USA > Rhode Island > The "Old Stone Bank" history of Rhode Island, Vol. III > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Catherine Greene had been with her husband in Charleston, South Carolina, at the end of the campaign, and she re- mained there until Cornwallis' final defeat
132
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
at Yorktown. After that victory, which terminated the war, the Greenes once more set out for Coventry and the peace and quiet of home. General Greene rode the thousand miles of the trip on horse- back, but his frailer wife came from the South by boat.
In August, 1783, the general left the South. In every hamlet, town, and city that he passed through he was hailed with acclaim as a national hero. It was Novem- ber before he finally reached Rhode Island. Here he no longer had any business inter- ests. These had been disposed of long be- fore. Consequently he decided to take his family to Newport, and leased a house there opposite the "Old Stone Mill." War over, the family reunited again and every- thing looked bright for the future. Gen- eral Greene made plans in his own mind, hoping to have a happy life with his wife and children, living in Newport in the summer and on his new southern planta- tions in the winter.
But none of these plans could be carried out. During the war he had secured sup- plies for his men by giving his own bond to merchants. Now the merchants were
pressing him for payment. General Greene had expected Congress to reimburse him for his expenditures for military supplies, but there were the inevitable legislative delays, and the Greenes had to give up their new South Carolina estate to pay part of their debt.
In 1785, they went to Georgia to live on their plantation there, located on the banks of the Savannah River, about four- teen miles away from the city of that name. Here the prospect did begin to look better for the future. The estate was magnificent. It had every convenience, every facility for the enjoyment of life. But for the last time Fate intervened. On June 19, 1786, General Greene died, the victim of sunstroke. His wife was left a widow with five children.
A monument was erected to his memory in Savannah, Lafayette laying the corner- stone in 1823. Now, Rhode Island, Na- thanael Greene's own state, has erected the statue of her great military hero. Well may she honor her illustrious son, one of the greatest generals, one of the most dis- tinguished men of the Revolution, second only to Washington.
THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND
B Y DEGREES, the State of Rhode Island is taking on the appearance of an ancient European capital, where history has been made, and where succeeding generations have enshrined historic sites with descriptive tablets and other forms of memorial markers. Visitors to foreign lands may walk in the shadows of the Caesars; climb the steps once trod by raiding Goths; and stand upon spots hallowed by the feet of Saints; and, in such places, measure the passing of time in long spans stretching back to faraway periods in the story of mankind, whereas, time here extends not much beyond the three century limit. But, those three centuries have been crowded with action, action that moulded a nation out of a wilderness in comparatively short order. It is probably safe to say that as much actual history has been made in Rhode
Island since the beginning as in any com- parable area across the sea during the same space of time, but it hasn't taken us so long to realize the importance of mark- ing points and places of historic interest in order that present and future genera- tions may associate names and events of the past with sites that are familiar today. That is why it may be observed that Rhode Island is gradually taking on the appearance of a well-labeled European place of antiquity, thanks to various groups, and individuals, whose efforts are being devoted to the preservation and designation of that which is worthy of enshrining.
Many local monuments and memorial tablets have to do with persons and events associated with the War for Inde- pendence, and one who is not thoroughly familiar with what actually happened here
133
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
during that lively conflict may become confused by the numerous Revolutionary War markers that can now be found most anywhere in Rhode Island, but especially in Providence and down the east side of the Bay as far as Newport. Therefore, these accounts may help many to place important Revolutionary events in proper chronological order, and make the viewing of historic shrines and properly-marked sites in Rhode Island more instructive and vastly more interesting.
Here is the story of the so-called Battle of Rhode Island, prepared in such a way that this masterly stroke of military strategy can be easily and clearly under- stood. On April 22, 1778, a day of Thanks- giving was proclaimed in Rhode Island for public recognition of the welcome news that France had agreed to join the Amer- ican cause, and would furnish fighting assistance on land and sea.
Early in the summer, Count d'Estaing, commanding a French fleet of twelve battleships and three frigates, arrived in Delaware Bay after a stormy ninety-day ocean crossing. Shortly before these long- awaited allies put in appearance, the British fleet had moved north to New York and the French commander lost no time in moving his ships there, anchoring in the Narrows while Admiral Howe's fleet remained above on the Hudson River. For reasons best known to them, General Clinton commanding the British troops at New York and Howe command- ing the enemy fleet anchored nearby, decided to make Rhode Island the theatre of war by concentrating their forces at Newport for either attack or defense. Forthwith, 7000 British and Hessians were transported to the large island down the Bay and there they encamped in July 1778.
With that imposing array of enemy forces just a few miles from Providence, one can imagine what went through the minds of local residents - unquestion- ably they expected an attack most any day, but the expected failed to materialize. Naturally, General Washington's atten- tion was then turned to little Rhode Island, and his first move was to send a brilliant military leader, Major General John Sullivan, to command the militia of
the East and to direct the defence of Rhode Island. General Sullivan arrived in Tiverton some time in July, and shortly after his arrival reported to his superior that he had not more than 1600 men pre- pared for fighting service. In the mean- time, about one half of the available military strength of Rhode Island was called to serve for twenty days from August first, and the remainder was ordered to be ready on call. It is rather difficult for us to imagine the local scene while all this was going on - mobilization of troops for certain battle on Rhode Island seems almost an imaginary sit- uation but it did happen here once, and it must have been an exciting ex- perience.
Near the end of July, the French fleet left New York waters and came up the Sound, blockading the enemy in Narra- gansett Bay after the ships arrived off Newport. Within ten days after the arrival of the Frenchmen, the British troops stationed on Conanicut Island withdrew to Newport and the British vessels in the harbor, in the Bay, and in the Sakonnet River, were either blown up or burned. As a pitched battle seemed more and more imminent, the American forces grew in strength. Generals Greene, Lafayette and other military experts came to the assistance of Sullivan, while volunteers poured in from all parts of New England and New York. By August 9, 1778, Sullivan's forces had increased to about 10,000 men, and on that day he broke camp at Tiverton and crossed over to the Portsmouth end of the Island while the French fleet occupied the harbor and Bay. While this transfer of troops was going on, the ever-present British fleet put in an appearance, foreshadowing a naval engagement. Eager to win a deci- sive victory over Admiral Howe, the French commander took his 4000 men from Conanicut Island and put to sea hoping to engage the Britishers in battle. This was commendable move for D'Estaing, but it seriously interfered with what later transpired on the land. For, a storm not only prevented a naval battle that would probably have been won by the French, but it also scattered the two fleets and disabled several of the French
134
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
warships. Besides this storm played havoc with the American forces estab- lished on the island in flimsy tents and poorly protected.
General Pigot, with about 4000 British and Hessians lined up for battle just a little north of Newport, awaited an attack from Sullivan who proceeded to march down the island opposite the enemy lines, where he halted his men anxiously expect- ing the French admiral to return with ships and troops. The French ships failed to appear so a heavy cannonade was or- dered all along the line and this kept up for five days. It may be interesting to learn that the right wing of the American army was under the command of General Nathanael Greene and the left was under the illustrious General Lafayette. John Hancock, late President of Congress, com- manded the second line of Massachusetts militia.
In regard to the vanished and much needed French fleet, records show that it returned to New York for shelter and rest for the men exhausted by a series of rough sea experiences. Admiral d'Estaing then decided to proceed from New York to Boston, where he might have his ships repaired and his provisions replenished. Hearing of this decision, Generals Greene and Lafayette were dispatched to Boston by Sullivan to urge the French to return back to Newport, but their entreaties were without success. Sullivan was left to his fate and his troubles were many, as we shall see.
Shortage of food and supplies, the fail- ure of the French fleet to return, and the long delay created a general dissatisfac- tion in the American ranks. Desertions were made wholesale; the New Hampshire troops left in a body; many short-service volunteers from Rhode Island, Massachu- setts and Connecticut returned to their homes; and, by the end of August, Sulli- van's army was reduced from 10,000 men to about 5000. The outlook appeared de- cidedly discouraging for the American side. On the morning of August 29, Sulli- van moved the remnants of his army back
to the fortifications in Portsmouth, at the point called Butt's Hill, and there awaited developments. The British, elated at the sudden change in conditions, decided to take the offensive and promptly moved out of Newport taking the two main roads that are familiar to those who ride in that direction today. Lively skirmishes took place between the pickets and outposts of the two armies and several surprise sallies caused losses on either side. The right wing of the British attempted to advance, but was repulsed and forced to retreat to Quaker Hill. Between the two armies lay a section of low marshy land intersected by a road and stone walls with wooded sections on the flanks.
This valley amphitheatre was the real battlefield, and across this valley cannon- ading continued all day. Charges and countercharges left rows of dead and dying between the lines and many heroic acts featured the bloody conflict. At the end of the day, the British at last gave way and retreated to the fortifications on Quaker Hill. General Sullivan ordered a surprise attack, but the exhausted condi- tion of his men and the advice of his asso- ciate generals led him to abandon this plan. The Americans lost in killed, wounded and missing 657, and the British 1023. That night, Sullivan's troops with all baggage, artillery and stores quietly crossed the ferry to Tiverton, completing a piece of strategy that has been termed a masterly stroke of military wisdom. Nat- urally the Americans were disappointed, although time proved that Sullivan was well-advised in not provoking further fighting. For another year the principal island of Narragansett Bay was to remain in the hands of the British and it was a year of great annoyance and suffering, but the Battle of Rhode Island prevented an invasion of New England and probably turned the fortunes of war in the direction of the American Colonies. Perhaps, now, the many tablets and memorials to be seen at Butt's Hill in Portsmouth and elsewhere on the island will be more inter- esting and intelligible.
135
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
GEN. SULLIVAN AND WAR PROPAGANDA
Aº CERTAIN rare and interesting pam- phlet of Rhode Island origin sheds light upon a Revolutionary War practice about which we know very little, and it also brings to mind the life and deeds of a great soldier whose chief military accom- plishment took place within the borders of Rhode Island. The magazine "The American Book Collector" some years ago published an article contributed by Mr. Howard M. Chapin, historian, wherein was described an eight page pamphlet printed at Newport, by a John Howe, during the American Revolution. When the English occupied the summer capital at the lower end of the Bay, the Newport Mercury press, which had been operated by Solomon Southwick, fell into the hands of the British, as did many other Newport buildings, residences and institutions; and John Howe, who remained sympathetic with the English cause, thereupon oper- ated the printing establishment as a loyal- ist press. Records of what literature Howe produced in the shop, which he had acquired, are very meagre and up to now the list of items known to have been printed by him consists of several incom- plete files of the Newport Gazette, two pamphlets and four broadsides. One pamphlet, entitled "An Intercepted Let- ter to General Sullivan" presents an hitherto unknown sidelight to local war activities, since it brings out the fact that propaganda, printed or otherwise, was looked upon as an effective means of sway- ing public opinion, even in those days.
The "Intercepted Letter" is signed by the pseudonym "Nat Northwester" and, in Mr. Chapin's opinion, was probably never sent to General Sullivan, but was doubtless written as copy to be printed in pamphlet form as loyalist propaganda to be circulated among the inhabitants of the Island of Rhode Island, and, perhaps, to some extent, on the neighboring main- land, in order to encourage loyalty to the crown by ridiculing the military power of the American forces. From several points of evidence, it is reasonable to deduct that no actual letter reached the hands of the
General in charge of the American forces stationed in Rhode Island, and that this printed essay containing a generous amount of ridicule and wisecracks was the original creation of printer Howe him- self. Whether or not Mr. Howe's particu- lar brand of humor, or, as we say today, his kind of "insidious propaganda" turned any of the natives from the ranks of those, who were fighting for independ- ence, to the camps and columns of His Majesty's gallant forces, will never be known; but the discovery of this rare eight page printed specimen does indicate that the powerful weapon of nations, political parties and other organized bodies and groups of the present age, is not so new after all.
Let us examine this pamphlet and observe what the anonymous writer of a letter to General John Sullivan had to say about the men who had left home and family to fight unto death for freedom. First, the writer calls attention to the General's surprise that many of his men had quit the American ranks and departed for home or elsewhere at the time when the British occupied Newport, and when the Americans were entrenched at the northern end of the Island in Portsmouth. Then, the writer infers that the excuse for this general exodus and wholesale deser- tion was not because the British had evacuated their outworks, but because the soldiers were forced to leave the ranks, and return to protect their families from an alleged wave of immorality at home. Of course, historical records do not bear out the charge that Colonial soldiers de- serted the ranks during the period of action in Portsmouth and in Newport, nor is there any evidence anywhere that would lead one to believe that moral con- ditions at home were so disgraceful that men would be forced to throw down their weapons and hurriedly depart to protect home and family honor. However, the writer of the pamphlet infers that both of these conditions existed and he concludes this portion of his invidious propaganda with the following observation which he
136
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
probably thought was very humorous: "Taking the 3000 volunteers at 2500 mar- ried men, there go 2500 spouses at once, then giving them two sisters each, away go 5000 more. You cannot in reason allow the ladies less than six lovers apiece, how many is that? Aye, about 22,000, all un- done! all violated ! What Turks (What Tygers) would mind what passes in the outworks of ten thousand enemies, when such carryings-on are practising in their citadels at home ?"
Nat Northwester then indulges in a bit of sarcasm in regard to the American claim that they had not received sufficient support from the French fleet during the operations incident to the Battle of Rhode Island and in conclusion writes as follows: "In reality you did not take the island, whose fault was that? The British, Hes- sian and Anspach forces would not let you have it. Your Excellency may say you took it in imagination. The best manner possible. You built castles in the air! That is the next elegant mode of acquisition. Oh, how your army enjoys the spoils of Newport, without loss to anybody ! How they sup and dine, and drink large draughts of London porter ! How their one-horse carts teem with dry goods ! The hard cash rattling in their paper bearing pockets!" and to this is added as final postscript : "Compliments to all the gang of gentlemen who came to see Newport in flames, hope they will muster up a little of their Philosophy to support their Dissapointment." It seems strange to peruse such accusations and reflections upon the integrity of Ameri- cans, and the American cause for liberty, especially when we know that these words were printed on a local printing press in patriotic, liberty loving Newport. But this was in the days of war, when the enemy appropriated everything within reach, when the opposing forces resorted to any method that might bring about defeat for those whom they sought to vanquish. At any rate, this "Intercepted Letter" is a most interesting contribution to source material for the history of the use of propaganda during the war of the American Revolution.
John Sullivan, the eminent soldier who was the principal target for the foregoing
bit of war-time slander, was one of the leading men of the first Congress, who not only became a great military leader, but also won fame as an able statesman. He was the third son of Owen Sullivan, of Limerick, Ireland, and was born in Somersworth, Strafford County, New Hampshire, on February 18, 1740. Under his father's instruction he received an excellent education for the times, and, following a voyage in his youth, he began to study law in Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, and it was soon evident that he had great aptitude for his chosen profession. After being admitted to the Bar he settled in the Town of Durham, in his native county; he purchased a homestead that continued to be his residence until his death. He was very successful in his law practise, and he found time to inaugurate several manufacturing enterprises that prospered. Thus passed about ten years of John Sullivan's early manhood, during which he accumulated a fair estate.
At the first rumblings of the Revolu- tion, John Sullivan, sympathizing heartily with the cause of American liberty, en- listed his fellow-citizens in a military com- pany and took charge of the drilling and preparation for the impending emergency. At the same time he devoted much of his time to the study of famous military cam- paigns of ancient and recent times and soon could describe, in detail, the strategy and action of world-famous battles. He represented Durham in the New Hamp- shire Legislature and was chosen a mem- ber of the First Continental Congress that assembled in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. When he returned to his home State he, with John Langdon and two others, planned a surprise expedition against Fort William and Mary at the entrance to Portsmouth harbor. On De- cember 13, 1774, four months before Lexington, Sullivan, at the head of this expedition and attack, took possession of the fort, imprisoned the British garrison, seized and carried away one hundred bar- rels of powder, some of which was used at Bunker Hill, fifteen cannons and a quantity of small arms and supplies.
In January, a few weeks after this event, Sullivan and his associate Langdon were elected representatives to the Second
137
"THE OLD STONE BANK"
Continental Congress, and on June 22, hostilities having begun, he was chosen one of eight Brigadier Generals for the Colonial Army. Accepting the appoint- ment, Sullivan resigned his seat in Con- gress, proceeded to the camp at Cam- bridge and was assigned to the left wing of the army. Thus began his military career which was one of the most brilliant in the whole army.
He served with distinction in Canada and at the battles of Long Island, Tren- ton, Brandywine, and Germantown, and, after sharing the privations of Valley Forge where he was closely associated with Generals Washington and Nathanael Greene, he was assigned by the Comman- der-in-Chief, in the Spring of 1778, to the chief command of the American forces in Rhode Island, with headquarters in Provi- dence. 6000 British soldiers, with head- quarters in Newport, were strongly fortified on the Island of Rhode Island. The French fleet under Count d'Estaing anchored off Brenton Reef on July 29, 1778, and the American force, including many New England veterans, 10,000 strong, was arranged in two divisions, under Greene and Lafayette, with Sulli- van in supreme command.
Sullivan had everything in readiness at Providence but delays in the arrival of troops made it impossible for him to leave the mainland, to cooperate with the fleet that was engaged in destroying and dis- abling British ships, and thereby force the surrender of all enemy forces on the
Island. On August 10th the Americans crossed over to Portsmouth and they en- camped on what is known as Quaker Hill. The next morning the French fleet did not land marines to cooperate with Sulli- van's army but went to sea and there gave battle to an approaching British fleet. A sudden storm scattered the ships in the opposing fleets and the wind and rain played havoc with the American shore forces.
The French fleet failed to return to carry out its part of the strategy planned and Sullivan was left with a disabled force to combat a well-fortified and well- equipped opposition. As related pre- viously, a battle took place on the Island of Rhode Island on August 29, and Lafa- yette pronounced it the best contested battle of the entire war, and one in which the British were held back with great losses. Then came the masterful retreat to the mainland engineered with splendid executive ability by General Sullivan, and for this and for his handling of the entire military situation in Rhode Island he was warmly thanked by General Washington and by Congress.
Following the war General Sullivan held many important offices in national and New Hampshire public life and he died in his fifty-fifth year, the end being brought on prematurely as a result of exposure and hardships during the years of the Revolution, and by the burden of responsibilities during an active and en- viable career.
AMERICA WELCOMES THE FRENCH
THE Battle of Rhode Island, fought late -
in August 1778 on the great island at the lower end of Narragansett Bay, cannot be described as a decisive engage- ment, although military strategists and historians agree that it had decisive influence upon the final outcome of the Revolutionary War. Abandoned by a much-needed French fleet that was forced to leave Rhode Island waters, General Sullivan's discouraged and suffering troops, following a long delay before the
battle, and after a full day of actual com- bat, completed an orderly retreat from the island over to Tiverton leaving the British still in control of Newport. On the face of it, this seems to offer no cause for paying especial tribute to the men engaged in the affair, or to the officers who directed the final withdrawal of American troops from the scene of action. However, General Sullivan desired to carry the fight to a finish, and it appears now that his army might have over-
138
PROVIDENCE INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS
powered the already outfought and battle- weary Englishmen, but Sullivan's close advisers counseled a wiser, safer move and history reveals that they were right. Keeping a sizeable but tired and well- spent British force bottled up at a jump- ing off place and there threatened with a counter attack at any moment by op- ponents whose actual strength and fight- ing power remained an unknown quantity, actually prevented an invasion of New England at a time when such a move on the part of the British would have been disastrous to Washington's plans of action elsewhere in the American theatre of War. Experts say that the Battle of Rhode Island was the turning point in the prolonged struggle between the mother country and her rebellious American Colonies - if they are correct in their observations then the famous expedition on Rhode Island soil can be termed neither unsuccessful nor unfortunate.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.