The “Desperate Valor” of an African-American Regiment in The American Revolution (August 28, 1778)

http://ancientgreece-earlyamerica.com/html/1st_rhode_island.htm ^

[Irontank]

The American Revolution’s Continental Army was fighting hard in late 1777. General George Washington faced serious need of soldiers to serve through more than the usual 90-day enlistment. General James Varnum gave him the idea to raise a regiment of volunteer “Blacks, Mulattoes, and Indians” from Northern colonies, and in January 1778 Washington ordered Rhode Island governor Nicholas Cooke to organize the new force. While Northern slave-owners received 120 English pounds for each volunteer, the volunteers themselves were promised more than pay---full freedom in exchange for loyal service through the war.

By June 10, about 138 Northerïn slaves from several colonies had volunteered to form the “First Rhode Island Regiment” under the command of Colonel Nicholas Greene (cousin of the more famous Nathan). Wagner found that these “Black, Mulatto and Indian” troops wore not the blue-and-white uniforms of Northern Continental regiments, but white uniforms with brown sashes, and tall blue hats plumed with feathers, the hats crested with a white anchor (still the state symbol) and the volunteers’ motto in red: For Our Country.

These individuals, like all “minute men,” had no idea how long the war would last, let alone its outcome. But especially for them, the Revolution was a chance to become free citizens. Baron Ludwig von Closen, an aide-de-camp of General Rochambeau, noted upon inspecting the American and French forces that “Three quarters of the Rhode Island regiment consists of Negroes, and that regiment is the most neatly dressed, the best under arms, and the most precise in its maneuvers.”

The men understood their situation and the need to prove themselves. Behind the colonial scenes, King George’s ministers were already pressuring Northern slave-owners either to free their slaves or sell them to Southern buyers. Nor did the North’s white tradesmen fail to remind authorities of another problem. In normal times, many of these “Blacks, Mulattoes and Indian” men worked as expert carpenters, woodcarvers and craftsmen: they were in great demand for embellishing the finer houses of wealthy New Englanders. White tradesmen disliked the prospect of their freedom---for if these slaves lived free after the war, they would become competitors in the marketplace.

Gathered, equipped and trained by early summer, the First Rhode Island’s volunteers marched straight to battle. By August 28, 1778, the Americans’ Continental Army was in serious retreat from a British offensive that threatened to trap them as part of an invasion of New England. The First Rhode Island took up positions on a hillside overlooking Portsmouth, with then General John Sullivan hoping desperately that they might delay the British and allow the Army’s tactical retreat.

The British, knowing the importance of this battle, sent warships up-river to pulverize the First Rhode Island’s positions with hours of cannon-fire. Then, they deployed a weapon more fearsome: the Anspach Regiment of their allied Hessian (German mercenary) troops, no less than 3,000 professional foot-soldiers. Thus began a full day of assaults against the First Rhode Island’s hilltop under Colonel Green. The Hessian ranks charged the crest and were driven back: they charged it again that hot August afternoon, but the volunteers held somehow; and at last as darkness fell, a third determined wave broke its strength across the hill. The ferocity of this hand-to-hand fight gave the place its later name of Bloody Run Brook. Green himself remarked his volunteers’ “desperate valor” against overwhelming odds. Their line held, and the main American forces escaped to fight another day.

The First Rhode Island went on fighting, not for 90 days but for five years. At one point, ambushed near Groton, New York by British troops intent on capturing Colonel Green, the regiment’s men threw themselves in front of charging British horses: more than 80 died helping their mortally-wounded commander to escape.

They were veterans of Yorktown, too, present at the Revolution’s end as Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American forces. The First Rhode Island was kept on active duty for another two years. At last, they were mustered at West Point, given “promissory notes” of payment that proved mostly worthless; and then, with the above racial, economic and political pressures in colonial play, these men were returned to their “masters” and their slavery.

The Politics of History

Works on The Civil War (80 years after these events) have paid tardy tribute to the 54th Massachusetts, another Afro-American regiment, via St. Gaudens’ sculpture on Boston Common, Robert Lowell’s poem “For the Union Dead,” and the recent film Glory. In those works we experience the empowerment (rather than the “threat”) of multicultural, fact-based historical memory---but the Revolution’s First Rhode Island Regiment still waits its place in the sun.

So far it seems impossible to trace individual names of volunteers who lived this story. Their pay-records stand in the names of each man’s “owners.” And, because in their white neighbors’ eyes they were not “men,” there seemed no reason to write down more about the First Rhode Island. Presumably, its members would not be able to read about it themselves. The new United States, forced to arm its “noncitizens” and helped to victory by those “Blacks, Mulattoes and Indians” on the field of battle, remained far from ready to allow them more than labor-skills in spite of their exceptional service. Later generations faced the same obstacles set up in their paths.

The First Rhode Island’s surviving volunteers ended their lives in servitude throughout the Northern towns that had sent them, while others as American citizens reaped the benefits of victory and independence. By the time of these volunteers’ grandchildren in the 1830s, a woman named Prudence Crandall founded a small school in nearby Canterbury, Connecticut, to teach young African-American women to read and empower themselves in the dominant white world. Crandall’s hope was shortlived. Local residents burned the school to the ground once aware of its intentions.

Samuel G. Arnold’s rare mention of this regiment (in his History of Rhode Island) grants that “their conduct at the Battle of Rhode Island entitles them to perpetual honor.” But the First Rhode Island’s story remains to be told.

[Irontank]

The British, knowing the importance of this battle, sent warships up-river to pulverize the First Rhode Island’s positions with hours of cannon-fire. Then, they deployed a weapon more fearsome: the Anspach Regiment of their allied Hessian (German mercenary) troops, no less than 3,000 professional foot-soldiers. Thus began a full day of assaults against the First Rhode Island’s hilltop under Colonel Green. The Hessian ranks charged the crest and were driven back: they charged it again that hot August afternoon, but the volunteers held somehow; and at last as darkness fell, a third determined wave broke its strength across the hill. The ferocity of this hand-to-hand fight gave the place its later name of Bloody Run Brook. Green himself remarked his volunteers’ “desperate valor” against overwhelming odds. Their line held, and the main American forces escaped to fight another day.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

American Heroes.

[SueRae]

I knew that there was a huge contingent of Black volunteers from Rhode Island but I was not aware that they had been betrayed and denied their freedom after the war. An utterly tragic chapter in our History. God Bless each and every one of those early Patriots.

[advance_copy]

American soldiers were tricked by the eeeevil slave-masters into helping create a country that uses 99% of the world's resources, creates 99% of the world's pollution, harbors 99% of the world's corporate greed, starts 99% of the wars, ... /sarc

[Molly Pitcher]

For the RevWar/Colonial ping list

[sneakers]

It's a shame that better records were not kept about these men. Their bravery and service has earned them a special place in the founding of this country. It's too bad that they were not able to reap the benefits of that freedom for decades.

I hope their decendents are many and aware of the service their ancestors rendered their country.

[sneakers]

Could I be added to the RevWar/Colonial ping list?

Thanks,
sneakers

[Tallguy]

Bump.

[HockeyPop]

Thanks for the post. One hopes that this and other moments of patriotism and sacrifice in the black American experience is taught to all children.

I recall that Washington's personal aide was a great horseman and was with and close to Washington during the war.

[HockeyPop]

His aide was African

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

It's also important to note that blacks also fought for the British, most notably in Lord Dunmore's so-called "Ethiopian Regiment." See here for more details:

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/people/influential/dunmore.htm

and

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/story/revolution/ethiopia.htm

[Fee]

What??? Patriots get screwed by politicians. Those black soldiers got screwed, so did the Vietnam vets. Remember when Pres Carter pardoned the draft dodgers so they can come home from Sweden and Canada? How do people think the parents who lost their sons in Vietnam felt? Especially the ones who did not support the war, but obeyed the law when drafted, went to Nam and died?? It happens when unprincipled men hold power in government. Lessons to be learned.

[ccmay]

I hope their decendents are many and aware of the service their ancestors rendered their country.

Interesting you should say that. I think I may be descended from one of these men. His name was Valentine Brown, and family history has it that he is one of the famous Browns of Rhode Island. We know he was born in 1755 in Gloucester, Rhode Island, according to our family Bible. However, there is no other record of his birth, which would be unusual for such a prominent family.

We know he was a Revolutionary soldier, but nothing else about his service. Also, the only man by this name on the Rhode Island census of 1774 is listed as "Colored". After that, he turns up in Saratoga, New York, in the 1790's. This is where the Rhode Island colored regiment mustered out at the end of the war.

He married a woman with the last name of Spink, and on the 1774 Census there is a neighbor named Spink who is also listed as colored. After she died, he married a widow with children. We think she was white, and have read that in the northern colonies in the 1700's, racially mixed marriages were not unusual for widows and other women in dire circumstances.

His descendants, including my grandfather, have always been regarded as white, but they do have a strong propensity for dark eyes and dark wavy hair.

Our speculation is that Valentine is the son or grandson of one of the scions of the slave-trading Brown family who forced himelf on a slave girl. That would explain everything, including how he could pass into white society. I've had fun telling my black friends this story and requesting that they call me "Brother" from here on out.

-ccm

[Molly Pitcher]

sneakers, I'm pinging Pharmboy to your request to be added to the list.

[sneakers]

Many thanks, Molly Pitcher!

[Pharmboy]

Welcome, sneakers, to the RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list.

[NonValueAdded]

History bump

[SunkenCiv]

Works on The Civil War (80 years after these events) have paid tardy tribute to the 54th Massachusetts, another Afro-American regiment, via St. Gaudens’ sculpture on Boston Common, Robert Lowell’s poem “For the Union Dead,” and the recent film Glory. In those works we experience the empowerment (rather than the “threat”) of multicultural, fact-based historical memory---but the Revolution’s First Rhode Island Regiment still waits its place in the sun.

Cool topic. The commemorative sculpture (if memory serves) is right in front of the New State House, which is next to or right near the Commons. Only the names of the white officers were carved on it until the 1970s, when the names of the soldiers were added to it.

[aculeus]

BTTT (This history should be better known.)

[silverleaf]

interesting story! thanks!