ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF RHODE ISLAND, WHICH WAS FOUGHT
AUGUST 29, 1778.
The Council of the Society held a meeting in Newport, R. I., on Tuesday,
Aug. 29, 1899. The day was the anniversary of the battle of Rhode
Island, 1778, in which the American forces, commanded by Gen. John
Sullivan, “repulsed the enemy and maintained the field.”
The meeting took place at the Aquidneck House, and was presided over by
Hon. John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H.
It was announced that since the last meeting four members of the Society
had died, namely: Joseph J. Kelley of East Cambridge, Mass.; William
Slatterly of Holyoke, Mass.; the Rev. George W. Pepper of Cleveland, O.,
and the Rev. Denis Scannell of Worcester, Mass. Eulogies were delivered
on these deceased brothers, and minutes adopted expressing regret at
their passing away. Several new members were admitted to the Society.
A subscription of $100 to the publication fund was announced from Dr.
Thomas Addis Emmet of New York. It was stated that the torpedo boat
_O’Brien_ would probably be launched during September or October, the
delay thus far experienced being due to the non-delivery of steel
forgings. A communication was read from the builder of the _O’Brien_,
stating that he would be happy to have the Society participate in the
exercises of the launching.
Secretary-General Murray stated that the annual volume of the Society’s
proceedings is now in course of preparation, and that the book would be
issued at an early day. It will be uniform in size with the first volume
issued, and will contain many new features and an increased number of
portraits.
It was suggested that the Society erect a bronze tablet in Charlestown,
Mass., to the memory of soldiers of Irish birth or lineage who took part
in the battle of Bunker Hill, fighting in behalf of American liberty,
and a committee, consisting of President-General Gargan, Dr. J. A.
McDonald, the Rev. J. W. McMahon, D. D., the Rev. J. N. Supple, Dr. John
Duff and Hon. John R. Murphy, all of Boston, was appointed to consider
the matter. To this committee were subsequently added James Jeffrey
Roche, editor of _The Pilot_; Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, Dr. W. H. Grainger
and Bernard Corr, all of Boston; Joseph Smith of Lowell, Mass., and Hon.
John C. Linehan of Concord, N. H.
The Council then discussed Newport from an historical standpoint. Its
richness as a field for the Society’s work was dwelt upon. Many
distinguished men of Irish blood who lived there were recalled,—Dean
Berkeley, the famous Kilkenny scholar; the Rev. Marmaduke Brown, at one
time pastor of old Trinity church; Capt. Wilkinson, a founder of the
Newport Artillery; Commodore Perry, son of an Irish mother, who so
splendidly defeated the British on Lake Erie, and his brother, Matthew
Perry, to both of whom monuments now stand in Newport.
It was also recalled that at the outbreak of the Revolution a member of
the Boston Charitable Irish Society, Colonel Knox, later a general, went
to Newport and planned fortifications for the place; that many men of
Irish lineage came with our French allies to Newport, including Colonel,
the Count Dillon; Lieutenant-Colonel Dillon, his kinsman; McCarty, an
officer of the French battleship _Le Conquerant_; Lynch, aide-de-camp to
the Chevalier de Chastellux, and many others.
After the transaction of routine business the Council adjourned to meet
at Elizabeth, N. J., on the occasion of the launching of the torpedo
boat _O’Brien_.
In the evening, after the meeting of the Council, dinner was partaken of
at the Aquidneck, there being present some twenty-five gentlemen,
including members of the Society and prominent Newport residents who had
been invited to attend.
Hon. Charles E. Gorman, of Providence, R. I., presided and grace was
said by Rev. Louis J. Deady, of Newport.
In addition to these there were present: Hon. Patrick J. Boyle, mayor of
Newport (who is also a member of the Society); Hon. John C. Linehan,
Concord, N. H.; Thomas Hamilton Murray, Woonsocket, R. I.; J. Stacy
Brown, city solicitor of Newport; Martin Fay, Boston, Mass.; Patrick J.
McCarthy, Providence, R. I.; Pardon S. Kaull, chief of police, Newport;
Dennis H. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.; Henry S. Tierney, Waterbury, Conn.;
Edmund O’Keefe, New Bedford, Mass.; M. E. Hennessy, Boston, Mass., and
the following, all of Newport: Eugene C. O’Neill, Alderman J. E.
O’Neill, Rev. W. A. Doran, Rev. Philip Cronan, Rev. Fr. Reddy, Frank F.
Nolan, Philip F. Conroy, Patrick Nolan, Dr. McElroy, M. A. McCormack,
Alexander O’Hanley, William Sullivan and Michael Driscoll.
The after-dinner exercises included an address of welcome by his Honor,
Mayor Boyle; a paper by Thomas Hamilton Murray, on “The Battle of Rhode
Island, 1778,” and addresses by Hon. Charles E. Gorman, Hon. John C.
Linehan, Rev. Louis J. Deady, Dennis H. Tierney, Patrick J. McCarthy, J.
Stacy Brown and Edmund O’Keefe.
An original letter written by Gen. John Sullivan in 1778, while in
command of the Rhode Island department, was read and exhibited. The
letter is the property of George E. Briggs, of New Bedford, Mass., and a
vote of thanks was extended Mr. Briggs for his kindness in loaning the
letter to the meeting.
Letters of regret at inability to attend the meeting were received from
Hon. Elisha Dyer, governor of Rhode Island; Hon. R. Hammett Tilley,
state record commissioner of Rhode Island; Hon. John D. Crimmins, New
York city; and Joseph Smith, Lowell, Mass.
[Illustration:
MR. JOSEPH GEOGHEGAN,
Of Utah.
Residence, SALT LAKE CITY.
]
[Illustration:
COL. P. H. CONEY,
Of Kansas.
Residence, TOPEKA.
]
[Illustration:
MR. M. D. LONG,
Of Nebraska.
Residence, O’NEILL.
]
[Illustration:
MR. HENRY E. REED,
Of Oregon.
Staff of the _Portland Oregonian_.
]