USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island in the colonial wars : a list of Rhode Island soldiers & sailors in the old French & Indian war, 1755-1762 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01783 2087
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1
Rhode Island in the Colonial Wars
A List of
Rhode Island Soldiers & Sailors
IN THE
Old French & Indian War
1755-1762
BY
HOWARD M. CHAPIN
HISTORICA
1642 RHODE-ISLAND SHAWOMET
AQUIDNECK.
1638
MOOSHASUCK 1636
ICAL SOCIETY.
1822
DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI
PROVIDENCE PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY MCMXVIII
1.50
1247314 Rhode Island's Share in the War
The conflict of French and English interests in the Ohio Valley served as the prelude, and Washington's defeat of Jumonville near Fort Du Quesne on May 27th 1754 as the spark, which ignited the fourth French war in which Rhode Island participated. This struggle called by European his- torians "The Seven Years War" is better known in America as "The Old French and Indian War." Military preparations were made in both England and France as well as in the Colonies.
On January Ist 1755 the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to raise a company of 100 men for the emergency. As is usual, the length and intensity of the impending struggle was underestimated. In February the number was increased to 113, apparently to allow for officers, some of whom were appointed. A committee of War of five men was established to manage the military affairs of the Colony.
In March 1755, before the 100 men had been enlisted, it was voted to raise four companies of 100 men each to take part in the secret expedition against Crown Point. The acts calling for 113 men were repealed and the officers transferred to the new companies. Christopher Harris was appointed Colonel of this expeditionary regiment.
Meanwhile Braddock had landed in Virginia and taken command of the English forces in America. He planned to strike the French at three points. The southern army, under his personal command, was to attack Fort Du Quesne, and the northern army was to assemble at Albany, whence one detach- ment under Governor Shirley was to attack Niagara, while the other, under Colonel (later Sir) William Johnson, was to move against Crown Point.
The Rhode Island regiment under Col. Harris marched to Green-Bush near Albany, where their boats were caulked . and their guns cleaned and mended.
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On August 8th, leaving the Rhode Island and New York regiments in camp, Johnson marched northward with the rest of the army. He left a garrison at Fort Lyman (afterwards called Fort Edward in honor of the Duke of York), and continuing northward encamped at the upper end of Lake George. The Rhode Island regiment was at Albany on August 24th, but soon followed the main army and reached the camp late in August or early in September.
Baron Dieskau, commander of the army, which had been sent over from France, and which had been augmented by Canadians and Indians, marched southward through the woods east of Lake George. Upon the news of the approach of the French, Johnson sent out Col. Ephraim Williams and the Indian Chief Hendricks with a scouting party in the direction of South Bay on September 8th. This force was
surprised by Dieskau, and in the fighting which followed, both Williams* and Hendricks were killed. Re-enforcements under the command of Lt. Col. Edward Cole of the Rhode Island regiment arrived in time to rescue the remnant of Williams' force and to hold the French in check temporarily, thus giving Johnson time to strengthen the defences of the camp. Dieskau attacked the camp at 10 o'clock in the morning (September 8, 1755), and the fighting lasted until four in the afternoon, when the French force was dispersed. Both Johnson and Dieskau were wounded, the latter being taken prisoner. Johnson did not pursue the fugitives, but fortified the camp which he named Fort William Henry in honor of the Duke of Gloucester, the king's grandson.
Four Rhode Island companies took part in this battle of September 8, 1755, known as the Battle of Lake George. They were the companies commanded by Cole, Angell, Bab- cock and Francis.
On account of Braddock's defeat before Fort Du Quesne, The General Assembly voted on August IIth, to raise three more companies of fifty men each and to send them to re-enforce Col. Harris' troops, and thus strengthen the
*Williams College was founded by a bequest in Col. Williams' will.
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Colonial Army against the added number of French troops, which being freed from service in the Monongahela Valley, would doubtless be rushed northward to Lake Champlain. This vote for additional companies was not passed without opposition, and seven deputies including the Speaker, had their dissent from the vote, recorded in the acts and resolves. John Whiting was ranking Captain of this detachment, which was recruited before September 8th, on which day the General Assembly ordered them to proceed to Albany by water and thence from Albany to the force under Col. Harris. Many of Col. Harris' troopers, disgusted by the hardships of the march overland and little realizing the scope and importance of the conflict had deserted. These men upon their return home were added to Capt. Whiting's command, and ordered to proceed subject to his orders until they should reach the camp and re-enter their respective companies.
In September Rhode Island voted to raise four more companies of 50 men each. Daniel Bosworth was appointed ranking Captain of this third detachment. Inasmuch as the war was not particularly popular in Rhode Island, and as the danger to the Colony was not imminent, volunteers were not forthcoming in numbers sufficient to fill the companies that had been authorized, although bounties had been offered to encourage enlistment. Hence the General Assembly at the September session found it necessary to pass an act authorizing conscription. Thenceforth during the war the Rhode Island regiments consisted partly of volunteers, many of whom were attracted by the bounties, and partly of conscripts. In 1755 Rhode Island put approximately 750 men in the field.
Late in November Johnson marched southward with the main part of the army, which either went into winter quarters or returned home. Seventy-two Rhode Islanders commanded by Capt. Whiting were left on garrison duty at the Forts near Lake George. The campaign of 1755 had been unfortunate in the Colonies. Braddock's expedition had been defeated, Shirley's expedition had done but little, and although Johnson
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had repelled an attack, he had not even approached Crown Point, his avowed objective. On December 22d the General Assembly voted that 100 of the best men with (apparently 13) suitable officers be selected from the troops returned and returning from the Expedition against Crown Point and that the remainder be discharged. Besides this 100 men, 72, as already noted, were detailed for garrison duty at Fort Edward and Fort William Henry, under Capt. Whiting. The remain- der of the troops were ordered discharged on or before December 3Ist, 1755.
Shirley, chief commander of the English forces in America determined on a vigorous campaign for 1756. He planned to move against Niagara with one part of his force and to send the other part commanded by (Gen.) John Winslow against Lake Champlain. In February Rhode Island voted to raise a force of 500 men (including those still in service) for the reduction of the French forts on Lake Champlain. Col. Harris was given command of this regiment, which consisted of 10 companies.
The Rhode Island troops went by water, touching at New York, and arriving at Albany on Friday evening, May 14th, 1756, according to a letter of George Hopkins. The regiment moved to Camp Half Moon before June 29th where all the Rhode Island companies, except two, Major Babcock's and Capt. Bozerd's (Bosworth), had arrived by June IIth. The Rhode Islanders were soon scattered, some being at Fort William Henry, and Edward, while others were at Stillwater, Camp Half Moon, and Albany. Many were still at Camp Half Moon on July IIth but the bulk soon moved up to Fort Edward, where they were on July 22d and had been four weeks on August 14th, according to Hopkins.
Meanwhile preparations for the campaign had been pushed in Europe. Louis XV sent the Marquis of Mont- calm to command his forces in America and George II sent the Earl of Loudon. On May 17th, 1756, two years after the defeat of Jumonville by Washington, England formally declared war against France. Prussia under
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Frederick the Great had made an alliance with England, and Austria had made an alliance with France. Europe was to be a more. bloody battlefield than America. Sweden, Russia and Poland soon joined France and Austria.
The Earl of Loudon reached New York in July and relieved Shirley of the chief command. This change together with Loudon's inefficiency doomed the campaign of 1756 to failure. On July 24th Col. Angell of the Rhode Island regiment commanded a scouting party of 300 men that went out from Fort Edward towards South Bay and Wood Creek.
The Rhode Island General Assembly, expecting a vigorous campaign ordered two additional companies of 50 men each, exclusive of officers, in June. These troops were commanded by Captains Jenckes and Fry, and joined the force under Harris.
In August Montcalm attacked and captured the English forts on the Oswego River and then returned to check any advance which might be attempted by the English at Lake George.
Conditions rapidly became more threatening for the English colonies. Another company of 60 men and officers was authorized by the General Assembly in September and Joseph Windsor was given the command, but this company was merged in the new regiment of 400 men, (eight companies) which was ordered in October. The Governor, Stephen Hopkins was chosen Colonel of this, the 2nd Regiment, known as "The 400 men," but on October 27th the General Assembly met and ordered them not to march on account of the fact that Small Pox was rife at Albany. By orders from Loudon this regiment was discharged on or before Nov. 8th 1756.
Some of the Rhode Island troops at Fort Edward had been sent up to Fort William Henry where Quarter-Master Shehan was located on Nov. 9th, 1756. The companies commanded by Harris, Angell, Potter and Jenckes, returned to Providence in December and were paid off in December
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and January. The other companies may have been discharged at the same time but their pay rolls have not been located.
The defeat of the English at Oswego was the only noteworthy feature of the campaign of 1756. Several Newport shipwrights who were on special construction service at Oswego were captured by the French.
In February 1757 Rhode Island ordered a five company regiment of 450 men to assist Loudon in the ensuing campaign. Samuel Angell was appointed "Chief Officer" (i. e. Colonel) of this force which in May proceeded to Albany. Meanwhile in March the French under Rigaud attempted unsuccessfully to surprise Fort William Henry, and Loudon prepared his futile expedition against Louisburg.
In May an act for raising 150 more men was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly at its May session, but was repealed in August before the companies were raised. Some of the Rhode Islanders under Angell were stationed at Fort Edward, while others were at Fort William Henry.
Montcalm had not been idle during the spring, but had collected a large force with the main part of which he sailed up Lake George, while the balance of the force under De Levis marched along the west shore of the Lake. Fort William Henry was surrounded by the French but held out until word was received from Gen. Webb, who was stationed at Fort Edward, that he would not send assistance. Munro, the commander of Fort William Henry was therefore obliged to surrender on August 9th, 1757. A large number of the English soldiers were massacred by the Indians on August Ioth, although about 600 refugees succeeded in reaching Fort Edward.
Col. Angell who was at Fort Edward wrote to Governor Greene on August 14th and described the attack on Fort William Henry in the following words :
"On the 3d inst., at five o'clock, in the morning, the fort and camp were invested by Canadians and Indians; and at the same time, a large body of boats and canoes appeared on the lake near, while our camp was attacked by a superior
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number of the enemy. They landed their artillery the same day. Our rangers brought in one of their lieutenants prisoner, who gave account of their strength consisted of three thousand regulars, five thousand Canadians, and three thousand five hundred savages, thirty-six cannon, and four mortars.
"The siege continued obstinate till the ninth day at six o'clock in the morning, when all the cannon, bigger than twelve pounders, were broken; the men in camp and garrison, spent with fatigue. They capitulated on honorable terms, viz. : that they should march to this place with a brass twelve pounder in the front, and their fire-locks clubbed, and colors flying, with all their baggage. This was agreed to, and articles signed. General Montcalm and other principal officers of his army, expressed and acknowledged that they had made a defence beyond expectation, and for those reasons, he allowed them as good terms as General Blakeney had. The articles obliged our men not to bear arms till eighteen months were expired.
"The morning following, our men. were to march with a strong guard of regulars, to keep the savages from insulting them. When our people began to draw up for a march, the horrible scene of massacre then began, by the savages scalping our sick and wounded men; next, by their drawing out all the black men, scalping the Indians and keeping the negroes for slaves. All this did not satisfy them; but they went to stripping and scalping without distinction ; which put our men to the flight, each man for himself-having no protection agreeably to the articles. They all scattered in the woods ; the Indians following them several miles. Our men have been coming in since eleven o'clock, that day, till this morning, by single persons and small parties ; not a man but is stripped ; some, quite naked.
"There are yet behind several hundred; many of whom, it is known, are sick, and many, it is thought, will perish in the woods. This minute, a deserter from the French says that above two hundred of our men went back to the French for protection.
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"By our parties just came in, we have certain accounts that the fort is destroyed; and that the enemy are drawing off. We have about four thousand militia here, and two thousand troops."
The danger by which Fort William Henry was threatened greatly alarmed the Colony. The General Assembly met on August 10th, and not as yet having heard of the loss of Fort William Henry, passed an act which drafted one sixth of the militia of the colony, probably about 1000 men, for service in the relief of Fort William Henry. Col. John Andrews was given the command of this regiment. On August 15th thirty- four prominent men of Providence who were not subject to the draft volunteered their services and signed a paper of that import. Of a muster roll of 113 men who marched out of Newport County in answer to this call, 21 were volunteers.
This Second Rhode Island regiment went no farther than Connecticut, when news was received that Fort William Henry had fallen. The men returned home and the October Assembly after regulating their pay for this service, voted to re-enlist 250 men for service in the army during the pleasure of the General Assembly.
Ninety of these did garrison service at Saratoga. Capt. Ebenezer Whiting was given the command of those who were garrisoned at Fort Edward during the winter.
If the campaign of 1756 had disheartened the English, that of 1757 was still more discouraging. The expedition against Louisburg had come to naught, Fort William Henry had been lost, and from Europe came the still more discouraging news that the Duke of Cumberland had been decisively defeated by D'Estrees.
As well as sending the quota to the Colonial contingent, Rhode Island had strengthened and garrisoned Fort George at Newport, and had also equipped and sent forth many privateers which had made severe and telling inroads upon the enemy's maritime commerce.
The following letter gives a concise description of the conditions in the Colony in 1758;
II
"We the Commissioners from the Government of Rhode Island, being ordered to lay before your Lordship, an exact State of the Colony, with Regard to its Fortifications and Military Stores, the Number of Inhabitants, the State of the Treasury, and Funds for supplying the same, beg Leave to represent to your Lordship, that there is only one Fortification in the Colony, called Fort George, very conveniently situated for the Defence of the Town and Harbour of Newport, which is the Metropolis of the Colony. But as there are in the Fort only twenty-six Carriage Guns fit for Service, and a few other Military Stores, it is to be feared the Town might be entirely destroyed by a very small Force, and the Colony thereby disabled from raising any more Men for the common Cause. And of what fatal Consequence it might be to His Majesty's Interest, to have the Enemy in Possession of so fine a Harbour and Island, situate in the Midst of New England, we leave your Lordship to judge.
"By an Account of the Number of Men in the Colony, taken the 24th of December, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-five, it appears, my Lord, there were then in the Colony, Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty-two Men, able to bear Arms. But as we have since lost many Men by the War, and near Fifteen Hundred Men are out in our Priva- teers, we imagine there is not near that Number now left in the Colony."
In March, 1758, the General Assembly voted to raise a regiment of 1000 men. Col. Malbone was given the command of this regiment, which was to consist of nine new companies and the company under Capt. Ebenezer Whiting, which was in garrison service at the Forts. Malbone was succeeded by Henry Babcock as Colonel, before the regiment moved. The troops went to Albany by water. During March and April a detachment of 1853 of His Majesty's regulars were quartered at Providence before being sent against Louisburg. In May, Amherst, with the northern army, supported by the fleet, marched on Louisburg; in June, Forbes, with the southern army, proceeded against Fort Du Quesne; and on July 5th Abercrombie, with 15,000 English and Colonials, including the
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Rhode Island companies, except those under Potter and Wall, moved against Ticonderoga. Col. Babcock's description of the Battle of Ticonderoga, being that of an eye witness and important officer, follows :
"Lake George, 10th July, 1758.
"Honored Sir :- The 5th inst., the army consisting of fifteen thousand men, proceeded down the lake, in batteaux, with thirty days' provision. The 6th, in the morning, half after eight, we landed at the advance guard; who were very easily driven from their post, with no loss on our side, and but four on theirs. About two o'clock, P. M., the whole army marched, saving a battalion of the York regiment, who were posted as a guard on our batteaux. About three o'clock we were attacked by a party of the enemy, in which engagement, we unfortunately lost the brave Lord Howe. There were taken of the enemy one hundred prisoners, eight of whom were officers ; our army was much scattered by reason of the firing in the woods, and it was thought advisable to return that evening to our batteaux.
"The next day Col. Broadstreet was ordered with fifteen hundred batteaux men, and two regular regiments, with five of the Massachusetts regiments, to take possession of the saw mill, which we did, without the loss of a man. The same evening, the whole marched up to the saw mill.
"The 8th, (the fatal 8th,) were ordered to proceed in the following manner : the batteaux men, light armed infantry, and the rangers, were ordered to form a line about two hundred yards from the French entrenchments; which extended from Lake George to Lake Champlain; the regulars were to form a line behind the first line ; who, after they were formed were to pass through the first line, they making avenues for them; after that, they were to form the line again. A captain and fifty men, out of the line, were detached for picket, who were to form in front; the grenadiers were to form behind them ; and in this manner, they were to attack the trenches, and were to march with shouldered firelocks, till they should get on top of the trenches.
"They accordingly marched on with great intrepidity, but
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were received so warmly, that they were obliged to give ground, after making most vigorous efforts ; they even went up to the breast-work, but were knocked down so fast, that it was very difficult for those behind to get over the dead and wounded. But before the attack of the regulars, the enemy began with firing upon the Yorkers. In the rear of the regu- lars, the Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island troops were ordered to form about three hundred yards behind, who were to support them, if necessary.
"About an hour after the attack, I was ordered to march with the regiment, to relieve those that had been engaged. We went up within about forty yards of the breast-work. Soon after I got up, in posting my regiment to the best advantage I could, I received a shot in my left knee; after that, finding myself of no advantage, I ordered two men to carry me off, and left the regiment warmly engaged. We have lost no offi- cers. Capt. John Whiting, Lieuts. Russell and Smith are slightly wounded. The return of the killed and wounded, Your Honor has enclosed.
"The same evening, to my great surprise, the whole army was ordered to return to the batteaux, to the great mortifica- tion of chief of the officers; and the next evening we arrived here.
"Never did an army gain more advantage in so little time, whilst the late Lord Howe was alive; but soon after that, we became a confused rabble. We have lost a great many brave officers ; in Lord Howe's regiment, all the field officers were killed.
"Sir William Johnson joined us four hours before the engagement ; but the Indians not being used to attack trenches, soon came off."
Lord Howe, the brains of the English army, was killed in this fight, and the incompetent Abercrombie retreated to Fort William Henry, turning a potential victory into an unneces- sary defeat. In August Col. Bradstreet marched to Oswego with 3000 men, of whom 312 were Rhode Islanders under Lt. Col. Potter and Major Wall. This expedition captured Fort Frontenac on August 25th, destroyed the French naval power
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on Lake Ontario, and cut the communication between Fort Du Quesne and Canada, thus materially assisting the southern army under Forbes, which so seriously threatened Fort Du Quesne in November, that the garrison destroyed the fortress and retreated. Meanwhile, in the North, Amherst had taken Louisburg.
Some of the Rhode Island soldiers were retained in ser- vice for the campaign of 1759, and a call for new enlistments was made in December, 1758.
On February 26th, 1759, the Colony voted to furnish 1000 men for the ensuing campaign, and later the Assembly ordered the thirteen companies already raised to proceed to Albany. Some were sent by boat, while others marched overland, the rendezvous being ordered for April 10th. The quota of 1000 men was not easily raised, and in May a bonus of two months' pay was offered for enlistments. Bonuses were also offered to seamen who should enlist in H. M. navy.
In June a second detachment was sent, and an act to raise 115 men to complete the regiment was ordered. Amherst spent the summer and autumn in preparations, and when he was ready to move northward, the season had become too cold. A small English force under Prideaux drove the French from Niagara, but the remainder of the army operating in the Colo- nies accomplished nothing. Meanwhile in Canada Wolfe had brilliantly defeated Montcalm on September 18th, Quebec became English.
In February, 1760, the Colony voted to raise 1000 men for the Canadian Expedition. Christopher Harris was made Colonel, and proceeding to Albany, joined the force under Lord Amherst. Many of the soldiers, fearing the hardships of a campaign against so distant a place as Montreal, deserted on the way to Albany. Amherst advanced with his main force through Oswego, across Ontario and down the St. Lawrence. Murray came up the river from Quebec, while Haviland with many Colonials, including the Rhode Island contingent, approached down Lake Champlain. On Sept. 8th, 1760, Mont- real surrendered to the English, and immediately many of the Colonial troops "demobilized themselves" and returned home.
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The Rhode Islanders were very weary of the war, whose military campaign had made heavy levies of both men and money, and although adding Canada to the English domains had been of scant benefit to the Colony. The war itself, on account of the enormous profits made by the privateering enter- prises, was rather popular with the maritime interests.
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