On the 26th of November Sir William Howe delivered to me his final instructions, to proceed to Rhode Island "and in conjunction with the officer who should be appointed to command the naval part of the expedition, to make a descent on that island in the most effectual manner for the full possession of it, and for the security of the town and harbor of Newport; and to take such other posts as should be necessary for its preservation, and for other purposes I might judge expedient for the advancement of His Majesty's service and for distressing the enemy."

Accordingly we sailed from New York on the 1st of December with two brigades of British and two of Hessian troops, under convoy of a squadron of His Majesty's ships commanded by Commodore Sir Peter Parker; and on the evening of the 7th we anchored in Weaver's Bay on the west side of that island. The Troops being disembarked the next morning without the least opposition, Major General Pre.scot [Richard Prescott] with the grenadiers and light infantry, was immediately sent forward with a view of intercepting a body of rebels who had fled from the works in and about Newport toward Bristol Ferry, and Lieutenant General Earl [Hugh] Percy followed at the head of the heavy battalions to sustain him; but the rebels, who retired with precipitancy, had abandoned their fort at the ferry and crossed over to the continent before the King's troops could overtake them, so that only two pieces of cannon and a few prisoners fell into our hands. A battalion had been also detached to take possession of Newport, where we found some artillery and stores which the rebels had not time to remove. But the most material prize unluckily escaped us, as the rebel privateers under Hopkins, consisting of three large ships and several other armed vessels, had run up Providence River on the first appearance of our fleet.

The facility with which we had obtained this important acquisition might have tempted me to have proceeded further. But I was aware of the great risk I should run should I place large waters between divisions of my little army at that time of year in so rigorous a climate, wherein a violent snowstorm or frost, catching me suddenly in the midst of a move, might have put it out of my power either to advance or fall back. For, though report magnified the number of the rebels collected at Providence and Bristol to several thousands, yet, as I knew they were mostly militia except two or three artillery companies, no apprehension from them would have withheld me had the season been less critical. These considerations induced me, therefore, to lose no time in putting the troops under cover and laying in magazines of fuel, which the severity of the cold began already to make necessary.