Battle of Rhode Island Site
Encyclopedia
Battle of Rhode Island Site, also known as Site of Battle of Rhode Island or Battle of Rhode Island Historic District, is the partially preserved location of the Battle of Rhode Island
in 1778. It took place in the town of Portsmouth, on the island of Rhode Island, in the state of Rhode Island. The island is now known as Aquidneck Island
to distinguish the island from the rest of the state.
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. It was fought on August 29, 1778.
in 1974. The site includes two separate areas. The principal battle site is roughly centered at , and Butts Hill (41.615506°N 71.250815°W), one of the high points on Aquidneck Island, is also preserved.
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
in 1778. It took place in the town of Portsmouth, on the island of Rhode Island, in the state of Rhode Island. The island is now known as Aquidneck Island
Aquidneck Island
Aquidneck Island, located in the state of Rhode Island, is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. The island's official name is Rhode Island, and the common use of name "Aquidneck Island" helps distinguish the island from the state. The total land area is 97.9 km²...
to distinguish the island from the rest of the state.
Battle
In the battle, American troops under Sullivan sought to recapture the island of Rhode Island. It was the first joint land and sea operation of American and French forces. And it was the first battle in which a racially segregated unit of black soldiers fought, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment1st Rhode Island Regiment
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was a Continental Army regiment from Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War . Like most regiments of the Continental Army, the unit went through several incarnations and name changes. It became well-known as the "Black Regiment" because, for a time, it had...
. It was fought on August 29, 1778.
Legacy
The site was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1974. The site includes two separate areas. The principal battle site is roughly centered at , and Butts Hill (41.615506°N 71.250815°W), one of the high points on Aquidneck Island, is also preserved.