Battle of Rhode Island Site

The Battle of Rhode Island Site extends across a valley between Lehigh Hill and Turkey Hill in Portsmouth, covering several hundred acres of ground. The terrain is marked today with interpretive signs and monuments that explain the troop movements and key moments of the engagement.

The engagement took place on August 29, 1778, when Continental Army forces under Major General John Sullivan confronted British troops near Newport. This battle marked the first time French and American forces fought together as military allies during the Revolutionary War.

This location honors the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, which included African American and Native American soldiers fighting together during the engagement. Today the site reflects their contribution to this chapter of American military history.

The site is open to visitors who can walk the grounds and read the interpretive panels placed throughout. The terrain is open and walkable, with markers helping you follow the course of the battle across the landscape.

This was the only major Revolutionary War engagement fought in Rhode Island, making it a rare episode in the state's military past. The site documents how this conflict directly touched this particular region during the larger struggle.

Location: Portsmouth

GPS coordinates: 41.59600,-71.26300

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:01