Battlefields are considered cultural landscapes as they provide a sense of place, identify our relationship with the land and are part of our national heritage.
“Cultural landscapes provide a sense of place and identity; they map our relationship with the land over time; and they are part of our national heritage and each other’s lives.”
Quote from “The Cultural Landscape Foundation” website, www.tclf.org
The preservation of battlefields and sites of armed conflict come under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS preserves national park battlefields and, also, assists preservation partners at the state, Tribal and local levels through the American Battlefield Protection Program.
The National Park Service has prepared National Register Bulletin #40 (National Park Service, 2000) that provides guidelines for identifying, evaluating, and registering historic American battlefields. Per National Register Bulletin 40: “Battlefields represent some of our nation’s most significant historic properties. Our nation achieved independence through the trial of battle, and military action often determined the very boundaries of this country.”
Butts Hill Fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark because of the significant role it played in the Revolutionary War. This site is the largest extant Revolutionary War period earthwork in southeastern New England. Its historic significance is based on its role as a key site in the revolutionary war Battle of Rhode Island. The fort structure was built by American troops in 1776 and was then expanded between 1776-1779 when occupied by British and Hessian troops. This site was the center of the Colonial (American) line during the August 29-30, 1778, battle, and the colonial “Black Regiment” served here and defended nearby Ward’s redoubt from Hessian troop assaults. The Americans gained control in 1779 and the fort housed French troops between 1779-1781. The fort was abandoned at the end of the war in 1782.
The land surrounding the fort returned to agricultural fields and the fort structure remained untouched. Development of the land surrounding the fort began in the early 20th century when the agricultural fields were plotted for house lots. This development threat spurred preservation efforts and the fort property was made a park and deeded to the Newport Historical Society in 1923. By 1934, the current conditions of overgrowth were present.
In 1968 the State of RI took possession of the fort property and then transferred the property to the Town of Portsmouth who is the current owner and currently maintains the fort. A more detailed history of the fort is available from the following sources:
Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project In Partnership with Newport Collaborative Architects, 2009 RIMAP, Planning, Preservation and Management Plan for Butts Hill Fort, Portsmouth, RI
Waller, Joseph N. Jr., August 2022: Technical Memorandum, Butts Hill Fort Restoration Master Plan: Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment, Public Archaeology Lab (PAL).
In preparing the landscape restoration master plan, the landscape architects followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Cultural Landscapes as well as the guidelines outlined in National Register Bulletin #40: Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating and Registering Battlefields. The four treatment types defined in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (1995) are as follows:
The above guidelines were addressed in this master plan process both through onsite reconnaissance and analysis as well as research and review of prior reports and studies.
There are seven categories that are evaluated during the process of reviewing a cultural landscape. These categories are:
And there are six key treatment approaches that the NPS guidelines recommend for each of the seven categories listed above. These key treatment approaches are:
In preparing the landscape master plan, the Butts Hill Fort property was evaluated using each of the six treatment approaches in each of the seven analysis categories.
The analysis of existing conditions was initiated by reviewing prior reports and studies and then performing a site reconnaissance to evaluate spatial organization, land patterns, materials and features from the selected period of 1778 which was the time frame of Rhode Island Campaign. The following sections address the site analysis by category.
1. Spatial Organization and Land Patterns
2. Topography
A 2008 study completed by The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project and The Newport Collaborative Architects as well as an August 2022 sensitivity assessment and archaeological report completed by the Public Archaeology Lab (PAL) shows that the fort earthworks/ramparts and features from the 1778 colonial occupation during the Battle of Rhode Island are still extant. The PAL Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment (August 2022)found archaeologically sensitive areas that are still present in and around the site of Butts Hill Fort.
A map image from the Public Archaeology Lab’s “Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment” is shown on the next page. This “map” shows the level of sensitivity for the archaeological areas on the Butts Hill Fort property. We have outlined the area that shows the fort property in red and have noted the outline of the fort “ramparts” in yellow which are visible via the Lidar view on Image 3 in this report.
In initiating work on the landscape master plan, Landscape Elements LLC performed a site reconnaissance and evaluated the spatial organization and topography of the site as well as extant site features. The site reconnaissance utilized a topographic survey that had been completed by Mount Hope Engineering, Inc. of Swansea, Massachusetts in 2022. The survey shows contours at 2-foot intervals along with significant features including property lines, stone walls, paths, boundary markers, fencing, lines of vegetation massing and individual trees of 12 -inch caliper or larger.
This topographic survey was used during the landscape architectural on-site field reconnaissance to confirm site features, vegetation features, fort abutments/rampart locations, and the overall spatial organization of the site. This survey also provided the base plan for the landscape architectural master plan drawings. Based on this field reconnaissance, the fort’s 1778 spatial organization and site features appear to be extant. Changes have occurred on the fort earthworks due to walking paths that have been “introduced” atop the ramparts through human use of the site. This human use over the years has caused some erosion. Stone walls were also constructed after the area became active agricultural land in the 1800’s.
The topography outside of the fort earthworks has been greatly altered by the introduction of roads, houses, and other features. The historic viewshed has also been greatly altered through new construction and residential development since the 18th century including the construction of water towers and a wind turbine on abutting Town of Portsmouth land. The growth of trees and invasive plants since the late 1900’s has obscured the fort ramparts and topographic features.
Field reconnaissance and site analysis completed both by the Public Archaeology Lab and Landscape Elements LLC have documented existing conditions noting spaces (open parade area, earthworks of fort ramparts/abutments), site features (stone walls, paths, stone post/wood rail fencing, stone monument, flagpole) and other site materials. The LIDAR map shown in Image 3 is from the Public Archaeology Lab “Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment”. It clearly shows the outline of the fort’s ramparts which were also discernable on the ground during the 2022 landscape architects’ site reconnaissance despite the overgrowth of invasive vegetation.
3. Vegetation
In evaluating existing vegetation conditions, there was a need to address the current presence of extensive invasive vegetation species. With respect to vegetation, the landscape restoration master plan focuses on addressing items 3 and 4 of the treatment approaches for restoration.
3. Repair features and materials from the Restoration Period.
4. Replace extensively deteriorated features from the Restoration Period.
A review was made of earlier aerial photographs from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Data and Maps website (https://dem.ri.gov/onlineservices/ data-maps) as well as photographs from as recently as 1981. In these earlier aerial images, the fort’s ramparts show very little tree and shrub vegetation cover. To repair features and materials from the restoration period, the landscape master plan and the archaeological report recommend removal of the vegetation covering the ramparts and fort abutments.
Per archaeologist recommendations, the invasive vegetation should be carefully removed to both restore and preserve the integrity of the fort’s earthworks. By carefully removing invasive vegetation, further damage to the earthworks/ramparts can be prevented as continued invasion by vegetation root systems into the earth can damage the earthen fortifications. The following page has a 1981 aerial photograph from the Public Archaeology report that shows very little shrub and tree cover. The image below shows vegetation growth on the fortifications taken during the 2022 field analysis completed by Landscape Elements LLC.
This image from a 1981 aerial shows vegetation cover along the fort’s earthworks with a central clear area of the “parade” this is mowed by the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island Department of Public Works.
By removing invasive vegetation, the landscape can be restored to a condition similar to what existed during the Battle of Rhode Island time period. Only herbaceous grasses would be present as a covering on the earthworks, the fortification and the fort’s historic character are thus restored to a condition similar to the 1778 time frame as well as a condition that can be more easily managed and preserved and experienced by visitors. The National Park Service provides guidance on the sustainable management of Military earthworks. The goal of earthworks management is to have a sustainable vegetative cover that is consistent with the historic period of the project, and which requires minimal maintenance or manipulation of the earthworks so that the earthworks remain in good condition and the archaeology of the site is not compromised. (https://www.nps.gov/articles/guidelines.htm)
Additional information is provided from a National Park Service article titled “Selectively Remove Trees and Establish Native Grass Cover with Open Canopy.” One of the challenges in restoring a site from tree canopy (current condition at Butts Hill Fort) to grass cover is the danger of erosion and resource degradation. The NPS article and the Public Archaeology Lab report as well as this treatment plan advise careful removal of the existing tree canopy and vegetation to ensure successful results towards restoration and also keeping the earthworks intact.In the case of Butts Hill Fort, the treatment approach for this master plan recommends careful removal of trees and shrub growth, placement of minimal (3-4” depth) topsoil, placement of biodegradable erosion control netting and then hydroseeding the earthworks. This will restore the fortification to an herbaceous cover of grass and forbes. The visual results will be consistent to what was historically present in 1778 and will be similar to the vegetative cover treatment found at other colonial fortifications such as Fort Griswold in Groton, CT. The image below is a view of Fort Griswold taken from a viewing platform. It shows the restored vegetation cover of grass on the earthworks.
4. Circulation
In evaluating circulation, the landscape restoration master plan focuses on addressing items 2, 3 and 4 of the treatment approaches for restoration.
2. Protect and maintain materials and features from the Restoration Period.
3. Repair features and materials from the Restoration Period.
4. Replace extensively deteriorated features from the Restoration Period.
As part of the site reconnaissance and evaluation of existing conditions, Landscape Elements LLC reviewed site circulation. Vehicular access into the site is limited to the entrance gate towards the northeast side of the fort ramparts at the intersection of Butts Street and Earle Street. This is the only vehicular access into the site, and it is used by Town of Portsmouth public works department to mow the lawn in the parade area. National Park Service guidelines recommend “Protecting and maintaining circulation features from the restoration period by use of non-destructive methods and daily, seasonal and cyclical tasks.” (https://www.nps.gov/crps/tps/landscape-guidelines/restore/circulation.htm). Mowing is done on an as-needed basis and equipment is needed to keep the invasive plant species from encroaching into the parade area. One item of note regarding maintenance of earthworks: For many years, the RI Department of Environmental Management used a team of goats to keep the grass “mown” on top of the earthworks at Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island.
There are several existing walking paths around the perimeter of the fort as well as inside the fort. These paths are noted on the survey plan and on the Existing Conditions and Site Analysis plan completed by Landscape Elements LLC. The many existing pathways along the top of the ramparts are causing erosion in some areas and continued pedestrian use in these areas may begin to degrade the fort’s historic ramparts. The Restoration Treatment Plan recommends controlling access into the site and recommends limiting pathways to areas around the perimeter of the ramparts. Pedestrian traffic would continue to be allowed into the open parade area.
The Restoration Treatment Plan also proposes the construction of viewing platforms like those that have been constructed at other New England colonial fortifications. Per National Park Service guidelines this new work should be placed and constructed to minimize impacts on the physical historic ramparts or earthworks of the fort. This image of Fort Griswold, Groton, CT shows a typical viewing platform.
The selected screenshot of the Proposed Treatment Master Plan shows proposed viewing platforms located at locations that provided logistical views from Butts Hill Fort to surrounding terrain. Historically, these locations would have provided clear views of enemy troop movements or sightings of signals from other colonial forts (Note: A full size plan is provided as a foldout insertion at the end of this report.)
The final three treatment approaches for Restoration address features, structures, furnishings, objects, and special considerations. The analysis of these elements takes all six of the treatment approaches into consideration.
5. Water Features
There are no water features at Butts Hill Fort. There are also no features that could be considered “furnishings”.
6. Structures, Furnishings and Objects
Structures and Objects found during the site analysis include the following:
The concrete post/split rail “fence” around Butts Street, Earle Street and Dyer Street was an early 20th century addition to the surrounding property. Although this “fence/rail” is not from the original Revolutionary War period of significance, the Butts Hill Fort committee would like this feature to remain, and they plan to restore sections as needed.
The image below shows a section of the existing concrete post with split rail “fence” along Fort Street. The committee feels that this element restricts automobile traffic to these roads a limits encroachment onto open green spaces that will be used for passive recreation activities.
There are a number of existing walls around the perimeter of the Butts Hill Fort site. These are not an extant feature of the original farmland that was once present at the site. Observation indicates that they are constructed of shale material similar to what is found in this part of Rhode Island. However, there is no significant algae or lichen growth that is found on similar older stone walls. Thus, accurately dating these walls would require accessing the wall base and carbon dating the material below the base. The walls do help to better define the fort boundary and limit access into the fort via proscribed entrances so they can be repaired where there are signs of damage or deterioration.
7. Special Considerations
The land area surrounding the fort is developed and includes roads, housing, parking lots, the nearby Portsmouth high school, and new utility elements that include a wind turbine, a water tower, and many overhead electrical lines. The restoration master plan recommends maintaining vegetation buffers along the edges of the fort boundaries adjacent to the nearby residential development to provide privacy for residences.
As the existing flagpole is neither historic nor is its location documented as historic, this feature could be removed and relocated.
The Existing Conditions Analysis plan is provided as a half-size foldout map on the following page. The Existing Conditions Analysis plan provides information regarding the analysis of site conditions and the assessment of existing cultural landscape features. A full-size plan is provided at the end of this report. The legend for the plan is provided below showing those site features that were evaluated.
A. Factors Considered in the Proposed Treatment Recommendations
The proposed treatment recommendations for actions to restore the fort to its significant revolutionary war era conditions follow the guidelines of the National Park Service’s Cultural Landscapes Program. Obtaining information about the significance, integrity and condition of a cultural landscape is a critical step towards making appropriate planning decisions regarding proposed treatments.
The Landscape Restoration Master Plan for Butts Hill Fort recommends the following goals as integral to the proposed treatment recommendations.
1. Minimize impacts to archaeological resources and site ecology in the removal of invasive vegetation.
To achieve this, vegetation removal will need to be done in stages. The underlying brush and weeds should be removed carefully and removed to provide ground access to larger trees. Large trees will most likely require a bucket truck to first remove the tree canopy branching before removal of trunks. Root systems of existing vegetation may need to remain in place so as not to disturb the existing earthworks. Herbicides can be applied to the roots so that they die away and do not produce new growth.
We also recommend the maintenance of buffer plantings in areas that abut residential neighborhoods to provide privacy for the residents and to provide screening of 20th century elements when experiencing the fort’s cultural landscape.
2. Provide improved site access to the historic features while limiting potential “unauthorized” uses and access points into the fort.
To achieve this effect, the Proposed Treatment Plan recommends the following:
3. Provide interpretive signage which may be used as an educational resource for the community.
In an effort to provide an historical and educational resource to the town of Portsmouth, RI, the state of Rhode Island, visitors to the fort and other interested historic organizations, the Butts Hill Fort Committee of the Battle of Rhode Island organization will be preparing materials for interpretive signage. Signage locations have been indicated on the Landscape Restoration Master Plan.
4. Provide Scheduled community access and use.
Currently the “parade” area of the fort is used for special events and the Butts Hill Fort Committee looks to continue its outreach efforts with the community to possibly schedule additional “educational” events that instruct visitors about the fort and its significance in the Revolutionary War.
Consideration has been made in identifying compliance with barrier‐free access. The site does have barrier free access from the main entrance gate at the intersection of Butts Street and Earle Street and nearby on‐street parking is available for the handicapped so that they have direct access into the parade area of the fort.
5. Maintain the site using methods that minimally disturb subsurface archaeological resources.
The National Park Service provides guidelines for maintaining cultural landscapes to ensure proper maintenance of the property as well as ensuring minimal disturbance of archaeological resources that may be underground. The earthworks of an historic colonial fortification experience change as a result of both natural processes (rain, wind, hurricanes, etc.) and human activities. There is also the dynamic of change from vegetation growth within the landscape and the need to maintain or limit this growth. Management and maintenance strategies are an important part of the treatment of a cultural landscape. Per the National Park Service:
This dynamic quality of all cultural landscapes is balanced by the continuity of distinctive characteristics retained over time. For, in spite of a landscape’s constant change (or perhaps because of it), a property can still exhibit continuity of form, order, use, features, or materials. Preservation and rehabilitation treatments seek to secure and emphasize continuity while acknowledging change.
~ https://www.nps.gov/crps/tps/landscape-guidelines/factors.htm
B. Landscape Restoration Master Plan – Proposed Treatment Plan
The Landscape Restoration Master Plan is provided as a half-size foldout map on the following page. The plan provides proposed treatments for the landscape restoration of Butts Hill Fort. A full-size plan is provided at the end of this report. The legend for the plan is provided below.
A. Agency Reviews
The implementation of the Landscape Restoration Master Plan for Butts Hill Fort should include a number of reviews at the state and local levels. These reviews include the following agencies:
B. Additional survey and refinement of design details
Implementation of the Landscape Restoration Treatment Plan may also require more detailed topographic information once vegetation has been removed to ascertain the best locations for viewing platforms. This additional topographic information can be utilized to refine the design, size, and location of viewing platforms as well as the best locations for interpretive signs.
C. Grant applications for future funding
Future improvements may also be funded through federal grants. The National Park Service provides a number of grants that may be applicable to the restoration of the Butts Hill Fort site.
D. Phased implementation of restoration work
Proposed phases for implementation of restoration are suggested on sheet 3 of the plan set and shown at half-size on the following page. This sequence however will be affected by funds and discoveries that are made during removal of vegetation.
E. LEED and SITES criteria as they apply to Cultural Landscapes
A number of the proposed treatment approaches for the restoration of the Butts Hill Fort site also meet some LEED ( Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) and Sustainable Sites ™ guidelines through the following recommendations.
Many of the Goals from the Sustainable SITES V2 rating systems are applicable to the restoration of the cultural landscape at Butts Hill Fort. These are shown below.
Image 1 : Photograph of dedication marker at entrance to Butts Hill Fort by Elena M. Pascarella, RLA, Spring 2022.
Image 2: A-5 map image from Technical Memorandum: Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment, August 2022 by Public Archaeology Lab (PAL).
Image 3: A-2 map image from Technical Memorandum: Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment, August 2022 by Public Archaeology Lab (PAL).
Image 4: This image shows the extent of vegetation growth on the fort abutments as of 2022. Photograph by Elena M. Pascarella, RLA – Landscape Elements LLC.
Image 5: C-5 map image from Technical Memorandum: Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment, August 2022 by Public Archaeology Lab (PAL).
Image 6: View of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton, Connecticut. Image courtesy of Joe Ruggieri, Photography, Stonington, CT.
Image 7: View of Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton, Connecticut showing viewing platform. Image courtesy of Joe Ruggieri, Photography, Stonington, CT.
Image 8: Screenshot of section of Proposed Treatment Plan for Butts Hill Fort, by Landscape Elements LLC, May 2023.
Image 9: Image of concrete post and split rail “fence” near entrance to Butts Hill Fort, photograph by Elena M. Pascarella, RLA, Landscape Elements LLC, June 2022.
Image 10: Image of existing stone walls along southern property line at Butts Hill Fort, photograph by Alan Ahlstrom , RLA, Landscape Elements LLC, May 2023.
Image 11: Page 13, “The Goals for SITES V2” from SITES v2 Rating System, For Sustainable Land Design and Development, US Green Building Council ( https://www.usgbc.org/resources/sitesrating-system-and-scorecard)
Abbass, D. K., 2007: Rhode Island in the Revolution, 4 vols., 2nd edition. Newport, Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project.
Andropogon Associates. 1989. Earthworks Landscape Management Manual. USDI Nat. Park Serv., Park Historic Architecture Div., Washington, DC. 135pp.
Brockway, Lucinda A., n.d.: Cultural Landscape Assessment: The Bloody Run Links at Carnegie Abbey Golf Club, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Kennebunk, ME, Past Designs.
National Park Service, Earthworks Management https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-topreserve/ currents/earthworks/decision_tool.htm accessed August 2022
National Park Service, Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States. September 2007.
National Park Service, Currents: Sustainable Military Earthworks Management, accessed August 2022.
National Park Service, In association with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, 1998, Guide to Sustainable Earthworks Management, 90% Draft.
Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project In Partnership with Newport Collaborative Architects, 2009 RIMAP, Planning, Preservation and Management Plan for Butts Hill Fort, Portsmouth, RI
Waller, Joseph N. Jr., August 2022: Technical Memorandum, Butts Hill Fort Restoration Master Plan: Archaeological Reconnaissance and Assessment, Public Archaeology Lab (PAL).
We would like to acknowledge the work and assistance of the Butts Hill Fort Committee which is a sub-group of the Battle of Rhode Island organization.
Landscape Elements LLC acknowledges the following:
The work and collaborative efforts of Mr. Jay Waller, Archaeologist, Public Archaeology Lab. (PAL)
Landscape Elements LLC appreciates the opportunity to assist in the preservation of this significant cultural landscape.
The team of Landscape Elements LLC included Elena M. Pascarella, RLA, ASLA, Alan Ahlstrom, RLA, Hongli Song, Intern, Omar Gamee, Intern.
The Landscape Restoration Master Plan drawings include the following sheets which are folded into sleeves in this appendix.
LA1.0 – Existing Conditions Analysis
LA2.0 – Restoration Plan Proposed Treatments
LA3.0 – Phased Implementation
