The Kentish Guards is an
historic military organization that was chartered by the Colony of
Rhode Island on
October 29, 1774. It was formed to protect the town of East
Greenwich, Rhode Island from Tory attack. The Kent County Court House
served as their armory. They built Fort Daniel at the entrance to
Greenwich Cove, equipped it with nine cannons, and garrisoned it
throughout the Revolution. For a brief history, please go here.
At the formation of the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston in 1775, General Washington noticed how well the Kentish Guards were trained, equipped, and disciplined. Thirty-five members of the Kentish Guards were subsequently to serve as officers in the Continental Army. Foremost among these officers was Major General Nathanael Greene, the "Savior of the South" and, by the end of the war, second only to Washington.
Initially the Guards rotated state duty with other militia companies, but with the British invasion of Newport, they were on continuous duty from May 1, 1776 to June 1, 1781. They served guard duty in Warwick Neck, Prudence Island, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport. In the summer of 1776 the Guards recaptured a ship previously seized by the British. During this engagement they suffered their only casualty. Edward Pearce was shot in the arm, which had to be amputated. Always keeping a detachment at Fort Daniel, they served as the sole defenders of East Greenwich in 1777 and 1778, and countered several attacks launched on Potowomut and Warwick Neck (to the East), and Quidnessett and Wickford (to the South). During the summer of 1779 twenty-six Guardsmen launched a surprise attack on Conanicut Island (Jamestown), destroying a British artillery battery. In November, after the British evacuated Newport, the Guards were ordered to guard duty at Sachuest (Second) Beach.
The Guards were again ordered to Newport in 1780 and 1781 to help guard the travel-weakened French Army, and were present in Newport during General Washington's visit. They were to return to Newport during the War of 1812, but the British never attacked.
In 1807 all of the officers of the Kentish Guards were court-martialed. Colonel David Pinnegar was ordered to select six Guardsmen to be drafted for federal service, Col. Pinnegar's position was that their charter allowed for the call up of the whole unit, but not for drafting individual members. Col. Pinnegar and all the other line officers were removed from office without any further penalty. The Guards elected replacement officers, the individual members ended up not being drafted.
In 1842 a state constitutional crisis brought about the existence of two rival state governments. One operating under the old state charter, and the other, a reform government under the leadership of Thomas Dorr. Both parties sought to avoid armed conflict, but Dorrite hotheads attempting to seize a state armory in Providence sparked a confrontation. The "Charter Government" called out the militia, ending the rebellion in a bloodless battle the following day. The Kentish Guards received the call to arms personally from the Adjutant General, who had disguised himself and gone to East Greenwich in a wagon during the night. The train that was to transport them to Providence had been interdicted by the Dorrites, so they marched to Providence. Missing the initial "battle" they were on hand to quell a dangerous riot in Pawtucket, which turned out to be the bloodiest and most difficult engagement of the Dorr War. In gratitude for their services, the Guards were given a grant of $1000 by the state, with which they built their Armory on the corner of Pierce and Armory Streets.
At the formation of the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston in 1775, General Washington noticed how well the Kentish Guards were trained, equipped, and disciplined. Thirty-five members of the Kentish Guards were subsequently to serve as officers in the Continental Army. Foremost among these officers was Major General Nathanael Greene, the "Savior of the South" and, by the end of the war, second only to Washington.
Initially the Guards rotated state duty with other militia companies, but with the British invasion of Newport, they were on continuous duty from May 1, 1776 to June 1, 1781. They served guard duty in Warwick Neck, Prudence Island, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport. In the summer of 1776 the Guards recaptured a ship previously seized by the British. During this engagement they suffered their only casualty. Edward Pearce was shot in the arm, which had to be amputated. Always keeping a detachment at Fort Daniel, they served as the sole defenders of East Greenwich in 1777 and 1778, and countered several attacks launched on Potowomut and Warwick Neck (to the East), and Quidnessett and Wickford (to the South). During the summer of 1779 twenty-six Guardsmen launched a surprise attack on Conanicut Island (Jamestown), destroying a British artillery battery. In November, after the British evacuated Newport, the Guards were ordered to guard duty at Sachuest (Second) Beach.
The Guards were again ordered to Newport in 1780 and 1781 to help guard the travel-weakened French Army, and were present in Newport during General Washington's visit. They were to return to Newport during the War of 1812, but the British never attacked.
In 1807 all of the officers of the Kentish Guards were court-martialed. Colonel David Pinnegar was ordered to select six Guardsmen to be drafted for federal service, Col. Pinnegar's position was that their charter allowed for the call up of the whole unit, but not for drafting individual members. Col. Pinnegar and all the other line officers were removed from office without any further penalty. The Guards elected replacement officers, the individual members ended up not being drafted.
In 1842 a state constitutional crisis brought about the existence of two rival state governments. One operating under the old state charter, and the other, a reform government under the leadership of Thomas Dorr. Both parties sought to avoid armed conflict, but Dorrite hotheads attempting to seize a state armory in Providence sparked a confrontation. The "Charter Government" called out the militia, ending the rebellion in a bloodless battle the following day. The Kentish Guards received the call to arms personally from the Adjutant General, who had disguised himself and gone to East Greenwich in a wagon during the night. The train that was to transport them to Providence had been interdicted by the Dorrites, so they marched to Providence. Missing the initial "battle" they were on hand to quell a dangerous riot in Pawtucket, which turned out to be the bloodiest and most difficult engagement of the Dorr War. In gratitude for their services, the Guards were given a grant of $1000 by the state, with which they built their Armory on the corner of Pierce and Armory Streets.
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