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Connecticut Council of Safety

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CONNECTICUT COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety, December 9th, 1776 —

Present: His Honour the Governour, Eliphalet Dyer, Jabez Huntington, William Williams, William Hillhouse, Nathaniel Wales, Jr˙, Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.

On receiving intelligence that a large Fleet of British men-of-war and transports are pushing up Narragansett Bay, and towards Newport and Providence, orders were given to the Eastern Regiments to make ready, and march into the State of Rhode-Island, to the defence of the country against any depredations from said Fleet.

Colonel Henry Champion was sent for, and directed to make provision for the support of the Troops now to march into the State of Rhode-Island.

Colonel Elderkin and Lieutenant-Colonel Storrs, not being in suitable circumstances to march with the Fifth

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Regiment in the present emergency, the command of said Regiment was, by his Honour and this Council, given to Major Brown for the present emergency.