The BoRIA Post
The official newsletter of the Battle of Rhode Island Association featuring news, events and Rhode Island history. Learn more at www.battleofrhodeisland.org.
October 2024 Edition
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By Jerry Cutter with Additional Research and Commentary by Robert A. Geake
This paper is an account of the settlement of Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, prior to, and including its abandonment during the War for Independence. The purpose for writing this account is twofold. First, it is not common knowledge within Rhode Island that Prudence Island held a full and prosperous community during the colonial period. Second, that while Prudence Island plays its part in Rhode Island history, it also has a unique history of its own.
This article was written by Jerry Cutter in 1977 as a member of the Prudence Island Historical Society. It resurfaced as an unpublished hardcopy earlier this year and Robert A. Geake did further research.
BoRIA Receives Grant from BankNewport
BoRIA has received a grant of $2,000 to help fund “Bristol 2025” events with the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society highlighting their British attacks. Preliminary plans are a reenactment weekend in April and docking of a Tall Ship in May. BankNewport has been a supporter of BoRIA in the past and we thank them for their continued support of our goals of educating Rhode Islanders and others about the revolutionary history found in our own backyard.
Discover Your Portsmouth: Butts Hill Fort
On Saturday, October 19th, the Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee (BHFRC) joined with the Portsmouth Conservation Commission and the Portsmouth Theater Group in presenting a Readers Theater Production of events surrounding the Battle of Rhode Island and the saving of Butts Hill Fort. Passages from General Nathanael Greene’s letter to George Washington read by Richard Schmidt, a diary entry from Colonel Israel Angell who commanded the 2nd RI Regiment in 1778 by Jim Stearns, as well as a diary entry from Newporter and English loyalist Mary Gould Almy, which described the bloody aftermath of the battles was read by Denise Betz. Dr. Ron Marsh read the dedication speech from 1923 that Dr. Roderick Terry delivered to remind people of how the fort was saved. More than 40 people joined us for the event. After the readings, reenactors representing the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment and the 54th Regiment of Foot answered questions about their uniforms, muskets and gear and demonstrated musket firing. Paul Murphy, BoRIA Director and BHFRC Chairman, led a tour of the fort, explaining how it was two forts made into one by the French. The BHFRC also showed the recent clearing that has been undertaken by Whipple Tree Experts funded by the Van Beuren Charitable Foundation. Many of the dead and invasive trees and brush have been cleared on the southern earthworks showing the true shape of the fort for the first time in many years.
2024 Efforts on Project “Juno-Locate to Protect” Were Unsuccessful
During 2024, Hydrus continued its 2023 efforts to obtain permission from the Newport Naval Command to explore areas within Coddington Cove with the goal of discovering the wreck site of the British frigate HMS Juno. The Juno was one of 9 British war ships destroyed in actions against the French fleet during the first week of August, 1778. A 10th British war ship, the “Flora”, was sunk during that week but later raised.
Correspondence and meetings with Naval officials in Washington D.C. and Newport, R.I. during 2023 inspired Hydrus and BoRIA to seek approval from the Naval Station Newport base Commander Captain Henry M. Roenke IV to conduct a survey within Coddington Cove. On January 24, 2024, a 4-page letter requesting access for a 3-day, non-invasive survey was sent to Captain Roenke. The letter included justification for the survey and other pertinent details. The request was passed on to the Public Affairs Officer for Naval Station Newport, Mr. Bruce J. Katz. Mr. Katz contacted BoRIA Director, Joe Studlick, and Hydrus President, Al Davis, to discuss the survey request. On February 14th, Mr. Katz requested records from Hydrus that would confirm Juno was in Coddington Cove when destroyed. These confidential records were sent to Mr. Katz on February 19th . The Environmental Director for Naval Station Newport, Mr. David Dorocz, contacted Hydrus on February 21st to request details of the proposed survey area.
Confidential coordinates of the survey area were emailed to him on February 22nd. Compliance with the requests from Mr. Katz and Mr. Dorocz required that Hydrus share proprietary research details that disclose where the wreck site of the Juno is likely to be found.
Mr. Katz forwarded the request, or some derivative of it, to at least 6 separate Naval Commands inviting their review and comments on our proposal to survey for the Juno. On September 18th, Mr. Katz forwarded a letter from Captain Roenke of the same date, in which Captain Roenke denied our request for access to Coddington Cove:
“I certainly appreciate the historical interest and significance of the HMS Juno. At this time, however, I am unable to approve your request. The Naval Station is undergoing significant expansion in mission, resulting in a substantial increase in activity in our waters. Supporting these mission requirements are our priority, and the operational tempo projected over the next several years does not support additional private actions in the area. I would encourage you to continue to interface with the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) on this topic in the future.”
No feedback regarding our request was cited in this correspondence from any separate Naval
Command. Hydrus and BoRIA were fortunate to have received helpful assistance and involvement during this pursuit from many individuals including but not limited to:
- Dr. Alexis Catsambis, Branch Head – Underwater Archaeology, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, DC
- Dr. Bridget Buxton, Professor of Ancient History & Mediterranean Archaeology, History Department, URI
- Dr. Joel Cohen, Professor Emeritus, History Department, URI
- William Fennell, Ocean Engineer & Retiree from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center
- Dr. Rodrick Mather, Professor History and head of URI’s Archaeology Department
- Murray Meyer, Museum Director, Naval War College, Naval Station Newport
- Mark Sherry, Ocean Engineer – past owner of New York Submarine Contracting Co.
- Joseph Studlick, Director, Battle of Rhode Island Association
- Charlotte Taylor, Head of the Archaeology Department at the RIHPHC
- Maria Vazquez, Collections Manager, Naval War College Museum, Naval Station Newport.
After months of planning and production, the Portsmouth “Revolutionary RI History Hunt”, a driving tour using your smartphone is ready for kickoff! Special thanks to Gloria Schmidt for script development and to our storytellers, Seth Chiaro, Ed Rizy, Becky Sattel, Gloria Schmidt, Richard Schmidt and Jim Stearns. Click here for a sample story – one of 20 clues to be discovered around Portsmouth.
You are invited to join our kickoff event at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 23rd. Meeting at the Portsmouth Historic Society, you will get a digital clue packet and map. Your hunt begins around that property, then you’ll drive to five other locations around Portsmouth where historically significant things happened relating to the Battle of Rhode Island. See how many of the clues you can find and learn along the way by watching videos and answering trivia questions and puzzles on your smartphone or tablet. This event is free of charge and pre-registration is required at this link: https:/
We are pleased to be collaborating on new History Hunt tours in Providence, Bristol, Coventry and East Greenwich, which will be announced as they become available. This initiative, featuring walking or driving tours in 12 Rhode Island towns, was funded by the Rhode Island Department of Commerce.
Jim Stearns, Director – Public Relations
Segment of the family marriage record of Helen S. Morgan (Smith) my 3rd Great Grandmother. George Smith, (son of Ithamar) is my 4th Great Grandfather, listed at the top left. His wife, Electa Ellis (daughter of General John Ellis (Revolutionary War and War of 1812)). Below George, is his daughter Helen Smith’s marriage to William E. Morgan.
I moved to Rhode Island in 1981, as my father was stationed here with the Navy. We lived in Middletown where I graduated high school and now I reside in Coventry. My involvement with Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War history began in 2022 when I volunteered for cleanups at Butts Hill Fort. I had some knowledge of the fort’s role in the war but wasn’t familiar with the full story of the Battle of Rhode Island. That changed after reading Christian McBurney’s book, The Rhode Island Campaign. The book was an eye-opener for me, revealing events that had unfolded practically in my own backyard. I even had the opportunity to participate in a Zoom lecture with McBurney, and during that session I met J. Whitney Halloran “Whit” from Massachusetts. He mentioned that his 5th great-grandfather, Samuel Stearns, fought in the Battle of Rhode Island. The Stearns name immediately caught my attention, so I reached out to Whit—and it turns out we are distant cousins. He is a member of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
My late father had a deep interest in genealogy and had obtained a copy of Genealogy and Memoirs of Isaac Stearns and His Descendants and did a lot of the early legwork assembling our family tree. Inspired by my newfound connection with Whit, I began poring over the book. I discovered several other members of the Stearns family who had served in Rhode Island during the Revolution, including the Battle of Rhode Island and after the French landed in Newport in 1780. Two brothers, John and Zachariah Stearns Jr., hailed from New Hampshire and were part of the Continental Army. John served in Captain Simon Marston’s Company of Colonel Stephen Peabody’s Regiment, while Zachariah joined Captain Peter Cross’s Company. Although Zachariah only participated in the Siege of Newport, having signed up for just 20 days, John stayed through the events that followed. Knowing that I had family in the battle and quite possibly inside Butts Hill Fort made all of this very personal for me.
I also found out that Samuel Stearns, my cousin’s ancestor, served as a private in Captain Joseph Boynton’s Company under Colonel Nathaniel Wade. Delving into the family’s Revolutionary War history was fascinating. The Stearns name appeared in numerous key moments, from the Boston Tea Party to the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, as well as the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.
While continuing to volunteer at Butts Hill Fort, I met retired Marine Colonel Burt Quist, one of the founding directors of the BoRIA. Given my background in TV, radio, and promotions, I offered to assist in spreading awareness about the fort and its historical significance. Burt, who was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, a group similar to the SAR but with different membership requirements, invited me to join the BoRIA’s efforts to highlight Rhode Island’s vital yet often overlooked role in the Revolutionary War. I felt a strong sense of pride learning about Rhode Island’s contributions, particularly at Butts Hill Fort and Aquidneck Island. Sadly, many residents are unaware of this rich history.
Inspired by these discoveries, I decided to pursue membership in the SAR, but I hit a roadblock while researching my fifth great-grandfather, Eleazer Stearns Jr., whose paper trail dried up in Vermont. Genealogical research can be challenging, but I found solace in connecting with distant relatives through Ancestry.
Fortune struck when a cousin uncovered an old family journal listing marriages, births, and deaths of our ancestors, including my 5th great-grandfather, Ithamar Smith. Ithamar was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and died in Michigan. According to The History of Oakland County, Volume 1, by T.D. Seeley (pages 78-79), “Mr. Smith in June, 1776, enlisted for six months as a private in Captain Josiah Smith’s company, Col. Whitney’s regiment; also in April or May, 1777, as artificer for two years in Capt. Richard Faxon’s company, Col. David Mason’s regiment; again, in 1779, he was in charge of the quartermaster’s shop at Springfield, Massachusetts, under Col. William Smith.” Armed with this newfound documentation, I was able to satisfy the SAR’s membership requirements and joined the Rhode Island SAR in 2022. Earlier this year, I also became a member of the Sons of the Revolution, like my friend Burt.
Burt recruited me to the BoRIA board, and I assumed the role of Director of Public Relations after his passing. Alongside our other board of directors and volunteers, we are working to shine a bright light on Rhode Island’s pivotal contributions to the American Revolution. I continue to explore my Stearns’ lineage.
On Sunday October 27th, more than 20 volunteers came to Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth to help clear brush and debris from the southern and western earthworks. The clearing was conducted as a fitting tribute to the memory of our friend, mentor and founding director Col. Burt Quist, USMC (Ret) who passed away in January of 2023. Col. Zach Schmidt, Senior Marine at US Naval War College joined Mrs. Cathy Quist, Burt’s wife, and a dozen military veterans of all branches working to fine tune the recently cleared fort slopes.
We were joined by our partners, the Bristol Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR), who have participated in the capstone clearing event held every October since 2022, one hundred years after the DAR adopted the fort back in 1922 as a solemn place of remembrance to the Revolutionary War fallen.
BHFRC Chairman Paul Murphy directed the day’s volunteer efforts. “We have a great turn out and great weather to make one more final push on clearing today. Our team of volunteers are putting the final touches on months of clearing work we’ve been executing as part of our 2024 Southern Earthworks Improvement Project. On that score we’re thankful for our professional partners Whipple Tree Experts of Portsmouth, who we’ve worked right alongside with to clear the historic ramparts themselves from the most damaging trees, vines and other invasives which threaten irreversible harm. This work and initial archaeological efforts was funded by the Van Beuren Charitable Foundation. That has always been our main objective. Saving the 250-year-old earthworks themselves. But in doing so we also uncovered the fort’s underlying features as a visible, tangible piece of Revolutionary War history.” Looking around in all directions he added, “We know Burt would be proud to see this.”
By Norman Desmarais
Rhode Island’s fortifications were in a state of disrepair by the end of the Revolutionary War. The Rhode Island Assembly ordered in October 1784, that the works on Goat Island be repaired and armed. The renovated fort was renamed Fort Washington. A decade later, in early 1794, the United States Congress, concerned by the outbreak of war in Europe in 1793, decided to create a unit of artillerymen and engineers. It appointed a committee to study the coastal defenses and appropriated money to construct a number of fortifications.
By Christian McBurney
Rhode Island’s role in the American Revolutionary War that raged from 1775 to 1783 is wide-ranging and complicated. It is yet another example of how Rhode Island’s history is more impressive than its small size. This article simplifies the story of Rhode Island’s role by breaking it down into four stages.
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Congratulations to our June contest winner Tori from Rumford, RI.
Did You Know?
George Washington’s Most Trusted General
When was Nathanael Greene Born?
Nathanael Green was born on August 7, 1742, in Potowomut, Rhode Island, and died on June 19, 1768, on his farm in Georgia.
He was Suspected of Being Involved in the Gaspee Affair
Greene was suspected of being involved in the burning of the HMS Gaspee in 1772, which led to the Gaspee Affair. The ship the Gaspee seized was owned by Greene and his brothers. The incident was one of the most important moments in Rhode Island’s involvement in the American Revolution.
He was Criticized for the Battle of Fort Washington
He saw his first action at the Battle of Harlem Heights and was criticized for the loss of men at the Battle of Fort Washington. Greene had recommended keeping a garrison at the fort, but it was overrun by the British and 3,000 American troops were taken prisoner.
He Reorganized the Quartermaster Department of the Continental Army
Greene reorganized the Quartermaster Department and established critical supply depots for the Continental Army in the Jerseys and the Hudson Highlands that improved response time and helped American forces quickly respond to threats from British forces after the Saratoga Campaign.
His Southern Strategy Pushed Cornwallis into Yorktown
He waged a successful campaign in the South against Cornwallis. Even though the Americans lost most of the battles from a tactical standpoint, it resulted in strategic victories and contributed to the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown.
Why is Nathanael Greene Important?
Nathanael Greene is important to United States history because he led American forces to a strategic victory in the Southern Campaign that forced British forces to Yorktown where they were trapped by the Continental Army and the French fleet. Greene was not only a close friend of George Washington, but Washington trusted him and personally chose him to take command of the Southern Department after a string of commanders failed.
Visit the General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry, RI
