Battle of Newport

The Battle of Rhode Island on August 29, 1778 was the fighting withdrawal that covered the failed Franco-American attempt to retake Newport. After d'Estaing's French fleet departed for Boston repairs, General Sullivan was left alone with about 10,000 men to face the British garrison of Newport. The British received reinforcements and Sullivan ordered a withdrawal from Aquidneck Island.

The rear-guard action of August 29 was a genuine American military success even as the broader operation failed. The withdrawal was covered skillfully by Nathanael Greene and Lafayette, with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment — a largely Black unit — playing a particularly distinguished role. The Black regiment repulsed three British charges with precision and discipline, earning widespread praise from officers including Sullivan and Greene.

The Battle of Rhode Island is particularly significant in African American military history. The 1st Rhode Island's performance demonstrated beyond doubt that Black soldiers were the equal of any troops in the Continental Army. Their valor at Rhode Island helped build the argument for continued use of Black soldiers and is a founding moment in the long history of African American military service.