n-l a fftr^i<an njr> bj lapliila n. A. ilaj^ltr. of tbe Tttamirr I>riiMim«^, ■nd w*ti! Hnt fuibliihrd In IIib Crmtdruiv tmlng rma. TIioib of Laraj <aip and Dp Kalh am htn jin-antlHl a* f urauMW l« IhU liamtif e. Tli* artlKiicmpli)' of Uw orlKlaali lia* aoi bcra ctiaairnd.
OUR FItKNCH ALLIES.
UAVAYKTTftli COirmALT.
" La il»lr i^ur noiiiiilrur Iv iiinniuti d* lafh/HIr uttntoe, At wnlr dans 1p> Iranpca Art Ernt* unli tk> l/iiiur-ri<|iir l^.-plpii(rlaii«lF, i'( I.'icilrrM iju'tl [ir«iii| s Id Juntlcv ■!<• Ivitr (suiv, lay r>tMiil AO-utiiiilrr iln ocrd^lucn d^ Sc lilrliitfciirr h Ia (rurm-. rt d* SV rt-iMlrf dIII« •Blaul r|ir)l arn cii ley ; iiMii ric |viutaiit Sc flulFrd'ubtriilt ■.'■(cn^iifn I •■« Sa Atiiniri- )i>>iir Mrv(r en l'ii}^ii;lni'>ir<^i.-( [>«Hrr 1k» men, (jirnuTaut iiu* II y Irut* iMuniit Ulllricr tivui'ml, J^ar orfl ii«|iuutofr mivux urvir )n»n I'ayn i-l dh-i romniriUiits quVii lu; an'uirfHuC lui IKWn du ItTi iHinaiiiUii < uiijcrtu, I* jirnili' do nii^iir f<>at'-r.tl i)up Jr Mijiplle I» rlHl* lie tujr vmllraitT, rallllrr rl tn Dtlr^ KxptJIrr t»Cainailiutoiii>uur iniln-t prindrr ratitf Bciitnpttr 4* «o}iiHr, avcc Iv* nlBrkin (IiWruit ilii uiniir ktm'W. tin ^IUII^ aal»BiMv, Si-* alllim:**, Irs grantlxi dIjtiillVB qui.- u r»iiilll( |iiiii>Mi! vn cv <'>>nr, mu Mviii ei>«aldi>rul>k> ifi <* Riijr. ■nm*, son laiTlitr iienoDiwI, ^k rL-puiaiiuu, ."ton dpilntrtvtM'merit, rt Siir1«iii t^n i«]« |Mur Is lltNtrti^ <t« iioa I'ruTlnoifi. ni'dut (vulii jiO t>iij(UjrT ■ luy (ulrp 1a pruinvMt ilii<ll( jcrajlc do uatJtH jrwiiTBl.nii tiuiii ilvHllia Llitu unit. Li> foyilwiuoj j'af Plgiw I* iiiMfrit.rnll • Pari* N'pl Xlirt. nifl >i-jil «-n[ ."<jii«»lK SrUp.
Auk ri>ii<litl<ii» critri^iii. Jc ni'iiiTh' ■■( prciniH ilr jmrllr qnand ri ruiiimml Muiialmr iKrnnrlitJiizrtu ui>r<ip>i<>, (Hiur r^rtii Ij-xdit* Klnl^aM-c tuul k- ii-lc puMlblc .*^an< aiic«ii« (Wiuiloo uf ttahnnHit |Mill<uil|rri nil' rMvivaiil !ii>iilpiii»iil In Ulwrli- df ip<»nlt en tUiro[)», LonqM nut flunDk mi mod U«r mc mivtlwoHi fall a t'arl* oc ^])t Xbrv 17i*-
If n. dt lanijcilc.
Tkn ai*ti Ihat thp liarjiila dp f,aAi;i«'lii- ha* *1iu>m in m-xi lu i))« aioij: of Um) IJnllod Nat«aor North Auwrlt'H, mid Itic inltri.-tl thai he lukii in tlivjuftln* «r Ihcbcaiite laal;- tllC him nisli for opiHirtuidllo to dUtliiftuiiili blinsrlf In tliv Hur. an'l to makr hiimiflf iistv All ta ilwn a* Mi'teli ii* In lilm lln; liul, nul tM^lti^ablv to oblnlii llipct)iiM>iiI iir Id* dually |i?»crTvlDaforrli(ni.i>UHlr]r and to rron tlipocran, cxwpt on Ihc eondtlloti Ibal )i( dioulil Itv at a p^iFTa) oinmr, I liiivr IidI1c«><1 (linl I <n«id ii'il terre mjr eoiiutTj am] njjr Miprrluri bplliT Itiiiii by grariiliix lu lihn. lu llic iiaini- vf lliu terv liimuni til'' (.'uukrm, Ihr rnuk of N4|or lirunal. wlilcli 1 Ink tbr ^talr« U» (aanrm ami raiir.r. and to Mihd furward hU tarn- mlMJoB lo fiiabli- liliii 111 [like ami tiulil raak, «M)iitIii( fKnii lo iInv, wtili itip jci'iirrat oA- oeriuf iIk' latiic urortt-. II U lilxh blrlli. Iif> fuiiEicciloiiK, III*? gnM dlri)li)f> tut Id liy hi* nuiillr «l lliln (^Mirl. Idi (vuililrralik |iui>ci>luni In l)i<* Lintnlimi. lii-> |HT4-nial iiictil. hia r*paiai|iiii. Iil> iliitiiiFn-iir-liH'", and, aliuir h11, lili muiI (or ilii' iVn^Uitu iif out mliinlp*, batvaloiir b*«n iiMi' lo liiiluci' rncto laakr thl> |iromU« ofllit Mtd rank uf Unjor-tidu-ral, III Ibe uaiiic t>f tltr >alil I'litivd >lai(-«. In ii<iiir» iir irhk'h I hair alxricd thmr jirt-iaiU, iIpiMiai l*nri«, I1ili> kv ri-ath of l>c(ub<;f, •tTi-nu-rn lunidn-il uiiil irvcnit.'lx.
Ta tbr at-iHi- ci>THlili(>ii> I aKirr. ami |in>Tiil>i- in •lad vhrti and how Ur. Iiraai- uliall jMilga b proja^, lo •MOlhrrald Simlt-n wllliull jMiwdbl* xral. «rl)li no BlIoHaum nnr piltala
Mlarr, rfMrrliif lu nijMlf onlf tlie rislH lo n-turii iv l^rvp* whciwriT my fluuUj or n; kiBC ahall rroill tna ; iIori- at l^rla tbU •rrcalli <lar uT (fclutm. KTH.
(KlgHOll) TlIH llAiigi i« nK LArAIXTTK.
KAR»» UR KAU'a nOMTRAOT.
tm namu De Ralli lH<Iair iuItUkI hy ■ami' <>vnerala oT i)ip ht)thr>l rvputallon and by HT(>n»|iKli«'r K»bl<nw>n or th<^ llri>t tank In IhU rr«llD. to fvrrv ttir caiKc of l.lbcnjrlD AatPiii'a, lia aoairdliiKl; uBtrr* hit wriliwa tu tlir auMi tioncirablr t.'nagrr**, on Ibn IblloK' llV li^na*-
1. To bp uiad* m Mnjurfiriirral of I1i« Amrrlmi Troopi M Ihr np|«ltiini»nii of tiM
Majiit llt-iirrala la IIibI •rrilii', ullli all iilhcr |jm|ul>llri lii-ii>li(tlli|t 10 Ibal Hank, braidri B(«rilcular ««m lo hr altomnt to lilm aniiiiiiIlT, which li» nlll iii>i ■Ipli-milnt', b«l trij- uu It for Otr riMijpTu, tH>|>]Bit ilwy will ctirnddcr Iho dUTirtMicp tlioni b. I^lwrcii tliHr own Coaittlryairn, wloi arv lli Wiili IfUiiud lu dirfr-ail Itirlr all, aiHl ■ fnn'lgwr who out iif hli owa aomrdoftr* lils IIikp, Hia biWp lili faiuUt alTatn l" liatnnl lil* IIIVfl>r tW AmrriCBii Ulirrtti-a. nw labl »p)HrUitiiruU l« tM^ln ftatn Itala day MAijtiitntf Itaa fcv*Mtli--i;;8.
40 RHODE ISLAND IN THE BEVOLrTION.
Snd. Thnt Mr. It^nnf* wDl TurnWh him prvM-nfly k hefnTv embarking with a Hum of twelvp tlioui>aiLil livn-n frenrli money, iianidy fiOOO to b*- comidercd anil grlvcn if a gratifl- callon for tIJC npcri>i>iir5 expcniKB attending bucIi an Kmnt, and tli' otliiT flOOO as an advance upon bin a]i|)(>lntiiifnta.
3rd. Tlinl CnprHlit TliiboU martin aiid another (ieiiticman who Ije Baron l>e Knlb Shall nominate In tlmi>, may bv ngTwA as majors to be liln aid <.\u ('amps at Ibe ap|K)lntmrnt4 of •mcrlcan otniirs or the Same Itank, anil tli» »um of 'MOO,, or hI It-a-'t lMOO,, be [laid to eftch of tlipm prcH-ntly or berore embarking. Ilif Imlf of which as a firalitlcatiou & tbe other half At an advunoe, the raldappulntmi-ntn bpf(inn''iR too from tliiit day.
4th. That In cam- the reace n-na niude uf their Ijtndln^ In america, ortbal the Cunf^M would not (n^nt these demand M, and ratify the present afiri-ement, or thai the llaron dc Katb himself dhoulit on any other accouni & at uny Time liirline 1o relurn t<i KHroiM", that he be alluweit to do so, and bwldes be furnUh with a snlllelent sum of money for the Kxpensei) of hia comlnf; back.
On the abuve ('oiidltiunn, [ en);u|;e nnd promise to serve the anierienn States to tile utmost iif my nbllllle>i, to acknowledgt^ the authority unit every art of thv mo't honorable ConKresK, be fuilhfiill to lh« Connrry aa if iny own, obey to Superiors fommilli-d by that TAwfull I'uwer, and be fnim this very duy at the iIlsiHiial of Mr. Ih^Hiie for my embarka- tion and In such vedhol and harbour as he shull think 111. Witness my hand, In I'arU noveiuberye >M-veuIh in the yeitr one thousand seven huudreil seventy-six.
(Signe<l) |>K K.M.n.
Reed, of SIIh!I Deane at I'lirla Novr. £!nd 1771! Sixteen Thousnud l-^ight Hundred l.ivn.un acct. of the above.
(SigneTl) liK Kai.b.
N B paid (9400 In I'ath & turn by a Bill on Mesm. Eh-Iap*.
A joint contract was hI!<o maile out for Chnrlen Louis, Viscount de Mituml, Chevalier I>udouiM-an de Fiiyolle, and de Sonnevlllc, the former lo be made u Mnjor-I.iciicral, and the latter lo be hU flldB-de-camp, wlih the rank res)H-i'tlvely of Lleulfniiult'olniiel and Major. The salaries, bounses and other terms were defined. The name i>f the i'lie^'aller <le Sonnevllle was not signed to the eontract, and there Is no mention of iliesi- iilheiTi' any- where lu the rei'ords of the army. Il is Ihouj^ht probable thai llii-y did not come to .Amer- ica. It will ho si-en that In his contrnct Ijifayelte alone silpnlalcil to serve wllliyiit |>iiy.— a Blipulallon reiu-wed In his oppUcatlon to Coujiress for the runk of Hjuorlienernl. AlthoUfch thi» rank was conferred upon him In Tnrls by Mr. lleiine, and may have In-en known to blx I'amily and lo tlie king. It diH's not ripiH'ar lo have caused Ihem lo look wlrh favor upon his pvopiisii] American ailventure.or to liuvc Induced the government lu riTrain ftom inea^nre* lo prevent lis consummaiion.
Mr. t*llH$ IV'Hue, by wlKmi Ihe.-tc eontraeln were made, wa^ eho-^en by t'ongress an .Vin- bassudor lo Krance. and served In connexion with Franklin and .lelPerson. In 1777 he was recalled. lie suffrreil, as is not unfn'<|nently the exirerience uf piiblle men, from misrep- resentations of ills ofllclal acts, but Dr. Kranklln testllied to hia (lUiiuuUlied iiilecrlly in all his Iransaclloni' for OniKress. lie was n m.in of xlrong menial endowments, an eurne.st patriot, nnd H victim of determined enemies. He wa* born In tirolon, t'onn., l>eceniljer 21, 1737, and died In Deal, Kn^land, August :>3, 17HU.
10
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^
PART rr.
ii<,ft-ERN"OR> OmtE AND tiREENX
DEPtTTrJI'i-v-EaN'tAttM BB.\[>W}S.O aXD BO>WTr>-.— THE BRITISH I>" NEWPORT— OESIRAI, aPT3fCEE'3 CAKP-UOS.
^ "S the openirur aod pm«rrp»t- of the Kt*voIiition. Rhixle ^^ r-lanU wx-* excee<iiQjrIy fijitniuite in h»^r chief magia- tratei^. Niirhob.'i! Cooke, of Pmvi«leD<:e. *.i<jTerTior from 1775 to 177?t ; ;infl WilliAin Greene, of Warwiok. Governor fmrn 177'* to I7Hti, were Iwth men of nntirina energy an»l devoted patnotism. They nppreciated the vahie of the stake fnr which the confedenition wa.-* playin;^. and heartily supported every mea<inre ralciiL-ited to insure it* suivess. Aware nf the exiMJt^d condition of Rhode I^hind, with its lon^ line of tinprotected isear-coaot, Governor Cooke was deeply :soliciton.-i that "ea^jnahle mea.-iiires mi^ht t>e adoptetl to insure safety to the State. He therefore, March ll>. 177(1, addressed a letter to General Washington, then at Cambrid;2:e, -solii-itin^ hU assiiittance. ~The sin^^ilar situa- tion." he ifavr^, "^vill, we hope, excite your Excellency*!* immMiaie attention. Khofie Island, and many other islands in our ^>a.^^s and river*, with the extensive sea-coast, render It veri- diffi..-ult to defend ourselves against the present min- isterial fort-OS. AVhat our situation must he should a large armed force make a landing upon Rho<.le Island, or any other jKirt of the colony, your Excellency may as easily 6
42 RHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
suggest .'is wc can descrilie. It will, we are sure, be your Excellency's greiit concern to defend every part of the con- tinent iis far as possible. Should your Excellent-y see tit to order any part of the forces from the vicinity of lloston, to any of the southern colonics we could wish your Excellency would order their march through this colony by the sea- shore, that we miglit have the chance of their being present should the colony be immediately invaded ; and [to con- sider] whether it may not be necessary that a considemble force should be immediately stationed here, till the intention of the enemy can be known, we also submit to your Excel- lency."
Washington felt the force of this appeal, yet situated as he was, straightened for arms and ammunition, he could not readily comply. In the following letter, however, he expresses a sense of the danger to which the State is exposed, and indicates the only method iu his power to render scn'ice :
" rAMMitiDOB, March lilst, 1770.
"Sir:— Your fnvors orthcmthand lOtii instnntl rcceiveil.aiul am sorry to hear that your militia are so (lutlcl«nt Iti arm>t. I Rni' the mi.srortiiiie is too common; nor do [ know how It will be remedied. In this army, although I liave pursued every mode I conid device, for procnrlng them, there Is still a groat deliciency ; iiud a cou^ldemhle iuiml)vr ol' men with- out any in their Imiids.
"The peculiar situation of llhode Island, and tiic exteutdve sea coast, had not escaped my mind. I well know the ent-my have It in theii' power to do it comsiilcrable damage, unless there is a sutiicient forte lo repel their attempts.
" But it Ls Ihe opinion of tho general oOiccrs here, that their destination U against New Yorlt ; the Imporlaiice of whkh (as it secures thi: free and only communication between the northern and sontiiern roionles, which will be entirely cut off l>y their possessing It, und give them the command of Hudsou'i' river, and iin easy pass Into Canada), miikei^ it absolnlely and Indispensably net.-es,'<ary for the whole of this army, which l.i Iml incon- siderable, except that part of It which will be left here to secure tiie stores, barracks, and other puijlic property, to be marched from Its defence with all possible ospedltlon. It is an object that should command our llrst attention, and if lost, will he of the most fatal consequence to us iu the present unhappy and interesting struggle.
OUB FBEKCH ALLIES. 43
" Lest any nttompt shoukl be mnde ngaliist you, I sliiill give orders to the officers coiiiiniiiKlIng bilfimlus, if they have Intelligence of :iii invasion upon their iiinrch, that they forthwith return to yoiip succor. I shall also order the olHcer who will be left here, to do the stime with the troops under his conitnHnd. whenever occasion mny require It.
"Ajrrcealily to the request nmrto by you, and your Honorable General Assembly, I shall, with cheerfulness jinil pleasure, direct some of the lost divisions that jro ttota hence, to pursue the route you wish, if they ran be accomi undated with covering and provision; and .shall be evi-r ready and happy to render Rhode Island, or any other place, any services in my power, that may be compatible with the general good.
"I am, sir, with sentiments of the highest regard,
" Your and their most obedient Hcrvant.
^^
" To Governor Cooke."
Ill 11 letter addressed to Generiil AVashingtoii, under date April 23, 177fi, Governor Cooke says :
" I prevailed upon Colonel Knox, who passed throngh this town on his way to Norwich, to take a view of Newport, and to direct such works to be thrown op an he .should think necessary for the defence of the phice. He Is clearly of opinion that the town of Newport may be secured; and hath left some directions, which I have ordered to be carried Into execu- tion. They have begun the works, and I believe will thi.t day complete a buttery which commands the north entrance of the harbor.
" To-morrow they begin the fortiflcations upon Fort Island ; nu<l If it l)e in onr power to complete the works, I have no doubt It will pnt n total end to torylsm in this c<ilony.
"As Colonel Knox's stay was very short, hi.-* plans are not particular nor exact. If It were possHilc for Your Excellency to spare from your army come person acquainted with fortifications, to assist, were It only for a few days, yon would do us a particular favor, and a most essential service to the common cause.
' I beg the favor of Your Excellency to represent the state of the colony to Congress, and to recommend to them the taking our brigade (which Is enlisted to serve in any of the United Colonies,) into Continental pay; and to establish a force here, for the defence of the colony."
To this Wiushington replied April 28th : "I received your
44
RHODE ISLAND tS THE REVOLLTION.
favor of the 2ath. I am very g-Ind (hat Colonel Knox has titkeD a view of Newport, and bu)H! llio diix-ctioUH ho left will l)c attended with nil the good consr(|iii'ncc8 you men- tion."
Niclioltut Cooke was horn in Providence, Febniary 3, 1717. He was an pminent luort-hnnt. and for iiiiiriy years ciigao-od in sea- faring lif'" as a s!>)p-inii>ilei'. lie bei-nnie conspjtnious in town and Stutti alliiirM. \\'bcn urged to permit hii> naiuu to be iiEicd aa a caiitlidal« for Governor as the only person on wliom the friends of Americjin freedom louhl ajrree, be relucltintly yielded, saying that if we did not suecced in the revolutionary struggle we shouhl bo liun|^ a« traitors ; and OS the rulers would he tnken fir>*t, he Huppo^ed he might as well Ite Iiimgas iinother. A further illii.stration of bis decis- ion of character i» found in the following letter addressed to Cunirnodore ^Vallace. It waa written muter direetioii of a resolution passed by the Geneml Assembly, while Mr. Cooke waa Dcputy-Uovcmor. Such action was necessitated on account of detention and intorfcrcnco with the commerce of the colony by AVallace, then in command of Ilia Majes- ty's ship Knse ;
" EAtrr GaKiiNwicii, Juii« II, 1772. " " BiR :— Irony Iihto ihu gooil pcuplc of tills colony bci-n upprcsscd by yanr conduct. In lnterni|ttl]ig ilivlr lAn-nii trad*', ami prvvftitfug Uio ImportAtloii i>r tlic provision? nrcessarj Tor ihtir snhsUtencc.
•■The ucis of llio Brilisli Parliament, nlwady Hllttl wllh rrslr let Ions of tra<lc, op|>re^<>lvu In llii; liljiih^^st clcfirrt^, mppiq by joii, lo l>0 thouglit loo li;nl«i)t.
'• Not controlled by lho«e you nffect to cat) your n)ut«r». you have doialiietl till.* pvr»<>u« and Uikvii awny Uii.- properties of His MiO^nly'* American sobjccta, tviUiont any warnint ttom the acta of iruJL'i by wlilcli yoii Itnve irreatly Impeded the InWrcoiirse between ihU and the other coloiilea, nn well ah bcCwem the dlffbrcnt parts of thi» colony. The lnhabit:tnt.t ^xpccling the iiilcrposlllon of the lannil authority of th« coloiij, luivi! Iionic LlieM ouLntgCN with u imttciict- almost criminal.
*'TbL> I.rgiHlatnre have heard their complaliilji, and In cunHCijuence of an act psvacd by tho Oenvrat AHsetnhly tlity day, I dviiinnii uT yon tli« rvn- Kon of your conduct towards ibc luhabltRntD of this colony. In stopphig and dciiiliiliiii; thf <■' vet>«:el!<. And I alxo deiaiind of yoti, tluit you linmi'dl- at«ty restore the two jHtckels, bclon(cii]g to soinc InbabiuttiLH of the town
OUR FRENCH ALLIES.
45
of ProrU|«>ne«; and nt) other v«ftAels belonging tA tb« InliitbltntiU of this colony, which ,roij have taken imil iinJusLl; dctaliHrJ.
" So luii;( »M yoti remain In the colony, nn<1 i1«iiieau y<i(in«eir a* hi^comcs your offlte, yon inny dtiwml ij|)"ii tin? iirutt-ctiun of tlip low«, «nil wfrj OMlntnnce for proiRoiiuB the public service. In tny power. And yon may Rlito he asc^urvd thiil iXm whole power of Ifaio culoiiy vrlll be exerted to sertini the persons and prupvrtli» of Uic inbaltltanta ugalnHt every hiwlvss hiradcr.
• An imiD'cdintc nnsvrcr is rwpn-sti;*! to tliis letter.
•' I am, silr, jour mewl liuitiUle Mcrranl,
WiiAtf'(^dp;^B_^-^
"To CuptAin iIamiw WAl.LA<rR."
As Pri'sideiit of the Boni*d of War, a Inrjre i)orticm of Ihe piihlic rorrcspondence remained in tlio posseasion of Gov- ernor Oiokc. Much of this, lo<je(hcr with other vahialile documents, was destroyed I»3* the gmat fire which con- stmied hh hou»te on South Mnin uttre^t, Janimry 21, 1801, — a lost) to tlie historian greatly to be lamentod.
In hU liiisincss ptirsnits Govemor Cooke wne •<iioeo«sfiil , having acctimuluted an ample foiliiue. In private life he WHS i-hcerfiil, uQiihlc, benevolent, and a <lbvout Hiip[>orter of ehristian institutions. He died Soptemher 14, 1782, in the Mxty-fifth year of his age, honored and Inmentod. One who knew him well, iind who wils compi-tent to correctly esti- mate his public niul private qnnlilies,* has left on recor<1 this testimony: "If a eorroet history of the Revolution, so fiir lis Hhodc: Ishtiid 18 concemc<I, shotiM l)e writlen, the name and clmnicler of Xich(da« Cuoke must appvar conspic- uous ; by hU decision and energy he mit»od nnd sitRtainod the high rrpntalion of the State, with the full confidence of Genurul \VHHliin<^.on and the hi^h uppix'ciution of the lead- ing men of the ueigfatxiring Slates, aa well m of Congress."
■Jaha tlowUad.
46
BHODK ISLAND IK THE ItEVOLLTION.
His rviunius Ho in the Xortli Uiiritil Groiiml in Providence, hfiiparh n moniinicnt I>e:iHnj^ an iipin-opniUp inr§<-riptii>ii.*
Williiim (in-.niu! wns ilcsremk^d fnmi .lohii (irt'iMu'. sur- geon, who fifiit settled in Pi-ovideucc, tmt\ tiftcnvards wiia one of the eitrlictt settlers in VVarwick. He wns n son of (fovcnior \VilIiHm GriH'nc, w\m ditil in otBce, and was hnm in Ea>it Ciifonwirli, (Wnrwiek,) August l(>, 17S1. and died in the houietituHd niiiii^ion, where he had jMissed his lift*, Xovt-mbpr 211, 1SH!I. in tht- «ev»Mi(y-t'ighth ywtr iif hi** iigp. He WHS hnrivd in the funjily ptMneterj' on the fiirm. I!aving boen Chief Justice of the State, he brought to his offif* us Governor exact legal knowledge that gave weight to his opinions in all niattei's involving pnintN of law. That he was an iineoniproniiKing patriot, as already intimated, his public correspondence and other otheial acts clearly vhow.
The spint in which Governor Greene entered upon the duties of liis officft is well expressed in a longratulntory Icl- ter from his kinsman. General Nathanacl Greene, who wrote : " 1 am pei'^uadud you have taken the reinet of govcnnnent fixirn the Iwst of motives, and that you will discbai^ your trust with the grealest integrity." lie mamed Catherine, daughter of Simon and Deborah Kay, of Itloek Inland, by whom he had four chitdrun, viz. : Hay,| ShuiucI. Phadie and Celia.
•OviBmor Caakm foanil ui HllrU-nl caa4D(of la Ovfuij-tiarrruat WllHaai llniilfbrd, of irbiol, simI tKirh liarinit vHlcml upon Ihclr rHpcctlrc oaieo* "«I a itmp of n**! p«bllc
dMitrr, dlltki>lt> aixl >h>lr<:r*i. atHl illK^uinrJ Ihr ililllt* of tlM-lr •lallnui «>illi pttrMIr u^I, llniuii-** Ruil Intrejitdlly," ()«• ijrnml Aunnblf . <"> tlvrlr n>tlrin| fti.ni nldn-, )ir« *rn)vil lomcli, in iH-lmlf vr Ihr Slalr. ■ vo)p uf Ihanhi In Btliioirtl(iltni'<'«l "f 'lir ■ iilut' of liU (arflr*^. Itv wb* In tnCiniBlc n-lallum KJtli WntlilMjifon, olxi. Il li Mil'l. ■luring olip of ItUriitt* to Ithodr Idsnd lUiiCMl Hi V'tk Hi » Welcome ipm% ■! Ibr ]il<-«»nHt UouBt Ho|w nmniiau. William llnuUViril wa, n Hum] ili-iwiiilniil of liuirmor WlUtalii llraclrutil. Ilip •raiiii] (lOfptnor of I'lf inuulh t'olunji, anil wh* boru lit I'l; mixiili, Mima., <ii N<>t*in- tirt, l»tt llu slndkit nicdidoe nuJcr lUc lulitMi of in. ExrltM Utney. omiiuiham, Mai>. He iHtlrd In hb pmTcHJon In M'arrrn. It. t.. anil rFrnuml tbrarr lo Itritlol and luilrmi tlje )ir«fnuim of the law. HU tunitr (» RrUlol aua liunw^l liy ilic ItHiltli, .\t lllcc«tnIn^b<VIll■-tlt of thf Krvolaihin lit' voi a tnt-rnbrr ul iti* < <iinmlti<'r of rnrmjHiiiit' racr. Pi>r iitDnj jt-tr* b* wa* >tD'alirr at llir Itliuiir liland tirnrral AiMtuiliIy. In ITU: hr Wft*Plt«1'^ a ^ciMior In Congrm, aud waaa Tniilc-vof Itrnvrn rnlvvnli}- fKitn 17M to liU ilraDi. wlitrliOKiirmt Jiilyn. IHW.
r llriii. lla; <ir*»nr HIUhI iIk) aKor of Attomrjr (ienrral and lIUIHcl Atlarnvji Tar Htraral jMLf*- n<'iraiaUoGl««fdSfMinrlii<.'<Hijtn'*'>.wlilclipoiliianhrrridKrivil In iwt. Hon. Wmtani linmr, nmi nf Ka)' Urrvitr, h*ld tli* oAcr iif l.lrulrDaat-UoiMiHiT af Kboda Ulaud fMin 1Mb M IMS.
OIU PKKSCH ALLIBB.
47
During the stay of tho Fi-ench Allioa in Khodc Isljind, RMrhnnibonii. Lufuyctto, Gcneral*i Orcycne, Siilliviin niul Xnr- ntim were uftcn gucMs at his lio^pitahlu tabic. In prJviite tit'c he was u niodf^l irhrii^tUui «r|inlk-ni]i)i, nlwnyti •rnnllc nnd kind t«> thoHO around him, luul universally' heloviM] and respCL-tL'd US ii gouU and M'iso iiian, a judiciutiK L-tmn&cUor, and a fkilhl'id ft-icnd.*
Ks\r\y in the wjir New|KJrt; :ip[>car$ Ui have l»een regarded hy tile Unti^h m* an uligildc Imtw fur military and naval o]h>- mtions. mid on-lhu 7lh of I>cccnilier, I77ri. when only about ftevcn hundred American t^^ohliem were on the island for Its prcileetion, Sir Peter Parker, with seven ships (if the line, four frig:ite8 and seventy tnmrtport*. anchored in the bay, and the next day (Sunday) diNenibarkeil alxait »ix thousand tru()ps,f and i(M)k |MJs«es(iion of X<'vv[»ort. These trrKips wens connuaTided by General Clinton. Under him were Earl Percy nnd Majur-Genenil Pix-scott. TIiuh Pi-ovidence and the intermediate towns on both sides of tho Imy were Tirtually blockaded.
With this advent of the enemy began spoliations cummon to war. The (.itizens of the town and of the island were roblK>tl with impunity, and many fled to Providence and ebewherc. lo csirape further ill treatment. Indeed, it wa8 n dark and trjiniig period during the nearly three years in which Khode lisland was made the theatre of war.
The oceniMition of Ncw]>firt by the Hrilish not only ]>Itieed on embni^o on the coniiuei-ce of Providence, and enabled the enemy tu mvage the country bonlcriiig on Xarn^nsell and Mount Hoih> Itay.s, but it w&a a tonnidable menace of Now Kngland, and was so felt by Conncetietit, I^Iussachu-
*Mllw fatrloite I>^itlr.t>«*«r>OT Jiib«s Hinrvii, ulpwtr MMMiUcd vitth ti»T«rMI OnwM li puMtr afflilM, wllh ib« «Krc|it><ifi or • •'InjcU jtnr. IVmh ibi- «iuiii»i'naii»cai u Ih»<l0»a of l)l« fubmnaliirlal carcvr, uii vxtriulinl iiuOcc will l» Ibuud In BnollMr part Of
T nt roiT* nraHa or Ponauuiuih wy " almitt ^.uw »r aciri.li imoft Iniitliil ■■>! loMi puvMadiiK nt llil* tdaiid." Thaj ooiidBtcKt ut Btr Rritlili rrglmiinu. Incliulini a rrfimtrnt ftttf^Uyrr.at'A ftiur roplinrnttotiloMlw*. One irrtlMUnrr(A»f]i««lwr(j wu mmiposmI lor n*n tU tL-vt lo I»r1<bt.
48
BBLUO) ZX
wxTcsjrmsL
Hid 3frv HiBiprfcirr It vne j^eo l&dr to ptovv a
I) bUwMJi tfa pidAc sAmCiM «r Shod* lilMa &B riiliMirf Ooagieas $mA GiaciJ WvAiiaginu In vU oar SUIff. tbe lluve ahom aoud SftMw wen
Eb) Pcrt tmn^ tetamwd to fiig^'ad. ImHii^ Gcacni Pn^tatt in co^Bttsd. and Uw Uttrr ha^it^ Iwrni lapfffed in ka ^oartcn 1>T the *faiiU p^* of OitoMl WiUav Bar- loa, JaW 10. 1777. Geanal F^got, «l» was arat ftva Nrv T«Kk. nuv oMBaadad tfe Brit«k fivn» on KKnde Island. IW capCBR of Geaenl Pr»ca«l was a tnid and vcJl daviaud nadoliAin^ ^id iDTolrad more nnpnri«nT oonsts ham bnw oanllT WA aaerilvd to it. It not onir ftsib pover to tbe patrioiMB of tke ralany and albriHflr naiaiiiiiB tkno^boai dw emntn . T^n ba«- d Cbe mva cf Gewsal Lm, far vfccn Graenl rmcott to the cMidnenta) srrricr. Hoa annoa* toflwd kk pnnile sal to eqgaga ajfun ia tnilitarv m eridcnl frcaa U» loner to WaAn^Cnn, dated ■90, 1777.inTU(AbeH0rs,tbMllK)«lfAlRS*«t«- ^iwa J* nsdond aa aaajr, wftatit4<' and |>lr«autl a& posM- iitfi)raaa«kokin«BT*act aprtMMr/bo tuts "nnthnif Idl to aieh far laik Ant aaar larpnmstanw ma> arbr « ikkh •maf aalbt it convvaicaft far both panics tkat a fp»onl ^ take |4acv, and I aa>oi^>4 ibr nM rni^ tW r-* la rr^, Ja—ij 37, Witi, Wasiliinjitvn gtqy ufwt had been made on M» past to In diK tine it ««» vffrvtrd, and Lrr ^ in in their nH|M>c«hv MA%, FW tUa dni^ &«d ri^rTat pcnamted CVImm^ HmIxmi «M a anand. Tkm G^koI ^imwTih in rcco^ilitv \4 ibr arr- Tioe, ««tod ife an of «I,1i(.i to the t\doM>l aihl Kis paitr. to he 4HtrifaadBd eqaaDjr faetveca oftren and #t4die4^». upon the hant at Ae« par.
On the «Ih aT April, 1776, 3ia>ar4>i>«n] J«>M)^ Spen-
OUB FRENCH ALLIES. 40
cer, with a brigiide of five regiments, arrived in Providence and assumed command of the military affairs of the State. He was warmly greeted, and great hopes were entertained ]>y the inhabitants of the town from his advent among them. The General at once saw the danger to which the State was exposed, and the day succeeding his arrival addressed the following letter to Governor Cooke in relation to it :
" Pkovidexcs, "th April, 1777.
" Sir : — Aa I think tLis part or tlic country Is in great daiigLT of being noon rftvaged l>y tiie enemy, (the nrniy licre being so very weali), I tliere- Tore imagine myself bonnd in iluty to make this Airther application to your State for Immedintc succor.
" Tbe Continental troops of this Slate are pobitivciy ordered to the wcstwanl, by General Waaliiugton ; they will all march to-morrow, except those ordered to the hospital, to take the small pox. The whole troops now In this army, by the returns, docs not exceed fourteen hundred men, and they arc necessarily very ranch scattered. The enemy nt Rhode liiliind arc without doiiht four thousand strong. This ts conOrmed^fhlly by the Intelligence we hare. It would be too troublesome to relate the particular evidence.
" The report In a late Providence paper, that the enemy at Uliodc Island amounted to but twenty-two hundred, ought never to have had any credit given to It ; and it never had, by any gentlemen who wore f^lly acquainted with the general intelligence ftom Khodc Island; that information was given by one Lawton, who came off from the Island, who has since been strongly suspected of inimical designs, and was accordingly confined; and since his confinement has confessed that he came off at the desire of the enemy.
"By the late accounts we Imvc, the enemy have determined on making a descent on the main very soon, to get tVesh provisions; but bow that may be I cannot say. But it Is very certain, that the neglect of the seve- ral States to keep a proper army up in these parts, to prevent their excur- sions, Is extremely dangerous to the country, and aflTords a very great temptation to the enemy to la; some parts of the country waste,
•' I hope, sir, from these representations, which Your Honor may depend npon, your State will send with the utmost dUpatch some assistance to this army. "lam, Ac,
' To Governor Cookb." 7
BHODB ISLAKD DT THE BBVOLITnOH.
Before the mrrival of General Sjwocer in Providence it smiill po!t IjospituI bad W'cu cstablisfaed ni. TtK-knoiton, a localtcm tbeu tjuitv remote from the densely (fopiilaled part of the town ; Imt as it i;l»scd aui iniiiortant pass in case of the enemy's appronch from tbnt quarter, and apprehending the danger of ihe diM.*a*e I»ein'; cowiuiinieatcd to the troops, the General requested the Town Coumi) tr> remove Ihe hos- pital to ^<lmo plaeo mort- remote, hy tvhich safety to the «nny noiild be ensured. The Council, in compliance with the re<jup.st, and under tbe sanction of the General As^m- My, made urrangemeuts nith Jesse I^nUiid, of North Pro\-idcnce, ftir the use of hia house, at that lime occupied hy John Jcnckes Durfcy, "they paying a reasimalde rent therefor." l>urfey was to be remuneRited for tbe damage he might suffer hy bU sudden rcmoral.
It was natund that the jwople of Rhotle IslaDd, having felt so keenly the rigors of war, shuuM des^ire to see the enemy driven, at an early day, fnwi New|iort. The CreneTtil AsMrmlily. echoing the ciimmon fcclin*;. passed a re^ikitiou at itri March session, 1777, recommending "lo the llonom- l>le Major-General 8j>once-r (if It be any way consistent with pnideucc) to make an attack upon the enemy at Itbode Island."
To stimulate the enlistment of v(>lnnteci"s for this puqKJ»e, a farther re»ohition wn^ adopted olTcrin^ a reward, to lie eipnUly divided between the officei-s and ^ohliers, "of $1,000 for every British or foiviijn poneral otlicer ; $500 for a Col- onel ; tl.'>0 for a hicntennnt-Colonel ; ^HXI for a ^tajo^ ; $50 for ever}' Captain ; $30 for ever}" suhaltcm ; and #20 for every private taken primmer ami b)\n)<*lii ttlT the island aa afore- said, witbin lifteen days." h was s.till further resolved, that " Uis Honor the (iovemor and Genend S|>encer lie rc4[ncsted to write lo the Hclcctnien of the towns of Kehoboth, Taun- ton, AttlclKirongh, Wrt-'nlham, Norton. IWIin-rham. Digb- ton, Swanzey, Freetown, L>artmmith and MiddlelMiniugh* and HKiucal their aid and assistanon in engaging aa many
•
OL'lt FRENCH ALLIES.
51
I'olunteers wilhin their respective towns, for the purpose aforesaid, a« way bu procured ; and that they foi-m tbeiu- sclvoR into eonipaiiictf, appfiint tht^rir otticers, and inarcli to the town of Tiverton on or before the 12tli of Mareh inst."
It wu£ ensy enoii^ to puss resolutions <tifiienlt of execu* tion, and qnitc as easy to critieiac a failure to aecoiuplish a I'e^ult that had not l»een carefully considered from a military standpoint. And this nppoare to hjive heen the case with the General Assembly and the people at Ifli*ge. Kvidently neither bad wei^died the tbourmnd iuipedimenl^ to military aellon which, to the eupr-rlioial eye, ni"c invisilile. (ienenil Spencer had been in Providence nearly a year* the enemy were ravaging the island and the adjacent country, and it was felt that a movement for relief ought to be made.
The <le.sire of the (ieneral Assembly for an attack at that lime upon the enemy did not find sympathy wjth General Greene, who was then at Morrislown. General Arnold. tJien in Providence, communicated the votes of the Assem- bly lo (Jeneral (Jreene "as a curiosity." He evidently resented them as a reflection upon himself and General Spencer. In reply Greene says; " T am very sure their hearts are right, and their zeal warm, but T fear they do not pivo themselves time to deliberate properly. 1 am sure the House of Assembly never tnetmi the resolutions as ii reflec- tion upon tlie general otHcers." He then adds :
"Th« Rule of KIkxIv Isluiiil may thluk It a Brent Tiiti>rorlnn« that the troops on Itliodc Inlmiil have uot tHi«u uttackc-0 ; btit I nin Tur rruin ihliik- lii^ 80, ami erer dhall h4>, anletm I can nr-^t >>o convlnccil nf the cnrtalnty of tbe aticci'NH of liiu atlAck. I'vopic lh»t nT« uiinc>'iiiainl«(l wlrb mllllar}' matlvra im<l tlir forcv of illHciplinc, lliliik Uiat numbers are sntltclcnt lo Instrn- «(»'(*«•»; fuur l.htmiiaml ironjiM, wdl [Mated, with a good Iralii of artlllvrf, tnnr bid dcOuiici; to ihnv tUav9 Uielr nuinbvr, especially whoa there U bi» litllv order aud mcihoil and tllsclplinc ainouR tb« aMailaDta. I wish Oi-iioral Spencvr may nut liasarU an attick uitli aucb iroupa u you d<-Arrlh<>; It Is Lho opinion of tlw besl nllUary Jiiil^« \vv liavt- In llie nnny that thccliaiiM oranauack Uagaliutus. It Rt^oittlca nothing for ii r«n spirited otflcerA to ruxh upon danger, when they have Utile or on hope of bvlnji well Huppiffte^l. Spirit la caaenttal In au officer, but prndeitce U
52
KlIODE ISLAND IN THE BEVOLUTION.
more ao. Ifyou make ilic «tuek, God grant yoo siiccww! but I liopp Gviicral SpcnciT will bavc mnrfi pnulencc Uian to ran any Dnnccessar}' risk to gmiliy popular clamor."
Tlio General, lH)wever, in deference to the Assembly, comtiienced at once pivpiii-atioiia for tUe campoiga. To ciirry out tlic jilnn one-hBlt" of the niilitia of Khodo Island were i-nltcd into scnkc, while Massm-husetts and X'ounefti- cut were to funii&li lUx-ial c|U()las ut" men. Troops to the number of nine thoiiAnnd or more were grMdiuilly gathered Ht Tiveiinn, hut so ninny oKstaclcH had tn l>e overoome that it HUB nearly the middle uf Oetober hefom ull the Hrniiigeniunt.- for & forward movement were completed. Major Natimn Munro b«d colloeted ii large mimder of Injate at and near Foglaild Ferry, to emivey the troops ueruss llie l-^isl I'ae- siigi- to the island; hut on the night dowgnalod for the eiubar kilt ion a severe storm arose, which continued several days, ami emised delay. A second and third time was des- ignnted for the attompl, Imt strong adverse winds and other causes interposed (among them discovery by the enemy) ant! led to fiu-tlier delays. "These delays disaffected the troops and many withdrew. Scarcely five thousand could be mustered on the last night a$>:igned for the enilmrtcation. A council of officers decided that it was tneicpedient to mnlto the attempt, and the expedition was abandoned." The high hopes of the public were thus htuddenly brnuglit low. Disap]H>inted feeling found vent in severe criticism of Genend Spencer for incflicieney. and the iK>pular setitimeut of the hour was set forth in the fVillowiiig pasipiinado :
'* Israel waulvil br«tu1
The Lord ^eiu tlivni inntinn: Bboilb iHlmiil nuiiUt a lii-nil,
And Congress sends a granny."
At tilia time the home public in Enghmd a]>pear to hold no higher opinion of their (Jcnerals in America, as the fol- lowing satire publishcil in a London paper of Decenil>er 2. 1777, shows :
OUR FREXCH ALLIES.
53
"ON THE DRITISH COMMAXDBHS.
" Gage nothing did and went to pot; 7/wrc lost one town, anotlier got ; Gvij nothing lost, and nothing won ; Danmare was homeward Torc'd to nin; CliutoH was beat and got a garter; Ami bouncing Barijuyn^. catch'd a Tartar; Thus all we've got for millions spent, Is to be liiiigh'd at, and repeut."*
General Spencer keenlj' felt tlie odium resting upon him, and demanded a Court of Inquiry, which was granted. After a full hearing he was acquitted of blame.
"There WAS alWAjs a mvstery about this expedition. Althongli Con- grc«s autliorized Rhode Island to get it up, and requested Massachusetts und Connecticut to assist, It has been said that neither Congress or Washington ever had any expectation of expelling the enemy from the Island at this time. The main object was to prevent the enemy from making any diversion in favor of General Burgoyne. The British had a large army ut Newport, and could have spared and sent several thousand to some point which would have diminished the opposition to bis march through tiie country. But the assembling of such an army as the expeditioD called out, conflned them to their quarters in Newport,
■About tlw s«tne lime tlic rollowlnfti in a RlniUar vcId, ftppearrd in ttic Ijondon Adver- tl»rr, h«iHled:
" I'l.AV-BlI.I. KxTnAonillXAHT."
" In tlie cohdh' of tlii« Bumiiier will be ptTfomieii a new Tragic Farce, called
"AI,[, Foil l-OWKK.
"(Ill
"AMKUIIA U)ST.
"{'■plain Atall, '■ llully, . " lludget, "Poslilvc, . "Cautloua. " r<trady, - " KIrni, ".(.'iiptlve, -
Hr. Minden.
J[r. Twitcher.
Mr. Itorcu (North).
Mr. KlDK (Urorge III).
Mr. <')-Iloire.
Rlr. WonhlnKton.
Mr.Katei.
Mr. I.M.
"Out.ltldern, [>r. Krankltn and 3Ir. I)eane.
"Chlpf Mournen, 8,000,000 Spectators.
' Knight* or the Ilalh, Knights of the I'dst, (Pfllccre, Uuardi and Attendant*.
■■.SM-ne— Kngliind, Scotland, Iralaud and America."
lODE ISL>
rHBRKVOLtTiO!*.
mid ir such tKW lh« object, nmeml Sprncer wnn prrciM^ly the mnn lo tnkc tlw commnnd of Lbc Amertcan Ifoopi*, and tlicrc Mwins some ground Tor sQcli & !tupi>nsUlt>D, for aa aoou km It wHa k»o«vn thil Biir^yne btd cur- t«mtcreil Ma army (Oclolicr 17, 1777,) to 0«itera| Gstc«, th« militU were M (lUtnisMHl nml will liome. It h Iroc ttio Qvuonil Assvuilfly appniiitvil a cuniTiiUtee to liK|ulre Inlo lljo cau»eti of Genornl Sp(.-ncer')i nillare, »uil Slfixsnctit) setts itntl Crinm-cUfiil wen: iavllcit lo wud (kli-^tcs to bo pr^ svni nt lbc inwUng uf tbis cnmtiillLv«, wlilcli was held nl Pnivldcnce. And (liv commitlcf dkl men and Iiwird (Jcncnil Sprnc^T nnd all [utriltA and ac<i(illtc(l him. But this cartjr triiil and actiuittiil have b««D by mooh* Coilfti(lcn.'d as ftirlhcrr evidence of Ihe rrtil olijtct of the expedition, Be lht« u> It ini;ibt, however, tlw tmrrpader of RiirjtwyiieV whole iiniiy. made eTery one tovl 90 hiippy, that tliey cared bwt little for General Spencer or Ilia expedition. • • • • - fpon all llie fiwts and cir cnuiKiAnccH oiiinecicd with Spencer's expedition wc arc at « loes to decide whether It waa a r*'ti riilhirc, or not. niMl ao wi- leave It."*
The solution of this mystcrr is h work for ihe fiitnre his- torian.
Grnoral ,Spcnrpr was Iwim in Knst Iliiddtim, C'ouu., in 1714. and dietl in his n»tive town, Jiiniiary 111, 178'J. He held the otHi-p of Jud;rc of I'rulalu in 17oH, iindin 1758 joined the northern amiy as Major umler Colonel Whiting. Ill 1775 iic was Appointed Urifradicr-General in the Conti- nenlfll army, and suhseqnenlly was eonimisHioned by Con- gvess a Major-<ifiieni1. He resijrned his commission Dcccm- Iwr 21, 1777. Tlioiigli the fiiiluro of the campaij^ he condtu-ted in Rhode Island cast a shndoiv npon his military repntation, he wa:> deemed a hrnve, palrlotie and capahle officer.
■'•f>virii«r*nt,''pi> iu.i<(t.
PART III.
LOOKING FOR A SUCCESSOR.
A DARK PERIOD.— LIGHT BREAKS IN.— (lENERAL SULLIVAN SUCCEEDS GENERAL SPENCEK.— FRENCH ALLIANCE.— BRIT- ISH VIOLATION OF RULES OF WAR.— LETTER TO GENERAL PIGOT.— GENERALS GREENE AND LAFAYETTE JOIN SULLI- VAN.—THE SECOND CAMPAIGN ON RHODE ISLAND.
HEN General Spencer closed hia military rela- tions with Rhode Island, the queetiion arose, who should be his successor. The eyes of many were turned towards General Nathanael Greene. In the opinion of Wil- liam Ellery, the patriotic delegate in Congress from Newjwrt, be was the man. "Mr. Ellery," writes the General, "pro- posed to me to take the command there,* provided it was agreeable to His Excellency ; but ho is totally averse to the measure." Mr. Ellery was right. General Greene was unquestionably the man for the place. His knowledge of the jwints of defence in the State that needed strengthening, hia perfect understanding of the temperament of the people, and of the best methods of utilizing that knowledge, his personal magnetism, and his extraordinai-y executive ability gave him an advantage, as a leader, over almost any other general officer who could be named. Itut he could not be spared from the field of duty in which, at the moment, he
• KliQd« ItUod.
I' ttn *riii;y. > ►■; : lijI r-. ij^ f v-e-f 'i^T iiii r^-s'^-I ."*.'- iJ.'ZL i»
.f.r. ■_'ii.'_i:irt- *-. ,1^ ■.-1. ■KJTli.r^": r-l--^-?. :':t "r.-; »:i.": ■::* ■■■i.i.l: *ii* ■? r;;!."-:*!*— II '^fi,T ■t "T^>:-i ■ V :L^ ■■"->.»i ^;ni liirir rV--i.
.v.r L'v-.";^*':ii*r rri-r'j.-':- I'l :■:■ 'iLLr '.^mi- :tr (^■■.■7.:Vi-:n:>>n la.: '■,•**•_ i.r_:''/ 'i-e ■iLr:.'^* ■.:* in:'>t-i:-n: jir^!^ "::iirfira. TiA >. :i*!- :-.*i- L: :. f.r :1-. ::.:~t iat:. ^'k<z. ira-«- :-:oibe l'j>-'v<-- -.: Or-.-it Iir!:A^, F.rrijr:: ir.-vemiij^ r.t'?. i>:""OTer
j-f-.-'^jvi :y. i: :. Tl-.- r\--.-'.;r.^? ^:":lc v,;-,;:^ tv-;>-::-v:v' weiv 27-s-:!v 'iJ:^;:.--!-;. :> fzLii-.-es wt-r-e :a a wrvt^iei *:*:•?. the ■>-:.'r*»."if.>,'. '.f i-ij-rr n; T.^■y fr.'Ci j«r iv a rsie a: »h:vh one •Tj-V-Iti- B-lI-'ri i.'.lir ■»i- tr-iiirii to fv'ur or dvv h*.jB-ire>l of '■fyt.'.':zj::A».l '.::rT*:z.-y, eii'oirnrr'i iho v\>>i oi" livii'^. while If^-jtilv* air^rL-,::-; t..< -iT'iDf-f!. 'r-'>vijt r'/--**. the avxvpxano* */f 'i':f/rt*:iat«r'i [mfj-er when pn-ttTon^l in [viyiuent i^t' debt* ;fr^*t!y 'li-tFir^-i tht: hartnony ot the t.'vtniQiiiuiiy.
'flt*;!^: wa.- a C"jn-*iant i.ie|irv«.iiitioii of the tvniinentjil eiir- r>-it'-y. ^i that in Kt'ipciry. 17>>1. one silver vlollar naii e<^u»t to ^T-.-^rn thopi-ari-I tivo huiitlreJ tlolhirs in |\ijvr. A> momen- Xtf. of th"; revolntiunnn- period two f:u-^imite >iHHiiuen* of tyjl'ftiial uiid Lontinental t-iirrem-y :ire given on s^K^■oedinJr
Til': depreciation was so nipid that an article of mer\-han- di-fc -old one day. at an advaneo \\\>o\\ its cost, oould not l>e n;pUrnijrheil for tlie price received on the next. When the (Jfrnerdl A»:>t*ni!tly pujjsed a (K'nal law, Milyeotinsr a cptxlitor to a tine of one hnndn'd ponnds if he refused to lake |niper money at par in pjiynient of indebtedness, the shopkee|M?r!« in rrovidcnce closed their do<>»"s. The market house was
OUR FRENCH ALLIES.
57
diso ^htit up. The farmers 1>rotight id nothing to soil. PttjKtr money would not purrha^ n dinner. I'copic dod«red out of llie wny irben a dcKtor Appeared in sight, for fear of a tender of pii|wr to eaneel the debt.*
Under this Iiiwniany cnsosof nnnoyinglili^tion occurred. One in Pi-ovidence was of a somcwhut amusing, yet provok- ing', chanicter. A shopkcei^r hiivin;; i^old u juck-knifc for twenty -tive cents refiisfd lo receive a paper l)ill of thai
r^
'o
>i'W^'i s^(gwl?^;fn
No. QJ^//
Five ^i^^'««.
<7rH/.9 3,U>»t,hn Ji'f ^ Beo-'tr urfu>^-rY\7i SriKiftf mill! o OoL- lAKSt or the FaJut ihere-
»/ M OoLD or SiLTtk
aeffrjinjf te a Rj'JiSuthn of CONORJ-SS, pm^9i'i
nvE noLT
'/O'^^u/y
m'-M
'i&
denomination, nt par, in ])Hynient. Comphiint w.is entered ^cgilnst him, and tlie tiial bade fair to occupy ueveral Jay*, the court adjourning frniu dtiy to dny withuut re»ching a decision. Abie counsel was employed on holh sides. On the one ^ide it was contended that tlio bw \\\\s uncouslitu- tiouul, and llicreforc void. On the oilier it wils argued that the power of the Oenfiral Assenihly was unlimited liythc charter or any dechuiitiou of ri*rlit8 estal>lishe<l here, and
' Ufr or Uawluiul. p. 101.
if
i,Ti"'T ""•■.■,,*3T Ty 7T.T 7J^;'.m-;y
• mijl" Mii'ii!! " n I'f'i;" I'f v't.- sf!:: ''p, :i;t: :ii..i: ii.r "■»-; (iMM'i. II1M :H't-' 'fTi*; II- ■M.-f ■! ::: > ■•■i;-- i vi;r ii :;:•? tuiiimii'-' ■'"iirF-i" 'i-.ivii.ji] ' 7'; !- ■*:ii-': N n: ijiinif"!
v'ilrt'iii ill ■ '"|i^ til'" <f!ii'*; ii'i! ' lij-tfi"^;';. %■■ r'n*"":!!?!:
■iM»tii<i " 'ni-^ii' 'II' n-M-vn i II v'l;- ii:!':''. liji; "I'l.-r mh:'?*:
■Ht*t -i.ta3a?'';- — ^ZTMlT^i
■- -.^rNK? '^' -* »•■-■ T'-^
*•>.:*. '-'-^.,
♦^ —i-f. Tij-- SfM - . i "*:*■
^
t»«TT.
fct?- A" U'.V ^.'■^.•.-■"■' kLJ"l' 'lf-« !! ll.L •-■Mi'iV il . 1 - ■ f;
OUB FRENCH ALLIES.
59
Geiicnil Sponccr, bringing tbe ivi^U-eanied rcpuUitioi) of a skiirtil, energetic officer. lie was not unknown to the citi- zens of Vrovidpncc, having been m-iiI tbvre with liiei bri- gade iiuiiic(niit.L>ly aiStn' ibe cviu-niiiion of Kostoii in 17Tt), to protect RboUe Isbmd from upprebendeil attai-k. The Council of War iit once invested him with the supreuie com- ninrid of the State, and he enteral without delay upon his military dutii-a. Tho pluiibiirc created by his presence was inten^itied by the almost ^imnltnnoous announcement that France tuid entered into an altiancc, offensive nnd defensive, uith tlie confederate Stales, and liad thus placci) them, for tho first time, before nil Europe as nn acknowledged independ- ent nation. This vital act has never received tlie meed of praise it deserved, it gave stronglli to the young republic, nnd made easier negotiations abroad for militjiry supplies and pecuniary loans.
The timiiUty that had hitherto restrained the action of IjOuIs XVI. gave place to the warm syuipalliy of a gener- ous nlly. The ro*fult was that a fleet of sixteen muI, bring- ing II land force of four thousand men, was sotit to aid tho new-born nation.
The news of the alliance was received throughout the country with demonstrations of joy. At the headquarters of Genernl Vuhliington it was celebrated with a thanksgiv- ing sennon, a review of the troops, u national salute of thirteen cannon, and a feu-da-joie of musketry, followed by an elcgunt ilinneri to which, according to l)c Kalh, ofliccrs and Ihcir wives, together with the most distinguished per- sons in Iho neighborhood, tiut down. "Here \Vaj*hington, with Greene and L«faye1t« and Stirling, was already in waiting, Lafayette conspieuous by his white scjirt"." A[i*s. Washington, Mrs. Greene and I^ady Stirling anil her daugh- ter, Miss Kitty, were also present. In I*ruvidence the intelli- gonee wjlh received with no less exultation. Fi-om the Fox Point buttery and the frigate I'rovidence a salute was tired, which at suri'Hct was rejieaicd by tho artillery company and the troops iiuurtcrod lu the to^vn.
60
BHODB ISLAND IN THE BEVOLLTIOX.
The British ivcre still in Xewport, auil from time to time were rHiiliii>; upon the tslunii?; in tlie Imy uiid aUu npou ibe niiiin liiiiii. TIh'v set fire to the town of Wiinvii, liiinietl the Baptist meeting-house, ijillttgoil the houses, carrieil auay many iiniiniiei) poi-sonK !im pristmeiti, l)e«3<lei4 il<rin<f other acl« not wiirranted by the niles of war. Bristol was aiisailed in like maniuT. Eighteen dwellin;;)* and the Kpiscopal church wore hurnt, the inhahiljint-s W4TC plunderot), iind about forty pci-sons were made prisoners. The town wns saved fix>ni uller destruction liy tlif timely arrival of Colo- nel Biirtnn from Pi-ovideiiee, with iiliout twenty imHUited men and a nuii]l>er of voItiute«r» gathered on the way. Id a ^kirnmh with the enemy he received s severe wound in the leg.
These wanton depvedations excited the indignation of General Sullivan, and June 4th he addressed to General Pigot a letter of sharp rebuke. In that letter he says :
" Tho repented appllcutlonB of tlic illstresFcd nimiliirf; of perw»i8 cap»j turcil tiy 5oiir tmnpt^ on tho 2oLh ultimo Iiuliicc me to write you upoD llM BQl^^'Ct, olh Uivte mi-n trcre uot In actuul service or fonnd in Ann.i. I can- not coiio^lvc what ucrc tljc motives fur LiikiuK ttiem, or gu(»:i Lhf terms upon u'hlvh lliHr rcloagte miiy lir nbtiliiiml.
*■ lliul the war on tlio part of llrluihi lioeii Toiiudeil 111 Justice; and yoiir troops In their excuraloiin. complci^tl ihi; destrinrlloii of ih"; hiMit>* ami our toilltnry pruparations In ttiiU i4iiHrli.-r, without ^vinilonly iJc^lroyln^ ije(^ncble§8 tuiTus. iHiraIn;; liou^cs voiisccrHlvd to the- Di'Uy, pluiiLl^irliig mill AtuHlri^j liHii>(;ent hihaljiLutitH. mid ^\ragg^lit:, ft-om llifU* pcnofriil habl- tdllonfl, inmriTicil and unoltcnillnj; nion, — snch tm cxp^dllloii mi^ht hitre shone with fp\cUiicT : 11 Ift HOW darkened with sarage crndty, anil stiklucd with Indelible dixyrace."
The General also intimated that while the law of retalia- tion had not as yet been exercise<l by the Aniericuns, human- ity having marked the Itne of their conduct thus far, yet perhnp?t tit some future tiine when exaspemted by accunni- hitcd injuries, mesisiircs luight lie adopted that would "con- vince the British that thev have mistjiken the motives of
■ ij^vaatf ttKt IxiMla, llw gall*; W»aliiaKt«a Mid a griit aalll wmv bururd.
Americnii clvniuufy, nnd trilled too long nith undoserved lunily." He iiddn, in closing, "I should not linvc written you BO [inrticniarl.v u|K)n the subject had J not ol»*oi-ve<l in the *XcwjM»rt Gnxelte* Lbtit Ibc conduct of your troops cuiployed in the late ex|icditioii had rccL>i\-cd your Approbation nnd wamioat ibaoks."
Ik'side^ sutl'iu-ings caused by mida like those ubove meu- tioncd, many persons and families, dnvcn fi-om the island, were thrown into circunie>tanc-e« of jfrcat distress, thy char- Qclor of whidi niiiy be seen in the following appeal, printed in the Providence Gazette;
" The cliftritablc and ncll dlnpoaed penaus In DiIa aod the nelgbhorlug 6Ul«>iirr r»*<[tii-»tril torkUnil tlivlrdnimtlon)! unto the powr and dlstrpsiicd people who were Inlvty InltuliltariU of ttie Iitliind t>f Khode Islnntt. Mrtt Slid witiuon iKiH'cd down nlih otfc iind liiflruiiUv«, lidpWs clilldrcn nod vvnotm ivUli Ieu'ijl' niitiUtvs, Imvc Inldy tiuvu drlvvn from Uivii' oucv pvacv ta\ linbltailono. nnd turned Into tlie widfl world, denlltute of every mcaiia to support thein»eJvei«, by the cnitl nnd nipaclons Britons AtMt ilieir iuer< ccDsrles, who hare strlppw! tlicm of the smaJl pUtanco llM-y were outfe poftWAMd of. aiid Iffl ttKin 1<> dcjiftid viitirrl; tijion tlie ctinrlty of tlie good pcnplr. Tlieir dii>tre?>s<?a loudly call upon the hmnuiltjr of ttioM whose BlUuent circiiuivlaiicee wl]l ndmlt, and tlieir souls dk'iat«- to ihatn, to relievo tlie oeccssilles of Ifausa wtio arc almuttl ready Lu purlsli.'
To this iippeal libetHl respou^e^ were made by the i:itizeua of Providence and of (be neigliliorio;; towns.
Of bis militflrj- needs. General Sullivan thus writes to Congress :
"As tlic unmiMtr of Iniopit df^ntltml for this drpArUncnt wUI be m> bud- eqiiite to defftnd II ngnlnRt s Audden altAck, 1 think that the two State gallcyit, if irropcTly diu-d, would bo of ereiu advRHUiiEe. I imw applied lo the Coanel) ut Wnr upon tlie nubjc-ct. who aci'in rather InrJlned to dlii- poA*> of llwni trt iho cnotineiit, rhaii to Bt and man Uitfiij for wrvloe. J beK lean.-, Ibcreforc, lo subiiiil Co rongreaa witctbcr it would uot bv tttr the upkkI ijf tbu vervke to ptirrhiu<e Ihem for ^fuarvllnx tlHMte |iliic«i which arc most exponed, parti culnrly tite rii'ent of Tnuntoii niid Warrni. I oJaq bcK CoagrvM to order tii-neral Stnrk, who has returned to New Ilamp- aldre ttotu Albany, to uie at this pl.-u^, as I shall uced two briKidlers wbea Uie troopH arrive:- ntiil tlie more so, as lite extent of country to j^uard will be so j;reat. Shonld CongresH think that, after the troops arrive here, aa atteiup'c upon the lalaiiJ, with them and some iDlliUa and v-olaateers cAllesI
62 KHODE ISLAND IN THE REVOLUTION.
iH, woutil be {trncticiittlti, I slmll be exceeding happy lu executing any order they will please to give.
In c.xpectiition that the enemy wouhl make an attempt upon the town, Gencnil Sullivan ordered necessary defences lo be prepared, and the people were soon busily at work on forts and redoubts.
Boats were ordered to constantly patrol near the shore to prevent surprise. The Tiverton boat cruised at Fogland Point and Common-fence Point ; the Bristol boat between Common-fence Point and Poppasquash Point ; the Warren boat between Pcjppasquash Point and the north shore at the entrance of AVarren river ; Providence l>oats down to Paw- tnxet ; Pawtuxet boat down to Warwick Neck ; Warwick boat down below Greenwich. Sentinels covered the whole shore from Point Judith to Kast Greenwich. A p^uard boat was kept out at Slade's ferry and another at Fall Kiver.
A SECOND CAMPAIGN.
After mature delibenition it wjis determined to make ii second campaign on Rhmle Island. In this campaign Gen- eral Greene was de('i)ly interested, and he was a prominent advisor. AVriting to Genend Sullivan, he says : ''1 wish yon success with all my sotiI,and intend, if possible, to come home to put things in a pi"opcr train in my department,* and to Uike a command of a part of the ti-oojis under you. ] wish most ardently to be with you." To his Deputy (iuartei-master- ■General in Rhode Island, JIajor Ephraim Bowen, he writes, 'Urging prompt co-openition :
"There is nn expedition going on agnliist Newport. The forces that will be collected for this purpose will be cou»tldernl>le. Great exertions, therefore, will he necessary in onr dopartinent. You must get the most iictive mt'u to assist yon that you posfiibly can.
"A great luunbcr of teams and boats will be wanted upon the occasion. I'ray do nut tut the expedition suffer for want of any ttiliig in onr line. If tents are liliely to be wauted, get all that Mr. Chace, Mr. Andrews and
* lie wat then t^narlcmituler-Genenl of (he contf Dental annv.
OCR FRENCH ALLIES. 63
Mr. Grcciio Iiave. 1 think you had better write tliem to send yon all lliey have on liiiiul.
" I am In hopes to come and assht yon myself and Join the expedition; bat am alViikl I e.inuot obtain the General's consent."
IVfuch to liis gratification, Gencnil Greene's wish to join General Sullivan was granted. He set out from camp July 28tli, and July 31st, after three days' hard ride, reached Coventry, where, after an ahscucc of nearly three years, he was warmly welcomed by his famiU', friends and neigIiboi"s. The next day he i)roecedo<l to Providence, and August 4th wrote to Colonel M'adsworth, "I am here, busy as a bee in a tar-barrel, to speak in a sailor's stylo." Before leaving to join the Khode Island expedition, he took the precaution to engiige and send ou forty shiivearpenters and boat-bnildcrs "to put things in reiuliness in the water department," with " a most excellent fellow at the head of them, JIajor Eyres."
Another general officer no less interested in the campaign than General Greene, and eijually anxious to serve in it, was Lafayette, whose delight, when sent forward with a command by ^Vashington, was unbounded. In the exuHerance of his feelings he wrote to General Sullivan :
•• Nothing can give me greater pleasure thnii to go under your orders; and It Is with the greatest hiipplni-ss tlisit I sec my wishes, on that point, entirely satlslled. I both love and esteem yon ; therefore the moment we shall liitht tnsethcr ntll be extremely pheasant and agreeable to me. Col- onel Lunrciis will explain to yon the nnniber of troops I take with me. The Connt IVEstuinjr, a relutloii and friend of mine, has offered me the yrcnch troops he has on board ; so that, in addition to your forces, we shall add a pretty good rei'uforccment. Had General Gates or any other gone there, I had alrcidy expressed that I did not choose to go; 1)nt I c-onfesK I feel the greatest happiness to cooperate with you to onr glory ami the common advantage. For God's sake, my dear friend, don't l)cglu any thing before we arrive.
" With the most sincere affection and regard, I have the honor to he your most obedient servant.
'■ P. S. Laurens is just going, and I have not time to add more."
The ardor and energy he di.splayed during the campaign justified the highest expectations the General may have entertained of the value of the services of his young friend.
1
i I
f €4 EUODE 15LAXD tX THr KEVOLCTIOS.
! iV-priratory to a forwanl movement. Major Silas Talbot
► »a- -t-nt to Tiverton, where the troops were to assemble, to
; •!ii[*'-rir»t*rn'i ill*; hiiiliJing of eighty-six tlat Itoals osipable of
I r-amin^ one hiiu'Ire*! person- each, to I>e used for ferrjing
■ tlif- (irruy over to the i-lan<l. This work he ueeomplished in
• ftn inrn-'IlMy -liort tinit-.* Ilc^i'lc:^ two continental hrigades, f-onurifir.de'l hy OentniU Vamum and Glover, who arri%-ed
f in rrovjd'rnc-*- with their re^pertive commands early in
; Aiipi-f, the :inny embraced :i(»out sixteen hundred men
from IlhoHc I-liiii'l, fourteen himdred from Massachusetts,
! four hundred from Connecticut, and some vohmteors from
New II)inii(-hire. Imlf of whom left before the campaign came
to H tjital i"iic. The !i;_'frrfrg!itc number was alwnl ten thoii-
-SiU'l.
"Th'rre were no Sniidsiy^ dnring^ the Revolution." The (L'ly for rest aiul for <iiiiet wor^sliip w:w often given over to
• .-iln" Inff^it >>■ r^.m iii tihijr\4- |.I»ii-1 almiil irS", iinil Id t-arlv liff learDPil tht InwleoT ^ » •I'lftp rri*-'>ii. I[i 177^ 111' iNarTi<:<l ■ Mi— iEkliiniiiiil, anil Mritlri] in hlf owd tiumt; iu
{ I'i'i- '.•li-i,ri-. A" till x/rnriirTi'vliit-iit rtf till' rt-viiIiiTliinnn' KRr hr <:nj;ii]t<il Id tlir rau^ of
• fr'i'.'wii, iiii'l «»• i'liiitltii'l sl^li "itut- of !lj(- iiio*t Iminnont mllttar; anil nsral opm-
■ !i'*ii" 'if 'lijii trjiiijf piTi'j"!. lit- (iariin|>)ii<''1 in lilt ili-friin-ufKinl MilHIn.Xuvi-nibiT, 1777, nhi-r- J." r"''«-in"I H -i-ii-r"- u'lU'i'l. On ilii- iii-Ul 'if kiltk- in llii' runipiiifii ill* valor hikI
j ii.>-|iiir,f->i w.fi. »iii'|>ini'iM.. .iiii] wnn friim tlji- rijniniiin>l«r-ln ctiii-f hoiiorulilr nivnilon In
• III' <li-|ia;'-li III' iiiigTi-f*. Hi' -kill III otH-rniliipa^cAiu-t III*' [liill'lt jlilpptngin the liarlxir I *f \<w V.irk «■• ri-»arili'il l.i- ('•in^ri--- wiTli tin' citiniiiU-lon of Miijur, lie lutvln); jireTl- I (iii-l; 1,1.11 ■ ( .ij.tiiiii ill B lilioilf l.tmiil n jiiiin iil, Ili.i iiuiul tx|ilull« wrrt iiuiiitriKir. 1 Aiii'.nv 111'- iii'<-l l.riltialil <.l ;ln-iii hh- tin- cMi-Tun-, in lEIni'l'' I>lana watirf, of tlu' ItrltMl I ifsll'if I'ijf'it 'if L'fjriin-, t'lr iliI-lH-trrflv'tl ilii' riiiiiiiii--i"n (il' l.icutcnaiit-Coloncl. ^np- J mlLili-i -iH trliiriijili- ■mir<-il (<.r tiiin, m i.tMiiliT 17, 177',i, tin- cmnniii-sionof lajiiainin If ""■ 11"' y. Ill iT'ii, wliUi- rnii-liiK ifiu jiriviiii-->)ii|i, lie wo." laLeii iirlruiicr anil c<iiisit;i>^ (u
tlii-.li'r>p>-|>rl-"ii -Iflji. ■f»l IT'.m tlnnov i>ui irati-nrnU l<> Ihi- juil In Xi-w Vork, "tiiwiM- I 'if liti'Tj "II III' ■r(i>--|i[i-, nii'l 'li'-|.iili('criii1tyunlliiollitr,"uli'l thence afTBili tti Ihirtmuur
jirl^iiti 111 I.iJirliiiKl. Tlii- jiri-fiii Ha- no I—- riiiiiim- or inramnii.', tor ilii- tnal-trpatiin-nt of in lliiiiali -, llinii till' .liTMy. Jltrn- aiti'tii|.l' to i-i-bin- win- uii3ui.-»F<sru1, but In- Ha* ullU niali-lrri'li'U-i'il in iN-ii-iiilKri I7M, liy.-xdiaiiKc, ami Inihi ^prEiiftor 17--,' ti-adn-"! liin hoinr , hil'r'it|i|i;iii^-. Ill iriv.|ii>iiiarri'-<lf'irB n>-c<iiiij wil'i' ii >ll-')!ltrrl•,I■rl■|liludl'lIllJla,at.TBn(l-
'l«UKll)•'r 'tl' O'.vi-riinr Mimiii, uii'I nrn'^iiil t'l wckIitii Ni-w Viirk, wln-n- In- innai^Ml lu afirlrulliiriil (iiirxiill-. hi inn l.t wu' i-»iiil<i}f<l i<i -xiptTliitcml Hit- cunMnicllnu of llie J r^lyali'iiii-rlliiliiin. anil wa- ajiiKilnli-il tn lnr criniiiian'l. Hi- HubK<|uenIly cnmniandi-ri
<Hi tin- St. iNinifiitro MBll'in. A iiuT-llmi nt rank Utwii-n Iiimmlf and roniniodorv Trnx- , Inn, (li.-lil. il tiy ■]■<■ Si-rrilnry ',1 llit-Naiy «r<ii<(,-iiilly.i>- lir lilifVKi.Bpihift )ilni,I«f!<'ltuT
^ Mllh "iIliiT ra««i-.. Ml I'nnuiio'l'.rc Tallx.i, S<'|iIi-ii,I>it Z-l, INH. lo riflpn lit) com in I »t inn
and n-llri- fmni imlilli; -i-n In-. 1I.< jibkmiI llii- n-i-idui- f>f lili life In Xt-w Vnrk, ulii-rv In-
iiiiirrl'-il n tliird il and dli-d .lunc :C(, ]t«n. In i^Tnon, hi- is ri-iirr^cnli-d h-. "tiiU
and fti-H'^-ful, In f'-atuno diK-niilDKl, bal Niiractlv*'. HI* <;iinv<Tiiallon wa* Kt>irltiil ami
t (f-nlal." HI iliMnI NTvUi,. fi lili ciuiilry wi-n' a)>|in-i-latcil in )i fa day, ami gave liU
- nanii- nn hviKinldi- iilan- biuuiir tlm imlrbdri iif Hip IU>vula(U>D.
OUR FKKNCII AIXIBS.
(!5
the exoiling service of the war. This was exti^nsivttly true in HhfM)c> Islunil. In Providpnre. Siindiiy, Aii^rusl 2, 1771*. presenied ii busy scene. "TliU (Iny," snys a m sin user ipt diary of tliiit date, "does not np[>(?Hi' like .Sunday tn thh town. All the aititii-crH and tnidr;»iii(>ii, with n vii»t minibor i»f |>cr^>nA not belonging to the tu»~n, diircifntly employed in prcparin*; wilh all ex{H.>dition to gu ii|>ou the enterprise ugninMt the enotny uiH)ti lUitKle Island. " On Thuituluy in(>ming, Aug«!*l fith, (icnenil VannimV and CJIover's hri- ;pi(Ie5 of continental tniops Untk up their lino of niareh for Tiverton. The >imic day, the Mnrqnis dc Liifiiyoite set ont for the gcnenil rendezvoiii^, nnd on the 7lh (ienenil Sullivan and Hiiite left Iowa for the same deslinnii(pn. CJeueral Pigot. »pprise<l i»f Oeiienil Sullivan's iixivcinents, wiihdi-ew his forces fr<iin Hnttii' IMll, and rt^tircd within hi^ defences in fnint of Newport. On the !itli and lOrh of August, Snlli- viin with his army crossed over and took imssussion of the enemy's iibandoned works.
Prior to all this, on (he IDth of July, tho French fleet under D'K-^tsiTng, before mentioned, ap|H-ared off Ihe capes nf Delawiiif, having Monsieur <lerard, the Kn-neh Plenipo- tentinry, on l>o;ird. Tho new» spreml rapidly through the uounlry, awakening joy wherever heard. It mm- iippctrod as if Friinee had taken hohl of the Ameriean eanse in eame«l, and with the puiiiose uf furnishing aid and comfort to an ex((^-ni comporting with the ehiiMii-ter of a leading nation.
"Glorious news ! *' exelnims lion. Henry Marehant, u del- egnte in (.'<Higre-ts, in n letter to Governor Greene, dated Philadelpbin, July U, I77a :
" I lt«vr liut A ri-w mlnutck tN-rore llic exprrsi^ j^in-h off, in inform you tlinl « Fri->i<-h lUt-t Ik nrrlrvtl on ilii« CHn»t i.-4inm)iiii<li-il tij Count 1VK»> taliig; fii)L> hliiii iif 'JH k'UUf. Tour nlilps nf XO niul m.> 74, and Av« oT (M, ■ad ^Mir rrlmKc". Cou^n-fs thU ilny rtcvlvcil a InuT ttttm llie Admiral, ilaird IHLiu-firr liny. Thu FnMiOi AtnlintMinlur. M-mia ricnird. and Hr. l>canc, lu tt, tt\iiAte. ai'«! now cninin;; up Um ilvi-r. Tlic Ailnilral aLio tor-
66
RHODE ISLAND I>" THE REVOLUTION.
warOtd lis n K-llor, dlrecU'd to Congress, from lh« Kliiff of Frnncft, andj »l)];ii'C(l Itjr Ills Mi^wtty, addn-KMlug lilt In I lie mu»i rt^speclH:) and tender- man ni-r."
On the nth of July he again writes :
'* I \iul llic lioitor or bcliiR |ir«sent ilio lant SalkbnLh al the rnoNt liiteruit- \a\i InlprvU'w lliui wvcr Uxtk [iljirc Iti AmiTkn, or i«Tlm|i» In ilic tvorld, bvtwvcii Muu^Il-ui' fj^-rard, iliu 1'lunlpotfntl.iry uT >'i'kiicu, «ikI the Pri'id- (lent of Congre^, on lUv part of tliu xovcrvian Indtiiffti'liTit Uiittcd Suitcn of Amcrlrn. TIiIh liiUirvk-w was m(>«l conlhl. :rciitfrinia ami ih>I>Id, In 111; torn I liii^ Lho honor of poisoitull}' rou;;rjiUiIitUii;; ilLs KxrrlU'tucjr iipoti tiU Mtfe arrival, and ^it'liig him n liiiirty wdcomo to the Utiltvd Stntca of AiDcrkit."
And still n<x">n ho trrit^^.^, Aiiiriist 1 Itli ;
" Lnst 'nuirsday CongrcM jfnva public an<l]«nce to MoaRlciirQernrd, Hie Mlnislvr Fl<-uipoK'iititiry of yniriici'. It wiiis mi nripirluoi day, an Import- nnt irniieuirtliiii. niul t hopi- roplulc wILIi liiHllni; adv.iiUii;;rs tit thi; United Btabcs ill tliintrid. and to iIig Sutc of Kliodi' [nliiml I11 partlciiliir. i)/ Itils (liiy, pcrhnps at This momLnt. wc arc ruaplu" the IiU-^.^Io-^h nviTilns from a treaty wlih ho (towQi-ful nti allj'. I think tli<- cuiriectiim wn<> lirought lilKtiil by Ihr luiiiil ciT lli-nra-n, mid thcn-upon U prumbea to b« lasting, w It lit iiiiittndly ln'uilk-hil, gt-imrou» ami noble."
Of tbtj li*caty of iillinnce, WilHam Ellcry, also a ilelegate in CbngrcsH from Newirort, writes :
*< Inslenil of puntiiing tliac narrow policy which rc;rar(l4 nnty the pres- ent iiionKMil, nod prcstitt latpifsL. mid nobly dlsdalnln;; in tukt ndvnntM^ of our »ltii!iLii>ii, t'i'iiiK.'t hnth, with a Miinll viirhiMoo. iicr-i^ditl to mir pro- pusid)<. ihui'fHy tloobrlcov liitviulioi; to liiml lim tn ihcm by Indissoluble ties of anci:liou lUid cnitilitde."
The IuUgw of the Commissioner, he says, "show a good dUpusition in the powers nf Kiirnpc t<iwnnis ug."
When the fleet of Vit'C-A<lniiriil Count D'Kstaing a|>- poured on our suutheni cotuit, the (|it(3etiun an>se, how it coutd he i'ni|»loycd to tlio lii'^t ;iilvant{i<.'e. One idea wa» to blockuile New York, and thus co-oporatc with the Ameri<?rtn land fon;cs in c(>i)[)iii<r up llio British troops in that city ; Init it waR t'oiind. n[inn exiiinination, thiit the t-btinnel was not of sufficient depth lo permit the entrance into the harbor of the
m
OUR FRENCH ALLIES.
fi7
it ships, and wi llinl ])Iwn was abaiuloii<Kl. The next plan waH to mvetit NewiKirt, ami l»y a simnUuncnua nHsaiiU by (he iia\.il niul laml forcCM, nnJin- Sullivan, Irt insure the vnptiii'e {)f the enemy then huh)iii;;p<>t<}>cssi(m of the tawnand nf tho island. AetMirdinfrly IVEslainjr bore away for Uiis oiit-poat of suulhuni N«w England, and appeared off New- port July 29, 1778. The imtiiince of his fleet into (he har- l»or, August 8, filled the i>neniy n'ilh i-on- Hterniit ion. So in- tense viaa the fear awakened, that thu t h r o 0 gna nl vrsseU inichnrcd in the K»»t IHta^age, and Ihc seven veRneU anchored in the West pasoa^^o and ill the bay as far north iLS nearly opposite ihc northerly end of Pni- dentw island weri', to prevent their (>e- fiiminr; prizes to oiir Frrnch allies, oi-dfred to lie dealroyed.
These vessels mounted in Ihe a^it-galo two hundivd and eighteen giina, vix. :
AlADD. gnllt-y, - ir>Kiinii. OrpliL-iix, rrli;au-, • aXj^unN.
Orbvi-U!!, frl;{itl«, - - 'in ftmm. l'ls"l. irJilli'J". - - * gHtw.
Jmio, rrlKRl*-. .1! itun*. SpUdre. gnlU'y, • 8 Kons.
KiiiK's Plvtii-r. eloDp. ■ lA ifuiis. Floni, n-lgale, - :t? i^uitn.
I^rk. frlj:ale. - :);; ifuiix. Falcon, xloop, IK iniiiK-
^S(a^
Of these, thu Flom and Falcon, with their arnmuiciitti, were sunk. The other ei;j;ht were burned, and all llieir nuinltiona of war went to the Imttoni.
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. q9
The following details will perhaps make the account more intelligihie to the rciuicr :
Alarm, (inlloy, ntntluiii'd at Fofrland Ferry, Ea»t Tassngc; burnt at Snndy Point.
r'erlHTii.'i, rrl^nte, fttntluned snutli or Dyer's Inland ; burnt Hirther south, near Portsmouth whore.
Juno, rrl^atc. stationed in centre of West Passa^, about half way in'twet-n Jamestown We.tt Ferry and Connnlcnt Point; burnt in CoddinR- lon's Cove.
King's Flslier, sloop, fltationcd at rhi; Ronthcrn entrance of tlie East Pait- Slide; burnt n Utile norili nf Lliilc Sandy Point.
Larit, frigate, stutioncil nildwtiy between Arnold's Point anti Prudence Island; burnt near Portsmouth shon-. about midway between Arnold's and Coggeshall's I'oliits.
Orpheus, Mjiate. stationed between the northern end of Prudence Island and Calf Pasture Point; burnt near ('okK"='*I*!'1' I'oiut.
Plgot, galley, stationed near Brenton's Point ; burnt a little south, near tlie shore, on the opposite side of tiic cove.
Spllllre, galley, stalloued In the Easit Passage, south of Little Sandy Point and near Portsmouth shore; burnt at Sandy Point.
Flora, frigiite, sUitloned Houth of Race Island ; sunk In Newport harbor, south of Long wliarf
Falcon, stoop, stationed l)elween (Joat Island and tlic Dumpling": sunk near the south end of Ooat Ishind *
•GKNEItAL ORDEKS llEFOHE THE BATTLE.
The following Orders issued by (xeneral Sulliviin. prepar- atory to moving ou the enem^v at Newport, after taking \nt»- jiprtsioii of Hulls' Hill, seem to have ti fitting place here.
■OvK ttaircR huplarril ou the insrulii uf tilR 'Tlian of th<> llBrbor nfUhndr ImImhI ami NkiraganK-lt Bay," llio fuliowing
" NiiTKH ANii Kkkkiikni kh v>t|ilninrii)[ Ihc HltuMlun of Ihr IIKitisii Kiill-H anil Foluriw anrr Ow'Anh of July, 177S, wlitn Ilie French V\t^t unrta-r Ihp niminiinil of rounl (rK-tatnf ■pprsretl Bnil Anrliuri'tl ulT Ihe llnrbor at Kewport.
" Ttip KHiiie (lay two Frciirh FriftitlcP went up thr .Scakonnel I'MMige. ".liily^WtU. Twt) Frendi Linf of llartln .-^hiii-i AnchomI In the XBrrmffmnMtl ra*HiiKt- on
wlilrh llic Kluit'i Trou|H< i|uttti-d I'nnnanlcut Inland. ■*.AuiniBl SIh. Tli« Fri-nch .■^Iilpa rame down lownrdii I>yi-T'a liOamI when Ilir Itritli-h ailvancnl Frl|[iitFii wrn> dcHlroypd and the Semncn Knrnin|NHl. "Sfli. The rp"l of tin' Frf iieli FIccI camp inio llnrbuur and Anchored abn-ail of Ciiulil Inland, upon wlili'h the Kln^'n Tnmpn irithdrrw wtrhin Ihp Lincii. "iKh. Th*- Knpniy'ii Forcpi landed," The Kritiah had one encampnipiit tn Newport, one on Conanirut Ixland, nnp (■ Maval llriipule} In Hiddlelown, and flvt ciicaoipmentu tn I'ortamouth.
70
KHODK ISLAND tV THE RKVOLUTION.
The nnmes of Genei-als Greene, Haiicoek, Viirnum, Glover, AVlji|)|)Ie, Tyler, CVirnell iinil l^niuyvUv, tia well us lliosc of Hiitioniintile offit-ers thcrfrin niitiit'*!, wtiind coiinoctcd in his- tory whli ttome of tlie n)o^t iniporlant iinU brilliant military nuhicvcmcnts of tlio Rnvolntinii.
"llRAT>qUAItTKIt8. Aufillitt 14, 1778.
'■ Tlie aripy being under urdcrs m inuri-h lo-niuirow at nix oVlock. lliu ruUowlDK oriliT uf iiinr<.-h is to he uliscrvcil, viz. : TIk' bi-it;ii(l«'S (j>r ihe dmi Man tu iiilvniicc i>y lliclr centre In coltirniiH nf two pliiLimii)- in iVutit. Vnronm'H tiriirtiile tit iiiiir<'h nn hi tlic west ronil, (:inv<-r*s In ilic cn-tl. (;orn«irs ftnd lircciie's ill llic wiilre bt-twiou tlii-m, Irikili^ t*nrr lodlvieh* the (jroimd bciwi.'i'H iliv roiulu lis iivar it» JHJS^ltJly t»y lljrlr ceiiiro, Ttie two brlKudL-s uf Ua- !»c{!i>nil Ihii.' u> udvuticv in fl'out. 'I'Iil- litii: will udvnnrv la twu colimiiLH. Not^^ttlisLfinilliii; lhi> orrlor uT ninrcli hrn'tonirf! i;lvrn out. the two i-tfluiiiiii of titc srconti lliir will prcwrvf ih^ir pro|ii-r di*- tanct! bctwwii ilitJiu fur display lu;; tlitr two rf^tiiKaLs oi" resurvp, wUl ailvftnctf from tiiv cx'iitrn oT each iti roiiiiiiiiM, nitil pii-xTrn- tlit^lr pro^MT dl»t(in«:« fordi.«|>l)i)'ilij;. (.'olutii^l (irtciic will nrruriLiL' tiic arUllcTy of tin; rlfibl uinu In I he van t rouil. Gi'i><;nil \Vln|>|ik'. iviili lite Kvw Ilaitiimlilri! iroups, will flank uti lltf nrtujr In llii' rl^lil- Ctrntml TyliT, Hith Lliu C<»i HL-ctluut ti'iiopH, will tlHUk thi? iiniiy oti llic li^n. when Ini) llnnklti;; ilivlti- liMis will mnrrh liy pIiitoniH Iii llu- uiniiiifr r*'piv^ciitod in the onli-r "f marcli, «t the dlsUncp ftf fifly rods fVom the wUiji; oJ^ Uie nrmy when n>rin<-(1. luid p«'scr%-r llml di«tnn<:'-. ('olimi-l llyrr nill inovr iiia rcyi- incnt lo tilt- ri^tit, uiiil divide It pqiinlly, iind nltlt iiiie-linlf ciml-J' ihe ri;'lit or tlio flrfti, and Willi ihv mhvr tht Halii "T iht M.-von(l Hut. CwIwr-I Najroa will dlriito hU ri-{j;imi-nt in llhv iiiHiincr, to cover Ihc ktt ufiho llri>t and Heonnrt lUii-.x. riinirral >Vlil))pli) nlil d«l«rli from hb rnminniKl niii! hundrctl ii)i;m l.f> (lunfc Itii' rcwrvr mi ilie righi. t;^•n^r^^l Tyk-r will ilclncli one hnndr«.-il men from liU coniniikiid l<> liitnk ilu^ ii-<ici-vc i>n Uit U-fl. Thistp pnrtit;* will eiK-lt Iil- (.'oniinniidrd liy il Held «Oii-ur Tin? NaUmii vul- urtiH-m will Join p.'irl-« ofNoyrn' n-ttimfiit, whkli i-ovit llw left ofllK' flr?ti line. TIk' !>li;iinlEi fur ijnrntlliijj, tvhi-i.-U<it> itniL iiinj-ublii^ will li(.< llie »nm«! us In till.' ui'dL-r of ihc I lUi InMiiiit. All sljcnalx of tliv drum will hi.- Iskcii from llie hrlt^flde on the rt^til of tln^ flrtit line, and will puHH frnni It tliroijgli ilic whutc ftnny. Whtu tht troop l>i-al>t. It will Ih; a t^l^'nal for the army to niovL' up in order to <]i!>pL:)y. When tlie drnm beats !■> tirm*, the lln^^a nnd n.'-KervuM with llie riivt-rhii^ )iarlli-M [■> thi' l1r3<L nnd nciroiid llin's will disphty und Turin tin order urbnltle, ilii- flnnklng dWIMoiiH on Iha rljihL uiiO k-ft nil) hall iind wuit for ortler»
" I'ioiioerH to bu linnivdliiCcly driirird from each curps. wtio nrv to bet fiiriiltihcd from Lite (4iturti!niinHter with propter cooU for ntmnrlng nb>itrui> tlnns la the riMid r:>r Held before tlio roininnK. Tlie li;;bL corps will niorv oo at tcntit a intlc in IVoul of thi^ nnuy. L'olouQl L'riuic will order two
Otm FREKCn AIXIBS.
71
heavy plvces of lirtlllur; mounled on fldJ carrtaKes. to move on In the t*Bl rond, »w\ two mure In Itie ixevt road.
" Tbti ciiiiiinAiKlt'ix of rurps will hvo llinl tlic urnuigfrinculii arc properly flxvtl to-dnr, Dint <Mrli oiifi miiy knnw tiln plnct^ )n Uk' mnrnlns CoUioel I^njilon, with Iii4 dra;;Qoii^. niitl Colonel Slack, whli lili* llgM horftc, will attviHl at hvadquarlers In thi; inorniut;.
"AFTKB OltDEnH.
' Tlinl no niUtnkc may hnppvti wltli n-xp«'<'l to coinronndvrK of thn nmiy nollflinl. tliv rltfUl wtn^ nt the flrst line will be com in muled by Brlsodler- Gunvnil Viimiiin. Tlit; Ivfl wins of ^he nm line will be coinmnmied by Drluiulicr ricm-i'iil Glover. The ftrcouit liiir will be coinnmutlcd by tbo Hon. MiiJ>tr-<^-niTnl ILtiicorl;. The rr»<^rvi- by Colonel -C'omiTinTidnnt Wr»t, Miijor-ficnct'til nrrcni- will coiiimand tlic Hk'H wing nf tin- urmy; MjJoi'Ginicrjil tin; >lni(|iil» dr In FMiellcibe Itfl. Tlie oilivr pnrttciiliir cuiuuiaiiil nf curt>!4 Uns Unvu poiutcd out in llic onJcrs uT tlie ^Uiy.
*-A iKTinlt rnitD th« IJl rector- Gi-nerti I uT tli(> HoRpltiil will t>c a Rumdent wurmtit Tor any ttiir^con or >trk ftoldlcr to pas>( to Ilic ttisln.
•■Tlii; comman«kTs of n-;;ln)ent corps nnd eoinpnny will sappty the Qliarlfnniinlor-tierHTiil uilliU'iry >t<irfH niiii tbo l?rtniitii)*«ary of I'nivixlon witli HtK'li niini'icr of luen on tbuy nbaM request, irlthout onli-rs nram lu!iiil(|iiunvrit.
" Parole— Coox.
" C. Hisac ~ iloiTtiss,"
"llitADQUAitTKna, RnonR Iai^tid, Angnst IS, L778.
" Wijor GrniTii] for the day to-morrow, HancotI:. nri^iitllcr tar the day, TitL-iiintt. Field Onicfrx, Cohim-I .liit-tihK, Li<-uti>niiiit-Coliin«-l WuodH, Mujor Wilton, jtrlsiide M^'Jor for the dny, Titcomb.
••O'liHicl IJlavl'JW will uiku commaml of General Glover's BriKftde. AdjiiUiK L»rnvi\l of Cutonul Slicpard'n rcyiiiivut. will do Brigade Mqjor^n duty till luribvr onlen*.
" Mnjiir Tiiiiinns Fondiek and Mr. .lohn Trnry «ro iippiilnU'd AUh-dc- Camp U) Guucral Glover ^ ibcy am to be respected and obeyed accord- iDgly."
" Uei DQUAiiTKKtf, August 16, 177ft. " Miijor-Gt-neral for the day to-morrow, Miirquiei l)e In Fayette. Brlss- dler, Whipple. Fl>*ld ofllcem, Odniiol Wade, Lleutenaut-Colonel Voite. and Miijor llnidUh. Drlgndo-Major Siiurljunie. Tliv wliule of Nuycn* re^flmrnC to Lover the l<-n of the MMnnd line. The Boston Imlepciident coiiipauieat to Join the Siilem roliintet-ra, and cover the left of the riral line. Generwl 01i>vi-r will nUc direction)* where they Are to cncainp. Elj^bC hundred l^ti;Oic iiieti to In! drafted rr«mi IIr- Hecond line reMrrvi! corjM, General Tyler'" rLmklug duUlon mul Dut'ii iitid Nnyen' reginK'ntH, aod to parade la the Aifut lluu ou the ua»t road precliuly ut t>lx oMuek ibb uveiilnj;. A
RHODK ISLAND IS THB REVOLUTION.
covering piirly or one thousand incii Troni tliv llrst Mnv to pnnulc m tliv Mumv time mill places. Tb« QtJarlcnu»ht(-r-Gi-u«rul will furwDnl till llie fiuicluirM, ;;itl>ioiiN, |>Utrunii>«, nml iitlrciicliiiiK LikiU, tliiit Die; may be III fruiiL of tliu flmt Hue kt fix o'clock IhU cvcplnc Tlic t-tiiiiiiilMary of MlllUir)' i^iofLii nil! rurunnl all ttic onhiaucu lo tlic saini' place und iit iliu sntne Lime, (^nilnlii l>urtisli Uanson ntul Lk-iili'iiatit Aiillioit> WUulp, nlio were (tHittdcwl liy iht court martial of which Mujor liiiuUtiyluu wa* I'rusldcuc, lo tic <ll!i{-h;ir;;<Nl ili.- jter^-k-e, nrc In con«l>lcrnLioii uT ihclr for- mer gooil h<:lir)viorAiiil offlcer-like cuiiducl, restored lo tlii-ir runner mnkn and cotnmiiiiU. The Geucm] wbtiex lliftl this iitny »vrvu lo caution tlicni ffgnJiMt II coiKlovt that niuy til oat-« Uebiruy all the credit lltnt Umn nml fltithOil scrvk-va biive iic'|tilrei1. Tli« AMs uutl MkJuis of Drl^uilw arw raquv.Hted to nttinid at inTinftuinrtcrs iiri-clsely ul the liours nivutlom-il lu tbo orriLTx of tl>« iviith liiht, llri^atllitr GcHLTal ViiniDin will conunaiitl Kie Crtverin.!; iiartk-s tliisi tveiiip^.
'■ Thi- rniigiir piirtJen n 111 ptLrade with llicir arms, C'^e nWccrs cxcpptetl) K()liij[*>i> tli<-' lliiv!t. KicliHnl Wulkur uud Itoynl TylcT. E»qs., sre to set n» BrlijiKlv-KiiJura to lijjbl corps."
" lIiuitquAirrRRR. Aagnst 10, 177».
"ArriiK tlRUKKH.
•* Colonel Crxne to litre the cliur^ of (iructlns tlie lintt«rles this night; Cnlnn^l Uo> ii»ii ami CulntK-l Gridley lo ns>^ltit liUll.
■' fUjlitiicI Cr-jnu will ik'tarli ^iicli uiimln-r of tirilUury men miO sucL num- her of pleci's for the (.-ot-eiiu^ pnriy an lie slinll think |)rn|)i>r. He will also dflliurh nin-h tiiinilier of nx-ii lo laki' clmrjje ot Uie Imtlcilci* and serve the RKiMion (■•> lie llniN n'qtilMilc.
"Catldil'l lltnkk-y'it coinpiiiiy From Boston, now in Colonel l.ivin^tou'n iiorfM, to join (lie corps wlilcli now cuvtrd llio left of llie rlrst- line.
"A druft of two h[in>lr<>d men of the most ablf and netlve men from tlie Niii'«ral cofjtH of tlie nnny, csccpi the first Hue, to bo puraded nl livud- <)tiart<)ra."
'* Uraiiquaiitkks, niiiiDK Ihi.ami, Annual I':, 17(8. .... "Ttio Wholo of Colonel Nojes's rejcimeiil to cover the lea of llm Mrninl lliw. Tlie Bui^toL inde penile nl cnrai>nny lo join t!it- Snli-in vol- Unlri'M. and eovcr the lea of llie Trout llnii. Geuunil Glover will glvQ i]li-wi)lloii» «licri; tbcy are to l»e cntainpcd." , .
"HKiiKJUAiti-RRA, RiloDR I«I.A!tti, Angii.it IT, I7T8.
"avtkk ordkrs.
, , . . '* Major .Morton la appointed Alil-de-Canip ii> MaJor-Gf?nerHl lUiiconli. (^ipulii Hteptien SewiiU mvX UuTUh Kln^'. Excfrs, are appointed Aldn-do (?4iitp la OcuurnI Olovcr; ilicy are to hi: rcHpocteil tiud obeyed ML-urdliiitly."
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 73
" HeADQI'AKTKIIK, C.VMP BEFOHR NkWPOIIT, \
"Angust aO, 1778. )
" Major-Gencml for the diiy, to-inorrow, Green, Brtj;nt1ier Tor tlie day, LovGll. Flolii Offlcors, Colonel HancH, Lieutcnaiu-Coloucl I'opo, Mnjor Fenno. Brlysidc Mnjor, Nllus.
"The Goiicnil positively oniei-s that no officers coiiiniamling fatlgne parties kIiuU suffer them to come ofl* the workit until they are regularly relieved, or <ll->n)is8ed by the Mnjor-Geiierul of the day. The court mar- tial, whereof Itrigudier-General Varnum Is I'rcsldent, to sit to-morrow, to try Colonel Noycs fur taking off the fatigue {inrty withont order.<i and without having heen relieved,
"The Quartermaster-General to apply to the Adjutant- General for a proper nnniher of hniuls to bury the offal of the cattle killed about ciimp; aliio the carcasses of dead oxen and horses about the Island. Colonel Kvans will give onlers for burying tliose on the north part of the island.
" The Geiienil entreats his bnivc ollleers and soldiers to use their ntmodt efforts In currying on their upproaehes to the enemy's lines. Though a noble spirit of patriotism brought numbers of brave men on the ground whose piirtk'ular Interest loudly culled for iheir presence at home, and though the General is convinced that the put>llc Interest will still prevail over every other consideration, yet he wishes to do everything In hla power to forward the return of those brave mm to their respective fami- lies and business ; for which reason he exhorts every one to use their best endeavors to make the siege as short as possible.
'• While the Commander-in-Chief esteems it his duty to retnrn hta warine.st acknowledgments to the truly spirited citizens of Salem. Marble- head, &i: , who so cheerfully turned out to uike charge of the boats, and who have hitherto exocnteU their trust to so universal satisfaction, he cannot help expressing his concern, that the term of time they agreed for, is so nearly expired; it gives him the most sensible pain to reflect that the unfavoraldc weather, the absence of the French fleet, and some other unforeseen and unfortunate events, have lengthened out the opera- tions far tieyond his expectations and Iny him under a necessity of calling on those men [who ought to return home with the thanks of the army and country in general] to continue the sacrlflce they are making of their private Interest for a few days longer, to see the business they are bo nobly engaged in completed, and this Island again restored to the domina- tion of the United Stales." . . .
" HK.ipquAUTKii8. August 2-t, 1778. " Major-General for the day, to morrow, Marqnls de la Fayette. Briga- dier, Glover." . . . The company of Salem volunteers will Immedl-
■ Uencrmi John <il'>vFr, M>n of Jonftthan, Jr. and Tabltlis (Bncon) Glori-r, Wfw bom tn SkleiQ, Hbhn., NiivL'riiber 5, ir32. Me «Brl}r removed, wtlii three brotlirrn, (Joutttlikn, Mam- ad and Uaulrl,) to Marbletieod, where he learned the trade of a shoemaker. In 17M (Octo-
10
74
RnO]>K ISLASD IS THE REVOLCTION.
fttelj marcti to IKiwIand's Ferrj: nod put thvoiselrcff nnder the commHiid of Colono) Lcc, to ^uiinl ih« bmiiM, siii] u> msti tliein Mlii-n uccaAtim mny
IhtW; hr mirrlnl IlMinali (ikli-, of t1>al los'ii, ■nil pii|tv"l '» *^ Aahliit and ollirr tm-r. twiitUr pumiili, trlikli wrrr linnpitroualy fallowr<l uiilll tlir brraklnji uiH of itiK Kvt'utu. IIOTiary wur. Ilv liccnair pronilupnl In lown Biriilr*, nlid InM oa<f of lionor ■ml uu.i. Up w&«fur iDKa; year* nxinrirliil nilli llii< mllilnrj. nii'l al llir li4-gSiiiiiiijc<>f Ihr «iiir nlmn- duiHxl liji pxiriulii' biiiliipin, ral>n1 a n-Kliiipnt uT unv ilioiiMinil nirii, ■iiil J'>Iiifi1 Wai>h- Initluii ■! Camliriitjit. A» tiiii comniamk wat etfiniiosri) ino-ll* of ftiiini-Q, il ubtaini>d lh« MtbrUjiirt or flu- " Unrhir Itrxiinrrit." aiiit fur ll* lh<ir<JU|iti ilirill. liraiiTy hinI Hblltit tu rlu vrvlevatlkr ou laml or wiIit, Wft> rvK*")^ by Hit '.uiumaiiilcrlii Cliltf iM uiit> of lliv moal valiwblo aciuI'Mkni' ro lit* amy. »<»d Oetubrr I, IHA, to July ^O, 1770. (ulonel iUotvr tta* rlntinm-it hi ili->rrly. llanf .. umjarlrh Miittrr-Maitpr <rt-nrral tilriilipti Mnj-lan [■» All) al WaaliltijEiiinj imik iftiMvv if tlw riiulpincnl aiul mAonlng wf vcitvti and rroU- er» Mlling Troiu tliat fori and from Kuli-m »ud UnrttMwad. Itirir iliitii-* urn- faJlUnilly and ■ucoeianilly illH-hnTjrnl- t'V'kinff llrmly lir J<il»H. WiUltlnKTon on l^nfi Uland, ami rradO'rpil luvaloaW.f wi vlort, iKlHnia rrlrral twrimir iiiTi-M*ry,liitnijii-riiiU'iidi1i^ tlvlran^ gmlallaB at an aniiy of iiliii- lliiiuuiii] iripn, hIiIi all lliv KpM arllll4-ry anil mirh lirsvy i>nl- liaiiev uiwaa nf Mott value, mmtuiialllvDi prvvMoiu, rlc, taort il.ie rittr lo llir main land In Ihr tpmtx at ililHiiii liuun. Vat gftllant irnioi-iat Wnl nicilir. Ociolicr IK, t^T^hawa* nimtillamiU'il lij (ii'urral L*r, aiMt alaolnx^tipmlunlm by M'aildoKtun. lie ma mnnHMlonnl a BrlKiulli-riif n»nU Ki-btuwy iri, I7;7, bui al nr>t iti-rlltvi-d thr tiunor. Tlirongfa Ibr |irrwa<Iwii of Waibln^tltin, hIid •iilrrlaliird a Mgh nplnton uf lil> iiitlliiiry ■MItIf , In- di>ally iKviitril II. Hv «■■ with WaihlnglUD al Treiilun. villi lirvcna In ?(p« •Jwwry, and nilh (iali'i nl ^nrali'itn. Atlrr llm mirrmilpr <jT llurxoytm llir itnpnrlHiil iluly waa aial(D«l lilm nf coiidunini; iIh> iirlMiiiPi*, Orv lluiutatiil •r>i>ri iiiiinlml aiiJ nlm-iy.on* In nuwbrr, !<• •.'nntliHilKi:- A» alrradr *»«ii, licjuin^d >ulliraii In I'luildetifc tuc«i)penl« wUb him In llir r«nit«tgn on Itliuilr lalaml. lie <*>• will li> Iluttun to rngagF Iwo liHth Atmi or itim- liuiialml ■■anu-ii or nilipr |>iT«Kit wrll ut^iuHliitpd wlili biiHli, lo imI m boa)< M«u in [lie i-xr^^dlilon. Tin- " llonon ItidcppudiMit lompany," loloiicl l(lc)il>()rn,&Sdcm oolnpany, Papluln .saiiiurl Flaiijr, ami leiaii) inliiiilii'nt liuiii UarblLlii-ii<I mitf srcutvil,
Afti-r ilip ttlrpol of llif iinnj Imri (tie l"lBnil, l.inrrni (Ibirpi- « lilj lilo brlfpiili' rrhimWl la l*nivld(-n(». wlii-rr In- niiialiiciL mil 11 Juli 7. ir;v. «btn hi- li'tl to Join tin- nulla Amy. H> waa a mciiitii-t <t1 ll»< nmrl iimrlinl lH'r«r-t> itbiini llir uigfi>rliinxti> AniJn- wai l(i«d. From "I'sinri lVpht<klJI," ?jpv<-iut/«r .'Sili, lie wrlrn In {;tnrrKl Jliincork ^
"Tlir wfiiil*- iif till' army lim ||Titi|. itiln itiulf^r ijuarlrr* rll«i-|>tlBK llrnft*! Mson** Mid hi; tirtnadpi, itlio air imw In dip flrtd (rlxlit liuiiilipil iirmy nipu ulllinul ihuc iir alncklng)
mJoylAiE UK' BWHit iif a wlnirr'i canipalBn, while tlio wurtliy «d<I <rli«i<)ut rttlfcu* uf Amerioa arr niiliirliij; tlw ltafd*lilpH. lulU ami rallf:u>-* lin-hU'UI Id gurlniirt. Kith saoA in*, Wm) aliHl>ltj|; uii IihU of duwii. ^V\u^ Ilia I Intra Mi i'hh- aliJ iiUliiri li> pujiiy u gintd
«i>Halll«ll«ii, kntl at Hit- (anir lime fnake hli fartum-, would ant be u tuiaintf "
WlkPH the pi«iln1»y •arrlilrri and Ihr lacilllcr iiriipallh mailv bj (jnirml (jl'm-r. tectrthcr Willi Hip kiill^Ylng rondltlnn of ti4« brlgadr, nrc braaghl lnlv*kw, (iiv Iron/ uf the abmp <|iiikliillnii witl Ih* imhIiiiwiI.
Gtiirmlillovvr n-iiiaiiir<l 111 wnii-iu until Jnljr, l7IS,«ih»a, on accaonl of InnrsdiiR ID iKalih.bi' rrMfiit-tl lib ojiiiailwlun. CwriKn'M ■MppicdlhffwditnailOB.uidiitncc'l him uu llw half-pay rulabllilnncnl. The midue uf lili llfi.- waa ipenl 111 Uaililr-hnHl, nvln-iv hn dird of a licpillc ilitrntv Jaiiuafi' 'M. ITV:, ax^^ ilxly-IlK- yvvm. lilt rctnaliia war* drpnilli-d lu llir (aiuUii tomb in thr i)1d buiyliitt Krouiid In Marbltlii'ai). "In |>riviilr Urn It* <■«■ thii warm and aii-iuty frlrnd, fiti- fiiiin ex fry a|ipcaraiii^>!< uf sullr a nil illiniiiiiilalloil. He wa* thi- BlRicI loll air hiiiDutid. Ilir kind brollicr. and the b«>;<l uf fnlliL-ni "
In IfCS Ik-iijanilu TiIit Iti-iil prrnfiiUil l<> tlir city of Iluitoii a bninfc- ulalur of Clrncnkl tilm«r. it ll iitf hpnilr (.Ixc, aitil n'}>nriM-i>IK ttim In cnullni-iilal uniform, wlllv Ibn licavy mlUiar; ovcTTOttt hanxiiiji In itracEful fulil^ fiam liti ihoulder*. It fland* iin Cominon- WT^illli ai<-iiii<-. iijxiii 11 ((niiiitc pedeatal, upon wlildi li lD««rlbi.'<il « luuiiuary uf lilt mllftary carver.
OUR FRENPH AIJLXMS.
7$
rM)nlK. Two hiindrird mi'n properly otllccred And commnnrlDd hy & l.len- tcnBtit-l'oIoncl. to t>p tuhen tViMii WlilUiej'it iiml WjiilBtvorlli's rcKlments, .itlil niiir<rli llilx sfl iTiiooti nt 4 o'cluck. to Biitlti' Hill niiil put llnrm"<'Iv«-ti iiiiit«T cominiind of Colonel Evshn to ncvslBi the incu now on tUi> grotiud In cnnfttructlos the ■iec:e».''ary works; tliuM* nuii v^buiilil be |ii-iiicipull5 ttucli M nn: acquiiliitnl with hoatB. that iliojr tniiy tw nlilc to mnn ilii>m vrhen colled ti|)oii for that pnrpoM. The QunrtormBstera and (?oiim)l<i.snrle<i Arc to ivmove nil lln-lr iii-nvy Mtnry,i iinl fiintiedlutrlj wsnicd to Itic iinnli end of ibti Ifilnml. All tliv tivai'/ ))as;(ri;!<^ nliould lit itc-iic oir, thnt the ariuy tnjij not l>F L-iicumtMTi-d nltli H in tlini> of iictlun. Thu mini from (■onerat Tittfomb'* hrifinde wliloh liavv Jitiiiod OiloncI LHwruncv's corps ari* Imine- dlau-ly lo ri'iurn t» vliclr rwit>*-'ctlvc regimcntii
"As It Khc* nnuAi troublr (u furnlfb Lliu ll)j:bl liurornivn niid dn^ootiit with pKMirs to croHs iho forry every lime llay are sent on bUMnDH<i. they *re to pA»h and rr|Mi.'<i« willioiil wrltlt!ii p(i"*ieit. Tbe pickrt which litft hi rmr of lUr hnttery now ^reclln;; on tha light, are to move down titc road In fhint of the bntt«ry wery cvrnlnx ut dark, anil rrtiirn Bgnlti nlday- hrwk "...
Il WBs tho intention of fJeneml Snlliviiii, after having fstnliliiiheti liir« litirs at Unttu' Ilitl. to ns^uuH the enemy in hiti IriMidies. Ati;;u8t 1 2th wiis ihe diiy (lesi<rniiteU fur his itnny to move. On the lllli he insued a patriotic general order, in which h« >tai<l :
" Tbff ConinMndcr-fn.4'hi4rr of the unny nn Itlimle Nliind Uitvliiifc iw<ii«d ord«r» for Ibe army lo movt< on towardu Newport lo-morrow morning [ol] )>lx o'clock, iskeit this opportunity l» reiiirn Mt< uioNt cordlnl thaiikit lo tlio brsvi; olllcvrs, voluutcent and aoldlvrK, tvlm huvvt^iih bu (nii(.-b alacrity repiilrcil 10 Iblx pU«t! lo filre llielr a-ixUtauce In cxilrpsthif* the Rrlllbh tyranbi rh>m their country. The tan} nnd uplrii which ihi-y have dUcov- rrred, tre to him the most pIcAAlni; prcfliizca of viclnry. nnd he Is hnpjiy lo flud hlHiM-lf nt the hi-nd of nn nruiy fur 9tu|jcriur hi iiiimbiT» lo that ofthe enemy, nctitated by u inrred rcgHrd for Uic Hbrrtk-n of Ibcir conntry, nml flrcd with Jast reH«Dt(neDts aj^nlnHt thoK barbarians nbo hHve delused their ruuiitry with Iniiocvnt hluod, and iipreiid dunolailun on every \>an of tlie continent whei-e ibey bavo Iwwn fiuffered lo niarrb. The prospect Itcfore »:* K> now exceeding prontlHlnj;. TheM>veml enrps linvo everylhlnfc til •nlniule and pre>s them on tn vfctury. The TrUil bmvcry of the eonll- urninl orDixTM and Huldli^rs, mid the KIl-a they tniist liavt^ of the dfjteud* ence placed upon Iheir valor, immt sllninlniv them Ut support the cbarKC- ler ihey bare Junity actrulred."
After exprcst^iu^ bis enuHdcDve in the vnlunteera, Stntu
76
UIIODK IKhANI) IN THE REVOLUTION.
troops and militia wliu Imd gathered to his supjmrt, be hAAoaI :
"The Ut'ticrtil. rtn hh part, nsjiircs his hrnvtf ftrmy thai lie, Willi Lbc tilinoxt clR-trruliieiiii, Aliarex with tlwrn every dsttgcr and ratlgtie. and In ready (o reiiture liU lifV Id every InvUmee where hfa country calla fur It."
A UlSAI'l-OINTSIENT.
On Ihe eveuing of tlie dny lliut Gencntl StilUvan with his army crosjted over troin Tiverton and look possftSBJon of the enemy's works on Bnlts' Hill, Admirni Ilowe with a fleet of thiily-si.\ vets!«elt^. tUirteeii of Ibeni sbipa of t.ho linu. atid seven of them frigates, was discovered ofl* Point Judith, evidently intending to suppnrt the British Und forces at Newport. Wiien D'KstuinjK (wwiiue iiWHrc i>f Ibis fuel, he immediately ro-embarked the troops he had landed as a re-enforecmcnt to Gcncnil Snllivnn, and put to oca, eager to meet his nsivsil foo. The opposing fleets npproaehcd eaeh other, and for an entire d-ty niainjeuvred to ohtiiin the weather gHge. Hh(1 ihc wealher liceti favonihlf.-, tlie sl<ill and entfaii- Aumm of the Frcneh commander wonid prolwhly have Iwen crowned with coinplete Mitcess, hiit inifua'tiiniitcly fur the ])ur])ose of h'Kslainw', tiie storm of unpandleled violence, already i-eferred to, which so discomforted Snllivati's army, interposed a force more diflk-nit to ovcreoine than that [)re- «ented by tJje enemy's sfpiadron. Knt the determination of the French Admiral was not shaken. In the midst of the tornado an Gnjja^ement was attempted. The winds, how- ever, were mi^ditiur tlitm the enemy's >!»n^. The Admirnl*:* ship, tlie LHn>ruL-doe, was dihtnasled ; the ToniiiUit met with a similar disaster, while the other vessels were, to some extent, danmjred. After the slorm abated, two fifty-gun ship^ that attempted to piin possession of the Langiiedoe and the Tonnant were beaten off", and two of the enemy's eniisers, the Senegal, sloop-of-war, and the homlvketch Onvfws, were eaptui-ed.
For several days nothing was heard from the Frcneh
OUR FBENCH ALLIES.
77
fleet, but on the 20th of Octolier, D'Kstftiiig rcnppcarcd in N'ewiiort barbur, inspiring hope little fbort of certainty, ilml thi" t-nemy's aniiy would wkiu bo cjiptnrcd. Tlio Ailiui- ral, iti view of the (lihipidated condition of his fleet, felt that it would not bu wlvisiible nor safe to engage in another contest until necessary re[wurs had been mndo. For this purpose he wtilcd the next dny (21st) for Boston, anti the hope raised sank not to rise again. When his decision beca|De known, General Greene, who, with Lufiiyeite and nthei-8 went on I>card the Admiral's ship to persiinde him to i-emain a few days, felt greiitly disturbed at the turn of alTaire, To bis friend, Cluirles Pcltit, the former thiw gives vent to hiK fpolingrs :
■<I wim on bimnl th<- FfL-nvli nc-<'t. I tisvc only timo In tell roti ttiu ie«II hOM fciH iiit/> lltr tlcvU Tliry nrv sbont to dvivrt iiin, nod g» miiml to itoD- The s^irlsion ivutikl hv all our own In a. 0-w tlnyn if ili« Heel Voulil uiily coupvrntc with iin : but Hliit>, lliry will nni. Tliry have got n