Secret Expedition to Rhode Island
by Sandra Ball and Jamie ???

Two brothers, a cousin, and a brother in law were part of the Secret Expedition.

Tobey Relatives Involved:
Brothers Zoeth Tobey and Stephen Tobey, sons of Zaccheus Tobey and Ruhamah Samson. 
Their 1st cousin Zaccheus Tobey, son of Elnathan Tobey and Deborah Taber.
Their brother in law Isaiah Tower, married to their sister Silvia "Silvey" Tobey.


Sources: 
1. History of Newport County Rhode Island by Richard M. Bayles, L.E. Preston & Co. 1888
2. Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island on Sketches of the efforts of the Government and People 
   in the War of the Revolution, by Benjamin Cowell, A.J. Wright, Printer, 1850
3. History of Rhode Island, by Rev. Edward Peterson, John S. Taylor, Pub. 1853.


In April of 1777, as the Revolutionary War raged throughout all the lands of the now-declared 
United States of America, a little-known decision by Congress led to a dangerous mission calling 
on the ranks of the state of Rhode Island.  British troops occupied Newport Island at the time, 
and it was the feeling of all that they should be removed.  On April 16th, Congress resolved to 
recommend to the General Assembly of Rhode Island that with the assistance of both Massachusetts 
and Connecticut, they were to use all their power to rid the island of the unwanted troops.

The recommendation was accepted whole-heartedly, and the preparations for attack began immediately.  
General Joseph Spencer was selected by General George Washington to take command.  For the attack to 
be effective, it was agreed that it must be kept secret.  So much pains were taken to fulfill this 
wish that it became known as the "secret expedition."1  Soldiers for the expedition were called up 
on September 22, 1777, consisting of one-half of the militia of Rhode Island and members of both the 
Massachusetts and Connecticut militias.  All in all they formed a formidable army of 10,000 men, 
willing and eager to fight for the cause of freedom.

The men were mobilized, trained, and then stationed at a little town called Tiverton near a stone 
bridge.  The plan was to attack the British by boat but there was a lengthy delay in the preparations.  
It was nearly October before the expedition was ready for the attack.  Richard M. Bayles, a historian 
of the nineteenth century, stated that the "delay caused great dissatisfaction among the troops, 
especially among those from Massachusetts; they attributed it to the want of tact and energy in their 
General."1  With a sincere, but perhaps naive hunger for action-little did the men know of the terrors 
and blood of war-they waited for battle.

General Spencer, on leaving his quarters one morning during the long wait, found the following verse, 
written in large letters, placed in full view of the public:

"Israel wanted bread,
The Lord sent them manna;
Rhode Island wants a head,
And Congress sends-a granny!"

After this, the Major-General was forever known as "Granny Spencer," a less than satisfying but probably 
not altogether unwarranted nickname, as long as he remained in Rhode Island.  

As the summer waned and autumn came in full force, a night was finally chosen for the American forces to 
cross over from Tiverton to the Island, and a large fleet of boats was prepared for the embarkation.  
The plan was to take the enemy by surprise in the middle of the night.   Col. Hawes, Colonel of one of 
the Massachusetts militia regiments which was to be among the first to embark, made a speech to his 
regiment "encouraging them to behave like men, and to win for themselves the title of heroes and patriots 
in their country's cause."  Although seldom seen in the history books, the Colonel's words were indeed 
inspiring.  "Perhaps," said he, "this night will be our last, but if it is, let us go to sleep in the 
arms of glory."2

Inspired as the men may have been, they could not fight Mother Nature.  For good or ill depending on 
who offered an opinion, heavy gales of wind arrived, dashing hopes of the boats making safe passage.2  
The attack was postponed and the embarkation point changed to a landing place above Fogland Ferry.  
Again the weather was against them, and since the British were now aware of the attack, some of the 
boats were fired upon.  The whole affair was abandoned at that time, the value of secrecy quenched 
by the enemy having gotten information of their plan.  The troops had become uneasy, some of their 
earlier courage and hastiness chilled by reason and the arduous wait, and so many of the men had 
already marched off that it was said there were only about 5,000 troops left.

In the end, it would not matter.  On October 17, 1777, a flag arrived at Newport from Providence, 
with the news of the surrender of the British General, Burgoyne, and his army to the American forces.  
General Spencer's "secret expedition" was over, harshly branded a failure.
	
A court of inquiry was later held in Providence, and a report was issued exonerating General Spencer 
from fault, and assigning the cause of the expedition's failure to Palmer's brigade.  It was concluded 
that they were to supposed to have the boats ready the first night set for the attack.  Much blame 
was also placed on the bad weather.

The historian Benjamin Cowell gave the following insight on the expedition:

"There was always a mystery about this expedition.  Although Congress authorized Rhode Island to get it up, 
and requested Massachusetts and Connecticut to assist, it has been said that neither Congress or Washington 
ever had any expectation of expelling the enemy from the Island.  The main object was to prevent the enemy 
from making any diversion in favor of General Burgoyne.  The British had a large army at Newport, and could 
have spared and sent several thousand to some point which would have diminished the opposition to his march 
through the country.  But the assembling of such an army as the expedition called out, confined them to their 
quarters in Newport. [General Burgoyne had instructed Co. Baum to march across the country to Springfield 
'where he would be met by his Majesty's forces from Rhode Island.']  Obviously his Majesty's forces had enough 
to do at Newport.  Upon all the facts and circumstances connected with Spencer's expedition, we are at a loss, 
to decide whether it was a real failure, or not, and so we leave it."2

So what can be said about the success or failure of a battle that never happened?  The greater good-the war 
itself, the fight for freedom and independence-was victorious in the end.  The true story of the "secret 
expedition" lies in the hearts of the men who were so willing to see it through.  With such men, with such valor, 
with such honor, the expedition can be deemed nothing less than a glorious victory of spirit.

Our ancestors' records show they served from September 27, 1777 to October 29, 1777.


1.  Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island on Sketches of the efforts of the Government and People in the War 
of the Revolution, by Benjamin Cowell, A.J. Wright, Printer, 1850

2.  Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island on Sketches of the efforts of the Government and People in the War 
of the Revolution, by Benjamin Cowell, A.J. Wright, Printer, 1850