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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.

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.

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…

The Gaspee Affair: A Rhode Island Perspective on Its 250th Anniversary

“In a certain sense, the War for Independence began at sea when patriots clashed with the British on Narragansett Bay some two years before the momentous engagements at Lexington and Concord…”

The Burning of the Gaspee by Charles DeWolf Brownell

The Conspiracy to Destroy the Gaspee

With but few exceptions, it has usually been surmised by historians that the 1772 attack on the Royal Navy schooner Gaspee was a spontaneous response to the accidental grounding of the King’s vessel…

Disposition of British French and American Forces Aquidneck Island French Map August 1778 (Library of Congress)

The Aftermath of the Battle

A diary entry by Israel Angell gives us a glimpse of the aftermath of the Battle of Rhode Island.

Summary of troop movements august 29th-30th 1778

Action in the Battle of Rhode Island took place along what we call East and West Main Roads. It was the East Road and West Road to them. Sometimes there were two or more actions going on at approximately the same time.

Skirmish at West Main Road and Union Street

The first skirmish in the Battle of Rhode Island was around 7AM on August, 29, 1778.

Skirmish at East Main Road and Union Street

Early the morning of August, 29, 1778, British General Pigot sent General Smith up the East (Main) Road toward Quaker Hill.

The "Surrender of Cornwallis" by John Trumball, U.S. Capital

Significant People

Some of those young soldiers who fought in the Battle of Rhode Island or participated in the Siege of Newport went on to brilliant careers.

Fort Building: Fascines and Gabions

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

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.

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

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

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

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…

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.

Introduction

The plan was simple in concept. The Americans would assemble a militia to cross from the mainland to the north end of Rhode Island.

"Surrender of General Burgoyne," by John Trumbull, 1821. At center is General Horatio Gates refusing to take General John Burgoyne's sword after the Battle of Saratoga. Many British and Hessian prisoners taken at this battle ended up being held in Rutland, Massachusetts. (Architect of the Capitol)

Emergence of The French Alliance: The Beginning and Final Phases

It’s widely acknowledged that the military alliance between the United States and France was responsible for the end of the Revolutionary War.

Current view from Tiverton Redoubt, later renamed Fort Barton (Photo by G. Schmidt)

Americans Gather at Tiverton

The Tiverton redoubt was the gathering place for the troops who would go to Rhode Island in hopes of ending the British Occupation.

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.

The Gaspee Affair: A Rhode Island Perspective on Its 250th Anniversary

“In a certain sense, the War for Independence began at sea when patriots clashed with the British on Narragansett Bay some two years before the momentous engagements at Lexington and Concord…”

Burning of the Gaspee Magic Lantern Slide

The Conspiracy to Destroy the Gaspee

The Aftermath of the Battle

A diary entry by Israel Angell gives us a glimpse of the aftermath of the Battle of Rhode Island.

Skirmish Timelines & Maps

Skirmish at West Main Road and Union Street

The first skirmish in the Battle of Rhode Island was around 7AM on August, 29, 1778.

Skirmish at East Main Road and Union Street

Early the morning of August, 29, 1778, British General Pigot sent General Smith up the East (Main) Road toward Quaker Hill.

Significant People

Some of those young soldiers who fought in the Battle of Rhode Island or participated in the Siege of Newport went on to brilliant careers.

Quaker Hill

After a skirmish with Wade’s American forces, British General Smith and the 43rd Regiment pushed up Middle Road while the 22nd Regiment proceeded up East Main Road.

Patriot’s Retreat to Tiverton

Sullivan justifies the retreat:

“Lord Howe and his fleet were approaching…”

General Washington in Newport. New Materials for the History of the American Revolution by J. Durant. Henry Holt, New York, 1889.

Departure

On March 6, 1781, General Washington visited Count de Rochambeau to consult with him concerning the operation of the troops under his command.

Plan de Rhodes-Island, et position de l'armée françoise a Newport. [1780] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress

Arrival

Their journey was started on February 2, 1780, when King Louis XVI approved a plan, code-named the expédition particulière.

Rochambeau reviewing French Troops in America

An Introduction

On July 29, 1778 a French squadron sailed into Narragansett Bay. It created a military alliance between the United States and France.

LEARN

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

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