7 Yorktown Town Halt {368 Undarhl Avenue, PO. Box 708, (14) 982-5722 ‘Yorktown Heights, NY 10588 wn yorktownnyog, ‘March 13, 2017 Hon. Sean Stackley ‘Acting Sesretary ofthe Navy Office ofthe Secretary of the Navy 1000 Navy Pentagon, Room 4D652 Washington, DC 20350 Re: Proposed Ship Naming for Battle of Pines Bridge or Town of Yorktown, NY Dear Acting Secretary Stackley: (Om behalf of the Town of Yorktowm Town Board as well as the people of the Town of ‘Yorktown, asthe Town Supervisor {am requesting thatthe United States Navy consider naming ships in honor ofthe Revolutionary War Battle of Pins Bridge or Town of Yorktown, ix which the bate was fought, As set forth in moze detail below, the Soldiers of the Rhode Island Regiment, which comprised of Black Freemen, Native Americans as well as Buropean-American seftlets, bravely fought and died on the Town's soll in the cause of libery. ‘The Resolution tmnanimously voted by the Tow Board authorizing this petition is enclosed. “The Town, located in the northem part of Westchester County in New York State, will celebrate the 230" anniversary ofits formal incorporation on March 7, 2018. The Town is very Droud of is sich varied history which includes the Bate of Pines Bridge fought on May 14, T781..The Town believes that ving a ship named to honor the Battle of Pines Bridge or the ‘Town of Yorktown would be belting ofits 230” anniversary celebration “The formation of the Rhode Island Regiment is historially unique. During the brotal L7H) ~ \778 winter at Valley Forge, the edging Continental Army, under the leadership of General George Washington, had difficulty recruiting the necessary quotas for soldiers as directed by the Congress. Like many ofthe colonies, Rhode Island was ordered to supply to “Senge Waa ri eT a a/b Ok Bp Tso De ac asHon. Sean Stackley ‘March 13,2017 Page? battalions to fight while sill contending with the oteupation of the City of Newport by the British forces,--AS-a-result in-Janwary-1778, atthe dtection of General. Washington, Brigadier General James Varnum communicated to Rhode Island Goveror Nicholas Cooke requesting assistance recruiting soldiers forthe Continental Army. “To answer the call, the Rhode Island General Assembly vored to permit the enlistment of “every able-bodied negro, mulatto or Indian imam slave”. Adéitonaly, the Rhode Island General ‘Assembly provided that any enlisted slave “upon passing muster before Colonel Christopher ‘Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free ns though he had never beea ineumbered and be incumbered with any kind of servitude of slavery.” In response, between February and June 1778, Colonel Greene, Lt. Colonel Jeremiah ‘Olney and Major Samuel Ward recruited almost 100 Black Freemen and Native American men ‘who, with European-Ameriean settlers, formed the core ofthe First Rhode Island Regiment. The First Rhode Island Regiment was subsequently merged with the Second Rode Island Regiment to form one regiment, the Rhode Island Regiment. The Rhode Island Rezinient became one of the fist units in Ametican militry history in which men of every race and etinicity served side by side in the defense ofthe United States. ‘The Rhode Island Regiment fought bravely throughout the following five years of the ‘Revolutionary War inclnding the Battle of Pines Bridge. On May 14, 1781, Colonel Greene was jn command of the Rhode Island Regiment st Pines Bridge, which is located in what would ‘ecome Yorktown when incorporated on March 7, 1788. Colonel Greene was responsible for guarding Pines Bridge and its approaches, a strategic crossing point over the Croton River, which fed into the Hudson River, The Croton River served as the Patriot line of defense throughout the Revolutionary War, The ability ofthe Patriots to control the area helped keep the New England ‘colonies comnected to the Middle and Southern colonies; Lt Colonel James De Lancey, of His Majesty's Army, was in charge of a regiment of Loyalists, During the maming of May 14, 1781, Colonel De Lancey led a surprise attack on the positon held by the Rhodé Island Regiment. The Patriots were only able to fire a few shots before being overrun. Colonel Greene was stabbed and bayonet about seven tires before he ‘was taken prisoner. Colonel Greene was town on a horse and was either discarded, or fell off the horse, and lef to die. Regardless, none ofthe Loyalist made any atempt to help or care for him propery as a prisoner of war. Two Continental Army officers eventually discovered his Dory the next day.Hon, Sean Stackley ‘Maxch 13, 2017 Page 3 ‘According to ‘historical estimates, the Rhode Island Regiment suffered ten dead, one seriously wounded and twenty three captared, The Black Freemen soldiers who were captured ‘were later exehanged. ; “To commemorate the sacrifice of Colonel Grecue and the soldiers of the Rhode Islan Regiment, the Town as commissioned Sculptor Jay Waren to cast the Pines Bridge Monument. Mt. Warren's previous commissions include both portions of the New Jersey World ‘War It Memorial, the New Jersey Korean War Memorial, Vietins of Terrorism Memorial a the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park overlooking the World Trade CenterSite; Jobn Coltrane Mostment in High Point, NC, end the Sojourner Truth Meroril in Northampton, MA among many others (any. varrensculpture.comn Q ‘The Pines Bridge Monuinent will be comprised of three statues including Native “American soldiet, an Aftican-American soldier, and @ White soldier. This diversity would ‘present the inle-connectedness of each group in the fight for independence that centered ‘round the Batle of Pines Bridge. The statues would be life-size plus (approximately 8 tll), dni made of bronze, Renderings of the Pines Bridge Monument are also enclose ‘Historically, the United States Navy has named Ticonderoge-class guided missle efuisers after important military events such as batles ~ Ticonderoga, Cowpens, Yorktown, Valley Fora, ‘Bunter Hil! snd Antietam. ‘The Towm Board submits that the Battle of Pines Bridge is a roteworthy event i the development of the cause of American Freedom that a naval ship should tearite name. Additionally, the United States Nevy has named Littoral Combat Ships CLCSS), small surface vessels intended for close to shore operations, after small cites and towns such as Fort Worth, Lttle Rock Wichita, Cooperstown ané Mobile. The Town Board submits that Town of Yorktown — and its people ~ would be honored fo bave a Littoral Combat Ships samed efter the Town, If either of the above tlasses of ships is not available, the Town Board requests that the ‘United States Navy consider naming ship of the appropriate class to honor the Battle of Pines Bridge or the Towa ol Yorksovm. “Thank you for your consideration in this mate. ‘Yorktown Town Supervisor MG:me