The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-08-29
MEMOIR OF RHODE-IsLAND.


"The militia had now arrived, and Sui
livan's army amounted to about ten thou
sand men. Some objections were made by
La Fayette to his commencing operations
before the return of D'Estaing. The off
Ger apprehended that the French admiral
would once more feel himself wounded by
the circumstance, that measures were taken
against the enemy without his cooperation
and therefore advised that the army should
be advanced to Il position in the neighbor-
hood of Newport, but should not break
ground until the count should be in read-
ness to act in concert with them. IL was
extremely desirable to avoid whatever might
give offence to the great ally on whose as
sistance so much depended but time was
deemed of so much importance to an army
which could not long be kept together, that
this advice was oyer-ruled, and il was de-
termiued to open the trenches, and COM
mence the siege Immediately.
Before this determination could be put
In execution, a furious storm of wind and
rain came up from the northeast, which
almost irreparably ruined, all the tents, rem
dered the arms unfit for immediate use, aud
damaged the ammunition, of which fifty
rounds per man had Just been delivered.
The soldiers having no shelter, suffered ex-
tremely, and several persisted in the storm,
which continued for three days.
On the return of fair weather, as soon as
the arms could be cleaned and fresh am
munitlon given out, the army moved to-
wards The lines, and cncamped between two
and three miles from the town of Newport.
The succeeding morning, the siege was
commenced, and continued without any
material circumstance for several days.
The situation of the American army,
which had as yet received no intelligence
from the admiral, and was entirely uncer-
tain of his fate, had become extremely crit
ical. Requirements might now without
interruption be thrown into Newport, so as
TO give the enemy the superiority in point
of strength, aud not only defeat the enter
prise, but render their retreat from The is
land entirely insecure. On The evening of
the 10Th their anXeties on this subject were
relieved for d moment, by the rc-appearance
of the fleet.
The two admrals, desirous the one of
4 { tI nj
vantage of the wind, had employed two
days in manGuyring without coming to ac-
ton. Towards the close of the second,
they were on the point of engaging, when
they were separated by the violent storm
which had been felt SO severely on shore
and which dispersed and did great damage
TO both fleets. Some single vessels after
wards fell in with each other but no ippor-
tant capture was made, and both fleets re-
tired in very shattered condition, the one
to the harbor of New York, and the other to
that of Newport.
letter was Immediately dispatched from
D'Estaing to Sullivan informing him that,
in pursuance of orders from the king, and
of the advice of all his officers, he had taken
the resolution to carry the fleet to Boston.
His instructions were to sail for Boston
if the fleet should meet with any disaster,
or if a superior British fleet should appear
on the coast.
The injuries sustained from the storm,
aud the information which had been recely-
cd that Byron had arrived, were consider
cd as producing the very state Of things
contemplated by his instructions, and j, had
been determined TO obey them.
This communication threw Sullivan and
his army into despair Success, without
the aid of the fleet, could no, be hoped for
and they bad counted With almost absolute
certainty on brilliant termination of the
enterprise. General Greene, and the mar
quls de La Fayeue were directed to wait on
the aduiral with letter from Sullivan, re-
monstrnung against this resolution, and to
use their utmost endeavOrs to induce him
to change 1t.
They represented To him the certainty OF
carrying the garrison, # he would only CO.
operate with them for two days. The plaza
they proposed. was to land on the southern
par, oi the island, all within the works cree