The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-03

ucH sitiiHg iH VIC Sthlc iibuse' Sap'' W
was standing, with many others, near the
Granary at the foot of the Parade. The
Adjutant, Hunfsid by name, came up the
Long Wharf and met William Wsnton, at
the Main street. Wanton thus addressed
him " Is this Col. Campbell!" the answer
was Not!-but an express from Colonel
Campbell"-Hdnfeld enquired of WantOn,
who commanded the station and was an
'swered that there were no troops or military
commander here. Wdnton then waited On
the officer to the State House, to introduce
him TO the Town Council. He returned
soon and went down the Long Wharf, when
the Regiment, commanded by Col. Camp
bell, Immediately landed and marched into
the town.
The civil, and town government, being
wholly at an end, all power was merged in
the commanding General, and military law,
and that alone, established.
Empty private houses, were taken p"sses-
sion of as Barracks, without consent of the
owners-and a committee Of citizens, of the
Royal party, appointed to make list Of
every house in every street in town, stating
its number of inmates and capacity, when
the number Of officers or soldiers was as
signed to be quartered in each house, upon
the inhabitants, which then occupied it, as
signing to the former occupant a very nar-
row accommodation, and the remainder for
the soldiers.
The commander of Artillery claimed and
took away, and sent to New York, all the
bells from the houses Of public worship, ex.
cept that of Trinity Church, and The stills
and worms from the Still-houses, of such
as left the :own before The army took pos
session. This property was never restored
to its former owners. The meeting houses
except Trinity Church and the Sabbath
rian meeting house-were converted into /
riding schools and 'hsspitnls. The State
House also was used as hospital. The
Redwood Library was thrown open, and
free, and thereby lost manv of its valuable
books, and had considerable injury done 10
the building.
The wharves, which. were of wood filled
in with stone, were mostly cut up for fuel,
and the stones taken away for ballast-in-
deed nearly all the wharves in town were
destroyed-,he principal exceptions were
BrentOn's, Peas's, Freebody's, and perhaps
the Long Wharf. Some of the Rrpe-wnlks
were pulled down for fuel, and the others
used as hnrse stables.
The great forage yard was kept in the
Quaker's field, ard The town Hay Scales
removed, and placed there.
The woodward for the army was located
on the north side Of Church street, and ex-
tended northerly toward the estate now be-
longing to Col. c. G. Champlin. The Cen
eral (Prescott) took up his quarters in the
Banister house, and made a spacious side
walk in front Of the same, from Mill-s,reet
TO Prospect Hill-s,reet, out of step stones
forcibly taken from private houses, as well
as the whole Of the South flight Of steps
from the State-House. Those stones, nf- !
ter the evacuation, were claimed and taken
away by their respective owners.
The army, during their stay, quar,ered
principally in tents in the summer, without
the town; and in winter were quartered ia /
the houses Of the inhabitants Of the town,
to the great annoyance Of the people, with
out any compensation, and to the very great
destruction Of the houses, which were for
the most part left in state Of great dilspi-
da''o", IN addition TO which, Capt. Cahoone
says, about 4sO buildings Of various classes
were wholly destroyed.
The rail, and other wooden fences abou,
the town, were either stolen by the soldiers 4
or used by the inhabitants for fuel-so that
after the evacuation the lots nearly all lay
common, and in the impoverished condition
Of the people, being unable to refence them.
they rcsorted to ditchlng, ond embanking
their enclosures. The stone walls were
mostly thrown down, some before, and 9TH
ers at the tine Of Sullvan's expedition, by
which means agriculture was at low ebb,
especially for the latter part Of the time.
The Forest trees and orchards were cut
down for fuel for the army, in most cases,
no, allowing the owners to share with the
army in the use Of their own wood. The .
orchards, before the Revolution, we're nu-
merous and fruitful, and the forest and or
nsmental trees vigorous and beautiful, es-
pecisIIy the latter, which lined the principal
road. on each side, adding beauty to the
Isndseane and shade and comfort to the in.