Turkey Hill

Turkey Hill Kiosk

At 8 AM the British forces under the command of Von Der Malsburg chased Col. John Laurens and his American troops. There were skirmishes up West (Main) Road as the two sides made contact.

Significant People

The "Surrender of Cornwallis" by John Trumball, U.S. Capital

Some of those young soldiers who fought in the Battle of Rhode Island or participated in the Siege of Newport went on to brilliant careers.

Quaker Hill

Quaker Hill Map. A plan of the northern part of Rhode Island in the township of Portsmouth. 1778. Huntington Library

After a skirmish with Wade’s American forces, British General Smith and the 43rd Regiment pushed up Middle Road while the 22nd Regiment proceeded up East Main Road.

Eyewitness Accounts

Portrait of Mary Almy, Rienzi Collection, Houston

We are fortunate to have eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Rhode Island. One of those accounts is by Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Ward, Junior.

The Aftermath of the Battle

Disposition of British French and American Forces Aquidneck Island French Map August 1778 (Library of Congress)

August 30th. “A Cloudy morning and the wind very high it rained a Considerable in the night the Enemy Remained on their Ground this morning two English friggats Came up yesterday

Lehigh Hill

Fage map from 1777 of Lehigh Hill

The skirmishes around Lehigh Hill have taken on importance because of the presence of the Black Regiment.

Skirmish Timelines & Maps

Denison Map 1778 shows British Naval Attack

Action in the Battle of Rhode Island took place along what we call East and West Main Roads. It was the East Road and West Road to them. Sometimes there were two or more actions going on at approximately the same time.