2022 -- H 7474

========

LC004744

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF THE 1ST RHODE ISLAND

REGIMENT, BETTER KNOWN AS THE "BLACK REGIMENT", DURING THE

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Filippi, Cortvriend,
Williams, Abney, Carson, Kennedy, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was the first Black battalion in United

States history and was one of the few units in the Continental Army to serve throughout the entire

war; and

     WHEREAS, General George Washington faced severe shortages of troops early in the

war and as a result, the Continental Congress adopted a draft with a mandate that each state fill

certain militia quotas based on population. Rhode Island had the smallest population when the

revolution began, and when it couldn’t attain enough soldiers from the white population, it

appealed to General Washington to allow free and enslaved black men to enlist; and

     WHEREAS, The Slave Enlistment Act was passed in February of 1778, and allowed any

enslaved person who joined the 1st Rhode Island Regiment to be "immediately discharged from

the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free, as though he had never been

encumbered without any kind of servitude or slavery." More than 130 enslaved men from all

corners of Rhode Island joined the Black Regiment in the first few months after the law took

effect; and

     WHEREAS, The 1st Regiment, also known as the "Black Regiment", soon had an

important impact on the Revolutionary War when they repeatedly repelled the British forces and

their Hessian allies during the Battle of Rhode Island that took place in 1788 in Portsmouth.

Despite numerous attacks from the enemy forces, including three assaults by the Hessian Army,

the 1st Regiment held the line and prevented the Hessians and British from capturing all of

Aquidneck Island; and

     WHEREAS, The 1st Regiment then proceeded to valiantly serve our nation in critical

battles and actions at Fort Oswego and Saratoga, New York, in Red Bank, New Jersey, and at the

crucial battle of Yorktown; and

     WHEREAS, When the 1st Regiment disbanded after the Revolutionary War, they

received precious little recognition or financial compensation. Their legacy might have been lost

to history, but thankfully since 1967, their heroic actions in defense of freedom and liberty have

been recognized and memorialized by the Newport County Branch of the NAACP which has

been conducting Black Regiment Commemoration Ceremonies at Patriots Park in Portsmouth.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of many Branch members, a beautiful monument honoring the 1st

Regiment was established at the original location of the Battle of Rhode Island; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

honors and celebrates the heroic actions of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, better known as the

"Black Regiment", during the American Revolutionary War; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Jimmy Winters, President, Newport County

Branch NAACP.

========

LC004744

========

LC004744 - Page 2 of 2