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Rhode Island is the smallest state and more than just an island, but also part of the mainland, and there was a Revolutionary War battle there that was inconclusive and not that important except that on the American side Black people, Native Americans, and white colonists fought side by side against the British.
--On This Day in History, Shit Went Down: August 29, 1778--
The part of the state of Rhode Island that is actually an island is called Rhode Island, but also Aquidneck Island. The British were holed up in Newport on Aquidneck and the rebel forces said let’s lay some siege to those imperialist sheep shaggers.
During this time, France was pissed at England over some shit so they said hey ‘murica, enemy of our enemy, let’s be friends we’ll help you fight those limeys. Rhode Island was notable as the first attempt from the French to cooperate with American troops in fighting the British. I say attempt because the French didn’t actually do fuck all in the battle; the French and American commanders weren’t getting along and there was also a big storm that had the French admiral saying to the Americans sorry fellas you’re on your own.
The Americans had been in a standoff on Rhode Island for a couple of years, and many were pissed that the French were leaving them hanging. A bunch of the American militia said fuck this and noped out, shrinking the forces available for the siege. So on August 29, 1778, the Americans said fuck this siege and began to withdraw, and the British said hey they’re leaving let’s chase those rebel assbaskets, and the Battle of Rhode Island began.
Defending against the British assault was the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, known as the “Black Regiment” because more than half of it was comprised of free Black men as well as enslaved Black men who had been promised their freedom if they served. The Continental Army had been struggling to get enough white dudes to sign up, so on Rhode Island they said, “Every slave so enlisting shall … be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free.” To prevent the enslavers from losing their shit, the army paid them market value. But they were still pissed at losing those they’d enslaved, cuz dicks.
During the battle the American forces were all oh fuck we need to withdraw, and the 1st was tasked with covering the retreat. The British forces (actually German mercenaries they’d hired called Hessians) attacked the 1st repeatedly, but failed to break their lines, allowing for the successful retreat of the rest of the American forces. Casualties in the 1stwere only three killed, nine wounded, and 11 missing. But the Hessians suffered such terrible losses against the 1st that the Hessian commander applied for a transfer because he was worried his men were gonna frag his ass for leading so many to their deaths.
French General Lafayette proclaimed it “the best fought action of the war.”
Thanks, Valerie, for the suggestion of today’s topic.
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