former conduct upon every occasion since the commencement of the present war. A few days before the French fleet came in, the enemy was reïnforced, so that by the best intelligence they were from six to seven thousand strong; and Gen. Sullivan, receiving intelligence that their intentions then were to come off, in order to burn the town of Providence, requested me to call forth the whole of the alarm and independent companies and the militia; and, after keeping them upon duty a few days, to march to Providence. But after the reason of the alarm ceased by the French fleet appearing at the offing, the General, with the advice of the Council of War, thought proper to dismiss them, and at the same time the Council passed a resolve to order out one-half of the whole militia, alarm, and independent companies to join the Continental troops in the expedition against Rhode Island, and then to do duty for the space of twenty days, unless sooner dismissed by Gen. Sullivan. The other half are also ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, should there be occasion for them, which is a very heavy burden upon this State, and more especially upon individual towns and also individuals, as some towns have voted their men, although the one-half of the whole, in addition to what the Continent and State allows them, four dollars per day more. Many individuals have given two hundred dollars, they being drafted, for others to take their places. I dare say, consdering the number ordered by this State and the expense of getting them into the field, you will not be disappointed in our exertions upon this interesting occasion. I cannot, with any certainty, pretend to say the amount of the number of troops now on Rhode Island, but by the best intelligence I have been able to collect, there were the day before yesterday about 8000, and many more then seemed to be going on. I hope their numbers are much larger, otherwise I believe this State, including the 1500, were they raised for one year, exclusive of what we have raised to do duty during the war, are the one-half of that number. Should that be the case you will naturally consider how amazingly this State is burdened. HENRY MARCHANT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. PHILADELPHIA, August 17th, 1778. GENTLEMEN : In my last to the Honorable the General Assembly, I mentioned that I had enclosed a report and a resolution of Congress thereon, that the expense of the expedition last fall against Rhode Island should be borne by the United States, but I could not as I expected get the report and resolutions from the Secretary's office timely for the post. I therefore now enclose them, with several newspapers of the week. Our last letter from Gen. Sullivan of the 10th instant, informing us that he had landed with his whole force upon Rhode Island, and taken possession of the enemy's works upon the north end of the island, which they had abandoned; that an English fleet had appeared off; that Count D'Estaing had sailed after them,—fills our minds with much anxiety. However, hoping that this will rather invigorate and cause a redoubled exertion, we remain in great hopes of success. We have had a long series of very heavy rains, and easterly weather. This has brought one of Lord Howe's galleys upon the Jersey shore. They say that, on Tuesday, while closely pursued by the French fleet, she parted from the British fleet and put away for New York, having sprung a leak, but gives us no further particulars. Last evening, we had advices that four or five ships were at Cape Henlopen firing for pilots, as was supposed. Whether those ships are of either the two fleets is uncertain. It is rather apprehended that both fleets must have got scattered, if the storm was as hard at sea as it was here on Tuesday, and almost the whole week. As the event is greatly interesting, relying upon. the same kind Providence which hath hitherto so signally appeared for us, I remain in hopes of soon having an account which shall do honor to the American arms, and call up afresh the most grateful acknowledgements of the Divine interposition in our behalf. I am your Honors' most obedient and very humble servant, SIR: the contents. HENRY MARCHANT. Gov. GREENE TO HENRY MARCHANT. PROVIDENCE, August 20th, 1778. I received your favor of the third instant, and have duly noted A few days past, the late Gov. Cooke informed me he had in his hands eleven hundred and eigthy-eight Continental tickets belonging to the United States, which he had received as Governor, agreeable to the resolve of Congress, and desired me, by virtue of the same capacity, to receive them into my hands, which I accordingly have done and have given him my receipt. Shall be ready to deliver them to the Board of Treasury or their order immediately. I wrote you, the 13th instant, the particulars in regard to the French fleet, and can hear nothing to be depended on in regard to them since. But, as the weather has been very thick and the winds very small and unsteady since the storm, until yesterday, and to-day the wind being fair and the weather more clear, we are now in great expectations of hearing from them hourly; but whether we shall be disappointed or not, God only knows. In consequence of their absence, Gen. Sullivan has applied to the Council of War for a further reinforcement from this State, and says, “it is to your State I principally cast my eyes for reinforcements." The Council, taking the matter under consideration, have ordered out the whole of the remaining half of our fencible men, to do duty for the space of twenty days, and have appointed committees to proceed to the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut, by whom I wrote in very pressing manner to the Governor of Connecticut and the Council of Massachusetts for their assistance upon so important an occasion, setting forth the circumstances. The Governor and Council of the state of Connecticut ordered six companies, exclusive of forty light horsemen, to be got ready with all possible dispatch; and the Council of Massachusetts wrote me that they had passed a resolve to fill up all vacancies when the men's times were out for which they were drafted, without any additional number. Considering the amazing disproportion we are obliged to take by having out the whole of our fencible men, through the inattention of our neighboring states in the present expedition, as well as our over proportion in every other movement since the commencement of the present war, you may easily discover what a disagreeable situation we must naturally be in to redeem treasurer's notes, as you will see by my last to you that this State has undertaken to give a considerable sum in addition to the pay allowed by Congress. Then the towns have several of them made considerable additions; as also individuals have paid a much larger proportion for individuals to take their places after being drafted, and considerable of it to men out of our sister states to take the places of those of this State, for want of that assistance of them to which we are justly entitled; as, in that case, they would be under a necessity of doing their own duty without our being obliged to pay them. I think it my duty, as we are treated, to let you know the reason why we have such large demands for cash, notwithstanding the smallness of our State. You know what an oppression this must be to those who are unwilling to step forth to action, as well as to the State in general. August 21st, 6 o'clock, a. M. Since writing the above, there is intelligence of the arrival of the French fleet, and it is said the Admiral's ship is dismasted, as also some other of them; the particulars I am not as yet informed of. It is also said, they have brought in with them two of the enemy's ships of war. I am thankful for their arrival, as we depend much upon their assistance, notwithstanding their being so much damaged. I do not learn they lost any of their men, as the loss of the mast was in consequence of the severity of the storm, although it is said after the Admiral lost his masts, he was attacked by four frigates, but to no purpose. I had like to omitted, the state of New Hampshire which, not withstanding the distance they live, has sent forward a considerable number of volunteers, and among the rest there is Gen. Whipple, as also Gen. Hancock from the Massachusetts, with a considerable number of volunteers from there. But by Gen. Sullivan's requisition to this State for further reïnforcement, after we had ordered out one-half of our fencible men, it appears very evident that the other states do not afford that aid which is necessary. I mentioned to Gov. Cooke the receipt of your letter, and showed him the resolve concerning the tickets belonging to the Continent, who said he had not seen it before, and that he waited for orders to deliver them. with great truth, your obedient, humble servant, I am, WILLIAM GREENE. HENRY MARCHANT TO Gov. GREENE. PHILADELPHIA, August 25, 1778. SIR-I have the honor of yours of the 13th inst. We have been favored with letters from Gen. Sullivan of the 17th, and affairs were then in a hopeful train. We are in momentary expectation of advices important. Heaven grant they may be of favorable success. The treasury was a little uneasy at finding that our State money had not been received upon the warrant which issued in their favor. I have wrote Mr. Clark upon it, and have not time now to add, but that I wish the State money now in the Loan Office may be redeemed at all events. It may assist us in future applications. I enclose the papers of the week, and am Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant, HENRY MARCHANT. HENRY MARCHANT TO Gov. GREENE. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 6th, 1778. DEAR SIR: I received yours of the 20th of August, and I now enclose your Excellency a letter from the Treasury Board, enclosing the resolution at length, directing the manner of sealing up the tickets under seal of the State, and the certificates of the number unsold to be forwarded. Gov. Cooke has sent on ours, but you will perceive others are also to be sent. Your Excellency will now have no difficulty in forwarding the tickets. am sorry to find that, for want of the aid justly expected from our sister states, (New Hampshire excepted,) we were obliged to exact so uncommon a force from our small State. But I somewhat console myself upon such occasions with the consideration of the honor we procure to ourselves, as well as a consciousness of having well discharged our duty to ourselves and posterity. And, however, this expedition is not likely to prove so success ful as we had much reason to presume it might, yet, no dishonor, I think, as yet at least can be reflected on the American arms. Our conduct will raise our character abroad, as well as at home, under this disappointment; for to conduct well and bravely under unforeseen events and misfortunes is great heroism. I hope also that philosophy and good temper will be exercised under any misfortunes; and that we may in some good measure suppress observations upon the conduct of others, which may do us no good, but may do harm. Besides, prudence will teach us always to put the most favorable constructions upon the conduct and opinions of others, and we may sometimes doubt at least whether or no we are not mistaken ourselves. Your Excellency, I presume, will see my meaning. Whether, all things considered, it was a right measure in the French fleet going out after the English fleet, and whether the going out the second time was advisable, are points not the most easily to be determined. It is politic, however, that we should be delicate upon the point, if we would not gratify our enemies, the Tories especially. This is certain, that no man could possibly express more uneasiness on that occasion than the French Minister. And whether the Count's conduct was the most prudent or not, the goodness of his intentions cannot be doubted. The friendship of his royal Master most assuredly Cannot, and we may depend upon a vigor of conduct that will show his royal resolution to make good his ground, and to anticipate our wishes and expectations in him. It is said that a person has come out of New York, a native of Virginia, who was a passenger in Admiral Byron's fleet, and who declares that, on the passage, he was an eye-witness to the loss of the Admiral and two other ships. They all foundered in a terrible gale of wind. We hear of the arrival of but six or seven of that fleet. We presume, upon no slight grounds, that a French fleet is after them, and we yet trust that we shall see our worthy ally superior in our seas to the British fleet, within a few days or weeks. This, however, it may not be proper to publish. I should be glad to know the real loss of the enemy in their shipping at Rhode Island. Whether their transports were so sunk as to be destroyed; whether their hay, &c., at Conanicut was destroyed. Our last account from Gen. Sullivan was after the battle of the 29th, but he was not particular as to our loss or the enemy's. We presume it was great on both sides. We are very anxious to hear that he got off safe, before the reïnforcement got to the enemy, which sailed more than a week ago. My respects to your lady and family. Most respectfully, I am |