grey raid september british operations american revolutionary war major general raided massachusetts communities martha raid series executed british american coastal communities originally intended relief force british garrison briefly besieged newport rhode_island grey force arrived americans retreated diverted raiding general sir september grey raided encountering significant resistance troops destroyed shipping supplies met light resistance local militia damage militia resistance time organize sailed martha september residents surrendered head sheep island weapons background december british forces occupied newport rhode_island american forces new_england strong garrison supported royal_navy vessels newport base situation changed following entry france war french americans agreed embark joint operations british french sent fleet command provide troops naval support arrived new_york_city july finding port defended believing bar shallow largest ships cross sailed instead newport general prepared british garrison response threat newport general sir ordered men general prepare transport rhode_island admiral lord sailed new_york oppose sailed newport harbor august preparing battle howe fleets position storm arose scattered damaged fleets decided abandon newport sailed boston repairs general sullivan begun siege operations newport french assistance prompted clinton order grey force sail newport august clinton accompanied force slow progress contrary winds time arrived newport september americans defensive retreated island inconclusive august battle rhode_island grey troops newport clinton decided pursue objectives orders issued march included instructions raid coastal communities destroying facilities supplies acting idea ordered fleet sail connecticut potential raiding site finding ships bother landing clinton ordered grey proceed loss time eastward raid massachusetts mainland island martha early september grey fleet led royal_navy frigate captain sailed bay route encountered lord howe fleet earl agreed remain near raids completed arriving bay afternoon twice strike rocks fortunately incident fleet proceeded evening grey landed troops west bank river spent night morning destroying vessels warehouses extent river ships destroyed prizes captured operating towns caused fires lit destroyed homes houses worship bright seen newport miles away evening man artillery garrison manning small fort river today known fort phoenix fired british ships fort guns abandoned leaving colors flying british briefly returned fire destroyed fort guns grey troops marched head eastern banks camped day boats decided raided meantime militia beginning arrive defend major taking command elderly colonel reluctant pursue active defense british approached morning september fearing men village landing point setting fire nearby buildings british headed village point fearing men volley musket fire british retreated boats martha aide captain new_york request transports livestock grey set sail martha contrary winds slowed fleet progress reach harbor present day september bad winds grey abandoned idea raiding focused acquiring livestock martha citizens came british wanted grey demands wanted militia weapons public funds sheep threatened land troops seize items delivered days driven sheep fleet satisfied progress grey landed small contingents troops september accelerate process destroy vessels found area 14th received sheep local militia arms intended tax payment grey sailed martha september reached new_york_city days later glimpse grey raid martha provided section history martha september command transport eighty sails thousand british troops raid carrying sheep cattle found oppose wholesale power submitted silence times assisting drive away captured flocks hoping prevent greater waste outrage good idea period given diary colonel reads follows september 10th grey commanding detachment majesty army arrived martha waited agreed deliver sheep head cattle general informed payment resisted general required stock brought landing day complied september 11th day troops landed command col sterling informed grey directed assure stock paid came according conversation evening sterling informed person appointed stock agreed jointly agreed appoint proper persons business sworn duty request col sterling stock time coming landing taken board sheep head cattle september 14th col sterling informed inhabitants island message deliver people recommended meet field room doors accordingly met informed apply new_york payment stock received asked colonel best send man fleet time payment colonel replied chose recommended wait little time application september 15th fleet sailed new_york reader colonel traitor people grey command grey force power destroyed towns island half day resisted way diary september 12th 13th omitted days british troops island man sent new_york receive payment stock grey forgotten stopped martha colonel special trips london purpose time given hearing parliament little accomplished trips england aftermath grey report expedition lists man killed wounded sixteen missing reported defenders men killed took sixteen prisoners exchange missing raid followed led grey little egg harbor new_jersey october communities chesapeake_bay connecticut shore raiding expedition led general began decisive campaign virginia arnold led raid september new london connecticut far grew notorious severity houses shops ships size destroyed goods naval stores estimates damage ranged nearly coming damage ships goods residents martha petitioned compensation excess losses incurred raid general clinton successor sir payment claims fort mouth rebuilt named fort phoenix manned war listed national_register_of_historic_places
Grey's raid