C3 25
1.4
CGp.2

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Gift of
Edith and Maude Wetmore
in memory of their father ¦
George Peabody Wetmore
B.A. 1867

RHODE ISLAND

Historical Tracts.

1^0. 6.

PEOyiDENCE :
ilDNBT S . BIDKK.
1878.

Copyright by
SIDNEY S. EIDEK.
1878.
CbP, Z

PKINTED EY FEOVIDENCE PKESS COMPANY,

THE

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Battle of Rhode Islai^d,

AT POItTSMOUTH, R. T., ADGl'ST 29, 1878.

COMPELLING

The Oration by Ex -United States Senatoe Samuel G. Arnold;
A Letter of Sir Hkney Pigot, the English Commander;
A German Account of the BATTtE;
The ViE'wrs OF General Lafayette.

FEOVIDENCE :
SI DNEY S. RIDR R.
1878.

Copyright by
SIDNEY S. EIDEE.
1878.

. y MAP or p^,i,T OF RHOnE ISLAXB

'¦'.'/':'/ ¦I'I'/II.'.'/ /y-T,V.

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE.

The Historical Tract herewith presented comprises accounts
of the Battle of Ehode Island by three of the four nationalities
engaged in the conflict — the American, the German and the
English. An opinion held by Lafayette also appears. How
nearly this battle came to being the close of the Revolutionary
'War may be seen from these papers. General Lafayette's opin
ion was clear: "I believe that this capture would have pro
duced the same decisive result of speedily terminating the
American 'War as was subsequently accomplished by the capture
of nearly the same army at Yorktown, by the successful coope
ration of the French fleet under Count de Grasse under similar
circumstances." The occurrence of the centennial anniversary of the Battle
of Rhode Island on the 29th of August, 1878, was made the
occasion of a proper celebration of the event by the First Light
Infantry Veteran Association of Providence.
Many invited guests participated in the festivities, prominent
among them were the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford. The pro
cession through the streets of Providence was very fine, the line
was long, the uniforms of the various corps were very tasteful.

b PUBLISHERS NOTE.
and the drums and flfes and the music of the bands inspiring.
The day was all that could be desired. The entire line took
steamers to Bristol Ferry, where, disembarking, they marched
under a hot sun and over dusty roads to the scene of the battle.
The houses along the route were covered with flags, and the
entire population turned out en masse. On the old battle ground
an immense tent had been erected, beneath which the literary
exercises were to take place, and tables and seats provided for
the great crowd to dine.
An address of welcome was made by George Manchester,
Esq., Sheriff of Newport County, and Governor Van Zandt
spoke likewise a few words of welcome to the guests from Con
necticut, after which Lieutenant-colonel Henry Staples intro
duced the Honorable Samuel G. Arnold, Ex-United States Sena
tor of Rhode- Island, as the Orator of the Day. The oration
being flnished, the entire party partook of a Rhode Island clam
bake during which many capital speeches were made by promi
nent people, and mirth and laughter followed the many stories
which were told, after which the great crowd departed for their
homes.

ORATIOI^

BY THE '

HOT^. SAMUEL G. AEI^OLD,

Ex. UNITED STATES SENATOE OF EHODE ISLAND.

THE OEATION.

The second of December, 1776, was a dark day
for Rhode Island. It was the prelude to a mili
tary occupation by an overwhelming hostile force
which for nearly three years was to hold the Island,
the strategic key to Southern New England, and to
spread terror aud destruction over a wide extent of
country. This occupation of the island was not to
cease till a desperate battle had bathed in blood its
fairest fields, and "the best fought action ofthe war"
had proved to a long defiant foe that the entrench
ments of Newport were no longer secure. On that
day a squadron of eleven ships of war, — seven line
of battle ships and four frigates — under Sir Peter
Parker, appeared off Block Island, and the next day
sailed up the Sound to convoy a fleet of seventy

10 HISTORICAL TRACT.
transports having on board about six thousand troops
destined for Newport. All the militia of the State
were immediately under arms. Expresses were sent
as far as New Hampshire to summon aid. A new
regiment was ordered to be drafted at once, and one
full regiment of Providence county militia volun
teered for service on the island without awaiting the
draft. The women and children in the seaboard
towns were advised to move with their furniture to
the interior. Prisoners of war were placed on board
Commodore Hopkins's ships, or sent into the coun
try for security. The stock on Ehode Island and
Conanicut was driven off. Warwick Neck was de
fended by Colonel John "Waterman's Kent county
regiment, Pawtuxet by Colonel Samuel Aborn, and
Tower Hill by Colonel Joseph Noyes. There were
about seven hundred troops on the island under Bri
gadier-general West.
Such was the state of affairs when, on the seventh
of December, the British fleet entered the bay, and
rounding the north end of Conanicut, anchored off
the Middletown shore. On the following day the
army disembarked, one regiment on Long Wharf in

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 11
Newport, the main body at Greensdale, and after a
night of pillage, the next morning marched into
Newport. A large portion of them were quartered
at the farm houses on the island during the winter.
The American troops left the island and encamped
at Tiverton and Bristol. The invading army was led
by Sir Henry Clinton, with Earl Percy second in
command, under whom was Major-general Prescott.
It comprised four regiments of British infantry, one
of artillery, and a corps of light horse, besides seve
ral Hessian regiments, one of which, the Auspachers,
was composed of men, none of whom were less than
six feet in height.
The appeal for aid was promptly answered. From
Massachusetts came the Bristol and Plymouth coun
ty brigades under Godfrey and Cushing, with three
regiments and a train of artillery from Worcester
and Boston, dispatched by the Legislature. From
Connecticut came three regiments and five compan
ies, with a small body of artillery, sent by Governor
Trumbull. These were quartered at all the defensi
ble points on each side of the bay.
The State and the island were two great hostile

12 HISTORICAL TRACT.
camps. Providence was given up to military occu
pation. Many of the inhabitants moved away, the
college exercises were suspended, and the building
was used as barracks, and later as a military hospital.
The Assembly met at Providence and appointed a
Council of War to manage affairs when it was not in
session, and requested the other New England colo
nies to send committees to Providence to devise
means for raising an army, and thus relieve the mili
tia now in the field. A brigade of three regiments
was raised for fifteen months service, under command
of General Varnum. Two of these regiments were
infantry, of seven hundred and fifty men each, com
manded by Colonels Benjamin Tallman and Joseph
Stanton, and one of artillery, under Colonel Robert
Elliott, of three hundred men. General Malmedy,
a French officer, was appointed chief engineer and
director of the works of defence. Major-general
Lincoln was' sent to Providence to take the chief
command. On the twentieth of December, martial law was
proclaimed by the Council of War. On the twenty-
third, the General Assembly met at Providence, and

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 13
on the twenty-fifth, the New England Convention of
three members from each State also met. The two
bodies consulted together, and it was advised that an
army of about six thousand men should be concen
trated in this State. Of this force, nineteen hundred
men were to be furnished by Massachusetts, eleven
hundred by Connecticut, three hundred by New
Hampshire, and eighteen hundred by Ehode Island,
besides one thousand Continental troops.
The return of General Clinton to England in Jan
uary, 1777, left Lord Percy in command of the hos
tile force. He was succeeded in July by General
Pigot, after the capture of General Prescott by Col
onel Barton. During the winter the British erected
batteries on the heights at the east side of the island
near Fogland Ferry, and also at the north on Butts
Hill. Meanwhile two battalions were enlisted for
the Continental service, the first commanded by Col
onel Christepher Greene, the second by Colonel
Israel AngeU.
Great efforts were made in October ('77) to drive
the enemy from the island. General Spencer, then
in command in this State, had charge of the expedi-
2

14 HISTORICAL TRACT.
tion. The British force at' this time numbered about
four thousand men. Four regiments, two British
and two Hessians, were posted on Windmill Hill,
one was on Butts Hill, and two near Newport, while
a corps of Grenadiers and light infantry held Fogland
Ferry. Nearly nine thousand men assembled for the
attack, which was to be made from Tiverton. But a
deficiency of boats and a protracted storm so dis
heartened the troops that many withdrew and the
attempt was abandoned. A court of inquiry exon
erated Spencer, but his prestige as a commander was
gone, and in December he resigned from the army.
He was succeeded in the command at Rhode Island
by Major-general John Sullivan,
Upon the expiration of the fifteen months for
which the State brigade had enlisted, most of the
men were re-enlisted for one year under General Cor
nell. Colonel Archibald Crary succeeded Tallman
in the first battalion, and Colonel John Topham suc
ceeded Stanton in the second. Colonel Robert Elli
ott remained in command of the artillery. An im
portant movement was made early in 1778 at the
suggestion of General Varnum, approved by Wash-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 15
ington. This was the enlistment of a negro regi
ment, for which purpose Colonel Greene and the
officers of his battalion at Valley Forge were sent
home upon the consolidation of the two Rhode Island
battalions at that camp into one. This was the first
instance of the employment of colored troops in tho
history of the country. Let it be remembered that
this plan was suggested by a Ehode Island General,
James M. Varnum ; that it was approved by George
Washington ; that it was perfected by the line offi
cers of a Rhode Island regiment. Colonel Christo
pher Greene, Lieutenant -colonel Jeremiah Olney,
and Major Samuel Ward, with their subalterns ; and
that the ranks were filled by Rhode Island slaves
who were freed by the act of enlistment, and their
owners compensated at a valuation by the General
Assembly. Presently we shall see what brilliant re
sults came from this new measure. In less than six
months from the organization of the black regiment
it was brought into action by Colonel Greene, and
settled conclusively this disputed question of the ca
pacity of colored troops, well drilled and well offi
cered, to make brave and reliable soldiers. Nearly

16 HISTORICAL TRACT.
a century later the question was raised again by
those who, ignorant of their country's history, de
nied the ability of a despised and persecuted race to
fight the battles of freedom, forgetting that
" Not to the swift nor to the strong
The battles of the right belong ;
For he who strikes for freedom wears
The armor of the captive's prayers.
And Nature proffers to his cause
The strength of her eternal laws."
And once more, through the long conflict for the
Union, the newly-made freedmen fought on South
ern soil, as their ancestors had fought in Rhode Isl
and, while the storming of Port Hudson and the
mine at Petersburg bore witness to the desperate
valor of the colored recruits.
The attack on Warren and Bristol on the twenty-
fifth of May, 1778, by a British force of six hundred
men, sent to destroy some boats in the Kickemuit
river, caused a session of the General Assembly and
the calling out of additional troops to protect the
State. The arrival off Newport, of a French fleet
of twelve ships of the line and four frigates, under

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 17
Count DeEstaing, on the twenty-ninth of July, was
the signal for iraportant operations. Meanwhile
British reinforcements were rapidly reaching New
port. Seven thousand men occupied the island,
while General Sullivan had but sixteen hundred in
the field, and the other New England States had
neglected to send their quotas. One-half of the
effective force of the State was called out on the
first of August, and the remainder was held ready
for instant service. Major-general Greene and Bri
gadier-general Glover arrived from the army and
volunteered for the approaching expedition. These
were followed by the Marquis de Lafayette. Two
Continental brigades, Varnum's and Glover's, with
two companies of artillery from the army at White
Plains, arrived on the third of August.
The destruction of British armed vessels, caused
by the presence of the French fleet was considerable.
Three were blown up in Seaconnet river, and four
frigates and a corvette were beached and burned on
Rhode Island ; others were burned in Newport har
bor and sunk to obstruct the entrance. On the
eighth, DeEstaing entered the harbor and the British

18 HISTORICAL TRACT.
destroyed their two remaining ships. In all two
hundred and twelve guns were thus silenced by the
French fleet. Volunteers from the neighboring States
rapidly gathered, and on the ninth. General Sullivan
with ten thousand men began to cross from Tiverton
to the north end of the island. At the same time
four thousand French troops, intending to co-ope
rate with Sullivan, landed on Conanicut. But that
evening a British fleet of thirty-six sail, under Lord
Howe, appeared in sight. The French troops reem-
barked that night, and the next morning DeEstaing
put to sea to engage the enemy. Sullivan occupied
the abandoned forts at the north part of the island,
and the British fell back within their lines, about
three-fourths of a mile from Newport, burning the
houses in their retreat. Colonel Livingston with a
strong detachment advanced within a mile and a half
of the hostile lines, and orders were issued for an
advance of the whole army the next morning. The
right wing was commanded by Major-general Greene,
the left by General Lafayette, the second line, com
posed of Massachusetts volunteers, by General Han
cock, and the reserve by Colonel West. But that

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 19
night a terrible storm arose which lasted for two
days. The rival squadrons were dispersed and not
heard from for several days. Some of the ships were
dismasted. The tents were blown down, and the
army, exposed to cold and rain, suffered greatly. -
On the morning of the fifteenth, Sullivan advanced
his whole army and encamped within two miles of
the British lines, which extended from To no my Hill
to Easton's Pond. That night a force occupied Hon-
eyman's Hill, on the enemy's right, within half a
mile of their front works on Bliss's Hill. For five
days, from the sixteenth to the twentieth, an inces
sant cannonade was kept up along the lines, aud the
enemy were compelled to evacuate some of their out
works. Meanwhile, on the seventeenth, the Council
of War called out the remaining one -half of the
effective force of the State to supply the loss of the
French auxiliaries.
An embargo was laid on all vessels for one week
to allow their crews to join the expedition. The
return of the French fleet- on the twentieth greatly
encouraged the besiegers, who now felt certain of
capturing the entire British force within forty-eight

20 HISTORICAL TRACT.
hours. But this hope was destined to a bitter dis
appointment. In vain did Greene and Lafayette, at
the instance of Sullivan, endeavor to persuade De
Estaing, to co-operate in the reduction of Newport.
The admiral sailed the next day (twenty-first) for
Boston to refit. The American officers drew up a
protest against his departure *at Such a crisis, which
Lafayette refused to sign. A fast vessel was Sent
to overtake the fleet and deliver the protest to
DeEstaing. Congress submitted this paper to the French min
ister, Gerard, whose secret dispatch to the Count de
Vergennes relating to it, which many years ago was
shown to me through the courtesy of the then Min
ister of Marine, closes with the sententious comment,
" Malheureusement ce pays est peuple de tetes exal-
tees." Sullivan's army was demoralized by this un
toward event. Great numbers of the volunteers
withdrew. All but one of the enemy's outworks
had already been carried, and it was the general's
intention to storm the works. But it was found that
only fifty-four hundred effective troops remained. It
was therefore decided to fall back on the fortified

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 21
hills at the north, and await the return of thc French
fleet. The retreat began in the evening of the twenty-
eighth, and by two o'clock that night the army en
camped on Butts 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 Fleury 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 twenty-ninth the British
army in two columns marched out by the two roads.
At seven o'clock the battle began. Similar scenes
have been too sadly familiar to the present genera
tion to require a detailed description in order to
bring them before the mind in all the horror, the
excitement and the sublimity of war.
Perhaps no poet in the English tongue has drawn
so vivid a picture of a battle field in so brief terms
as Proctor in "The Fight of Ravenna" :

22 HISTORICAL TRACT.
" Oh the bellowing thunders,
The shudders, the shocks,
'When thousands 'gainst thousands,
Come dashitig like rocks ;
'When the rain is all scarlet,
And clouds are half flre.
And men's sinews are snapped
Like the strings of a lyre,
'When each litter 's a hearse
And each bullet a knell,
'When each breath Is a curse,
And each bosom a hell 1 "
But the battle bard of Scotland sang of another
and a greater fight, in strains that depict in terrible
detail some of the incidents in this which we are met
to celebrate :
" I'ar other harvest home and feast
Than claims the boor from scythe released,
On these scorched flelds were known ;
Death hovered o'er the maddening route,
And from the thrilling battle shout,
Sent for the bloody banquet out,
A summons of his own.
Through rolling smoke the demon's eye
Could well each destined guest espy,
¦WeU could his ear in ecstacy

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 23
Distinguish every tone
That fllled the chorus of the fray.
From cannon roar and trumpet bray,
Prom charging squadron's wild hurrah.
And the loud clang that marked their way,
Down to the dying groan.
And the last sob of life's decay
¦When breath has all but flown.
Feast on, stern foe of mortal life.
Feast on 1 but think not that a strife
¦With such promiscuous carnage rife.
Protracted space may last.
The deadly tug of war at length
Must limits flnd in human strength,
And cease when these are passed.
Vain hope I That morn's o'erclouded sun
Heard the wild shout of flght begun
Ere he attained his height ;
And through the war- smoke volumed high
Still peals that unremitted cry,
Though now he stoops to night.
For ten long hours of doubt and dread
Fresh succors from the extended head
Of either hiU the contest fed ;
StiU down the slope they drew.
The charge of -columns paused not.
Nor ceased the storm of shell and shot,
For all that war could do

24 HISTORICAL TRACT.
Of skill and force was proved that day.
And turned not yet the doubtful fray
On bloody Waterloo.''
So sang Scotland's bard of the bloodiest battle in
British history. Too -SYell do portions of the verse
describe the fearful fight which has made the island
of Rhode Island classic ground to every American
who loves liberty or admires heroic valor.
A series of heavy skirmishes opened the engage
ment, and a regiment was sent to reinforce each of
the two advanced corps, with orders for them to re
tire upon the main body, which was done in perfect
order. The accounts vary as to which column com
menced 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 par
allel with the main road. A broad field enclosed by
stone walls at this corner concealed a portion of the
American picquet. The Union meeting-house now
stands at the southeast angle of this field. Here the

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 25
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 be
fore the British could recover from the shock. Near
ly 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 Ameri
cans, 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 eneraj'^ into their works on Quaker Hill.
Upon the highlands extending north from this hill
the Hessian columns were formed. The American
army was drawn up in three lines, the first in front
of their works on Butts Hill, the second iu rear of
the hill, and the reserve near a creek about half a
mile in rear of the first line. Between the two hills
the distance is about one mile, with low meadow and,
at that time, woodland between. At nine o'clock a
3

26 HISTORICAL TRACT.
heavy cannonade commenced and continued the whole
day. About ten o'clock the British ships of war and
some gunboats came up the bay and opened fire upon
the American 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 be
came general, and for nearly seven hours raged with
fury ; but between ten o'clock and noon 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,
which were composed of the four brigades of Var
num, Cornell, Glover, and Christopher Greene.
Thes& attacks were repulsed with great slaughter.
An eye witness told me that sixty were found dead
in one spot : at another, thirty Hessians M'ere 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

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 27
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 battal
ions 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 gal
lant Lieutenant-colonel Henry B. Livingston. This
furious bayonet charge, says an eye witness, imme
diately threw the balance of victory into the Ameri
can 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.
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 change of command, because he dared
not lead his regiment again to action lest his men
should shoot him for causing them so great a loss.

28 HISTORICAL TRACT.
While the fight was raging on the right and centre
of the line, the Massachusetts brigade, under Gen
eral Lovell, attacked the British right and rear with
complete success. Two heavy batteries brought for
ward to engage the ships of war obliged them to
haul off. The desperate atterapt to turn the Ameri
can flank had failed, and the battle was already won
by Sullivan.
The British retreated to their carap closely pur
sued by the victorious Americans, who captured 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 or food, and continually on the march,
at labor or in battle, compelled him to abandon the
attempt. The hand-to-hand fighting was over early
in the afternoon, but the cannonade continued until
night closed over the hard-fought field. Of the five
thousand Americans engaged only about fifteen hun
dred had ever before been in action. They were op
posed by veteran troops superior in numbers and in
discipline, and with an obstinacy rarely equalled in
the annals of war. These facts justify the comment

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 29
ascribed to Lafayette, that "The Battle on Rhode
Island was the best-fought action of the war."
The total loss of the enemy was one thousand and
twenty -three, that of the Americans two hundred
and eleven.
This brilliant action was scarcely more creditable
to General Sullivan and the officers and men of his
•cofnmand than was the masterly retreat from the isl
and which immediately followed it. In his dispatch
to- Congress, announcing the result, he says: "To
make a retreat in the face of an enemy equal if not
superior in numbers, and across a river without loss,
I know was an arduous task, and seldom accom
plished, if attempted." The causes which compelled
a retreat were imperative. The morning after the
battle Sullivan was advised of the approach of Lord
Howe with five thousand troops for the relief of
Newport, and also that DeEstaing could not return
as soon as had been hoped. The difficulties of the
retreat were great, and are expressed in the dispatch
just quoted. The opposing sentries were within two
hundred yards of each other. Stratagem, prompt
ness and audacity were all required for a successful

30 historical tract.
result ; but Sullivan was equal to the occasion.
Tents were pitched in sight of the enemy, aud nearly
the whole army was employed in fortifying the camp.
Meanwhile the heavy baggage and stores were rap
idly sent to the rear, and ferried across to Tiverton.
An incessant cannonade was kept up through the
day. At dark the tents were struck, the light bag
gage and troops passed down, and before midnight
the main army had safely crossed to the main land.
Lafayette, who had been sent to hasten the move
ments of DeEstaing^ had ridden from Boston in six
and a half hours, and arrived in time to command the
rear guard and bring off the pickets and covering
parties. This was done without the loss of a parti
cle of baggage, although exposed to a heavy fire
from the enemy, from which Sullivan's Life Guard,
under coramand of Aaron Mann, who brought up
the rear, suffered severely. Mann was made a cap
tain, Levi Hoppin first, and George Potter second
lieutenant, and John Westcott, ensign, for gallantry
displayed on that occasion. This retreat was a mas
terly military manoeuvre, and as well-timed as skill
fully conducted, for the next morning the army of

the BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 31
Sir Henry Clinton appeared off Newport. By this
arrival, the British forces were augmented to nearly
eleven thousand men, while the troops under Sulli
van now numbered little more than three thousand.
The thanks of Congress were voted to General Sulli
van and his ai'my for their gallantry in the battle and
their conduct in the retreat, and the approval of
Washington was communicated in general orders.
Thus closed the great military event of the year 1 778.
It has been said by the highest military authority of
our times, the late Duke of Wellington, that a ''vic
tory followed by a retreat is equivalent to a defeat."
Such certainly was not the fact in the case before
us. The battle was itself a victory at every point.
The mooted question of the ability of raw recruits
to cope successfully with disciplined troops, which
had several times before received a bloody but deci
sive solution, was here again determined as to the
larger portion of the army under Sullivan. An
entirely novel experiment, to which reference has
already been made, was likewise tested with signal
success — the value of colored troops as soldiers.
To Major Samuel Ward and the gallant regiment of

32 historical tract.
freedmen, now for the first time under fire, is due the
repulse of the Hessian charge three times repeated at
the most desperate and critical period of the battle.
In that valley at the foot of Anthony's Hill, which
became to so many of friend and foe "the shadow of
death," the war cry of an emancipated race rang out
the prophecy which eighty-four years later received
its tardy fulfillment in the proclamation of Lincoln,
and became an established fact on the surrender at
Appomattox. Again, the battle convinced the invad
ers that the strategic key to the Eastern States could
only be securely held at a cost in troops which crip
pled their operations in other quarters, and fourteen
months later compelled the evacuation of the island,
when in October, 1779, the war was transferred from
Ehode Island to Georgia, and the siege of Newport
gave place to the siege of Savannah.
We have thus briefly sketched the principal inci
dents of the battle, and glanced at its chief results.
An hundred years have passed since that memorable
day. The war clouds that rolled away from this bat
tle ground were the last that have darkened the sun
of Ehode Island. An hundred harvests have since

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 33
been gathered in, and three generations of men have
ploughed and reaped these fields since the tramp of
hostile armies shook the land. And now the grand
sons and the great-grandsons of the men who made
this soil a raodern Marathon, have raet to do honor
to their raeraory.
May the principles of liberty, of justice and of
truth, which here were vindicated in the reeking
blood of our forefathers, never lose their hold upon
the hearts of their descendants ; but may they go
down to remotest generations, the legacy and exam
ple of the wise and good, "to the latest syllable of
recorded tirae" — while of those who perished here it
shall be said :
" On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread ;
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead."

OPERATIONS IN RHODE ISLAND,
SIEGE OF NEWPORT.
Fkom "Die deutschen HUlfsteuppen in noedamekikanischkn
Befeeiungskeiege." 1776 bis 178.?.
By MAX voN EELKING.
Hanovee, 1863. Volume II., Pages 30-44.
compiled feom the
Journals of Captain Feiedrich v. d. Malsburg. Eegiment v.
DiTPURTH, — February, 1776, to 16th November, 1780, —
AND OTHER GERMAN OFFICERS, EyE VViTNESSES AND
Participants in the Affairs described.
teanslated by
J. V7ATTS DB PEYSTER,
Brlgftdicr (Brevet Major) General, 9. N. X.

MILITARY OPEEATIONS IN EHODE ISLAND.

In the course of the events of the year 1778, we
must now turn to Ehode Island, in order to follow,
likewise, the successive occurrences which took place
in that quarter.
The troops stationed there enjoyed, with the
exception of the outpost service and of worrying
attacks on the part of the eneray, tolerable quiet
throughout the winter, the spring and the commence
ment of summer. This quiet was first disturbed by
the approach of the French.
On the twenty-sixth of July, in the evening, the
British sloop-of-war Falcon arrived from New York
in the harbor of Newport, and brought information
from Admiral [Lord Howe] and General Clinton to
General Pigot and Commodore Brisbon [Brisbane] ,
4

38 historical tract.
that the French fleet under Adrairal DeEstaiug,
which had for some time lain at [off] Sandy Hook,
had sailed away, steering northeast ; it therefore be
hooved those at Newport to be on the lookout. All
the preparations for defence were at once begun.
The south points of the island of Conanicut, [Beaver
Tail and Dumplings] , which lay westerly from New
port, and Brenton's Neck, a rocky tongue of land
south of the city [Newport], were provided with
new batteries, and the old ones were repaired. The
greatest activity prevailed everywhere.
This haste was necessary, for already on the next
morning (twenty -seventh July), a fleet was seen in
the southeast, steering directly towards the island.
It was, however, uncertain whether they were Brit
ish or the enemy's vessels. Towards noon, sixteen
stately war-ships were distinguished, and as it was a
beautiful clear day, all who could spare the time
were gazing eagerly out from Brenton's Neck, or
from the cliffs, upon the noble spectacle afforded by
this stately squadron as it approached.
A British sloop-of-war was sent out of the harbor
to reconnoitre, which, as it came near the hostile

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 39
vessels, gave the usual salute of a cannon shot. As
this remained unanswered, it fired another, and im
mediately following it, a third. These likewise re
raained again without response. It was one o'clock
in the afternoon when the fleet anchored before the
entrance of the harbor. All at once the white flag
with the Three Lilies waved at the mast-heads, and
every one was assured as to whora they had before
them. The ships lay in an arc from Point Judith on the
northeast coast of Narragansett [western portion of
the Colony of Ehode Island] to Brenton's Neck.
Thus the harbor was completely blocked iu. They
were noble vessels which rocked majestically on the
water ; twelve ships of the line aud four frigates.
Danger threatened, however, not only from the sea,
but from the land side also ; for General Pigot had
already learned that an American array, from the four
New England provinces, was gathering at Providence,
Ehbde Island, iu order to attack [the island of] Ehode
Island proper from two sides at once. Those in
commaud of this position now took their measures.
The two regiments Ansbach-Bayreuth and the bat-

40 HISTORICAL TRACT.
talion Prince of Wales [Loyal American] Volunteers
[Colonel Montfort Brown] were brought over from
Conanicut to Ehode Island, only fifty men being left
behind. The troops passed through the city and
pitched their camp on Windmill Hill [now known
as Slate Hill, about four miles from Newport].
Towards five o'clock, three of the enemy's frigates
advanced and approached the Second river [East or
Seaconnet passage up to Tiverton] , into which some
of the British ships had withdrawn themselves. As
these, however, were received with a heavy fire from
the ships and batteries, they desisted from any fur
ther approach, and anchored before Sachuest [the
present second] Beach.
On the morning of the thirtieth, two of the ene
my's ships of the line came opposite Conanicut.
These opened their fire against the batteries on this
island, and, after passing them, pressed into Narra
gansett Sound [or Bay] . The fifty men of the Ans
bach-Bayreuth regiraent left there, were obliged to
leave their works after destroying their ammunition
and spiking their cannon. They crossed in boats,
and joined their regiment. The island was now oc-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 41
cupied by the enemy [French], and the British
frigates lying in the stream were obliged to take
refuge under the protection of the land batteries.
The coraraunication of the French fleet with Provi
dence was thus established, and upou this many
small American vessels joined themselves to it.
About three, p. m. , the three French frigates, which
the day before had advanced, hoisted sail again,
steered between the eastern and western coasts into
Seaconnet Sound [mouth of Seaconnet river] and
pushed up to the batteries at Fogland Ferry [half
way up to Tiverton] , where they anchored and thus
lay directly in front of a company of the von Dit-
furth regiment at Black Point [Barker's Hill]. Al
though the cannon of the batteries could reach the
ships, they remained quiet. Suddenly, however,
smoke and fire rose up frora the river ; the British
ships, beneath the batteries, which could no longer
be saved, had been set on fire. The heated guns dis
charged theraselves, one after another, and scattered
their ball aud canister in every direction. One pow
der magazine after the other, exploded with a tre
mendous shock, followed by a rain of fragments.

42 HISTORICAL TRACT.
great and small. As the cables were burned in two,
the blazing ships, or rather wrecks, drove with the
comraencing ebb directly toward the French ships,
which sent out their boats, either to guide them off
or to rescue a part of the uuconsumed material.
But just as the boats reached the ships the last pow
der magazine exploded with a deafening clap, spread
ing death and destruction about it. All this occur
red under the eyes of the Hessian company, com
manded by Captain von Malsburg ; next to it stood
the Fifty-fourth English regiment, on which von
Malsburg was to withdraw in case he could no
longer hold his post.
In the meantime the work of fortifying went brisk
ly on, and since sufficient [white] assistance was lack
ing, the negroes were obliged to join in the work.
Horses and all kinds of cattle were driven within
the lines at Newport; each householder received
one cow for his subsistence. In order to embarrass
still more the hostile fleet in entering the harbor, al
most all the transports were sunk and fire-ships got
ready. On the third of August, the regiment von
Biinau received orders to move forward to the com-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 43
pany of Captain von Malsburg, at Black Point. The
regiment, however, was relieved the next day by
that of Ansbach. On the fifth, the two French
line -of- battle ships, lying in Narragansett Sound,
again steered forward toward the British war ships
lying there. Among them several fine frigates were
burned at Dominic or Tonomy [Miantonorai] Hill
[where Mr. Hazard has erected an observatory] or
sunk in order that they should not fall into the
hands of the French. In the whole, eight ships jyere
burned and thirteen sunk.
For a considerable tirae, those on the outlook at
Fogland Ferry had noticed lively activity on the op
posite coast toward present Tiverton, where Gen
eral Greene held coramand. The Araericans were
forming a new encampment, consequently there
was every appearance that they designed an attack
before long from this point. [Tiverton.] As the
British ships on the opposite side were now de
stroyed, the Americans landed several times on the
West coast [Ehode Island, proper] and plundered
the nearest houses that belonged to Eoyalists.
On the sixth, Newport was, by Pigot's orders, en-

44 HISTORICAL TRACT.
tirely closed ; only the military were allowed to pass
in and out. Those houses lying within cannon range
of the works were levelled ; all the trees, hedges
and walls were cut aud torn down. The sailors oc
cupied a separate encampment, and were employed
with others in all kinds of work. The endurance of
the troops was taxed to the uttermost, since they
were kept, by night as well as by day, at work or
under arms, because an attack was hourly expected.
No one could account for the prolonged quiet on the
part of the enemy [Americans and French], until,
finally, on the eighth of August, the Count DeEstaing
put an end to the anxiety. When at mid-day, a thick
fog cleared off, the British suddenly perceived two
French ships of the line close in. A cannonade was
expected, but, quietly and majestically, these sea col-
lossi passed by with port-holes yawning open. They
took a southerly course, and soon disappeared around
a craggy promontory of the island.
Suddenly at four, p. m., eleven French ships steered
toward Newport, and, under a heavy cannonade,
stood for the entrance of the harbor in order to force
it. They sailed rapidly past, firing, however, at the

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 45
town and at the batteries. The greater number of
their balls passed over the houses and struck partly
in the camp of the Ansbach-Bayreuth regiraent on
the other side. The solid and well-raanned batteries
meanwhile gave the ships so hot a reception, that
these latter soon sheered off and anchored out of
range. They remained there temporarily to repair
in some measure the damage they had received.
One British frigate, still in the harbor, and some
transports were burned in the greatest haste. By
this, the town and garrison were threatened with
great misfortune, for the wind drove the flames on to
the land and toward a large powder raagazine, and
the burning material flying wildly, might easily have
set fire to the latter. Proper measures, especially
the active assistance of the citizens, averted the
danger. Pigot had in haste sent for the troops posted at
Fogland Ferry and Windmill Hill [on the east shore
of Seaconnet sound or river, northeast and across
from Black Point] and Quaker Hill to garrison Ban
nister Heights, which ran diagonally across the isl
and near and above, north of the city.

46 HISTORICAL TRACT.
When, at ten, a. m., on the ninth, the fog cleared
away, the French fleet was seen at anchor between
Conanicut. and Gold [Gould] and Pest [Eose ?] isl
and. The concentrated troops were covered frora
the eneray's fire by Dominic [Tonomy] Hill as well
as by other heights. The regiments thus crowded
together occupied a very unfavorable position, in
case of a combined attack upon them, since the nar
row space cramped all movement while the balls
from the enemy's shipping struck directly into their
masses. On this account the spirits both of officers
and raen were very rauch depressed. The only re
raaining hope was the succor of the British fleet un
der Howe. This was momentarily expected. To
the great joy of the beseiged, its approach was clear
ly raade out. Not less than thirty-six vessels were
counted frora Dominic [Tonomy] Hill. The French
Admiral's fiagship, the Languedoc of ninety guns,
hoisted a signal flag. Upon this, one of the ships lying
in the Narragansett Sound [or Bay] sailed out to re
connoitre. All at once, red flags fluttered from all the
French ships, and a large body of troops were next
landed on Conanicut Island. Upon this it was sup-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 47
posed that the fleet would quickly commence au at
tack, and that the troops which had been landed were
to sustain this frora the west side. Pigot- sent one
of his aides in a boat to meet the English fleet. A
collision was expected this very day, but the suc
ceeding light winds kept off the British fleet. At
night the ships were still a german mile [that is three
to four or even five english miles] from the harbor.
Pigot, who was still expecting an attack, brought his
second line of troops near to his first. After retreat
was sounded the Bayreuth regiment was hurried
three miles further forward, because it was under
stood that the Americans would attempt a landing
(by Tiverton and Bristol ferries) from the main land
in boats.
The French were busied during the whole night
in repairing as much as possible their injured ships.
At first dawn of the tenth, the British fleet was seen
cruising in front of the port. The French mean
while weighed anchor and sailed out of the harbor
and past the batteries under a heavy fire. A sea
fight was now expected, but so soon as the cannon
smoke cleared off it was seen with surprise that the

48 HISTORICAL TRACT.
British fleet, although in line of battle, was drawing
off. Thereupon the French ships now set all sail in
pursuit, and to the great astonishment of the land
troops, both fleets took their course S. S. E., until
they finally disappeared m the distance.
It is remarkable that notwithstanding the tremen
dous fire from the French ships, both when they ran
in and ran out of the harbor, during which it is cal
culated that they fired ten thousand round shot, not
a single man was killed in the batteries. On the
other hand the French had suffered considerably, es
pecially from the batteries of Fort George on Goat's
Island, and from those on Brenton's Neck, as they
filed out, one after the other. The French threw
their dead overboard at once and a great part of
them were washed upon the coast. While these
events were occurring, several hostile detachments
from the coraraands of Gates and Sullivan, from Bris
tol and Providence, had crossed the intervening chan
nel [Tiverton or Howland's Ferry] and were pre
pared to support the attack by the fleet. When this
sailed away so suddenly, these other operations like
wise ceased.

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 49
On the eleventh (August), the Bayreuth regiment
raoved from the second into the first line of defence.
The whole camp was likewise drawn somewhat more
in behind the heights and nearer to Dominic [Tono
my] Hill, an elevation which covered the left flank
of the lines. This hill was a rocky, well-fortified
eminence, to which, in the last necessity, the troops
could withdraw, and for a while maintain theraselves
if forced to retreat. Three captured Araerican offi
cers, of the New Harapshire Volunteers, declared
that their army was at Windmill [now Slate] Hill,
twenty thousand strong,* and was led by the Gen
erals Sullivan, Greene and LaFayette, and also
that President [of Congress] Hancock was with it.
On this inforraation the British began to throw up a
new line behind the abattis on the right. Such a
storm ["The Great Storm" of August, 1778,] raged
that the majority of the tents were thrown down.
This tempest continued [frora the eleventh] until
*M^'or-general Heath, in his "Memoirs," 1798, pages 190-211, gives the
details of General Sullivan's force on Rhode Island on the eleventh August,
1778: Total, 10,122, "exclusive of some volunteers from New Hampshire and
other corps," not counting the French.
5

50 HISTORICAL TRACT.
the thirteenth, and was accompanied with floods of
rain. With clearer weather, on the fifteenth, the Ameri
can encampment could be seen from the heights. It
was quite extended, and about five miles distant at
Honeyman's and Beckham's Hill. The work on the
fortifications was now pushed on, day and night, and
with redoubled energy against an enemy so very
near and of fourfold strength. The lines were sur
rounded by strong abattis, and behind them were
raised ten principal redoubts. Now and then the
American troops approached the posts and the bat
teries, but were, in general, easily dispersed.
By the seventeenth the Americans had erected a
battery which opened its fire. On the same day the
British began a second line [of works] intended to
cover, in rear, the garrison of the other line. This
being not only flanked on the right but taken in rear
by the batteries ofthe enemy, Pigot drew his troops
yet closer together.
The Americans now had approached so near with
their batteries, that, on the nineteenth of Ausfust. a
heavy reciprocal cannonade developed itself. Since

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 51
the British guns at this point were mostly served by
sailors, who so far had shown less skill than the regu
lar artillerists, the shots were less telling. The Brit-
»ish tents were torn by the American shot, but they
generally passed too high. Still a number of bombs
and of solid shot reached their mark.
The case of the troops, so rauch huddled together,
threatened to becorae hopeless. Pigot found himself,
therefore, towards evening, compelled to withdraw
his camp as far as possible behind Dominic [Tonomy]
Hill, whereas at first it was pitched in front of it.
On the morning of the twentieth the hostile shots
reached even to this point, since, during the night,
two strong American batteries had been placed in ad
vance. These again threw bombshells, but without
effect. Notwithstanding all these advantages, the
working parties on the enemy's [Americans] forti
fications were dispersed.
It seeras, frora the preparations of the besiegers,
that the French fleet would soon return from its pur
suit of the British and co-operate with them. This
fleet indeed did show itself at a long distance off in
the southeast.

52 HISTORICAL TRACT.
From Brenton's Neck there was a long outlook
seaward. For this reason many gathered at this bat
tery, who, with excited expectation and foreboding,
awaited coraing events. Even the most hopeful now*
desponded. Superior numbers in front and rear, and
the closely massed troops exposed to the most de
structive fire from the ships, there was little hope of
favorable result.
The [French] fleet anchored at evening on its
former ground, opposite Point Judith. There were
now only eleven ships ; one or another was partially
dismasted . From this it was concluded that the fleet
had suffered severely from the late storm. The night
passed in fearful expectation. The troOps, wearied
almost to utter exhaustion, had to continue under
arms. To escape this desperate situation, seemingly
certain destruction or captivity, desertion now set in
pretty strongly. To prevent this as much as possi
ble, and to enliven the sinking spirits of the troops,
good news were fabricated and published. General
Clinton, it was stated, had entirely dispersed Wash
ington's army, and was himself in the very heart of
Connecticut, and therefore the American forces be-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 53
fore Newport would have to withdraw to reinforce
those of Washington ; Lord Howe was in pursuit of
the French fleet, and would soon make his appear
ance, and yet other reports.
The much dreaded day, the twenty-first, to the as
tonishment of all, passed off quietly. The French
fleet remained motionless, and at daybreak on the
twenty -second began to sail away. Every one
breathed more freely, and men's countenances looked
brighter. Pigot, who could not account for what
had happened, had one of the inhabitants of Conani
cut Island brought over to him by the sailors. The
man declared "that the French fleet had been badly
damaged by the late storm, and its commander had
expected on his return to find the harbor of New
port open and the town occupied by the Americans.
Such not being the case, he had sailed for Boston."
On the land-side, meanwhile, the Americans con
tinued their operations as before. They raade pre
parations for a formal siege of the British troops in
their fortifications. Already they had four batteries
of heavy pieces in play, and on the twenty-third
they erected a fifth ; but on the British side new ones

54 HISTORICAL TRACT.
were opposed to them, and on the twenty -fourth , one
of these opened, which answered expectations by ex
ploding an American powder magazine. The firing
grew contiuuallj'^ hotter. If the cannons were silent
during the night, the mortars boomed all the heavier.
During the day the men suffered from an almost
unendurable heat [as at Monmouth, twenty-eighth
June, 1778], especially on the twenty-fifth, on which
account the firing was on that day somewhat relaxed.
Again, in the night, the outposts were attacked by
the Americans, but these were bravely repulsed.
On the twenty-seventh, a new ally appeared who
was most joyfully greeted. This was three British
frigates. They brought the news that General Gray,
with thirty-five hundred men had already embarked
at New York for the purpose of raising the Siege of
Ehode Island. In the night the Americans with
drew a great part of their artillery to the main land,
and left on the island only three batteries in activity.
It had been expected, more certainly than ever, that
the Americans, on the twenty-ninth of August,
would make a general attack, to storm the works, in
order to bring affairs to a decision before the arrival

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 55
of reinforcements to the British, the approach of
which must have been known to the former. The
garrison of Newport was, therefore, not a little sur
prised, in the morning, when the British fire re-op
ened, that no response was made to it, and it was
finally apparent that the Americans had withdrawn.
Pigot at once gave directions to follow them up, and
ordered out, for this purpose, a detachment of two
thousand men, composed of the Light Infantry, tho
Grenadiers and the regiments Ansbach and Bayreuth,
to which were added some field pieces. The com
mand of the advanced guard of the detachment,
which consisted of one hundred and forty-seven men
from the different Hessian regiments, was given to
Captain von Malsburg. He early received orders to
march his raen to the Irish Eedoubt. As to his sub
sequent action, let his report be quoted : " On my
arrival," he says, "I found the commanding general
with one of his aides sitting in a cariole [carry-all,
or Canadian Cabriolet]. He called me to him and
said : 'The enemy are in retreat. Follow them by
the west road, attack their rear and harrass them as
much as possible. Endeavor to find out from the in-

56 HISTORICAL TRACT.
habitants the best route in pursuit ofthe enemy, and
set fire to the houses of those who give you false in
formation. Should you find the enemy too superior
in numbers, then await reinforcements which shall
be sent after you. I give you two Light Dragoon
troopers in order that you may send me news of any
important occurrences.'"
The "west road" was the highway from south to
north along the west side of the island. The Light
infantry and the Grenadiers which came up at the
same time with Captain von Malsburg, received or
ders to advance along the east side. The troops set
out, and after Malsburg had rapidly advanced three
miles, he found himself at the works on Eed wood's
Hill [in the immediate neighborhood of "Eedwood,"
the country seat of Elbert J. Anderson, on the west
road], which was still held by the Americans. He
sent back one of the dragoons to Pigot with this in
formation, and drew back the advance of the van
guard which he had sent forward under a lieutenant.
He then dashed at the enemy's outposts. These
were firing behind some walls, but were, with the loss
of one killed and several wounded, soon driven. In

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 57
the meantime a height, on which there were some
abandoned works, was gained, and the British were
now within range of the eneray. Malsburg then
caused the right wing and centre of his coraraand to
cross over a wall situated on the right of the road,
so that the two wings surrounded the height on which
the Araericans had posted theraselves. With a hearty
huzza, his troops, frora three sides at once, now
storraed the heights with the bayonet. The Araeri
cans gave one full volley, but so badly airaed that
not a shot told, and then abandoned their positions.
They now fell back sorae three hundred paces to an
other fortified elevation which was already occupied
by troops in blue and white uniform [Continentals —
regulars?]. This work was also taken by storm,
but here the Hessians lost some dead and wounded.
On the further advances, our right wing was in dan
ger of being flanked by an Araerican detachment
concealed in a field of Indian corn, and which sud
denly fired. Malsburg hastened hither to aid with a
sub-division. Here he found Captain Noltenius lying
on the ground, wounded. After sjDcakiug a few
words to him, he coraraitted him to the care of some

58 HISTORICAL TRACT.
soldiers, and pressed forward under the continued
fire. The whole American line now drew back. They
were followed until they had again placed themselves
behind walls and thickets. An officer in a green and
white uniform [Laurens?] and sword in hand, gal
loped about along their front and endeavored to en
courage them. As thc Hessians, however, flanked
both wings and dashed toward the centre, the enemy
again fell back. The Hessians here again left one
dead and some wounded on the field. Here Captain
von Malsburg was slightly wounded in one hand just
as he had placed it on a stone, and was about to
spring over a wall. Wounded Americans, who lay
moaning on the ground, begged for sorae water, but
no one could give thera the refreshing potion, since,
in consequence of the heat, all the canteens had been
drunk dry, and the Hessians themselves suffered
dreadfully from thirst. The wounded said that they
belonged to the Light Continental troops from Penn
sylvania, and were in General Glover's comraand.
As the pursuit was continued, Malsburg noticed an
American not far from him taking aim. He made an

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 59
involuntary movement of his head just as the piece
was discharged, and the ball grazed his hat. Directly
after this the Americans again drew up. They had
as a cover for their right wing, a detachment of Light
Dragoons. This stand, however, did not check the
Hessians in moving forward as rapidly as before, and
again driving the enemy. In this way the Ameri
cans had been forced back for five miles, and we
were now upon the heights of Turkey Hill, not far
from the north end of the island. From this point
Malsburg pushed forward into the valley near Bar-
rington's Hill. Here, however, our ammunition
failed us, and he halted behind a protecting wall.
The Americans advanced again more strongly, and
garnished Barrington's Hill with three field pieces,
which at once opened fire. Malsburg still further
deployed his files in order to render the opposing
fire less hurtful, but soon Lieutenant Murarius was
wounded, Malsburg had hira put upon a horse, taken
from a captured dragoon, and set out to procure
ammunition. This arrived at last in a wagon. When
it had been distributed, the Hessians were on fire to
pursue their victorious career, and especially to take

60 HISTORICAL TRACT.
the guns on the hill. Some of our artillery also
came up and at once opened fire against the enemy's
guns. The Hessians [having the support of artil
lery, sent up to the front] now rushed up the hill
under a heavy fire in order to take the redoubt.
Here they experienced a more obstinate resistance
than they had expected. They found large bodies
of troops behind the work and at its sides, chiefly
wild looking men in their shirt sleeves, and among
them many negroes. On the right flank, which
Malsburg now led, in place of the wounded Mura
rius, a number of the enemy who had been con
cealed behind a wall, now suddenly appeared and
poured in a heavy fire. Now that the walls and gar
den hedges stretching around, were strongly gar
nished with riflemen, Malsburg saw hiraself obliged,
in order not to be cut off, to fall back somewhat, and
to post himself again behind a wall lying to the right
of the main. road. His dog, running behind him,
which had been his companion since leaving home
(Germany), was shot here. Meanwhile, General
von Lossberg, with the left wing of the army [Brit
ish], to which the four Hessian regiments belonged.

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 61
had reached Turkey Hill. He sent forward at once
the regiments Huyne and Beyreuth, as well as the
King's Eangers, as reinforcements. By the putting in
line of these regiments Malsburg was separated frora
his left wing. He moved forward, however, with
the reinforced line in which he had the Eangers on
his left, until a dragoon brought him intelligence that
a strong column of the enemy was advancing on his
right flank. He therefore at once took position be
hind a wall, lying on his right, and by means of
which he could completely cover the threatened
flank. Meanwhile, the Americans on Barrington's
and Bull's Hill [probably Butts Hill, constituting
part of Quaker Hill] were continually reinforced,
and fresh columns came into the fight. The strug
gle grew fierce. The superior numbers of the ene
my became too great, and finally our troops were
obliged, fighting as they fell back, to withdraw to
Turkey Hill. It was four, p. m. Malsburg and his
men had been from seven, a. m., almost without
respite, under fire, and had for all this, only four
dead and one officer and fourteen men wounded.
His orders were to cover the left wing on the west-
6

62 HISTORICAL TRACT.
ern coast. The cannonade continued, and at eve
ning sorae of the eneray's battalions held possession
of a wall lying some three hundred paces from our
front. The ammunition, which was already a sec
ond tirae exhausted, was here again replenished.
During the nights of the 29th and 30th the entire
forces remained under arms. Notwithstanding the
great bravery and endurance of the troops, who had
been under such a heavy and protracted fire, the results
were not satisfactory. The supports reraained too
far -in the rear to maintain and profit by the advan
tages obtained. Had the advanced British been able to
properly occupy the Barrington and Windmill Hills,
and to follow the Americans up with energy, a great
part of thera would have been obliged to lay down
their arms, or would have been driven into the wa
ter. They were actually in retreat, about to cross
Bristol Ferry, but seeing that they had to do with
an opponent much inferior in force, who, beside
this, had ventured too far forward and was too iso
lated from support, they desisted from their cross
ing, turned back again, and were able to throw their
whole strength against the British pursuers. These

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 63
last [British] were part too rauch worn out to pre
vent them retaking the positions they had lost.
On the thirtieth [August], there began again a
mutual cannonade, which lasted the greater part of
the day, but which had very little effect. The Amer
icans, it was supposed, would attack. They re
mained quiet, however, and only threw up some
works on Barrington's Hill. On the thirty-first,
they were gone. They had in perfect stillness
withdrawn during the night, and crossing the strait
[Bristol Ferry], encamped on the other side of
Bristol. The fifty-fourth Landgraf and the von Dit-
furth regiments immediately occupied the abandoned
heights. The loss of the Germans consisted of nineteen
dead, ninety -six wounded and thirteen missing;
among these fourteen officers. The British lost one
hundred and fifty-seven men.* The Eegiment von
*The British loss is taken from Brigade-major Makenzie, of the British
army. Malsburg gives, in his very full Journal, the loss of the Huyne regi
ment at eighty-seven. Among the dead was also Captain von Schallern. Cap
tain Wagner, who died soon after from his severe wounds, was buried at New
port on the sixteenth [September] with all military honors.
The Rebels and Rebel sympathizers of 1865 seem to have credited the Union

64 HISTORICAL TRACT.
Huyne had suffered the most severely, since it had
fi,ve dead, fifty-seven wounded and twelve missing.
American deserters reported that their loss had
been between four hundred and five hundred men.
We had reckoned it at about three hundred. Gen
eral Sullivan, in his report to Congress after the
thirty-first August, gives the American loss at two
hundred and twenty-one raen.
If one reflects on the hot fight of the twenty-ninth,
which continued almost unbroken for nine hours, and
the continued cannonade on the next day (thirtieth),
the loss is incredibly sraall.
In the report of General Sullivan, just cited, it is
further raentioned that, upon the withdrawing of the
allies (British and Germans), he had been inclined
to attack their lines, but his men were too hungry
and too tired ; also, that he had only fifteen hundred
troops who had previously been under fire, the rest
consisting entirely of fresh recruits.
losses during the pursuit of Lee to the single action of Cumberland Church,
to raake good an exaggerated story of "big fighting" at this point, seventh
April, 18C5. Americans writing in regard to the engagement of the twenty-
ninth August, 1778, may have innocently charged the losses of the whole cam
paign or operation to the close fighting of less than an hour in or about Quaker
Hill.

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 65
On the first September a large fleet again ap
proached Newport. It was the long expected Gen
eral, Sir Henry Clinton himself, with no less than
seventy-two ships, bringing forty-five hundred men.
Had he arrived a few days earlier, the Americans
would not have retreated so easily as on the twenty-
ninth. He had been a long time detained in the Sound by
contrary winds. With a numerous suite, the Gen
eral-in-chief stepped on land amid the thundering
salute of the cannon. He inspected at once the de
fensive preparations and soon convinced himself of
the extremely precarious situation in which the gar
rison of the island had been. In a special order of
the day, he praised the bravery and endurance of the
troops, and of this praise the Germans received a
good share. On the very next day he again took
ship, after making such farther arrangements as were
necessary. Now, for the first time, the troops were able to
again breathe and enjoy themselves in partaking of
the fresh provisions which the fleet had brought
with it.

EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS

HO]^. ZACHARIAH ALLE]^,

BEFORE THK

RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

February 4th, 1861.

NOTE

The narrative here presented, of conversations held with
General Lafayette, is in its present connection of historic inter
est. Tlie conversation occurred on the occasion of General
Lafayette's visit to Providence in 1824. Mr. Allen and Colonel
Ephraim Bowen were sent by the Committee of the Town of
Providence to meet Lafayette at the Connecticut line, as he
journeyed from New York to Boston . They met him at Plain
fleld, and this conversation took place in the carriage.

CONVEESATIONS WITH LAFAYETTE.

It is ray purpose, in this address, to read sorae of
the historical statements made by Lafayette in rela
tion to Sullivan's expedition, wherein he commanded
the left wing of the American army, and General
Greene the right wing. Some stateraents- on other
subjects of historical interest, in relation to his cara
paigns in the American war, will be added. To
render his narrations of the events of Sullivan's Ex
pedition more intelligible, a brief abstract from the
published history thereof may be serviceable as a
preliminary sketch :
" Whilst Newport was in possession of the British
army of seven thousand men, in the year 1778, a
French fleet of twelve ships of the line and four
frigates, suddenly entered Narragansett Bay, and

72 HISTORICAL TRACT.
destroyed or captured all the English frigates and
sloops of war found there. The French Admiral
landed three thousand troops to co-operate with ten
thousand Araerican troops under General Sullivan.
On the same evening Lord Howe, with thirteen ships
of the line, appeared off Point Judith, and during
the night the French troops were re-erabarked, and
the next day the French fleet went out to sea to at
tack the enemy, leaving General Sullivan with his
army on the island, in front of the intrenchments of
the English array."
Soon after the French fleet sailed out of port, a
most violent tempest arose, which damaged both
hostile fleets raore than the battle that ensued, dis
masting the great ship of the French Admiral, and
disabling raost of the others. In the history of that
disastrous storra it is narrated that " its fury was no
less dreadful on the shore. The tents were blown
down, and the array exposed on the wet ground to a
cold and drenching rain. Sorae of the men died
from exposure, and a great number of horses per
ished. The Americans .continued to cannonade the
British entrenchment until the return of the French

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 73
fleet, which caused great joy to the assailants ; for
the capture of the whole British army now seemed
certain within forty-eight hours. But great was the
consternation the next day when the French Admiral
announced his intention to depart with his fleet ira
mediately for Boston, to repair his disabled ships ;
and he actually sailed at night-fall."
The American volunteer troops, discouraged by
this desertion of their ally, began to leave the island,
and General Sullivan found it necessary to retreat.
He was pursued and attacked by the British troops,'
and the "battle of Ehode Island" ensued. The
American army escaped from the island in the night,
and the next day the British fleet returned with five
thousand fresh troops, which would have cut off
their retreat.
The conduct of DeEstaing became a subject of vio
lent discussion in Congress, and of general cora
plaint throughout the country for having twice aban
doned all co-operation with the Araerican troops at
critical moments, when a few hours raore of fur
ther perseverance were requisite to capture a British
army. For this conduct no satisfactory reasons or
7

74 HISTORICAL TRACT.
explanations appear in the history of those times to
have been given by DeEstaing, and his name became
dishonored. The true reasons which led to the unfortunate
course pursued by the French Admiral, were known
personally to Lafayette, who attended the council of
French oflScers to which the Admiral referred the
question for decision, whether to go out to attack
the enemy's fleet, or to remain to complete the cap
ture of the enemy's army. The reasons that influ
enced their decision, will now be detailed in the form
they were stated to me by General Lafayette.
Soon after breakfast the General took his seat in
the carriage with Colonel Bowen and myself, and
left Plainfield (Connecticut), followed by several
carriages, in which were the aids of the Governor of
Ehode Island, and some Aldermen from New York,
who had followed the General from that city. After
being informed that he had passed the boundary line
of Ehode Island, the General exclaimed : " In this
State I have experienced more sudden and extreme
alternations of hopes and disappointments than dur
ing all the vicissitudes of the Araerican war. When

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 75
the French fleet arrived in Ehode Island, in the year
1778, I was assured of the certain capture of the
British army iu Newport, from an arranged plan for
a combined attack of the American and French
forces. Just at the moment of preparation, it was
suddenly announced that an English fleet had ap
peared off the entrance to the port. I then went on
board of the Admiral's ship, and heard the question
discussed, whether the fleet should remain to co-ope
rate with the American army, in the proposed attack
on the British army in Newport, or go out to sea to
attack and drive away the British fleet from the coast.
The council decided in favor of the latter plan."
In answer to my inquiry, what were the reasons
that led to this decision, the General replied : " It
was urged that by adopting the plan of attacking the
enemy's fleet, a double victory raight be obtained by
the French arms, on the sea as well as on the land.
Our superior fleet, in driving away the British fleet,
would have a chance of cutting ofl' two or three of
their ships of the line ; and on their return to New
port, the British army, besieged by land, would soon
yield a bloodless victory to the overpowering com-

76 HISTORICAL TRACT.
bined French and American forces." He continued :
" When I saw the French fleet sail out of the harbor,
I felt the first great disappointment of my sanguine
hopes ; but then I iraraediately began to have them
revived in the expectation of seeing the fleet speedi
ly return, with sorae of the British ships as prizes.
But a great tempest arose soon after the fleet went
out upon the open sea, which disraasted several of
the ships, and they all came back in a disabled con
dition." Lafayette then proceeded to narrate an
anecdote of one of his intimate friends, who com
manded a ship of the line ; which after being dis
masted, was attacked by a frigate, and saved from
capture by the approach of another French ship.
His friend told him after his return, that for a time
he became so much excited by the very idea that a
ship of an hundred cannons should be captured by a
frigate, and by the belief that in the history of the
event, no allowance would be made for the wrecked
condition of his ship, to mitigate the disgrace, that
he put his pistols in his pocket with the fixed deter
mination to shoot hiraself through the heart rather
than survive the dishonor.

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 77
The British fleet was actually driven away from the
coast by the French fleet, as had been calculated, and
two or three vessels were cut off and taken. On the
return ofthe French fleet, he said his hopes were re
vived more strongly than before to the certain cap
ture of the British army. But these fresh hopes
were excited only to be more greatly disappointed
than before ; for DeEstaing again held a council of
his ofiicers, who decided to depart immediately with
the whole fleet for Boston for repairs. He contin
ued : " My most earnest entreaties for him to stay
only a short time to finish the conquest of the British
army were all in vain."
In answer to my inquiry for the reason of this
second obstinate refusal to co-operate with their
allies, the General replied that it was said in the
council of officers, they held it to be their first duty
as naval commanders, to sustain the superiority of
the French fleet on the ocean, to escape being shut .
up in port, and subjected to destruction by fire ships
whilst at anchor in their disabled condition. This
all important object could only be accomplished by
losing no time in sailing for Boston, before the re-

78 HISTORICAL TRACT.
turn of the British fieet, to which port they had been
ordered to go for repairs in case of necessity. He
continued : " When I again saw the French fieet sail
out of the port for the last time, and abandon thQ
capture of the British array, I felt this to be the most
bitter disappointment of all, for I believe that this
capture would have produced the same decisive re
sult of speedily terminating the American war, as
was subsequently accomplished by the capture of
nearly the same army at Yorktown, by the success
ful co-operation of the French fleet under Count De
Grasse under similar circumstances."
Lafayette finished his narrative of the exciting
events of his campaign in Ehode Island by saying
that one hope still remained to him, that of inducing
the French Admiral to return to Newport with his
fleet. To accoraplish this he said that he raade the
journey from Ehode Island to Boston, by relays of
horses, in the shortest time that it had ever been
performed. After this effort he despaired. To add
to his chagrin, during his absence the battle of Ehode
Island was fought, and he lost the chance of taking
pai-t in it. But to console him for this disappoint-

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 79
ment, he said. Congress, in the vote of thanks which
they decreed, noticed him with the most refined deli
cacy, not for having fought the battle, but for his
sacrifice of the opportunity of gaining personal glory,
to aid the cause of the country more efi'ectually by
his services elsewhere.
The preceding explanations of the reasons for the
apparently obstinate refusal of DeEstaing to co-ope
rate with the American army in Ehode Island, there
by causing the failure of Sullivan's Expedition, and
the keenest disappointment of the sanguine hopes of
Lafayette, as well as of all the American people,
lead us to the belief that the French Admiral acted
under the infiuence of a council of his officers, and
not frora any discordant feelings towards General
Sullivan. The practical results of the execution of
the plan of the council of officers almost exactly veri
fied their calculations, so far as related to the chas
ing away the English fleet, and the capture of two
of their vessels which were cut off ; and there is now
every reason to believe that the remainder of their
plan of winning also a victory on the land, might
have been successful, had not several of the large

80 HISTORICAL TRACT.
ships of their fleet been providentially dismasted by
a tempest unprecedented for violence in the annals
of the country.

LETTEE

MAJOR - GEI^ERAL PIGOT

GEIsTERAL SIR HEliTRY OLIl^TOlir,
GIVING A DETAIL OF
MILITARY AFFAIRS AT NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, FROM
JULY 31st, to AUGUST 31ST, 1778.

LETTER FROM MAJOR-GENERAL PIGOT
TO
GENERAL SIR HENRY CLINTON,
Dated at Newport, R. I., August .51, 1778.

Though by my several letters since the 29th of
July last, more especially by that I had the honor of
writing by Lieutenant-colonel Stuart, and the accu
racy of his intelligence, your Excellency will have
been informed of the state of affairs here to the
twenty-eighth instant; yet, as many of those letters,
from the uncertainty of the coraraunication, raay not
have reached you, a summary of the transactions
since the twenty -ninth of July, when the French
fleet arrived, to the last period, will not be unneces
sary, and may help to explain subsequent events.
From the first appearance of the fleet to the eighth
instant, our utmost exertions were directed to re
moving to places of security the provisions, ammu-

84 HISTORICAL TRACT.
nition, and railitary and naval stores, which were
either on board ship, or on the wharfs, preparing a
fortified camp, aud disposing everything for resist
ing the combined attacks of the French and- rebels
upon us ; and I immediately withdrew from Conani
cut, Brown's Provincial corps, and two regiments of
Ansbach, which had been stationed there. The next
morning the guns on the Beaver Tail and Dumplin
batteries, the former of which was directed with
some effect against two line of battle ships that en
tered the Narragansett passage, were rendered un
serviceable,, as the fleet entering the harbor, would
cut off all communication with that island ; of which
the French Admiral soon after took a temporary pos
session, and landed the marines of his squadron.
During this period, from the movements of the
French ships iu the Seaconnet on the thirtieth, the
King's Fisher and two gallies were obliged to be set
on fire ; and afterwards, on the fifth instant, the four
advanced frigates, from the approach of two of the
enemy's line of battle ships from the Narragansett,
were likewise destroyed, after saving some of their
stores, and securing the landing of the seamen.
When it was evident the French fleet were coming

THE B.\TTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 85
into the harbor, it became necessary to collect our
forces, and withdraw the troops from the north parts
of the island, which was. accordingly done that eve
ning. I likewise ordered all the cattle on the island
to be drove within our lines, leaving only one cow
with each family, and every carriage and intrenching
tool to be secured, as the only measures that could
be devised to distress the rebels and impede their
progress. On the eighth instant, at noon, the French fleet
(which from its appearance had continued with little
variation at anchor about three miles from the mouth
ofthe harbor) got under way, and standing in under
a light sail, kept up a warm fire on Brenton's Point,
Goat Island and the north batteries, which were man
ned by seamen of the destroyed frigates, and com
manded by Captain Christian, Lieutenants Forrest
and Otway, of the navy, who returned the fire with
great spirit, and in a good direction. The last of
these works had been previously strengthened, and
some transports sunk in its front, as au effectual
measure to block up the passage between it and
Eose Island. s

86 HISTORICAL TRACT.
The next raorning we had the pleasure to see the
English fleet, and I iramediately sent on board to
comraunicate to Lord Howe our situation, and that
of the enemy. By nine o'clock the following day
the French fleet re-passed our batteries, and sailed
out of the harbor, firing on them as before, and hav
ing it returned with equal spirit on our side. By
this cannonade from the ships on both days, very for
tunately not one man was hurt, or any injury done,
except to some houses in town.
I shall now proceed to inform your Excellency of
the movements of the enemy from the ninth instant,
when they landed at Howland's Ferry.
The badness of the weather for some days must
have prevented their transporting of stores, or being
in readiness to approach us, as they did not make
their appearance near us till the fourteenth, when a
large body took possession of Honyman's Hill.
To repel any attempts from that quarter, a breasts
work was directed to be made along the heights from
Green End to Irish's Eedoubt, which was strength
ened by an abbatis.
On the seventeenth, the enemy was discovered

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 87
breaking ground on Honyman's Hill, on the sumrait
of which, and on their right of the Green End road,
they were constructing a battery : the next day an
other was commenced by thera for five guns to their
left, and in a direct line with the former, which was
prepared for four. On this day a line of approach
was likewise begun by them from the battery on the
right to Green End road, which works we endeav
ored to obstruct by keeping a continual fire on them.
The nineteenth the enemy opened their left battery,
which obliged our encampment to be removed fur
ther in the rear. This day we began another line,
for the greater security of our left, from Irish's Ee
doubt to Foraini [sic] Hill ; and I directed a battery
of one twenty-four and two eighteen pounders to be
raised on our right breast-work to counteract those
of the enemy, which were opened the following day,
when they were observed busied in forming a second
approach from the first, to a nearer distance on the
road. At noon the French fleet again came in view,
much disabled, and anchored off the port, where it
continued till the twenty -second, when it finally
disappeai-ed.

88 HISTORICAL TRACT.
This day the rebels were constructing two other
batteries much lower down the hill than the former,
one on the right for five, the other on the left of
Green End road for seven guns, both which were
opened the next day, when I found it necessary to
attempt silencing them, and therefore ordered a bat
tery for seven heavy guns, on commanding ground,
near Green End, which, frora the obstructions given
by the enemy's fire, could not be completed till the
twenty-fifth, when the rebels thought proper to close
the embrasures of their lower batteries, and raake
use of them for mortars. During this time they had
been constructing on the height of the east road, an
other for one of thirteen inches ; and this day began
a third approach in front, and to the right of their
lower batteries.
The twenty-sixth, observing the enemy to discon
tinue their works, and learning, from deserters, they
were removing the officers' baggage and heavy artil
lery, I detached Lieutenant -colonel Bruce, with a
hundred men of the Fifty- fourth regiment, in the
night, over Easton's Beach, in quest of intelligence,
who with great address surprised and brought off a

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 89
picket of two officers and twenty-five men, without
any loss. Some of Colonel Fanning's corps, at dif
ferent times, exerted theraselves in taking off" people
frora the enemy's advanced posts ; but little intelli
gence to be depended upon was ever obtained from
them ; nor were other attempts to procure it raore
efficacious, as from all that could, be learned, it was
doubtful whether their intentions were to attack our
lilies or retreat.
On the twenty-seventh the Sphynx and two other
ships of war arrived ; and I had the honor of being
inforraed by Colonel Stuart of your Excellency's in
tention to reinforce this post.
On the following day the Vigilant galley took a
station to cover the left flank of the army ; and at
ten o'clock that night the rebels made an atterapt to
surprise a subaltern's picket from the Ansbach corps,
but were repulsed, after killing one raan, and wound
ing two others.
The twenty-ninth, at break of day, it was per
ceived that the enemy had retreated during the night,
upon which Major-general Prescot was ordered to
detach a regiment from the second line under his

90 HISTORICAL TRACT.
coraraand, over Easton's Beach, towards the left flank
of the enemy's encampment, and a part of Brown's
corps was directed to take possession of their works.
At the same time Brigadier -general Smith was de
tached with the Twenty-second and Forty -third regi
ments, and the flank companies of the Thirty-eighth
and Fifty-fourth, by the east road. Major-general
Lossberg marching by the west road, with the Hes
sian chasseurs and the Ansbach regiments of Voit
and Seaboth, in order, if possible, to annoy them in
their retreat ; and upon receiving a report from Gen
eral Smith, that the rebels made a stand, and were
in force upon Quaker's Hill, I ordered the Fifty-
fourth and Hessian regiment of Huyn, with part of
Brown's corps to sustain him ; but before they could
arrive, the perseverance of General Smith, and the
spirited behavior of the troops had gained possession
of the strong post on Quaker's Hill, and obliged the
enemy to retire to their works at the north end of
the island. On hearing a smart fire from the chas
seurs engaged on the west road, I dispatched Colonel
Fanning's corps of Provincials to join General Loss
berg, who obliged the rebels to quit two redoubts

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 91
made to cover their retreat, drove them before him,
and took possession of Turkey hill. Towards eve
ning, an attempt being raade by the rebels to sur
round and cut off the chasseurs, who were advanced
on the left, the regiments of Fanning and Huyn were
ordered up to their support, and after a smart en
gagement with the enemy, obliged them to retreat to
their main body on Windmill Hill.
To these particulars I am in justice obliged to add
Brigadier-general Smith's report, who, amidst the
general tribute due to the good conduct of every in
dividual under his commaud, has particularly distin
guished Lieutenant-colonel Campbell and the Twen
ty-second regiment, on whom, by their position, the
greater weight of the action fell. He also mentions
with applause the spirited exertions of Lieutenant-
colonel Marsh, and the Forty-third regiment, of Cap
tains Coore and Trench, who commanded the flank
companies. He likewise acknowledges particular
obligations to all the officers aud raen of the Eoj^al
Artillery, as also to the searaen who were attached to
the field pieces ; and has expressed his thanks to Cap
tain Barry, of the Fifty-second regiment, who was a

92 HISTORICAL TRACT.
volunteer on this occasion, and assisted in carrying
his orders. General Lossberg has given his testi
mony of the very good behavior of the Ansbach
corps, commanded by Colonel de Voit, and of Cap
tains Malsburg and Noltenius, with their companies
of chasseurs.
After these actions, the enemy took post in great
numbers on Windmill Hill, and employed themselves
in strengtheniug that advantageous situation.
This night the troops lay on their arms on the
ground they had gained, and directions were given
for bringing up the camp equipage. Artillery were
likewise sent for, and preparations made to remove
the rebels from their redoubts ; but by means of the
gteat nuniber of boats, they retreated in the night of
the thirtieth over Bristol and Howland's Ferry ; thus
relinquishing every hold on the island, and resigning
to us its entire possession.
During these tedious and fatiguing operations, I
was much indebted to the active zeal of Captain Bris
bane and all the captains, other officers and men of
the navy, who enabled me to man the different bat
teries with their most experienced officers, and best

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 93
men, who by their example and constant attention
contributed much in the support of the defences.
And I must also take notice of the good inclination
for the service shown by the marines of the different
ships, which occasioned my giving them in charge the
defence of that principal post on Foraini [sic] Hill.
Nor can I conclude this account, without expressing
my sincere acknowledgments to every officer and sol
dier under ray command, and to the several depart-
raents, for their unwearied exertions to counteract so
many difficulties.
The prisoners taken on the twenty-ninth are not
many in number ; but I have reason to believe the
killed and wounded of the rebels is greater than that
in the return I have the honor to inclose you of ours.
(Signed) R. Pigot.
ALMOX'S ilUMKMBRASCKi:, 1778-«, p. :K.

Note. — In his return of killed, wounded, and missing for August twenty-
ninth, General Pigot gives the following totals : One captain, one volunteer,
four sergeants, thirty-one rank and file, one driver, killed. Two captains, live
lieutenants, seven ensigns, thirteen sergeants, one drummer, one hundred and
eighty rank and file, two drivers, wounded. One lieutenant, one sergeant, ten
rank and file, missing.

EEPO ET

MAJOR GEI^^ERAL SULLIVAl^

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

COSCEENING THE

OPERATIONS ON RHODE ISLAND.

GENERAL SULLIVAN'S REPORT

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Headquarters, Tiverton, August 31, 1778.
Esteemed Sir : — Upon the Count DeEstaing flnd
ing himself under a necessity of going to Boston to
repair the loss he sustained in the late gale of wind,
I thought it best to carry on ray approaches with as
much vigor as possible against Newport, that no time
might be lost in making the attack upon the return
of his fleet, or any part of it, to co-operate with us.
I had sent expresses to the Count to hasten his re
turn, which, I had no doubt, would at least bring
part of his fleet to us in a few days. Our batteries
played upon the enemy's works for several days with
apparent good success, as the enemy's fire from the
outworks visibly grew weaker, and they began to
9

98 HISTORICAL TRACT.
abandon some of those next us ; and, on the twenty-
seventh, we found they had removed their cannon
from all the outworks except one. The town of
Newport is defended by two lines, supported by sev
eral redoubts connected with the lines. The first of
these lines extends from a large pond called Easton's
Pond, near to Tonomy Hill, and then turns off to the
water on the north of Windraill Hill. This line was
defended by five redoubts in front. The second line
is raore than a quarter of a mile within this, and ex
tends from the sea to the north side of the island,
terminating at the north battery. On the south, at
the entrance by Easton's Beach, where this line ter
minates, is a redoubt which commands the pass, and
has another redoubt about twenty rods on the north.
There are a number of small works interspersed be
tween the lines, which render an attack extremely
hazardous on the land-side, without a naval force to
co-operate with it. I, however, should have at
tempted carrying the works by storm, as soon as I
found they had withdrawn their cannon from their
outworks, had I not found, to my great surprise,
that the volunteers, which composed a great part of

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 99
my army, had returned, and reduced my numbers to
little more than that of the enemy. Between two
and three thousand returned in the course of twenty-
four hours, and others were still going off, upon a
supposition that nothing could be done before the
return of the French fleet. Under these circum
stances, and the apprehension of the arrival of an
English fleet with a reinforcement to relieve the gar
rison, I sent away all the heavy articles that could
be spared from the army to the main ; also a large
party was detached to get the works in repair on the
north end ofthe island, to throw up additional ones,
and put in good repair the batteries at Tiverton and
Bristol, to secure a retreat in case of necessity. On
the twenty-eighth a council was called, in which it
was unanimously determined to remove to the north
end of the island, fortify our camp, secure our cora
raunication with the main, and hold our ground on
the island till we could know whether the French
fleet would soon return to our assistance. On the
evening of the twenty-eighth we moved with our
stores and baggage which had not been previously
sent forward, and about two in the morning en-

100 HISTORICAL TRACT.
camped on Butts Hill, with our right extending to
the west road and left to the east road, the flanking
and covering parties still further toward the water on
the right and left. One regiment was posted in a
redoubt advanced of the right of the first line. Col
onel Henry B. Livingston, with a light corps, con
sisting of Colonel Jackson's detachments and a de
tachment from the array, was stationed in the east
road. Another light corps, under command of Col
onel Laurens, Colonel Fleury, and Major Talbot,
was posted on the west road. These corps were
posted near three miles in front. In the rear of
these was the picquet of the army, commanded by
Colonel Wade. The enemy, having received intelli
gence of our movement, came out early in the morn
ing with nearly their whole force, in two columns,
advanced on the two roads, and attacked our light
corps. They made a brave resistance, and were sup
ported for some time by the picquet. I ordered a
regiment to support Colonel Livingston, and another
to Colonel Laurens, and at the sarae tirae sent them
orders to retire to the main army in the best order
they could. They kept up a retreating fire upon the

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 101
eneray, and retired in excellent order to the main
army. The enemy advanced on our left very near,
but were repulsed by General Glover ; they then re
tired to Quaker Hill. The Hessian column forraed
on a chain of hills running northward from Quaker
Hill. Our army was drawn up, the first line in front
of the works on Butts Hill, the second in rear of the
hill, and the reserve near a creek, and near half a
mile in the rear of the first line. The distance be
tween these hills is about one mile. The ground
between the hills is meadow-land, interspersed with
trees and small copse of wood. The enemy began a
cannonade upon us about nine in the morning, which
was returned with double force. Skirmishing con
tinued between the advanced parties till near ten
o'clock, when the enemy's two ships-of-war, and
some sraall armed vessels, having gained our right
flank and began a fire, the enemy bent their whole
force that way, and endeavored to turn our right un
der cover ofthe ships' fire, and to take the advanced
redoubt on the right. They were twice driven back
in great confusion, but a third trial was made with
greater numbers and with more resolution, which.

102 HISTORICAL TRACT.
had it not been for the timely aid sent forward, would
have succeeded. A sharp conflict of near an hour
ensued, in which the cannon from both armies, placed
on the hills, played briskly in support of their own
party. The enemy were at length routed, and fled
in great confusion to the hill where they first formed,
and where they had artillery and sorae works to cover
them, leaving their dead and wounded in considera
ble numbers behind them. It was impossible to as
certain the number of dead on the field, as it could
not be approached by either party without being ex
posed to the cannon of the other army. Our party
recovered about twenty of their wounded, and took
near sixty prisoners, according to the best accounts
I have been able to collect ; amongst the prisoners
is a lieutenant of grenadiers. The number of their
dead I have not been able to ascertain, but know
them to be very considerable. An officer informs
me that in one place he counted sixty of their dead.
Colonel Campbell came out the next day to gain per
mission 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 pursued. The

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 103
firing of artillery continued through the day, and
the musquetry with intermission six hours. The
heat of the action continued near an hour, which
must have ended in the ruin ofthe British array, had
not their redoubts on the hill covered thera from fur
ther pursuit. We were about to attack them in their
lines, but the men's having had no rest the night be
fore, and nothing to eat either that night or the day
of the action, and having been in constant action
through most of the day, it was not thought advisa
ble, especially as their position was exceedingly
strong, and their number, fully equal, if not superior,
to ours. Not more than fifteen hundred of my troops
had ever been in action before. I should before
have taken possession of the hill they occupied, and
fortified it, but it is no defence against an enemy
coming from the south part of the island, though
exceedingly good against an enemy advancing from
the north end toward the town, and had been forti
fied by the enemy for that purpose.
I have the pleasure to inform Congress that no
troops could possibly show more spirit than those of
ours which were engaged. Colonel Livingston, and

104 HISTORICAL TRACT.
all the officers of the light troops, behaved with
remarkable spirit. Colonels Laurens, Fleury, and
Major Talbot, with the officers of that corps, be
haved with great gallantry. The brigades of the first
line — Varnum's, Glover's, Cornell's, and Greene's —
behaved with great firmness. Major-general Greene,
who commanded in the attack on the right, did him
self the highest honor by the judgment and bravery
exhibited in the action. One brigade only of the
second line was brought to action, commanded by
Major-general Lovell — he and his brigade of militia
behaved with great resolution. Colonel Crane, and
the officers of artillery, deserve the highest praise.
I enclose Congress a return of the killed, wounded,
and missing, on our side, and beg leave to assure
them that, from my own observation, the eneray's
loss must be much greater. Our army retired to
camp after the action ; the enemy employed them
selves in fortifying their camp through the night. In
the morning of the thirtieth I received a letter from
his excellency General Washington, giving me notice
that Lord Howe had again sailed with the fleet, and
receiving intelligence at the same time that a fleet

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 105
was off Block Island, and also a letter from Boston,
informing me that the Count DeEstaing could not
come round so soon as I expected, a council was
called, and as we could have no prospect of operat
ing against Newport with success, without the assist
ance of a fleet, it was unanimously agreed to quit
the island until the return of the French squadron.
To make a retreat in the face of an enemy, equal, if
not superior, in number, and cross a river without
loss, I knew was an arduous task, and seldom ac
complished if atterapted. As our centries were with
in two hundred yards of each other, I knew it would
require the greatest care and attention. To cover
ray design from the enemy, I ordered a number of
tents to be brought forward, and pitched in sight of
the eneray, and almost the whole army to employ
themselves in fortifying the camp. The heavy bag
gage and stores were falling back and crossing
through the day ; at dark the tents were struck, the
light baggage and troops passed down, and before
twelve o'clock the main army had crossed with the
stores and baggage. The Marquis de la Fayette ar
rived about eleven in the evening from Boston, where

106 HISTORICAL TRACT.
he had been by request of the general officers, to so
licit the speedy return of the fleet. He was sensibly
mortified that he was out of action, and that he might
not be out of the way in case of action he had rode
from hence to Boston in seven hours, and returned
in six and a half, the distance near seventy miles.
He returned time enough to bring off the pickets,
and other parties which covered the i-etreat of the
army, which he did in excellent order; not a' man
was left behind, nor the sraallest article lost. I hope
ray conduct through this expedition raay merit the
approbation of Congress. Major Morris, one of my
aids, will have the honor of delivering this to your
Excellency. I must beg leave to recommend him to
Congress as an officer who in the last, as well as sev
eral other actions, has behaved with great spirit and
good conduct, and doubt not Congress will take such
notice of him as his long service and spirited conduct
deserves. I have the honor to be, dear sir, with much esteem,
Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,
JOHN SULLIVAN.

THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND. 107
P. S. — The event has proved how timely my re
treat took place, as one hundred sail of the enemy's
ships arrived in the harbor the morning after the re
treat. I should do the highest injustice if I neg
lected to mention that Brigadier -general Cornell's
indefatigable industry in preparing for the expedi
tion, and his good conduct through the whole, merits
particular notice. Major Talbot, who assisted in
preparing the boats, and afterward served in Colonel
Laurens's corps, deserves great praise.
To the printed copy of the above report, this note
is appended in brackets : [Since the foregoing let
ter was forwarded to Congress, it has been ascer
tained 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.]*
General Sullivan makes a return of two hundred
and eleven, killed wounded, and missing.
* From Arnold's History op Rhode Island, Vol. II.

THE CONDUCT

THE BLACK REGIMENT

ACTION OF AUGUST 29th, 1778, ON RHODE ISLAND,

AS GIVEN BY THE

ORDERLY BOOKS OF THE ARMY.

10

Some further light is thrown upon the behavior
of the Black Eegiment in the action of August twen
ty-ninth, by the Orderly Books of the army. The
regiment is referred to on page twenty-seven of the
oration. The publisher presents the General Order
of Major-general Sullivan as preserved in three of
the Orderly Books of the army. The first is from
an Orderly Book of the Massachusetts Eegiment
under command of Colonel John Jacobs, kept by
Adjutant Josiah Fletcher, now in the possession of
Joseph J. Cooke, Esq., of Providence. The second
is from an Orderly Book of Major-General Sullivan's
army, now in the possession of Mr. Sidney S. Eider,
of Providence. The third is frora the Orderly Book
of the Massachusetts Eegiraent under the coramand
of Colonel Paul Eevere, now in the possession of the
Eevere faraily. There is no essential difference in
the three copies of this General Order, yet there are
verbal differences, and the publisher considered them
of sufficient interest to warrant their presentation.

EXTRACT FROM THE ORDERLY BOOK

MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT UNDER THE COMMAND
OF COLONEL JOHN JACOBS.

After General Orders, August 30th, 1778.
" It having been represented by some persons that
the Conduct of Col. Commandant Green's Eegi
ment was not in the action yesterday equal to what
ought to have been expected, and also that Major
Ward, who Coraraanded the Eegiraent, was much
dissatisfyed with their conduct. The General as
sures the officers and Soldiers of the Eegiment that
no Person has undertaken to censure their conduct
to hira, and that upon enquiry from Maj'r Ward and
sundry other officers who were with thera in action,
there is not the least foundation for Censure, doubt-

114 HISTORICAL TRACT.
less in the heat of action Maj'r Ward raight have
said soraething to hurry the Troops on to action
which by being misinterpreted gave rice to the re
port, but by the best Information the Commander-
in-Chief thinks that Eegiment will be intituled to a
proper share of the Honours of the day."

EXTRACT FROM AN ORDERLY BOOK

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN'S ARMY.

After Orders, 30th August, 1778.'
" It having been represented by some persons that
the conduct of Col. Commandant Greene's Eegiment
was not in the action yesterday equal to what raight
have been expected, and also that Major Ward, who
commanded the Eegiment was rauch dissatisfied with
their conduct, the General assures the officers and
soldiers of that Eegiment that no person has under
taken to censure their conduct to him, and that upon
inquiry from Major Ward and sundry other officers
who were with them in action, there was not the
least foundation for censure. Doubtless in the heat
of action Major Ward might have said something to

116 HISTORICAL TRACT.
hurry the troops on to action which being misinter
preted gave rise to the report, but from the best in
formation the comraander-in-chief thinks that regi
ment entitled to a proper share of the honor of the
day."

EXTRACT FKOM THE ORDERLY BOOK

COLONEL PAUL REVERE'S REGIMENT.

After Orders August 30th, 1778.
" It having been represented by some persons that
the conduct of Col. Commandant Greene's Eegiment
was not in the action of yesterday equal to what
ought to have been expected, and also that Major
Ward, who commanded the regiment, was much dis
satisfied with their conduct. The General assures
the officers and soldiers of that regiment that no per
son has undertaken to censure their conduct to him,
and that upon inquiry from Major Ward and other
officers who were in the action with them that there
is not the least foundation for censure. Doubtless
in the heat of action Major AVard might have said

118 HISTORICAL TRACT.
something to hurry the troops on to action, which,
being misinterpreted, gave rise to this report."

Note. — The publisher is under obligations to the Hon. Thomas C. Amory,
of Boston, for the copy of General Sullivan's Order as giveft in the Revere
Orderly Book, and herewith presented.