mount hope bay raids mount hope bay raids series military raids conducted british troops american revolutionary war communities shores towns bristol warren rhode_island significantly damaged massachusetts present day fall river attacked militia resisted british activities british destroyed military defenses area including supplies continental_army anticipation assault british occupied newport rhode_island homes municipal religious buildings destroyed raids british soldiers orders general sir commander british garrison newport rhode_island landed bristol warren destroyed boats supplies plundered bristol local resistance minimal ineffective stopping british activities days later soldiers descended damage local defenders prevented british crossing bridge background december completing conquest new_york_city british lieutenant general detached body troops army occupied newport rhode_island significant opposition newport garrison came command brigadier general sir original commander brigadier general captured summer daring commando operation led warren rhode_island native british occupation began american british forces major general ordered george_washington launch assault newport removed command rhode_island defenses march congress approved appointment major general rhode_island early sullivan arrived state produced detailed report situation began logistical preparations attack newport equipment supplies eastern shore general alerted sullivan preparations local loyalist organized expedition raid bristol warren evening ordered force british soldiers command 22nd regiment lieutenant colonel march northern end took mainland warren bristol raid arriving early campbell forces landed bristol warren campbell divided force sending detachment warren areas boats supplies force destroyed small boats general originally stored military supplies corn mill burned bridge crossed river set fire sloop british left locals fire sloop suffered minor damage warren detachment expected resistance reaching town continental_army forces numbering command colonel fled town rumors british force larger actually british destroyed military supplies set fire local powder magazine ensuing explosion destroyed homes town meeting house troops burned sloop destroyed cannon marched town signs organized resistance began appear british detachments rejoined headed bristol word british landing reached providence colonel immediately sprang action recruiting volunteers rushed south turned retreating force caught british shortly left warren heading bristol forces british marched southward sides minor casualties notable exception colonel took musket ball sufficient damage effectively ended military career continued fight day campbell men reached bristol good order despite ongoing skirmishes engaged destructive addition military supplies cannon destroyed homes church looted making according account distinction friends foes work completed noon british returned boats embarked covered guns frigate hms flora returned newport raid prompted general sullivan renew calls area governors increased militia assistance recruiting material effect raid occurred raid organized smaller raiding force lower portion later separated form force men led major served campbell previous raid sailed lower landed near mouth local militia command colonel continental_army veteran established watch british landing spotted sentinel alarm raised men including militia nearby mustered resistance men fired small cannon slowly pushed took place men proceeded burn house mill boats feet militia eventually reached bridge stream men established defensive line stone wall far battle lasting minutes men repulsed repeated attempts men gain control bridge british soldiers took local resident prisoner set fire property retreated boats militia followed soldiers musket fire prisoner eventually released days later british suffered killed wounded battle americans suffered casualties captive aftermath destruction boats supplies minor setback american plans mid july general washington informed sullivan french fleet available assist operations newport effect recruiting local embarked crash program replace boats destroyed raid early august french fleet arrived newport sullivan commanded force militia regular army troops bad weather timely arrival british fleet oppose frustrated allied plans sullivan occupied northern forced retreat mass militia french withdrew fleet troops general broke lines pursuit sullivan successfully fought attack august retreating british occupied newport october garrison withdrawn operations raided communities continued contribute american war effort despite damage difficulties caused raids major leader raid promoted lieutenant colonel led british forces raid connecticut wounded early battle troops accused engaging atrocities aftermath battle
Mount Hope Bay raids