According to the pension application testimony of Daniel Bowen, Sullivan’s body guard was recognized by Congress as a part of the Continental Army. (War Department Communication dated December 1, 1819). This was a company of volunteers called a “Life Guard” to Major General Sullivan who was appointed commander of the state of Rhode Island. He remembers Aaron Mann, Levi Hoppen, George Potter and John Prescott (may be John Wescott) as officers of the group.

Sullivan sent in his Life Guard to reinforce the American troops at Quaker Hill and there was intense fighting there.

From his testimony

“Our circumstance however, I recollect , —service between Butts and Tominy Hills, the Sullivan guards did not arrive at the commencement of the action and as we neared __ up to meet the British, we could but meet by some carrying off
The wounded, who said to us, “that’s right my boys, go and give it to them’ as the were borne off, upon the shoulders of their comrades. And we did go on, until we were overpowered by numbers.”

Bowen would go on to serve with Silas Talbot on the Sloop Argo and then aboard the Privateer Washington (a ship of 20 guns) which was also commanded by Talbot. The Americans were taken prisoner and ultimately exchanged for British prisoners.

Bowen called his Revolutionary War experience “days of danger and fatigue and repeated misfortunes.”

Resources:
Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 – ca. 1912, documenting the period ca. 1775 – ca. 1900. I accessed this through Fold3 military records online.

Image: PIGOT and ARGO capture British schooner LIVELY and two privateers, off the coast of Providence. Naval History and Heritage Command.