USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > History of Newport County, Rhode Island. From the year 1638 to the year 1887, including the settlement of its towns, and their subsequent progress > Part 62
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651
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
was by three doors, on the south, the east and the west. The first division was to attack the south door; the second the west; the third the east; the fourth to guard the road; the fifth to act on emergencies. We left the guard house on our left, and on the right was a house where a party of light horse quartered, in order to carry orders from the General to any part of the island. When we opened the gate of the front yard, the sentinel who stood about twenty-five yards from us hailed who comes there, we gave no answer, but continued marching on, there being a row of trees between us and the sentinel, he could not so well discover our number, he again hailed who comes there, We answered friends, friends advance and give the countersign, I spoke as though in a great passion & said we have no countersign Have you seen any de- serters to night, This had been purposely contrived as a decoy which had the desired effect for before he suspected us to be enemies we had hold of his musquet, told him he was prisoner & if he made the least noise he should be instantly put to death, We asked him if General Prescott was in the house: he was so frightened that at first he could not speak, but at last with a faultering voice & waving his hand toward the house said yes. By this time, each division having got its station the doors were burst open. We first went into a chamber where we saw a Mr. Obering the General was not there; we entered into another room where was Mr. Obering's son He said the General was not there. I then went to the head of the stair way & called for the soldiers to set the house on fire, for we was determined to have the General dead or alive. On this we went below and called for General Prescot; we heard a voice saying what is the matter. I proceeded from whence it came & entering a room saw a man just rising out of bed clapping him on the shoulder asked him if he was General Prescott. He replied yes sir. I told him he was my prisoner. He rejoined, I acknowledge it Sir. 1 desired him to hurry, he re- quested he might stay to put on his clothes, I told him very few for our business required haste, In the mean time, Major Barrington the Generals aid de camp finding the house was at- tacked leaped out of the window, but by the time he was to the ground was secured a prisoner. After the General had slipped on a few clothes we marched for the shore. We de- sired the General to put one arm over my shoulder and the
652
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
other over .one of the other officers that he might go with the greatest ease and dispatch. Major Barrington & the sentinel was kept in the middle of the party. In a little time we came to the shore. The General seeing the five small boats & knowing in what manner the shipping lay, appeared much confused and asked me if I commanded the party. I told him I did. He said, I hope you will not hurt me. I assured him whilst in our power he should not be injured. Before we got into the boats we put on the General's coat, for as yet he had on only waist- coat, breeches, & slippers, we were very soon seated in our boats, the General in number 1. After we had gotten a small distance from the shore, we heard the cannon and saw three skyrockets which was the signal for an alarm. It was fortunate for us, that the enemy' on board could not know the cause of it, as they might with ease have cut off onr return to the main. We proceeded on till broad day light, when we landed at War- wick Neck, near the place from whence we took our departure, having been gone six hours and a half. The General when on shore, turned towards the island and beholding the shipping, said to me, Sir, yon have made a damed bold push to night. I replyed that we had been fortunate. We went to the nighest house, where the General and his aid de camp were asked if they would rest themselves with sleep which they did. In the mean time we sent to Warwick town for a horse and chaise with orders to the tavern keeper there to procure the best breakfast possible for the General and his aid de camp, and sent an ex- press to Major General Spencer at Providence communicating the success of our enterprise. It was not long before the ar- rival of a coach, which General Spencer had dispatched to con- duct the General Prisoner to Providence. Iaccompanied them and related to General Spencer the particulars of onr successful expedition; he was pleased to express his approbation in the strongest terms. It is unnecessary to add that the principal object of the enterprise was afterwards effected in the exchange of General Prescot for General Lee.
"End. W.M. BARTON."
The men who volunteered and accompanied Barton on this expedition, besides the officers whom he mentions, were Ebene- zer Adams and Samuel Potter, officers, and the following pri- vates: Benjamin Prew, James Potter, Henry Fisher, James Parker, Joseph Guild, Nathan Smith, Isaac Brown, Billington
-
653
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Crumb, James Haines, Samuel Apis, Alderman Crank, Oliver Simmons, Jack Sherman, Joel Briggs, Clark Packard, Samuel Cory, James Weaver, Clark Crandall, Sampson George, Joseph Ralph, Jedediah Grenale, Richard Hare, Daniel Wale, Joseph Denis, William Bruff, Charles Havett, Pardon Cory, Thomas Wilcox, Jeremialı Thomas, Jolin Hunt, Thomas Austin, Daniel Page, Jack Sisson and - Whiting.
After the exchange of Prescott for General Lee, the former was returned to command at Newport. But thongh nothing materially valuable was gained by the exploit, its effect was al- most magical npon the depressed American cause. The spirits of the army as well as of the people were roused by it, and the fires of hope and encouragement for the American cause were kindled with renewed brilliancy. When the news reached the northern army it occasioned great rejoicing and exultation. It even lifted the dark cloud which hung over the face of Wash- ington, and he at once sent a dispatch to congress announcing the capture of Prescott, and describing it as a "bold enter- prise."
This town was, during the summer of 1778, the scene of mil- itary operations which attracted the attention of the whole country. The events that led up to it were briefly as follows : About the time of the capture of Prescott it was the desire of the colonies to concentrate a force in Rhode Island of sufficient strength to drive the enemy from this island. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island unitedly were to furnish five thousand men, to which one thousand continental troops were to be added. General Spencer was then in com- mand in this state, and Barton was in command of the fortifi - cations at Tiverton. Meanwhile the British were strengthening their position by the erection of earthworks on the east side of the island at Fogland ferry and on Butt's hill. In October, 1777, an effort was made by Spencer to drive the British from the island. The British force, numbering about four thousand, were stationed at Newport, at Fogland ferry, on Windmill hill and on Butt's hill, while nearly nine thousand colonists were assembled at Tiverton, from which point the attack was to be made.
An insufficient number of boats had been provided, and a protracted storm set in just at the critical moment, and these combined circumstances so disheartened the men that the at-
654
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
tack was abandoned. Another attempt was made during the following summer. General Sullivan was now in command in Rhode Island. An attack was planned in which the land forces were to be supported by a French fleet under command of Connt d'Estaing. The British occupied the island with about seven thousand men, and had besides a considerable fleet in the neighboring waters. The French fleet appeared on the scene about the end of July, 1778, and destroyed the principal part of the British fleet. Land forces were concentrated at Tiver- ton until Sullivan's command there numbered ten thousand men, and with this force he began on the 9th of Angust to cross to Portsmouth. On his approach the British fell back toward Newport, and Sullivan occupied their abandoned fortifications. At the same time four thousand French troops from the fleet landed on Conanicut for the purpose of co-operating with him. On the evening of the same day a British fleet of thirty-six sail appeared in sight, and the French troops re-embarked and the fleet put to sea to engage the other. A strong detachment pressed toward Newport, and it was expected to advance with the whole army on the following day, but a severe storm arose that night and continued two days, driving the ships of both squadrons to sea and disabling some of them.
The army suffered greatly from the exposure, but on the morning of the 15th advanced toward Newport, encamping within two miles of the British lines, which extended from 'fonomy hill to Easton's pond. A cannonade was kept up for five days, and some of the ontposts of the British were driven in, Sullivan's forces approaching so near as to occupy Honey- man's hill. D'Estaing appeared again on the 20th and Sulli- van hoped for his co- operation in reducing Newport; but d'Es- taing at once determined to set sail with his fleet for Boston to repair his ships. This action so depressed Sullivan's troops that many of them withdrew, and at a moment when victory seemed just ready to perch upon their banners Sullivan found his army redneed to about fifty-four hundred effective troops. With these it was deemed expedient not to press the siege, but to fall back npon the fortified hills at the north and await the return of the French fleet. The Honorable Samuel G. Arnold, in narrating the scenes of the event, says:
"The retreat began in the evening of the twenty-eighth, and by two o'clock that night the army encamped on Butt's hill, the
655
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
right wing on the west road and the left on the east road, with covering parties on each flank. Colonel Livingstone's light corps was stationed on the east road, and another under Colonel Laurens, Colonel Fleury and Major Talbot on the west road, each three miles in front of the camp, and in their rear was the picquet guard under Colonel Wade. Such was the disposition of the American troops on the morning of the eventful day. At daylight of the 29th the British army, in two columns, marched out by the two roads. At seven o'clock the battle began.
" A series of heavy skirmishes opened the engagement, and a regiment was sent to reinforce each of the two advanced corps, with orders for them to retire upon the main body, which was done in perfect order. The accounts vary as to which column commenced the fight, one attributing it to Major Tal- bot on the west road; but the most circumstantial points to a spot near the Gibbs farm, where a cross road connects the two main roads, and to the field now included between the east road and a middle road which here runs north from the cross road and parallel with the main road. A broad field en- closed by stone walls at this corner concealed a portion of the American picquet. The Union meeting house now stands at the southeast angle of this field. Here the twenty-second British regiment, Colonel Campbell, which had marched out by the east road, divided, and one-half of it, turning to the left into the cross roads, fell into the ambuscade. A terrible slaughter ensned. The Americans, springing from behind the walls, poured a storm of bullets upon the bewildered enemy, reloaded and repeated the desolating fire before the British could recover from the shock. Nearly one quarter of the ill fated Twenty- second were stretched upon the field. Two Hessian regiments came up to their relief, but too late. The Americans, according to orders. had already retreated. A general assault was made upon the American left wing. This was repulsed by General Glover, who drove the enemy into their works on Quaker hill. Upon the highlands extending north from this hill the Hessian columns were formed. The American Army was drawn up in three lines, the first in front of their works on Butt's hill, the second in rear of the hill, and the reserve near a creek about half a mile in rear of the first line. Between the two hills the distance is about one mile, with low meadow and, at that time, woodland between. At nine o'clock a heavy cannonade com-
656
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
menced and continued the whole day. About ten o'clock the British ships-of-war and some gun boats came up the bay and opened fire npon the American right flank. Under cover of this fire a desperate attempt was made to turn the flank and storm a redoubt on the American right. The British right wing had already been repulsed by General Glover. The enemy now concentrated his whole force upon the new point of attack. The action became general, and for nearly seven hours raged with fury; but between ten o'clock and noon the fighting was most desperate. Down the slope of Anthony's hill the Hessian columns and British infantry twice charged upon the forces led by Major General Greene, which were composed of the four brigades of Varnum, Cornell, Glover and Christopher Greene. These attacks were repulsed with great slaughter. An eye witness told me that sixty were found dead in one spot; at an- other thirty lessians were buried in one grave.
"To turn the flank and capture the redoubt was to decide the battle. A third time, with added ranks and the fury of despair, the enemy rushed to the assault. The strength of the Ameri- cans was well nigh spent, and this last charge was on the point of proving successful, when two events occurred which turned the tide of battle. Two Continental battalions were thrown for- ward by General Sullivan to the support of his exhausted troops, and at the critical moment a desperate charge with the bayonet was made by Colonel Jackson's regiment, led by the gallant Lieutenant-colonel Henry B. Livingston. This furious bayonet charge, says an eye witness, immediately threw the balance of victory into the American scale. And now it was that the newly raised black regiment, under Colonel Christo- pher Greene, justified the hopes of its leaders and contributed in no small degree to decide the fortunes of the day. Headed by their major, Samuel Ward, and posted in a grove in the valley, they three times drove back the Hessians, who strove in vain to dislodge them, and so bloody was the struggle that on the day after the battle the Hessian colonel who had led the charge applied for a change of command, because he dared not lead his regiment again to action lest his men should shoot him for causing them so great a loss.
" While the fight was raging on the right and centre of the line, the Massachusetts brigade, under General Lovell, attacked the British right and rear with complete success. Two heavy
657
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
batteries brought forward to engage the ships of war obliged them to haul off. The desperate attempt to turn the American flank had failed, and the battle was already won by Sullivan.
" The British retreated to their camp closely pursued by the victorious Americans, who captured one of their batteries on Quaker hill. Sullivan then desired to storm the works, but the exhausted condition of his troops, who had been for thirty-six hours without rest or food, and continually on the march, at labor or in battle, compelled him to abandon the attempt. The hand-to-hand fighting was over early in the afternoon, but the cannonade continued until night closed over the hard fought field. Of the five thousand Americans engaged only about fif- teen hundred had ever before been in action. They were op- posed by veteran troops superior in numbers and in discipline, and with an obstinacy rarely equalled in the annals of war. These facts justify the comment ascribed to Lafayette, that ' the Battle of Rhode Island was the best fought action of the war.' The total loss of the enemy was one thousand and twenty three, that of the Americans two hundred and eleven."
Sullivan received information on the 30th that Lord Howe with five thousand troops from New York was approaching. A council of officers was held and it was resolved to quit the island. Sullivan's sentry was within two hundred yards of that of the enemy, hence the difficulty of moving without the knowledge of the enemy. To cover his design Sullivan had a number of tents pitched in sight of the British and set the greater portion of his men at work fortifying their camp. While this was going on at the front, the heavy baggage and stores were being hauled down to the river in the rear and transported across. Thus the day was employed, and at night, under cover of the darkness, the army with their tents and light baggage passed down and crossed the river to Tiverton. Thus ended the martial movements which gave the beautiful hills of Portsmouth their baptism of fire and blood, and made them classic ground, sacred in the eyes of patriots as long as the American republic lives to remember the terrible conflict which gave it birth.
Butt's hill remains as a landmark of the scene of slaughter. Upon ground now owned by Mr. Charles F. Dyer the remains of the earthworks cast up by the British are still visible. On the 29th of August, 1878, the anniversary of the event was appro-
658
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
priately celebrated on the ground by the First Light Infantry Veteran Association of Providence, in which many invited guests also participated, prominent among whom were the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford. The line paraded in Providence, after which they took steamers to Bristol Ferry and marched thence, amid stirring strains of martial music, to the scene of the battle. Here they were joined by large numbers of the people, who had also decorated their honses with flags in honor of the occasion and in harmony with the spirit of their visitors. An immense tent had been erected on the old battle ground, be- neath which the literary exercises were to take place and prepar- ations made for the crowd of people to dine. Addresses of wel- come were made to the visitors in general by Mr. George Man- chester, sheriff of the county, and to those from Connectient by Governor Van Zandt, after which Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Staples introduced ex-United States Senator Samuel G. Ar- nold, who delivered an appropriate oration. After this a clambake and speeches followed until the festivities closed and the people departed for their homes. The oration and sev- eral other documents throwing light on the battle and the movements of the army in detail were afterward published in a pamphlet by Sidney S. Rider of Providence.
The island was evacuated by the British October 25th, 1779. As a fitting conclusion of the reign of tyrannical meanness and inhumanity which had characterized Prescott's rule over the island, for three nights previous to his departure he forbade the people to use any lights in their dwellings, and also gave orders that every one should keep within doors while his troops were marching down to embark. Liberated at last from the yoke of oppression which had rested heavily upon them during the three years past, the people breathed free, but the rigors of one of the most severe winters ever known settled down upon them, and found them poorly prepared to withstand them. We refer to the winter of 1779-80, which was one of unusual severity, and the people, impoverished by the robbery to which they had been subjected, endured great hardship.
The people now turned their attention toward repairing dam- ages and estimating their loss. War claims were presented for adjustment by the government of the United States. Under date of October 19th, 1789, the records of this town state that " William Anthony, Jun'r, is appointed to go to Providence in
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY. 659
order to look up the estimate of Damage done the Inhabitants of this town by the British troops and forward it to the Com- mittee appointed to state accompts against the United States, - And likewise to carry forward all accompts for extra Bounties of soldiers, &c., that this town hath against the United States."
The account of damages had evidently been made ont, but by some means was lost. On the 14th of November following, it was voted by the town that Thomas Potter should go to the clerk of the lower house of assembly and make inquiry for the document, "the original list or Estimate of the Damages done to the Inhabitants of this Town by the British troops, and if it cannot be found there that then the town appoints said Potter and William Anthony, Jun'r, a Committee to receive the origi- nal accompts from the Individuals and certify them agreeable to the proposals of the Commissioners appointed by the Gener- al Assembly to settle accompts between this state and the United States. "
The commission above set forth was accomplished, and April 26th, 1790, the committee reported that they had failed to find the original copy bnt had gathered the several items of indi- vidual damages sustained and had presented them to the com- missioners. These estimates of damages were as follows, the items being classed in two columns, the first of which includes sneh damages as were wantonly committed, and the second those which naturally resulted from the ordinary prosecution of war. We presume the denomination is dollars, though the ancient document contains no mark to indicate whether dollars or pounds are meant.
Wanton Usual Destruction. Prosecution.
John Wilcox.
3,0593
Stephen Brownell, Jr.
273
60
Rebecca Barrington and children.
430
773
George Hall.
1,955
250
Thomas Cooke.
1,219
50
Daniel Thomas
98
Joseph and Stephen Brownell
2,390
Weston Hicks.
2,473}
300
Joseph Brownell, Jun.
66
Elizabeth Hicks.
85↓
Nathan Chase .".
2,086
42
660
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Thomas Cory. 136
George Brownell. 426
Thomas Brownell 360
Job Durfey.
535층
145
Christopher Fish
967
Daniel Lake, Jun
160
Stephen Fish.
145
Elijah Cobb.
290
Henry Lawton.
639
67₺
Daniel Lake.
54.51
Clark Cornell.
1,412
Elisha Coggeshall.
170원
John Holmes
80
Samuel Lawton.
1,212
John and Samuel Bayley
1,200
Giles Slocum.
8,476
Joseph Sisson, Jun
117J
Benjamin Fish.
1,203
Richard Sisson
1943
Job Sisson
226
Ruben Taylor.
191
Benjamin Chase
113
John Alma, Tiverton
94
Joseph Sisson, son of Joseph.
1961
Rescome Sanford
5293
School house.
30
Giles Lawton. )
1,203}
Giles Lawton, Jun'r
42
Rowland Allen.
175
80
George Lawton.
577
Robert Barker
5231
Nathaniel Lawton.
2,012
Jonathan Danforth.
321
Nathan Brownell
135₺
Ruth Earl.
2,665
50
William Anthony
1,190₺
Christopher Durfey
286
John Earl
1,186
Benjamin Talman
7891
Stephen Burden.
303
James Bell 125₺
163
661
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Joseph Faulkner
2361
Thomas Faulkner
1,925%
Elizabeth Westgate
1,216
William Burrington
6,5793
75
Samuel Hicks.
1,162
140
James Durfey .
110
240
Sarah Burrington
70
162₺
David Lawton.
271
David Anthony
5,567₺
200
John Tallman
3971
Patience Brindley, in behalf of the heirs of Job Lawton, deceased
3,099₺
David Gifford
4,014}
Benjamin Hall
273
William Hall
7033
28
William Cook
4653
William Shearman
115$
Joseph Cook .
1,225
101
Mathew Cook
1,116₺
10
Ebenezer Slocum
780
Holden Chace .Y ..
4,019₺
600
John Thurston, Esq'r.
3,230
Peleg Layton
264
Cotton Farm
672
Christopher Shearman
1,981
Giles Slocum, Jun.
117
12
Pardon Sisson.
465
159
Parker Shearman
1,8623
Joseph Curley
573
Samuel Collins
2743
Joseph Ward
251
William Greene
69}
Joseph Shearman
326
Peleg Sisson.
607
Richard Shearman
331
Peter Taylor
106%
George Sisson
792
John Sisson.
103%
Peleg Shearman, Jun., heirs
1,882
Benjamin Shearman
144
Sarah Almy
972
662
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
Mary Taylor
1,419
Jonathan Cornell
5183
Job Cornell
161}
Jonathan Freeborn, Jun
62
John Jepson
4164
John Shearman
1,901
Abraham Redwood.
650
Richmond Sisson.
2253
Joseph Shearman, of Tiverton
2,510
Joseph Martin
1,067
Amy Cook
110%
William Brightman
443
Heirs of Robert Lawton.
4,0453
Robert Lawton.
35%
George Lawton, Jun
563
Walter Brightman
274
Mathew Slocum
2,034
371
Thomas Shearman
120
John Cooke.
124
Elizabeth Shearman
189%
George Tabour
6823
105
Joseph Crandal.
1,047
Jonathan Albro
172
John Wood.
54
Thomas Manchester
216
Elisha Sprage.
1533
Oliver Cornell
278
Benjamin Cornell.
1,000
Town of Portsmouth
500
Joseph Freeborn
2,545
Lydia Durfey
579
Sarah Earl.
164
Isaac Lawton, Estate
2,068
1374
Joseph Anthony.
122
Oliver Arnold & Co.
2,623
Isaac Anthony
2,059
195
Rowse Potter.
2,8593
Preserved Fish
307
Joseph Borden
1,292}
William Lake
53
James Albro
457
17}
663
HISTORY OF NEWPORT COUNTY.
George Cornell
136
George and Lemuel Allen
1,444
George Allen
264
James Allen
1,722
Jonathan Allen.
299
William Allen
544
Ebenezer Allen
706
Joshua Allen.
130
Joseph Brightman.
807
Samuel Pearce, Jun
1,453
Samuel Pearce, Esq.
1,412
Joseph Wantou's Estate
3,766
250
John Allen.
2.061
John Tillinghast, Estate
3,230
Ephraim Pearce
243
Thomas Allen
113
John and Arthur Dennis
2,696
Rebeckah Wirdin
983
12}
John Cory
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