#Bristol - Rhode Island

[gaytravelinfo]

Pivotal Brewing Company - Bristol, RI

Pivotal Brewing Company | 500 Wood St, Bldg 111 | Bristol, RI 02809 | 401-638-1100 At Pivotal Brewing Company, they believe beer is art and experience is everything. With the most diverse craft beer selection in Rhode Island, they’ve handcrafted a distinctive blend of artisan beer styles that range from traditional ales and lagers to experimental beers, pushing the limits of innovation in…

[unteriors]

Bay View Avenue, Bristol, Rhode Island.

[boatporn]

[theplaidcub]

Blithewold Home and Garden. Bristol, Rhode Island. May 17, 2024

[clove-pinks]

I saw @joachimnapoleon’s post wishing French Marshal of the Empire Louis-Alexandre Berthier a happy birthday today (born 20 November 1753), and immediately zoomed in on his participation in the American Revolutionary War under General Rochambeau.

Rochambeau?? Does that mean... he was in Rhode Island?? (FYI my home state where I’m from, for those just tuning in at home)

And yes! Yes he was in Rhode Island!! 

Detail of Plan de la position de l'armée françoise autour de Newport et du mouillage de l'escadre dans la rade de cette ville, 1780. (Library of Congress) 

Although an author for the map isn’t listed on the LOC, a Rhode Island history site attributes it to Berthier based on “similarities in style and technique with other known Berthier maps and because Colonel Desandroüins was Berthier’s commanding officer.” (omg he drew Easton’s Beach)

I also found an interesting (if somewhat embarrassing) article in the Journal of the American Revolution: Why Newport, Rhode Island, Scorned the French. Basically we were very rude and hostile to General Rochambeau and his entourage because a) the French are CATHOLICS, b) Newport was a hotbed of Loyalists, c) Newport people are just jerks tbh, d) strange fears that the French eat babies?!

[nordleuchten]

Can you tell me more about the "grief" La Fayette experienced in Rhode Island, that you referenced from his memoirs in a recent post? Also apparently he was headquartered in my home town of Bristol(!) in the Joseph Reynold House during the American Revolutionary War.

Dear @clove-pinks,

I most certainly can do that! (I am always so happy to get follow-up because that means people have actually read what I wrote. :-))

The passage you are referring to is this line from La Fayette’s Memoirs that I talked about in this post:

Heated by fatiguing journeys and over exertion, and still more by the grief he had experienced at Rhode Island; and having afterwards laboured hard, drank freely, and passed several sleepless nights at Philadelphia, M. de Lafayette proceeded on horse-back, in a high state of fever, and during a pelting autumnal rain.

Marquis de La Fayette, Memoirs, Correspondences and Manuscripts of General Lafayette, Vol. 1, Craighead and Allen, New York, 1837, pp. 63.

La Fayette was referring here to the events leading up to the Battle of New Port that took place on August 29, 1778 – a debacle for the continental army and a personal disappointment for La Fayette.

The whole affair had started promising. At the beginning of July 1778, twelve French vessels reached the Delaware three days after the English fleet had left the area and the French followed the English to New York and anchored just off Sandy Hook. Strategic as well as logistical reasons persuaded the French to sail to Rhode Island to attack the roughly 5000 entrenched British troops there by water. General Sullivan was given command of the local state militia that was currently stationed at Providence and the Count d’Estaing had command over the French fleet. These forces should be supported by 2000 Continental soldiers presently at White Planes in New York and had to cover some 240 miles. It was La Fayette’s duty to organize their transport. No sooner did he arrive in Providence did he had to learn that nothing had been prepared for an attack in the meantime. The French troops were in a bad shape, their long sea voyage had killed many men and weakened even more, d'Estaing wanted to go home, the waters were hard to navigate and to manoeuvrer, the enemy was in the strategical stronger position and last but not least – d’Estaing and General Sullivan could not stand each other. Worse, d’Estaing was quite weary of La Fayette, for La Fayette had left France against the expressed wishes of the French King.

La Fayette managed to calm d’Estaing and to convince him of his personal worth. He also got Sullivan and d’Estaing to work together. A joined attack on Newport was planned after the French fleet had very successfully attacked the British fleet previously. All fine and dandy, but Sullivan suddenly went ahead on his own – something that d’Estaing did not liked at all. Things escalated pretty quickly from thereon on a personal level and La Fayette was right there in the midst of all. I am purposely leaving out some details, because the post would otherwise get too long but here were some truly interesting letters written, particularly by La Fayette who tried to get both sides to engage with each other.

The British fleet had received reinforcement from New York and d’Estaing set out to battle them, but a terrible storm destroyed both fleets and d’Estaing sailed to Boston for repairs. Seeing the French fleet sail away caused desertion among the American troops. That was La Fayette’s breaking point, and he was absolutely furious with Sullivan and his undiplomatic behaviour. This in turn caused Sullivan to be angry with La Fayette and the two men, who had previously always liked each other, had almost physically battled each other.

The whole situation, between La Fayette and Sullivan and between Sullivan and d’Estaing was resolved in the end – thanks to the intervention of a number of people, among them George Washington and Nathanael Greene, and the Battle of Newport came to pass … more or less a victory for the British troops.

As to Bristol, yes, both statements are correct. La Fayette was tasked with protecting Warren and Bristol and he was in command of the ports in the era. Since he was fluent in both English and French, it fell to him to collaborate the joined efforts of the French fleet and the American Troops. La Fayette made camp in Bristol either in the afternoon of September 1, 1778 or early on September 2, 1778. We have a letter from the morning of September 1, that was still written at his previous stay in Tyver Town. La Fayette remarked several times that his position was too exposed. He wrote to George Washington on September 3, 1778:

I Confess I am myself very uneasy in this quarter, and fear that those people will put in theyr heads to take some of our batteries &ca which if properly attak’d will be difficult to prevent, and I am upon a little tongue of land where in case of an alarm a long stay might be very dangerous—but we’ll do for the best.

“To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 3 September 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 16, 1 July–14 September 1778, ed. David R. Hoth. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, pp. 505–506.] (12/17/2022)

He wrote again to the Comte d’Estaing on September 8, 1778:

Until that is cleared up, the Bristol post continues to be the most exposed one, and consequently, I remain here.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1978, p. 169-171.

La Fayette moved into the Joseph Reynolds House on September 7, 1778 (one day after his birthday!). The house is also sometimes referred to as Willowmere or La Fayette House. He was quartered on the second floor in the Northwest (Parlor) Room that today is often only known as the La Fayette Room. The room has been altered only very little over the course of the last centuries. A brass marker was installed in 1907 to commemorate La Fayette’s stay there.

National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013–2017 (12/17/2022)

The Joseph Reynolds House is a registered Historic landmark and if you read the whole application form, you will find this amusing little story:

National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013–2017 (12/17/2022)

I have one bone to pick with the form though. In the application, it is written, that La Fayette stayed there until September 22, a few pages later, it is written that he stayed there until September 23 – I would argue that he must have left Bristol and consequently the Joseph Reynolds House by September 21. We have several letters from that date that were written by La Fayette in Warren and in one of these letters to George Washington he explicitly states that:

I have Remov’d my most particular post of Bristol, and am in a safer place behind warren.

“To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 21 September 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 17, 15 September–31 October 1778, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 69–72.] (12/17/2022)

I hope that was helpful and I hope that have/had an amazing day!

[rifoodwars]

An example of locally produced propaganda. We have plenty of corn in RI so use it and save wheat!

[justdreamsandmusic]

May 2023; Itali-America Club, RI; Me, Nick T, Arthur & Tyler I.

a bike ride from East Providence, RI to Bristol & Warren, RI. I found the jacket on the way to the club, had to grab it - blended well

[mrsmoose54]

4th July American Independence Day - Fireworks & Facts

[found-in-nomadland]

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Bristol, Rhode Island 🌺

[gaytravelinfo]

Pivotal Brewing Company - Bristol, RI

Pivotal Brewing Company | 500 Wood St, Bldg 111 | Bristol, RI 02809 | 401-638-1100 At Pivotal Brewing Company, they believe beer is art and experience is everything. With the most diverse craft beer selection in Rhode Island, they’ve handcrafted a distinctive blend of artisan beer styles that range from traditional ales and lagers to experimental beers, pushing the limits of innovation in…

[seivern]

Pantry - Kitchen Large beach style u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen pantry photo with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

[boatporn]

Oy, what a day.

[rcroofing]

This fall, let RC Roofing fortify your home against the unpredictable Rhode Island weather. Our expert team guarantees a roof replacement that merges durability with aesthetic appeal, ensuring your home is as warm and inviting as autumn itself. Discover a seamless blend of protection and style - Contact us today at (401) 298-9936.

[itsageneticthing]

Basil & Bunny Food Truck

Basil & Bunny is a restaurant located in Bristol, Rhode Island. It was founded by Lyslie Smith and Mathiew Medeiros. They started working in a trailer in 2020, but eventually became the go-to choice for plant-based carnivores and enthusiasts alike. They even went on to earn the award for “Best Food Truck” in Rhode Island Monthly Magazine readers’ choice two years in a row.

When I was a student at Salve Regina University, Basil and Bunny’s food truck would often be at different social events and activities that Salve Regina hosted on campus. The first time I saw their food truck I had never heard of them, as they do not have any restaurants in the local area where I grew up. Their food truck was at an event that Salve Regina was having outside of Gerety Hall, which is a hub for student life and houses classrooms and offices. I was with some friends, and I was excited when I saw it because I knew I could have a large selection of what they offered since they were vegan. My friends and I got in line to wait to order food. I ordered their Bunny Fries, french fries with vegan cheese melted over the top.

Salve Regina University had Basil & Bunny’s food truck at multiple other events throughout my 4 years of college. They had it at an event during Senior Week, our Senior Festival. At the festival, they had games such as corn hole. They offered food from different food trucks, and Basil & Bunny’s food truck was one of the trucks they had there.

I am forever grateful for how inclusive Salve Regina University was when it came to offering different options for their cuisine. We have come a long way with providing food accommodations for those who need it in this day and age. I definitely will be going back to Rhode Island to visit Basil & Bunny’s restaurant!

Basil and Bunny’s website:

[ssfith]

putting in the miles, then breakfast @NYLO Providence, Rhode island