USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 1 > Part 50
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the lower spur that the Tonomy Hill beacon was built in 1776. The exact spot selected for the Bristol work is not known. A map of the operations on Rhode Island shows two works at this point, one on the high land north of where the lighthouse now stands, while another was nearer the water, under the hill.
Action had been taken by the town authorities at Bristol some months before the committee of the General Assembly made its report. On December 12, 1775, it was "voted, that some intrenchments be made near the harbor in this town to prevent the enemy from landing". William Bradford, Simeon Potter, Benjamin Bosworth, and Jeremy Ingraham were appointed a committee to build these works. They were constructed "along the shore, extending south from the foot of FORT ON THE State Street, down as far as the foot of Burton Street, near Richmond's ISLAND wharf. They were composed of a wall five feet high, built of turf and OF stones, filled up on the inside with loose earth and small stones."
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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 pre- vent 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 CONANICUT the Colony records it appears that nine guns were mounted at this fort. In May, 1776, a fort was ordered built "at Beaver Tail, on Conani- cut, to contain six or eight heavy cannon", while a coast-guard was established at Point Judith, Seaconnet Point, Westerly at Watch Hill, Charlestown, at the South Ferry in South Kingstown, and at North Kingstown.
Before the close of the year 1776 the whole shore of Narra- gansett Bay was well protected. The order of the general as- sembly, establishing artillery companies in all the seaboard towns, had been complied with, and for the protection of these batteries breast-works had been thrown up at Barrington, Nayatt Point, Quid- nesset, Wickford, Boston Neck, Watch Hill, Noyes's Neck, and at Point Judith, while, besides the more formidable works already re-
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ferred to, there was a battery at Popasquash Point of six 18-pounders, and another substantial work at Bullock's Point. When and under whose direction these latter were built, a persistent investigation has failed to discover.
In May, 1778, soon after the British attack on Warren, fortifications were erected on Burr Hill, in that town, "upon the west end of the second hill from the north", and a guard was maintained here both night and day during the remainder of the war. Nothing remains to- day of these fortifications.
The arrival of the British army at Newport in December, 1776, produced the greatest consternation through the State; the fortifica- tions along the shore were manned, and the whole State "became a vast camp confronting the enemy".
The British at once commenced to strengthen the works which had fallen into their hands, and to build additional defenses. A redoubt was thrown up on the east side of the island, at Fogland Ferry, another on the west side of the island, on the south side of Lawton's Valley, while a formidable work was erected on Butt's Hill, near the north end of the island. Upon the completion of these, "they intrenched Newport with a strong, continuous line, which ran northerly along the crest of the height rising above the right bank of the inlet at Easton's Pond, then turned westerly towards Tonomy Hill, and continued north of this height to Coddington's Cove". The forts which the American army was forced to abandon at Tonomy Hill were strengthened, and a heavy battery was erected at Coddington's Point.
On the high land near the Stoddard place, a few rods south of the Bristol Ferry House, in a field off from the road to Stone Bridge, the outlines of the Bristol Ferry fort may still be seen. The plough has done much to obliterate this work, for the land on which it is located has been under cultivation for many years. It was erected, in 1776, by the troops stationed here in conjunction with those at the other end of the ferry.
A fort was erected on Tiverton Heights, called Fort Barton, and another on Gould Island called the "Owl's Nest". Gould Island is the little wooded island south of Stone Bridge.
On the north part of the island, at Butt's Hill, was a formidable work. The center work at this point is by far the most imposing and best preserved of those at the north end of the island. The embank- ments and ditch, with traces of ravelins, are even now well preserved. In 1848 the ruts made by the heavy wheels of the cannon, says Lossing, were then clearly visible. This fort was constructed on a rocky ledge, which has done much to preserve its ancient appearance. Nothing remains of the other fortifications which were a part of the Butt's Hill system.
In 1781 a battery was erected on Hallidon Hill, "as this height com-
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A CORNER OF BUTT'S HILL FORT, PORTSMOUTH LOOKING TOWARDS TIVERTON HEIGHTS.
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manded at short artillery range all the batteries at Brenton's Point and on Goat Island". This fort was first called Fort Chastellux, "after the Chevalier de Chastellux, one of Rochambeau's Mareschaux des Camps"; after the Revolution it was called Fort Harrison, being on the Harrison farm; and later it was called "Fort Denham, from some local association". General Cullum, in his work on the Defences in Narragansett Bay, says that in 1884 a portion of this fort was sit- uated in front of the Thorp cottage (between Berkley and King streets), while yet another work was visible on the "Ocean drive" near the southwest extremity of the island, toward Castle Hill; both have since disappeared.
To the west of Newport on Conanicut was located, in 1777, the Dumplings Rock battery, having an armament of eight 18-pound guns.
Across the west passage on the mainland in South Kingstown, at what is called Bonnet Point, was an earthwork called the Bonnet Bat- tery; this was thrown up during the years 1777 and 1778, about the time the forts on Conanicut were built. It was an elliptical work and can be seen there to-day. It was continuously occupied by Rhode Island troops.
Nearly three years before the Concord and Lexington fight there was enacted within the borders of Rhode Island one of the most audacious and determined acts of resistance to British tyranny and oppression that had yet found expression among the sturdy colonists of America. Low mutterings of resentment against the outrages in- fiicted by the British crown had for a long period been indulged in by all classes, but without resort to force, save that of argument. With no hope that their grievances would be noticed, and seeing their posi- tion growing more and more unbearable, it is no wonder that the men of Providence took into their own hands the only remedy left for redressing their wrongs, and, on the night of the 9th of June, 1772, applied the torch to His Britannic Majesty's schooner Gaspee and spilled the first blood in that sanguinary conflict for American inde- pendence.
The British schooner Gaspee of eight guns, commanded by Lieut. William Dudingston, accompanied by another vessel, the Beaver, ar- rived in Narragansett Bay in March, 1772. Her mission in these waters was "to prevent breakers of the revenue laws, and to stop the illicit trade, so long and so successfully carried on in the Colony".
The commander of the Gaspee immediately upon taking command of the station proceeded to exercise his authority in a most high- handed and obnoxious manner. He overhauled all vessels sailing up and down the bay, not even excepting market boats, subjected them to search without showing the slightest authority for so doing, and even went so far, it is said, as to molest and plunder people on shore.
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The Providence Gazette, on March 28, mildly referred to these depredations by the following item in its column of Providence news :
"A number of men belonging to the armed Schooner that has been for some time past cruising in the River interrupting the traders, firing on Oyster boats &c. we are told landed on the Narragansett Shore a few days since & carried off several Hogs belonging to the inhabitants, and also a Quantity of Fire wood."
Seizures made by the Gaspee within the bay were sent "to Boston for trial, contrary to an act of Parliament, which required such trials to be held in the Colonies where seizures were made". Shortly after the Gaspee had commenced hier high-handed and illegal proceedings, complaints began to pour in upon the deputy-governor, Darius Ses- sions, who, desiring to be informed as to the real authority of this British commander in taking charge of the navigable waters of the State, which action, to say the least, was questionable, submitted the matter to Chief Justice Hopkins for an opinion. The opinion came, concise and clear, "that no commander of any vessel has a right to use any authority in the body of the Colony, without previously appearing to the governor and showing his warrant for so doing, and also being sworn to a due exercise of his office". Upon receiving this reply, the deputy-governor communicated the facts to Governor Wanton, detail- ing at some length the annoyances to which shipmasters in the bay were subjected. A long correspondence between Governor Wanton and Dudingston ensued, resulting in all of the letters which had passed between them being sent to Admiral Montague, commanding the British fleet at Boston.
But the authorities in Rhode Island had little to expect from the British admiral; he naturally took sides with the commander of the Gaspee, and replied to the governor, "that he [Dudingston] has done his duty and behaved like an officer and it is your duty as a governor to give him your assistance and not endeavor to distress the King's officers for strictly complying with my orders. I shall give them direc- tions, that in case they receive any molestation in the execution of their duty, they shall send every man so taken in molesting them to me. I am also informed, the people of Newport talk of fitting out an armed vessel to rescue any vessel the King's schooner may take carrying on an illicit trade. Let them be cautious what they do, for as sure as they attempt it and any of them are taken I will hang them as pirates".
Governor Wanton replied to the British admiral in a dignified and spirited manner, and assured him that he did not receive instructions for the administration of the affairs of the Colony from the king's admiral stationed in America. The whole controversy had now as- sumed such proportions that the governor thought it advisable to bring the matter before the General Assembly of the Colony, and he
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therefore transmitted the whole correspondence, with a recital of the troubles, to that body, and a vote was passed at the May session of the Legislature that "His Honor the Governor be requested to transmit to the secretary of state [ the Earl of Hillsborough] a narration" of the affair, together with a copy of the admiral's letter. Meanwhile the Gaspee controversy was the subject of the most intense excitement throughout the Colony, but it could not compare with what was about to follow. All of this correspondence and controversy had occupied the time between March 21 and May 20, 1772, the date of the letter sent to the Earl of Hillsborough. The next step in the matter was a mem- orable one.
On the 8th of June the sloop Hannah, a vessel plying between Provi- dence, Newport and New York, commanded by Benjamin Lindsay, arrived in Newport homeward bound, entered at the custom house and the next day started up the bay to Providence. She left Newport about noon with the wind at the north, and was soon sighted by the Gaspee, which immediately gave chase. The pursuit was continued as far as Namquit Point, now called Gaspee Point, situated in War- wick, about seven miles below Providence, and projecting from a part of the Spring Green farm belonging to the heirs of the late John Brown Francis. Here, on account of the strategy of the captain of the Hannah in leading his pursuer, the Gaspee stuck hard and fast in the sand and the chase ended. The Hannah continued on her course up the river to Providence, where she arrived about sunset and tied up to her wharf. What followed her arrival is best told in the language of one of the party engaged in the affair which took place that night. On the 29th of August, 1839, Col. Ephraim Bowen, the last survivor of the Gaspee party, then in his eighty-sixth year, pre- pared a narrative of the affair, in which he says :
"Lindsey continued on his course up the river, and arrived at Providence about sunset, when he immediately informed Mr. John Brown, one of our first and most respectable merchants, of the situa- tion of the Gaspee. He immediately concluded that she would remain immovable until after midnight, and that now an opportunity offered of putting an end to the trouble and vexation she daily caused.
"Mr. Brown immediately resolved on her destruction, and he forth- with directed one of his trusty shipmasters to collect eight of the largest long boats in the harbor, with five oars to each; to have the oars and row locks well muffled, to prevent noise, and to place them at Fenner's wharf, directly opposite to the dwelling of Mr. James Sabin, who kept a house of board and entertainment for gentlemen". The wharf thus indicated was located at what is now the corner of Planet street and South Water street. When the substantial building which now occupies this site was erected the crib work of this rendez- vous was uncovered and removed to make place for the foundation
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THE SABIN TAVERN,
FORMERLY LOCATED ON SOUTH MAIN STREET, PROVIDENCE. IN ONE OF THE ROOMS OF THIS HOUSE THE PARTY MET TO ORGANIZE THE EXPEDITION WHICH DESTROYED THE "GASPEE".
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walls. "About the time of the shutting up of the shops, soon after sunset, a man passed along the main street, beating a drum, and in- forming the inhabitants of the fact that the Gaspee was aground on Namquit Point, and would not float off until three o'clock the next morning; and inviting those persons who felt a disposition to go and destroy that troublesome vessel, to repair in the evening to Mr. James Sabin's house. About nine o'clock I took my father's gun, and my powder horn and bullets, and went to Mr. Sabin's, and found the southeast room full of people, where I loaded my gun, and all remained there till about ten o'clock, some casting bullets in the kitchen, and others making arrangements for departure, when orders were given to cross the street to Fenner's wharf, and embark; which soon took place, and a sea captain acted as steersman of each boat; of whom. I recollect Capt. Abraham Whipple, Capt. John B. Hopkins (with whom I embarked), and Capt. Benjamin Dunn. A line from right to left was soon formed, with Capt. Whipple on the right, and Capt. Hopkins on the right of the left wing.
"The party thus proceeded, till within about sixty yards of the Gaspee, when a sentinel hailed, 'Who comes there?' No answer. He hailed again, and no answer. In about a minute Dudingston mounted the starboard gunwale, in his shirt, and hailed 'Who comes there ?' No answer. He hailed again, when Capt. Whipple answered as fol- lows :
" 'I am the sheriff of the county of Kent, G-d d-n you. I have got a warrant to apprehend you, G-d d-n you; so surrender, G-d d-n you'.
"I took my seat on the main thwart, near the larboard row lock, with my gun by my right side, facing forwards.
"As soon as Dudingston began to hail, Joseph Bucklin, who was standing on the main thwart, by my right side, said to me, 'Eph, reach me your gun, and I can kill that fellow.' I reached it to him accordingly; when, during Capt. Whipple's replying, Bucklin fired, and Dudingston fell; and Bucklin exclaimed, 'I have killed the rascal'.
"In less than a minute after Capt. Whipple's answer, the boats were alongside of the Gaspee, and boarded without opposition. The men on deck retreated below as Dudingston entered the cabin.
"As soon as it was discovered that he was wounded, John Mawney, who had for two or three years been studying physic and surgery, was ordered to go into the cabin, and dress Dudingston's wound, and I was directed to assist him. On examination, it was found the ball took effect about five inches directly below the navel.
"Dudingston called for Mr. Dickinson to produce bandages and other necessaries for the dressing of the wound, and when finished, orders were given to the schooner's company to collect their clothing, and everything belonging to them, and put them into their boats, as all of them were to be sent on shore.
"All were soon collected, and put on board of the boats, including
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one of our boats. They departed, and landed Dudingston at the old Still house wharf, at Pawtuxct, and put the chief into the house of Joseph Rhodes. Soon after, all the party were ordered to depart, leaving one boat for the leaders of the expedition; who soon set the vessel on fire, which consumed her to the water's edge".
Continuing his narrative Colonel Bowen gives the names of some of his associates on this memorable night, but he remembered but few; sixty-seven years had clapsed, and old age had dimmed the memories of that night when but a boy he joined the Gaspee party. The "most conspicuous actors", he says, were "Mr. John Brown, Captains Abra- ham Whipple, John B. Hopkins, Benjamin Dunn, and five others whose names I have forgotten"; his "youthful companions" werc "John Mawney, Benjamin Page, Joseph Bucklin and Turpin Smith".
Some years before Colonel Bowen prepared his account of this affair John Mawney published, in the Providence American and Gazette, a statement of his recollections of the night's work. He heard the drum- mer passing through the streets and attracted by this, he repaired to the Sabin tavern and learned the object of the expedition, and after some urging agreed to go as surgeon of the party. He says: "I went to Corlis wharf, with Capt. Joseph Tillinghast, who commanded the barge, it being the last boat that put off; and in going down we stopped at Capt. Cooke's wharf, where we took in staves and paving stones ; which done, followed our commander, and came up with them a considerable distance down the river; after which, we rowed along pretty rapidly till we came in sight of the schooners, when Capt. (the late Commodore) Whipple ordered us to form a line, which was instantly complied with; after which, we rowed gently along, till we got near the schooner ; when we were hailed from on board, with the words, 'Who comes there ?' Capt. Whipple replied, 'I want to come on board'. The reply was, 'Stand off, you can't come on board'. On which Capt. Whipple roared out, 'I am the sheriff of the county of Kent; I am come for the commander of this vessel and have him I will dead or alive; men, spring to your oars !' when we were in an instant on her bows. I was sitting with Capt. Till- inghast, in the stern of the barge, and sprang immediately forward ; and seeing a rope hang down her bows, seized it to help myself in. The rope slipping, I fell almost to my waist in the water; but, being active and nimble, I recovered, and was the first of our crew on deck, when Simeon H. Olney handed me a stave, with which, seeing one that I took to be of the crew of the schooner, floundering below the windlass, I was in the attitude of leveling a stroke, when he cried out, 'John, don't strike'. Being very intimately acquainted with Capt. Samuel Dunn, I knew his voice, left him, and sprang back of the windlass, where there was commotion and noise, but which soon sub- sided ; the crew jumping down the hold, I immediately followed, when
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I ordered them to bring cords to tie their hands, and told them they should not be hurt, but be sent on shore. They brought some tarred strings, with which I tied the hands of two behind, when John Brown, Esq., called to me saying I was wanted immediately on deck, where I was instantly helped. When I asked Mr. Brown what was the mat- ter, he replied ,'Don't call names, but go immediately into the cabin ; there is one wounded and will bleed to death'. I hastened into the cabin, and found Lieut. Dudingston in a sitting posture, gently reclin- ing to the left, bleeding profusely, with a thin, white woolen blanket, loose about him, which I threw aside, and discovered the effect of a
CAPT. JOSEPH TILLINGHAST,
One of the party participating in the destruction of H. M. S. Gaspee, June 10, 1772. From an old painting in the possession of Benj. C. Gladding, Esq., of Providence.
musket ball in the left groin; and thinking the femoral artery was cut, threw open my waistband, and taking my shirt by the collar, tore it to my waistband, when Mr. Dudingston said, 'Pray, sir, don't tear your clothes; there is linen in that trunk'; upon which I requested Joseph Bucklin to break open the trunk, and tear linen and scrape lint, which he immediately attempted; but finding the linen new and strong, could not make the lint".
Continuing, Mawney describes with much detail the process of dressing the wound, and concludes by saying: "During the operation I was several times called upon at the door, but was not ready. When
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the door was opened, many rushed in, and attacked the bottles. I hav- ing boots on, stamped on them, and requested others to assist, which was readily done. When I came on deck, I saw Capt. Tillinghast, and some others. We got into the boat, and rowed up the river a certain distance, and went by land up to town, when Capt. Tillinghast, who was then living with me, after taking breakfast, went on the hill to view the smoking ruins of the vessel, which was all in flames soon after we left it".
From a subsequent statement of Dr. Mawney, it appears that Lieut. Dudingston was not wanting in gratitude to his surgeon. After his wound was dressed he offered Dr. Mawney a gold stock buckle, as a testimonial of his gratitude. This was refused; but a silver one was afterwards offered and accepted, and worn by Dr. Mawney but a little while before his death.1
It was not until three days after the occurrence that any account appeared in the newspapers, but on the 13th the Gazette had a brief account of the affair. In those days journalistic enterprise had not developed to any great extent, no special edition was issued from the press, no reporter accompanied the expedition to write up all the de- tails of the night's work, as would be done to-day, and it is doubtful if Editor Carter of the Gazette included all he was "told" in the follow- ing account which he published :
"Providence, June 13.
"Monday last a Sloop from New York arrived at Newport and after reporting her Cargo at the Custom House was proceeding up the River on Tuesday.
"The Gaspee, armed Schooner, then lying near Newport, imme- diately gave Chase to the Sloop, crowding all the sail she could make; but the People on Board, not being acquainted with the River, at Three o'Clock in the afternoon she ran on Namquit Point near Pawtuxet. About Twelve at night a great number of People in Boats boarded the Schooner, bound the Crew and sent them ashore, after which they set Fire to the Vessel and Destroyed her.
"A pistol was discharged by the Captain of the Schooner, and a Musket or Pistol from one of the Boats, by which the Captain was wounded, the Ball passing through one of his Arms, and lodging in the lower Part of his Belly. He was immediately taken to Pawtuxet and we are told is in a fair Way to recover.
"We hear that one Daggett belonging to the Vineyard, who had served the beforementioned schooner, as a Pilot, but at the time of her being destroyed, was on board the Beaver sloop of war, on going ashore a few days since, at Narragansett, to a sheep-shearing, was seized by the company, who cut off his hair, and performed on him the operation of shearing, in such manner, that his ears and nose were in imminent danger."
1Judge Staples's Documentary History, p. 101.
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Long before this startling bit of news issued from the office of the Gazette the story was well known throughout the Colony, and even in the neighboring Colonies as well. Undoubtedly inany other details of the affair were known, and to most of the readers of this periodical the impartial and inconsequential account published must have been greeted with profound respect for the editor who could treat so mo- mentous an affair in so disinterested a manner.
The proceedings which followed this overt act were apparently of the most searching character. A proclamation was issued by the gov- ernor, offering a reward of £100 sterling "to any person or persons who shall discover the persons guilty" of the crime. This reward was subsequently increased by a royal proclamation to five hundred pounds, and five hundred pounds additional for the discovery and apprehension of the person "who acted or called themselves or were called by their accomplices the head sheriff or the captain". Notices to this effect were freely distributed throughout the towns in the Colony.
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