USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 1 > Part 48
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"Obadiah Brown
Joseph Brown
"Nicholas Cooke
William Wheaton
"Barzillai Richmond
William Smith
"Joseph Bucklin
Jonathan Clark
"John Randall
Jonathan Ballou
"John Cole
James Thurber
"Gideon Manchester
Amos Kinnicutt
"Ephraim Bowen Surgeon
Natlıl Olney
"John Waterman
Joseph Lawrence
"Joseph Arnold Theophilus Williams
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
"John Bass chaplain
John Power
"John Thomas Junr
Benjamin Olney
" Allen Brown
George Hopkins
"Benoni Pearce Edward Smith
"Barnard Eddy Joseph Winsor
"Benjamin Doubleday Josephi Cole".'
This document shows, as no act of Legislature or other authority can show, the condition of the public mind at this period, and it no doubt inspired patriotism and aroused the drooping spirits occasioned by the discouraging news which had been received. The fixing of their signatures to this paper was no idle boast nor play for effect, for every man whose name is attached to that paper is inseparably linked with unselfish patriotism and true heroism. They wrought and fought for England then; and they wrought and fought against her tyranny in later years.
It was the intention of the signers to be in readiness to march the next day. Already the force under command of Col. John Andrews was on its way to Albany; but before these volunteers had started, a messenger arrived in Providence bearing a dispatch that the French and Indians had gone back and immediate danger had passed. In consequence of this, Moses Brown, a brother of Nicholas and Joseph Brown, two of the volunteers, was dispatched with orders for their return. He overtook them in Smithfield, at the house of the widow of Resolved Waterman.
Of the troops thus far furnished by Rhode Island all but ninety had returned home, and this body was now quartered at Saratoga.
The public business which the Legislature of the Colony was now called upon to consider was almost entirely relating to military affairs ; the demands for troops were incessant, so incessant, in fact, that enlist- ments, which heretofore had speedily followed every call, now began to come slowly. Already recourse had been made to the draft; bounties and other considerations now were resorted to in order to stimulate enlistments.
A letter from the Crown dated December 30 did not reach the gov- ernment in Rhode Island until March 13, 1758. It was a request for additional troops to co-operate with the king's army in America in carrying the war into the enemy's country, and the General Assembly "being highly sensible of His Majestys Natural goodness and willing to exert themselves to the utmost of their ability for promoting the service", promptly ordered another regiment of one thousand men.
Many of the officers already in service were retained in this regi- ment, and as most of their names have already been mentioned else-
'The copy from which this is made was deposited in the archives of the Rhode Island Historical Society by Moses Brown, he considering it well worth preserving. He had not added all the names of the signers to his copy.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
where, the reader is referred to the "Civil and Military Lists of Rhode Island", at page 203, where all the officers' names will appear. This regiment, a few weeks later, was ordered sent forward to Albany.
The summer of 1758 brought a victory which brightened the hearts of the colonists and encouraged them to still further cxertion. Louis- burg, after a gallant defense, surrendered. For some weeks before the expedition started to reduce this place nearly two thousand British troops were quartered in Providence. With the local militia and this large body of regular troops, Providence, with a population of less than 3,500 souls, was sorely pressed by this burden, but from no record can there be found evidence to show that one word of complaint was uttered; it was one of the incidents of war, and the people had already become inured to the hardships of the struggle.
Simultaneously with the attack at Louisburg, a large force of Eng- lish advanced on Fort Ticonderoga, and on the 8th of July, 1758, this stronghold was attacked. A desperate battle ensued, lasting four hours. Nearly two thousand of the English force were either killed or wounded, and the British commander, much to the surprise of his officers, retreated to Fort William Henry, and soon after he was re- Jieved of his command. In this bloody battle the Rhode Island troops played a conspicuous part and suffered heavily in killed and wounded.1 Colonel Babcock, Capt. John Whiting, Lieut. Russell, and Lieut. Smith were among the wounded. On the 10th Colonel Babcock dis- patched the following graphic account of the battle to Governor Hopkins :
"The 5th inst., the army, consisting of fifteen thousend men, pro- ceeded down the lake, in batteaux, with thirty days' provision. The 6th, in the morning, half after eight, we landed at the advance guard; who were very easily driven from their post, with no loss on our side, and but four on theirs. About two o'clock, P. M., the whole army marched, saving a battalion of the York regiment, who were posted as a guard on our batteaux. About three o'clock, we were attacked by a party of the enemy, in which engagement, we unfortunately lost the brave Lord Howe. There were taken of the enemy one hundred pris- oners, eight of whom were officers; our army was much scattered by reason of the firing in the woods, and it was thought advisable to re- turn that evening to our batteaux.
"The next day, Col. Broadstreet was ordered with fifteen hundred batteaux men, and two regular regiments, with five of the Massa- chusetts regiments, to take possession of the saw mill, which we did, without the loss of a man. The same evening, the whole marched up to the saw mill.
"The 8tlı, (the fatal 8th, ) were ordered to proceed in the following
Colonel Babcock, in his report of the battle to Governor Hopkins, July 10, 1758, submitted a list of the killed and wounded, but unfortunately this list has disappeared from the archives of the State.
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
manner: the batteaux men, light armed infantry, and the rangers, were ordered to form a line about two hundred yards from the French entrenchments; which extended from Lake George to Lake Champlain ; the regulars were to form a line behind the first line; who, after they were formed, were to pass through the first line, they making avenues for them; after that, they were to form the line again. A captain and fifty men, out of the line, were detached for picket, who were to form in front; the grenadiers were to form behind them; and in this manner, they were to attack the trenches, and were to march with shouldered firelocks, till they should get on top of the trenches.
"They accordingly marched on with great intrepidity, but were re- ceived so warmly, that they were obliged to give ground, after making most vigorous efforts; they even went up to the breast-work, but were knocked down so fast, that it was very difficult for those behind to get over the dead and wounded. But before the attack of the regulars, the enemy began with firing upon the Yorkers. In the rear of the regulars, the Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island troops were ordered to form about three hundred yards behind, who were to sup- port them, if necessary.
"About an hour after the attack, I was ordered to march with the regiment, to relieve those that had been engaged. We went up within about forty yards of the breast-work. Soon after I got up, in posting my regiment to the best advantage I could, I received a shot in my left knee; after that, finding myself of no advantage, I ordered two men to carry me off, and left the regiment warmly engaged. We have lost no officers. Capt. John Whiting, Lieuts. Russell and Smith are slightly wounded. The return of the killed and wounded, Your Honor, is enclosed.
"The same evening, to my great surprise, the whole army was or- dered to return to the batteaux, to the great mortification of chief of the officers; and the next evening we arrived here.
"Never did an army gain more advantage in so little time, whilst the late Lord Howe was alive; but soon after that, we became a con- fused rabble. We have lost a great many brave officers; in Lord Howe's regiment, all the field officers were killed.
"Sir William Johnson joined us four hours before the engagement; but the Indians not being used to attack trenches, soon came off".
A month after the repulse at Ticonderoga an expedition was planned against Fort Frontenac, where is now located the town of Kingston; the brilliancy and success of this affair did much to relieve the de- pression caused by the disaster at Ticonderoga. Major Daniel Wall, who served with the Rhode Island troops in this expedition, thus describes the attack :
"Three thousand troops, with four brass twelve pounders, and two howitzers, set out on the 14th August, on a secret expedition, under the command of Col. Broadstreet; out of which number, there were three
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
hundred and twelve from the Rhode Island regiment. We procceded to Oswego, with the utmost dispatch, and crossed part of Lake Ontario; and on the 25th, we landed in high spirits, on an island, in open sight of Fort Frontenac and their shipping-a brig and schooner (partly rigged).
"Col. Broadstreet immediately sent a whaleboat to reconnoitre the shore, and find a proper place to land. The whaleboat returned, and thought it impracticable to attempt to land before the evening, by reason of the very great surf. Provisions were then issued, and the people employed in cooking.
"At about seven, in the evening, landed the whole troops, about a mile distant from the fort, without being opposed. The rangers and Indians, who were about two hundred, scouting in the woods; and an attempt was then formed to board the brigantine and schooner, with whaleboats ; but as they warped in under the fort, it was thought im- practicable to attempt it. The troops were under arms all that night, in the front of the batteaux; and about eight, next morning, all our artillery were landed and fixed in their carriages. About ten, began to cannonade, under cover of a hill, about seven hundred yards dis- tant; the enemy firing hot, but without doing execution.
"As soon as it was dusk, we approached up to a breast-work of the enemy, erected at the time that Oswego was garrisoned, through which we cut embrasures; and at day-break began to throw shells, which continued very warm till seven o'clock, the enemy firing very warm, both with their cannon and small arms, when we perceived them endeavoring to escape with the vessels. We immediately brought two twelve pounders to play on them, which shattered them very much, and all the crew on board took to their boats, and made off, and suffered the vessels to drive on shore. Then the garrison sent out to surrender, and were suffered to take what things they could carry off in batteaux, and to go to Swercorchche (Oswegatchie).
"We were all day employed in getting the valuable things out; and in the evening, in demolishing the fort, burning the vessels, &c., that were rigged; which were two snows, two schooners and three sloops. The brigantine and schooner were soon got off; and next morning left the place on fire, and procceded with them to Oswego, where they arrived that night, and the whole fleet the next.
"There was an immense quantity of provisions, which they were going to transport to Frankfort and Niagara, and their other forts; the want of which, will distress them very much".
The troops from Rhode Island did not participate in the fall and winter campaign. Instead, however, of disbanding the troops during the season of inactivity, as had been the custom previously, the General Assembly continued all the men in pay, discharging only the higher officers. In February following, orders were received in Rhode Island to concentrate the Rhode Island regiment at Albany by the 10th of April, and the Legislature at once made preparations for furnishing
.
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one thousand men in thirteen companies. The time occupied in going from Providence to Albany at that period was upwards of two weeks, and the force was ordered to be ready to leave by the 25th of March.
This regiment was raised for the reduction of Crown Point. The officers appointed for the regiment were: Henry Babcock, colonel ; Daniel Wall, lieutenant-colonel;1 John Whiting, major. Colonel's Company-1st Lieut. Edward Talbee, 2d Lieut. Joseph Stanton, jr., Ensign Wm. Bennett. Lieut .- Colonel's Company-1st Lieut. Tibbetts Hopkins, 2d Lieut. Benjamin Carr, Ensign Stukely Stafford. Major's Company-1st Lieut. William Sheehan, 2d Lieut. Daniel Byrn, Ensign Thomas Swinburne, Jr. Fourth Company-Capt. Thomas Burkett, 1st Lieut. Jonathan Spear, 2d Lieut. Moses Bowdich, Ensign Arthur Fenner, jr. Fifth Company-Capt. James Tew, jr., 1st Lieut. Thomas Tew, 2d Lieut. Abner West, Ensign George Cornel (son of Clarke). Sixth Company-Capt. Samuel Rose, 1st Lieut. Caleb Tripp, 2d Lieut. Moses Warren, Ensign Records Tabor. Seventh Company- Capt. Nathanael Peck, 1st Lieut. Thomas Rose, 2d Lieut. Solomon Roffey, Ensign Nathanael Rice. Eighth Company-Capt. Thomas Fry, jr., 1st Lieut. Thomas Jenkins, 2d Lieut. Samuel Watson, jr., Ensign Asa Bowdich. Ninth Company-Capt. Benjamin Eddy, 1st Lieut. Samuel Saunders, 2d Lieut. Thomas Collins, Ensign Asa Kim- ball. Tenth Company-Capt. Christopher Hargil, 1st Lieut. Samuel Stoneman, 2d Lieut. Fambulain Campbell, Ensign John Manchester of Portsmouth. Eleventh Company-Capt. Joshua Brown, 1st Lieut. Giles Russell, 2d Lieut. Samuel Champlain, Ensign John Beverly. Twelfth Company-Capt. William Tripp, 1st Lieut. Mitchel Case, 2d Lieut. Samuel Weatherby, Ensign Nathan Bliven. Thirteenth Com- pany-Capt. Moses Palmer, 1st. Lieut. Israel Peck, 2d Lieut. William Palling, Ensign Peleg Slocum. Lieut. Giles Russell was appointed adjutant of the regiment. Thomas Rodman, son of Clarke, was ap- pointed surgeon, with Benjamin Brown and Thomas Munro surgeon's mates. Joseph Holloway was appointed commissary and sutler.
The Rhode Island Regiment was recruited up to its full strength and one hundred and fifteen men were sent to Albany to join the main body. A return of the regiment made by Colonel Babcock and dated at Lake George, July 10, 1759, shows its strength to be 689 officers and enlisted men.
A vigorous campaign for the conquest of Canada was now going on. Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point were already in the hands of the English troops, and a large force under command of General Wolfe lay before Quebec. For two months the English army manœuvered before the city, waiting for reinforcements, which never came. At last, tired of waiting longer, Wolfe, under cover of night, sent his army up over
1Lieut .- Col. Wall did not join his regiment and was retired by a court martial to be cashiered. See R. I. Colonial Records, vol. vi, p. 176-219.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
the rocky heights above the eity, and on the Plains of Abraham, on the 13th of September, the two armies engaged in battle. It was a bloody and disastrous aetion, in which both commanders, Montealm and Wolfe, lost their lives. Five days later, on the 18th, Quebee capitulated. The war was drawing to a close; in order to hasten it, additional levies were made upon the Colonies. Another regiment was required for the final stroke, and in January, 1760, the Legislature of Rhode Island made provisions for a regiment to be raised for the reduction of Montreal. The officers selected, with some few exeeptions, were men who had already been in service for a long time.1 Col. Christopher Harris was placed in command. It was not until September following that Mon- treal surrendered, and the long war was at an end. The next month the General Assembly voted to disband its military foree raised for the war as soon as it was discharged from serviee by the commander-in- chief. A day was set apart for thanksgiving and praise, and the re- turn of peaec was celebrated with great rejoicing.
With the acquisition of new territory a larger military force was required to proteet it, and the Colonies were called upon to supply in part this foree.
The Legislature of Rhode Island, in Mareh, 1760, ordered a seven company regiment of six hundred and sixty-six men raised for the purpose. John Whitney was appointed colonel, and a good portion of the offieers who had served in the regiments heretofore raised were given commissions.2
Two years later the war against the Spanish possessions in the West Indies eaused a demand on the Colony for additional troops. The quota assigned to Rhode Island was 178. At the same time a regiment of 666 men was ordered raised. Samuel Rose was appointed eolonel.3
In April, 1762, two hundred and seven men were ordered sent from Rhode Island to take part in the expedition against Cuba, under the command of General Amherst. This body of Rhode Island troops was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Hargill.4
A return made by General Amherst of the troops to be levied, those actually raised, and those to remain in serviee during the winter, for the year 1762 in the Colony, gives the number to be levied 666, number raised 653, number served in winter 64; this latter foree was ordered to Fort Stanwix.
In an account of the "Capture of Havana in 1762", by Walter
"The list of commissioned officers will be found in the "Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647-1800", at pages 214-215.
2 For list of officers see "Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647-1800", p. 223.
3 The names of other officers will be found in the above quoted volume at page 228.
4 A partial list of the soldiers who participated in this expedition is in the custody of R. H. Tilley, state record commissioner.
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Kendall Watkins, in which is included the Orderly Book of Lt .- Col. Israel Putnam for the campaign, published in the "Year book of the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 1899, publication No. 5", the following list is printed :
"List of the Dead in the Rhode Island Detachment consisting of 212, officers included, at the Havannah.
"Lieut, Asa Bodwitch, Lt. Thomas Rose, 3 sergeants, 5 corporals, 2 drummers, 100 private men. All of whom died of sickness, except- ing two, who were killed by the enemy besides 3 wounded".
In this expedition, as in that to the same locality nearly one hundred and forty years later, disease wrought more havoc than the bullets of the enemy.
At the outbreak of the War of the Revolution the active military force of Rhode Island consisted of the several companies of the Train Bands and of independent chartered military organizations, bearing high-sounding names, like the North Providence Rangers, Scituate Hunters, Pawtuxet Rangers, Providence Grenadiers, Kentish Guards, and some others. According to the standard of the times, these com- panies were well equipped and well disciplined. The officers were elected at stated times by the members of the companies and their choice communicated to the General Assembly, which body approving the choice, they were duly commissioned by the governor. These offi- cers were generally selected with due regard to their skill and ability, and were men of some prominence in the community in which they lived. Except such as had seen service in the previous wars, most of the soldiers' experience had been obtained at the general musters or trainings.
Immediately after the Concord and Lexington fight, the General Assembly of Rhode Island ordered an Army of Observation of fifteen hundred men to be raised, "with all the expedition and despatch that the nature of the thing will admit of", and all the militia in the State was ordered to drill a half-day once in every fortnight. This Army of Observation, as it was politely called, was raised for the purpose of repelling any "insult or violence that may be offered to the inhabit- ants" by the fleets and armies which surrounded them-the fleets and armies of His Britannic Majesty. Those who entered the army did so by subscribing to this oath of enlistment :
"I, the subscriber, hereby solemnly engage and enlist myself as a soldier in His Majesty's service, and in the pay of the colony of Rhode Island, for the preservation of the liberties of America, from the day of my enlistment, to the last day of December next, unless the service admit of a discharge sooner, which shall be at the discretion of the General Assembly; and I hereby promise to submit myself to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as I shall receive from time to time from my officers".
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
This entire army was, therefore, enlisted in the King's service.
This was the beginning of Rhode Island's contribution to the Con- tinental Army, and during the whole struggle her contributions were prompt and generous.1
The Army of Observation was at onee dispatched to the seat of war at Boston, and went into camp at Jamaica Plain. Here Nathanael Greene, who had been cleeted brigadier-general, assumed command. He found his troops in commotion and disorder; but, through his skill- ful management and great personal influence, order was restored and a high grade of diseipline thereafter maintained.
Notwithstanding the hurried way in which the Rhode Island brigade had been placed in the field, it was the best equipped force in the army. Chaplain William Emerson, of Coneord, Mass., an observing man, who visited from time to time the various commands and made notes of what he observed, says: "The Rhode Islanders are furnished with tent equipage, and everything in the most exact English style". With the diseipline which Greene's personality inspired, and the com- pleteness of its equipment, the Rhode Island division of the Con- tinental Army was marked and notiecable.
About the first of July the army from Rhode Island consisted of three regiments, comprising 107 offieers and 1085 enlisted men-nearly the whole number that had been called for. It is within bounds to say
'The regiments of the Rhode Island Line and the officers thereof were as follows :
FIRST RHODE ISLAND.
Colonel James M. Varnum, 3d May, 1775, to December, 1775.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Babcock, 3d May, 1775, to December, 1775.
Major Christopher Greene, 3d May, 1775, to December, 1775.
[During the year 1776 the first Rhode Island regiment was called the Ninth Continental Infantry ; its officers were:
Colonel James M. Varnum, 1st January, 1776, to 31st December, 1776.
Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Crary, 1st January, 1776, to 31st December, 1776.
Major Christopher Smith, 1st January, 1776, to 31st December, 1776.]
Colonel James M. Varnum, 1st January, 1777, to 27th February, 1777.
Colonel Christopher Greene, 27th February, 1777, to 14th May, 1781.
Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Comstock, 1st January, 1777, to-
Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Ward, 26th May, 1778, to 1st January, 1781.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremiah Olney, 1st January, 1781, to close of war.
Major Henry Sherburne, 1st January, 1777, to 12th January, 1777.
Major Samuel Ward, 12th January, 1777, to 26th May, 1778.
Major Ebenezer Flagg, 26th May, 1778, to 14th May, 1781.
Major Coggshall Olney, 25th August, 1781, to 17th March, 1783.
Major John S. Dexter, 25th August, 1781, to close of war.
[After the death of Colonel Greene, in May, 1781, this organization was known as Olney's Rhode Island Battalion. ]
SECOND RHODE ISLAND.
Colonel Daniel Hitchcock, 3d May, 1775, to December, 1775.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ezekiel Cornell, 3d May, 1775, to December, 1775.
Major Israel Angell, 3d May, 1775, to 31st December, 1775.
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that during the years of the war, every loyal able-bodied man in Rhode Island, between the ages of sixteen and sixty, performed his share of military service, while there are instances where those even younger and older served faithfully in the army and in the coastguard.
Committees were appointed to take an account of the powder, arms and ammunition throughout the Colony, including private arms as well as those belonging to the public stock, and every man in the Colony was ordered to equip himself completely. The old queen's arm, that had hung on the wall covered with dust and grime, was taken from its resting place, cleaned and brightened, and noted in the "list of arms fit for use". All was excitement and activity in the militia. "Not a day passes, Sundays excepted", says the Providence Gazette, "but some of the companies are under arms, so well convinced are the people that the complection of the times renders a knowledge of the military art indispensably necessary". The Continental Army, when it took the field, was so curiously uniformed and equipped that it at once attracted the attention of the officers of the well-organized regi- ments that had been sent out from England, and caused them much amusement. "No regiment is properly uniformed or armed. Every man has a common gun", wrote one of the British officers.
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