Battle of Rhode Island Site

Battle of Rhode Island Site
Patriot's Park, memorial off RI 114 to Rhode Island militiamen slain in battle
Battle of Rhode Island Site is located in Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island Site
Battle of Rhode Island Site is located in the United States
Battle of Rhode Island Site
LocationLehigh Hill and both sides of RI 24 between Hedley and Dexter Sts., Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Area365 acres (148 ha) (main battlefield)
34 acres (14 ha) (Fort Butts and Butts Hill)
Built1778
NRHP reference No.74002054
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 30, 1974[1]
Designated NHLMay 30, 1974[2]

The Battle of Rhode Island Site is the partially preserved location of the Battle of Rhode Island, fought August 29, 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The battle took place in the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, located on Aquidneck Island north of Newport, and was the only major action of the war that took place in Rhode Island. It was also significant as the only battle of the war in which an entirely segregated unit of African-American soldiers fought. At the time of the action, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment consisted of companies of locally recruited African Americans and Native Americans with white officers. The two main areas associated with the battle were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.[2]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Site of Battle of Rhode Island". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-02-21.