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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01876 9577
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RHODE ISLAND'S EARLY DEFENDERS
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THEIR SUCCESSORS
BRIG. GEN. J. J. RICHARDS 1930
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Copyright 1937 RHODE ISLAND PENDULUM East Greenwich, R. I.
Published by the PROVISIONAL REGIMENT OF CHARTERED COMMANDS RHODE ISLAND MILITIA
1937
THE COLONIAL PERIOD 1638 - 1775
It is reasonable to assume that the first thoughts of the early pioneer were directed to the three great questions of food, habitation and defense. This must be so wherever man attacks the primeval wilderness with its unknown dangers and its feared inhabitants. It was especially true in the days when the hardy exiles from Massachusetts crossed the Seekonk to the land of Conanicus.
It so happened that in their case the friendly natives, the surrounding forests and the well stocked waters supplied the food; the pine boughs and rough logs cut from the house lot solved the housing problem; and, when danger threatened, the cumbersome wide-muzzeled blunderbus with a scanty supply of precious gun powder and musket balls of large size provided the defense upon which the settlers relied.
We can easily imagine these early adventurers erecting their brush shelters or rude huts, and later on their more sub- stantial cabins under the watchful eye of one or two musketeers. We can see the fields broken up, the seeds planted and the crops gathered while the crude and unwieldly firearms were lying within easy reach on near by stump or rock.
Naturally the advisability of unity of action and a combi- nation of effort in the matter of defense was soon apparent and at the first meeting of the settlers at Portsmouth in 1638, it was ordered that every inhabitant of the town be equipped with certain arms and prepared to perform certain military duties. At a subsequent meeting a military company or "Traine Band" was organized and William Boulston and Edward Hutchinson named as officers. These are the first officers of Rhode Island's military forces of which there is any record. In August, 1638, a general muster of all male inhabitants capable of bearing arms
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was held on the Island of Aquidneck. This was Rhode Island's first militia mobilization.
During the following year, 1639, a "Traine Band" was formed in Providence and a general training day provided for. In 1640 the Portsmouth Militia law was amended, the number of drills being fixed to eight per year, with two Muster Days, one to be held at Portsmouth and one at Newport.
As the cabins increased in number along the path border- ing the upper end of Narragansett bay and other settlements sprang into being to the south, a sort of tentative union devel- oped which resulted in 1647 in the holding of a Colonial Assembly at which John Coggeshall was elected president of the combined settlements. Laws governing the conduct of affairs were enacted and the question of the defense of the Colony was carefully gone into.
It was conceded that an organized military force, subject to drill and discipline, was essential to the well being of the settlements. A law along the lines of that in force on the Is- land was adopted as the law of the Colony.
By this law the inhabitants of the various towns were au- thorized to organize military companies and select officers, and assemble for drill on the first Monday of each month, excepting in the months of May, August, January and February. Per- mission was also given for the setting aside of public lands for the establishment of an "Artillery Garden" or drill ground.
From this law, created only eleven years after the landing of Roger Williams at Providence, the Militia System of Rhode Island grew.
The companies or "Traine Bands" that resulted from this law consisted of perhaps a dozen men each, poorly armed and equipped. In most cases their only uniform was a colored feather, from the barnyard or near by forest, stuck in their hat bands.
Naturally the records of these early organizations are in- complete, but we find that in 1649 the "Traine Band" of the Island was organized at Newport with the following officers:
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Captain Clarke, Lieutenant Dyre and Ensign Barker.
Service in these companies was obligatory, each man was required to provide his own arms and equipment, and officers were often chosen without their consent and against their wishes. The result was, in many cases, indifference and neglect on the part of the officers and untrained and inefficient com- panies. The matter became so serious that this year (1649) the Colonial Assembly enacted the following law: "That should one chosen Captain of the Traine Band refuse the place and accepting the place, neglect to traine the band upon the days appointed, he shall forfeit five pounds and the lieutenant, in like manner, fifty shillings."
The records of the Town of Providence show that in 1653 the "Traine Band" of that town was officered by Lieut. Thomas Harris and Ensign John Smith, the Miller.
In 1667 The Island Troop of Horse was formed at New- port under Captain Peleg Sanford and Lieut. John Almye. It is interesting to note that this is the first organization to appear upon the military roll of Rhode Island bearing a distinctive name.
During this year the mother country was at war with France and Holland and naturally great excitement prevailed throughout New England. Rumors of Indian attacks and French invasions spread throughout the colonies. Defensive measures were the order of the day. All male Indians within reach were disarmed. The traine bands were increased in num- ber. Cavalry troops were organized where possible and the Colonial Assembly took over the commissioning of officers.
In 1673 in order to produce uniformity and increased efficiency the different military organizations were formed into one command. Capt. John Cranston, of the Island Traine Band, was commissioned by the Assembly as Captain-in-chief of the combined forces.
Then came the period of the King Philip War in which our colony was represented only by the volunteers that marched with the Massachusetts troops. Capt. Cranston's rank was raised to that of Major. Providence was practically abandoned.
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The King's Garrison of eight men, commanded by Capt Arth- ur Fenner, was dismissed, the old men and women sent to New- port, the traine band was added to by recruits and Roger Wil- liams, over seventy years of age, was appointed captain and took charge of the defense of the town.
The Newport Traine Band was expanded into two companies, one under Capt. Andrew Ed- munds and the other under Lieut. Edward Rich- mond.
In 1677 Arthur Fenner was in command of the Providence company and Major John Cran- ston was still in command of the militia of the colony. Upon his election as governor in 1678, he was succeeded by Major Peleg Sanford, who in the following year was succeeded by Major John Albro.
In 1680 the militia organization of the Col- ony was disclosed in a statement furnished the Board of Trade, London, by Major Sanford, then Governor. This listed the Colonial forces as "ten companys of foote, being Trayned Bands under one Generall Commander, their arms are firelockes". Major Albro served as command- ing officer until 1683 when the militia was di- vided into two groups, the Island and Mainland Troops.
John Coggeshall, former president, was commissioned Major of the Island troops, while Major John Greene commanded those of the Mainland.
These two groups of militia continued to serve the colony for thirty years, during which time traine bands were organized in all of the towns. In 1692 the Traine Band of King's Town, Capt. Jeoffrey Champlin; the Traine Band of James Town, Capt. Thomas Paine and the Traine Band of Block Island,
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Capt. John Saunders, were organized.
Among the best known of the early commanders were Roger Goulding, Henry Tew, John Dexter, William Hopkins, Nathaniel Coddington, William Wanton, Samuel Cranston, Joseph Jenckes, Nathaniel Sheffield, Thomas Fenner and James Brown.
The year 1714 is a very important one in the history of our military establishment as it marks the organization of our various scattered units into regiments. The Three Newport Com- panies, the Portsmouth Company, the James- town Company and the New Shoreham Com- pany formed the First Regiment, Militia of Rhode Island, under the command of Major Sheffield. The Second Regiment commanded by Major Thomas Fry, was made up of the three Providence Companies, the two Westerly Companies, the two Kingstown Companies, the Greenwich Company and the Warwick Com- pany.
In 1719 the rank of the regimental com- mander was raised from that of Major to Col- onel.
On the roster of these regiments for the following sixteen years may be found names that have come to mean much to students of Rhode Island history: Malbone, Coddington, Wanton, Bull, Fry, Whipple, Hazard, Olney, Updike, Stanton, Crawford, Allen, Jenckes.
In 1719 that which may be regarded as the first of the so-called independent char- tered commands was organized under the name of the Providence Troop of Horse. Its officers were Capt. William Crawford, Lieut. John Whipple and Coronet Henry Harris.
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In passing, let it be said that the following two hundred eleven years the town or city of Providence was never without a cavalry troop.
In December 1929, a movement initiated by the military authorities of the state, resulted in the abolition of a well or- ganized and efficient cavalry squadron. Traditions were for- gotten, sentiment cast aside and the great value of this arm of the service to the state ignored or unrecognized.
In 1730, the King's County Troop of Horse was organ- ized, the first officers of the troop being Capt. Christopher Champlin, Jr., Lieut. William Mumford and Coronet John Hill, Jr.
During this year (1730) due to the great increase in the number of companies organized on the Mainland, the Second Regiment was made up of twenty-three companies, while the First, or Island Regiment, consisted of but six. This resulted in a reorganization in 1731, by which an additional regiment was formed by detaching from the Second the three companies in Westerly, the three in North Kingstown and the two in South Kingstown.
Under this reorganization, Col. William Wanton com- manded the First Regiment; Col. Nicholas Power, the Second, and Col. Christopher Allen, the Third.
In 1740, two companies made up of volunteers from the militia entered His Majesty's service against the Spaniards. Capt. William Hopkins commanded the Providence company and Capt. Joseph Sheffield commanded the Newport company.
In 1741, a charter was granted the Artillery Company in the Town of Newport, Jaheel Brenton being the first com- mander. In 1744, certain inhabitants of the northern towns of the colony petitioned the Assembly for authority to organize an artillery company. The petition was granted upon condition that the members be enlisted throughout the County of Prov- idence and that the name of the organization be The Artillery Company of the County of Providence. This organization con- tinued until 1774 when it became The Cadet Company of the County of Providence. As such it was active for two years.
About this time demand was made for men for the expe-
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dition being fitted out to attack Louisburg on Cape Breton Island. Three companies were sent forward under Captains Benjamin Potter, Richard Mumford and Joshua Champlin.
In 1746, the Island Troop of Horse having long since ceased to exist, a cavalry troop was organized in Newport un- der the name of The Newport County Troop of Horse, the officers being Capt. John Hunt, Lieut. Silvester Woodman and Coronet Richard Greenfield.
This year (1746) finds a substantial increase in the num- ber of companies making up the three regiments. The First Regiment having twelve companies, the Second having twenty- five companies and the Third having thirteen companies.
Again the call for men to join the army marching against the French came to our colony and three companies were fur- nished. This force consisted of:
1st Company, Newport County, Capt. Joshua Sawyer 2nd Company, Providence County, Capt. William Rice 3rd Company, at large, Capt. Edward Cole.
Down in the southwestern corner of the colony in 1754 the Westerly and Charlestown Artillery Company was incorpor- ated along the lines of the Artillery Companies of Newport and Providence. In 1761 the organization evidently extended its recruiting area as it adopted the name "Artillery Company of the Towns of Westerly, Charlestown and Hopkinton". Capt. Joseph Stanton was the commanding officer of the Company until it disappeared from the State rolls in 1762.
In 1777 one of the Artillery companies organized for coast defense adopted the name "Independent Company of Artillery of the Towns of Westerly, Charlestown and Hopkin- ton". Augustus Stanton was the first Captain of this Company. It was in existence only until 1782.
In passing it may be noted that one or both of these com- panies have recently been resurrected as the ancestor of one of the batteries that now make up the Coast Artillery Regiment of our National Guard.
Four companies were organized this year under Col. Chris-
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topher Harris for service at Crown Point. The companies were later on reinforced by two detachments, one of three companies and the other of four.
In 1775 an additional ten company reg- iment commanded by Col. Samuel Rose was dispatched to Albany and the Independent Company of Newport was organized, with Capt. John Rogers as captain.
During the following year (1756), the war spirit again swept over the colony, the militia law was revised, military organizations were formed in every village and hamlet, and men were being enlisted everywhere for ser- vice against the French. A regiment under Col. Governor Stephen Hopkins was sent to reinforce the regiment at Crown Point. In August another regiment was organized and sent to Fort William Henry, under the com- mand of Col. John Andrews. Joseph Wan- ton was the Lieut. Colonel. The Independ- ent Company of Newport was incorporated with John Rodgers in command.
The Newport Troop of Horse was ex- panded into two troops, the officers being Capt. Benjamin Sherburne, Lieut. Henry Sowle and Coronet Joseph Sowle of the First Troop and Capt. William Briggs, Lieut. Is- rael Shaw and Coronet Thomas Church of the Second Troop.
This year we find that famous, or infam- ous, as the case may be, Rhode Islander, Metcalf Bowler, appearing as an officer of the Newport Artillery.
In 1757 the militia draft was resorted to for the first time. One-sixth of the organ- ized militia was selected by lot and ordered to Albany under Col. John Andrews. A nine
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company regiment was raised and dispatched under Col. God- frey Malbone, of the Newport Artillery, to join the Massachu- setts Army being raised for the campaign against the French.
In 1759, a regiment of ten companies under Col. Chris- topher Harris was formed for the reduction of Montreal.
Our militia organization had become so cumbersome by the addition of newly formed companies that in 1760 each of the five counties was assigned a regiment. The regimental com- manders under this reorganization were:
Col. Joseph Wanton, Newport County Regiment
Col. John Andrews, Providence County Regiment
Col. Joseph Hazard, Kings County Regiment
Col. Thomas Greene, Bristol County Regiment
Col. Benoni Waterman, Kent County Regiment
In 1761, The Artillery Company of the Town of Provi- dence was chartered with the following officers:
Capt., Joseph Brown 1st Lieut., Eleazer Harding 2nd Lieut., James Greene Ensign, Job Smith
The county regiment formation continued without change until 1774 when the rumblings of the impending revolution were so pronounced that the martial spirit of our people was aroused to the point where the most doubting were convinced that war was just beyond the horizon. The Colonial soldier's task had been accomplished and his work was about to be taken up by his brother of the Revolutionary period.
In passing, let us remember that these early Sons of Mars, in their poorly equipped companies, were frequently called upon to render service of the greatest importance to the colony, and that many a life was given up for Rhode Island on battle fields far from its peaceful farm lands and the quiet lanes of its towns.
Many of these soldier boys lie in graves now unmarked and forgotten. In the ranks of these companies were boys and young men who followed the drum beat over the stormy waters and through snow covered forests for the glory of the mother country. Hungry, cold and sick they must have been on the
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long weary marches against England's enemies. Let us give them thoughts of gratitude and appreciation as we recall the almost forgotten wars that Rhode Island in the early days was called upon to engage in.
Among the interesting papers carefully guarded by the R. I. Historical Society are the muster and pay rolls of several of these early companies and as one glances over the names of these men who did so much to uphold the honor of Rhode Island in those early days, he is apt to feel that a more substan- tial memorial should do them honor.
In 1774, we find the militia rapidly expanding, two addi- tional regiments are formed in Providence County, Simeon Potter was commissioned by the Assembly as Major General, commanding the combined militia of the colony, being the first officer to hold this rank.
Four brass field pieces were purchased by the Assembly and assigned to the Providence Artillery Company.
Provision was made in the militia law by which Rhode Island's troops were empowered to march to the assistance of any of the other colonies "when invaded or attacked."
Early in the year a general muster of all county militia organizations was held. In the County of Providence two thousand troops and a troop of horse were inspected. In the County of Kent fifteen hundred men were under arms.
By act of the Assembly, the Providence Artillery Com- pany's name was changed to The Cadet Company of Providence and its charter amended so that thereafter it would be given the right of line in all parades "to avoid any future dispute or altercation".
Many military organizations were formed in the various counties. Charters were issued to:
The Light Infantry Company of Providence, Capt. John Mathewson, the service of which extended from 1774 to 1776;
The Providence Grenadier Company, Capt. Jonathan Ar- nold, on the rolls from 1774 to 1780;
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The Pawtuxet Rangers, Capt. Samuel Aborn, on the rolls from 1774 to 1812 when it became the Pawtuxet Artillery;
The Newport Light Infantry, Capt. Charles Spooner, on the rolls from 1774 to 1776;
The Providence Train of Artillery, Capt. Daniel Tilling- hast, on the rolls from 1774 to 1775;
The Providence Fusileers, Maj. Daniel Hitchcock, on the rolls from 1774 to 1775, and to
The Kentish Guards, Capt. J. M. Varnum, on the rolls from 1774 to the present time.
The Scituate Hunters, Capt. Joseph Kimball, was also chartered in 1774 and served until 1778.
In 1791 The Scituate Light Infantry was organized under Capt. Samuel Perry and the following year adopted the name "Scituate Hunters", remaining on the rolls as such until 1795. In 1799 the Company was revived as The Scituate Light Infan- try, Capt. Stephen Young, and was part of the militia until 1842.
In addition, charters were also issued to The North Provi- dence Rangers, and The Company of Light Infantry of the Town of Glocester. The Rangers rendered gallant service un- der Capt. Joseph Olney in 1774 and 1775, under Capt. John Angell in 1776-1778 and under Capt. Hezekiah Smith in 1779, after which date the organization ceased to exist.
The Glocester Light Infantry was commanded in 1774 by Capt. Asa Kimball and throughout the Revolution by Capt. Timothy Wilmarth. The Company went off the military rolls of the State in 1821 and all record of it was lost until a few years ago when it was brought forward as the father of the present Woonsocket Battery of Coast Artillery. At the same time the Rangers were selected as the ancestor of the present Pawtucket Battery.
As can be easily understood, the feelings of the people at this time ran high. Those suspected of disapproving the posi- tion taken by the colonists on the important questions of the
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day were subjected to daily insult. Their houses were stoned and the more obnoxious Tories were hung in effigy.
Among the latter was Judge Stephen Arnold whose effigy was hung in a tree in East Greenwich amid a general celebra- tion bythe town's people. The Judge was a native of Warwick and evidently popular in his home town. He resented the con- duct of the people of East Greenwich and gathering together a large number of his fellow townsmen he marched to East Greenwich with the expressed intention of burning that town, thus wiping out the insult offered to himself and to the Town of Warwick.
The affair assumed serious proportions and an appeal for help was made to the Governor, who responded by ordering out militia. This is of interest as being the first occasion record- ed of our militia companies being ordered out for the suppres- sion of internal disorder.
The Light Infantry Company and The Cadet Company were rushed down from Providence to support the Sheriff. Upon the arrival of the troops a conference was held. The judge acknowledged his wrong and publicly stated that he was opposed to the taxation of the colonies by England. The mob then dispersed.
General Potter, commanding the militia, was succeeded by Maj. Gen. William Bradford.
In April 1775, The Providence Fusileers, commanded by Major Hitchcock, united with the Providence Train of Artillery, Capt. Daniel Tillinghast, under the name of "The United Com- pany of the Train of Artillery of the Town of Providence," Capt. Tillinghast becoming Colonel, Major Hitchcock, Lieut- enant Colonel, and John Crane, Major.
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II THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD-1775-1782
When the news of the affair at Lexington reached our colony, naturally great excitement resulted. The militia mob- ilized and the great march to Boston began. In the ranks were many of the chartered commands in whole or in part. Prom- inent among them was the Kentish Guards with Nathanael Greene marching as a private.
As you know, these troops were recalled by the Colonial Assembly as they reached the Massachusetts border and our famous "Army of Observation" was created. This surely was a unique organization-enlisted as soldiers of the King to pre- serve the liberties of America.
It consisted of the Providence Regiment, of ten companies of infantry and one company of Minute Men, commanded by Col. Daniel Hitchcock of the United Train of Artillery, with Ezekiel Cornell as Lieutenant Colonel, a regiment from Kings and Kent Counties of ten companies of infantry and one com- pany of Minute Men, commanded by Col. James Mitchel Var- num of the Kentish Guards, James Babcock serving as Lieut- enant Colonel, and the United Train of Artillery commanded by Major John Crane. The Artillery brought along its four brass field pieces and twelve 18 and 24 Porender guns, much needed by the army.
This brigade was commanded by Brig. Gen. Nathanael Greene of the Kentish Guards.
It is well to keep in mind that this body of troops was the organization which Gen. Washington declared the best equip- ped and drilled in the entire army.
The strength of the Rhode Island force before Boston was 1700 men. Attention is directed to the fact that Adjutant
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Augustus Mumford, a member of the Kentish Guards struck by a shot from a British cannon during the seige, was the first Rhode Islander to be killed in the war.
Throughout the colony new military companies sprang up over night. Most of them failed to obtain charters and after a year or two of service were lost sight of. Artillery companies of 14 men each were created by the Colonial Assembly in all towns along the coast. Alarm companies were organized and manned observation towers from Tower Hill to Woonsocket. All of the chartered companies were enlisted as Minute Men, to perform military service when called upon. They were or- ganized as a regiment with Col. William West in command.
In October, 1775, Major General Joshua Babcock was appointed to command the militia which comprised the follow- ing:
Newport County Regiment, 8 companies, Col. John Malbone Ist. Prov. County Regiment, 9 companies, Col. James Angell 2nd Prov. County Regiment, 9 companies, Col. Chad Brown 3rd. Prov. County Regiment, 6 companies, Col. Christopher Lippitt
1st Kings County Regiment, 10 companies, Col. Joseph Noyes
2nd Kings County Regiment, 9 companies, Col. Robert Brown
Bristol County Regiment, 3 companies, Col. Nathaniel Martin 1st Kent County Regiment, 5 companies, Col. John Water- man
2nd Kent County Regiment, 7 companies, Col. Stephen Pot- ter.
The Assembly granted charters to the Newport Watch Company, Capt. Philip Moss, Lieut. Augustus Newman and Ensign Joseph Crandel, and to The Kingstown Reds, Capt. John Gardiner, 1st Lieut. Thomas Potter, Jr., and 2nd. Lieut. Rowse J. Helme. The "Reds" were carried on the military rolls from 1775 to 1808.
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