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, from the British occupation of Newport to the events of the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island, the only major Revolutionary War battle fought in the state. The film highlights the human cost of occupation, the complexity of the French-American alliance, and the remarkable service of the First Rhode Island Regiment, whose Black soldiers earned freedom by enlisting and fought with exceptional courage.

The battle initially brought together roughly 10,000 American troops under Major General John Sullivan, with his headquarters at Butts Hill Fort, including Continental troops, militia, and the First Rhode Island Regiment, against 7,000 British and German defenders under British General Sir Robert Pigot. The campaign had begun as a joint French-American effort under Admiral d’Estaing to dislodge the British from Newport, but after the French fleet was damaged in a storm, it withdrew to Boston for repairs and did not take part in the fighting on August 29.

Even so, the battle became a hard-fought test of American resolve, with key action along the island’s defensive lines. The campaign shifted into a fighting retreat, with the American line holding at places like Quaker Hill and the West Road redoubt, where the First Rhode Island Regiment made one of its most notable stands.

The film also shows how the battle shaped the broader war: the American army held together under pressure, the French-American partnership was tested, and lessons learned during the campaign helped pave the way for later cooperation and the decisive victory at Yorktown. Produced by the Battle of Rhode Island Association, the film is both a powerful local history story and a reminder of Rhode Island’s significant role in the fight for independence.

The film was funded by grants from the RI250 Commission and the Papitto Opportunity Connection. It was produced by Fresh LLC and ParMedia. The script was developed by Christian McBurney and Joe Studlick, based largely on McBurney’s The Rhode Island Campaign: The First French and American Operation in the Revolutionary War (2011). Narration is by Michelle Girasole, Christian McBurney, Rebecca Sattel, and Jim Stearns.