Rhode Island Battlefield

Declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Heritage Park in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is the site of the Battle of Rhode Island that took place on August 29, 1778. The battle was one of the first combined American-French military operations of the war. In addition, the 1st Rhode Island Infantry, a brigade composed of European Americans, American Indians, and many African Americans, saw action there. Today the site has an interpretive sign explaining the history of the battle, and visitors can see a memorial to Rhode Islanders who lost their lives during the conflict in nearby Patriot’s Park.