Interactive Timeline
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The first collaboration between the United States and French Monarchy took place in Rhode Island during the summer of 1778. King Louis appointed Charles Henri Theodat, Comte d’Estaing to command the French navy’s powerful Toulon squadron. The squadron was ordered to sail for the Americas. The French fleet were poised to sail towards New York. As the French arrived near Sandy Hook New Jersey they realized that their ships were too deep for the shallow waters. Admiral Howe also had his fleet stationed nearby, waiting for the French fleet. D’Estaing sent a letter to General Washington stating that he cannot support him around New York. He suggested that he could support the efforts in Newport.
Timeline
The French fleet under the command of Admiral d’Estaing depart the southern part of France
British 54th Regiment constructs redoubt around barracks.
Landgrave and Ditfourth British Regiments are posted at the Windmill Hill
(Butts Hill) fortification with 1000 men
D’Estaing squadron left the Mediterranean Sea.
General Clinton had doubted that the French could secure New York. Clinton was worried about Newport and ordered an additional 1,800 troops to support Newport.General Richard Prescott also sailed back to Newport. About a week later two Hessian Ansbach Regiments arrived in Newport along with additional supplies.
British Reinforcements arrive in Newport.
General Washington wrote to General Sullivan who was stationed in Providence. The letter stated that there was no particular plan put in place for an attack on New York or Rhode Island. Washington requested that Sullivan raise an additional 5,000 troops from New England. Washington also requested that the French and American collaboration be kept in the utmost secrecy. Washington also requested Sullivan to employ pilots to help guide d’Estaing into the Narragansett Bay.
Admiral D’Estaing departs Sandy Hook sails to Newport.
At 2:00am Continental brigades of General John Glover, James Varnum and
Colonel Henry Jackson’s regiment set off for Providence from White Plains NY.
A privateersman spotted a single ship approaching Newport from the west and set out on whaleboats from Narrow River hoping it was a merchant vessel they could easily capture. The vessel proved to be the British 14-gun sloop Falcon. The vessel fired onto the whaleboats and chased the Americans off.
The French squadron is spotted anchoring off the coast of Block Island.
D’Estaing’s ships sail to Point Judith
10 AM
D’Estaing’s fleet is spotted and a flag is raised at Brenton Point to alert the British and Hessian forces that the French were approaching. General Sir Robert Pigot ordered all forces off of Conanicut Island. All but 50 soldiers stayed behind. They manned the cannons that were in the redoubts throughout the island. Their mission was to harass the ships once they entered Narragansett Bay.
3 PM
American pilots rendezvous with the French ship Languedoc and help guide d’Estaing’s flag ship to anchor. General Sullivan relayed a message to d’Estaing that his troops were not ready for the invasion. The British ships Spitfire, Alarm and Kingsfisher retreated from their position in the Sakonnet River. The French ships Aimable and Alcmene unloaded cargo at Fogland Ferry.
D’Estaing sends the 50-gun Sagittaire and the 64-gun Fantasque up the Narragansett Channel between South Kingston and Conanicut Island.
6 AM
The Sagittaire led the way into Narragansett Channel and fired seven or eight rounds at the Fox Hill Battery. Once the vessels passed Conanicut Island they anchored south of Prudence Island. Later that morning General Pigot ordered the defenders that were on Conanicut Island to retreat back to Newport. The British defenders spiked many of their guns, dumped some into the bay and blew the powder stores.
1 PM
Two 26-gun French frigates and a former British brig sailed up the Sakonnet River. They were sailing towards the Kingsfisher, Alarm and Spitfire. The Captain of the Kingfisher ordered his ship to be set on fire. Other ships ran aground the northeastern side of Aquidneck Island and torched them.
3 PM
The Alarm blew up. The Spitfire was set on fire and sailed towards two Frigates. The young Ensign Etienne March Anotonie Joseph, Comte de Grasse Limermont saved two Kings frigates by grabbing and redirecting the Spitfire that was on fire away from the Frigates. Another group of French sailors were working on trying to save the Kingfisher. The ship exploded. No one was injured in the explosions. The Kingfisher broke loose from its anchor. The heat from the cannons loaded with grapeshot fired in all directions.
General Sullivan and d’Estaing met for the first time aboard the Languedoc. The two discussed plans of attacking Newport and shared multiple ideas. General Sir Robert Pigot ordered all sheep and cattle in Portsmouth and Middletown-except for one per family-driven within British lines. Loyalist soldiers filled in numerous private wells in Middletown and
Portsmouth rendering them unusable. The 22nd Regiment of Foot captured two civilians from Conanicut Island. The captives provided detailed information regarding the rebel invasion.
The French placed two cannons at the Dumplings (Conanicut Island) to defend the mouth of Newport Harbor.
British work details are deployed to block the roads with fallen trees. The roads were blocked along Portsmouth and Middletown. To prevent French ships from landing troops in Newport the British scuttled five or six transports between Goat Island and North Battery.
Captain Symons of the Creberus received a letter from Captain Brisbane reminding him not to allow his ship's capture. An hour later two French ships sailed east around the northern tip of Conanicut Island and toward Aquidneck Island. Captain Symons attempted to sail to Newport but was cut off by the Fantasque. Symons ran his ship aground on the western side of Aquidneck Island south of Dyer’s Island. Symons ordered his ship to be torched. Captain Brisbane’s other vessels meet similar fate. The Orpheus ran aground near Coggeshall Point. The ship was torched. Captain Smith of the HMS Lark also torched his vessel between Arnold and Coggeshall Points. Five more ships were scuttled between Goat and Rose Island. This included the famous Endeavour.
To control the Middle Channel of Narragansett Bay d’Estaing ordered his fleet to sail towards the mouth of Narragansett Bay. This required the French squadron to sail past the British defenses in Newport. Artillery from the British redoubts opened fire on the passing ships. The French returned fire as it sailed past Newport Harbor. Cannon balls ripped through the city. The cannon fire was so intense that a cannon ball landed near the Redwood Library. Luckily only a few homes were hit by cannon fire. No civilians were injured or killed during the bombardment. The French ships took up their positions in preparations for the American landing.
The British forces withdraw from their defenses.
General Sullivan received word from civilians and at least one Hessian soldier that fled Aquidneck Island, due to the impending invasion informed the American army that the British forces withdrew from their defenses. Information was quickly sent to General John Sullivan.
6 AM - 8 AM
American forces prepare to stage for the crossing. Landing craft are moved from Nannaquaket Pond to the embankment site. Proper men from each brigade were assigned to each landing craft. General John Sullivan ordered Colonel John Topham’s 1st Rhode Island State Regiment (not to be confused with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment) to land onto Portsmouth and seize Butts Hill Fort. Amid the earthen walls and wooden barracks, dummy soldiers made of straw with British uniforms were found atop of Butts Hill.
9 AM
General John Sullivan ordered his Army to cross into Portsmouth via Howland’s Ferry. While the American army was crossing into Portsmouth d’Estaing ordered his soldiers and marines to land on Conanicut Island.
12:30 PM
The sails of the British fleet are spotted seven miles near the mouth of Narragansett Bay. D’Estaing ordered his squadron to prepare for action. D’Estaing sends orders to the troops on Conanicut Island to quickly board their ships.
8 PM
Admiral Howe was anchored between Point Judit and the Conanicut Island lighthouse. By this time General John Sullvians army was encamped in and around the fortifications on Butts Hill. Morale was high. Lt. Col Paul Revere stated “I am in high health and spirits' '. The soldiers used white canopies as bedding.
The Americans Advance on Newport
American forces paraded for their generals in preparation for the advance towards Newport. Winds from the approaching storm were picking up speed. Some hours later the storm moved in. The storm brough high winds, pelting rain that drenched the Americans in their muddy camps.
The storm continued to wreak havoc on the encamped soldiers. As the day turned into the night the storm grew stronger. Tents were blown down, there was no way of escaping the storm. Some soldiers used nearby walls to shield them from the wind. Some went into nearby barns for cover. Many soldiers figured out ways to build shelters with material nearby.
3 AM
The sleep deprived American Army was suddenly rousted with news of a pending attack. The soldiers quickly moved into defensive positions in and along Butts Hill Fort. Not too long after the troops found out that this was a false alarm.
6 AM
The boom of a cannon woke the groggy American soldiers to assemble. By 6:30 a.m. two more blasts got them rushing into columns. By 7:00 a.m. the army was in formation and ready to march towards Newport. Sullivans Army number 11,895 soldiers. 10,600 of the troop numbers were infantry.
4 PM & 5 PM
General Sullivan halted his army in Middletown along Honeyman Hill. Sullivan was adjacent to the British lines. Sullivans army started the construction of siege lines along Honeyman Hill. The hill provided a good sight line for the American army. The position was ideal for his gun batteries. General Sullivan hoped that Pigot would order his army to attack the American position.
By dusk about 800 American soldiers picked up tools to begin working on the siege lines. 400 soldiers prepared the ground for a four cannon battery. The battery was positioned just north of Green End Road. The other 400 men worked on the trench lines. The soldiers used the fog to their advantage. The fog concealed their movements while they worked on the siege lines.
As the American army continued to construct their siege lines the British batteries opened fire on the American positions. The British fired over 300 rounds into the American position. The British guns disabled a few American guns and wounded three men. John Hancock reported that 41 enemy deserters entered the American lines on the 18th. A few days later a total of 102 deserters were reported.
After the fog lifted American guns opened fire on the British lines. A private from the 54th Regiment of Foot lost a leg from the American round. Two horses, a tent with 8 British soldiers were struck by artillery rounds. The soldiers were not injured from the round that came into their tent. By 10:00 a.m. the American artillery had fired over 300 rounds into the British lines.
12 PM
General Pigot ordered all eight of his British and Hessian frontline regiments to relocate their camps to the rear, out of artillery range. General Pigot wanted those regiments to relocate behind Tonomy Hill. Major Mackenzie disapproved of the decision. He wrote that the position was too far from the works which they are to defend. General Pigot ordered a new ten-gun battery featuring 18 and 24 pounders as well as mortars.
The battery was placed to the rights of the Green End Redoubt to counteract the American battery facing his right. The next day the battery opened fire into the American lines. An American officer wrote that nearly 2,000 rounds were fired into their lines. General Sullivan continued to inch closer towards the British lines, hoping that Pigot would attack his lines. Greene and Lafayette boarded the Languedoc to persuade d’Estaing to stay in Newport.
By midnight d’Estaing ordered his fleet to raise anchors. Shortly after that they departed Narragansett Bay. The Americans were not able to motivate d’Estaing to stay in Newport. The French Fleet departed for Boston for repairs.
The Americans opened two new batteries located about 300 yards in front of their existing works and about 700 yards from the British line, straddling Green End Road. Most of the cannons along the siege lines were 18-24 pounders. The Americans also brought up howitzers and mortars. One of the mortars included a 13 inch mortar that was sent from Boston. General Sullivan’s plan was to use the mortars to drive the British from their advance lines. This plan failed because the fuzes used were too short in the rounds being fired over the British lines. Sullivan ordered the 13 inch mortar back to the rear.
1:30 AM
Colonel Edmund Fanning led 150 men from his Loyalist Kings American Regiment from their redoubt. Fanning crept up onto an American picket post. They attacked, killing one American and taking two prisoners. The 54th Regiment of Foot slipped over to Easton Beach. They burned down the house of Edward Easton but couldn't find any rebels. This raid was not authorized by General Pigot.
General Sullvian ordered 200 men from Wadsworth’s and Whitney’s Regiments of Massachusetts militia to assist in improving defensive works at the northern part of the island. Quartermasters and commissaries also moved their supplies to the northern part of the island. Orders were also given to repair the redoubts at Bristol and Tiverton, including the installation of new gun platforms. Colonel John Crane relocated some of his artillery to the northern part of the island. He sent forty men under Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere to move all of the 18 pounder cannon from their siege positions, and had them sent to Butts Hill Fort.
Evening Hours
General Sullivan received communications from General Washington that the British were gathering 100 or so vessels to strike Newport. General Sullivan gathered his counsel of war and discussed the communications received from Washington. They unanimously agreed to prepare to withdraw the army to the northern part of the island.
General Sullivan's Army had shrunk from 11,000 to about 8,800. Many volunteers from militia units abandoned their units and returned home. Within a 24 hour period Sullivan lost 3,000 men. General John Hancock departed for Boston, he felt he would serve the cause better by using diplomacy to motivate d’Estaing to sail back to Newport.
General Marquis de Lafayette departs Newport and rides to Boston
His goal was to help encourage d’Estaing to sail back to Newport. General Sullivan and his officers discuss the plan to move the entire army in and around Butts Hill.
Admiral Howe ordered the HMS Ariel to sail between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
The HMS Ariel fired several shots into the Continental navy's 16 gun Brig Resistance.
8 PM
Sullivan ordered his men to strike their tents and loaded their gear in a silent manner.
10 PM
American advance guards left their positions and joined the retreat.
At dawn the British see the empty American works.
Major Mackenzie of General Pigot’s Headquarters staff observed the American lines and saw that the Americans had left. Major Mackenzie rode to Pigot to update him on the situation.
General Pigot ordered the troops to prepare for battle. Pigot had about 5,750 men at his disposal along with Artillery men and 160 Marines stationed at Tonomy Hill.
6:30 AM
Pigot ordered three columns north to attack Sullivan’s Army.
General Francis Smith consisted of the 38th, 54th, 22nd and 43rd Regiment of Foot. General Pigot instructed General Richard Prescott lead the 54th and 38th Regiment of Foot to march to Easton Beach to take possession of Honeyman Hill. The 22nd and 43rd Regiment of Foot traveled up East Road towards Portsmouth.
Captain Friedrich von der Malsburg advance guard of 150 Hessian chasseurs, 1st and 2nd Ansbach Regiments, Noltenius and General Friedrich von Lossberg headed down West Road.
7 AM
First skirmish between von Malsburg and 100 of Laurens men under command of Major Silas Talbot on West Road by Redwood House. The Americans were posted behind a stone wall. After a brief engagement the Americans fell back after suffering one killed and a few wounded are pushed back to a low rise. Malsburg moved his forces forward and attacked Talbot’s forces. They attacked the low rise in three different directions forcing Talbot to retreat up West Road. Captain August Christian Noltenius and his men were ambushed. Captain Noltenius fell seriously wounded by a musket ball that lodged into his abdomen. Hessian and American forces engaged each other along West Road. After General Pigot was informed of the engagement along West Road he ordered the 54th and the 38th were ordered to regroup with General Smith along East Road. Pigot also dispatched the von Huyn Regiment up West Road to support Lossberg. The King’s American Regiment was also diverted from East Road to West Road.
8 AM
Coore's and Campbell's troops skirmish with Wade's pickets at the corner of East Main Road and Union Street. American troops fired multiple volleys into the 22nd Regiment of Foot. British forces regrouped and reorganized. The 43rd Regiment of Foot maneuvered onto Union Ave and marched towards Middle Road. The 43rd was mistook American forces as Hessians. The American troops might have been under Jackson’s detachment. American forces fired into the 43rd and retreated towards Quaker Hill.
8:30 AM
Hessian forces attacked Lauren’s forces along the base of Turkey Hill. The Hessians aggressive attack. Hessians charged into the American lines forcing the Americans to retreat up Turkey Hill. Laurens’s men were able to fire an effective volley into the Hessian line as they moved up Turkey Hill. Hessians charged into the American lines with bayonets fixed. Captain Malsburg was nicked in the hand by a musket ball, as Malsburg ducked a second musket ball his grazed his hat. Hessians continued their push forcing the Americans to fall back from Turkey Hill. American Artillery from Butts Hill fired into the Hessian position on Turkey Hill to cover the retreating American forces.
9 AM
Quaker Hill was the scene of intense fighting. General John Glover commanding the American forces. General Smith advanced the 38th, 54th and 22nd in line of battle towards the top of Quaker Hill. Wigglesworth’s Regiment, Livingston advance guard, and Wade’s pickets planted themselves at the intersection of East Road and Middle Road. Americans retreat towards Butts Hill. British advanced multiple times up Quaker Hill. Heavy fighting took place near an Artillery piece on the hill. During the last British attack a Hessian Regiment was spotted marching towards Quaker Hill. The Americans couldn’t sustain an attack from their flank. General Sullivan ordered Glover to retreat to Butts Hill.
9:30 AM
British forces secured Quaker Hill and engaged the Americans as they fell back. Smith was under new orders not to begin a general engagement, so he withdrew troops to the top of Quaker Hill.
10 AM
Americans had positions on Durfee’s Hill (Lehigh Hill) and Butts Hill. General Sullivan was stationed in the Fort on Butts Hill, in the center part of the American Line. Durfee’s Hill was the right wing of the American Line under the command of General Nathanael Greene. 1st Rhode Island Regiment (Black Regiment) under the command of Major Samuel Ward held an Artillery redoubt on Durfee’s Hill. General Pigot ordered General Lossberg to attack Durfee’s Hill. Hessian artillery fired towards the American positions. General Lossberg used this to his advantage and ordered the assault to begin. Lossberg’s first objective was the Artillery Redoubt that the 1st Rhode Island Regiment was holding. The Hessian line advanced through the swamps at the base of Durfee’s Hill. Cannon’s from the fort on Butts Hill fired on the advancing line. The 1st Rhode Island Regiment held their position forcing the Hessians to fall back. Hessians took fire from Stone walls and nearby houses. Von der Malsburg’s dog was killed before the Hessians fell back.
11:30 AM
Lossberg is ordered to attack the American line on Durfee’s Hill again. During the attack British ships Sphynx, Spitfire, and Vigilant shelled the American positions, but Americans held. The frontal attack failed and the Hessians were forced to retreat.
1 PM
American forces were able to set up 18 pounders down by the beach behind a redoubt. They fired onto the Vigilant’s. 24 pounders from Bristol also fired onto the British ship. The Vigilant knew the tide was going out, they cut their anchor and moved to a safe location. Lossberg commenced the third assault, advancing Malsburg’s chasseurs. The chasseurs pushed through and assaulted the Redoubt. The Hessians charged the front gate of the redoubt. Greene noticed this and sent the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment to support the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. Lossberg sent the Kings American Regiment, 1st and 2nd Ansbach Regiments. Hessian Regiments were able to maneuver around the Artillery Redoubt. Greene saw an opportunity and ordered Sherburne’s regiment along with Jackson’s detachment to charge into the Hessian line. The bayonet charge forced the Hessians to retire from the field.
4 PM
American forces held positions around Freeborn Street. Although musket and cannon shots were heard for seven hours. American and British guns exchanged fire between Butts Hill and Turkey Hill.
This was a day to tend to the dead and wounded.
The American and British troops held their positions and rested.
American forces depart Rhode (Aquidneck) Island for positions in Tiverton and Bristol.
Resources:
Information was gathered from Christian McBurney’s book The Rhode Island Campaign
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