USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 1 > Part 54
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Regiment of Americans, Queen's Regiment of Americans, a regiment of Gren- adiers, of Light Infantry, and of Light Dragoons.
1Official Letters in office of secretary of state, 1778-1779, p. 126.
BLISS HILL FORT, GREEN END, MIDDLETOWN, LOOKING TOWARDS HONEYMAN'S HILL.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
niglit, and the two offieers left the ship with the disheartening in- telligenee that D'Estaing felt obliged to withdraw his fleet and sail to Boston for repairs.
Two causes led him to this decision: D'Estaing had instructions from his king that in the event his fleet met with any disaster, to sail for Boston and repair; the fleet had met with disaster and was at that moment sadly shattered. There was another element which also had a great influenee in the matter. D'Estaing was a land offieer and his subordinate offieers in the fleet regarded his appointment over them as an insult and an injustice, and they "crossed him in every manner, that looked like giving him any kind of reputation in order if possible to bring liim into disgrace".
All of his officers insisted upon his following the instructions from the king and entered their formal protest against the fleet taking part in the projected movement. The decision of the French admiral was surprising and disheartening to the American officers, and all united in a protest to this decision, which was transmitted to D'Estaing, but without effect.1 He remained firm, and on the 22d of August the French squadron sailed from Rhode Island and was soon lost to sight. The departure of the fleet produced almost a panie in the ranks of the volunteer troops in Sullivan's army; many of the men had never been in action and the effect was most disastrous. The time for which many had enlisted had expired, and within twenty-four hours between two and three thousand volunteers marehed from the Island, and by the 23d of August the besieging army was so reduced that it was "little more in number than that of the enemy".
Under these circumstanees the folly of pursuing the course origin- ally laid out was apparent. Besides this, Sullivan, while in front of the enemy's works, had received information from General Washing- ton that Sir Henry Clinton had sailed for Newport with reinforee- ments for the British army. But, in order to show the enemy that he was not disheartened by the changes that had so rapidly and unex- peetedly occurred, Sullivan, on the 23d of August, direeted his bat- teries to open fire upon the British works, and under cover of this the first preparations for a retreat were commenced. All of the heavy baggage which had followed in the wake of the army was hauled to the north end of the Island. In order to move this great amount of material all sorts of vehieles were hired or impressed into serviee, and messengers were dispatched to all the farms as far north as Attlc- borough, and from thence all along down to Taunton; the returns of the wagon master show that they came from Berkely, Rehobothı, Providenee, Swanscy, Taunton, and Attleborongh. Men were drafted from the ranks to drive them and the utmost endeavors were exereised
'General Lafayette did not concur in this protest.
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
to withdraw the army from the trap which it had so unexpectedly entered. The wagon train was divided into sections in charge of a person designated as conductor. One of the returns made by "Daniel Dagget conductor", yet preserved, is in the following words :
"Rehoboth August 25, 1778.
"An a count of teems Brot on the Island for the use of the continent. Elisha Carpenter 3 cattel & cart
Daniel Lendley
3 cattel & cart
Elkanat French
4 oxen & cart
John French
3 cattel & cart
Amos Brown
3 cattel & cart
Josiah Pevoy
3 cattel & cart
John Brown
3 cattel & cart
fineas Claflin
4 oxen & cart
Simeon Titus
3 cattel & cart
John Eleck garder
3 cattel & cart
Daniel Lane
4 oxen & cart
Jacob Hoar
3 cattel & cart
Daniel Dagget conductor."
The following assignment of teams was made among the different brigades and regiments :
"A return of teams on Rhode Island press'd or hired August 23, 17781
"Col. Crane's artillery Thomas Stevens 2 oxen 2 horses.
Gen Varnums Brigade Asa Carpenter 3 cattle Comfort Peck 4 oxen. Col. Jackson detachment Jno Pike 3 cattle.
Col Elliott John Mackee 4 oxen.
Gen. Wests Brigade William Ede 4 oxen Nehemiah Sheldon 4 oxen. Col. Noyes Regiment Samuel Perry 3 cattle John Daggett 3 cattle. Gen Titcombs Brigade Samuel Noyes 2 oxen & 3 horses Edward Trask 4 oxen.
Gen. Lovells Brigade Jona Ide 4 oxen & horse
4 oxen Brightman 4 oxen Tucker 4 oxen".
Without the co-operation of the French allies, Sullivan realized that retreat was inevitable, yet he was reluctant to recede from his position, and it was not until the 28th that the army began to withdraw from the Island. All of the heavy artillery and baggage had by that time been safely carried to the north end of the Island and com- munication with the mainland securely established. During the day Sullivan and his officers, in council of war, had determined to with- draw to the neighborhood of Butt's Hill, intrench themselves and await further intelligence from the French fleet. At the same time General Lafayette was requested to hasten to Boston and use his
1Providence Town Papers, 14790.
32-1
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
influence with his countrymen to return and assist in the reduction of Newport.
This mission Lafayette gallantly accepted and set off for Boston, seventy miles distant, where he arrived in seven hours. His efforts were unsuccessful. It is true that D'Estaing offered to lead his troops overland to the scene of operations, but he would not consent to return with the fleet. With this answer Lafayette hurriedly returned, and by frequent changes of horses accomplished the journey in six and a half hours.
During his absence the engagement, which has since been known as the Battle of Rhode Island, occurred. He was in time, however, to conduct the rear guard in its retreat.
By two o'clock on the morning of the 29th of August "the army encamped on Butt's Hill, the right wing on the west road, and the left on the east road, with covering parties on each flank. Colonel Livingston's light corps was stationed on the east road, and another under Colonel Laurens, Colonel Fleming and Major Talbot on the west road, each three miles in front of the camp, and in their rear was the picquet guard under Colonel Wade. Such was the disposition of the American troops on the morning of the eventful day. At daylight of the 29th the British army in two columns marched out by the two roads. At seven o'clock the battle began". No more authentic and interesting account of the fight can be found than that given by the Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, the historian, in his centennial address on the anniversary of the battle, which was observed at Portsmouth, August 27, 1878, and it is therefore included here :
"A series of heavy skirmishes opened the engagement, and a regi- ment was sent to reinforce each of the two advanced corps, with orders for them to retire upon the main body, which was done in perfect order. The accounts vary as to which column commenced the fight, one attributing it to Major Talbot on the west road; but the most circumstantial points to a spot near the Gibbs farm, where a cross road connects the two main roads, and to the field now included between the east road and a middle road which here runs north from the cross road and parallel with the main road. A broad field en- closed by stone walls at this corner concealed a portion of the American piquet. The Union meeting-house now stands at the southeast angle of this field.
"Here the Twenty-second , British regiment, Colonel Campbell,, which had marched out by the east road, divided, and one-half of it turning to the left into the cross roads, fell into the ambuscade. A terrible slaughter ensued. The Americans, springing from behind the walls, poured a storm of bullets upon the bewildered enemy, reloaded and repeated the desolating fire before the British could recover from
499
THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
the shock. Nearly one-quarter of the ill-fated Twenty-second were stretched upon the field. Two Hessian regiments came up to their relief, but too late. The Americans, according to orders, had already retreated. A general assault was made upon the American left wing. This was repulsed by General Glover, who drove the enemy into their works on Quaker Hill. Upon the highlands extending north from the hill the Hessian columns were formed. The American army was drawn up in three lines, the first in front of their works on Butt's Hill, the second in rear of the hill and the reserves near a creek about half a mile in rear of the first lines. Between the two hills the distance is about one mile, with low meadow and, at that time, woodland between. At nine o'clock a heavy cannonade commenced and con- tinued the whole day. About ten o'clock the British ships of war and some gun-boats came up the bay and opened fire upon the Ameri- can right flank. Under cover of this fire a desperate attempt was made to turn the flank and storm a redoubt on the American right. The British right wing had already been repulsed by General Glover. The enemy now concentrated his whole force upon the new point of attack. The action became general, and for nearly seven hours the fighting was most desperate. Down the slope of Anthony's hill the Hessian columns and British infantry twice charged upon the forces led by Major-General Greene, composed of the four brigades of Var- num, Cornell, Glover, and Christopher Greene. These attacks were repulsed with great slaughter, 'and', says Governor Arnold, 'an eye witness told me that sixty were found dead in one spot; at another, thirty Hessians were buried in one grave'.
"To turn the flank and capture the redoubt was to decide the battle. A third time, with added ranks and the fury of despair, the enemy rushed to the assault. The strength of the Americans was well nigh spent, and this last charge was on the point of proving successful, when two events occurred which turned the tide of battle.
"Two Continental battalions were thrown forward by General Sullivan to the support of his exhausted troops, and at the critical moment a desperate charge with the bayonet was made by Colonel Jackson's regiment, led by the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Henry B. Livingston. This furious bayonet charge, says an eye witness, imme- diately threw the balance of victory into the American scale.
"And now it was that the newly raised black regiment, under Colonel Christopher Greene, justified the hopes of its leaders and contributed in no small degree to decide the fortunes of the day.1 Headed by their major, Samuel Ward, and posted in a grove in the valley, they three times drove back the Hessians, who strove in vain to dislodge them, and so bloody was the struggle that on the day after the battle the Hessian colonel who had led the charge applied for a
This has been made the subject of a most valuable essay by Sidney S. Rider, Esq., in which is described the action of these colored troops. It is published in Rhode Island Hist. Tracts.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
change of command, because he dared not lead his regiment again to action lest his men should shoot him for eausing them so great a loss. While the fight was raging on the right and eenter of the line, the Massachusetts brigade, under General Lovell, attacked the British right and rear with complete success. Two heavy batteries, brought forward to engage the ships of war, obliged them to haul off. The desperate attempt to turn the American flank had failed, and the battle was already won by Sullivan. The British retreated to their camp, elosely pursued by the victorious Americans, who eaptured one of their batteries on Quaker Hill.
"Sullivan then desired to storm the works, but the exhausted con- dition of his troops, who had been for thirty-six hours without rest
HALL HOUSE, NEAR BRISTOL FERRY, PORTSMOUTH. During the battle of Rhode Island this house was used as a hospital by the Continental forces.
or food, and continually on the march, at labor or in battle, compelled him to abandon the attempt."
A vivid deseription of the seenes within the British lines that August day is found in the account given by Mrs. Mary Almy, the wife of Benjamin Almy, of Newport, in her diary of events ineluding and preceding the battle, written in the form of letters to her husband. Mrs. Almy was a pronounced Tory and resided in Newport during the time it was oeeupied by the British, while her husband was fighting in the patriot army. The author of the diary is mistaken in her dates of the events which then transpired, if her words have been eorreetly
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
transcribed,1 but they lose none of their interest on that account. Sat- urday morning she writes :
"All is peace and quietness in the Town. The first news was the Provincials had moved their encampment, carried off all their Artil- lery stores and Provisions and gone to the lower part of the Island to Secure their retreat. General Piggott gave orders for the 43rd and 22d Regiments and the Hessian & Anspachers to pursue them by day light.
"In a few hours a heavy firing was heard; he then gave orders for Fanning's Regiment to go to their assistance, and two hours after, gave orders for the 33d to March directly, and for Fanning to return within the lines and at 11 o'clock sent a Light horseman to call the 38th back. All was horror and confusion. The Hessians overtook a party in the West Road near the Redwood barn; they pursued with violence ; the others retreated with prudence leaving the roads strewn with dead bodies. The East road was a scene of blood and slaughter from Cousin Almy's down to the foot of Quaker Hill. All the cross roads were filled with them and they kept up a smart firing till 2 o'clock and then they began to bury the dead and bring in the wounded. Oh! how many wretched families were made that day. It would have softened the most callous heart to see the cartloads of wretched men brought in, their wives screaming at the foot of the cart in concert with their groans; fine youths with their arms taken off in a moment. In short its too far beyond my power of description. The horrors of that day will never be quite out of my remembrance. I quitted Company and hid myself to Mourn in silence for the wicked- ness of my country. Never was a heart more differently agitated than mine. Some of my good friends in the front of the battle here; and Heaven only knows how many of the other side. Instead of in- quiring the news, or asking after a Soul a stupidity took hold of me. At last I shut myself from the family to implore Heaven to protect you and keep you from imprisonment and death. Every dejected look, and every Melancholy countenance I saw I trembled for fear they would say your husband lies among the slain or that he is wounded and a prisoner. Think you what a life I live, knowing your proneness to get into danger."
Another resident2 of Newport thus writes in his diary, that 29th day of August :
"Saturday August 29. Early this morning a report prevailed that the Provincials were leaving the Island. Immediately the English Regiments with the Anspach chasseurs and Hyn. Regiment of Ger- mans sallied from the line and attacked a party of Provincials on the road, but were beaten off with loss. The Provincials halted at Wind- mill Hill, and were followed by the King's Troops when a smart battle
1Fleet S. Greene's diary, Historical Magazine, 1860, vol. iv.
? Newport Historical Magazine, vol. i, page 17.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
ensued. The 22d, 43d and Anspach and Hyn Regts. met with great loss. At 10 o'clock they began to bring the wounded men into town. All carts are taken up to bring them."
In the conduct of the retreat from the Island, Sullivan showed great skill and generalship. The sentries of the two armies were located, after darkness set in, within four hundred feet of each other, making it necessary to exercise the greatest caution in every movement that the American commander made. In order to mislead the British as to his real purpose of retreating from the Island, Sullivan directed a part of his troops to begin at once to fortify the position to which he had withdrawn, and had others employed in setting up tents, all of this being within full sight of the enemy. Meanwhile the teams were busy in hauling the heavy baggage and artillery to the water's edge at Howland's Ferry, where all was safely floated across to the mainland. As soon as it was sufficiently dark to cover the movements the tents, which had just been pitched, were struck and the main army began its journey from the Island, and by midnight the whole body of troops were safely on the mainland.
In all of the accounts of these operations it is stated that the retreat was conducted so successfully that not a man or piece of baggage was left behind on the Island, but the narrative of Lieutenant John Viall, of Johnston, who served gallantly all through the war, tells a different story, for he states that, "Being on piquet guard, they forgot to notify him at the retreat, and he fell into the hands of the British, and was kept for a long time in one of the prison ships in the harbor of Newport"; and Col. Israel Angell, in his diary telling of the events that day, states that Viall and fourteen others were taken prisoners.
The boats in which the troops were transported to the mainland were in charge of men especially selected by General Glover, and were almost entirely Marblehead and Salem fishermen. Glover's regiment1 was sometimes called the "Amphibious regiment", from the fact that nearly every man in it had followed the sea. His m n had performed a similar service at another critical period, for it was these hardy sailor boys who manned the boats in Washington's retreat from Long Island. This regiment seems to have been providentially at hand when the service which it was peculiarly fitted to perform was most in demand. The following certificate2 gives the names of two of the men in charge of General Sullivan's boat during these operations :
"Providence May 12, 1779.
"This may certify that Mr. John Angell served with me in Gen. Sullivan's boat Twenty days in the Expedition against Newport Last summer. Test John Brown."
1A complete list of the men in General Glover's Massachusetts regiment is printed in Rhoades's History of Marblehead.
2Providence Town Papers, No. 1680.
.
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
In the midst of the retreat General Lafayette, who had ridden from Boston with the message from the French admiral, arrived upon the scene. He was sorely disappointed at not having been present during the more active operations of the battle, but was yet of great service in covering the retreat, being in command of the rear guard.
Conspicuous in these movements were the services of a company known as General Sullivan's Life Guards. It consisted of picked men from the various regiments in Sullivan's army, most of whom were from Rhode Island regiments ; four of the men in this company, Aaron Mann, Levi Hoppin, George Potter and John Westcott, were publicly thanked by General Sullivan in the following General Order :
"Headquarters September 10, 1778.
"General Orders for the day-To-morrow.
"At the gallant behavior of the General's Guards, on Rhode Island, the General expresses his highest satisfaction, and returns them his thanks, and appoints Aaron Mann, who commanded the Guards on Rhode Island, to the rank of Captain, Levi Hoppin, First Lieutenant, George Potter, Second Lieutenant, and John Westcott, Ensign. The General assures them they shall have the Commissions as soon as pos- sible. John Sullivan."
Subsequently the Council of War directed commissions to issue.
At the time of the engagement, this body was commanded by Aaron Mann, then sergeant of the company, and was located in a most ex- posed position. Years afterwards when Captain Mann made applica- tion for the benefit of a pension, Levi Lee, of Cumberland, a member of the company, testified to the bravery and daring shown by his com- mander on the occasion, and stated at a certain point in the heat of the action, while Mann was in the act of flourishing his sword, a bullet struck his hand, shooting away one of his fingers, but he maintained his position, remarking as he viewed his injured member, "The d --- eternal souls shoot pretty close. Don't mind, my boys, stick to 'em".
Obadiah Brown, one of the company, was killed in the retreat, while another, Charles Scott, was made a cripple from a shot in the hip. There is no roll of this company in the State archives and only one is known to be extant,1 and for that reason is here inserted. It is for a period some time later than that when its conspicuous service was performed, and is made up as follows :
"A Paye Abstract of Major Gen. Sullivan's Life Guards, Com- manded by Aaron Man Captaine from the 16th of December 1778 Untill the 16 March 1779 Three Months Aaron Man Capt, Levi Hoppin Lieut, George Potter Lieut, John Westcott Ensign, Whipple
'The property of Fred A. Arnold, Esq., of Providence, R. I.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
Crow 1 Sargt, Jsreal Low 2 do, Isaac Manchester 3 do, Jsaac Clapp 4 do, Nathan Swetland 1 Corp, Amos Chase 2 do, Caleb Tecl 3 do, Daniel Bowen 4 do, William Grafton Drum, Arthur Fenner fifer, John Wil- liams, Saml Oxx, Joseph Pool, Arates Swetland, Sam Mackintosh, Darus Antram, Henry Warner, Christr Bates, Jerard Baly, John Greene, John Lewis, Jona Parker, Stephen Maxen, Joseph Davis, Pardon Sheldon, Zebelon Freeman, Benj Mathews, Saml Giles, Shu- brig Rampyr, Edward Williams, William Ladd, Caleb Kinyon, Au- gustus Hanen, Clarke Hitchcock, Wart Stillman, Timothy Chatman, Robart Jackson, Joseph Bencly, Eseck Smith, Nicholas Jencks, Foarde Westcott, John A. Shaft, Ephriam Smith, Thomas Davis, Rufus San- ders, Jesse King, Lewis Rowland, Joshua Remington, Comfort Wether- head, Jsaac Harte, John Benjamin, Randall Ricc, Benj Dexter, Henry Randall, James Wardwell, John Monrow, Charles Walker, Aholiat Branch, Nicholas Branch, Levi Lee, Peleg Peck, William Reed, James Hunton, Charles Scott, Paul Brumley, Antram Fenner, Morris Tucken, Stephen Remington, Jeremiah Chace, Rupee Bacholler, Archable Jackson."
From the endorsement on this roll it appears that Joseph Pool was from Colonel Elliott's Regiment, while others were from Colonel Crary's and Colonel Topham's regiment. The roll is subscribed and sworn to by "Aaron Man Capt. and John Westcott Ensign".
The losses sustained in this battle are variously estimated.1
After crossing to the mainland Sullivan established his headquar-
1Dr. Gordon, in his American War (Brit.), vol. iii, p. 167, gives Americans, killed 30, wounded 132, missing 44. British killed 38, wounded 210, miss- ing 12.
Ramsay's American Revolution, vol. 2, p. 128, says: "The loss on each side was between two and three hundred."
General Heath, in his Memoirs, p. 193, gives Americans killed 60, wounded 180, loss of the British unknown.
Max von Ellking, Die deutschen Hulfstruppen im nordamerikanischen Befreiungskriege, 1776 bis 1783, vol. ii, pages 30-44, gives German loss 19 killed, 96 wounded, 13 missing.
See also Lowell's Hessians in the Revolution, p. 219.
Sir Robert Pigot, in his report in Stone's French Allies, p. 114, gives loss as follows:
"One captain; one volunteer; four sergeants, thirty-one rank and file, one drum, killed. Two captains, five lieutenants, seven ensigns, thirteen ser- geants, one drummer, one hundred and eighty rank and file, two drivers, wounded. One lieutenant, one sergeant, ten rank and file missing."
General Sullivan, in his report to the president of Congress, in R. I. His- torical Tract No. 6, states: "It has been ascertained that the enemy's loss in the action of the twenty-ninth of August, amounts to a thousand and twenty- three killed, wounded and missing." His own loss he states to be two hun- dred and eleven killed, wounded and missing.
Stedman, in his American War (Brit.), vol. ii, p. 36, says: "The loss of the provincials in killed, wounded and missing, during the various engage- ments of this day, amounted to two hundred and eleven men including offi- cers; and so obstinately did they dispute the ground with their pursuers, that the loss of the British troops was not much inferior."
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THE WARS AND THE MILITIA.
ters at Tiverton, and two days after the battle issued a general order dismissing the militia which had been called out for this enterprise.1
The regular army, however, was disposed of at various points along the bay side, so as to be at hand if the enemy, elated at its success on the island, should attempt to make any further incursions. General Cornell's brigade was stationed at Tiverton. General Varnum's brigade was ordered to Bristol and Warren. The troops under Gen- eral Glover and Colonel Jackson established a post at Providence, Colonel Greene's detachment garrisoned at East Greenwich, General Tyler's at Warwick Neck, while General Lovell's and General Tit- comb's brigades took post at Pawtuxet. Maj .- Gen. Nathanael Greene commanded on the western shore, General Lafayette on the eastern shore, and the force at Providence was under the command of General Glover.
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