Sir

As many and various have been the reports Concerning the Intended Expedi­tion to Rhode Island, I have thought it my duty to give you the following Narrative of the proceeding in that Affair, and then leave the impartial World to Judge as I know it would be in vain for me to pretend to Justify myself before an Insulting Populace. On the 21^st. of Sep^r. last I rec^d. Gen^l. Spencers Orders to Collect all the Boats on the Western Shore, and forward them to Tiverton, which business I undertook with Cheer­fullness and prosecuted the same with all the Zeal I was Master of, but for the Want of proper Assistance the Business went on dull[.] On Monday the 22^nd. of Sep^r. the Gen^l. Assembly thought fit to give me the Command of a Brigade of Militia, I was then Ordered by Gen^l. Spencer to repair to Narraganset Collect the remainder of the Boats, and bring them forward as aforesaid also to March all the Troops on the West­ern Shore and Militia to Tiverton, the same I accomplished as Soon as possible with great difficulty. On Monday the 13^th of Octo^r I arrived at Tiverton after Assisting Col^o. Sherburne¹ in getting upwards of One Hundred Boats repaired at Warren that I ex­pected was repaired before by Order of Major Munro—When I arrived at Tiverton I found the Militia badly Armed from this State and Massachusetts Bay, it was Unani­mously Agreed to send to Bedford [in Dartmouth] and Taunton for Continental Arms­—To Boston and Bedford for Flints, as there was not one in Camp all which Arrived the 15^th. Oct^r. the Troops not all Supplyed with Cartridges and None in the Laboratory. on the 16^th they Arrived in Camp from Providence, at which time by Gen^l. Spencers Order all the Brigades, were to be under Arms for Embarkation that Night, the Night was favourable, but the Troops Unsupplyed with the Arms, that is two Brigades, the Boats not Allotted to each Brigade, One Brigade was not formed, neither Could the Brigad^rs. find them, that Night. On Sunday following² the Troops were called out again, and Paraded on the Shore below Fogland Point Gen^l. Douglass,³ Col^o. Sherburne and myself, had our Boats and Men ready for Embarkation, The Boats of Two Brigades Coming round from Howlands Ferry were discovered by the Enemy, as many of them did not set out till the Moons Rising and fired upon by their Cannon, One Man killed, the others frighted, and left one half their Boats between Fogland and Quakite,⁴ the Boats not Coming, the Wind very fresh at S. West, the Ship a little below,⁵ it was thought best for the Troops to returri to their Barracks,

the Enemy then got Intelligence of our design, fortifyed at our Intended land­ing place. Upon full Consideration of all the Gen^l. Officers they appeared to be Unan­imous to remove the Boats across the land to Sapowite,⁶ which we Immediately Set about and Accomplished in good Season except two Brigades who were again in the Rear, and did not get their Boats ready. The Wind at N.E. the Weather wet and dull, Embarkation laid Aside for that Night. the Weather continuing heavy, many of the Troops deserting Some Sick others Mutinous and disaffected, not more than, Five Thousand, three hundred & Sixty Seven Officers and Boatmen Included could be brought into the Field, many of them Appeared more like a Rabble than an Army it was thought fit to Dissmis them and lay aside the Intended Expedition—

The above and foregoing Contains Some of the Most Material transactions and Movements of the Army that was Collected at Tiverton in Order to make a Descent on Rhode Island

All which is humbly Submitted by your Honours [&c.]