From Nova Scotia, the regiment sailed with the expedition to Staten Island, near New York; and, additional troops having arrived from Europe, it was formed in brigade with the Forty-third, Fifty-fourth, and Sixty-third, under Brigadier-General Francis Smith.
A landing was effected on Long Island on the 22nd of August; and on the 27th of that month the TWENTY-SECOND were engaged in driving the Americans from their positions at Flat Bush to their fortified lines at Brooklyn. The flank companies had several men killed and wounded on this occasion; the loss of the battalion companies was limited to two men.
The Americans abandoned their lines at Brooklyn, and passed the river to New York. They were followed by the British, who gained possession of New York, captured Fort Washington, and reduced a great part of the Jerseys.
During the winter the regiment was detached, with several other corps, under Lieut.-Generals Clinton and Earl Percy, against Rhode Island. The regiment embarked on this service in the beginning of December, and a landing being effected at daybreak on the 9th of that month, the island was speedily reduced to submission.
1777
During the year 1777 the regiment was stationed in Rhode Island. On the 10th of July the American Colonel, Barton, arrived at Rhode Island with a few active men, surprised Major-General Richard Prescott in his quarters, and conveyed him from the island a prisoner.
1778
In May, 1778, it was ascertained that Major-General Sullivan had taken the command of the American troops at Providence, with the view of making a descent on Rhode Island; and on the night of the 24th of May the battalion companies of the TWENTY-SECOND, the flank companies of the Fifty-fourth, and a company of Hessians, embarked under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell of the TWENTY-SECOND, to attack the enemy's quarters. After landing three miles below Warren, early on the following morning, a detachment under Captain Seir of the TWENTY-SECOND destroyed a battery at Papasquash Point, making a Captain and six American artillery men prisoners. Another detachment destroyed a number of boats, a galley of six twelve pounders, and two sloops, in the Kickamuct River. The party then marched to Warren, destroyed a park of artillery, a quantity of stores, and a privateer sloop. Afterwards proceeding to Bristol, a further quantity of stores was destroyed. The Americans assembled in great numbers, and fired on the British from a great distance, but did little injury. Lieutenant Hamilton of the TWENTY-SECOND, eight British, and four Hessian soldiers were wounded.
On the 30th of May another detachment, under Major Eyre of the Fifty-fourth, made a successful incursion to a creek near Taunton River, and inflicted a severe loss on the Americans.
The King of France having united with the Americans, a French armament arrived off the coast, and formidable preparations were made for the re-capture of Rhode Island. The French fleet, however, sustained some severe losses from a storm, and from the English navy. A numerous American force under Major-General Sullivan landed at Howland's Ferry, on the 9th of August, and commenced the siege of Newport, in defence of which place the TWENTY-SECOND were employed. The place being defended with great resolution, and the Americans being disappointed of aid from the French fleet, they raised the siege, and retired on the 29th of August. The TWENTY-SECOND, Forty-third, and flank companies of the Thirty-eighth and Fifty-fourth regiments, marched under Brigadier-General Smith, by the east road, to intercept the retreating enemy. A stand was made by the Americans, and some sharp fighting occurred, in which the TWENTY-SECOND, under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, highly distinguished themselves. The Americans were driven from Quakers' Hill, when they fell back to their works at the north end of the island, from which they afterwards withdrew. Major-General Pigot stated in his public despatch,—"To these particulars I am, in justice, obliged to add Brigadier-General Smith's report, who, amidst the general tribute due to the good conduct of every individual under his command, has particularly distinguished Lieut.-Colonel Campbell and the TWENTY-SECOND regiment, on whom, by their position, the greatest weight of the action fell." The regiment had eleven rank and file killed; Lieutenant Cleghorn, Ensigns Bareland, Proctor, and Adam, two serjeants, and forty-eight rank and file wounded; one man missing.