At the meeting of the Irish patriotic society to be held on August
twenty-ninth, to celebrate the battle of Rhode Island, would it be
possible to bring up the subject of the old fortifications on Butts
Hill and call attention to the danger which threatens them, namely,
their destruction?
Few such spots remain on this island, and is it not the duty as well
as privilege of all loyal patriots to help preserve such spots where
our forefathers so hardly fought and whose names we honor and
revere?
I hope this may receive your support and that you will consider it
of sufficient importance to bring before your society.
Yours very truly,
SUSAN P. SWINBURNE,
_Regent, William Ellery Chapter, D. A. R._
August twenty-eight,
245 Broadway, Newport, R. I.
Butts Hill, to which Mrs. Lippitt and Miss Swinburne refer, is in
Portsmouth, R. I. The fortifications alluded to were constructed by Gen.
John Sullivan in 1778, in connection with the siege of Newport and the
subsequent battle on Rhode Island.
The meeting expressed itself as heartily in favor of the project
mentioned in the two letters and referred the subject-matter to the
executive council of the Society.
On the same evening that this celebration of the battle anniversary was
being held by our members at the Aquidneck, another celebration of the
anniversary was taking place at the Newport Casino, under the auspices
of the Newport Sons of the Revolution.
During the evening, greetings were sent by the Sons assembled at the
Casino to our members at the Aquidneck. Messrs. Sanborn and Garrettson
of Newport, and Lieutenant Commander Murdock, U. S. N., were delegated
to proceed to the Aquidneck and present our members a handsome floral
tribute. The presentation speech was made by Mr. Garrettson, and the
tribute was accepted, on behalf of our Society, by Mayor Boyle. Later,
several of our members accepted an invitation from the Sons to be their
guests, and proceeded to the Casino, where they were warmly greeted and
hospitably entertained.
John P. Sanborn of the Sons, who was then presiding, paid a glowing
tribute to Gen. John Sullivan and to the Irish element, generally, in
American history. While at the Casino, several of our members were
called on for remarks and responded. Thus Mayor Boyle made a brief
address, as did Mayor Driscoll of New Haven, Conn. John J. Rooney of New
York recited a patriotic poem, and Hon. James F. Brennan of
Peterborough, N. H., spoke eloquently of the services of General
Sullivan.