i=z=2^ American -Irish Historical Society. Celebration of the Anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island. Exercises to take Place in Providence, R. I., ON Tuesday, Aug. 29, 190S. Dear Sir : The Rhode Island members of our Society are to have their customary observance this year of the anniversary of the battle of Rhode Island. They cordially invite their fellow members throughout the country to participate with them in the exercises. The latter will take place at the Narragansett Hotel, in the City of Providence, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and will be fully equal in point of interest and enjoyment to those held in former years. The program will comprise a reception, concert, and dinner, and post-prandial addresses by gentlemen of national prominence. A reception committee of Rhode Island members will be on duty at the Narragansett- as early as noon, on the date above mentioned, to greet visitors from out of town and to escort them to points of historical interest. At 4 p. m., the twenty-ninth meeting of the Council of the Society will be held at the Narragansett. The dinner is to take place at 7.30 p. m. During the evening an address of welcome will be delivered by Governor Utter, on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, and by Acting-Mayor Reynolds, on behalf of the City of Providence. Invitations to attend the exercises have been extended representatives of the Society of the Cincinnati, the Sons of the Revolution, and similar bodies, Rhode Island's delega- tion in Congress, prominent members of the judiciary, U. S. Army and Navy officers stationed within Rhode Island, the president of the Rhode Island and Newport historical societies and representatives of the Catholic and Protestant clergy. During the day, by order of the Governor of Rhode Island, the flags will be displayed on the State Capitol in honor of the anniversary. At 9.30 o'clock on the morning fol- lowing the dinner the Governor will honor the Society and its guests with an official reception at the Capitol, and will be assisted in receiving by other State officials. \ To Americans of Irish lineage the battle of Rhode Island, Aug. 29, 1778, will always be an event of the Revolutionary War deserving of special commemoration. The Ameri- can forces in that engagement were commanded by IWajor General John Sullivan, of Irish parentage, on whose staff that day served two of his brothers, James and Eben Sullivan. Many of the other officers and a large number of the men were also of Irish birth or ex- traction, a fact abundantly attested by the company, regimental and brigade rolls of the period. Lafayette termed the battle " the best fought action of the war." The Society is now represented in thirty states, two territories, the District of Colum- bia and four foreign countries. It would be very pleasant to have each state and other section send a delegation to enjoy the hospitality of our Rhode Island brethren on the forthcoming patriotic anniversary. Tickets for the dinner will be ^3.50 each. They are now ready and may be obtained of the Secretary-General, whose address is herewith given. Members of the Society are at liberty to bring personal guests, including ladies. Please inform the Sec- retary as soon as possible if you intend to be present and whether you will be accompanied by guests. Fraternally, JOHN D. CRIMMINS, Thomas H. Murray, President-General. Secretary-General. (Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.) Aug. 1, 1905. Yv'i RECEPTION COMMITTEE OF RHODE ISLAND MEMBERS. Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Chairman, Industrial Trust Building, Providence. HON. Patrick J. Boyle, Mayor of Newport. REV. AUSTIN DOWLING, Rector of the Cathedral, Providence. James E. Sullivan, M. D., Narragansett Pier. Mr. Michael F. DOOLEY, Treasurer of the Union Trust Co., Providence. Mr. Thomas a. O'GORMAN, of the O'Gorman Co., Providence. Mr. William J. Feeley, Treasurer of the W. J. Feeley Co., Providence. Mr. Bernard McCaugHEY, of Bernard McCaughey & Co., Pawtucket. Mr. JOHN E. HURLEY, Vice-President of the Remington Printing Co., Providence. Mr. William P. Dempsey, Treasurer of the Dempsey Bleachery and Dye Works, Pawtucket. Mr. John F. McAulifFE, with the Livermore & Knight Co., Providence. Mr. JOHN F. Mullen, with Wildprett & Laacke, Providence. Mr. James H. Hagan, Treasurer of the Park Brewing Co., Providence. Mr. JOHN F. O'CONNELL, with the O'Gorman Co., Providence. Col. James MORAN, recently commander of the Second Regiment, R. 1. M., Providence. COL. Patrick E. Hayes, Pawtucket. Col. John McManus, of John McManus & Co., Providence. Mr. Francis 1. McCanna, Woonsocket. Mr. Matthew J. Cummings, Providence. Mr. Thomas O'Brien, Pawtucket. J. T. Farrell, M. D., Providence. Mr. James Murphy, Providence. Mr. Eugene C. O'Neill, Newport. Mr. John W. HOGAN, Providence. Mr. Patrick Carter, Providence. Mr. John F. MCALEVY, Pawtucket. Mr. James T. Egan, Providence. Michael X. Sullivan, Ph. D., Brown University. Mr. Patrick J. McCarthy, Providence. Mr. Dennis F. O'Brien, Providence. " Sir : — I am favored with yours of the 26th informing me of your appointment to the command of the troops in this state. I have the pleasure of informing you that the appointment is highly satisfactory to us, and we hope will prove equally beneficial to the public and glorious to you." — Got. Niclio/as Cooke of Rhode Island to Major General John Sullivan, March W, 1778. "The enemy were at length routed, and fled in great confusion to the hill where they first formed, and where they had artillery and some works to cover them, leaving their dead and wounded in considerable numbers behind them. . . . Colonel Camp- bell [British] came out the next day to gain permission to view the field of action to search for his nephew who was killed by his side, whose body he could not get off, as they were closely p'."-sued. The firing of artillery continued through tlie day, and the musketry, with intermission, six hours ; the heat of action continued near an hour, which must have ended in the ruin of the British army had not their redoubts on the hill covered them from further pursuit." — Extract from General Sullivan's report of the battle of Rhode Island, written to tire President of Congress. "That the thanks of Congress be given to Major General Sullivan, and to the officers and troops under his command, for their fortitude and bravery, displayed in the action of August 29th, in which they repulsed the British forces and maintained the field." — Resolution of Congress relative to the battle of Rhode Island, 1778. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 010 730 737 Hollinger pH8.5 Mill Run F3-1957