Battle of Rhode Island
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The Battle of Rhode Island took place on August 29, 1778, when units of the Continental Army under the command of John Sullivan attempted to recapture Aquidneck Island, also known as Rhode Island (rather than the state of Rhode Island), from British forces. The battle ended inconclusively, but the Continental Army had to give up its goal of capturing the island and securing Narragansett Bay for American and French ship traffic.
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[edit] Background
French Admiral d'Estaing arrived in the summer of 1778 with a fleet of ships with infantry reinforcements for the war. Since he was unable to cross the bar into New York harbor, French and American leaders decided to deploy the fresh forces in Rhode Island, to expel the British there. Strategically, this would open up the Narragansett Bay for American and French forces and deny it to the British. John Sullivan was put in charge of this offensive.
On Aquidneck Island there were American and British forces remaining in standoff. Colonel Christopher Greene was responsible for assembling the Rhode Island contribution to the Continental Army but was struggling to meet the quota. As a result, General Sullivan had to assemble his force from a variety of sources. Virtually the entire Rhode Island militia was called up and led by William West, and troops from Massachusetts and New Hampshire along with Continental Artillery were called in to supplement the expected French forces.
General George Washington sent generals Nathanael Greene and Lafayette to support Sullivan in his efforts to organize his army, but it has since been suggested that Washington was concerned about Sullivan's decision-making abilities.
[edit] Prelude to battle
As American intentions became clear, General Robert Pigot decided to redeploy his forces in a defensive posture in and around Newport. He also decided to move nearly all livestock into the city, level orchards and houses to provide a clear line of fire, and destroy carriages and wagons.
On August 10, the Continental Army's plans for an offensive on the island suffered a setback when d'Estaing's fleet lifted anchor and left Rhode Island after coming within sight of the landing zone. Sullivan's American troops had preceded him in landing ahead of schedule but were of inadequate strength to defeat the British defensive lines.
On August 11 and 12, a heavy storm hit the area and flattened corn fields. This added to the financial loss suffered by Rhode Island residents as a result of the war. After drying off, American forces started redeploying for a siege of Newport.
When d'Estaing and his fleet arrived on August 20, the ships were heavily damaged by the storm. D'Estaing decided yet again to put off landing infantry force, choosing instead to sail to Boston to repair the ships. Dismayed by this turn of events, Sullivan sent Lafayette to Boston to effect the return of the French troops to the prospective battlefield. D'Estaing and Lafayette met fierce criticism in Boston, Lafayette remarking that "I am more upon a warlike footing in the American lines than when I came near the British lines at Newport."[citation needed]
At the same time, there was news that the British had sent for reinforcements.
By August 28, Sullivan changed his plans to reflect the relative strength of the opposing forces. Under the cloak of darkness, American troops were moved away from their siege positions to defensive positions in the north of the island around Butt's Hill.
[edit] Order of battle
[edit] British forces
- Four British infantry regiments 22nd, 38th 43rd, 54th
- Six Hessian infantry regiments (Landgrave, Huyne, Ditforth, Bunau, Two Anspachs)
- Three Loyalist infantry regiments Tory infantry: (Wightman, Brown, Fanning)
- Hessian Chasseurs
- British, Hessian, and ship-based artillery
- Royal Marines
[edit] Continental forces
- Eight Continental Army infantry regiments: (1st Rhode Island, 2nd Rhode Island, 4th Massachusetts, 13th Massachusetts, Webb's, Jackson's, Sherburne's, James Livingston's regiments)
- Two regiments from the Rhode Island State Brigade
- Six regiments from the Rhode Island state regiment
- One regiment from the Connecticut state regiment
- Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers
- Peabody's New Hampshire State Regiment
- Hale's Regiment of Militia
- Nichols' Regiment of Militia
- Four artillery regiments
[edit] Battle
The American generals decided to establish a defensive line across the entire island just south of a valley that cut across the island, hoping thereby to deny the British the high ground in the northern section.
The Americans organized their forces in two sections:
- On the west, General Greene concentrated his forces in front of Turkey Hill, but sent the 1st Rhode Island to establish advance positions a half mile (1 km) south under the command of General Varnum.
- On the east, Brigadier General John Glover, who concentrated his forces behind a stone wall overlooking Quaker Hill.
The British followed suit and organized their attack in a corresponding way, sending Hessian General Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg up the west road and General Francis Smith up the east road with two regiments each under orders to not make a general attack. As it turned out, this advance led to the main battle.
Lossberg's chasseurs were the first to come under fire by John Laurens's troops, who were shooting under cover of trees. At this point, Pigot decided to send in reinforcements, and it became clear this was the general engagement of the battle.
American troops withdrew from their positions but kept up their fire, slowing the British advance. The Rhode Island Militia under Colonel West provided cover during the retreat. In a move that is yet to be understood, Sullivan sent a regiment forward along each road during this retreat, causing confusion.
The battle involved cannonfire between land and ship positions, attempts at attacks and reinforcements, but by 4 p.m. it had reached an impasse. Because most of the shooting had been at long range, there were relatively modest casualties on both sides.
Although some artillery fire persisted throughout the night, Continental forces withdrew to Bristol and Tiverton on the night of August 31, leaving Aquidneck Island under British control.
