The French Arrive in Rhode Island
| Main W3R History Page |
Latest changes: 06Dec29 - 1778 map of Boston Harbor / 07May16 - 52-page booklet by Selig / 08Jun05 - split off Lafayette in VA /
French General Rochambeau was put in command of four infantry regiments and Lauzun's Legion
-- which was half infantry and half cavalry. The troops boarded 33 French transports in the harbour of Brest.
The convoy was guarded by a naval escort squadron -- seven ships-of-the-line and four frigates
-- under the command of Admiral Ternay. Due to lack of troop transports one-third of the assigned troops
and all of the horses were left behind to be shipped out later.
Waiting at Newport1780 Jul 10 -- The convoy arrived at Newport RI.
"First Anchorage" by  David R. Wagner
(used with the artist's permission) The following description of the encampment in Newport is based on a map drawn by Henry Crublier D'Opterre, captain in the Royal Corps of engineers in the French Expeditionary Force -- published in "The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army, 1780-1783", by Howard Rice and Anne Brown (Brown Univ Press, Providence RI, 1972). Interpretation and modern references are by Richard Sheryka (Chairman, W3R-RI Military Committee). Lauzun's Legion was stationed near Castle Hill (South of Brenton's Point). The infantry units were camped east of Newport, roughly along the line of the current Bowery and East Bowery Streets. Several cannon were placed just south of this line and just north of the current Narragansett Avenue, forming a defensive line along the narrow waist of the island. There was also a northern defense line, based on older British defense works, part of which -- the earthworks of the Redoubt Saintonge -- can still be seen on Vernon Avenue in Middletown. Some say these works were originally constructed by the British before the Battle of Rhode Island and later improved by the Saintonge Regiment. Of the 5,400 officers and men who disembarked about 1,000
were support personnel, not included in the military units listed below.
For further information see
1780 Sep 20-22 -- Washington met with Rochambeau in Hartford CT. Washington did not speak French, and Rochambeau did not speak English, yet they worked together to coordinate a successful joint military operation that involved troops and ships from Boston to the Caribbean islands. Since it was now clear that the remaining French troops were not en route from France, and since no significant military operation was possible without the assistance of the French navy, the commanders agreed that Rochambeau's troops should settle in for the winter at Newport. Lauzun's hussars (who had now acquired horses) went to winter quarters at Lebanon CT (5 miles south of Willamantic). They were in Lebanon for seven months, from 1780 November to 1781 June. During this time the hussars delivered messages and helped the French engineers as they mapped out the chain of campsites to be used during the French troop movements from Newport RI to New York NY. In 1780 Dec 13-15 Gen. Rochambeau came to Boston to visit William Vernon, who owned the house in Newport where Rochambeau was lodging. [It is interesting to note that George Washington's home was called Mt. Vernon and that the boards cut and painted to look like stone blocks are the same design as for William Vernon's home in Newport.] While in Boston Rochambeau stayed at Governor John Hancock's house. 1780 Dec 15 -- French Admiral Ternay died in Newport RI and is buried there. Chevalier Des Touches was placed temporarily in command of the French squadron at Newport. 1781 January -- The British sent a naval squadron to blockade Newport. In spite of bad weather the 64-gun Eville and two French frigates mauled the British ships. 1781 March -- Washington conferred with Rochambeau in Newport,
stopping at Lebanon CT to review Lauzun's hussars.
On 1781 May 8 a French transport squadron arrived in Boston with
about 6,300 soldiers. The commander was Admiral de Barras de Saint-Laurent,
who now command of the squadron that Admiral Ternay had brought the prevoius year.
The ships had left Brest in 1781 March, and about 600 men were so ill that
they were left to recover in the barracks on Governor's Island in Boston Harbor.
Admiral de Barras brought Rochambeau bad news -- the 2,300 troops that had been left behind in France last year would not be sent to the U.S. But there was also good news -- Admiral de Grasse was headed for the West Indies and had instructions to cooperate with the allied commanders in the U.S. 1781 May 21-23 -- Washington met with Rochambeau and de Barras at Wethersfield CT (just south of Hartford). de Barras argued against any plan for transporting the French troops from Newport to the Chesapeake Bay to help drive British forces from the southern states, noting he did not have adequate naval strength to defend a fleet of transports against the British fleet stationed in and near New York. The allied commanders decided to march the French troops to New York to prepare for a possible attack there, supported by the French fleet under de Grasse. The artillery units would bring by land only a few field guns and mortars. The heavy artillery and most of the munitions would be left with de Barras for delivery by sea. |
The Rhode Island Continental Regiment served as guards
and local guides for the French as they established their
camps and defensive battlements at Newport.
| Continue to next section | Top of Page |