RETREAT FROM RHODE ISLAND,

229

aries were stationed at a distance of not more than seventy rods from each other, so that it required no small degree of generalship to cover the design of retreat from the suspicion of a watchful enemy, and render that retreat triumphant and successful. On the 30th of the month, a number of tents were erected in full view of the enemy, and the whole army were apparently engaged in fortifying and strengthening their present position; after the going down of the sun, they built a large number of fires, extending nearly across the Island, to lull the enemy into security, and cover from suspicion their intended retreat.

As soon as the surrounding darkness favored the design, the tents were struck, and the troops with the artillery and baggage, moved to the north, embarked in their flat-bottomed boats, and were all safely landed on the main before the dawn of day. The brave and generous de Lafayette, who returned from Boston at the moment our troops were landing, was very greatly disappointed in not having been permitted to share in the perils of the action. Anticipating such an event, he had rode the distance of seventy miles in about six hours. Nor could he be prevented from passing over to bring off the piquet and other parties who covered the American retreat. This he effected with such consummate prudence and self-possession, that not a man was left behind, nor the slightest loss sustained. This retreat, notwithstanding the failure of the expedition, reflected the highest honor on the American commanders, and the wisdom and skill by which it was executed, was applauded even by the British officers themselves.

The loss of the Americans, as stated by General Sullivan,

Nearly 1200 Americans were engaged in the action, and they are said to have shown great firmness. The day after the action, a cannonade was kept up by both armies.

A letter was received from General Washington, informing him (General Sullivan,) that a large body of troops had sailed

from New-York, most probably for the relief of Newport; and a resolution was immediately formed to evacuate the island. The delay of a single day would, probably, have been fatal to the Americans; for Sir Henry Clinton, who had been delayed by adverse winds, arrived with a reinforcement of 4000 men, on the very next day, when a retreat, it is presumed, would have been impracticable.

The troops on Rhode Island, under the command of General Sullivan, on the 4th of August, were arranged as follows:

Varnum's brigade, including officers. 1,037

On November 28th, 1776, the day of General Washington's retreat over the Delaware, the British took possession of Rhode Island.

The scenes which have been enacted on the island, invests it with peculiar interest, and should remind us, of the present day, of the sufferings which our fathers endured, to bequeath to their children the rich legacy of liberty and independence. The island has been consecrated by the blood of our patriot sires; and when we walk over the fields of carnage, may we be reminded of the value of the American Union, and discountenance every attempt made by fanatics, to weaken the ties which hold us together as one people.

The British held position of the island, until the autumn of 1779, when Sir Henry Clinton, at New-York, anticipating an attack upon that place by the combined forces of America and France, dispatched a number of transports to bring off the troops from Rhode Island, to strengthen his forces at NewYork; they embarked on the 25th of October, at the south end of the island, and arrived at New-York on the 27th.

RESTORATION OF THE TOWN RECORDS.

231

On the day the island was evacuated, orders were issued by the British commander, that the inhabitants of Newport should keep within their houses during the time the royal troops were passing through Thames-street, the route which they took to the Neck, the place of their embarkation, on pain of death. This injunction was strictly complied with, so that those who had the curiosity to see the invaders of their peaceful shores march through their streets, stole a glance at them through the crevices of their windows and doors.

The British burnt all the barracks at Fort Adams, and the light-house at Beaver Tail, and carried off with them the Town Records, consisting of the books of Registry of Deeds, the Records of the Town Council, the Court of Probate, &c., which, in their passage to New-York, were unfortunately sunk with the vessel which carried them away, near Hell Gate, and were under water for several hours before they were recovered. They were detained in New-York about three years, and when they were afterwards returned to Newport, they were in a damaged condition. Had they been copied immediately on their recovery, many valuable documents might have been preserved, but having been neglected so long, they are now in a dilapidated state, and of little use.

On the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, the last William Coddington, an aged and respectable gentleman, who held the office of Town Clerk, not willing to remain in prison, left the island, and went to Providence, there to reside until the army had abandoned the enterprise, and left the State. It is to be regretted that he had not taken with him the Records of the town, instead of placing them in the hands of his friend, Walter Chaloner, who took them to New-York, and their fate has been described above.

In 1782, the Town Council of Newport, having made applica tion to General Carlton, the British Commander at New-York, for the return of the Town Records, which had been taken away at the evacuation of the town; they, in December, received by a flag of truce, the books and papers, General Carlton expressing his sorrow," for the damage they had sus tained, from the sinking of the transport in Hell Gate, and the long time they had lain (three years,) without examination."

The possession of the island for three years, by a strong and

powerful foe, who treated its inhabitants as rebels against the authority of their King, and consequently claiming the divine right of his Majesty to whatever the royal troops should please to possess, reduced the inhabitants to the greatest poverty and distress. At this distant period, it is impossible to form the least conception of the wretchedness and misery endured by the inhabitants of the island at that trying period; and nothing but the providence of God sustained them in the hour of peril; they were, however, delivered from their enemies, and ultimately achieved their freedom from the galling yoke of British tyranny.

During the period of their stay, they had cut down and consumed all the flourishing groves of forest trees, with many of the most valuable orchards, and numerous ornamental trees, which beautified and adorned the island, so that the inhabitants were entirely destitute of fuel. The wells at Portsmouth were filled up, the houses on the heights of Middletown were set on fire by the General's order, and even the wharves, in Newport, which at that period were built of timber, were torn up for fuel, as the weather was so extremely severe in 1779–80.

It is estimated that nine hundred dwellings, besides ware houses, were destroyed, while the British had possession of Newport. The town presented a wide scene of desolation after the evacuation, and it should be no surprise to the reader that Newport has never recovered her former prosperity, when the ravages committed by a lawless and infuriated nation are duly considered.

Rhode Island was one of the principal points, and her spacious harbor, capable of containing the whole British fleet, rendered it a key of great importance, in pushing forward their schemes, in the subjugation of the rebellious Colonies.

During the possession of the island by the British, the freemen of Newport had held their Town Meetings, for choice of representatives in the General Assembly in Providence, the "hornet's nest," as the British called it, agreeably to an Act of that body, granting them permission to do so.

Middletown and Portsınonth held Town Meetings in Tiverton, for the election of representatives to the General Assembly; but after the evacuation of the island by the enemy, that body passed an act, empowering the town of Newport to resume

ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH.

233

their corporate powers, and choose Town officers, providing every person should be excluded from voting, who had in any. wise aided the enemy. The first meeting of the freemen for the choice of officers, was held at the Friends' Meeting-House, in November, 1779.

In January, 1779, the sum of five hundred pounds of lawful money, was granted by the General Assembly, for the relief of the distressed inhabitants of Newport; and large contributions continued to be made for the same object, in this, and the adjoining States.

The General Assembly, at their June session, in 1780, banished thirty-six persons from the State, and confiscated their estates, for adhering to the enemy.

On the 10th July, 1780, the French fleet, of seven sail of the line and five frigates, with a large number of transports, and an army of six thousand men, arrived at Newport, to the great joy of the inhabitants. The fleet was commanded by the Chevalier de Tournay, and the army by Count de Rochambeau. The town was illuminated, and the arrival of the fleet and army greeted with the fullest demonstrations of gratitude and joy. Complimentary addresses were made by a committee of the General Assembly, then in session, both to Admiral de Tourney and Count de Rochambeau, to which they gave the most. spirited and patriotic replies.

In July, it having been ascertained that a large naval and land force were destined against Newport, the inhabitants associated, and formed themselves into companies, both for the common defence, and also that the disaffected might be known. The town was divided into four districts, and by a vote of the freemen, the inhabitants were required to meet, and sign articles of association; and those who should not appear at the place designated in the several districts, were to be deemed as enemies of their country; and all persons refusing to take up arms against the enemy, were to be banished from the place. It was voted that a copy of the list of disaffected persons, ordered to be forwarded to the Council of War, be also sent to General Heath, that if the British fleet and army arrive, before any return is received from the Council, he may know what persons the town requests should be removed from the island. The list sent to the Council of War, was called the