December 7, 1776, 6, British
and Hessian troops were landed at Newport, R. I. The
American forces upon the Island at once retreated to the
main land. Colonel Cook retreated to Fort Barton at
Tiverton Heights, the fort commanding the approaches to
Howland's ferry, now Stone bridge, and Colonel West to the
hills opposite Bristol ferry. Women and children by
hundreds fled in dismay from the Island. A picket guard
patrolled the whole shore from Taunton River to Seaconnet
point. All New England was aroused to a sense of danger,
and the shores of the Narragansett Bay and the island
became two hostile camps. The winter was passed in raids,
skirmishes and projects for the invasion of the Island,
only to be one by one abandoned. General Clinton in
January, 1777, resigned the command on the Island and
returned to England, and Lord Percy followed him in the
following May, leaving the command on the island, to
General Preston.