News Articles
Summer Reflections: Revolutionary History Comes To Our Community
As summer draws to a close and the first hints of autumn arrive, we look back with gratitude on a memorable final two weeks of August.
BoRIA’s Educational Outreach and Resources
The Battle of Rhode Island Association received funding through the Rhode Island 250 Commission to provide those resources
Sunset Salute Commemorates 248th Anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island
The BHFRC hosted their third annual Sunset Salute to commemorate the 248th anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island.
August 2026 Newsletter
The August 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our new documentary, brochure, news and upcoming events.
New BoRIA Brochure Highlights Rhode Islanders Who Helped Shape the Revolution
The BoRIA’s newest publication, Key Rhode Islanders in the American Revolution: The Leaders, Soldiers & Patriots Who Shaped America, is now available.
Now Available: 1778: Battle of Rhode Island — Rhode Island’s Revolutionary Story Comes to Life
1778: Battle of Rhode Island is an 18-minute documentary that brings Rhode Island’s Revolutionary War story to life.
BoRIA Receives RI Legislative Grant & Civic Engagement Grant
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.
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.
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.
July 2026 Newsletter
The July 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our new Butts Hill Fort digital collection, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
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.
The RI250 Quest Celebrates Our 250th Around the State
Through a variety of historian-written and recorded videos, these self-guided walking and driving tours have enlivened the exploration from town to town, with teams competing for points and prizes along the way.
The Hill’s Story
“The Hill’s Story” was written especially for fourth grade students by Gloria Schmidt, Battle of Rhode Island Association historian and outreach coordinator.
Bristol’s Fourth of July Celebration: A Tradition Since 1785
The Bristol Fourth of July Celebration traces its roots to 1785, just two years after the end of the Revolutionary War.
June 2026 Newsletter
The June 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our new Butts Hill Fort research, the latest in our lecture series, news and upcoming events.
French Archives Shed New Light on Butts Hill Fort
BoRIA has completed an important new research project that has uncovered some of the most significant primary-source evidence yet identified concerning Butts Hill Fort.
May 2026 Newsletter
The May 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring the latest on our Re-Take the Hill Campaign, outreach efforts, news and upcoming events.
April 2026 Newsletter
The April 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring the latest on Butts Hill Fort, our new lecture video, news and upcoming events.
John Trumbull Under Fire at the Battle of Rhode Island
John Trumbull of Connecticut today is rightfully famous as a painter of Revolutionary War scenes.
Why Captain Wallace Failed to Prevent the Revolutionary War
From December 1774 to March 1776, Captain James Wallace of the British Navy patrolled Narragansett Bay.
March 2026 Newsletter
The March 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our new board game, latest shared article, news and upcoming events.
February 2026 Newsletter
The January 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our annual review, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
BHFRC Receives 2026 Preserving America Grant from Americana Corner
We’re proud to announce that we’ve been selected as a 2026 @AmericanaCorner Preserving America Grant recipient!
January 2026 Newsletter
The January 2026 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our annual review, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
December 2025 Newsletter
The December 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest articles, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
Portsmouth sewing shop owner teaching RI history one stitch at a time
Conceived by artist Stefan Romero, the tapestry’s panels are each hand-embroidered by volunteers and artisans alike, with an emphasis on lesser-known events of the American Revolution, highlighting women and minority involvement.
‘Small State, Big History’ Tells Intriguing Stories
McBurney and an assortment of writers and historians are adding important details to our knowledge of Rhode Island history while telling charming stories about little known people and resurrecting interest in significant historical footnotes.
November 2025 Newsletter
The November 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our lecture series videos, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
October 2025 Newsletter
The October 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest shared article, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
September 2025 Newsletter
The September 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
Rhode Island State Government’s Historical Lethargy
Historian Laureate Emeritus Patrick T. Conley urges state leaders to champion Butts Hill Fort and the Battle of Rhode Island as we approach America’s 250th
August 2025 Newsletter
The August 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
Longtime Friends
Marking 325 years, Quaker meeting house in Portsmouth is RI’s oldest active church
July 2025 Newsletter
The July 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, grant updates, news and upcoming events.
June 2025 Newsletter
The June 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, staff updates, news and upcoming events.
May 2025 Newsletter
The May 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, news and upcoming events.
Butts Hill Fort Leads Off Portsmouth 250th Celebrations
Butts Hill Fort came to life on the first weekend in May 2025 as we collaborated with the Brigade of the American Revolution (BAR) to bring together reenactment regiments from six states to form an authentic living history encampment.
April 2025 Newsletter
The April 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our latest original article, news and upcoming events.
March 2025 Newsletter
The March 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring our 401Gives campaign, news and upcoming events.
Historic Lafayette House in Tiverton Demolished
In a shocking turn of events, the historic Abraham Brown House, also known as the Lafayette House, was demolished on December 18, 2024, in Tiverton, RI.
February 2025 Newsletter
The February 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring grant updates, news and upcoming events.
January 2025 Newsletter
The January 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring the 2024 annual report, news and upcoming events.
December 2024 Newsletter
The December 2025 edition of “The BoRIA Post” featuring a review of 2024’s efforts at Butts Hill Fort, WARO trail signs in RI and new articles.
Butts Hill Fort Awarded $500 from Student at Hathaway Elementary School in Portsmouth, RI.
On Monday, December 16th, members of the Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee (BHFRC) and the Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) were on hand at Hathaway Elementary school in Portsmouth for a special check presentation.
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Signs Installed throughout Rhode Island
A request from the Battle of Rhode Island Association in the fall of 2022 to replace 5 old W3R-US (W3R) signs in Portsmouth became a 2-year effort by the RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to replace all these signs in RI.
Historic Tiverton farmhouse falls to the wrecking ball
Historic Lafayette House, which housed French general during American Revolution, demolished without warning, preservationists say
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.
November 2024 Newsletter
The November 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
BoRIA Secures $71,749 Grant from van Beuren Charitable Foundation for Continued Archaeology at Butts Hill Fort
The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) has been awarded a $71,749 grant from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) to support Phase 2 of archaeological work at Butts Hill Fort. This project, scheduled for 2025, will be led by Dr. Alexandra Uhl of Stonehill College along with her students.
October 2024 Newsletter
The October 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Volunteers Needed For Butts Hill Fort Cleanup on October 27th!
Portsmouth, RI. The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee (BHFRC) is inviting volunteers to our Fall cleanup on Sunday, Oct 27th.
September 2024 Newsletter
The September 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Take the Newport Black History Walking Tour from our partner RISHM!
Newport Black History Walking Tours is a unique walk-through-history experience that has been made possible by RI Slave History Medallions.
August 2024 Newsletter
The August 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
July 2024 Newsletter
The July 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Archaeological Field School at Butts Hill Fort
Students from Salve Regina University, Stonehill College, and the University of Kentucky will be heading to Butts Hill Fort for a five-week Archaeological Field School beginning on May 28th.
June 2024 Newsletter
The June 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Butts Hill Fort Receives RI Legislative Grant and Civic Engagement Grant from Town of Portsmouth
Representatives Teri Cortvriend and Michelle McGaw stopped by Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth and presented a check for $2000.
Battle of Rhode Island Association and Van Beuren Foundation Sponsors Archaeology Field School
Students from Salve Regina University, Stonehill College, and the University of Kentucky will be heading to Butts Hill Fort for a five-week Archaeological Field School.
May 2024 Newsletter
The May 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Battle of Rhode Island Association Sponsors Portsmouth High School’s AP History Class Tour of Battle of Rhode Island Sites
On May 21st, BoRIA and the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati sponsored a field trip for 40 students from Portsmouth High School’s Advanced Placement American history classes.
Historic Rhode Island Battle Flag Legislation Signed into Law
The Varnum Armory Museum and National Museum of the US Army join forces to conserve and display Rhode Island’s historic Revolutionary War battle flags.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Awarded $150,000 Grant from RI Commerce
RI Commerce recently announced their grant recipients of federal funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
April 2024 Newsletter
The April 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
March 2024 Newsletter
The March 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
The Black Majority Regiment of the American Revolution Needs You Now!
Algernon Ward points to the image of himself in Don Troiani’s “Brave Men as Ever Fought.”
February 2024 Newsletter
The February 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Release of 5th Commemorative Coin
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Release of 5th Commemorative Coin
Battle of Rhode Island Association Receives Grants from the RI Sons of the Revolution & RI State Legislature
Battle of Rhode Island Association Receives Grants from the RI Sons of the Revolution & RI State Legislature
January 2024 Newsletter
The January 2024 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announce Web Partnership with Rhode Island Slave History Medallions
Recently the Battle of Rhode Island Association finalized a web partnership with the Rhode Island Slave History Medallions.
December 2023 Newsletter
The December 2023 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Battle of Rhode Island Association Receives Grants and Donations
The Battle of Rhode Island Association recently received notice that we were awarded two grants from the Society of Cincinnati.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Release of 4th Commemorative Coin
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Release of 4th Commemorative Coin
November 2023 Newsletter
The November 2023 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee and the Bristol Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
BHFRC Chair Col. Paul Murphy (USAF Ret,) spoke to the Bristol Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Battle of Rhode Island Association’s Editorial Board Member Dr. Robert Selig Receives La Médaille d’Or des Valeurs Francophones
Battle of Rhode Island Association’s Editorial Board Member Dr. Robert Selig Receives La Médaille d’Or des Valeurs Francophones
October 2023 Newsletter
The October 2023 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
September 2023 Newsletter
The September 2023 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
Battle of Rhode Island Association Receives Proclamation Letter from Town of Portsmouth for Butts Hill Fort Rededication Ceremony.
The Battle of Rhode Island Association recently received a proclamation from the Town of Portsmouth acknowledging our efforts for the Dr. Roderick Terry Centennial Celebration at Butts Hill Fort.
Battle of Rhode Island Association announce Web Partnership with RI Publications Society.
Recently the Battle of Rhode Island Association announced a new web partnership with RI Publications Society. The Rhode Island Publications Society (RIPS) is a nonprofit educational and cultural foundation incorporated in 1981 under Rhode Island law to publish and distribute works relating to Rhode Island’s history, economy, and cultural life.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Awarded Grant from BankNewport
The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) was awarded a $5,000 grant from BankNewport. The funds will go toward funding our speaker series throughout the State that highlights Rhode Island’s significant contributions to the American Revolution.
August 2023 Newsletter
The August 2023 edition of “The BoRIA Post.”
New Virtual Tour of Touro Synagogue
Touro Synagogue a National Historic Site in Newport, Rhode Island announces new Virtual Tour.
Technical Memorandum: Butts Hill Fort Master Plan Implementation
The Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee and Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) are updating and implementing their planning, preservation, and management plan for the Revolutionary War era Butts Hill fortification in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Butts Hill Fort Landscape Restoration Concept Plan
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.
Battle of Rhode Island Association receives grants from the Town of Portsmouth and Rhode Island Society of Colonial Wars
Recently the Battle of Rhode Island Association received the welcome news that we were awarded two more grants.
Bristol Historic & Preservation Society’s ‘Timeline of Enslavement’ wins national award
The Bristol Historical & Preservation Society received an Award of Excellence for its “Timeline of Enslavement in Bristol, R.I.” from The American Association for State and Local History.
Battle of Rhode Island Association launch Phase 2 upgrades to website
The Battle of Rhode Island Association have launched their phase 2 upgrades to their website.
Battle of Rhode Island Association receives grants from Aquidneck Land Trust & RI Society Sons of the Revolution
The Battle of Rhode Island Association are thrilled to announce that we were awarded two grants from local organizations who are also committed to preserving and protecting Butts Hill Fort in Portsmouth RI.
Lecture: François-Jean de Chastellux and American Independence
François-Jean de Chastellux, a major general in the French army, member of the Society of the Cincinnati and cousin of the marquis de Lafayette, played a central role in the Franco-American alliance during the Revolutionary War.
John Robertson Lecture “Revolutionary War Defenses in Rhode Island”
John K. Robertson, Ph.D., is a Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with 23 years of service and served on the faculty at West Point. Recorded May 1st in Bristol RI
Battle of Rhode Island Association supports our partners the American Friends of Lafayette and Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R-US)
Battle of Rhode Island Association supports our partners the American Friends of Lafayette and Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R-US)
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Partnership with the Artillery Company of Newport
The Battle of Rhode Island Association is proud to announce our web partnership with the Artillery Company of Newport. Chartered in 1741 by the Rhode Island General Assembly during the reign of King George II of Great Britain, the Artillery Company today is a ceremonial unit of the Rhode Island Militia, Council of Historic Military Commands.
BOOK REVIEW: Revolutionary War Defenses in Rhode Island by John K. Robertson
Historian John K. Robertson knows about Rhode Island’s fortifications. All of them. Every single one. He spent decades searching for them.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Commemorative Coin Series
The Battle of Rhode Island Association is proud to announce the release of our Commemorative Coin Series. Working with Signature Coins of Winter Haven Florida.
Another Successful Volunteer Cleanup at Butts Hill Fort!
On Saturday March 25th volunteers under the direction of Paul Murphy of the Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee of the Battle of RI Association worked on clearing the South side of the Fort outside the earthworks.
Ambassador George Krol joins the Battle of Rhode Island Association as a Director
The Battle of Rhode Island Association recently announced the addition of retired U.S. Ambassador George Krol as a Director representing the Middletown Historical Society.
Battle of Rhode Island Association receives $10,000 grant from Americana Corner
Battle of Rhode Island Association is proud to announce that we’ve been selected as a 2023 @AmericanaCorner Preserving America Grant Program recipient!
Book Release: Journal of a French Quartermaster on the March to Yorktown June 16 – October 6, 1781; Translated & Annotated by Norman Desmarais
Book Release: Journal of a French Quartermaster on the March to Yorktown June 16 – October 6, 1781
Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route and the Battle of Rhode Island Association fund Dr. Robert Selig’s translation of Comte de Rochambeau’s Orderly Book
W3R-US and BoRIA commissioned Dr. Robert A. Selig to translate sections of the Comte de Rochambeau’s Livre d’ordre, the Orderly Book.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Partnership with
The Redwood Library & Athenæum
Battle of Rhode Island Association Announces Partnership with The Redwood Library & Athenæum The Battle of Rhode Island Association (BoRIA) is pleased to announce that the Redwood Library & Athenæum
Battle Of Rhode Island Association announce new Directors and Web Partners
Battle Of Rhode Island Association announce new Directors and Web Partners Share this Page The Battle of Rhode Island Association announces the addition of Dereke Mays and Nick Hardisty as
Middletown Historical Society Unveils Sign on the Siege of Newport
The Battle of Rhode Island: Middletown Historical Society Unveils Sign on the Siege of Newport Battle Of Rhode Island Association MIDDLETOWN, RI – The Middletown Historical Society recently unveiled a
Archeologic Assessment at Butts Hill Fort Released
Archaeological Report on Butts Hill Fort is released.
Battle of Rhode Island Association Launches New Website
The Battle was the concluding phase of the Rhode Island Campaign, the first combined French and American operation of the Revolutionary War.
Butts Hill Fort – Hidden Island Treasure
Up a winding road to an open meadow, framed by trees and vegetation, it lays undistinguished in the shadow of a public high school.
Butts Hill Fort Plans, Land, Get Clearer
Butts Hills Fort, the most significant berm of land in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, is being shaped into something recognizable.
