Major General Joseph Spencer (October 3, 1714 – January 13, 1789) was a good officer. Through three wars, rising in rank from lieutenant to major general, he followed orders and demonstrated clear thinking and carefully thought-out decisions. But he was not a great general. He had not the daring and drive of a Benedict Arnold, nor was he indecisive or chary of risk like an Arthur St. Clair or George Heath. Commissioned a major general at age 61, he was the oldest senior commander in the Continental Army and one of the most experienced officers. As such, he had General Washington’s ear among the many councils of war conducted during the climatic months of 1776, when the Continental Army and revolution hung by a hair.
When violence broke out on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, Spencer answered the call at the head of a brigade of Connecticut troops. But after three years of first a brigadier of home state troops, and later a division commander of Continental soldiers, the rigors of war proved too much for the aging general. The final straw occurred after congressional concern over a failed assault he led against British forces at Newport, Rhode Island in October, 1777. Though exonerated, Spencer, labeled ‘granny’ by many of his subordinates[1], a term shared among British generals Gage and Howe, resigned on January 14, 1778. He returned home to Connecticut and resumed his life as farmer, judge, and state’s politician; representing Connecticut briefly in the 2nd Continental Congress.
Early Life
Joseph Spencer was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, the son of Deacon Isaac Spencer (1678-1751) and Mary Selden (1688-1732). Joseph was the great-grandson of Gerard and Hannah Spencer who arrived from England in 1634 to settle in New Town (later Cambridge), Massachusetts. Gerard and his wife were among the first twenty-eight original settlers of the East Haddam region in 1662. Joseph was fourth of twelve children (six sons and six daughters); eight living to adulthood. Little is recorded of Joseph’s early life and education except that he received a general knowledge and acquaintance with business; though it is recorded he studied law at Yale in 1746.
He farmed, practiced law, and in 1746, like his father, was chosen a Deacon, at the new Millington Parish. A prominent citizen in his community, by 1750 he was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, representing East Haddam; a post he served for fourteen years. From 1753 until his death thirty-six years later, Joseph became Judge of Probate for his East Haddam district. From 1766 until his death in 1789, Spencer served as a judge on the Council of Magistrates in the Upper House of the Connecticut Assembly – a position similar to a state’s Supreme Court.
Spencer married twice. First to Martha Brainerd (Sept. 1 1716 – Oct. 11, 1754) on August 2, 1738. They had five children; the fourth, Dr. Joseph Spencer, served as a surgeon for his father’s regiment during the American Revolution. Martha and Joseph had sixteen years together when Martha died at age 39. Spencer remarried two years later to another widow whose husband had also died two years previously. Hannah Brown Southmayd, (July 5, 1730 – Nov. 10, 1808) widow of Daniel Southmayd. She married Spencer in 1756 and by this union were eight children.
Early Military Experience
At age thirty-two, Spencer entered into his first war – King George’s War (1744-1748).[2] Spencer enlisted on Jan. 28, 1746 and served until 1748, receiving his commission as Lieutenant in the company of the parish of Millington, CN in 1747. Little is known of his experience during this war; assuming he participated in guarding the New England frontier against enemy raids. Spencer did not participate in the single Connecticut regiment who were present during the war’s major assault on France held Louisbourg, May 11 – June 28, 1745 (having enlisted the following year). After the war, Spencer remained in his parish militia, chosen as captain of his company in 1752.
Spencer was once more leading troops six years after the conclusion of the King George’s war. The French and Indian War (1754 – 1763) erupted in America – The Seven Year War in Europe. He was Captain of the third Company of the Connecticut 2nd regiment before appointed Major of the Connecticut 12th regiment under Colonel Nathan Whiting in 1758. He participated in expeditions against Ticonderoga and Crown Point as well as the invasion of Canada; the 1758 assault on Louisbourg and 1759 attack on Quebec. In 1759, during the Siege of Quebec, Spencer served as Colonel Whiting’s Lt. Colonel in the 2nd Connecticut regiment. He remained in this position after the war’s conclusion until 1766, when appointed Colonel of the 12th Connecticut Militia Regiment.
American Revolution
Siege of Boston
With the advent of war and multiple casualties on both sides at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, Spencer once more traded in his judge’s robe for the sword. When Whig militias assembled to battle England, he had already spent nearly half his life as a military officer. Prior to the war, he, along with David Wooster, another who had extensive military experience, had headed Connecticut militia. While leading a brigade of militiamen, Spencer was also appointed Colonel of the 2nd Conn. Regiment, dated May 1, 1775. Colonel Isaiah Putnam was appointed commander of the Conn. 3rd Regiment and Colonel David Wooster, the 1st. The order of rank seniority was established as General Wooster, General Spencer, and Colonel Putnam.[3]
Always the showman, Putnam, when word of the battle reached him, made much of leaving his plow in the field and without changing, raced the 100 miles to Lexington. He showed up right after the battle, strutting and ordering militiamen about while scoring political points. Spencer was more practical; organizing his regiment while waiting for the Connecticut assembly to appoint regimental leaders. After he was officially commissioned on May 1st, Spencer marched his men north and arrived with this 2nd Reg. within a few days.
Spencer was assigned to Major General Artemas Ward’s division and appointed a Brigadier of four regiments that included his own with Samuel Holden Parsons and Jedediah Huntington. During the Siege of Boston at Roxbury, he was assigned to guard the southern neck, the only land route leading into the city. Commanding British General Thomas Gage built an extensive battery along this narrow stretch of land which occasionally exchanged shots with Spencer’s artillery. General Spencer did not participate at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775; Colonel Putnam’s 3rd Conn. Regiment joined Massachusetts and New Hampshire regiments. Spencer sent troops which did not arrive until after the battle was fought.
Confusion of Rank
At this early stage of organization, there was confusion of rank. Command titles were bandied about and often senior ranks were assumed by more aggressive officers; i.e. colonels were commonly called general. This also confused later historical secondary accounts of commander ranks. Wooster was considered general of all Connecticut provincial forces and held the most senior rank. Spencer, age 61, was the oldest general in the army and given a brigade gathered outside Boston and later in the Continental Army. Putnam, though many secondary sources assume he was a brigadier or major general, in May and early June, 1775, he did not command a brigade and still held the rank as Colonel of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment.
On June 14, 1775, Congress had established the Continental Army and on the 22nd, commissioned seven of the first eight brigadier generals[4]; Spencer being the fifth assigned that day. Spencer retained his position as brigadier at Roxbury, put in charge of the 3rd Brigade as part of the army’s right wing under division commander Maj. General Artemas Ward.[5] But Congress would take actions on its own in promoting senior officers, at times ignoring established seniority. This was a problem for General Washington, who learned of these promotions after the fact, and those who felt slighted in rank; particularly Spencer.
Departs Boston in Protest
Spencer and Wooster, as mentioned, were assigned brigadier generals on the 22nd. Both were senior to Putnam. However, Congress had already commissioned Putnam a major general on June 19th, the fourth to be given this promotion. Artemas Ward and Charles Lee were chosen on the 17th and the third major general was Philip Schuyler of New York, assigned on the 19th before Putnam. In effect, the outspoken former Rogers’ Ranger Lt. Colonel of the previous war had leapfrogged from colonel to major general over his superior ranking officers in his colony. For Spencer, this was an unacceptable outrage. Congressman Roger Sherman of Connecticut told Wooster that Putnam’s reputation after the skirmish at Noddle’s and Hog Island (Chelsea Creek), May 27-28, 1775, convinced Congress of Putnam’s generalship abilities who then overwhelmingly commissioned him major general.
However, local military leaders knew that it was Colonel John Stark of New Hampshire who, commanding men half the number of British marines, fought off his attackers on Noddle Island and forced them to retreat. Putnam’s major role in the battle was to wade out and demand the HMS Diana to stop being towed off the bar and surrender, quickly wading back to land when he was fired upon. As to the Battle of Bunker Hill, another action to which Putnam was claimed a hero, rumors, supported by Colonel Prescott who commanded the redout on Breed’s Hill, were already circling that questioned Putnam’s action. He spoke of Putnam racing about behind the lines while the battle raged, safely out of fire; with ditching tools strapped to his horse’s side. For Spencer, it mattered not if Putnam was hero or coward; the fact remained Putnam had been promoted over superior officers and it was too much to bear. He left his command in a huff and returned to Connecticut.
Returns to Command
Spencer was kept on the books as brigadier. But while remaining in Connecticut, other officers were promoted to Major General over him. On August 9, 1776, with the support of influential Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Congress finally bestowed on Spencer the rank of Major General, making him the 9th to receive the commission right after William Heath. Spencer left Connecticut and rejoined the army in New York in time for the American defeat on Long Island, August 27, 1776. Casualties among the patriots, killed, wounded, and captured numbered over 2,000. About half of Spencer’s nearly 6,000 strong division was present as was Spencer himself. One of his regiments, under Colonel Jedediah Huntington, suffered over 2/3 of the men killed or missing. Oddly, Spencer’s old rival, Putnam, had been put in charge of the American forces on Long Island just prior to the British attack. Partly due to the fact the British attacked before Putnam could properly organize his new posting, Putnam had made a shambles of the defense. Afterwards, Washington lost confidence in the heralded New Englander and he was never given another major command.
Spencer was not present at the Battle of Kip’s Bay, September 15, 1776, though his Connecticut division was posted along the East River that received the brunt of the British invasion of Manhattan. One of his brigades, led by Samuel Seldon, was routed after suffering a massive bombardment. Seldon was captured and later died during captivity. At the Battle of Harlem Heights, Sept. 16, 1776, Spencer’s division was posted on the heights where some of his units participated in the battle.
At the Battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, Spencer’s Division was heavily involved during the fighting. His brigades attacked advancing British and Hessian forces along the American right, then, along with Massachusetts troops, defended Chatterton Hill where most of the battle took place. Afterwards, the British army returned to New York City and Washington marched into New Jersey. He left a portion of his army in Westchester County to guard the Hudson Highlands and as a buffer to British troops stationed in New York City. Major General Charles Lee commanded the Westchester detachment that included Spencer’s division.
Posted to New England
After Fort Washington in New York City fell, November 16, 1776, and soon after Fort Lee across the Hudson in New Jersey was abandoned, Washington marched his depleted forces across New Jersey He crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania on December 7th and 8th, to guard against a British and Hessian assault on Philadelphia. Washington had received word that British forces were threatening New London, Connecticut[6] and wrote to Spencer from Buck’s County, Pennsylvania on December 14th requesting he proceed to the New London region to command gathering militia: “I have just recd Advices from Governor Trumbull that a large Fleet of the Enemy’s Ships of War and Transports were lying off New London, with an Intent to make a Descent on some part of N. England. He desires me to send some General Officers to take the Command of the Militia who are assembling to make the best Opposition in their power. I must therefore request, that you would immediately repair to New Engld and take the Command at such place as you may find your presence most necessary.”[7] Washington explicitly requested that Spencer leave a considerable number of militias with the main army above Westchester County to help guard the Highlands; General Lee’s Division had already left Westchester to join the main army.
Many secondary accounts state that Washington later ordered Spencer to rejoin his army in Pennsylvania to help protect Philadelphia. This is incorrect. On December 22, 1776, Washington wrote to Spencer decrying that New Jersey and Pennsylvania militia were not joining his army and that Charles Lee’s[8] troops arriving from Westchester County were void of many soldiers as few reenlisted. He requested Spencer to send militiamen his way, but did not request Spencer himself writing, “With respect to yourself, you will proceed agreeably to the directions in my former [letter dated Dec. 14th]. It is not possible for me at this distance to lay down any particular Rule for your conduct.”[9] Spencer would later write back that he was remaining in the New England area to continue organizing militia to guard against British incursions inland.
Spencer wrote to Washington on January 12, 1777, stating he had not received his December 14th letter until the 24th and that he set out immediately for Providence, Rhode Island for the British had landed at Newport. He stated that when arriving, General Lincoln had already marched west with a number of militiamen and since then, he halted all militia from heading towards the Hudson Valley. He reported that General Arnold had not arrived yet. As of this writing, Spencer had around 3,000 militiamen from the New England region. He also reported on British forces at Newport, Rhode Island, numbering around five to six thousand troops. He added hope that a commission of New England states had met prior to his arrival and were committed to raise 6,000 militiamen to report to Providence. Spencer remained in Rhode Island throughout 1777, commanding militia to counteract the British and Hessian presence at Newport.
On December 8, 1776, the British under General Henry Clinton landed at Weaver’s Cove, outside Newport Rhode Island and occupied the town and vicinity. This was the same force that was reported to Washington to be threatening New London, Connecticut. When Spencer arrived in early January, 1777, he spent the next four months organizing New England militia and trying to supply the poorly equipped troops that gradually arrived from nearby states. Though Benedict Arnold was ordered to join Spencer in this endeavor, he never showed.
Spencer would never have Arnold’s aide in preparing New England troops to blunt the British threat in Rhode Island. Arnold had no intention of joining Spencer. He spent much of the winter at his home near New Haven, Connecticut and socializing in Boston. After he was passed up for major general, the hotheaded New Englander offered his resignation which Washington refused to accept. Arnold was on his way to argue his case in Philadelphia when he got word that former Governor Tryon of New York had landed at Danbury, Connecticut to raid the town and travel inland to destroy military supplies. Arnold turned about in time to help Major General David Wooster (who later died from wounds received) and Brigadier Gold Silliman chase the British back to their ships in what has been called the Battle of Ridgefield, April 27, 1777. Afterwards, Arnold resumed his trek to Philadelphia where he was commissioned a Major General, but did not receive the seniority rank he desired, once more threatening to resign. The same day the blustery general penned his letter of resignation, July 11, 1777, Ticonderoga fell to General Burgoyne. Washington ordered Arnold north to help stop the British invasion from Canada.
Failed ‘Secret’ Mission to Attack Newport
Marched from Attleborough September 25, 1777 on a secret expedition; discharged Oct. 29, 1777; service 1 mo. 6 days.
Pension Application of Jesse Briggs, private, Stephen Richardson’s Company, George Williams’ Regiment in Spencer’s Expedition against British at Newport, RI.
In April, 1777, Spencer became involved in a questionable secret mission to attack the British forces at Newport. Spencer’s original orders were to organize local militia to guard against British threatening New England. But in April, 1777, he received an order from Congress commanding him to prepare and launch a surprise attack on the British base in Newport, RI. The Second Continental Congress recommended that the General Assembly of Rhode Island, with the assistance of Massachusetts and Connecticut, should attempt to rid Aquidneck Island of British troops. This idea was accepted by the assembly and Spencer was told to begin preparations. Spencer spent the next several months communicating with multiple New England districts to organize militia units for the attack. He also began stockpiling weapons, ammunition, and supplies needed for the expedition.
Militias were called up on September 22, 1777. Around nine thousand militiamen had been promised by New England legislatures, adding up to half of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut militias. The men were to camp in Tiverton, Rhode Island on the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay near the Howland Ferry[10] that crossed the Sakonnet River to Portsmouth on the 39 square mile Aquidneck Island.[11] The location was about 12 miles northeast of Newport where the British army was camped. Spencer was to cross his militiamen over the narrow river strait by boat at night and march south to surprise the British & Hessian forces. New Englanders were to begin rendezvousing for the attack on October 1, 1777. But then reality set in.
Militiamen gradually filtered in with many arriving not until October 15th complicating troop assignments. Delays further occurred in procuring boats to cross the river and division of troops into the boats. One entire regiment failed to show. Colonel Ebenezer Thayer’s regiment were lost and arrived at Tiverton Four Corners instead of Howland Ferry, about eight miles distant. The night for the crossing and subsequent attack was set for October 17th; however, heavy gales prevented the crossing.[12] Spencer called a council of war that decided to postpone the action and switch the landing on the Portsmouth side to the Fogland ferry area. But fate would throw another wrench in the works. A local colonial named Goodman[13] learned of the attack while in Providence and slipped over to Aquidneck Island to sound the alarm. British and Hessian forces were under the command of General Robert Pigot[14] who had replaced General Richard Prescott who had been captured on July 10, 1777 during an American raid. Prescott was later exchanged for captured General Charles Lee. When Spencer tried on the 19th for a second attempt at crossing, British artillery was ready and fired upon the boats, causing Spencer to once more call off the attack.
Afterwards, the weather refused to cooperate for the Americans. Heavy rains fell along with continuous strong winds. Militiamen, many signed up for just thirty days duty, began to give up in disgust and desert. By October 26, Spencer was left with only about 5,300 untrained and untested militiamen in a contest against 6,000 British and Hessian well-disciplined and experienced regulars. So too, the surprise that was a major factor, was lost. With the odds firmly against success, the experienced 63 year old Spencer decided to cancel the attack and withdrew his men.
Aftermath of Failed Attack and Resignation
Long delays had infuriated officers including rank and file who blamed Spencer. The Connecticut general was taunted with Granny Spencer bandied around camp that seeped out to the general public. Spencer’s final cancellation of the attack created an immediate furor in the Continental Congress and the general was officially censured. Indignant, Spencer demanded a court of inquiry to review his conduct. A court concluded its investigation and exonerated him of blame on November 15, 1777, attributing the failure primarily to adverse weather and timing issues, rather than Spencer’s mismanagement.
During all this, Washington had been up to his armpits dealing with British Supreme Commander General Howe’s army landing in Maryland and marching up toward Philadelphia. So too in constant contact with General Horatio Gates, commanding the Continental Army of the North, and his attempts to halt British General Burgoyne’s march to take Albany, New York. A loss in a major pitched battle at Brandywine Creek, September 11, 1777, lost Philadelphia to the British. The clash at Germantown, October 4, 1777, also failed to retake the city. But good news arrived that at a series of battles around Saratoga, New York, Burgoyne had surrendered his army on October 17, 1777 (the same day that Spencer’s crossing to Portsmouth failed). As Washington was settling into winter quarters outside Philadelphia, Valley Forge, he received a letter from Connecticut’s Governor Turnbull dated December 2, 1777, informing him of Spencer’s failure at Newport and the general’s exoneration. “The expedition to Newport hath unhappily failed. An inquiry hath been made into the reasons. General Spencer was exculpated. A Brigadier Palmer failed in his duty. The enemy was meditating an attack on Bedfort, and had actually embarked troops, which are prevented by this.”[15] But by the time Governor Trumbull penned the letter to Washington, Spencer had already decided to resign from the army.
On December 20, 1777, Spencer wrote to Washington and Congress detailing his situation since he had been sent to Rhode Island to guard against and later organize an expedition to attack British and Hessian forces in Newport. He began the letter, “Permit me to Lay before Your Honor, & the Honorable Congress a further Account of the difficulties, that have attended the support of this Army, and that still subsist here relative thereto.” He detailed the usual problems facing senior Continental officers when dealing with supplying an army with weapons, ammunition, supplies, and food stuff. Besides the absence of cash to purchase his needs, Spencer outlined the frustration of dealing with several New England assemblies and politicians who had not the means nor, in some cases, interest, in providing men and materials in which an expedition against a highly experienced and well-supplied enemy could be successful. He then lectured Congress as to what is needed to maintain an army in the field, including establishing a pay structure to guarantee men remain at their posts.
Towards the end of the letter, he referenced the failed Rhode Island mission: “…relative to the failure of the expedition formed Against the Island of Rhode Island, by which I think it appears that it did not fail by reason of any Misconduct or want of zeal in me. —” Spencer had led men in battle for over thirty years in three wars. Approaching age 64, he had enough. He finished by tending his resignation: “Permit me after Making the above Representation to Acknowledge that the Difficulties attending the Command of this department, Requires a Commander of greater Abilities, and in the Bloom and Vigour of life: and that I Earnestly entreat your Honors that such a person may be Ordered to Relieve me, and that I may have the Opportunity to settle my Accounts Relative to my Command: and have your Honors leave to resign my Office.”[16] Washington, by then at Valley Forge, read Spencer’s letter on January 7, 1778, and sent it on to Congress who accepted Spencer’s resignation on January 13, 1778 (some secondary accounts place this in June, 1778).
After the War and Death
Spencer would live another eleven years after resigning from the war. Though the war would carry on for another nearly six years, he spent his last years at home except for a short stint as a delegate to the Continental Congress representing Connecticut. In May of 1779, he accepted the commission as First Major General of Connecticut Militia (his former superior General Wooster had died in April, 1777 in wounds received from the Battle of Ridgefield). But that was short-lived as the same year, the Connecticut Assembly sent him to Congress to represent the state. In the 2nd Continental Congress, Spencer served on several committees and actively participated in discussions. He focused on solving the financial problems of the Continental Army, which according to his resignation letter was a passion of his.[17]
He left congress in early 1780 to return home where he assumed his leadership role in the State Assembly which he held to his death. After the Revolutionary War, in 1783, he became eligible for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of Connecticut. From 1784 until his death, he donned his robes again as judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors.
He died at Millington (East Haddam, Middlesex, CT) age 74, on January 13, 1789. He was originally buried with his wives and children in the Millington Cemetery. In the spring of 1901, the remains of Joseph and his second wife Hannah were moved to the Nathan Hale Park, East Haddam, CT. A monument was erected to honor him with an image and wording listing Spencer’s accomplishments.
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Reference
Bell, J. L. “The Real Story of Granny Spencer.” Boston 1775 Blog. September 25, 2013.
“George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 14 December 1776.” National Archives Online.
“George Washington to Major General Joseph Spencer, 22 December 1776.” National Archives Online.
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution April, 1775, to December 1783. 1914: The Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, Washington D.C.
Latchaw, Jeremy. “Leadership Lessons of General Joseph Spencer.” Feb. 3, 2023. Linked In.
“Major General Joseph Spencer to George Washington, 12 January 1777.” National Archives Online.
“Major General Joseph Spencer to General Washington and Continental Congress: December 20, 1777.” The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Procknow, Gene. “General Israel Putnam; Reputation Revisited.” Aug. 11, 2016. All Things Liberty.
Schmidt, Gloria. “Spencer’s Secret Expedition.” The Battle of Rhode Island Association.
Silliman, Benjamin. “Major General Joseph Spencer.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 3, No. 4 (1879), pp. 435-437. Published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
“Spencer’s Expedition: Failure in Newport.” 2000-2026. History on the Net. Salem Media. March 18, 2026.
Whittelsey, Charles Barney. Historian Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the
State of Connecticut “Historical Sketch of Joseph Spencer.”
Endnotes
[1] Several pension applications by those who served under General Spencer in Rhode Island relate to the general as ‘granny.’ Benjamin Cole, 1832, “the company belonged to the division of militia under General Spencer. The applicant says they used to call him ‘Granny Spencer.” Jonathan Waterhouse, 1833: “The Genl. Was called Granny Spencer, a Coward…” David Coy, 1853: “That the General commending at the time of his serving in that station [RI} he thinks was Spencer…they used to call him Granny Spencer.” J. L. Bell, “The Real Story of Granny Spencer.”
[2] King George’s War was the North American title given what in Europe was the Austrian Succession (1744-1748). It was the third of four wars fought between England and France (including Spain) that included control of American colonies: King William’s War (1688-1697) – War of Grand Alliance in Europe; Queen Ann’s War (1702-1713) – War of Spanish Succession in Europe; King George’s War, and the French and Indian War (1754-1763) – Seven Years War in Europe. During King George’s War, because of hostilities in Europe, the French and Spanish encouraged privateers to raid, plunder, pillage, and generally harass the American colonies to the extent possible. The French were based in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and the Spanish were based in St. Augustine, Florida. The conflict disrupted trade and resulted in numerous raids of French and Native American forces along the New England and western frontiers. The war concluded with little change along the American frontier, returning captured Louisbourg to the French, angering the American colonists.
[3] The Connecticut 4th Reg was under the command of Colonel Benjamin Hinman, the 5th under Col. David Waterbury, the 6th under Col. Samuel Holden Parsons. Other leaders like Thomas Knowlton (renowned for his defense at Bunker Hill) led the 5th company in Putnam’s Regiment; however it was referred to as the 5th CN Reg. Other leaders included Samuel Wyllys of the 1st Militia, Gold Sellick Silliman of the 4th Militia.
[4] Horatio Gates was the first brigadier general commissioned by Congress on June 17, 1775.
[5] Spencer’s units incuded: 2nd CN Reg., Wyllys; 6th CN Reg., Parsons; 8th CN Reg., Huntington; Walker’s Reg., 3rd Mass; Reed’s Reg., 6th Mass; Learned Reg., 14th Mass.
[6] These British and Hessian forces, numbering around 7,000, were under General Henry Clinton who sailed from New York City and landed near Newport Rhode Island on December 8, 1776.
[7] Washington to Spencer Dec. 14, 1776, National Archives Online.
[8] General Charles Lee was ‘requested’ by Washington to join the main army in Pennsylvania. Lee dragged his feet, but finally set his division in motion. However, he was captured by British cavalryman Lt. Col. Banaster Tarleton the morning of December 13, 1776; having spent the night with a prostitute at a tavern far from his forces. Lee would spend almost two years a captive in NYC until exchanged, in time for the Battle of Monmouth which proved for Lee, a disaster ending his military career.
[9] Washington to Spencer Dec. 22, 1776, National Archives Online.
[10] The Howland Ferry, named for the family that operated it from 1703-1776 when the British invaded Aquidneck Island, was established in 1640. It spanned the Sakonnet River at its narrowest point between Tiverton RI (on the mainland) and Portsmouth (Aquidneck Island). General Sullivan would use the ferry in 1778 to transport 11,000 troops onto Aquidneck Island during the American/French attack on the British post at Newport. Sullivan would also evacuate many American troops later after the failed attempt to capture Newport.
[11] Some sources state that the militias camped to prepare for the attack at Stone Bridge; however, there was no stone bridge either in span or name in 1777. A bridge did not span the Sakonnet River until 1795 which at first was constructed of wood. A stone causeway was complete some years later.
[12] Some sources state that further delays postponed the 17th crossing and that heavy gales did not occur until the Americans tried to cross two days later when they were fired upon by the British.
[13] Schmidt.
[14] General Pigot had gained laurels for leading the British left at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 that successfully stormed the redoubt and routing the colonial militiamen. He also was in charge of British forces that beat off American General John Sullivan’s forces during the Battle of Rhode Island, August 29, 1778.
[15] Schmidt.
[16] Spencer Dec. 20, 1777 letter to Washington and Congress. The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
[17] Latchaw.