The BoRIA Post
The official newsletter of the Battle of Rhode Island Association featuring news, events and Rhode Island history. Learn more at www.battleofrhodeisland.org.
Jim Stearns, Editor
August 3rd, 2026
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The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee (BHFRC) of the Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) will hold a wreath-laying ceremony with a musket salute on the 248th anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island on Saturday, August 29th at 6:30 PM at Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth. We take this moment to remember and reflect on the events of that day in 1778. The event is free and the public is invited, parking will be available at the Wealth Management lot on the top of Dyer Street off Sprague Street and the Portsmouth High School tennis courts.
The battle was tactically inconclusive, with both sides suffering significant casualties, but it ultimately ended with the British maintaining control of Aquidneck Island. Most historians call it a “stalemate.” Butts Hill Fort was the headquarters of patriot forces under the command of Major General John Sullivan of New Hampshire.
Casualties (approximate): American – 30 killed, 137 wounded, and 44 missing.
British, German and Loyalists – 38 killed, 210 wounded, and 12 missing.
If you’re a reenactor and would like to participate please contact Jim Stearns, Director of Public Relations. publicrelations@
Unlocking the Hidden History of Butts Hill Fort
BoRIA is pleased to report that two consecutive summer field seasons (2024/2025) at Butts Hill Fort are revealing remarkable new insights into one of Rhode Island’s most significant Revolutionary War sites. Designated a National Historic Landmark, Butts Hill Fort served as the principal American defensive position during the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island and remains one of the best-preserved Revolutionary War earthworks in New England.
Originally constructed by British forces during their occupation of Aquidneck Island from 1776 to 1779, the fort was greatly expanded in 1780–1781 by French military engineers under Rochambeau following the arrival of French forces in Newport. Approximately 80% of the fortification survives today, making it an extraordinarily important survivor of the Revolutionary War military landscape in Rhode Island.
Led by Dr. Alexandra Uhl and Dr. Hugo Reyes-Centeno, teams of graduate and undergraduate students have employed cutting-edge, non-invasive technologies—including LiDAR and ground-penetrating radar—to explore what lies beneath the surface without disturbing this nationally significant historic landscape. These surveys are helping identify the probable locations of British barracks, defensive features, and other remnants of the British and later French efforts while preserving the archaeological integrity of the fort for future generations.
This fieldwork builds upon the extensive historical research commissioned by BoRIA and conducted by two nationally recognized experts: Dr. Robert A. Selig, the leading authority on Rochambeau, and Dr. John Robertson, former West Point faculty member and a respected expert on Revolutionary War military fortifications. By combining documentary research with advanced archaeological technology, BoRIA is developing the most comprehensive understanding of Butts Hill Fort since the Association began its restoration and research efforts in 2021.
The knowledge gained through this work will strengthen future interpretation, educational programming, archaeological planning, and restoration of this extraordinary Revolutionary War landmark. BoRIA is deeply grateful to the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, whose generous support has made this archaeological research possible.
To learn more about the Butts Hill Fort archaeological project click here.
Annual Colonel Burt Quist Memorial Lecture
BoRIA partnered with the Portsmouth Historical Society on Thursday, July 16, for the Quist Memorial Lecture, featuring noted author and historian Christian McBurney. His talk, “Causes of the American Revolution: Why did the thirteen colonies declare their independence 250 years ago?”, offered guests a compelling look at the ideas and events that led to independence.
Click here for video.
1776: Loyalty or Liberty? American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit at Portsmouth Historical Society
How were the lives of ordinary people affected by the events of the American Revolutionary War?
From an award-winning website to an in-demand pop-up exhibition, the “American Revolution Experience”, a collaborative project of the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution is beginning a new phase in its quest to connect modern audiences with the fascinating story of our nation’s origin. The American Revolution Experience will travel to scores of libraries, historical societies and museums through 2027, introducing visitors to a cast of historical characters with diverse experiences throughout the conflict and the places they visited on their journey.
This innovative exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
Free and open to the public, at the Portsmouth Historical Society Friday, 870 East Main Rd, Portsmouth, August 21st through Sunday August 30th.
Saturday Aug. 22nd, 11 AM – 5 PM, Theme – Genealogy. U.S. Park Rangers present a FREE Genealogy Workshop – 1 PM
Portsmouth Community Theater performance “Voices from Butts Hill”. Readings from Revolutionary War diaries. – 3 PM
Sunday Aug. 23rd, 11 AM- 5 PM, Theme – Historical reenacting and material culture
Dirty Blue Shirts – 1PM – Living history demonstration of women and their wardrobes
Susan J. Jerome – 3PM – URI collections manager, historic textiles and costumes collection.
Wednesday Aug. 26th, 5 PM – 8 PM, Theme – Crafting Victory – A focus on Nathanael Greene
Speaker – Author Janet Uhlar – General Nathanael Greene 5:30-6:00
Intermission reception/refreshments 30 minutes 6:15- 6:45
Speaker- Ambassador George Krol – General Thaddeus Kosciuszko 6:45-7:15
Thursday Aug. 27th, 10 AM – 2 PM – Traveling Exhibit open to public
Friday Aug 28th, 10 AM – 2 PM – Traveling Exhibit open to public
Saturday Aug. 29th, 11 AM- 5 PM, Theme – Family Day
Ladies of the Greene- 18th-century reenactors, colonial life demonstrations, stories in the Schoolhouse and more.
Sunday Aug. 30th, 11 AM – 5 PM, “Forgotten Patriots”, With freedom, liberty, and equality at stake, people of African descent made significant and often unrecognized contributions to the American fight for Independence. Speaker: Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, Director, Center for Black History, Newport – 1 PM Members of the Navy Choristers, small selection of Patriotic songs – 3 PM
BoRIA Receives RI Legislative Grant
BoRIA has received a $2,000 Rhode Island legislative grant from State Representatives Terri Cortvriend and Michelle McGaw to support public outreach and education across the state.
Terri Cortvriend represents House District 72, covering Middletown and Portsmouth, while Michelle McGaw represents House District 71, which includes Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Little Compton. Both representatives have generously sponsored similar grants for BoRIA in previous years, continuing their strong support for the organization’s educational mission.
BoRIA plans to use these funds to expand community programs, develop new educational materials, and engage more Rhode Islanders in learning about the state’s role in the Revolutionary War.
BoRIA Awarded Civic Engagement Grant from the Town of Portsmouth
The Town of Portsmouth has awarded BoRIA a $2,040 civic engagement grant to support restoration work at Butts Hill Fort. This marks the fifth consecutive year that BoRIA has received grant funding from the town for this ongoing preservation effort.
BoRIA Education Outreach
BoRIA’s education outreach team has been busy this year creating new ways to support teachers as they bring Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War story into their classrooms. We’ve focused especially on 4th grade, where the state’s Social Studies Standards now ask students to learn more about Rhode Island during the Revolution.
Very few materials are written with 4th graders in mind, so we’ve developed a set of easy-to-use Resource Sheets to help teachers tackle some big questions, including:
- What privateers were and how they helped establish the early Navy
- What life was like under the British occupation of Newport and how it affected the town’s economy
- Where the Battle of Rhode Island took place, what happened there, and why it matters
- The many roles Rhode Island women played during the American Revolution
- How the 1st Rhode Island Regiment was formed and recruited—including enslaved Black and free Black and Indigenous men—and why these men chose to serve, from the promise of freedom to belief in Revolutionary ideals.
Drawing on research sponsored by the BoRIA, we’ve shaped these sheets to match the curriculum while staying accessible and engaging for younger students. Thanks to a grant from the RI250 Commission, we’ve been able to print the Resource Sheets and assemble packets for all East Bay 4th grade teachers.
These packets will arrive in schools before the new year begins, so teachers can work them into their lesson plans from day one. The Resource Sheets will also be available to download as PDFs on our teacher website, teachingrevolutionaryrhody.
We can come to school districts and work with teachers to introduce these materials and how they can use them with their classes. If you’d like to schedule a session, please contact Gloria Schmidt at schmidtgh@
Gloria Schmidt – Historical Advisor for BoRIA
Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Induction held at Butts Hill Fort
On Sunday, July 19th, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame inducted four people associated with Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War history. The 19th is a also a special date as that is when Rhode Island officially ratified the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The four inductees were:
• Major General John Sullivan – Overall commander during the Rhode Island Campaign of 1778. Sullivan made his headquarters at Butts Hill Fort.
• Lt. Colonel Samuel Ward – Commander of the Black Regiment.
• Rev. Dr. Roderick Terry – Noted Philanthropist, past President of the Newport Historical Society and savior of Butts Hill Fort .
• Rev. Henry Wight – Revolutionary War veteran, Congregational Church leader, prominent Bristol civic leader who started the Bristol 4th of July celebration which began in 1785.
Lawrence Reed, Hall of Fame President, conducted the ceremony. Information on each of the inductees was presented to explain why each person was selected. Richard Schmidt, BORIA Treasurer and Gloria Schmidt, BORIA Historical Advisor, accepted miniature statues of the Rhode Island Independent Man in recognition of three of the inductees. The Artillery Company of Newport was there with their Paul Revere-made cannons to close the ceremony.
August 21st: 10 AM-2 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit Opening, Portsmouth Historical Society
August 22nd: 11 AM-5 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit, Genealogy Workshop – 1 PM, Voices From Butts Hill 3PM, Portsmouth Historical Society
August 22nd: 2 PM – 4 PM – 1778 Siege of Newport Remembered, Witherbee School, corner of Valley Road & Green End Ave, Middletown
August 23rd: 11 AM-5 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit, 1 PM Dirty Blue Shirts (Historical reenacting and material Culture) 3 PM Lecture: 18th Century Textiles, Susan Jerome URI, Portsmouth Historical Society
August 26th: 5 PM – 8 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit, Lectures, Ambassador George Krol & Author Janet Uhlar, Portsmouth Historical Society
August 29th: 10 AM-4 PM – 18th Century Living History Encampment with 1st RI Regiment, Varnum House Museum, East Greenwich
August 29th: 11 AM-5 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit, Family Day-Ladies of the Greene, Colonial Life
August 29th: 6:30 PM, Sunset Salute Commemorating the Battle of Rhode Island, Butts Hill Fort, Portsmouth
August 30th: 10 AM-4 PM – 18th Century Living History Encampment with 1st RI Regiment, Varnum House Museum, East Greenwich
August 30th: 11 AM-5 PM – The American Revolution Traveling Exhibit, 1 PM Lecture Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, Navy Choristers, Portsmouth Historical Society
August 30th: 3 PM – NAACP’s Annual Ceremony Honoring the 1st RI Regiment, Patriots Park, Portsmouth
By Norman Desmarais
The Comte d’Estaing commanded the French fleet and army during the Rhode Island Campaign in August 1778. But the French officers discussed in this article served in the Continental Army and not the French army during the Revolutionary War.
Comte Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector d’Estaing (1729–1794) held positions as admiral in the French navy and major general in the French army. Five weeks after King Louis XVI signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, in February 1778, whereby France sided with the Americans in their war of independence, the admiral left France with 12 ships of the line (equivalent to today’s battleships), 3 frigates and a number of transports, all bringing some 4,000 French soldiers to America. By the end of July, the powerful French fleet had made its way to Narragansett Bay, where d’Estaing planned to cooperate with an American army under the command of Major General John Sullivan to capture Newport, as well as the rest of Aquidneck Island, from a British occupying force.
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Did You Know?
Loyalists in Rhode Island During the Revolutionary War
Loyalists were American colonists who remained faithful to Great Britain and King George III during the Revolutionary War. In Rhode Island—especially on Aquidneck Island and in Newport—Loyalists were part of everyday wartime life. Their story reminds us that the Revolution here was not simply a war between Americans and the British; it was also a conflict that divided neighbors, friends, and even families.
Loyalists Were Called “Tories”
- Patriots often referred to Loyalists as “Tories,” while Loyalists called Patriots “rebels.” Those labels reflected the deep political divide of the time, as each side believed it was defending the legitimate government and the best future for the colonies.
Rhode Island Families Could Be Divided
- On Aquidneck Island, loyalties were often split within neighborhoods—and sometimes within the same family. The Revolutionary War was not simply army against army; it could also be neighbor against neighbor, with personal relationships strained by political convictions.
Newport Had Strong Loyalist Support
- Newport had stronger Loyalist support than many Rhode Island communities because of its close commercial ties to Great Britain. Many merchants believed British rule offered the best chance to restore trade and economic stability. During the British occupation, 444 Newport residents signed an address declaring their “Loyal and Dutiful Allegiance” to King George III—one of the clearest demonstrations of Loyalist sentiment in Revolutionary Rhode Island.
The British Occupation Protected Loyalists
- British and German forces landed on Aquidneck Island in December 1776 and established a nearly three-year occupation. For many local Loyalists, British control offered protection and opportunity. As the occupation dragged on, however, shortages of food, fuel, and other necessities made life increasingly difficult for nearly everyone on the island.
Loyalists Came From Many Walks of Life
- Some prominent Loyalists, such as Martin Howard Jr., were wealthy and politically influential, but Loyalism was not limited to the upper class. Many remained loyal because of family traditions, religious beliefs, business interests, fear of political instability, or a sincere belief that the colonies should remain part of the British Empire.
Loyalists Fought During the Rhode Island Campaign
- Loyalists fought alongside British regulars and German auxiliaries during the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. Rather than serving in a single Rhode Island Loyalist regiment, they were attached to various provincial units within the British garrison. Because military records rarely distinguish Rhode Island Loyalists from other provincial troops, historians cannot determine exactly how many fought in the campaign.
Exact Loyalist Numbers Are Difficult to Determine
- Historians generally estimate that 15 to 20 percent of Americans remained committed Loyalists, while a similar percentage actively supported the Patriot cause. Many others attempted to remain neutral or simply survive the hardships of war.
Rhode Island Was Small but Deeply Divided
- On the eve of the Revolution, Rhode Island’s population was approximately 60,000 people, making it one of the least populous colonies. In a colony that small, even a relatively modest Loyalist population could have a significant influence on politics, military occupation, and daily life.
Loyalty Was Often Complicated
- Not every Loyalist fit a simple stereotype. Mary Gould Almy of Newport remained loyal to the Crown even though her husband supported the Patriot cause, illustrating how political loyalties could divide even a single household. Other Rhode Islanders likely adjusted their public behavior as war, occupation, shortages, and uncertainty changed everyday life.
Loyalists Are Part of the Butts Hill Fort Story
- One revealing episode recorded by British officer Frederick MacKenzie occurred in September 1777, when General Sir Robert Pigot ordered Portsmouth residents to report to Windmill Hill—today‘s Butts Hill Fort—to help construct additional fortifications. MacKenzie noted that only 17 residents appeared. Many others, particularly Quakers, declined because their religious beliefs prohibited participation in military affairs. The incident illustrates how reluctant, divided, and politically cautious many local residents remained during the occupation.
Many Loyalists Never Returned
- When the British evacuated Newport in October 1779, many Rhode Island Loyalists departed with them. Some eventually settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, England, or elsewhere in the British Empire. Those who remained often faced confiscation of property, social isolation, or continued suspicion from their Patriot neighbors.
The story of Rhode Island’s Loyalists reminds us that the American Revolution was more than a struggle for independence—it was also a deeply personal conflict that divided communities and families.
Joe Studlick
