As tensions increased between Britain and the colonies, Comfort and his sixteen year old son Comfort, Jr., trained with the Rehoboth Militia. After shots were fired in Lexington, conditions grew worse.

On the mainland people were terrified lest the British should come there, too. Those living near the coast were advised to send their women and children back into the country for safety, and their furniture and cattle as well. For a time the roads were almost blocked with loaded carts, and with droves of cattle and flocks of sheep. The militia armed and prepared to defend their state, and besides the militia, enough volunteers enlisted to make a full regiment themselves.

Messengers were hurriedly sent to the other New England States to ask for aid, and Massachusetts and Connecticut almost at once sent troops. It was indeed very important for all of New England that Rhode Island should be protected. Rhode Island had sixty miles of coastline, at any point of which the British might land unless there were troops to defend it, and her shores were like an open door to the rest of the country. "

The second time Comfort Peck was called to duty was his service as a Private with Captain Israel Hix's Company, Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment. Comfort served from July 30 to September 10, 1778 on an expedition to Rhode Island.

"On July 29th (1778) a number of sail were sighted on the horizon toward the southeast. The people on the island hurried to the cliffs on the seaward side, and stood washing eagerly the approach of the vessels. It was impossible, however, to tell what vessels they were even when they came near, for they showed no flags. They might have been either British or French.

By one o'clock the fleet had reached the mouth of the main channel, just off Point Judith, and here they dropped their sails and came to anchor. It was a magnificent site as the great vessels lay there rocking gently to the long swell of the water. There were twelve ships of the line, four frigates, and a corvette. Suddenly there was a flutter of white at the mastheads. The flags were being run up. A moment later they lifted in the wind, and all could see the Three Lilies of France on their white ground. It was the French Fleet, our allies, and the heart of the Americans rose high with hope as they saw those flags of the friendly nation.

The day after the arrival of the fleet, the American General Sullivan went to the flagship to talk over the plan of attack with D'Estaing. It was decided to make the attack as soon as possible. To wait would only be to give the British a chance to strengthen their position still further. The American forces were to cross from Tiverton to the north end of the island. The French troops were to land on Conanicut Island ( Jamestown) and to cross from there. Meanwhile, two ships of the line, two frigates, and the corvette were to take up such a position as to keep the British ships that were in the harbor from escaping.

The movements of the French fleet were carefully watched by the British. They soon realized that their vessels were being shut in by the French, and rather than run the risk of having them captured, they destroyed them. Three vessels that were in Sakonnet River were blown up. Four frigates and the corvette were run up on the beach of Rhode Island and burned. Others were burned in the harbor, and the hulks were sunk there so ass to obstruct navigation.

The 10th of August was the day set for the French and Americans to land on the island. Sullivan's forces had grown until now he had under him almost 10,000 troops, but he most of these were raw and untried, and had never been in battle before. Almost all of the British were veterans. However, the French, too, were tried troops, an Sullivan counted largely on them. He was full of hopes of success.

But a bitter disappointment awaited him. The French troops were landed on Conanicut as he and D'Estaing had agreed, but hardly had this been done when a British fleet was sighted down the bay. D'Estaing at once decided to re-embark his men and sail down to meet the enemy and give battle. His troops were ordered back to the vessels, and as soon as they were on board he set sail. Sullivan knew nothing of this sudden change of plan. He was still counting on his allies, when looking out over the water, he saw with amazement, that the French fleet was disappearing in the distance.

The disappointment was so great that a feeling of discouragement spread through the whole army. Men and officers alike began to doubt whether the French were faithful to them. Lafayette was deeply mortified.

But in spite of the desertion of the fleet, Sullivan determined to carry out his attack. But, on the 12th of August a great storm arose that swept both land and sea. The wind blew a hurricane, and the rain fell in torrents. Arms and ammunition were made useless. It would have been impossible even for troops to march in such a storm. Tents were blown down or carried away by the wind. The soldiers were left without shelter. They crouched in the corners of fences or against rocks, trying in vain to protect themselves. Many died from exposure.

By the 15th the storm had passed, and during that day the French fleet again came in sight and took up the position they had before. Sullivan hoped now, at last, they would carry out their agreement. Instead D'Estaing sent him a message that he would have to sail to Boston to have his vessels repaired. It was in vain that Sullivan urged and entreated him to remain. Lafayette added his entreaties to Sullivan's, but the French admiral was determined to go to Boston. He would promise nothing except that he would return as soon as possible, and with despair Sullivan saw the sails set and the whole fleet go sweeping out past the British batteries and away toward the north.

The second desertion by the French had an even worse effect on the American forces than the first. They began to desert in large numbers. Almost 3,000 of them left and went back to the mainland, and Sullivan's force of 10,000 was reduced to 7,000.

He still held a place on the island, but with such a weakened army, he dared not stay so near the enemy, and he retreated to the fortified hills at the north. He hoped it would not be long before the fleet returned, but meanwhile his heavy stores and baggage were sent to the rear where it would be easy to transport them to the mainland if this proved necessary.

By the 28th the last of the heavy baggage was carried to the rear. All was ready for a retreat, but still Sullivan waited, hoping each day that the French fleet would return, but each day he was disappointed.

On the 28th Lafayette started for Boston to try to hasten the return of the fleet. He crossed to the mainland and then made the journey on horseback. He was so eager to return that he made the whole journey ( a distance of almost seventy miles) in less than fourteen hours.

The British had learned, with fresh hope, that Sullivan was making ready to retreat to the mainland. They determined to make an attack at once, and before his forces could leave the island.

Very early, almost with the dawning of the 29th, the British forces were on the march, and at nine their cannon opened fire on the American outworks. The heavy booming seemed to shake the island and could be heard on the mainland.

There were two principal highways along the island, one to the east and one to the west. Along these roads the British columns moved to the attack. The Americans had made ready to meet them. Two light corps had been sent out, one down the east road, and one down the west road, to meet the advance of the enemy.

A number of pickets were stationed at a crossroads that branched off from the east road. Here a field had a stone wall around it. The order for these pickets was to lie concealed behind the wall until the British were close upon them, and then to fire on them and retreat. This order was well carried out. The light corps, when attacked, fell back to the main body of the army. The order to do this was brought to them by a regiment that Sullivan sent to protect the retreat. The pickets still crouched concealed behind the stone wall. The field lay still and peaceful in the sunlight. For a time the pickets heard nothing but the distant roar of the cannon, and the nearer volleys of artillery. The American troops had fallen back. Then from down the east road came the steady tramp of the British as they came swinging on, their bayonets glistening in the sunlight.

When they reached the crossroads there was a sharp command from their officer, and the Twenty-second Regiment divided. One half of it continued along the main road, the other turned off toward the field where the Americans were concealed. Pickets still crouched there, gripping their guns and scarcely breathing. Not until the British were abreast of them did they move. Then they sprang to their feet with a yell, and poured a fierce volley in among the red coats.

The British were so utterly unprepared that they made no attempt to return the fire. Many of them had fallen and lay groaning in the dust of the road. Before those who were unhurt could recover, the Americans had reloaded, and had again poured a storm of bullets in among the enemy. Almost one quarter of the whole Twenty-second Regiment lay there, dead or dying.

Two troops of Hessians hurried on to the support of the British, but they arrived too late. The Americans had already gone. They had retreated to the main army without the loss of a single man.

Along the west road the fighting had been hot and furious. Twice the British and Hessians had charged upon the American regiments, and twice they had been driven back. A third attack might have had a different ending, for the American forces were almost exhausted, but two fresh battalions were sent forward by Sullivan and saved the day for them.

Varnum's regiment of Negroes had been posted in a valley. It was against these that the Hessians made their fiercest attack. Three times they charged down the hill, and three times they were driven back. Though many of the blacks were killed or wounded, they had no thought of quitting their position. But the Hessians had suffered far more terribly. So many of them were killed, indeed, that the next day their officer refused to lead them. He was afraid they would shoot him for making them lose so many men. The whole battle had been a slaughter for the British forces. At one place as many as sixty Hessians were found lying in a heap together.

Sullivan was very anxious to carry on his attack still further, but his men were too exhausted. For thirty-six hours they had been on the march, or fighting and working, without a moment to rest or eat. He was obliged to fall back to his camp and allow his troops some time for food and sleep.

On the 30th Lafayette returned from Boston, exhausted from his journey. He was bitterly disappointed when he found the battle had been fought while he was away, and a victory won. Through all that day there was some firing between the two forces, but no regular attack by either side.

Lafayette had brought a letter to Sullivan from the French admiral. In this letter D'Estaing told Sullivan that his fleet was still undergoing repairs, and that he would not be able to return for some time. Sullivan also, that same day, received a letter from Washington warning him that the British fleet, under Lord Howe, had sailed for Rhode Island, and might arrive there at any time.

This was serious news for Sullivan. If the British fleet arrived while he was still on the island and the land forces again attacked him, it would mean an utter defeat of his forces, and a heavy loss. It was now very necessary for him to retreat to the mainland as quickly as possible.

To deceive the British, and make them think he still meant to hold his position, he had a number of tents brought forward and set up where the British could see them. He also sent his men to work fortifying the camp. While this was going on at the front, his stores and baggage were being quietly sent down the river. Lafayette had missed the battle, but now he could do a good service in helping on the withdrawal.

There was, fortunately, no moon that night. As soon as it was dark the Americans were on the move. In perfect silence troop after troop marched down to the river and embarked, and were carried over to the mainland. What was left of the stores and baggage were taken with them. It was a masterly retreat. All was done in perfect order, in perfect silence, and without a single mishap.

All night long the British sentries paced back and forth, giving the sign and countersign, and never once did they guess that the enemy they were guarding against had left the island; that their fortifications lay empty and deserted. Only as the morning light spread palely over the island did the British see that no one was left in the American camp. The enemy they had still hoped to capture had escaped them. They still held the island, indeed - in that far Sullivan had failed-but their forces had suffered a heavy defeat. They had lost 1, 023 men in the battle, while the loss of the Americans was only 211.

Congress passed a vote of thanks to Sullivan for the way he had managed the campaign. It also passed a resolution in which it said his retreat had been "prudent, timely, and well conducted." It was indeed a brilliant end to a brilliant victory, and Lafayette declared the Battle of Rhode Island to be the "best-fought action of the war."