Showing posts with label Battle of Monmouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battle of Monmouth. Show all posts

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Happy Flag Day


Today we commemorated the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. In doing so, let's take a look at some interesting events for the month of June, during the American Revolution, from the African-American perspective. 

Prior to the American Revolution, in the process of colonizing of the Americas, the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese armed free and enslaved blacks for defense against the indigenous natives and each other. Not surprisingly, militarily trained and experienced in European warfare, the slaves turned on their oppressors. There was much pay back, and it wasn't pretty, with much killing, and what seems to be a recurring fear, "debauchery".  With the outbreak of hostilities in British colonies, the home office sought to avoid arming blacks, to spare fellow countrymen the nightmare of slave rebellion seen in this hemisphere. However, on the ground, we see British commanders taking initiatives to the contrary. On June 8th 1775, facing growing unrest, John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore and Virginia Governor, vacated the capitol aboard an armed ship. With this, other ships, and a force of 300 soldiers and sailors, he hit the rebels where it hurt. Sailing up and down the York River he found vulnerable plantations to plunder, carry off, and recruit blacks to increase the size of his army. Hearing word of this, escaped slaves flocked to be under his protection. Lord Dunmore later declared martial law, and issued a proclamation declaring that indentured servants, blacks, or others subject to rebel authority free, that were able and willing to bear arms and join the Crown's forces, to put an end the rebellion. From these recruits, he formed the wars first and largest black fighting unit, the Ethiopian Regiment. Prompted by John Murray, Lt. Gen. Thomas Gage sent a communique to London on June 12th, asserting that the rebellion was a crisis that called for the use of every available resource that can be brought to bear, even blacks. 

At the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17th 1775,  100 blacks and Native-Americans are documented to have fought. Noteworthy is Salem Poor, for whom a petition for exceptional bravery was submitted to the Congress, signed by 14 officers citing his behaviour like that of an experienced officer and excellent soldier. One Peter Salem, a slave, who was temporarily released by his master to serve, is credited to have fired the shot the killed Maj. John Pitcairn. Shortly after Washington declared that slaves could no longer be recruited for the militia. 

In 1777 the Continental suffered significant losses in the Philadelphia campaign. Rhode Island regiments were particularly hard hit and unable to fill the ranks with enough able bodied white men to meet its' quota. Taking advantage of the active recruitment of blacks by the British, Brig. Gen. Varnum, was able to convinced Washington to allow the state to recruit slaves. Washington agreed provisionally, based on consultations with the Congress, which bought Varnum time to initiate efforts to recruit black, mulatto, and Native American slaves, but due to the its' unpopularity with state residents the legislature set a cut-off-date of June 10, 1778.

At the Battle of Monmouth June 28th 1778, Captain Arnold's black company, detached from the 1st Rhode Island, marched with Varnum's Brigade, and fought a holding action against the advancing  British.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Victory at Monmouth - We Were There


1st Rhode Island Regiment Re-enactors

(1st RI) This year is the 235th Battle of Monmouth. Anniversary commemoration, A detachment of the 1st Rhode Island  Regiment played and important role in the Continental Army's victory.  An estimated 900 black soldiers in various units fought. The 1st RI distinguished itself at what would be one of the largest and deadliest engagements of the American Revolution. The story of black soldiers in this war is complex and often difficult to document. Here is a reprint of  a correspondence that gives a sense of  the discussion around this topic. Read more..

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

1st Rhode Island at Monmouth


It is generally believed that the First Rhode Island regiment did not serve at the battle of Monmouth in June 1778. It is a fact that after the Valley Forge encampment and retraining, the First Rhode Island Regiment returned to the Highlands Army in New York and New England .

What aroused my curiosity were the wounds of Captain Thomas Arnold who lost his right leg and of Richard Rhodes, newly freed African Soldier wounded in the arm.

These men were both members of the First Rhode Island and should not have been at that battle.

The First Rhode Island created a detachment, on 1 June 1778 ,Windsor Fry and others were detached to Captain Thomas Arnold and fought at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, on 28 June 1778. On 1 July some of them moved to Captain Johnathan Wallen’s company.

The Second Rhode Island Regiment and Captain Thomas Arnold's detachment from the First Rhode Island, fought at the Battle of Monmouth. White, Black and Red soldiers served in his detachment.

The list of Africans who served in Arnold’s detachment and company in June of 1778 comes from the list of Louis E. Wilson of Smith University. It was included in a presentation during a Seminar and Exhibit called "Forgotten Patriots" offered by the DAR at their Headquarters in Washington D.C. January 11, 2003.

  • Edward Anthony, Transferred from the Second Rhode Island in May
  • Hampton Barton
  • Ebenezer Caesar
  • James Carpenter (Enslaved) New Recruit
  • Prince Childs (Possible escaped Slave)
  • James Dailey Enlisted 1776 in 9th continental
  • Abraham Demos Enlisted in the Militia in September 1776
  • William Frank Enlisted April 20, 1777 in the Militia Transferred in May.
  • Windsor Fry Enlisted 1775
  • James Greene New recruit
  • Frank Gould (Enslaved) enlist January 14, 1777 in 2nd RI Transferred in May
  • Robert Howland New recruit
  • Cuff Peckham Transferred from 2nd RI in May
  • John Jehu Pomp Enlisted March 1777
  • Richard Dick Potter Enlisted March 1777
  • Thomas Reynolds Enlisted January 1777
  • Richard Rhodes (Enslaved) New recruit
  • James Robillard Fifer Transferred from the 2nd RI
  • George Rogers
  • George Sambo Enlisted March 1777
  • Thomas Spencer
  • Solomon Wanton Enlisted in Militia in January of 1777 the 1st RI
  • Pomp Watson Enlisted May 23, 1777
  • Primus Watson (Enslaved) New Recruit
  • Prince Watson
  • Moses Wickes Transferred from 2nd RI
  • Jesse Willis New recruit May 1778
  • Frances Tefift Transferred from the 2nd RI
  • Cato Vernom (Enslaved) April 24, 1778

Sources:

  • Captain Thomas Arnold
  • Heitmen’s (1914) p.76 "Thomas Arnold"
  • Valley Forge Muster list 1777-1778.
  • Records of the State of Rhode Island ed, John Russell Bartlett Vol X 1784 to 1792
  • Providence Press Company (1865) p.166
  • Private Dick, a.k.a. Richard Rhodes Pension Application 3, April 1818.W2206.448
  • Black Courage 1775-1783 Robert Ewell Greene DAR (1984) p.5
  • Rhode Island Archives (Folder R) Minorities in the Revolution
  • Valley Forge Muster list 1777-1778.
  • Some Observations of the Black regiment of Rhode Island in the American Revolution p.158
  • Hoyt's Index to Revolutionary War Pension Application
  • Pension S2970 and W22060 Catherine
  • Lewis Wilson List p.45,
  • Private Windsor Fry Rhode Island Archives (Folder F) Minorities in the Revolution "Windsor Fry"
  • Lewis Wilson List p.45,
  • Doctor Stone
Hopefully this is enough information for you to look into and form your own opinion . Black Courage and Heitman’s list of Revolutionary War Officers will be the easy to get. It is possible that Stryker or Smith may have mentioned Captain Arnold and Private Richard Rhodes as being wounded.

Joseph P. Martin talks about Colonel Joseph Cilly of New Hampshire, rallying Varnum’s troops for the counter attack on pages 126-130. Not George Washington.

Sgt. Joe Becton

First Rhode Island Regiment

Captain John Dexter’s Company

" I joined the army to obtain my freedom"



Events