From slaves to soldiers : the 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution

Known as the “black” regiment, the story of the first Continental army unit composed of African American and Native American enlisted men In December 1777, the Continental army was encamped at Valley Forge and faced weeks of cold and hunger, as well as the prospect of many troops leaving as their terms expired in the coming months. If the winter were especially cruel, large numbers of soldiers would face death or contemplate desertion. Plans were made to enlist more men, but as the states struggled to fill quotas for enlistment, Rhode Island general James Mitchell Varnum proposed the historic plan that a regiment of slaves might be recruited from his own state, the smallest in the union, but holding the largest population of slaves in New England. The commander-in-chief’s approval of the plan would set in motion the forming of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. The “black regiment,” as it came to be known, was composed of indentured servants, Narragansett Indians, and former slaves. This was not without controversy. While some in the Rhode Island Assembly and in other states railed that enlisting slaves would give the enemy the impression that not enough white men could be raised to fight the British, owners of large estates gladly offered their slaves and servants, both black and white, in lieu of a son or family member enlisting. The regiment fought with distinction at the battle of Rhode Island, and once joined with the 2nd Rhode Island before the siege of Yorktown in 1781, it became the first integrated battalion in the nation’s history. In From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution , historian Robert A. Geake tells the important story of the “black regiment” from the causes that led to its formation, its acts of heroism and misfortune, as well as the legacy left by those men who enlisted to earn their freedom. Cover Page 1 Title Page 3 Copyright Page 4 Contents 5 List of Illustrations 6 Authors’ Note 8 1. The Origins of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment 10 2. From Slaves to Soldiers 20 3. Battles, Blood, and Brotherhood 34 4. The Aftermath of War 54 5. The Legacy of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment 72 Appendix A. List of Officers and Enlisted Soldiers of Euro-American Descent in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment 78 Appendix B. Indigenous Rhode Islanders Who Served in the Revolutionary War 81 Appendix C. Documentation of Slaves 83 Appendix D. Rhode Islanders Who Departed from New York on British Vessels During the Evacuation, 1783 88 Notes 90 Selected Bibliography 98 Acknowledgments 100 Index 101 The Origins Of The 1st Rhode Island Regiment -- From Slaves To Soldiers -- Battles, Blood, And Brotherhood -- The Aftermath Of War -- The Legacy Of The 1st Rhode Island Regiment -- Appendix A: List Of Officers And Enlisted Soldiers Of Euro-american Descent In The 1st Rhode Island Regiment -- Appendix B: Indigenous Rhode Islanders Who Served In The Revolutionary War -- Appendix C: Documentation Of Slaves -- Appendix D: Rhode Islanders Who Departed From New York On British Vessels During The Evacuation, 1783. Robert A. Geake ; With Lorén M. Spears, Executive Director, Tomaquag Museum. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 160-162) And Index. **Known as the “black” regiment, the story of the first Continental army unit composed of African American and Native American enlisted men** __From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution__