USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 1 > Part 57
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During the period of the war the patriotism of the people of Rhode Island was manifested on every hand; the national flag was displayed on the public buildings, places of business and the homes of the people. Portraits of the leaders in the war hung in the windows of the shop- keepers and householders, and public and private funds were gener- ously used to relieve the sick and the wounded.1
Of all the military organizations chartered by the General Assembly in those early days, when it would seem the bulk of the male population of the State must have been under arms, and in uniform in one fan- tastic shape or another, the days when now sparsely populated parts like Exeter or Scituate could send a regiment to the front under a resounding military title, and it was a real or prospective foe of the nation that was likely to be faced instead of a mob of their own fellow citizens in the streets of a big city, there are to-day only five left outside the brigade of militia, that maintain an organization under their charters, while their active membership is also identified with and enlisted in the brigade.
The Newport Artillery, ever one of the best military organizations
1See "The Work of the Rhode Island Sanitary and Relief Association Dur- ing the War Between the United States and Spain," in "Rhode Island in the War with Spain". Dyer, 1900, p. 335.
FIRST RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEER INFANTRY IN THE SPANISH WAR PASSING THE CITY HALL, PROVIDENCE, MAY 26, 1898, UPON ITS DEPARTURE FROM THE STATE.
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either within or without the line, the United Train of Artillery of Providence, the Bristol Train of Artillery, The Kentish Guards of East Greenwich and the Warren Artillery of Warren, still maintain a military organization outside the brigade. The Providence Marine Corps of Artillery annually clects its officers, and keeps up a social organization under its charter, although it accepted the provisions of the militia laws, and is represented actively as the State's battery and artillery. The First Light Infantry Regiment still maintains its mili- tary character and its distinctive uniform, as in the days before it became attached to the line.
"The glorious and frequently gorgeous commands, whose bright train- ing-day uniforms once flecked the surface of the State like bunches of peonies and patches of tulips and bouquets of rainbow tints generally, have, however, mostly vanished and gone. Many of them expired without creating any commotion, under the provision usual with the charters that when they fell to less than forty men they should become extinct. Many struggled along through the first half of the last century, with frequent revivals of their charters, due to failure to maintain the provisions from year to year. The Civil War played havoc with a good many of them, as the Spanish War threatened to do even to the well-organized militia of the present day and the gen- eral reorganization of the State militia force following the Rebellion hastened the end of some. It is unnecessary and could have only a pathetic interest to trace the rise, downfall and passing of such gallant companies as the Bristol Light Dragoons, or the Coventry Rangers, or the Kentish Troop, or the Pawtuxet Rangers, or the Nooseneck Guards, or the Little Compton Artillery, or the Tiverton Independence Light Dragoons. Like the Burrillville and Glocester Horse Company, the Cumberland Artillery, the Manville Light Infantry, the Foster Safe Guards, the North Providence Rangers, the Sea Fencibles, the Paw- tuxet Artillery, the Smithfield Grenadiers, the Kingston Reds, and many other splendid organizations, ever ready and eager for defense of home or duty abroad, they are all gone, and for the history of many of them it would be impossible to gather the material for the last chapter. Doubtless they all served their State and wore their uni- forms well. Of most of them history can only record with safety that they were-and now arc not." About the year 1831 the militia of the State became demoralized and disorganized. The adjutant's record book of the Second Regiment of Rhode Island militia from 1825-1832 contains this statement :
"After the year 1831 the field officers all declined a re-election in consequence of the disorganized condition of the militia of Rhode Island. No competent commanding Regimental officers could be in- duced to serve. There were first rate officers in the volunteer com- panies attached to the Regiment, viz., The First Light Infantry and
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the Fayette Rifle Corps, but not one of said officers would accept the office of Col. Perhaps there were some officers in the ward companies fully competent to command, but the difficulty was in the disorganiza- tion of the Standing Companies of the militia as they were called. The General Assembly of Rhode Island continued the appointment of the old Field officers, they having the right of appointment, but it will be seen by the record they positively declined serving".1
In addition to the chartered companies, provision was made by a law of 1842 for volunteer companies, so designated, which act of the Assem- bly was perhaps the precursor of our later militia laws. Further development along this line resulted in a law of 1864, providing for volunteer companies outside the chartered companies and their or- ganization by tens into regiments, or, if not conveniently situated to get together as regiments, into battalions.
The reorganization of the militia of the State, which began by slow stages a few years after the close of the Civil War, culminated in the provisions of the militia law in 1875, under which the militia forces, including such chartered companies as accepted the provision of the new law, by brigades, battalions and companies, in which nomenclature the more distinctive, not to say more fanciful, names of the chartered and volunteer organizations which made up the line were subordinated, though not yet entirely eliminated. Before the reorganization under the law of 1875, the militia, variously uniformed, bearing the burden of their own expenses, and, whether chartered or volunteer companies, being pretty much independent, were loosely organized as a division of three brigades, the brigades being also loosely established according to the location of the different groups, and regardless of the respective arms of the service, the companies in the counties of Newport and Bristol being in the first brigade, of Providence county in the second, and of Washington and Kent counties in the third. A major-general and three brigadiers constituted the line officers of general rank.
The law of 1875 still retained the division organization, with a major-general commanding, but it reduced the number of commands, and from three brigades, representing miscellaneous arms, provided for two brigades of infantry, with the cavalry and artillery organized each by itself.
In the work of reorganization culminating in the law of 1875 the greatest embarrassment was caused by the position of the chartered companies, by reason of the fact that, though there then existed only five of these commands, yet they numbered in the aggregate some 800 men, were highly disciplined and generally among the most efficient of the companies of the militia under the existing law. To undertake
1Statement of A. D. Hodges, adjutant Second Regiment, June, 1874, in record book of the Second Regiment, in possession of the Rhode Island His- torical Society.
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to frame a new law that would not meet with their approval, and so would result in driving them out of the active militia, was evidently a hazardous undertaking. Subject only to the order of the governor, with their powers guaranteed them in independence under their charters granted them in times long gone by, by the General Assembly, they were not unnaturally exceedingly loth to consent to attach them- selves to the line and forfeit their charter rights to provisions of new legislation calculated to limit their prestige and scope of action.
The obstacle, however, was in a measure overcome. Doubtless the interests of the chartered companies were fully consulted in the fram- ing of the law, and appeal was made to their patriotism and public spirit to accept its provisions when it was adopted. Two of the char- tered companies promptly accepted the provisions, namely, the Provi- dence Marine Corps of Artillery and the First Light Infantry, these two organizations alone representing nearly 400 of the desirable 800 men then composing the five chartered commands.
The next radical change in the organization of the militia was promptly made after the successful trial of the provisions of the law of 1875. By the law of 1879, the two brigades of the line were re- duced to one, the numbers were again reduced by the disbandment of five companies, the major-general and one more brigadier of the line were lopped off, provision was made for a single State uniform to re- place the uniforms which still differed with the different commands, and enlistments were for a period of three years. The distinctive names of the organizations attached to the line and composing the brigade disappeared from the rolls forever.
The organization of the militia as provided in the law of 1879 has in essentials undergone little change to this day, with the exception that the battalions of infantry of the brigade have been consolidated into two regiments of eight companies, each with a separate company.
At the present time the Brigade Rhode Island Militia consists of the following: The First Regiment of Infantry, headquarters at Provi- dence, Col. Frank W. Matteson. This regiment is made up of five companies from Providence and one company each from Pawtucket, Westerly and Woonsocket.
The Second Regiment of Infantry, headquarters at Providence, Col. James H. McGann. The regiment consists of five companies from Providence, one of which is credited to Olneyville, and one company each from Woonsocket, Bristol, and Central Falls. The First Battalion of Cavalry, Major George S. Tingley, headquarters at Pawtucket, Troop A of Pawtucket and Troop B of Providence. First Separate Company of Infantry of Providence (colored), Capt. Robert W. Blunt.
Battery A Light Artillery of Providence, Capt. Charles H. Weaver. First Machine Gun Battery of Providence, Capt. E. Merle Bixby. A
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hospital corps and signal corps. The brigade is commanded by Brigadier-General Hiram Kendall, who was commissioned April 8, 1892.
There yet remains five of the Independent organizations. The New- port Artillery Company of Newport, Col. Herbert Bliss; The United Train of Artillery of Providence, Col. Alvin H. Eccleston; The Bristol Train of Artillery of Bristol, Col. John H. Bailey, Jr .; The Kentish Guards1 of East Greenwich, Col. Will E. Brown ; and the Warren Artil- lery of Warren. No return of the election of officers for the year 1900 was made to the adjutant-general by this latter organization. In addition to the above there are two Naval Reserve Torpedo Companies, one from Bristol and one from Newport, and two Naval Artillery Com- panies, one from Providence and one from East Providence.
Annual encampments of the brigade are usually held in the month of July at the State Camp Grounds at Quonset Point in the town of North Kingstown, which is well equipped in every respect for all mili- tary movements, even to the exercise of heavy guns. At the encamp- ment from July 9 to 14, 1900, the average attendance was 862.66 out
1The Kentish Guards was incorporated just before the struggle for Ameri- can Independence began, and furnished more officers of importance for the Revolutionary Army than any other military organization in the Colonies. Among these were one major-general, one brigadier-general, two colonels, one major, one captain and a large number of other inferior officers. On the morning after the battle of Lexington the company set out for Boston with one hundred and ten rank and file; in the ranks was Nathanael Greene, carry- ing a musket. It proceeded, however, no farther than Pawtucket, news there being received that the British troops had returned to Boston and immediate danger had passed. The company performed good service during this strug- gle for independence in building and garrisoning Fort Daniel, erected at the head of East Greenwich Bay. During the Dorr insurrection the Guards were called upon for service to guard the bridge over the Blackstone River at Paw- tucket and performed well their part in crushing the riotous proceedings that took place at this point on June 27, 1842.
The records of this ancient military company are imperfect, for fire years ago destroyed its armory and its records. No complete list is to be found of its officers and men, and but one roll of its members during the Revolutionary struggle is known by the writer to have been preserved; this is in the posses- sion of Mrs. H. F. Hunt, of Kingston, R. I., and is as follows:
Pay Roll Kentish Guards, called out on alarm July 27, 1780: Richard Fry, Col .; William Arnold, Charles Greene, Job Greene, Clarke Brown, Phillip Pearce, Nicholas Mathewson, Beniah Smith, Jonathan Salisbury, Andrew Boyd, Thomas Babcock, David Brayton, Caleb Gorton, Job Rice, Fones Greene, Stephen Green, son Job; William Blair, Green Capron, Richard Mathewson, Earl Mowrey, Pasqui Austin, Daniel Pearce, John Fry, Elijah Johnson, James Sweet, Jonathan Fairbank, Holderly Langford, Mallachi Hammet, Robert Spencer, Caleb Hill, Elihu Greene, John Pearce, Gideon Willcox, Samuel Smith, Joseph Manchester, Israel Manchester, Noel Potter, Weaver Bennit, William Greene, Gideon Spencer, Whipple Andrew, Caleb Mathews, Elisha Dexter, Nathan Millard, jr., John Remington, John Green, Jun., Thomas Gould, Isaac Carr, Ezra Simmons, Wm. Burlingham, Gideon Manchester, Stephen Brigs, Peleg Olin, Pardon Allen, Joseph Allen, Charles Allen.
34-1
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of a total of 1,038 enlisted men, while the average attendance of officers was 99 out of a total of 110. The militia of the State was seriously affected by the war with Spain, yet this tour of duty following so soon after was of such a character as to cause the United States army officer detailed to inspect the encampment to refer to it as "the best of the three that I have inspected".
The Sea Force In War Time.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SEA FORCE IN WAR TIME.1
The earliest mention in Rhode Island of a movement for fitting out vessels of war is in the year 1653, at which time Great Britain was at war with Holland. At the General Court of Trials, held at New- port in May of this year, privateers' commissions were given to Capt. John Underhill, William Dyre, and Edward Hull, with power "to goe against the Dutch, or any enemies of ye Commonwealth of England". In granting these commissions they had in view the affording aid to the English colonies on Long Island, as well as the taking of the vessels of the enemy. It was ordered that the force to be sent to Long Island "shall have two great guns and what murtherers are with us on prom- ise of returning them at ye due valuation, and to be improved by in- structions given by this Assemblie's authoritie; provided they engage to the Commonwealth and conform by subscription to doe their utmost to set themselves against all the enemies of the Commonwealth of Eng- land, and to offend them as they shall be ordered".
For the trial of prizes brought in, the general officers, with three jurors, were to constitute the court. The towns of Providence and Warwick were empowered to hold similar courts to those held at New- port, from either of which appeal was to be had to the General Assembly.
The towns of Providence and Warwick did not entirely coincide with those of Newport and Portsmouth in issuing commissions to privateers to cruise against the Dutch, even though they had been granted "by virtue of a Commission from the Right Honorable the Council of State". At a meeting of commissioners from Providence and Warwick, held at the former place in the June following, a remonstrance was drawn up to be sent to the towns, chiefly against the commission granted to William Coddington, as governor of Rhode
1A portion of the naval history here presented relating to the period previ- ous to the War of the Revolution was written by Hon. John R. Bartlett for the Providence Daily Journal, in which it appeared more than thirty years ago, and a few years later in the Magazine of American History. As any account of this portion of the State's history must include all that is contained in Bart- lett's sketch and by reason of the inaccessibility of the original, it is intro- duced here practically as it then appeared.
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Island, whereby the towns of Newport and Portsmouth "were dis- jointed from the Collonie of Providence Plantations". In this they say that their efforts to reunite Portsmouth and Newport with them have been in vain. "The inhabitants of the said two Towns, have, as we are informed, in the name or by the authoritie of the Collonie of Providence Plantations, granted and given unto John Underhill, Edward Hull, and William Dyre, commissions tending to War, which is like, for aught we see, to set all New England on fire, for the event of War is various and uncertaine; and, although the honored Council of State's direction to us is to offend the Dutch as we shall think necessary, yet we know not for what reason, or for what cause the said inhabitants of the Island have given forth the said Commission. Therefore, we are enforced thus to declare, that if the said Island shall attempt to engage us with them in the said Commissions, or in any other like proceedings, and shall use any force or violence upon us on that account, that we will address ourselves immediately to England, to petition for their Honors' further directions unto us, which they have pleased to intimate in their Honors' pleasure, by the hand of William Dyre; for we are resolved to use our utmost endeavor to free ourselves from all illegal and unjust proceedings". It was further ordered that those who owned the commissions before mentioned, granted in the name of Providence Plantations, shall have no liberty to act until they have given satisfaction to the towns of Providence and Warwick. Conceiving, too, that the Colony was in imminent danger, they adjourned until two commissioners should see cause to call the Court together. No injury seems to have arisen to the Colony from the warlike steps taken against the Dutch, as we find that, in the following year, vessels had been engaged in trading with them.
In 1653 Samuel Mayo, mariner, of Barnstable, in Plymouth Colony, complained to the commissioners that his vessel, the Desire, had been unlawfully seized by Thomas Baxter, under order of a commission from Rhode Island. This vessel had been engaged in transporting the goods of William Leverich, of Sandwich, to Oyster Bay, on Long Island, within the English limits, where he was about to settle. She had also landed some cattle at Hempstead, on that island.
The Commissioners of the United Colonics, in consequence of this complaint, sent Capt. William Hudson to the governor of Rhode Island, with orders to inquire by what commission their agents made such seizures, which disturbed the peace of the Colonies; by whom it was granted, and whether it was under the scal of the Commonwealth of England. The agent was further directed to write down all the answers to these questions, that he "neither mistake or forget any part of it"; and also to ascertain to what extent, and by whom these commissions had been granted; and in what relation Rhode Island stood with Providence and Warwick Plantations.
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THE SEA FORCE IN WAR TIME.
Great was the consternation of the renowned Peter Stuyvesant, the governor of New Amsterdam, when news was brought him that a vessel trading with that Colony had been seized by an impudent Eng- lish privateer from the neighboring Colony of Rhode Island. Well was the term, "headstrong" applied by the truthful historian of New Amsterdam, Diedrich Knickerbocker, to the worthy Dutch governor; for we learn that his ire was raised; and, notwithstanding the dangers attending a voyage through the dreaded Hell Gate to reach Long Island Sound, he ordered two vessels to be at once fitted out with such warlike implements as the people were wont to use, and with one hundred and fifty men to seize the offending vessel, which then lay in the harbor of Fairfield. The Commissioners of the United Colonies, alarmed at this proceeding, issued an order that all Dutch ships be prohibited coming into any harbor belonging to any of the confederate Colonies, without a license from the governor or some magistrate of the Colony. Any vessel that entered an English colony after the issuing of this order, was to be notified by a magistrate or military officer to depart, failing in which within six hours, she was liable to be seized. The two Dutch vessels lying off Fairfield were notified to depart within the same time, or be liable to seizure and confiscation.
Governor Easton, in reply to the message sent him by the com- missioners through Lieutenant Hudson, to know by what authority the Colony of Rhode Island had granted commissions to privateers and raised such a turmoil among their quiet neighbors of New Amsterdam, sent the following letter :
NEWPORT, September 16, 1653.
"HONORED GENTLEMEN :- The Council not being present, nor with- out much difficulty could be, therefore, for myself, being desirous to be inoffensive to your honored authority, which I know is the mind of our Colony, induseth me to petition your Wisdoms for a favorable con- struction of our proceedings who are far from countenancing any in- civility, much less insolency, of any of ours; hoping that we shall approve ourselves as to the supreme authority of the State of England, unto whom we are responsible; so also unto your Wisdoms, in all ser- viceable humanity.
"That, by our authority, received from the Right Honorable the Council of State, any offences, duly given, I presume not ; and hoping that your Wisdoms will not impute particular men's extravagancies to us, being ignorant thereof, but rather suspend; and for sending a copy of our Commission, I have no Commission, and therefore desire to be excused. Yet this much I shall presume to inform your ingenuities, that we are authorized to offend the enemies of the Commonwealth of England, as we shall see necessary; and against them only are our Commissions granted, and so is Baxter authorized; and, as I remem- ber, for the Records are not with me, he is prohibited to pass into the Dutch jurisdiction till further orders be given. He is also bound to
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bring his prizes, so taken, into our harbor, for trial and that the State's part may be secured ; it being so joined on us by the supreme author- ity, unto whom we are also required to render an account of our pro- ccedings, which we have done, and unto whose right wise censure we submit. Thus presuming to trouble your Wisdoms with my rude lines, and desiring that your grave counsels may produce glory to God, grace among men, and honor to our illustrious mother State, this is the true desire of your servant, NICHOLAS EASTON.
"I shall readily acquaint our Council with your desires, the first opportunity."
It is evident from this letter that Rhode Island had no authority or right, either by her charter or instructions, to issue commissions to privateers; indeed, the king and his ministers disavow all such right, as will shortly appear.
Mr. Mayo, the owner of the vessel seized, accompanied Lieutenant Hudson to Rhode Island for the purpose of getting her release; but the authorities took no notice of his complaint. The commissioners, however, finding Mayo could obtain no redress from Rhode Island, ordered a stay of proccedings on his giving bonds to pay all damages, in case the vessel should, on trial, be adjudged a lawful prize under any commission issued by Providence Plantations by authority of the Commonwealth.
In 1672 the breaking out of the war again between Great Britain and Holland aroused the American Colonies to renewed action. On the 30th of July, of the following year, the Dutch arrived with a large fleet and retook New York. Rhode Island became much alarmed at this success of their old cnemy; and fearing that an attack on Newport would follow, immediately organized military companies and took such other precautionary measures as seemed necessary in the emergency ; but there is no record of any naval exploits. The prob- ability is that the Dutch, having a considerable fleet, had complete command of the adjacent waters.
At the May session of the General Assembly, held in Newport in 1682, an act was passed establishing a Naval Office at Newport, in which all masters of vessels were "required, upon their arrival, to make entry of them and their loading", and to give bond as required by act of Parliament.
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