The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-09-05
MEMOIR or RHODE-IsLAND.
IT'S.

Whatever weight these observations
might be entitled to, and whatever impres
sion they might have made on the count, HI
continued imlnovable in the determination
he had formed.
In making representation of this con
versation, general Greene stated the prlncl'
pal officers on board the fleet to have beer
the enemies of D'Estaing. He was prop
erly land officer, and they were dssatis-
fled with his appointment to command them
in the navy. They were, therefore, deter
mined, as much as possible to thwart his
measures and 10 prevent, wherever it could
be justified, his achieving any brilliant ex-
plot which might rebound to his reputation
In this temper, they availed themselves oi
The letter Of his instructions, and unoni-
mously persevered in advising him to re-
lInquish the enterprise, and sail for Boston.
tie could not venture, with such instruc-
tlons, to act against their unanimous opin-
ion and although he seemed himself dis
posed to re-enter The harbor, yet, under
their influence, he declined doing so, and
sailed from the island.
On the return of Greene and La Fayette,
Sullivan, who was chagrned beyond meas
ure ut the prospect of losing so fair an oc-
casion to distinguish himself, and render
service to his country, made yet another ef.
fort to retain the fleet. He addressed
second letter to The admiral, demonstrating
against his Withdrawing from the enterprise,
and pressing him, in any event, TO leave his
land forces. Lieutenant colonel Laurens,
the bearer of this letter, was also charged
with a protest signed by all the general Off
GERS Of the American army in Rhode Isl
and, except Fayet,e, demonstrating against
the measure in terms OF great earnestness,
and reiterating, with some additions, the ar
guraents which had already been urged by
general Greene Without effect. The fleet
having sailed, a swift privateer was engaged
to take colonel Laurens on board, aud pur-
sue il. He soon overlook the count, and
delivered the dispatches. That officer was
much displeused with the protest, anil con-
tinued his voyage to Boston.
Thus abandoned by the fleet, Sullivan
called the general officers of his army TO
consult them on the propriety of continuing
the siege, of attempting the place by storm,
or of retreating with the stores from the is
land.
He stated his actual force to consist of
about nine thousand rank and file, including
artllerists and that reinforcement Of d
bout three thousand militia might be expec
ted in few days. I he force of the enemy
was estimated, according to the best com
putation he could make, a, six thousand
A disposition was at first manifested to
attempt an assault, if five thousand volun-
teers who had seen nine months service
could be obtained for the enterprise; but
the. departure of the fleet had so discouraged
the militia, that the requisite number could
not be had and, in few days, the army
was reduced by descrtion to little more than
five thousand men. This produced de-
termination to raise The siege, and to retire
to the north end Of the island, there to for
tify and wait for events.
They were thus tenacious Of the ground
they had gained, in the hope that DIES
taiog might yet return in time. to accom-
plish the object for which the expedition
had been undertaken. To prevail on him
to DO so, general Hancock and the marquis
de La Fayette set out for Boston; the for
mer to expedite the repairs Of the vessels,
and the latter to use the influence which hls
high rank and character gave him with the
admiral.
In the night, the camp before Newport
was broken up in great silence, and the ar
NV retired unobserved towards the works
on the north end Of the island. The rear
was covered by colouels Livingston and
Laurens, who commanded light parties on
both the east aud west road.
Very early in the morning the retreat was
discovered by the enemy, who Immediately
followed in two columns, aud were engaged
on each road, about seven o'clock Ia the
morning, by Livingston, and Laurens, who
were occasionally re-enlorced, bu, were Ji-