I am working on a simple role playing game to take people through the Battle of Rhode Island. Right now I am working on cards to introduce the primary actors in the battle. I am going through the biographies of these men and I will post the material here on my blog.

John Trumbull

Aide to General Sullivan – In Battle Nathanael Greene put him in charge of Lovell’s Brigade

1756 – 1843

Military Career up to Battle of Rhode Island

Born in 1756 in Lebanon, Connecticut, John Trumbull graduated from Harvard College in 1773. He served with the Connecticut First Regiment in the early months of the revolution. Many of the biographical materials have him resigning from that regiment and going on to England to study painting, however he wrote about the Battle of Rhode Island. In 1778 he became an aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan in Rhode Island.

An Eyewitness Account by Trumbull

“Soon after daybreak the next morning, the rear-guard, commanded by that excellent officer, Colonel Wigglesworth, was attacked on Quaker, and General Sullivan, wishing to avoid a serious action on that ground, sent me with orders to commanding officer to withdraw the guard. ….. 

Nothing can be more trying to the nerves, than to advance deliberatively and alone into danger. At first I saw a round shot or two drop near me, I spurred on my horse to the summit of the hill, and found myself in the midst of the melee. ‘Don’t say a word, Trumbull;’ cried the gallant commander, ‘I know your errand, but don’t speak; we will beat them in a moment.’ 

‘Col. Wigglesworth, do you see those troops crossing obliquely from the west road towards your rear?’ 

‘Yes, they are Americans, coming to our support.’ 

‘No sir, those are Germans; mark, their dress is blue and yellow, not buff; they are moving to fell late your rear, and intercept your retreat. Retreat instantly — don’t lose a moment, or you will be cut off.’ 

And Wigglesworth did retreat.

As the action in the battle shifted to the West side of Portsmouth, General Greene moved his men to action against the Hessian troops that were attacking the Artillery Redoubt. Greene put John Trumbull in charge of Lovell’s Brigade and sent it to flank the Hessians on their left and attack their rear. The combination of Lovell’s Brigade working with Sherburnes, Jacksons, Varnum’s 2nd RI, Livingston’s First Canadian and Webb’s and Lauren’s guards succeeded in forcing the Hessians back to Turkey Hill leaving their dead and wounded behind them.

Resources used:

Battle information from Christian McBurney’s book on the Battle of Rhode Island.

Eyewitness account in Edwin Stone’s Our French Allies.