Page 3 - Jack Sisson News Today

Major barton. a hard job well-done. >> but the honor belongs to my men. >> indeed. this is among the finest partisan exploits that have taken place in the course of the war on either side. it discovers the highest honor to those who undertook and effected it. >> it would take some time for george washington to be introduced to new opportunities and new ideas about who africans were and what they would or would not do. what begins to change george washingtons ideas about black soldiers? well, one...

>> the 1st rhode island regiment had to prove themselves to the white society that they could be brave soldiers, and they were. >> starting with the battle of rhode island, there was recognition from the members of congress that these people were right in letting blacks in. theyre really proving washington wrong. >> george washingtons true feelings toward african-american soldiers are unclear. but the valiant service of men like peter salem, jack sisson, and salem poor show washington that black...

From the thousands of enemy troops in newport that the raid has a chance of success. >> the daring mission to capture british general richard prescott is made even more dangerous because it requires a nighttime crossing of the heavily patrolled narragansett bay, with jack sisson at the helm. sisson is likely chosen because hes a highly skilled boatman. >> they muffled the oars, so they said, so they could slide right by the british men of war, who were there in the bay. they came up on the shore...

A crucial part of the victory that secures american independence, just as african-american patriots play vital roles throughout the revolution. >> there is a very famous watercolor from a hessian artist that includes an image of an actual african rhode island participant. it very much characterizes the fact that africans were not sideline participants. they were actively involved in nearly every aspect of building this great country. by understanding the story of jack sisson, we have a better un...

>> its the bloody americans! alarm! sound the alarm! >> rush on, boys! >> come on! hold the line, boys! >> come on! hold on here! hold on! jack sisson and the rhode island regiment, men who joined the revolution to fight for personal freedom, now hold the fate of american independence in their hands. >> lets go, boys! my heart beats one hundred thousand times a day, sending oxygen to my muscles. again! so i can lift even the most demanding weight.

Jack! come back here, boy! >> there a lot of fugitives who run away and join the continental army or the militias. this is what george ruffin refers to as "leg bail." leg bail is where you actually just run away to the army. its not an agreement from your owner. and so there are many who run away, and they join. some would remain free. many wouldnt. [ insects chirping ] >> why are you itching for a fight? >> you read the same words that i read -- "all men are created equal." aint that worth figh...

Assault on a small fortification at yorktown. the men on the frontlines are jack sisson and the soldiers of the rhode island regiment. >> boys! >> it takes them less than ten minutes to take the redoubt and this, for all intents and purposes, is the end of the war. cornwallis is trapped. all that stands between him and england is a massive ocean. [ birds chirping ] >> the rhode island regiment is

>> there mustve been maybe hundreds of africans who served with the germans. the story was out there from the very beginning, 1775. you come to the kings aid, you can be free. the germans are fighting for the king. >> didnt know there were colored germans. youre not german. youre a slave. >> i aint no slave! im a soldier. and when this war is over, im gonna be a free man, and youll be back in chains. they may give you a gun, but you still just the white mans boy. >> and youre just a slave of a s...

>> [ yelling in german ] >> remarkably, the continentals hold off the mercenary force, inflicting more than 300 casualties, while suffering just 41 of their own. with this amazing success, jack sisson and the men of the rhode island regiment have more than proven their mettle. [ birds chirping ]

Gave an official statement of his heroism to the massachusetts governor. >> stay there! >> salem! >> help these men reload and fire! >> [ groans ] >> i said reload and fire! >> salem poor, another extremely brave man in the heat of fire. he absolutely stands as one of the great african heroes of the revolution right beside jack sisson. [ birds chirping ] >> jack sissons story may not be as well-known, but he is no less heroic. having proven himself in the prescott raid, sisson now joins 400 inte...