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Learn about the Revolutionary War in Rhode Island, including the Siege of Newport, the Battle of Rhode Island and Butts Hill Fort.

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.

Turkey Hill

At 8 AM the British forces under the command of Von Der Malsburg chased Col. John Laurens and his American troops. There were skirmishes up West (Main) Road as the two sides made contact.

Tour of Battle of Rhode Island Sites in Portsmouth, RI

Guides to Battle of Rhode Island Sites in Portsmouth, RI.

Frank Quagan - Soldiers in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment-Photo Varnum Armory Museum

Timeline of the Service and Formation of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment

Explore our new timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Rev. Dr. roderick Terry drone footage picture

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 6

Part 6 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 5

Part 5 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 4

Part 4 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 3

Part 3 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 2

Part 2 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Timeline of the Formation and Service of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment – Part 1

Part 1 of a timeline covering the formation and service of the racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolution by historian Robert Geake.

Unlocking the Hidden History of Butts Hill Fort

Outline of Butts Hill Fort and location of Col. Greene’s men at Camp Butts Hill. Berthier Map (1780-81).

Preparing for a Visit of Rochambeau to Butt’s Hill

In a letter dated August 2, 1780, from Newport, Lafayette wrote to American General William Heath about how to prepare for Rochambeau’s visit.

French Engineers at Butts Hill Fort

Dr. Robert A. Selig’s new report highlights French archival sources that deepen our understanding of Butts Hill Fort.

Fort Building: Fascines and Gabions

Fascines and Gabions were the building blocks of Revolutionary War fort construction.

Digging in: Information from Robert Selig’s work on the French at Butts Hill

BoRIA sponsored valuable research on the construction of Butts Hill Fort by Robert Selig and John K. Robertson.

Position of the French Army at Butts Hill Fort, Newport, Library of Congress

Butts Hill Fort: A History

The Americans called this area “Butts Hill” after the John Butts family that held the land when the war began.

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.

2024 in Review: Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee Completes “Extreme Makeover”

For 2024, The BHFRC set the goal of clearing, improving and stabilizing the entire multi-acre southern hemisphere of Butts Hill Fort.

“Bombs Bursting In Air”: Dedication of Butts Hill Fort, August 29, 1923

2000 attend dedication of Butts Hill Fort in August of 1923.

Tour of Battle of Rhode Island Sites in Portsmouth, RI

Guides to Battle of Rhode Island Sites in Portsmouth, RI.

The Gaspee

The Battle of Rhode Island – The Gaspee

Statue of Rochambeau in Newport, Rhode Island

Rochambeau Statue – Newport Harbor

King’s Park on Newport Harbor is the present location of a statute to General Rochambeau. The statue remains a symbol of the assistance that France rendered to the American colonies during the War for Independence.

Plaque for Fort George on Goat Island, explaining the attack on the St. John in 1764

Protest Events

By 1750 Newport, Rhode Island was the fifth largest city in the British North American colonies, and the third busiest port.

Edward Field's Map of Rhode Island Defenses at Fort Liberty

Militia Fortifications on Rhode Island

At the beginning of the War for Independence, Rhode Island’s active military force consisted of companies of “Train Bands” and independent militias.

Newport, Rhode Island, showing Fort George on Goat Island at the bottom of the map. Charles Blaskowitz, 1777 (Library of Congress)

Maritime Skirmishes in Narragansett Bay, 1763-1769

Hundreds of ships carrying both raw materials from the colonies and manufactured products from England traveled Narragansett Bay annually.

Introduction

In the wake of the Sugar Act of 1764, violence broke out when colonists took over Fort George on Goat Island in Newport harbor.

Captain Wallace Attacks Prudence Island

Revolutionary Rhode Island Share this Page Blog Post by Gloria Schmidt Gravestones are reminders of Revolutionary War Activities on Prudence Island Last Saturday I was part of a delegation from

BoRIA’s Educational Outreach and Resources

The Battle of Rhode Island Association received funding through the Rhode Island 250 Commission to provide those resources

Introduction to Occupation

The British had ample reason to invade and occupy Aquidneck Island (called Rhode Island at that time). Newport had a fine harbor from which the British fleet could raid up and down the coast…

Reenactment Actors march alongside a British Officer

Newport

Newport was the fifth largest city in the colonies with a population of about 9500 and the third busiest port.

Occupation of Middletown: Patriot Raid Captures British General Prescott

A band of American soldiers led by Lt. Col. William Barton, conducted a daring raid which led to the capture of General Prescott.

Portsmouth

The Portsmouth landscape was beautiful before the Occupation. British officer Frederick Mackenzie was quartered there, and his December 16th, 1776 journal entry described the beauty of the local area, even in winter…

Banister's and Dudley's Redoubts, Fage map of Newport in 1778

The Mackenzie Diaries

Frederick Mackenzie’s Diary is a valuable source for information on the British Occupation of Rhode Island (Aquidneck Island). He began writing his diary in 1748…

1st Rhode Island orderly book, August 10, 1778

Portsmouth, RI – August 10,1778

The Orderly Book for the 1st RI Regiment gives us an idea of what was happening at Butts Hill as the Americans set up camp.

Learn: The Siege of Newport

When the American troops crossed over to Aquidneck Island in August of 1778, they were hoping to trap the British forces that had control of Aquidneck Island for almost two years. The hope for this “The Rhode Island Campaign” effort with our new French ally was to wedge the British garrison in Newport between the French fleet coming from the west and the American soldiers coming from Tiverton in the east to the northern part of the island and then marching south towards Newport. The goal of the Siege of Newport was to force the surrender of the British troops.

LEARN

Learn about the Revolutionary War in Rhode Island, including the Siege of Newport, the Battle of Rhode Island and Butts Hill Fort.

Come Join the Revolution!