New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-29
Nearly Successful Attempt
to End Revolutionary
War Occurred On August
20, ITS Near Newport.

Newport. r. R. Aug. % LPl-City
and state Joined today in observance
Of 150th anniversary Of the battle
of Rhode Island, that gallant and
nearly successful attempt to termin-
ate the revolution three years before
the surrender OF CORVALLIS at
Yorktown.
Encouraged by the presence Of a
large French fleet under Count
D Estaing in the Narragansett wa
tiers, the Americans had occupied
the northern part Of the island and
were pressing the British encamped
about Newport when August gales
wrought havoc with the French
warships and forced their with
drawal to Boston for retitting.
The Americans evacuating their
advanced position started a slow re-
treat northward. With the lifting of
the seige the British, aided by their
Hessian mercenaries, poured out of
Newport in pursuit. Early on the
morning OF August 90, 177s. the two
armies came into touch.
| The colonists made repeated
stands and inflicted heavy loss on
the British but continued their slow
withdrawal. At one point the Amer
leans under Colonel Wigglesworth.
who was commanding the rear
guard, had met with such success in
repulsing the red coat attack near
Quaker Hill that General Sullivan
was forced to dispatch one OF his
most daring officers. Col. John
Trumbull, to order the troops to
fall back.
As Trumbull approached Wiggles-
worth after hazardous ride
through embattled troops the latter
exclaimed. Don't say word,
Trumbull. know your errand. but
don't speak; we.will beat them in q
moment"
Trumbull, however, pointed out
the oblique advance of a strong
body of Hessians to the rear of the
American position and Wiggles-
worth was reluctantly forced to give
ground.
As the morning wore on two Brit
ish ships of war together with sev-
eral small craft, all recently arrived
to replace the vessels which had
been burned at the approach of the
French fleet, Joined in the battle.
They directed their fire from the
western side Of the island against
the American flank. but were soon
silenced by heavy shore batteries.
All efforts to cut the Americans on
having failed the British rested In
the entertainments they had occu-
pied in the morning along Quaker,
Turkey and Anthony Hills and the
battle was over at I o'clock with
the Americans in control OF the field.
The following day was Sunday
and both armies buried their dead
in anticipation Of renewal Of the
lighting on Monday, but about noon
a dispatch from General Washing
ton arrived advising that Lord
Howe had left New York with S..
600 reinforcements and an English
feet was off Block Island. Sinful
taneously came news that the
French feet at Boston could not re-
turn as soon as had been expected
and a retreat was unanimously de-
termined upon. 49,
The withdrawal across the liver
ton river to the mainland has been
regarded as one of the most STRAIT.
egic of the war. While a large de-
ltachment was ostensibly engaged tn
fortifying the camp and an incessan'
cannonade was kept up, the colonia
forces ferried their heavy baggage
and equipment to safety and then al
night tents which had been pitched
In full view of the enemy were
struck and not man nor thu
smallest articles we're left behind.
Lafayette, who had returned II
time to assist in the retreat. char
acterized the battle as the bes