On February 6, 1778, the US signed a treaty of alliance with France.After these raids, Pigot decided to focus on strengthening Newport’s defenses rather than conducting any further raids.The raids were very costly to the Continentals and served to delay any possible attack.A few days later, Campbell’s force marched to Fall River, MA, where they burned a sawmill, a grist mill, and many other supplies.They then returned to Bristol, taking Patriot fire along the way, plundering, and taking prisoner most of the men they encountered.British and Hessian soldiers alike plundered and destroyed much Patriot property. They burned more American property and supplies, especially boats. Next they marched to Warren, meeting no resistance. There they captured a small force of RI militia and destroyed their cannons. Colonel John Campbell landed near Bristol, RI, on the mainland. On May 24, 500 British troops under the command of Lt.Sullivan began recruiting more troops and planning an attack on Newport. On March 10, 1778, Washington appointed Major General John Sullivan to be commander-in-chief of the Rhode Island theater.The Bristol, Warren, and Fall River Raids About 1700 captive American seamen were forced into prison ships in Newport Harbor. Many pro–independence Patriots left town, while loyalist Tories remained.Soon they took control of all of Aquidneck Island, but the rest of the state remained firmly in Patriot hands. The British captured the city without opposition.Soon afterward, the remainder of the force landed. The first of the attackers landed on Aquidneck (Rhode) Island on December 8, just north of Newport. They boarded ships in late November 1776.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |