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Commanders of the Battle: Laurens and Talbot

September 16, 2025

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Lt. Colonel John Laurens – 1754-1782

John Laurens was from a wealthy South Carolina family. He was educated in England and arrived in Charleston in 1777. He wanted to join the Continental Army, and his father Henry secured a position for his 23 year old son. His father would serve in the Continental Congress. George Washington invited him to join his stall in August of 1777 as a volunteer aide-de-camp. Laurens became close friends with two other aides – Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton. On September 11, 1777 he served at the Battle of Brandywine and later the Battle of Germantown in which he was wounded. He was known for his recklessness, but he was given his official position of aides-de-camp to Washington and commissioned a lieutenant colonel. He served at the Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778.

Major Silas Talbot – 1751 – 1813

Talbot was born in Dighton, Massachusetts. He was trained as a mariner and as a builder and made his home in Providence. In the aftermath of the burning of the Gaspee and the Boston Tea Party, Rhode Island merchants were alarmed. Independent militias were forming and Talbot joined and was commissioned as a Lieutenant. He joined others of his company in learning military skills in a Providence warehouse, but he didn’t have any real military experience. On June 28, 1775 Talbot answered the Rhode Island Assembly’s call to send units to Boston. He marched with his men to join the Second Rhode Island Regiment and by July 1, he was commissioned a captain. Talbot and the other 1200 men in the Rhode Island brigade took part in the Siege of Boston watching over the Red Coats but not in direct battle. Talbot’s skills as a bricklayer came in handy as they built barracks on Prospect Hill. By April of 1776 the Siege was over and Rhode Islander Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy needed a crew to sail the ships home to Providence. Washington offered to loan Hopkins men from the Rhode Island Regiment and Talbot switched from soldier to sailor. Silas Talbot was intimately involved in the Rhode Island Campaign. As someone with experience as a mariner and builder, Talbot helped to construct the flatboats that would take American forces to Portsmouth on August 9th of 1778.

Commanders of the Battle: Israel Angell And Samuel Ward

September 15, 2025

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Colonel Israel Angell – 1740- 1832

At the Battle of Rhode Island he commanded 260 men.

Israel Angell came from one of the founding families of Providence. He served throughout the Revolutionary War. Was was a major in Hitchcock’s Regiment at the beginning of the war. He served with that regiment at the Siege of Boston. As the Continental Army was organized in 1776, Angell was part of the 11th Continental infantry. When Hitchcock was appointed brigade commander, Angell commanded the regiment. His regiment was re-named the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment on January 1, 1777. Angell was promoted to lieutenant colonel and shortly after was promoted to Colonel. He commanded the regiment following the death of Hitchcock. He was an experienced soldier serving at Valley Forge, the Siege of Boston, Brandywine, Red Bank, Monmouth and then the Battle of Rhode Island.

Samuel Ward Jr. – 1756 – 1832

At the Battle of Rhode Island he commanded 140 men.

Ward was from Westerly and was the son of a Governor of Rhode Island. He was captain of the Kings and Kent County Militia in 1775. When the regiment was mobilized under Col. Varnum, he served as captain. Varnum’s Regiment became part of the Army of Observation during the Siege of Boston. He served as a volunteer under Christopher Greene to support Benedict Arnold’s expedition to Quebec. He was captured on New Year’s Eve, 1775 and was later exchanged for other prisoners. Ward was promoted to a major of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment on January 12, 1777, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 5 May 1779 (with date of rank retroactive to May 26, 1778). With the 1st Rhode Island Regiment he fought at the Battle of Red Bank (October 1777) and the Battle of Rhode Island (August 1778). He is an ancestor of Julia Ward Howe.

Commanders of the Battle: Greene And Glover

September 14, 2025

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Major General Nathanael Greene – 1742-1786

Greene was born into a Quaker family in the Coventry area of Rhode Island. He worked as the resident manager of the Coventry Iron Works, working at the forge making large ship anchors and chains until he enlisted in the army. Although of Quaker background, Greene was active early in the colonial fight against British revenue policies in the early 1770s. He was self educated and valued books and learning – especially about military topics. He helped establish the Kentish Guards, a state militia unit, but a limp prevented him from joining it. Rhode Island established an army after the April 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord. Greene was tapped to command it. Later that year Greene became a general in the new Continental Army. Greene served under George Washington in the Boston campaign, the New York and New Jersey campaign, and the Philadelphia campaign. He was appointed quartermaster general of the Continental Army in 1778, but he reserved the right to command troops in the field. Before the Battle of Rhode Island, Greene was placed in charge of the right flank of the army. He had the reputation of being one of Washington’s most talented Generals.

Brigadier General John Glover 1732-1797

John Glover was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but he grew up in Marblehead. He began as a fisherman and merchant and ultimately owned his own ship. As tensions increased between the colonists and British Crown, Glover became active in the rebel cause. He joined the local militia and became commander in 1775. He participated in the siege of Boston. General Washington hired Glover’s ship to raid British shipping and it (the Hannah) became one of the first ships of the Continental Navy. The Marblehead militia became a Continental Regiment known as “the amphibious regiment.” Glover’s Regiment (the 14th Regiment) would have nearly 500 men – seamen, mariners and fishermen who had nautical skills. The 14th regiment was also integrated unit, with Native American, African American, Spanish, and Jewish volunteers all working together.

Commanders of the Battle: On the English Side

September 13, 2025

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Brigadier General Francis Smith – 1723-1791

He commanded over 1600 troops at the Battle of Rhode Island.

He was commissioned in 1741, made Captain in 1747 and became a Major in the 10th Foot in 1758. He was Lt. Colonel in the 10th Foot in 1762. In North America he was in command at Lexington and Concord in April of 1775. He was wounded in the thigh during the retreat. He was given a temporary promotion to Brigadier General at the time of the Battle of Rhode Island. Later he would retire with 50 years of service.

Captain Alexander Graeme – 1741-1818
Graeme commanded the Sphynx ( a 20 gun frigate) from January to November of 1778. He had command of 125 men.

He was commissioned Lieutenant in 1767 and served on ships in the Leeward Island. With the end of the Six Year War, Graeme was on active duty occasionally. In October of 1765 he took command of a 10 gun schooner and saw duty off of Newfoundland and the Irish Coast. By 1771 he was again unemployed. In 1774 he became second Lieutenant on the flagship of the North American fleet. He was promoted to Commander in 1775. He participated in the 1776 occupation of Newport and was stationed in the Sakonnet Passage before taking command of the Sphinx. Graeme continued service on and off until his retirement as Admiral in 1804.

Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg – 1720-1800

Commanded 2119 men at Battle of Rhode Island

Originally from Hessen-Kassel, von Lossberg was sent to American to command a Fusilier Regiment. Fusilliers were infantry soldiers equipped with a fusil, an early flintlock musket. On December 7, 1776 Col. von Lossberg’s troops were among those that landed in Newport to occupy Aquidneck Island. In May of 1778 he was promoted to Major General, second in command of the Newport garrison. He served in America until the end of the war in 1783.

John Hattendorf’s book – The Battle of Rhode Island in 1778 – is a great source of biographical material on those on the British side of the Battle of Rhode Island.

A British Account of the Battle of Rhode Island : From the diary of 17 year old Peter Reina

September 5, 2025

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I collect eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Rhode Island. As I searched through my own local history collection, I came across an account I don’t remember reading. It is a transcription by John Millar of the diary of a Peter Reina, a young British soldier in the Battle of Rhode Island. Millar transcribed the diary from photocopies sent to him by an English descendent of Peter and the transcription appeared in the August, 1979 edition of the Rhode Island History Magazine.

Map drawn by S. Lewis, engraved by Benjamin Jones. Philadelphia 1807

Although the transcription begins with the arrival of the French fleet, I am going to share just the portion on the Battle of Rhode Island. It is interesting to have another British view to contrast the American diaries, Order Books and letters we have for research.

“Reports arriving by deserters: the enemy were retreating to the north end of the Island. The Commander in Chief, Sir Robert Pigot, on the morning of the 29th ordered the Light Infantry and Grenadiers with Brown’s and Fanning’s Corps to march out of their lines and attack them, as were the 22nd, 43rd with the Hessian and Anspach Corps from Easton’s Beach.

They marched without opposition for some miles till meeting with a considerable body of the enemy on Quaker Hill. A severe fire took place; the van of our small army, for some time being not supported by the rear, suffered considerably, but the foreign troops advancing to support of the 22nd and 43rd, the Rebels were repulsed and drove from their works with considerable slaughter on their part. They then took post on Windmill Hill, an eminence commanding every other and very strongly defended.

Our troops took post on Quaker’s Hill. Great numbers of wounded coming into the Town gave the Rebels there no small satisfaction; their countenances shew’d it while they at the same time seek’d to administer relief.

The Sphynx 20 gun ship and Vigilante galley which arrived on the 27th, were sent up the River to cut off the retreat of the Rebels, but they could not effect it, not getting past the batteries at Bristol Ferry.

However, the Rebels being quite dispirited by the loss of their Allies, they could not remain longer, and on the night of Sunday 30th totally evacuated the Island to our great satisfaction and ease.

Thus ended Mr. Sullivan’s third expedition on Rhode island, much to his dishonor and disgrace to his magnanimous allies, who with 25,000 men and a fleet of 12 ships of the line made a shameful retreat from before a small army not exceeding 6000 troops, and those but ill provided with artillery.”

Note: John FItzhugh Millar was very active in researching Rhode Island Revolutionary history in the timeframe of the bi-centennial.

What Precipitated the Battle of Rhode Island?

August 28, 2025

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Tomorrow we honor those who participated in the Battle of Rhode Island with a Sunset Salute at Butts Hill Fort. Why did we have a battle? What was the spark? Over the past week I have heard an historian and a US Senator tell us that it was initiated by the British. I have been working on a role playing activity to let students and adults experience the decision making that principals in the Battle of Rhode Island had to make in the heat of the action. I like to draw from primary sources as I provide background material to the decisions that had to be made. Drawing from the diary of British soldier Frederick Mackenzie, I believe that the British were reacting to the retreat that they discovered that the Americans had already started overnight on August 28th.

“As soon as the day broke this Morning and we could see as far as the Enemys Encampment it was observed that their tents were struck; I went immediately on top of Dudleys house, and when it grew lighter, I could plainly perceive that the Rebels had struck their whole Camp, and had marched off; hardly a man was to be seen in their Batteries or Trenches. I rode as fast as possible to General Pigot’s quarters in Newport and informed him of it, and returned to the Camp with his orders for all the troops to get under arms with the utmost expedition. The General came to Irishes Redoubt by the time the Troops were assembled, and being satisfied that the Rebels had quitted their position, he gave orders for a part of the Army to march out, in three Columns, to pursue them, but to advance with caution, and not bring on an Action with a part of our force.” Mackenzie’s diary August 29, 1778

The British didn’t decide to go on the attack against the American Siege of Newport. Mackenzie notes that the British were “to advance with caution, and not bring on an Action with a part of our force.” The British found that Americans had left their positions and General Pigot decided to go after them to capture the American Army before it could retreat off Aquidneck Island. The goal of the Americans was to get their soldiers and equipment safely to Tiverton so they could fight another day. The American aim in the battle was to push the British and German (Hessian) troops back so that a successful retreat could be made. They were in an untenable position once it was clear that the French were not coming back to aide in the plans of the Rhode Island Campaign. The Americans were not trying for a full engagement either.

Who Was Ade Bethune?

August 17, 2025

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The new housing development being built by the old Anne Hutchinson school is being named after Ade Bethune. I remember Ade as a liturgical artist. She had the St. Leo’s shop out of her home on Washington Street in Newport. I went there to buy some things and what sticks out in my memory is that her coffee table was her wooden coffin! She designed jewelry and liturgical objects under the name of the Terra Sancta Guild. I still have some of those pieces.

Why would you name senior housing after Ade? Ade founded The Church Community Housing Corporation (CCHC), in 1969. The CCHC has the lease from the Town of Portsmouth to build a senior housing development.

Ade (Adelaide De Bethune) was born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1914. Ade and her family emigrated to New York City in 1928. In 1933 she met Dorothy Day at a place were the poor were being fed. Ade thought the illustrations in Dorothy’s newspaper The Catholic Worker, could use some help and she volunteered to do it. In my library I own a book on Dorothy Day and Ade was the illustrator. This early experience led Ade to focus on liturgical art and architecture which were rooted in the Catholic faith. Ade Bethune wanted her artistic gifts to be of service to others.

In 1938 Bethune moved to Newport, Rhode Island. Ade thought that home ownership was important to giving people a sense of belonging to a community. Throughout the years Ade was a vocal critic of efforts to tear down existing housing in Newport. She and a group of concerned citizens created the Church Community Corporation in 1969 (later the Church Community Housing Corporation or CCHC). This organization worked through renovation and new construction to enable low-income residents to find a home. In the 1980s Ade worked to develop Harbor House on Washington Street for elder housing. She was one of the first residents in 2002, but died shortly after. She is buried at Portsmouth Abbey in the monastery’s burial grounds.

To learn more about Ade – I would recommend these sites:

Portsmouth Abbey: https://portsmouthabbeymonastery.org/ade-bethune-artist-and-oblate

St. Catherine University has her papers: https://library.stkate.edu/archives/bethunechronology

CCHC

Military Tactics During the American Revolution

August 8, 2025

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I’m not a military historian. I am working on a role playing activity to give students and interested adults a sense of the decisions that had to be made on both sides in the Battle of Rhode Island. So I am learning about military tactics. If I ask role players to make decisions about what they would do when faced with certain situations during the Battle of Rhode Island, I need to inform the players about what their choices might be. What follows is a gathering of military tactics and an attempt to define them in a way players might understand. I appreciate feedback from readers that have more military experience.

Tactics
1. Linear formations: Both British and American forces often fought in close-order formations, relying on mass volleys because musket fire was not very accurate.

2. Open formations: Instead of close formation in line, skirmishers are more spread out and use the terrain to take cover.

3. Scouts: Used ahead of the main forces to gather information and to protect the flanks (sides) and rear of the army.

4. Fabian Strategy: General Washington employed this tactic, which involved avoiding major battles while harassing the enemy and gathering intelligence, according to the American Battlefield Trust.

5. Guerilla Tactics:

A. Surprise Attack: Element of surprise used to gain an advantage. Soldiers used the American landscape to their advantage – using forests and hills ( especially stone walls and corn stalks in Portsmouth) to hide and then surprise the enemy.
B. Ambush: A type of surprise attack where the attackers conceal themselves and then launch a sudden attack inflicting damage before the enemy can defend themselves.
C. Hit-and-run attacks: Using short surprise attacks and withdrawing before the enemy can respond in force. This inflicts damage on the enemy without a full-scale battle.
D. Harassing Tactics: Firing from a distance, disrupting formations, tactics that delay the enemy.

Resources: An excellent overview was created by American Battlefield Trust. The same tactics were used on both sides:
https://youtu.be/OYljJSZTVZA?si=9q1c5_ECJ-ApVQY3

Commanders of the Battle: Col. Edward Wigglesworth

August 4, 2025

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1742-1826

Edward Wigglesworth was born and raided up in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard and worked for merchants in Newburyport. That gave him experience as a ship’s captain in the Caribbean. In 1776 he was commissioned a Colonel and he took command of the 6th Massachusetts Continental Battalion. His battalion was ordered to Fort Ticonderoga as the Americans were quickly building a fleet to counter the British on Lake Champlain. As an experienced mariner, General Gates appointed Wigglesworth as third in command of the American fleet. Wigglesworth joined the fleet and took part in the Battle of Valcour Island in October of 1776. With the destruction of the American fleet, Wigglesworth escaped back to Fort Ticonderoga and took command of his battalion again. When his battalion disbanded, he was took command of the 13th Massachusetts Regiment. He was at Valley Forge and took part in many battles.

During the Battle of Rhode Island, Wigglesworth was positioned at Quaker Hill. American units (Wiggleworth’s Regiment, Livingston’s advanced guard and Wade’s pickets) were waiting at the junction of Middle Road, East Road and Hedley Street near where the Quaker Meeting House was located. Wigglesworth mistook the uniform of the Hessians troops advancing for American soldiers. Sullivan sent John Trumbull up Quaker Hill to set Wigglesworth straight. American General Sullivan saw his troops retreating, so he sent in Shepard’s Regiment of Massachusetts Continentals. General Sullivan’s “Life Guards” were sent in as well. For a while the Americans had an advantage.

A private from Jackson’s attachment described the action:

Detail of Quaker Hill from Huntington Map.

“We began to attack. The action began to be warm when we were reinforced by Col. Shepard’s Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sprout. The action then commenced hot. We plied them so briskly that they began to give way. Our troops seeing this, gave three cheers and advanced. The enemy then gave way and left one piece of cannon but poorly supported. A party of our men then advanced, drove the artillerymen and took possession of the cannon. The enemy then rallied and being reinforced, advanced and gave our men so heavy a fire that they obliged them to quit their prize, the cannon.” (From: Diary of a soldier in the RI Expedition (Massachusetts Historical Society. Quoted in McBurney.)

Like many other officers he exhausted his financial reserves and resigned from the army in 1779. He returned to Newburyport and ultimately was appointed tax collector for the port. He held this post for many years prior to his death on December 8, 1826.

Finding Edward Wigglesworth’s Lost Diary

Resources

Finding Wigglesworth’s Lost Diary. All things liberty 2018.

Christian McBurney’s book on the Rhode Island Campaign.

Edwin Stone’s Our French Allies.

Decision Points – Battle of Rhode Island

August 2, 2025

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Christian McBurney’s book on the Battle Rhode Island Campaign provides me with a step by step breakdown of the action, but I still need to digest it slowly. While I work on a tabletop role playing activity centered around the Battle of Rhode Island, I am trying to draw out the points in the battle where decisions had to be made. These are some of the decision points I may include in the role playing.

August 28

Once the Americans knew the French would not be returning, Sullivan’s council of war had to make a decision on whether to continue their Siege or Retreat.
Once the decision was made to retreat – Sullivan had to devise a strategy for that retreat.

August 29

In making a decision to retreat, how did the geography of Portsmouth affect the strategy for the retreat?
How would Sullivan decide to distribute the seasoned soldiers and raw militia?
How would Sullivan decide where to place the advanced guards to hinder the enemy?
The British had been on the defensive with the Siege. What decisions does Pigot make to go on the offensive?
What is Pigot’s strategy?
On Turkey Hill, Lauren asks Sullivan for more men. What decisions does Sullivan make?
When Malsburg is out of ammunition past Turkey Hill, what decision does he make?
What were Malsburg’s decisions on attacking the redoubt.
What decisions did the British Navy make?
Greene urged Sullivan to Fully Engage when the British got beyond Quaker Hill. What decision did Sullivan make?
How did the American actions change the Navy’s decisions?
What decisions did Nathanael Greene make in flanking the Hessians?
What decisions did Smith make when he had orders not to make a general engagement?
Later in the afternoon, when Sullivan was faced with the choice of counter attack or stay put – what decision did he make?

Questions:

How did both armies communicate?
What were some of the tactics used by the Americans?
What were some of the tactics used by the British?