Battle of Rhode Island

Battle of Rhode Island
Part of the American Revolutionary War
A 1779 print depicting the battle
Date August 29, 1778 Location Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island 41°35′46″N 71°15′47″W / 41.596°N 71.263°W / 41.596; -71.263 (Battle of Rhode Island) Result Inconclusive (see aftermath)
Belligerents
United States Canadian volunteers  France	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
John Sullivan Nathanael Greene Christopher Greene Comte d'Estaing	Sir Robert Pigot Francis Smith Richard Prescott Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg
Strength
10,100	6,700[1]
Casualties and losses
30 killed 137 wounded 44 missing[2]	38 killed 210 wounded 12 missing[2]

The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill^[3]) took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and Militia forces under the command of Major General John Sullivan had been besieging the British forces in Newport, Rhode Island, which is situated on Aquidneck Island, but they had finally abandoned their siege and were withdrawing to the northern part of the island. The British forces then sortied, supported by recently arrived Royal Navy ships, and they attacked the retreating Americans. The battle ended inconclusively, but the Continental forces withdrew to the mainland and left Aquidneck Island in British hands.

The battle was the first attempt at cooperation between French and American forces following France's entry into the war as an American ally. Operations against Newport were planned in conjunction with a French fleet and troops, but they were frustrated in part by difficult relations between the commanders, as well as by a storm that damaged both French and British fleets shortly before joint operations were to begin.

The battle was also notable for the participation of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment under the command of Colonel Christopher Greene, which consisted of Blacks, American Indians, and White colonists.^[4]