The Rhode Island Campaign

The Rhode Island Campaign: An Introduction

Benjamin Franklin’s efforts at the Court of Versailles were rewarded on February 6, 1778, with the signing of a treaty of alliance between France and the United States.

A year earlier, Charles Hector Théodat, Comte d’Estaing was made Vice Admiral of the Navy of Asia and North America, and with the signing of the Treaty, was given orders to attack the British in North America. His priority was to attack Philadelphia where most of both the British North American fleet and army were at the time headquartered. He set sail on April 13, 1778.

After a circuitous trip of 87 days, d’Estaing’s fleet of eleven ships of the line, one 50-gun ship and four frigates carried a landing force of French marines and soldiers, arrived on July 8 off the mouth of the Delaware River. Unfortunately, by this time the British had abandoned Philadelphia and returned to New York City.

After exchanging letters with General Washington, Admiral d’Estaing departed for New York in response to Washington’s request that they conduct a combined attack on the British on Manhattan. Luck continued to be against the allies. The French ships proved too heavy and drew too much water to cross the sandbar at Sandy Hook. During the nine days trying to find a solution to this problem, d’Estaing suggested an attack on the British forces occupying Rhode Island and Washington developed what would be called the Rhode Island Campaign. The Continental Congress approved the plan on July 11.

The plan was simple in concept, but the execution was fraught. The Americans would assemble an army of militia to cross from the mainland to the north end of Rhode (Aquidneck) Island and attack south to assault the British, headquartered in Newport at the south end of the island. D’Estaing would attack Newport from Narragansett Bay to the west.

Washington ordered General John Sullivan to raise a militia army of 5,000 from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Washington would later send about 2,500 Continental Army troops under General Nathanael Greene and Marquis Lafayette to augment and stiffen the militia army. The British forces on Rhode Island amounted to about 6,700 British and Hessian soldiers. Among the Americans there were other notables including John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Varnum, and John Trumbull.

The Campaign can be divided in to four phases:

  • The assembly of the land and sea forces
  • The American attack from Tiverton to Rhode Island subsequent move south
  • The Siege of Newport and departure of the French fleet
  • The Battle of rhode Island and the American withdrawal

The Campaign is important for several reasons:

  • It was the first attempt at a combined American-French operation
  • The diminished militia forces conducted a well-excuted withdrawal while in combat
  • The British lost more ships in this campaign than in any other action of the War
  • Probably the most important result was the lessons learned by both Americans and the French. By the time General Rochambeau arrived two years later, these lessons led to improved cooperation and coordination and were reflected in the successful actions resulting in victory at Yorktown.

Timeline of the Campaign

July 22, 1778
Washington informs Sullivan that the French fleet is headed to Newport, and he directs Sullivan to increase the size of his militia forces from 5,000 to 7,500.
July 22, 1778
July 27, 1778
Washington dispatches two Continental Army divisions under General Nathanael Greene and General Lafayette to Rhode Island.
July 27, 1778
July 29, 1778
French ships arrive at Narragansett Bay.
July 29, 1778
August 1, 1778
General Sullivan and Admiral d’Estaing meet and agree on simultaneous attacks on the Island on August 8.
August 1, 1778
August 6, 1778
Due to late arriving militia, Sullivan informs d’Estaing of postponement of the attack until August 10. A British fleet under Admiral Sir Richard Howe leaves New York for Newport.
August 6, 1778
August 7-8, 1778
d’Estaing enters Narragansett Bay, causing British to withdraw from the north end of the Island into prepared positions along the Newport-Middletown border.
The French squadron entering Newport under fire from the batteries and forcing the passage on the 8th August 1778. Library of Congress Collections.
August 7-8, 1778
August 9, 1778
Realizing the British had withdrawn south, Sullivan moves his forces onto the Island. D’Estaing is alerted to the imminent arrival of Howe’s fleet.
August 9, 1778
August 10, 1778
The French head out to sea. Both French and British fleets maneuver for advantage, but before they can engage, both fleets are scattered and damaged by a hurricane. Both leave for port and repairs.
August 10, 1778
August 11, 1778
General Sullivan prepares to invest British positions, but the hurricane causes him to delay.
August 11, 1778
August 15, 1778
Americans open the Siege of Newport.
August 15, 1778
August 20, 1778
d’Estaing’s battered ships return to Narragansett Bay. D’Estaing informs Sullivan he must immediately leave for Boston for repairs.
August 20, 1778
August 21, 1778
French fleet sails for Boston.
August 21, 1778
August 28, 1778
American council of war decides to withdraw Patriot forces from Rhode Island.
August 28, 1778
August 29, 1778
The Battle of Rhode Island is fought as Americans retreat northward.
August 29, 1778
August 30-31, 1778
Overnight Sullivan’s army withdraws across the Sakonnet Straight to Tiverton with all its equipment.
August 30-31, 1778

Resources:

McBurney, Christian M.  The Rhode Island Campaign; The First French and American Operation of the Revolutionary War. Yardley, PA : Westholme Publishing LLC, 2018

Schachtman, Tom. How the French Save America : Soldiers, Sailors, Diplomats, Louis XVI, and the Success of the Revolution. New York : Saint Martin’s Press.2017

Related Posts