USA > Rhode Island > Revolutionary defences in Rhode Island; an historical account of the fortifications and beacons erected during the American revolution, with muster rolls of the companies stationed along the shores of Narragansett bay > Part 4
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That these intrenchments were thrown up, seems certain from the statement made by Mr. Thomas N. Sumner, a former resident of Providence, in a letter of reminiscences addressed to his daughter, dated Brookline, May 13, 1834, printed in Stone's French Allies, for he says : -
" I remember in addition two circular forts called redoubts south of the main fort on the hight of the hill one north and
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one south of the powder house which stood on Powder House Lane. This lane was then the only road to what was called the upper ferry, now central bridge, I believe. It led by where Moses Brown now lives, or did live."
These works were long ago obliterated, but were probably not far from the present Angell Street, which was the road to the upper ferry.
Some idea of the expense attending the construction of the Fox Hill fort, maintain- ing a guard there and the cost of stores and provisions used when the Field's Point fort was built is shown by the following bill.
TOWN OF PROVIDENCE
To NICHOLAS POWER DR
1775
£ s d
Aug 16 To 148} days work for men building battery at Fox Hill, @ 3 shillings per day 22 4 9
To paid Thos Gilman wages and billett for 3 mos guard at the bat- tery from Aug 30 to Nov 30 .9 15 0
68 REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
To paid John Jones wages and billett for same time 7
16 0
To paid Thos Gilman for three mos and 7 d at do 10 II 3
1776
To paid John Jones bill for 3 weeks and 3 days from April 8 to May 6 2 II 62
To Barnard Eddy bill for provisions for men at work on breastworks at Field's Point 0 16 0
To John Gills bill for guard- ing battery and billett 2 mos 6
9. 5
To David Lawrence's bill for stores 3
I 4
To John Brown's bill O I3
63 18 54
To Addington Davenport's bill for use of his shop for a watch house for town watch 0 18 0
64 16 54
In the winter of the following year (1776) the British army occupied Newport and con- tinued on Rhode Island soil for nearly three
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years. During this time the action of the enemy in ravaging unprotected homes on the shore, burning and destroying property, kept the inhabitants of the state continually on the alert.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
CHAPTER V.
Beacon Hill Fort. - General Spencer's Request. - Providence Companies detailed to work on Fortifications. - Fort Sul- livan. - Hog Pen Point Fort. - Action of the Town of Rehoboth. - Defences in the War of 1812. - Fort William Henry.
THE news of the arrival of the British fleet at Newport produced the most intense ex- citement in Providence. A town meeting was immediately convened "by warrant on Sabbath Day morning, December 8th, 1776," and the following preamble and resolution adopted, Stephen Hopkins being moderator.
" Whereas a large body of the Enemy have arrived in the Narragansett Bay and it is probable soon intend to attack this Town, and in order that proper defence may be made it is Voted That the Hon.bl Stephen Hopkins Esq., Col. Jonathan Arnold, Col. John Mathewson, Mr. Joseph Brown, Col. Barzillai Richmond, Col. Joseph Nightingale, Col. James Angell, and Mr. Sumner be and they are hereby appointed a Committee to Examine the most suitable places for Erect-
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. ing and making proper Batteries and in- trenchments for the defence of the Public against the Enemy." They were directed to notify the Governor as soon as they had de- cided where such works should be built, that he might order the troops immediately to begin the wo It was further voted that every male inhabitant of sixteen years of age and upward assemble at the Court House Parade at three o'clock the same day, armed and equipped for active service.
And that Sabbath morning the inhabitants of Providence were aroused to the alarming situation of the colony, by hearing the town crier with his bell, and the town sergeant with his drum as they hurried through the streets of the town hoarsely announcing that the enemy was within the borders of the state and their homes and lives were in danger.
The utmost activity was now necessary to guard against any surprise or attack on the town. The militia was constantly on duty, and steps were taken to put the town in the best possible position for defence.
In May following, Captain Sumner laid before the town meeting held on the 5th of that month a " Plan of a Fort proper to be
-
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
erected for the Common Defence upon the Hill Eastward from the compact part of the Town." This plan had the hearty approval of General Spencer, and he asked the assist- ance of the town in pushing it to completion by the following letter : -
"PROVIDENCE, 13th May, 1777.
"SIR: - It having been represented to General Spencer that the inhabitants of this town were desirous that a fortress should be erected upon the College Hill, for their more secure and effectual defence against the common enemy, and great en- couragement of the works, being speedily effected by the united aid and services of the inhabitants and the army, the General has been induced to protract, and caused to be laid the lines of a fort at that place, which being completed, would doubtless be greatly beneficial to the public. The work being now ready to proceed upon, the General hereby signifies that the ser- vices of the good people of the town would be very acceptable. It is to be wished that they would supply themselves with the necessary tools, &c.
" W. BISSELL, A. D. Camp.
" By the General's Order."
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The townsmen promptly passed a vote ordering the different military companies in the town to repair, on the sixteenth day of that month, to Beacon Hill, - another name for College Hill, - where the beacon had been already erected, to make fortifications.
>N
FORT ON
PROSPECT HILL
2
The record of the town's order for this reads as follows : " That Capt. Barzillai Rich- mond's Company go upon duty to-morrow, Capt. Russell's the next day, Capt. Burrill's on Monday, Capt. Keene's on Tuesday, Capt. Snow's and the Grenadier Company on Wednesday, and that the captains keep lists of all persons who work and also those who
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
do not, and that the said companies begin on Thursday next week, and go through a second tower of duty in rotation, in the same manner, each person to furnish his own tools and provisions." The fortifica- tions constructed at this time were on the brow of the hill, extending at some distance around the beacon.
Some years ago, portions of these works were visible, but the last vestige of them was destroyed to make way for the brick house at the corner of Congdon and Bowen streets. This fort was probably the only one in the , town built from plans prepared before the work was commenced, the others being thrown up according to lines laid out on the ground at the time the work was done. The Prospect Hill or College Hill fort, says Stone, in his French Allies, was " three hun- dred by one hundred and fifty feet, within the parapet. It was surrounded by a fosse, or ditch, and was capable of mounting fifty- eight guns."
On the high land on the west side of the river, southerly from what was then called the road to Pawtuxet (now Broad Street), was a fort which bore the name Fort Sullivan.
While there is no. recorded evidence to
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show when it was built, the name given to it suggests that it was thrown up during the time when General John Sullivan was in command of this department, and that was in 1778.
It was probably the first of the Revolu- tionary defences to be obliterated; for in 1784, the owners of the property on which it was located, - Messrs. Barzillai Richmond, John Field, Daniel Snow, Joseph Snow, Joseph Snow, Jr., Daniel Snow, Jr., and Benoni Pearce, -desiring to improve this tract of land, caused a good part of the hill to be dug away, and used the material to fill in the low marshland along the river at its base. Through the land thus graded, streets were laid out, and dedicated to the public use. The square bounded by Broad, Foster, Chestnut, and Friendship streets in- cludes the spot on which Fort Sullivan was built.
There was yet another fort in the harbor. It was not, however, in Rhode Island, but was built on territory so near that it has since, by a change in the state line, been brought within its borders. This is the work on Fort Hill, in East Providence.
In the days of the Revolution this land
·
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
was in the town of Rehoboth, and the point of land jutting out into the river, at the base of the hill, was called Hog Pen Point. When the town of Rehoboth was considering the various questions which
0
HOG PEN NA POINT
the times suggested, it was voted, among other measures, on the sixth day of No- vember, 1775, that a committee be chosen "to wait on a committee of the town of Providence to consult on fortifying Hog Pen Point."
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Whether any action was taken by the town of Providence in this matter is not known. Certainly there is no mention of it . on the records; but, a week later, the town of Rehoboth "voted it expedient to fortify Hog Pen Point, and chose a committee to oversee the business." It is yet in a good state of preservation.
Thus was the town of Providence and its neighboring territory protected during those eventful days. Had the enemy ventured into these waters, he would have met with a warm reception from the guns which bris- tled on either side of the entrance' to the port.
Upon the close of hostilities these old works became deserted and forgotten, save as relics of a critical period in the country's history; and thus they remained until the year 1812, when another war with Great Britain occurred. Soon after hostilities had commenced, it was deemed expedient for the safety of the town "that Field's Point be fortified by erecting a battery or batteries there." Then John Carlisle, William Blod- gett, and James B. Mason were appointed a committee to take this matter in charge. Again the hills of Field's Point became the
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
scene of warlike movements, and the fortifi- cations which had remained idle and deserted for nearly forty years were strengthened, and an additional fort was erected near the end of Field's Point, just above tide-water, and the name of Fort William Henry given to it. The accounts kept by this committee are preserved among the possessions of the city of Providence, showing the details of the expense incurred by the town in connec- tion with these works. In addition to this, a fort was thrown up of considerable size near Broad Street, between where is now Pearl and Somerset streets, and a line of breastworks built, extending across from Field's Point to near Mashapaug Pond.
These works have often been mistaken for relics of the Revolution; but they were not built, as will be seen, until many years after.
But let us return to the days of the Revo- lution. While all this activity was going on in Providence, the other towns in the colony were busily at work. Fortifications were being thrown up along the seaboard, while the inland towns were hurrying men to aid their brethren in defence of the colony.
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CHAPTER VI.
Fortifications at Newport. - Fort George. - Fort at Bren- ton's Point. - Newport Town-Meeting Authority ques- tioned. - Memorial to the Continental Congress. - North Battery. - Guards established at Warwick Neck and Paw- tuxet. - Lists of the Officers and Men.
As early as 1700, a fort was located on Goat Island, in Newport Harbor. This had been built pursuant to a recommendation made about that time in a report of the Lords of Trade to His Britannic Majesty.
In this report it was stated that "Rhode Island being the most important place on the south west side of Cape Codd, is so situated as to be a very convenient harbor for shipping and security to that part of the Country in case it were put in a state of defence." When this fort was built, it was named Fort Anne; later it was changed to Fort George, then Fort Liberty, and after- wards called Fort Washington.
It was the only fort in the colony at the outbreak of the Revolution; and while not permanently garrisoned, a guard. was main-
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
tained here; for it was well equipped, mount- ing fifty guns, and its magazine held a large supply of powder. In 1774, owing to the aspect of affairs in the colonies, it was con- sidered advisable to remove its guns and ammunition to Providence, which was done. Later, however, in 1776, it was furnished with twenty-five guns, 18- and 24-pounders ; and a garrison of fifty men was established, com-
FORT LIBERTY GOAT ISLAND NEWPORT HARBOR
1776.
-
manded by Captain Samuel Sweet, with Daniel Vaughan first lieutenant and Eben- ezer Adams second lieutenant.
Owing to the unfortunate condition of the town records of Newport, for they suf- · fered an irreparable loss during the war, it · is difficult to obtain much information re- garding the action taken by the town in providing means of defence. There is ample
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evidence, however, that the town was busily at work; for, from its position at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, it would nat- urally be the first to feel the effect of war, in case of an invasion by water.
It was therefore unanimously voted at a town meeting held April 29, 1776, "to enter at once into the defence of the town"; and three days later a large body of the inhabi- tants repaired to Brenton's Point, the present location of Fort Adams, and erected there a fort, commanding one of the entrances to the harbor.
In addition to ordering the townsmen to work on these defences, it was provided that those who did not respond when thus or- dered should be fined " Three shillings for each and every day's Neglect." Some of the townsmen refused to comply with this order to work, and they were accordingly fined. The collection of this fine was re- sented, on the ground that the town had no authority to impose it, and the General Assembly was appealed to for a settlement of the difficulty. The records of Newport shed no light on this controversy, but among the state's papers, it appears that "the town of Newport at a town meeting held on the
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
twenty-ninth day of April, 1776, unani- mously voted that they would defend the said Town, and ordered that the inhabitants should work upon the Fortifications, upon the Penalty of paying Three shillings per day for each and every day's Neglect and at another meeting held on the twenty- fifth of May, it was ordered that the Fines of the Delinquents should be collected by William Davis, and in case of Refusal he should distrain." With this preamble the town prayed for advice as to whether it had authority to make such an order and enforce it. The whole question was promptly set- tled; the General Assembly upholding the acts of the Newport town meeting.
Additional light is shed upon the doings of the people of Newport, by a memorial prepared in June, 1776, during the recess of the General Assembly, "by such of the Members as could be conveniently be imme- diately convened," to be sent to the Conti- nental Congress, wherein it is stated that the inhabitants of Newport "assembled in . a full town meeting and unanimously voted to work upon the necessary fortifications, and to defend the Town, and immediately entered upon it with Vigour. Three
3
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considerable works have been erected and the Town of Newport is now capable of being defended against all the Frigates in the British Navy. Fortifications are also making at Bristol Ferry and on the East side of Rhode Island, which when completed will effectually secure a communication with the Continent, and enable us to defend that most valuable Island."
But the confidence which the people of Newport had in the strength and value of these works to withstand "all the Frigates in the British Navy," was destined to be shattered ; for a few months later every one of them was occupied by the enemy, with- out a shot being fired to resist their capture. Besides this fort at Brenton's Point, another work, which was called the North Battery, was built on the site of the present Fort Greene, at the end of Washington Street. To make room for this, the house of Daniel Austin, standing on the spot, was removed to another location ; this work with the fort on Goat Island commanded the entrance to the harbor from the northward. Across on the island of Conanicut, a battery was established at the Dumplings, of eight 18-pound guns.
Early in the month of January, 1776, the
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
General Assembly ordered " that a number of men not exceeding fifty, be stationed at Warwick Neck, including the Artillery Company in Warwick; the remainder to be minutemen; that Col. John Waterman have the command, and appoint proper offi- cers to act under him; that they continue there and be kept upon pay, until the enemy's fleet shall go down the river, and then be discharged, if his honor the Gov- ernor shall think proper.
" And that His Honor the Deputy Gov- ernor, General West, and Mr. Joseph Brown or either of them, be appointed to lay out such fortifications upon the said Neck as they shall think necessary; and that the troops be employed in erecting them, while continued there."
Colonel Waterman, who was assigned to the Warwick post, was a prominent man of that town, and active in the civil and military affairs of the colony. He was at this time a member of the town council of Warwick and Colonel of its militia, and had been a field-officer of the Kent County regi- ment since 1760. His military experience, however, had been limited to that obtained with the troops in the colony.
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This action was taken on account of the British fleet of twelve sail coming up the river as far as Prudence Island and landing a large' body of men. These vessels a few days later returned to their anchorage in Newport harbor. At this time artillery companies of two guns, with fourteen men to each gun, were formed in all the sea- board towns, and the greatest excitement prevailed. The next month Captain Thomas Gorton's Company of Warwick was ordered to report to Colonel John Waterman at the Warwick Neck fort, and Captain Josiah Gibb's Company was despatched to Quid- nessett Neck to relieve a number of minute- men who had been occupying this station.
A watch-house was ordered to be built on Cranston Neck or Long Neck, now called Pawtuxet Neck, twelve feet long and eight feet wide, for the accommodations of the guard stationed at the fort. Here was lo- cated a battery of two 18-pound guns. Faint outlines of the works at Pawtuxet are still to be seen, although most of this fortification has been obliterated, to make room for the cottages now located on the Neck. The Warwick Neck fort has entirely disappeared.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
The battery at Pawtuxet was on land owned by Captain Remington of that place. When the authorities took possession of his property to build this work, they tore down his fences and otherwise damaged his prop- erty, but the General Assembly subsequently made reparation by paying the amount which he claimed. This fort was under the command of Colonel Samuel Aborn and for a great part of the time was garrisoned by the Pawtuxet Rangers, another of the chartered independent military companies.
At first it was occupied by some of the Providence companies and was in April, 1777 ; for on the 19th of that month William Rhodes, William Wall, Samuel Chace, Jr., Paul Allen, Samuel Godfrey, Arthur Craw- ford, Lewis Peck, James Munro, James Hill,_ Gideon Crawford, Jr., Joseph Nightingale, Aaron White and William Russell, pre- sented a petition to the town meeting of Providence, then in session, representing that they were "on Military Duty at Pawtuxet for the Defence of our Country," and protest- ing against the town's taking action on a question reflecting on the "Conduct of the Present Assessors of Rates " until they could be present. All of these men were members
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of the Providence Company of Cadets com- manded by Colonel Joseph Nightingale. On the sixth day of the next month the first di- vision of the Pawtuxet Rangers was drafted to go on duty at the Neck, consisting of the following officers and enlisted men : 1-
Benjamin Arnold, Colonel. James Sheldon, Captain. William Greene, Clerk. Elisha Carpenter, Sergeant. Stephen Fenner, Sergeant.
Privates.
Zuriel Waterman
James Harris
John Randall
John C. Greene Philip Arnold
William Holdridge
Benjamin Babcock Henry Randall
Benjamin Waterman John Stone Oliver Payn Caleb Corpe
Rhodes Greene
William Greene
Charles Rhodes
David Barros
Samuel Perce
This division was relieved by the second detachment composed of 2
Oliver Arnold, Lieutenant-Colonel. Sylvester Rhodes, Major.
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
2 Ibid.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
Joseph Rhodes, Surgeon. · Israel Arnold, Sergeant. Israel Arnold, Jr., Sergeant. · Privates.
Stephen Smith
Jeremiah Field
Richard Greene
Benjamin Sweet
Benjamin Smith
Charles Thornton
James Greene Eben Hill
Abner Field Benjamin Williams
Jeremiah Randall
James Rhodes
Simeon Smith
Lewis Sayer Greene'
William Waterman
Peter Rhodes
Esek Dire
In July, 1778, the whole company was " on duty at Pawtuxet," the muster-roll compris- ing the following : 1 -
Benjamin Arnold, Colonel. Oliver Arnold, Lieutenant-Colonel. Sylvester Rhodes, Major. James Sheldon, Captain. William Greene, Clerk. Elisha Carpenter, Sergeant.
Caleb Corpe, Sergeant. Thomas Williams, Drummer. Pardon Field, Fifer.
Privates.
Rhodes Greene
Stephen Smith
Philip Arnold
John Waterman
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
IN RHODE ISLAND
89
John A. Aborn
John Randall
Israel Arnold
John Aborn
Moses Arnold
Jeremiah Randall
Seth Davis
Lorey Aborn
Simeon Smith
George Arnold
John Stone
Thomas Westcoat
Stephen Fenner
Thomas Warner
James Rhodes
Nathan Waterman
William Holdridge
Joseph Burgess
Ambrose Taylor
Joseph Greene
Thomas Remington
Richard Greene
Lewis S. Greene
John Rice
Oliver Paine
Lemuel Arnold
Abner Field
Benjamin E. Greene
Benjamin Williams
The Warwick Neck station was, as pre- viously stated, commanded by Colonel John Waterman, and was guarded by the Kent County regiment and battery. A force was stationed here for a long time it being considered one of the most important posts on the bay. Upon the arrival of the enemy's fleet in Newport harbor, William Ellery wrote to Governor Cooke: " There ought to be a good redoubt at Warwick Point. If they attack Providence it will be by land. They will pass up the bay to Warwick Neck per- haps, then land and march to the town."
A substantial work was therefore erected
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
and from time to time detachments of the minutemen or alarm companies in the county were ordered to report there for duty. The warrants issued for bringing in these detach- ments are as curious in their construction as they were effective in results. One of them reads thus : 1-
" WARWICK IN THE COUNTY OF KENT, &c.
"To Thomas Warner corporiel of the first Company or Train band in the above s'd Town Greeting by virtue of a warrant from the Colo you air hear by required to warn in the Second Division of said Compny a grea- bel to the draught maid from said company the sixth day of January 1777.
" N.B. to warn the said persons to appear with a good Gun bagunet Catrix box blancket and nap sack and to Let each and every per- son now that if they doth not appear at hed Qorters in Warwick the eighth day of this instant at two of the clock after noon or an abel bodyed man in Each of the delinkqents sted thay may depend that thay shall pay a fine as the Law of this Stait directs hear of fail not but maik a true return of your doings to Colo John Waterman at hid Qorters War-
1 Warner Papers.
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IN RHODE ISLAND
wick. Given under my hand in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six.
" JOB RANDALL, Captn.
" A List of the Naimes of those that air to be Warnd,
Lieutenant James Arnold Ensign James Carder Sergeant Anthony Low Corporal Thos. Warner
Nathaniel Hackston Christopher Vaughn Beriah Allen
Stephen Low
Benjamin Battey
Barrit Allen
John Coal
Edward Gorton
Robert Bagnal Mosis Lippitt
Jeremiah Westcott
Godfrey Greene
" WARWICK, february the 4th day 1777 "then warned those men that I was com- manded THOMAS WARNER, Corpril."
On the 7th of January the following men were ordered to report for duty at this post : 1 --
Benjamin Bennett, Jr.
Richard Mathewson
Isaac Carr
Ichabod Smith
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
Charles Nichols Daniel Howland, Jr.
Andrew Smart
Allen Fry
Benjamin Andrew Stephen Pierce Joseph Arnoid
Caleb Coggeshall
Stephen Spencer
Whipple Andrew
Abraham Greene
Joshua Coggeshall
George Spencer, son of George Spencer John
Daniel Sweet alias Rue
On the 8th of January the following men in Captain Allen Johnson's Company were summoned in by warrant : 1-
William Wells
David Briteman
Thomas Wells
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