The Battle
After Monmouth, Vose’s regiment marched east for operations under General John Sullivan at Newport, Rhode Island. This was the first joint Franco-American operation of the war — the French fleet under Comte d’Estaing was to support the American assault on the British garrison.
When a storm scattered the French fleet and d’Estaing sailed to Boston for repairs, Sullivan’s forces were left exposed. The Americans conducted an orderly fighting retreat from the northern end of Aquidneck Island. Though the operation failed to retake Newport, the Continental troops demonstrated discipline under pressure.
Capt. Francis Green
Captain Green served with Vose’s regiment during the Rhode Island campaign. The battle took place on land that is now part of Portsmouth and Middletown, Rhode Island — just miles from the archive steward’s current home in Tiverton.