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 5
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John Spencer
Oliver Sweet John Bailey
Samuel Brown
William Spencer
William Hambleton
Thomas Vaughan
Jonathan Picker
Thomas Croton
Jonathan Fairbanks
Benjamin Sweet, Jr.
Thomas Coggeshall - John Abram
Oliver Capron
David Vaughan
Job Card
Free Brown
Abel Jones
And on the 9th another body of minutę- men were ordered in, consisting of 2
Jesse Arnold
Josiah Stone
Zebulon Utter
James Aborn
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
2 Ibid.
Amos Vaughan
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IN RHODE ISLAND
Anthony Aborn Joseph Brown
Benjamin Greene Samuel Pearce, Jr.
Anthony Low Jere Clarke
Benjamin Stone Abram Lockwood
Corporal Stephen Greene, Amos Kimball son of John Samuel Aborn John Allen
William Gorton, Jr.
From February 7 to March 8, 1777, Cap- tain Joseph Kimball's Company of Scituate was stationed at Warwick Neck. The mus- ter-roll of this company contains the fol- lowing names of those on duty during this period : 1 -
Gideon Cornell, Lieutenant. Daniel Seamans, Sergeant. John Atwood, Sergeant. Hope Smith, Corporal. Abraham Phillips, Corporal. Thomas Bigford, Drummer.
Privates.
Stephen Whitman John Seamans, Jr.
Jonathan Salisbury
Thomas West
David Kimball William Eddy
Lemuel Slack Oliver Carver
Thomas Eddy
Peleg Hopkins
Winsor Potter
Seth Peckcom
Benjamin Taylor
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
A part of the time while Colonel Water- man was in command of the Warwick Neck station, his headquarters was at the house of Thomas Wickes, a house still standing at the head of the Warwick Neck road in Old Warwick.
This ancient dwelling is, perhaps, more generally known as the Gardiner house, and is said to have been built in 1728. For nearly three years the troops in Warwick were quartered in this house, which was then occupied by Thomas Wickes, a storekeeper and busy man of affairs in Old Warwick. Among his old papers, now in the posses- sion of one of his descendants, there is one on which he wrote : -
" A Count of troops quartered in my hous."
From this it appears that
" Capt John Angel of North Providence with 36 of his troops 1 was put in my hous the 10th of December 1776 they Used my fornuter the hole time.
"they went away ye 9th of January 1777.
1 This was the company called the North Providence Rangers.
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IN RHODE ISLAND
"Coll Waterman took up my hous for hed quarters the 16th of January 1777.
"he moved awhay ye 23rd of April fol- lowing.
"Capt Car & his company Cum in to my house ye 31st of July 1777 he went away ye 1 3th of September following.
" Capt Pike cum in with his Company ye 13th of Sept' 1777 he went away ye 19th of December 1777.
"8 or 9 Salors cum on the same day my hous was taken up Severel nights before, 20 or 30 at a time. The Sailors went awhay ye 16th of April 1778.
"Capt bomen cum in my hous ye 4th of Septemb' went out ye sixth of ye month they was from Conecticut.
" Generell Lovell & his offesers & wat- ers was here too weeks. Capt Lain & three offesers & fore waightters Cum in my hous the 26th of Octob' 1778.
"went out the first day of January 1779. Capt Barns & too Lef: & 4 wators Cum in my hous IS of Febry 1779 went out the 8th of March following."
The Wickes' homestead was only a few rods from David Arnold's tavern, where the
..
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
town council held its meetings, and the cen- tre of activity in Warwick at this period. It was, doubtless, on this account that Colonel Waterman selected the house for his headquarters.
In addition to the fort at Warwick Neck, a system of intrenchments was laid out along the northerly side of the old road leading from Apponaug to Old Warwick, near the head of Brush Neck Cove and Horse Neck. Portions of this line of works may still be seen, fringed with a growth of cedars, which may serve to identify their lo- cation. These were thrown up by the troops at this station in the latter part of 1776.
In December of that year General Fran- çois Lellorquis de Malmedy, a French of- ficer, who had been recommended to the state authorities by General Lee, and had been appointed " Chief Engineer and Direc- tor of the works of defence in this state," made an examination of the several points along the Narragansett shore, and in a let- ter to General Lee, dated the 20th of this · month, referring to the position of Warwick and its defences, says : -
" I there found some works begun. I thought it my duty not to oppose the
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IN RHODE ISLAND
desire of the commandant. We have, therefore, continued to prolong them, with some regularity, adapted to the ground."
General Malmedy was not impressed with the value of this line of works at Warwick. In fact, he did not lay much importance in defending this point at all. "It is mere folly to attempt to defend it," he says; for "in case the enemy make a descent in its neighborhood, they can land at Warwick Neck and arrive in Providence in four hours." It was his belief, although he did not claim to be a military engineer, that Pawtuxet, not Warwick Neck, was the place at which defences should be raised, for here he believed the enemy would land, if an attack was to be made against Providence ; he, therefore, recommended that a body of troops be assembled at Pawtuxet, and that a quantity of fascines be procured to use in building works. The services of General Malmedy were not long retained by the state; there were other officers fully as com- petent to perform the duties for which he had been particularly engaged, and he was relieved from duty.
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CHAPTER VII.
Fortifications ordered at Bristol Ferry and Howland's Ferry. - Fort Barton. - List of Officers and Men stationed at Howland's Ferry. - Coast-guards established. - Tonomy Hill Fort. - Fortifications at Bristol Harbor. - Alarm at Bristol. - List of Barrington Men appearing. - Fort Dan- iel. - List of Officers and Men located at East Greenwich. List of Captain John Whipple's Company on Rhode Island. - Kingstown Reds.
IN February, 1776, Deputy-Governor Brad- ford, William Ellery, John Mathewson, Henry Marchant, and Gideon Marchant were ap- pointed a committee "to cause fortifications to be erected, as soon as possible, upon Rhode Island and at Bristol, sufficient to command and keep open a communication at Bristol Ferry.' The troops stationed at Bristol and on Rhode Island were employed in this work. These fortifications were at each end of Bristol Ferry, and the one on the island can, even now, be easily distinguished.
Having made provision for keeping open this means of communication between the island and the mainland, the attention of the colony was then directed to taking care
:
99
IN RHODE ISLAND
of Howland's Ferry on the east side of the island.
About this time a communication had been received from the General Court of Massachusetts, signifying its willingness to
FORT
BARTON
N
5
lend its assistance in the construction of a fort at Howland's Ferry. This aid was gratefully accepted; and William Bradford and Simeon Potter were appointed to confer with the Massachusetts authorities, and given
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
full power to carry into effect such plans as might be agreed upon. A fort was erected, commanding this ferry, on the high land at Tiverton, which has since borne the name of Fort Barton. Its outlines are even now well defined.
From December 1, 1777, to March IO, 1778, Captain Christopher Dyer's Company was stationed at Howland's Ferry, the com- pany roll being made up of 1
Christopher Dyer, Captain.
Barker Peckam, First Lieutenant. Samuel Champlin, Second Lieutenant.
Randall Rice, Ensign.
Benoni Foster Martin Child
Charles Hewit
Sergeants.
Elisha Potter
William Smith
Clark Hopkins
Corporals.
Samuel Barker
Benjamin Hodg
Edmund Hewit, Fifer.
James Chappel, Drummer.
Privates.
Caleb Tifft
Eleazer Nichols
Hugh Osbond
Eli Lake
1 Revolutionary Rolls, State Archives.
IOI
IN RHODE ISLAND
Charles McMillion
Job Chase Edward Johnson
Joshua Davis
James Tannant
Leary Crandall
John Lewis
Benjamin Eagleston William Babcock
Amos James
Stephen Charles
John Stanbury
Amos Drummer
Samuel Butten
Ebenezer Smith
John Smith
Thomas Chappel
Job Wait
Adam Cooper
Stephen Wheeler
James Ervin
Nathan Lewis
George Osbond
Samuel Babcock
In March, 1776, the committee that had been appointed by the General Assembly relative to the military defences of the col- . ony made its report. Among the recom- mendations made by this body, it was provided,
" That one company be placed at Point Judith; one company at Boston Neck be- tween Narrow River and the South Ferry; one company at Quonset Point in North Kingstown, one company at Pojack Point in North Kingstown and Potowomut Neck in Warwick, one company at Warwick Neck, half a company at Pawtuxet in Cranston (Pawtuxet Neck), one company at Barring- ton, two companies at Bristol, one company
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at Bristol Ferry on Rhode Island side and one third of said company on Tiverton side, one company in Tiverton and Little Comp- ton near Fogland Ferry, four companies and one half on the island of Jamestown," and seven companies with a company of artillery on the island of Rhode Island.
FORT ON [BEACON HILL] TONOMY
HILL
Y
This committee also recommended that a fort be erected on Tonomy Hill by Colonel Putnam, "according to his best skill and judgement," and another on the Bristol side of Bristol Ferry "at the place selected by Col. Putnam."
The high land at the northern part of Newport is called Tonomy Hill, and consists of two spurs or hills, one of which - the highest - is now called Tonomy Hill, while the other is known as Beacon Hill.
1
-
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IN RHODE ISLAND
Fortifications are still remaining on each. It was on the lower spur that the Tonomy Hill beacon was built in 1776, and hence its name.
The exact spot selected for the Bristol work is not known. A map of the opera- tions on Rhode Island shows two works at this point, one on the high land north of where the lighthouse now stands, while an- other was nearer the water, under the hill. There is no evidence of them now to be seen.
When this report was presented to the General Assembly, it provoked some dis- cussion, and before the recommendations therein were adopted some changes were made, and it was finally voted "that the com- pany ordered to be stationed at Tiverton and Little Compton, near Fogland Ferry, be stationed in the said towns as Col. Thomas Church and Lieut. Col. John Cooke shall think proper, that the company ordered to be stationed at Quonset be stationed at Wickford; that the company stationed at the South Ferry, in South Kingstown, be so distributed as to guard as far as the north end of Boston neck; and that Capt. Job Pierce's company station be in Bristol."
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
This company was located at what was called the "mud battery," which consisted of a breastwork "high enough for a man standing on tiptoe to rest his piece on the top and take aim at the men or officers " on the decks of the enemy's vessels; it was located near the water's edge, a short dis- tance west from the corner of Hope and Church streets, where St. Michael's Church now stands. Action had been taken by the town authorities at Bristol some months before the committee of the General Assem- bly made its report. On December 12, 1775, it was "voted, that some intrenchments be made near the harbor in this town to pre- vent the enemy from landing." William Bradford, Simeon Potter, Benjamin Bos- worth, and Jeremy Ingraham were appointed a committee to build these works. They were constructed "along the shore, extend- ing south from the foot of State Street, down as far as the foot of Burton Street, near Rich- mond's wharf. They were composed of a wall five feet high, built of turf and stones, filled up on the inside with loose earth and small stones." Included in this line of works was the "mud battery " previously referred to.
-
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IN RHODE ISLAND
On the Ist of April, 1776, there was an alarm at Bristol occasioned by a report, which afterwards proved to be false, that the British fleet were entering the bay. It occa- sioned much anxiety, however, and urgent requests were made by Governor Cooke to General Washington for aid in protecting the state.
To this alarm the Barrington Infantry Company and the Artillery Company re- sponded, the following roll showing the names of those who marched to Bristol on this occasion.
" BARRINGTON, April ye I AD 1776.
" The following is a List of the Persons who Appeared on the Alarm at Bristol this day :1 -
Thomas Allen, Captain. Viall Allen, Lieutenant. Daniel Kinicut, Ensign. Nathaniel Smith, Sergeant. George Salsbury, Sergeant. Benjamin Drown, Jr., Corporal. Nudigate Adams, Corporal. Josiah Humphrey, Jr., Corporal.
1 Private manuscript belonging to Hon. Thomas W. Bick- nell.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
Thomas Grant, Corporal. . Samuel Short, Drummer. Joseph V. Allen, Fifer.
Ebenezer Tiffany
Daniel Drown
Joshua Kent
John Shelden
William Kelley
Jonathan Bosworth, Jr.
John Short, Jr.
James Goff
Amos Peck
Abiel Grant
Nathanel Clarke
Benjamin Marten
Samuel Barnes
Joseph Bullock
Samuel Adams
Samuel Marten
Josiah Bowen
Moses Horten
David Luther
William Andrews
John Watson
Benjamin Horten
Joshua Bicknell, Jr.
Edward Marten
William Harden
Ebenezer Grant
Samuel Conant
Simeon Titas
Artillery Compy.
Samuel Bosworth, Captain.
William Jones
Joseph Adams
Nathanel Peck Privets.
Samuel Viall
Selvester Viall
SOLOMON PECK, Jr., Clk.
Nath1 Smith & Jon'n Bosworth Jun Did Duty in the Militia and are Reckoned with them.
PER T. ALLIN."
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IN RHODE ISLAND
Across the bay at East Greenwich was another fort called Fort Daniel. This, says Wanton Casey of that town, who was one of the charter members of the Kentish Guards, was built by that organization "to prevent the boats from the British fleet getting into the harbor." It "had eight or ten guns mounted," and a guard was maintained here during the whole time that the British were encamped within the state. From the col- ony records it appears that nine guns were mounted at this fort. It was located on the high bank, near the entrance to East Green- wich harbor, about a quarter of a mile north of the present railroad station, nearly oppo- site Long Point.
Strictly speaking, it was not in the town of East Greenwich, but was in Warwick or, as the town records of East Greenwich say, " in the borders of Warwick." An aged citi- · zen of the town who remembers seeing it, for it was long ago obliterated, says that "it was a straight breastwork with holes in it for the guns." It is stated that the guns formerly located there, upon the termination of hostilities, were shipped to West Point.
The Kentish Guards were located at Fort Daniel during most of the time that the
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
enemy was within the state. But on occa- sions of alarm, troops were hurriedly sent to all the towns on the seaboard, and on such occasions the force at Fort Daniel was in- creased by detachments from the different regiments.
The arrival of a British fleet, consisting of sixteen ships of war, off Newport in July, 1780, produced a season of alarm through- out the state. The forts and batteries along the shore were manned, and the several com- panies of militia in the state were despatched to support them.
It was not until the middle of the next month that the enemy's fleet withdrew.
During a portion of this time Captain Robert Rhodes' Company was stationed at East Greenwich; the company, when it re- sponded to this alarm, consisted of : 1 __
Robert Rhodes, Captain. Hopkins Cooke, Lieutenant. Philip Whitman, Ensign.
Privates.
John Miller Thomas Sweet Joseph Chase
Arnold Stafford
Amos Kimball
William Gorton, Jr.
1 Rhode Island Historical Society Military Papers.
IN RHODE ISLAND
109
Joseph Battey William Hall
Jesse Arnold James Aborn Sylvester Rhodes
Ephraim Weeden
Nathan Westcott
William Greene, son of Nathaniel Silas Spencer
Josiah Stone Edward Coddington
Joseph Cornell
Joseph Brown
Yelverton Briggs
Stephen Arnold
Job Comstock
William Matteson
Thomas Spencer, son of Abner
Olney Baker
William Sayles
Samuel Tarbox
Ezekiel Warner
William Bailey
William Helm
Job Straight
William Sweet, Jr.
Thomas Reynolds
Remington Kinnon
Daniel Fisk
James Miller
About the first of March, i781, the enemy having withdrawn from the neighborhood of Rhode Island, most of the troops that had been stationed at Newport and on the island were dismissed with the exception of about three hundred men, who were still continued doing guard duty.
Among this body of troops was the bat- talion of Providence and Kent counties, commanded by Brigadier-General Nathan Miller. One of the companies belonged in the town of Providence, and the roll of this company included the following officers and men : -
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
PAY ABSTRACT OF CAPTAIN JOHN WHIPPLE'S COMPANY IN LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COMMAN- DANT GEORGE PECK'S REGIMENT, DOING DUTY ON RHODE ISLAND IN MARCH, 1781.1
John Whipple, Captain.
Joseph Snow, Jr., Lieutenant. Christopher Robinson, Ensign.
Benjamin Keen
Benjamin Keen, (Jr.)
---- L
Sergeants.
Jabez Gorham
Charles Wheaton
Ebenezer Foresight - Corporals.
George Stainer
William Larcher
Fifers.
Benjamin Andrews
Job Stone
Drummers.
Stephen Corps
Privates.
Jacob Field
Isaac Barker
Elijah Hewes
Joseph Salisbury
Daniel Brown
William Davis
Tilly M. Olney
John Field
Peter Field Jeremiah Williams
Abner Keen
Zachariah Mathewson
George Brown
William Hutson
· Tobias Brown
Timothy Berry
1 Providence Town Papers No. 2526.
III
IN RHODE ISLAND
Joseph Whipple John Burch
Benjamin Low
Prince Potter
Asa Allen
John Sheldon Ruben Anthony
Oliver Brown
John Luther
William Turtelot
Elisha Calendar
George Young
John Gilson
William Sheldon
Simeon Hunt
William Verry Bernon Tripe
John Griffith
Charles Cushing
David Libby
Elijah Walker
William Peck
John Russell
Jesse Jones
John Allen
Jeremiah Spears
Joseph Adams
William Shearburne
James Smith
David Tift
John Hawkes
Stephen Aplin
Levi Wilmoth
Isaac Mason
Joseph Basset
Ezekiel Burr
John Gonsolve
Micajah Bennet
Stephen Williams
John Teale
Luther Hawkins
Thomas Teale
Joseph Burke
Isaac Bartlett
The amount due the soldiers according to this pay abstract was " One hundred thirteen pounds and eighteen shillings," which was ordered paid at a town meeting held in Providence, August 30, 1781.
At this time the French army and fleet were located at Newport and afforded with
Uriah Hopkins
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
these state troops ample protection to the colony in case of an attack.
A few weeks later, however, it was decided to withdraw the French forces from Rhode Island and attach them to the troops about to operate against New York. In order to transport the great quantity of guns, stores, and baggage, Rochambeau presented a peti- tion to the General Assembly asking for the aid of the state in this work; in answer to his request, George Irish, Esq., was ap- pointed a committee to attend to the matter as far as Bristol Ferry and was authorized to impress teams for the purpose; through his services this material was carted up to the north end of the island to Bristol Ferry, where it was put on boats and floated over to Bristol, where Nathaniel Fales, Esq., who had also been appointed a committee for a similar purpose, attended to its transporta- tion to Providence where the army was to
start on its march to the westward.
In the
midst of these preparations, and while the troops were under marching orders, it was reported that the enemy's fleet under Admi- ral Arbuthnot was off Block Island standing towards Newport.
A council of war was hastily summoned
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IN RHODE ISLAND
and the order of departure somewhat modified.
The fleet was ordered to remain at New- port while the army was sent on its journey, but a detachment of five hundred men was left behind to form with a body of state troops a sufficiently strong force to resist any attack that might be made. Nearly the whole military force of the state had been dismissed, and the men had returned to their homes to get some rest after their arduous duties for a long period.
The General Assembly, therefore, then in session, deeming it "highly expedient that a body of troops completely armed and accou- · tred should be on the island of Rhode Island on or before Tuesday the 5th day of June, A.D. 1781, to be stationed at such places as the commander of that post shall deem necessary " for the safety and defence of the colony, promptly voted, " that the following independent companies, to wit: the Artillery of Providence, the Kentish Guards, the Kingstown Reds and the Pawtuxet Rangers, forthwith turn out one-half of the men be- longing to their respective corps, to march to Newport, to be upon the ground by the said 5th day of June, there to do duty for
-
.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
one month; that the men so furnished by the said independent companies be accounted to the towns to which they respectively be- long, and be reckoned as so many men fur- nished towards their quota of five hundred men ordered to be raised at the present ses- sion, that the said independent companies be led by their own officers, that the town of Tiverton and Little Compton forthwith fur- nish one hundred and two men to be at Newport on the said 5th day of June." This force was under the command of M. de Choisy, a French officer, to whom was given the title " Brigadier of the forces to remain for the protection of the fleet and of the island."
Among this body was the independent company called the " Kingstown Reds." It seems to have been a very active organiza- tion, and is frequently referred to in the events which occurred within the state. Only one roll of this company has been found among the public records and that refers to the company in May, 1776. It is believed to be the only list extant and for that reason is here printed.
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IN RHODE ISLAND
KINGSTOWN REDS, MAY, 1776.1
John Gardiner, Captain. Thomas Potter, First Lieutenant. Rouse T. Helme, Second Lieutenant. Rowland Brown, Ensign.
· Privates.
John Weight James Cottrell Richard Gardiner Jeremiah Sheffil
Nathan Cotrelle Jeremiah Brown Henry Reynolds
Christopher Brown
John Rose James Pearce John Petrill
Caleb Waistcoat Robert Helm
Allin James
John Weeden
James Rose
Lory Gardiner
George Teft
John Tory David Duglass
Nathan Gardiner
James Tefft, 3d
Benjamin Perry
William C. Clarke
Walter Watson
Solomon Tefft
William Rodman
James Potter
Joseph Purkins Frederick Gardiner
Nicholas Easton Gardiner
Allin Gardner
William Aplin
Ephraim Gardiner
Thomas Champlin
John Clarke, Jr.
William Dyer, Jr.
1 Revolutionary Rolls, State Archives.
James Helme, Jr.
George Wilson
116 REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
The force at Newport was kept up until late in the summer and was augmented from time to time by drafts from the militia of the state.
Sergeant Job Whaley of Coventry was one of the men drafted on this service and years afterwards wrote an account of his military experiences during the war, in this he says: " Next tour in 1781 in August at Newport 20 days in Capt Allen Johnsons Company (East Greenwich) Col. T. Tillinghast & was present when the french fleet went out to join degras to go to Yorktown to take Cornwallis."
After the departure of the fleet the troops were withdrawn, and the events which trans- pired in Virginia a few weeks later put an end to the service which the militia of Rhode Island had for years been called upon to perform.
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.. -
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.
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IN RHODE ISLAND
CHAPTER VIII.
Fort at Beaver Tail. - List of Officers and Men guarding the Charlestown Shore. - Story of the Wickford Gun. - Order for the Guard at Quonset. - Rum as a Munition of War. - Distribution of Cannon in the State. - Forts at Popasquash and Bullock's Points. - Table of Defences in Narragansett Bay. - Fortifications at Warren. - Colonel Israel Angell's Regiment stationed at Warren. - Roll of Captain Tew's Company.
IN May, 1776, a fort was ordered built "at Beaver Tail, on Conanicut, to contain six or eight heavy cannon," while a coast- guard was established at Point Judith, Sea- connet Point, Westerly at Watch Hill, Charlestown, at the South Ferry in South Kingstown, and at North Kingstown.
The commanding officers of the several military companies seldom noted on the muster-rolls the locality or station where the duty was performed; but from a roll of Captain Peleg Hoxsey's Company, in the state archives, it appears that the company was stationed on the Charlestown shore, August 10, 1777, and the following names are found upon it : 1 -
1 Revolutionary Rolls, State Archives.
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REVOLUTIONARY DEFENCES
Peleg Hoxsey, Captain. William Gardner, Lieutenant. John Hall, Sergeant. Augustus Sunderland, Sergeant. Thomas Reynolds, Corporal. Job Johnson, Corporal. Henry Stanton, Fifer.
Privates.
Vernon Stanton Uriah Harvey Edward Greene John Wappy Augustus Sanders
John Champlin
Stephen Allin
Daniel Saunders
Cary Clarke
Benjamin Hall
Aaron Babcock
William Coon
John Coon Roger Clarke
Moses Kinyon
Joseph Sheffield
Silas Harvey
William Wording
James Wells Silas Hall
George Austin
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