|
In September 1778, as part of British operations in the American Revolutionary War, Major General Charles Grey raided the Massachusetts communities of New Bedford, Fairhaven and Martha's Vineyard. The raid was one of the first in a series between 1778 and 1781 executed by the British against American coastal communities. Originally intended as a relief force for the British garrison that was briefly besieged at Newport, Rhode Island, Grey's force of 4,000 arrived after the Americans had already retreated, and was diverted for raiding by General Sir Henry Clinton. On September 5 and 6 Grey raided New Bedford and Fairhaven, only encountering significant resistance in Fairhaven. His troops destroyed storehouses, shipping, and supplies in New Bedford, where they met with light resistance from the local militia, and did less damage at Fairhaven, where militia resistance had time to organize. He then sailed for Martha's Vineyard, which was undefended. Between September 10 and 15 its residents surrendered 10,000 head of sheep and 300 oxen, as well as most of the island's weapons. ==Background== (詳細はBritish forces occupied Newport, Rhode Island. American forces in New England were not strong enough to dislodge the garrison there, which was also supported by Royal Navy vessels that used Newport as a base.〔Ward, p. 588〕 This situation changed in 1778, following the entry of France into the war, when the French and Americans agreed to embark on joint operations against the British. The French sent a fleet under the command of the comte d'Estaing to provide troops and naval support that arrived off New York City in July 1778. Finding the port well defended and believing its bar to be too shallow for his largest ships to cross, d'Estaing sailed instead for Newport, where he and General John Sullivan prepared to besiege the British garrison.〔Ward, pp. 587–590〕 In response to the threat to Newport, General Sir Henry Clinton ordered 4,000 men under General Charles Grey to prepare for transport to Rhode Island while Admiral Lord Richard Howe sailed from New York to oppose d'Estaing.〔 D'Estaing sailed out of Newport harbor on August 10, preparing to do battle with Howe. As the fleets maneuvered for position, a storm arose that scattered and damaged both fleets. D'Estaing decided then to abandon Newport, and sailed for Boston to make repairs. General Sullivan had by then already begun siege operations against Newport without French assistance,〔Ward, pp. 590–591〕 which prompted Clinton to order Grey's force to sail for Newport on August 26. Clinton accompanied the force, which made slow progress due to contrary winds.〔Nelson, p. 63〕 By the time they arrived at Newport on September 1, the Americans had not only been put on the defensive, but had retreated from the island after the inconclusive August 29 Battle of Rhode Island.〔Ward, p. 592〕 Rather than disembark Grey's troops at Newport, Clinton decided to pursue other objectives. His orders, issued in March 1778, included instructions to raid coastal communities, destroying shipbuilding facilities and supplies.〔Gruber, p. 278〕 Acting on this idea, he ordered the fleet to sail to New London, Connecticut, a potential raiding site. Finding too few ships there to bother with a landing, Clinton ordered Grey to "proceed without loss of time to the eastward" to raid New Bedford and Fairhaven on the Massachusetts mainland, and the island of Martha's Vineyard.〔Nelson, p. 64〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Grey's raid」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|