RHOD

A EARLY EFFORTS

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E R‘I::IC)])1E) I LAND Soamrry 01? '.I.‘I~,IE 3INc3INNAcI:I

IN tmim S'A'1"‘E Housm AT NEWPO1%.'1"‘, R. I.

 

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E. L. I'~‘R1’!‘.I*2I\!AN 8." SUNS,
CI'CN'I‘RAI. I~"A'I.1..‘§., R. I.

 

              

l tHO,l)E lSLAN.D’S EARLY EFFORTS IN THE REVOLUTION.

History inclicates that the birth of nations is usually
a.ttenclte<l by sacrifice of 1.v1éope1*ty and life. The estahlisl;1-
:ment of a just and enlightened government entitles its
pi*<;>;ject<:>1*s to the gr-atit1:1<::le of their clesceridaiits. The
p:rinciples for wl1icl_1 they ex1;>en€le<.l their property, fouglit,
hlecl. and <lie(;l, are ciftentinies not f11ll.y realized in the life-
time even of the survivors of the conflict. Succeecling
geiierateeioxis alone 1‘ea.p the full benefit of the new institu-
tions. The years of liberty and of unlimiterfil 0I\£")1DOI‘tl1I1i1t§r
tliiat we have enjoyecl are chiefly due to our ancestors, who
foiuglit the battle of the Revolution. No founders of any
gci>ve1e*11i}f11e11tlwere more patriotic. None ever exhibited
g1'eate1* perseverance and endurance, greater intelligence
and bravery, greater ability to conquer almost overwhelm»
ing odds. To erect inonurnents to their Ineniory is an inacl-u
equate retur1:1 for their s1_1fl:'e1*ings. To recall their glorious
deeclsi is a holy duty. The gratit1;1cle that overflows our

hearts finds expression. Kr1.oWltedge of their achievements

inspires the present generation to emulate their illustrious
record. A t t
The historyof Rhode Island is rich in incidents of un.

esualinterest. She took an important part in the 1‘evol11~

 

4

tionary struggle. Her people were largely engaged in
commerce. . Newport at that time was the largest town,
and contained the only custom house, in the colony. From
a return made to the English governinent it appears that,
during the year 17 63, 181 Vessels from Europe, Africa

and the West Indies, and 352 from the neighho1*ing«

colonies, cleared from Newport. Over 2,200 seamen. were
employed in these vessels. There was more shipping in
Narragansett Bay than at N ew York. or Boston. Not in-
frequently retail merchants of New York visited NeWp<:;>rt,
to replenish their stocks from the larg'e1* ass<:>rtn.1ent there
maintained. Fishing ftirnished  livelihood. to many of
the inhabitants. Men accustomed to the seas oh"? B1'€I,1l3(i)1*T1’3
Reef and Beaver Tail made good sailors. The pure air,
fresh from the ocean, bred  liardy ~:.1.ce of men. Everi in
times of peace the vocations of the colonists accustonied

them to danger. Oonflicts with the Indians, battles with T
the French and with the Spanish had aecustoined. the

population to War. The ever increasing exactions of the
English early exasperated them to resistance. r

In June .1764 Rear Admiral Oolville disaatched

7 3 ,

four armed vessels to the principal harl;:>ors between
Oasco bays and cape Henlopen to raise men. One of

these Vessels was HisMajesty’s schooner, the St. John,

‘commanded by Lieut. ,Tl1omaslHi11., A On the ,30th of 4

June, the St. J ohnli being in Newportharbor, Lieut.Hi11
received information that ha brigwas 1111lO&dlI1g‘ a cargoin

a creek near .Howland’s Ferry, in Tixierton. A The present

town of Bridgeport, in Tiverton, a, short distance south of

A a Stone a Bridge, is supposed to indicate the neighborhood.

 

5

Lieut. Hi11,i1;1 the St.John, i1.n1nedie.te1y sailed in seare}i1
of the b1'ig. He succeeded in seizirig the cargo of 93 hogs-
heeds of Sl1g2L1”', but the brig had departed before the St. John
arrived. At night a. boa.t,fn11y n1a.nned ende.1*111ed, was
sent in pursuit, and captured the vessel early the 1.1ext
1i1:1or11ir1g. The brig proved to be the Besto, of New York,
\Vingz*-rte, Master, from Monte Christo. She was teke1:”1.
beck to the creek; zemd 1*e1<::>eded with the siigalx The
owner of the c21.1*g<t>, beo<:>1,1r1i11g .‘~;-.p1f).1.‘8i1G1".lSi‘V'(’> that it WELS the
intentiorii to <.m1.*1*§r the vessel to I*I2“;1.1i:t’e..>;', ca.used the arrest
of" Lieut. Hill, who was co;>1r)1ige<.1 to give bail the.t the brig
:,":.nd. cargo shoiihil be tried in Newport. Some ri1r*1;'eg1;11e.1r*ities
connected, with the qi1e1i.ficetic>11s of Lieut. Hill ezéuised the
<;+o]1ecto;r of (311St(;)111S at Newport, on the 4th ofJ111y, 1764,
to reseize the h1*ig end ca.1*g<:>. Lieut. Hill at once proceeded

(j)V(’3'I"1£L1‘T1(lT to Boston, to consult the surveyor geiieml in re A

letion to his position. During his absence, on Moiichry,
Jtllyy 9, in the £Ztf'i_3(3)l.‘1T1C.)C)1f1, one cut the St. John’s boziuts,
fully Inzimrimed and zu*n:1ed., eo1‘nn1zn:1de(.*1 by Mr. Doyle, was
sent on shore to bring ofl‘ Thon1;a.s Moss, an alleged de-
serter, who was then upon the wlmrf. A large number of

the _towx1’s people assembled, and prevented the boa.t’s crew

from seizing Moss. A The altercation over this 111a.tter was
noticed on the St. John. A swivel ewes pfired as a.
signal for the boat to return. By this time Mr.Doy1e
had been captured by the crowd. Stones fell thick as rlmiol

in and about the boat,‘ and wounded most or, as one ac-

count cleims, all of the crew. The people, now thoroughly

A excited, threatened thelife ofMr. Doyle if the pilot of the .

St.John was not immediatelysent onshore anddelivered

G

to them. They also threatened to haul the schooner ashore
and burn her. His Majesty’s ship, the Squirrel, Was an-
chored ovff Newport at this time. At five o’clocl~: in the
afternoon a boat from the St. John Was sent to the Squirrel,
and the ofiicer in charge notified of the situation. By this
time the people had manned a sloop, which sailed around
the St. John but did not attack. Several citizens Went on
board the Squirrel and explained that three of the St.
J ohn’s crew had coininitted a theft in the toWI1. One of
these men was in the hands of the people. They Were
ions to have the other two delivered. The sl1eri*Hi l“].‘fl,(}l
demanded these men from the St. John, but had been
refused admittance to the vessel. The lieutenant of l3l.’1(i*.

A Squirrel pro1nised that the two offenders should be sur~

rendered. The boat returned from the Squirrel about six
o’c1ocl<, with orders for the St. Jol1n to get under Way and
anchor under the stern of the fornier Vessel. The situation
becoming rapidly more serious, the St. John fired a swivel,
and signalled to the Squirrel. for assistance. The people,
seeing the preparations on the St. John to get under Way,
manned asleep and two or three boats, and passed over to
the battery on Goat island. As soon as possible its g"uns
Were brought to bear upon the St. John, and fired. The
state of af‘fairs being noticed from the Squirrel, Li.eut.
Hugh Bachie--—Capt. Smith of that vessel being on shore--~
landed on Goat island, to prevent the firing on the St. John.

The gunner, supported by the people, informedtl1elieuten~

ant that he had orders to fire, and that they would be
obeyed. The lieutenant was knocked down, roughly
treated, and barely succeeded in escaping. On reaching

7

the Squi1*1*e1, he ordered her prepared for action. In the
1neantin:1e the firing continued at the St. John, as she
tacked out of the harbor. ]iDig11t shots were fired, one of
which Went t111*o11g11 her maineail. At eight o’clock the
St. John succeeded in anchoring Within half a cah1e’s
length of the Squirrel. One more shot was fired at her
from the battery, and passed cloee under the stern of the
Squirrel. The people in the hatte1*y threatened to sirik the
St. John if she did not innnediatelny Weigli anc.11<:o>r and run

into the harbor again.,_ The S<:1ni1*1'e1 11a.vi1e1g h:ron.gl.1t her

A htroadeide to hear iripoii the battery, the fi1r'i1“1g eeaeed.

Capt. S1c11it]n;1, on retu.1*11i11g' to the Sqiiirrel, heard of the in-
cident from his lieutenant.‘ He eent for the gL1n1f1e1'oft11e fort
and denianded hie an_tho1*ity for fia1a*i1’1g; on the Ki.ng’e co1o1'e.
The g‘111’111€*)1' exhildiited an order for et<:>y1;e)pi1'1g the St. John,
eigned by two of the Council, the Deputy (i‘rov'ern<::>1' 1r;‘>ei11g
aheent. Capt. S1i"ni.th, in c()1:x1pzt11yr with the lieutenant,
ehortly after called upon the C}<3've1‘11c>1* and Ooimcil, and
Cleznlanded proper red1*eee f<;;>r the insult <:>fi3e1"eci. He was

infxnrmed “that the g*111”111e1* had acted by authority, and

that they would anevver for it when they thought it necee-»
eary.” A

i A This incident oce11r1'ed nearly eleven years hefore the

battle of Lexington. It illnetratee the independence and
individuality of the Rhode Islander, in pitting himee1_f
alone against the power of Gnreat Britain, in the e1’*f<>1*t to

right his Wrongs at i thecannon"e month. i i It was not the

only instance of the kind that occurred at this period.

In 1765, His Majesty’e veseel, the Maidetone, had heen it

Very active in impressing seamen from the different vessels A

8

arriving at Newport. These acts were even extendecl to
small boats plying between Newport and other parts of
Na1‘1'aga11sett bay, to supply the town with wood and other
necessities from the main » land. Such arbitrary proceed-
ings caused the port to be avoided, g1'eatly to the incon~
Venience of the inhabitants. The harbor Was practically
deserted, with the exception of the Maidstone and an oeca~
sional Vessel a1'riving ‘from fo1*ei,gn ports. The. inl:1ahi_tants

r of Newport generally had escaped inipressrnent. A sharp

correspondence, however, occurred between Capt. Antrohus,
of the Maidstone, and Gov. Sanmel VVard. SeVe1*alindiVid-
uals had been ‘detained on the Maidstone, Wl"1OS€3 release
the Governor was particularly anxious to secure. June 4,
17 65, a brig arrived from Africa. She Wes i.111n1ediate1y
boarded by the oflicers of the Maidstone, and after a
violent scuflie the larger part, if not the whole of her erew

owere pressed into the naval service of Erlglaiicl. The same

night ta crowd of nearly five hundred men mid boys col-
lected at the water front. They seized one of the IMa"icl-

 stone’s boats that chanced to he at the wl:1.a1'f, rapi.d1y

dragged it through Queeri street, now VV»asl;1ington S<:p:r1a1;*e,
and burned it on the common.

A little over three years after this event, on June 10,
1’7'68,thepeople of Boston seized a boat bel,<t>1i1gi,1;1g to one
of the collectors of A the port, and burned it upon Bostori
common. A A A t A

A more serious collision between the people of Newport

and HisMajesty’s forces A occurred in 17 69. In that year
Capt. William, Reid, of,His Majesty"s service, had‘ corn-T
mand of the armed sloop Liberty. This vessel had been

fi ttefl (mt 1;>y blue C3<;n_in I7l§li.SE5'i 0 1.11631.‘ <7i>f the Ki 11g’s" 1b*eve1j1bL1e 01b“
<;e.t:1.“~;b4t.«b.:>zb1b"1.~s in B<b..>:‘e.t<;>1_‘1, mixd. (_n;*d.e1‘<:eC1. tc) cletzmi. 11 2:111 V’(3SS(~31Sv 
})ecte(]_ <.:.>'f \7i<:;.>1zzLti1'1g; the 1'eVe1t11:1e in the Wa.te1's i 11 ::1,1:1d 2nJ:)<;> L11;

.R.h.(f)(LT1»'€‘ I:es1::1,1:1d. 11:1 J11]. y, 17 69, G€l.Ij_T)t. Reid t€Lptl11‘(E5d, i 11 I4<;>1:1g'

;IE5]._ziL1‘1(f1 S0 1;11:1bd, {L b1*ig zu1<f1 s10<:>p be].011gi1b‘1g to C<;:>1;b111ectic11t.
Tlea .~31b1spe(:te«_1b tlmt the brig lmd bee11 etlgz-Lgeci in s<:>:me illi-
cit 2“"l)(‘.:,“'f-'9 zmd tlmt tlw ss1<i><i>p 1'1a.<;i1 c<:>b11btm,1bb;)z1,11(:1 g()<;b>(1s 011 b(;>a,1“<;i1.
(]_j)1:i1 lVA’I_"m:1<b1zLy, .I‘11]y 1 7', b<bb::>t}1  W'e1*e, ‘l.')1'(:)l‘1g’hb 'i1i1t<:> N ew-
1“m1"t. No 1‘)1'(f.)(f)'.f 27L];f,)l")'€i£1..1‘€%(T]. :bLgz1i1j1st tlm b:1*ig. V I:Ie1* c:1,1*g<b:>

 <.:11;1’]b"" e1b1te1‘e.d at tlfme C.1i1$t<:m1 ]1c)11se. C)1;1 W’ed1bb1es<:1z1.br A
3 )»

J'11l y 19, fine 1b1‘b12‘1,;ste1' <:>ff tlgle 1bb:>1*ig, QziL}_9t. I~:)z.1I(:.4]{."V:r(,«)(T)(5l.9 "wktflllt 01.1
1b)(”f)Z‘rL1‘d to <"b:>1:>t:1,i1i1 S(Z)1TI16 \bvea1'i1:1g' :=1.1i)];>s1.1:'e1 ::1.1b:1d. <:>the. ‘* 2‘A1,1*tic-.1e:es.
I:I(~3 wins‘ i1bb1f<::1>1**1b1:1b<~:a<1:1A by t1f1eb<;:)fl:i.c:e1* f1"<:>m. tb(3 fLibbbe1.*t_y, ii. 11 0111
of tI;1e. 1:bb)1*ig;, tlmt 11%: c;:]b<,::theS 1:1zx(:1 1i)ee1.1 t£’Lk€31Tl. 017:1 1f)(T).‘;11“(i1 the
bbI'qibb1b:> £a~..1_'t,y. (:A':\)}'_fi)$81‘V"i11g‘ S(If)1”'lTl'le <t'>f the Libert 1:ine.1;1 '1b1n1i:>e1b1 di 1:bb1g
t:.1bb1e3 szimiblss <:>f his vessel, C1a.]_:>t. P:3z.<::]a:w<:)c:>(7l <:>1'C1e1*e(1 tIb1en..1 to
«.7lbc::ssi:eat. I€iI}i::4 <b1bbi1'eceti.c>1Lb1s were :1;*ec:ei.ve<i1 with vi<:>1e1i1t mbul
z‘L11)1bb1sib\re ]f’1:]f'l§%{'l’l€Lg€3.. On :14.%]<bing for }f1iS m?v<::>1'c1 1:19 was in-

1:'<;>b1";1b"x:i1.e.(?'b,l that A it  in .hiS <:.=.m.bi.n. U 1:><‘:n:1 g'0:i11 be]b<;;>w to

c;>bt.zLbtir[1b hi:=:9 p1b'¢::>pe1;*ty I19, 'V1Vz‘;LS 1r1¢.=3t ‘with at volley c:>f <:>2iLt11s 2e1,11d

i1"Ib141)1'(:%(%2‘l:JDi(C)I1E1. I313 seibztaml ]l'IIi.E5 .¢:;wc:*>1‘d, ::L11c1 23L sc:11fff1e f<:>11«.;> Wet]. A

S<—:ve1‘::L1 of the Libe1*ty’s men €.%11(lT1(§3£7l.'V(?)I’€3(?1 t<:> tzmie the

wVea11,}:)<:n“1 z?L‘VVa.y f.r<?m1 him, b ut dicl 1:1 ot stlczceecl. He gai1:“1e<.t1

MS b <_:>2:1.t, mab11ned by two of b}:1is own 1116,11, 211141 stzwtecl
t0Vm1.*(j1 thc-:~f: ss1:x<)1*e. T1116 prize <31'eW 011 A the brig lim.i1(~:ac1 the
Liberty :bLn(:1:11otified1b1e1' of the 2"11,"f‘f2ba,i1'. A 111b1_1sket,10a,ded

A with a1:t>1'z:2.<3e of }J)£i11E3,‘Wa4S fi1:'ed at t1r1e1:.>ozmt. It was c1a.i111e<t1

btblmt C‘apt. I?a,c]<‘wcmx;1 barely escaped with his life, as bot}:  

balls laassed. close to him. A swivel from the Liberty was

balsa levelbled atbtI1e boat 2:md‘fib1*ed, but only flashed. A

10

pistol was imiiiediately snapped. at the boat, "Wl]lCl1 likewise
iuissed fire. T his incident was witnessed by a la1*g€: uuiriber
of people on the wharves of the town. As iiiiglit have
been expected, the eireuiiistauce caused great iiicligiiation.
In the evening Capt. Reid of the Liberty was czaptured by
a uuituber of people on Long VVl,1arf. A deruaiicl was made
for the man who had fired the musket at Capt. lJ2?tCfl{WC)O(l.
By threats the people compelled Capt. Reid to order his
men on shore, that the offender niiiglit be discovered.
After all hands, except the mate, had left the Liberty, 21.
number of persons boarded the sloop, sent the mate away,
cut her cables and brought her to the Wharf; Auothe1‘* ae-
eoulit claims that she was allowed to drift ashore at the
point. EVe1*ytl1i1ig Valualvle was talsteu out, and the ves-
sel scuttled. A crowd of men and boys Cl1'agg'ecl_ her
boats up Long VVl1arf, tlirougli the Parade and Broad
street, and buruetl them on the comiinou, oppositei the

pound. They were pulled aloiig with such force that

when the heels, which were shed with ‘iron, struel; the

stones of the street,” they left a stream of fire several feet

long.

The issue of the J\?’?:2'z/_2p07°t _Zl1carc:'2m*;¢/ of July 81, 1769, has A

the following item: “Last Saturday afternoon the sloop
Liberty was floated by a liigli tide, drifted over to Great

island, and is g1*<:>111i(le(‘l. at the north end, very near A

Where the pirates are buried. What this proguostieates,
We leave to the determination of astrologers.” The issue
of the same paper for August 7, 1769, one week later, has

this notice: “Last Moudayeveniug, just after the storm
of rain, hail and ligl1tui11g', the Liberty sloop, Whicli we 

11

have mentionecl in ou:l* last to lmve él1'iffted to G(_):1%Ll3 islemgl,
near Where the pirates were l")11I'.l€Cl, was Lliscoverecl on fire;
and she eoi1tinne(l bnmirig for seve1*a.lpd:s1.ys, till alnilost
entirely eo11su111ed.” T 

In the course of these p1*oeeedix1gs, the sloop els.in1e<.l to
l1eve eontra.ba11cl goods on b<;>arcl nlede her escape. The
brig‘, after ente1*i.ng her e:;n'go at the custom l1<:>1‘1se,-’»***1*e-
oeivedl1e1' papers, mid sailed. This event ettmeted Wide-
Sp1‘€:EL(l attention zéuncl. e.sto11ishme11t. A Ki1:1g’s ship l;1a,<:l
been destroyed by his turbulent subjects. In response to

T at 1:ne1no1‘ie1 presentecl by the Collector zmcl S1oo11'Veyc:>1* of the

Port and the Compt1'o1le1' of His M"a.jesty’s Qustolns f<:n* the
Colony, a, fo1‘111a,l‘ I)1’OCl£LITlf1€LtlC)I1 V-WLS issued by Gov. VVzL11to1:1,
on July 91, 1769, with the 2';L(l.V'lCG of 811011 1fnembe1*s of His
Majesty’s Council as eonlcl eo11ve1t1iently be called tog;etl1e1*,
clireeting the oflicers of the colony “to use their utinost en-
cleavors, to iliquire after mid cli.seoVe1' the persons gmitilty <:>f
the ief<)1*eea,i<:l e1*i1nes, tlmt they nxey be le)1'o11g}:1t to jnsti_ee.”

On August 28, the revenue l7f)(:)2M"(il in Boston ofl*'e1'ed i it
1'eWa,1*<:l of one l1und1'e(l pounds ste1'1ing for it1l1fo1'1112a.ti<:)o1e1
that would leacl to the conviction CA’ the (")l,'Tl2i("51§l.(;il.(-31‘ or ofl’en(l.-
ers. They were however, never z:n;'1'este(l. The €L1‘1"1'16Cl

sloop Liberty was clestroyed nearly six years before the

battle of Lexington.

These three instances indicate the temper of the people
OfVN6WpOTt and Rhode Island, long befo1*e the eo1:nmenooe~

ment of active hostilities in the Revolution. 9 Tl1ei1'enter-
A prise, detern:1ina,tio11 and eonragewon the honor of St1‘ll{lI”1g

the first blow for freedonzu. Rl1ode Island can justly elexizn

thefirst overt act on thepart of the colonistsi in resisting

12

the eno1‘oe.ehn1ente of the Englieli g<)Ve1'111‘11et1t. The Boeton
11'1aeeae1°e took place l\f[a.1*cl1 5, 17 7 O, nea.1‘ly eiglit months a,fte1-
the deet1:'uetion of the Liberty". A little over two y'e:su'e

A after this occurrence, on June 9 and 10, 1772, an i111po1*ta,11t

event l1a,ppe11ed in Rhode Island. It is 111111eceeea.1'y before
this ztucliencze, and with the limited time at our disposal, to
take up the Clellilllfié of the <;leet1'neti<:>11 of the (?}a.e1)ee.
Although enti1'el.y  p1‘iva.te expedition, not p11l;;>lielny oonn—
t.e11z2n1ceCl by the .:emtlo1o1*itiee of the colony, it 131‘-oeeecled in
:1 most orderly 1n::u1ne1*. Public: notice of the intention to

destroy the G.€:tepee, and of the meeting ]_1T)l2LC3€: for o1'g‘zt11ize- A

tion, Wee given zit the beat of d.1'1m:1 in the etreete of
P1'oVidenc:.e. At the time zilticl place atppciiiited those pre-
sent formed unde1*thei1* reepeetive lemle1*e, :;t11(l,i1t1 obedience
to orfclere, quietly 1n:;~1.1i111e<:l the boziite that l’1«‘j-‘Lttl been pro-
vided. The ettztek upon the (ilztepee wee n1a.de under the
eoniiiiend of C2:L]_')l3. Anl31'eln2u1*:1 VVhi.ppl.e. The erszpedition
was clearly on the ()lli€11S'i.V€3.. It 11ml fit ee1'te,i11 definite

A object, located at _a, dietz=.u1ee.e It ::Leoo111pliel1ed its purpose A

A with the discipline of 1'eg11la.1*ly (:;>1e*ge,11izecl f<:>1'cee. It was

entirely etieeeesfiil. The llhiglieli e1;1et::ti1‘1ed the only :i11jnry

inflicted. None of the nttaeliiiig 1:>e1‘ty were in any Way

l1a;1“111iecl, nor were their boats Llaximgecl. A T
This event ooour1'ed a little otter eigl*1tee11 months before

the cleetruetion of the tea in Boston, and at little leee than

three years before the battle of Lexington. A
On May 5, 1775, hardly ft fortnight after the battle of
Lexington, the people of New Bedford fitted out an ex-

pedition that captured one of the prizes to the English A

vessel Ff;Ll.(3OI1, from Te. hz~n?le)<)1* in Ma.1'the’e ‘7l11.€3‘y£?LI.‘d. May it

 <;.\,§_§«:—j-,...mr  .._i.

i 153

11, 1775, or, neet *c1i11g to some :tut1rs1<:)1'ities, June 132, 1.775,
the people of Mztczliizts, in Wlfizztt  now Maine, o:1pt111'eci,
after a galiétllt fight, the King’s schooner Me1'ga1'etta.
Both of these inc.ide11ts,‘1ike the destruc:tie<{:>1t1 of the Graspee,
were the result of privzitte enterprise. Neither VV£:L% author-
ized by eo1o11ia,1 or .1-t1’1y other an.thority. The action off

1\’Iae11ies, eiici the cenptt11'e of the prifi/.e of the Fzta.1e<:>1i, both V

occurred 1T1€ELI'iy ‘three years :':*Lft8.1;‘ the Ci(%$t:1'1.1(2ti(it)I,1 of the

(fihispee.

A In June, 1775, Clnpt. Jzmies 'VV:t1l.~:1,c:e, in His  »

frigate R<:>se, i:1::td 1:1‘1z;n;i_e liiniself _prn'tiie.111a.1_‘1y ofl*'e.nsive to

A the i1111abit.a11ts of R1*1o<]e Is1::L1::1d by his vigo1*(::>11s zmotioxi in

i11te1*fe1*ii1*1g* With the c.on1'1;ne1'ee <:.>f the eolimy. A sharp
eorrespo11(:1enee in 1'e]tz<Lti<:r>11 t<:::> this S1lii)j€3(3t1;‘)£l.E:t‘5e(.1 between
\V:2L1ha,ee mid D epnt Grov‘e1*1iix<:>1' O<";><;t>]<;e of iR:i..1(I)(1@ Islmiicl.
A packet, recently ez.pt111*e<1 by the 13{.<:>se,_ 1:m(7:1 been e1*111e<:i
mid 111:Et11I1e(Z'i  :31. tenuiler to the f1'igztte, maid iiind serionslry
interrupted the tr1.*a,d.e of the czoloniiste. June 15, the eolony
fitted out zémd eoitnniissioned two z;m‘1:1ed. Vessels, which it
pizieed under the C',(I)1‘IT111'1£‘t.I[1.(L-’3i of A.i"'L)1'2?L}1£L1"Ill "Whipple, with the

tI'£1.1'l1{i of eomiiiociore. 'With his iistmi eelerity and ‘ enter-

prise, upon the smtxie (Jay tlmt he received his z2tnt1'1o1‘ity to
act, Ooinniodore VV11i1;>p1e woeeeded in seztroli of the tender
of the'Rose. In the lower iC)i€1.y the Vessels ezmie togetlier.
Sharp firing ensued 1113011 both sides. The result of the
action turned in fzétvor of theR11oc1eIs1anél vessels, and
the tender was driven eshorei on Cona._11iout _IiS]aI1d.

On the re-ea.pturedvesse1 were found four swivels, seven-%
A teen‘ stands ofva1'1ns,i a, nnlnber of pistols, cntlasses, and
other naval Inateirial. This action was the first collision

let

between a duly coininissioned vessel in the se1'vi_ce of any
of the colonies and any portion of His Majesty’s navy.
To Coniinodore ‘Whipple is due the honor of firing the first
cannon upon the seas, during the Revolution, agziiiist a
vessel of the El1gl.lSlTl fleet. A (:lifl:’erenc-,e will be noticed be»
tween this event and those that l.1EtV6 heretofore been men-
tioned. The former instances were all the result of private
enterp1*ise, l§l11:ll1l3lI1C>1'lZ€*/(ll by surly oflicial authority. Com-
modore ‘Whipple and hisco1npa11i<:>ns in the two armed
vessels, on the contramy, ofiicially represented the colony of

Rhode Island.'’‘‘

Connnodo1'e Abraliantl VVhipple, whose individuality so
forcib'ly impressed itself upon the history of Rhode Island
cl111*i11g the Revolution, was a person of unusual importance.
He was the leader in many g‘ELll’:3lI"l‘l3 actions. On his Way home
froln F1‘£*:.tl'lC'.€5 in the sunrliner of 1778, in the frigate Provi-
dence, of 28 f_..§u11s, laaving in conipany and under his C()1"l1-
mand the Boston and the Ranger, a dense fog was encoun-
tered on the lij).‘a,1Tll.<{S of Newfonnillaiful. The Providence,
chancing to be the leading ship, occasionally rang her bell
to notify her consorts. An Eiiglisll 74-g*1111 ship, hearing
the sound, bore up in that direction. Before the crew of
the Providence Were aware of their danger, the English-

man was close aboard. The 74,l1aving all her ports closed
and lying rather deep in the Water, had much the appear- V

ance of a nierchantnian. Upon being hailed, the English
oflicer ordered“ the damned rebel to strike his colors, drop

A under his stern, and send the boat aboard.” It so happened

* Tlie English offiicialiaccount of this action, obtained from the Admiralty Records, London.
Eng,-1a11d,.ca11 be found at the Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, R. I.

15

at that time that the eolors of the Providence were not
flyi.1ig. Coin. l'l.l1“')1".)l6 answered the hail of the 'B1'i.tei.el1
ofi‘ieer with an "‘Aye, aye, air.” He i1n.1.nediately' <:>1'de1'e<:l a.
few men aloft to manipulate the sails, af1.i1:)a1*e11t'ly in eon]-
plianee with the order of the .hh1gl‘ie111L:11a1e1. He quietly
ordered the men belmv to hurriedly prepa1"e for a broad-
eide. The ports of the l7.’rovii(:lenee were not open at the
time. His aetlione l;>eing; e<:>1'11eWl1at slow the E1l1gl'lSl11.l‘1£tl'l
beeanie impatient, fmreibly repeateczl hie 01‘(TlEh1‘, c.o1;1pled. with
the threat of firing into the Provideiiee. VVl1ipple replied

that he “ could not haul down his eolore until he had run

them up.” He then berated the sailor for not executing
hie orders more prornptly. The man lriad. heen diieeted to
hoist the eolore, but not to lflftllli i:l”1€’»1‘1.'1 down z1.g2il1.i.1l1 111i1de1*
pain of death. By the time these ei1‘emn,etae11eeehad<:>eeur1'ed
upon deck, eve1'ytl*1i1"1g was ready hel.oW. The flag was flyin
at the masthead. The frigate was a.p.p1~<:>a.c-.l1i11g an exeellerit
position under the stern of i the British eliip. WlTll};)l)l.e

vvatehecl hie veeeel CE-L].‘€%fl§1ll.y’, and at the 1i>1‘ope1' 1fnon:1ent

gave the signal by etarnping upon the (‘..]_11£lI"iZ.€‘11‘—{l€Cl.{i. The

ports of the Providence flewopen, and with a full. h1*<;:>a(l side

she raked the ]*3I1g‘l.l.Sh1I12EM'1 fronfi a moat ad evra11tageoL1e p<:>eitio1‘1.

There was no time to remove the tompione of the g1.111'e,
and they Went into the etern of the H with the elfiot. In

epeaking of the event aftervvarcl, the OO1”.11’l;’11(?)(l_()1"6 eaid that
he “heard a terrible emaehing a,11101’.]g‘ the eroelcezryware in
the cabin.” The 74 was entirely unprepa1°edf<:.)1* eueh a
result. iConfneion and astonishment eaileed considerable

T delay. By thetitne the Englishman was ready tolook.
after his nimble antagonist, the Providence had been lost

16

in the fog upon e.n<::>tl1e:1* l3€L(3l.{. Her e<:t>nso1'ts, \m,1*1:1ecl hy
the noise of the ez1.1111o11:u‘1e, sueoee<:;:le(l. in :Lv*oi<l;ing the
enemy, e1~1<;l the e11ti1*e S(.'1"L1£iLL'l1‘O1'1 sho1*tly :*;ifte1'vm1*(:l reaolied
Boston in sefenty.

The e<:>11fii,ots l:)(~3t\?V€H:31T1. the liliiglisli :;m(l the Rliocle Isilm1<;El—
ers were to a, eo11si<;le1.'e.l;,>le extent upoii the ‘w::ite1o'. So
much of the te1*1'it<,>1'y of the State h<l)r(le1'e<;l eitlieif iiipon
the sea or upon Nzt1°1*zxgzt11set.t lizty, thzitt most of the eel-
lisions between the <:.>pp<;>si11g f<o>1'oes were see fi,gl;;1ts. The
p6C*.L‘lll.:3.1‘Sll3lf1:3Ltl(:)11 of the eol,o11n_y'fo1'c:ecl 11po1_1  zittelitiori

the l.11'1pL'”.)1't£-l.11(”3E?. of 1e;1,1ei11t2?Li,11ing‘ the Ct£:L1'l.E~3€ of the eolonists

, upon the <:>ee:;i,11. The success of‘ her peoplne in v:.:u*io1,o1.s eon-

flicts on the We.te1*, 11zLtn1*e,lly t1m.1e<;l hex‘ zittention i3(;')\"V£l,1"(;l
at na,vy. In Atigiist, 1775, tl;1eGe.11eml Asse1_t1'1l;)ly i11st‘1*noteLl
the Rliocle Islencil <lelegetes i1'1Co11gress “ to use their whole
influence for the b11llLll.l1g‘, at the CIo1‘1ti11e1‘1t:a,1 expense, :1,
fleet of sufifieient force £01‘ the protection of these eol<:>11iies,
e,n(lfo1' en1ploying them in such 111e1111e1° .EL1'1(il, pleeesas will
n'1osteffeet11a,lly ::1,nnoy our enennies, :&L'I1(Il eontribllte to the
common defence of these eolo11ies.” Qetol;>e1* 3, Messrs.
Hopkins and VV.-:u'cl, the 1’€§p'1"€3S611t£1tlV€5S of Rhode Islzmcl in

the Continental Cong1*ess, presentecl these instl-notions to

that bocly. October 18, one vessel was o1'cle1'ie<;l by Con-

gress, zmcl £1, inarine eoinniittee appointed. B27L11C1'(‘).'f13 states, =

after oitixng these ei1'on1nsta.niees, “This was the origin of

A A our m:wy.”

The inception, tl1e1‘efo1:'e, of the A111e1*ioe,11 imvy is due to
the early aeti<)11 of the people of Rllode Island, a.I1(‘l to the

f<.:>1*11121.l resolution of the Geiieml Assembly of the oolony.

The logieelo11tc.<3me of the events 1*eeited_ oeo111*1:*ecl. A dur-T

1‘?

ing the Gre11e1'al. Assembly of I*thode Island, lield in May,
1776. The dift’erences hetween Englmud and the colonies
could not be reconciled. Following the self-respecting, in-
dependent and courageous course that the colony had pur-
sued from the outset, the Gieiieml Assembly psssecl, on
May 4, 17 7 6, by a 11I1€L11l111011S vote in the upper house, and
the vote of every ineniher of the lower house except six,

the following clecl::n'etic>1,‘1:

“ An set, 1'epeeli11g an act entitled ‘ An act for the more efl'eot-
ually secu1'i11g' to His Majesty the elleg'ia.11oe, of his subjects, in
this colony ztnd dominion of Rhode Islztnd and Providence Plenta,-
tions,’ and a.lteri11g* the forlin of coinlnissions, of 21.11 Writs end pro»-
cesses in the courts, and of the oa.tl1s prescribed by lmv.

“ VVherea.s, in all States existiiig by <;:o1:np:tct, 1')rc:>tectio11 e.11<li

al.legie11ce are 1*eceip1'ocsl., the ls.tte1' l;)ei.11g‘ only due in co1.1seqne1,1c':e
of the former; .-tmcl wl1e1'ea,s, (El-eo1*ge the Tliird, I{"in,<;;' of (Meet
B1'itein, f<)1*g‘etti11,g' his cligxiity, 1'e_s_.§n1'<lless of the ic:<)11:11:m,cts most
solemnly entered into, mti.iie(l etmil eo:nfi1*1:r1e(:l to the i1r1l1.e1;>ite.11ts of
this colony by his il,l11st1'ions a.neesto1's, ::it1,i1cl,i till. of late, fully re-
cognized by l1i111,~—~e,11cli entirely i<leps1*ti11g;; ,f1‘()11"1 the duties slid
cl1e1'aete1* of £1. go<:>cl Ki11§,il11SfGiL(il of 1:')1*otec:tin.e;*,  01.1(Zl(%€tV’OI‘i1'1g‘ to
destroy tliegoocl people of this eolony, zmcl of all the United
Colonies, by sending fleets srtnd a.r1nies to A1‘1'1€-3I‘l(3::t to confiscate
our property, and spread fire, sword, e11c1 desolation tl11'o11gl‘1o11t
our eonntr , in order to compel us to subrnit to the most clebesixig

end detestable tyranny; ”Wl131‘6li>y,W€: are <:)hlig'ed by necessity,
and it becomes our litighest duty, to use every Illeé-‘V118’ with fwl1ich

Grod elicl ne,ture have furnished us, in su1:)1:)o1't of our invallleble

rights and privileges, to ,oppose tlliet power, which is exertecl only

for our destruction. r t i

,“ Be it therefore enacted by this Gre11erel Asseinhly, amid by the
autlioritythereof it is enacted, that an act entitled‘ An act for the l r

3‘.

118

more effectually securing to His Majesty the allegiance of his sub-
jects, in this his colony and doxninion of Rhode Island and Provi-
dence Plantations,’ be, and the same is hereby repealed.

‘‘ And be it further enacted by this General Assembly, and by

,, the authority thereof it is enacted, That in all coininissions for

oflices, civil and military, and in all writs and processes in law,
Whether original, judicial, or executory, civil or criminal, wherever
the name and authority of the said King is made use of, the same
shall be omitted, and in the room thereof the name and authority
of the Grovernor and Company of this colony shall be substituted,
in the following Words, to wit : ‘ The Clrovernor and Company of
the English Colony of Rhode Island and l?rovidence Plantations.’
That all such cominissions, writs, and processes, shall be other-»
wise of the same form and tenure as they lieretofore Were; that
the Courts of Law be no longer entitlednor considered as the
Ki;ng’s Courts; and that no instrurnent in \vi'iti11g, of any natu1'e
or kincl, whetlier public or private, shall, in the date thereof, 1nen—-
tionth_e year of the said King’s reign: Provided, 11e'vertl1eless,

i that nothing in this act contained, shall render void or vitiate any

coininission, writ, process, or instrument heretofoie made or GK“
ecuted, on account of the name and authority of the said Ki,1'1g
loeing therein insertecl.”

Two months, therefore, before the De.claration of Inde-
pendence at Philadelphia, the Colony of Rhode Island and

lE’1*ov*iclei1ce Plantations had, in,the most fornial nrianner, by

l , act of the duly elected representatives of the colony, at a

 

legal session of the (.3‘re11era,1 Assenibly, declared its inde-y

pendence 4fI'OI11 the governinent of Great Britain. i‘ In lan-

guage simple and coininendable the premises are stated, 

and the legitimate conclusions therefroni enacted. It .marl;s
l the individualityof Rhode Island in legislation, as the attack A
t A npon theSt. John, and the burning of the Liberty and they

1 fl

Gaspee, sigrial her in War. From the begin1i,i1'1g the

people of the colony met unjust exactions with resistance.  

Their position was taken without waiting for the action

of neigliboring colonies. During this tryiiig period the

colony exhibited an ability to think and act for itself that
1I11{<L1‘l{S it  the most p1'ogressive and deterniined of any in
America. '

Far be it from me in any Way to abate the honor due to
any of the l." have men and gifted o1.*ators of other colonies,
who joined in seciiring the Wonderful. results of the itevo»
lution. None will. more willingly or qtiickly zicec[>1*cl to
tlielin thefull merit of their glorious deeds. Eqiially, how»
ever, is it our duty to preserve the aeitsi of our ancestors in
the gi-ea.t contest. Reereant <.leseend.a1::1ts should We be

indeed if We did not claiipu for the 1’].’161f.1. Wh o 7fi1'e(il on the

St. J oh 11, who destroyed. the Liberty a1;:1<;l the Clrzéispee, ‘VVlTl.(7f)
tEc>1:1.gl1t t11.ii1(l won the first 1'eg1'1lzt1i* 1‘1aVal battle of the Kerr)-

lution, and Who clecreed the inclepeiiclelice of Rlt;1.ocl.e Island,

their mt) her :>laee in histor In f1'ie1'1.<.ll“‘ emulatioifi we
l A . . A
present the recorcl‘ of their deeds, and vig-<:);1.'<;>11sl;y dent1_an<tl
the 1‘e(T:C)gl1'ltl.(i>Il that  their due. T he }t1or1<t>r ‘pe1:'tai1:1i1:1g to
the first overt act to the ‘firsts eo.nsiderable ex ::»e<liti.on to
7 p . 7
the first formal naval battle to the iynce :>tion of and de-
. ? ,

iinalid for the creation of a navy and to the first State to
_ y 7 y

forrnalll declare its incle "iendence of Great “Britain is rirl1t-
: E:

fully ours, and should be jealously niaintainedg The his»

tory of the events 1'esulti1ig in that niionientous contest for
human liberty proclaims that in the War of the Revolution
Rhode Island led. p_   A