Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/415

 WAR PREPARATIONS. 331 on General Potter of Bristol for an order for the fire-arms belonging to the town that were stored at Newport. In June, 1775, the General Assembly appointed the fol- lowing persons as officers of the Barrington Company of Militia; Thomas Allin, Captain; Samuel Bosworth, Lieu- tenant ; Viall Allen, Ensign. The first opportunity and call of our militia to active service came from Boston. The news of the Lexington and Concord fight on the 19th of April reached Rhode Island the same night. The expected contest had actually begun; "the gale that came from the North brought the clash of resounding arms." The militia law had been revised so as to provide in what man- ner the forces in this Colony should march to the assistance of any of the sister colonies when invaded or attacked. In accordance with the new orders, the next day, April 20th, a thousand men were on their march to Boston and Lexington, to aid the sister-mother colony of Massachusetts. Barrington sent a delegation of her militia to her rescue. On the 22d of April, the General Assembly in session at Providence ordered an apportionment of powder, lead, and flints to the several towns. Mr. Thomas Allen receipted for 26 lbs. of powder, 42 lbs. of lead and 168 flints for the Barrington Militia. An Army of Observation of 1,500 men was voted to be raised at once. The Bristol County field officers were Mr. Nathaniel Martin of Barrington, Colonel ; Mr. Benjamin Bosworth, Bristol, Major. A Committee of Safety was chosen, of which William Bradford, of Bristol, was a member. " The Army of Observation" had Nathaniel Greene, Jun., Esq., as its Brigadier-General, and the Bar- rington Company of the regiment of Newport and Bristol Counties, was officered by Matthew Allin, as Captain- Lieutenant, James Smith as Lieutenant and James Brown, Jr., as Ensign, all of Barrington — the regiment being in com- mand of Col. Thomas Church of Bristol. Before the first of June, " The Army of Observation," one thousand strong, enlisted " in his Majesty's service," was in camp at Boston, under the command of General Nathaniel Greene. It is a