The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-09-16
4 son OF an IRISH SCHooLMAsTER
Interesting Address by Thomas
Hamilton Murray.
BEFORE A MEETING in NEWPORT, R. |.
Complimented by Congress and
General Lafayette.

The anniversary OF the battle OF
Rhode Island, which took place in 1878,
was recently celebrated by the Amer
ican-Irish Historical Society at New
port, r. I. The following address was
delivered by Thomas Hamilton Muir
ray, secretary general OF the society, on
the OCCASION:
The Battle of Rhode Island, whose
anniversary we are celebrating, was
fought August 2, 1875. Over two years
had elapsed since the Declaration Of In
dependence, and the Revolution had
been steadily advancing to successful
issue. There had been reverses, it is
true, but these had been more than
counterhalanced by glorious triumphs
for the patriot cause.
General John Sullivan, the son of the
Irish schoolmaster, was appointed early
i'll 1878 to the command of the Rhode
Island department. The British were
then in possession Of Newport, where
they had been since December 8, 1916.
1t was Washington's design to drive
them out. Two expeditions were
planned to do this. The original was
to have been put into execution in 1777,
when the American forces in this state
we're commanded by General Spencer,
but he failed to accomplish the task.
Sullivan was appointed to succeed
him, the object being to conduct more
vigorous campaign than Spencer had
done. Sullivan's appointment had been
warmly urged by Washington and
Greene, and was promptly authorized
by congress. He was cordially well
coined. to the state by Governor
Nicholas Cooke and by the general as
senbly. With the limited force at his
disposal he had to guard a shore over
sixty miles in extent and reaching from
Point Judith on the west to Providence
and thence to Seaconnct Point on the
east.
Speaking OF the enemy in Newport
and vicinity, Sullivan says, in return"
to congress nearly four months before
the battle here on the Island OF Rhode
island "Thcy have on the island and
in the posts adjacent four regiments Of
Hessians, and the 22d, 43d and 56th
British; making on the whole 5000, cx1
elusive Of a small regiment consisting Of
127, composed Of refugees and de-
serters. inclosc congress plan
OF their Notifications around the town.
They have, besides, very strong work
on Butts Hill, small rcdoubt opposite
Bristol Ferry, another opposite our
common ferry point, and two small
works opposite Frogland Point"
The British also had at hand seven
vessels Of war and two galleys. In June,
1878, Washington, at the request of Sui
livan and Governor Greene, ordered the
Rhode Island troops serving elsewhere
to be sent back to their state for the lat
ter's defense. Preparations for the ex-
pedition against the British in Newport
and vicinity went actively forward. In
the meantime the British had perpe-
trated many barbaritics in and out OF
town, notably at Warren and Bristol.
Sullivan Indignantly declared these
atrocities to be "darkcncd with savage
cruelty and stained with indcliblc dis
grace" The news that the French fleet
had arrived off New York caused the
British in Newport to make prepara-
tions for withstanding combined at
tack from Sullivan by land and the
Frcncl, by sea.
The kings stores were removed to
places Of safety. New rcdoubts were
thrown up and old ones rebuilt. In the
meantime Sullivan had been collecting
men and material on the mainland
ready to cross over from Tiverton to the
Island OF Rhode Island On July go,
I77S, the magnificent French fleet under
d'Estaing arrived off Brcntons ledge,
below Newport. 1t comprised twelve
ships Of the line, four irigatcs and cor
vettc Aboard the feet were 1000
French troops OF the line.
The next day Sullivan went aboard
the flagship Languedoc and had con-
ference with the admiral. 1t was agreed
that two ships Of the line, two frigatcs
ard the corvette should take position so
as to cut off the retreat OF the British
vessels lying in the bay. As soon as
this was observed. the British ran four