Rev War  |  Marker

1st Rhode Island Regiment

West Main Road & Route 24
Patriots Park
Portsmouth, RI 02871
United States

Get Directions

Granite monument to 1st Rhode Island African American Regiment

In honor of the first Black slaves and freemen who fought in the Battle of Rhode Island

Historical Marker Database

 

By late 1777, Washington’s army was collapsing from disease, desertion, and supply shortages. Rhode Island struggled to meet its troop quotas. The state asked permission to recruit free Black, Indigenous, and enslaved men. In February 1778, the Rhode Island Assembly passed the Slave Enlistment Act, promising freedom to enslaved men who enlisted. At the Battle of Rhode Island on August 29, 1778, the regiment fought with exceptional discipline and repelled repeated Hessian assaults.

Related Resources
View All Related Resources

1st Rhode Island Regiment: What's Nearby

Portsmouth, RI
Full MapView Nearby Monuments
Rev War  |  Marker
1st Rhode Island Regiment
Portsmouth, RI
Rev War  |  Cemetery
Friends Meeting House, Portsmouth, RI
Portsmouth, RI
Rev War  |  Marker
General Lafayette Marker, Tiverton, Rhode Island (RI-8)
Tiverton, RI
Rev War  |  Marker
Prescott's Headquarters, Middletown, RI
Middletown, RI
Rev War  |  Marker
General Lafayette Marker, Bristol, Rhode Island (RI-3)
Bristol, RI
Rev War  |  Fort
Green End Fort, Middletown, RI
Middletown, RI
Museum
Naval War College Museum, Newport, RI
Newport, RI
Rev War  |  Museum
Artillery Company of Newport Museum
Newport, RI
Rev War  |  Fort
Conanicut Battery, Jamestown, RI
Jamestown, RI
Rev War  |  Museum
Varnum Armory Museum
East Greenwich, RI
Museum
Gilbert Stuart Museum
Saunderstown, RI
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Pawtucket, Rhode Island (RI-168)
Pawtucket, RI
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Plainfield, Connecticut (CT-208)
Plainfield, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, South Walpole, Massachusetts (MA-183)
South Walpole, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Norwich, Connecticut (CT-176)
Norwich, CT
Rev War  |  Fort
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
Groton, CT
Museum
U.S. Coast Guard Museum
New London, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, New London, Connecticut (CT-178)
New London, CT
Rev War  |  Fort
Fort Trumbull State Park
New London, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Waterford, Connecticut (CT-207)
Waterford, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Framingham, MA (MA-21)
Framingham, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Southborough, MA (MA-20)
Southborough, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Boston, Massachusetts (MA-194)
Boston, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Roxbury, MA (MA-27.5)
Roxbury, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Stonebridge Rd., Wayland, MA (MA-22)
Wayland, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Boston, MA (MA-28)
Boston, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Wayland, MA (MA-23)
Way, MA
Rev War  |  Museum
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
Boston, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Weston, MA (MA-24)
Weston, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker at Charlton, Massachusetts (MA-64)
Charlton, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
General Lafayette Marker, Watertown, Massachusetts (MA-7)
Watertown, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Northborough, MA (MA-18)
Northborough, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Watertown, MA (MA-26)
Watertown, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Shrewsbury, MA (MA-17)
Shrewsbury, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Waltham, MA (MA-25)
Waltham, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Marlborough, MA (MA-19)
Marlborough, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Worcester, MA (MA-16)
Worcester, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Cambridge, MA (MA-27)
Cambridge, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Worcester, Massachusetts (MA-119)
Worcester, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Sturbridge, Massachusetts (MA-103)
Sturbridge, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Leicester, MA (MA-15)
Leicester, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Chelsea, Massachusetts (MA-11)
Chelsea, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Arlington, Massachusetts (MA-143)
Arlington, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Spencer, MA (MA-14)
Spencer, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Lexington, Massachusetts (MA-57)
Lexington, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Old Lyme, Connecticut (CT-45)
Old Lyme, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Stafford Springs, Connecticut (CT-102)
Stafford Springs, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Tolland, Connecticut (CT-12)
Tolland, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Henry Knox Trail Marker at Brookfield, MA (MA-13)
Brookfield, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Bolton, Massachusetts (MA-13)
Bolton, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Lynn, Massachusetts (MA-62)
Lynn, MA
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker, Old Saybrook, Connecticut (CT-55)
Old Saybrook, CT
Rev War  |  Marker
Lafayette Tour Marker at West Boylston, Massachusetts (MA-84)
West Boylston, MA

Related Battles

Rhode Island
Battle Facts
Rhode Island | August 29, 1778
Result: Inconclusive
Estimated Casualties
441
American
181
British
260
View Full Battle Overview

The Battlefields Today