Sullivan was given command of the army in Rhode Island in 1778. Under him were Generals Lafayette and Greene, each commanding one-half of the army, with Sullivan Commander-in-Chief. The object of Washington was to emphasize the alliance with France by making a successful attack on the British forces, military and naval, aided by the French fleet. Every schoolboy knows the result of that campaign. How its complete success was rendered impossible by a storm off Point Judith and how Sullivan, Lafayette and Greene saved their forces from disaster by their masterly tactics. With Sullivan were his two brothers, James and Eben, and the muster rolls of the regiments in the Rhode Island campaign read like the Directory of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
I have purposely omitted to go into detail as to the history of the two greatest Irishmen in the Revolution, Major General John Sullivan, and Commodore Barry, “the Father of the American Navy.” My object has been to record the deeds of the Irishmen who fought in the ranks rather than to try to add lustre to those two men. Enough has been written of them. Their story and their work are well known.
It is possible to mention the names of only a few Irish Rhode Islanders who took part in the different battles of the Revolution:
George Dorrance was an ensign in the Regiment of Providence in the “Army of Observation.” George Dorrance, probably the same, was, in 1780, lieutenant of the second company of Scituate. Again we find the name as captain, in 1781, in a regiment raised by act of the General Assembly and again we read of a George Dorrance commissioned Major in the Third Regiment of Militia.
Dr. Henry Sterling, the Irish surgeon, is stated as “being in hearty sympathy with the revolution and aided the patriot cause with his advice and professional services.” He was born in Londonderry, Ireland.
Patrick Tracy of Thayer’s company was killed before Quebec and Hagerty and Hayden were wounded. In Colonel Elliot’s regiment were John McCarthy, Cornelius Sullivan, John McCoy, John Lyon and Daniel Conway.
Thomas Hughes, known as “gallant Thomas Hughes,” was Irish, a captain in the Revolution and a major in the War of 1812. Many articles have been written about him, and as there are some of his descendants living today, who have told of him better than I can do, I will pass him with this brief mention. Miss Mary A. Greene, one of his descendants, is a prominent Rhode Island writer and scholar.
William Ennis became a sergeant in Sherburn’s command. William Lawless was a captain. William McCoy was a quartermaster in Colonel Christopher Greene’s command. Rev. Erasmus Kelly lost his household effects in Warren by pillage. James Foster, a native of Dublin, with a name that would not indicate his Irish origin, “enlisted for the war.” John Harrington was an ensign in Sheldon’s company. Elizabeth O’Brien was a nurse. The name “Ensign M. Carthy,” probably Ensign McCarthy, appears as among those of Israel Angell’s regiment. John Tracy was an aide-de-camp on the staff of General Glover on the island of Rhode Island under Sullivan. William Lawless, probably the person mentioned before, was made captain in 1778 under Colonel Crary. Edward Ross was an ensign in the Second Infantry Company of Westerly. William Creed became a captain. John Larkin was, in 1776, a member for Hopkinton of the “committee to procure arms and accoutrements.”
In the Rhode Island regiments at Yorktown were Dennis Hogan, sergeant; John Butler, sergeant; Michael Kelly, Cornelius Driscoll, William Sullivan, Nicholas Hart, Matthew Hart, Michael Doherty, Peter Burns, James Hayes, Thomas Mitchell, Charles McAfferty, Michael Wright, John Kirby, Matthew Henly, Christopher Moore, Anthony Griffin, Daniel and Peter Collins, William McCall, John Haney, James Mitchell, Thomas Melony, Francis Cavan, Hugh McDonald, John McDonald and many others.
Captain Olney’s company, known throughout the colonies for its many deeds of courage, was the first to scale the walls of Yorktown. It contained many Irish, as shown by its rolls.