Narragansett Bay I

Last Update: 01/JANUARY/2023

American Revolution Defenses of Aquidneck Island

NOTE: Newport (and all of Aquidneck Island) was occupied by the British from December 1776 to October 1779. The French occupied the city from July 1780 to September 1781 while their fleet was anchored there.
This page covers the towns of Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, and Jamestown before 1783. See Page 3 for later defenses.

Owl's Nest Fort
(1778), (Little) Gould Island, Portsmouth
A Patriot two-gun fort built to protect against a British naval attack during their retreat off Aquidneck Island back to Tiverton after the August 1778 campaign.

Howland's Ferry Battery (2)
(1776), Portsmouth
A Patriot star-shaped seven-gun battery to protect the ferry crossing and the passage up the Sakonnet River, built in June 1776. Possibly also known as Fort Star. Not used but left intact after the British took Newport in December 1776. Site located near the ruins of the old Stone Bridge, which had later replaced the ferry. A Patriot gun battery was also located on the Tiverton side of the river (see page 1).

Howland's Neck Redoubt
(1777 - 1779), Portsmouth
A British work guarding the western approach to the Howland's Neck Bridge and thus access to Howland's Ferry. Also known as Howland's Bridge Redoubt, or simply Bridge Redoubt. Briefly abandoned during the August 1778 Patriot advance on Aquidneck Island, later abandoned for good in October 1779. Apparently never used afterwards as an active defense by Patriot forces.

Bünau Redoubt
(1778 - 1779), Portsmouth
A small British work located on the road between the Common Fence Redoubt and the Howland's Bridge Redoubt, built in June 1778 by troops of the Bünau Regiment then encamped on Windmill (Butts) Hill. Briefly abandoned and then occupied by Patriot forces during the August 1778 Patriot advance on Aquidneck Island, later abandoned for good in October 1779. Apparently never used afterwards as an active defense by Patriot forces.

Common Fence Redoubt
(1777 - 1779), Portsmouth
A British work located on the road between the Bristol Ferry and Howland's Ferry landings, built in June 1777 to protect a guardhouse to control access to the road to Common Fence Neck. Briefly abandoned and then occupied by Patriot forces during the August 1778 Patriot advance on Aquidneck Island, later abandoned for good in October 1779. Apparently never used afterwards as an active defense by Patriot forces.

Bristol Ferry Redoubt (2)
(1776 - 1779), Bristol Ferry, Portsmouth
A Patriot 12-gun work, built as early as March 1776 or possibly as late as November 1776, abandoned when the British took Newport in December 1776. Reworked by the British as only a three or four gun work with a guardhouse. Briefly abandoned and then reoccupied by Patriot forces during the August 1778 Patriot advance on Aquidneck Island. Abandoned again in October 1779 and only briefly reoccupied by Patriot forces thereafter. Site located about 0.3 mile east of the Mt. Hope Bridge on private property. (see also Bristol Ferry Battery (1) on page 1)

Butts Hill Redoubt
(1777 - 1781), Portsmouth
Originally known as Windmill Hill Battery (Redoubt), it was built by the British in February 1777. Originally a six-gun battery, a strong redoubt was added adjacent to the battery in the spring of 1778, along with separate barracks for 300 men. This was the largest fort built in Rhode Island during the war. Scene of major action during the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island, in which it was briefly occupied by Patriot forces. The British afterwards recaptured the fort as the Patriots retreated back to Tiverton. Lack of cooperation from the French fleet was blamed on the American defeat. Abandoned by the British in October 1779, then reoccupied by Patriot forces. Renamed "Butts Hill" after the British left. Rebuilt in July 1780 by Patriot and French troops, enclosing the battery, magazine, and barracks in a single large fort. French troops left in July 1781. Finally abandoned by the Patriots in November 1781. The earthen redoubt (Fort Butts to later historians) still exists on Butts Hill on Fort and Butts Streets, off of Sprague Street and near the Portsmouth High School, along with nearby markers. Became state property in 1934, transferred to town ownership in 1968. Restoration of the fort is planned. A museum and/or visitor center is also planned for the future.

Arnold Point Fort
(1778), Portsmouth
A Patriot work on the west side of Lehigh Hill built during the August 1778 advance on Newport.

Burrington Hill Redoubt
(1777 - 1779), Portsmouth
A British two-gun redoubt located on Burrington Hill (aka Lehigh Hill or Durfee Hill) just southwest of Butts Hill. Built in September-October 1777. Also known as the Artillery Redoubt, and also shown as Durfey's Hill Redoubt (1) on at least one period map. Abandoned in August 1778 and used by the Patriots as a defensive position during their advance on Aquidneck Island to Newport. Originally built with north-facing guns, the Patriots reworked the redoubt to face south. Regarrisoned afterwards by the British, until October 1779. Apparently not used later by the French as they did Butts Hill.

Quaker Hill Redoubt
(1778), Portsmouth
A British redoubt and 200-man barracks was proposed in the summer of 1777, but never built. British troops were encamped here from June to September 1778, but no fort is mentioned in records. Two British field guns were emplaced here during the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. Located on Quaker Hill along Middle Road.

A second smaller British redoubt was started on the road just east of Quaker Hill, after the Patriots had retreated after the Battle of Rhode Island, but was never completed as it was then deemed unneccessary.

Turkey Hill Redoubt
(1778), Portsmouth
A small British redoubt and 60-man barracks was proposed in the summer of 1777, but never built. British troops were encamped here from June to September 1778, but no fort is mentioned in records. Two British field guns were emplaced here during the August 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. Located just south of Quaker Hill.

Fogland Ferry Redoubt (2)
(1777 - 1779), South Portsmouth
A small British redoubt for two guns, with barracks, was located near Sandy Point, opposite Fogland Point across the river in Tiverton. Built in September 1777 to support the Fogland Ferry Battery (1) (four guns), closer to the water, which was built earlier that spring to cover the Fogland Ferry landing. An opposing Patriot battery was located at Fogland Point across the river (see page 1).

Redoubt at Lopez Bay
(1777 - 1779), South Portsmouth
A small British redoubt was located on the shore about halfway between Sandy Point (Little Sandy Point) and Black Point. Also known as the Point Pleasant Battery. Built in October 1777 for three guns, only two were ever emplaced. Troops were encamped first at the entrenched "Elam's House" behind the redoubt, then soon moved south to the entrenched "Lopez's House" to avoid Patriot fire from the High Hill Point battery across the river (see page 1).

Slate Hill Encampment
(1778), South Portsmouth
A temporary British troop encampment (June 1778) located on the East Road at "Mitchel's Blacksmith Shop", just north of the present town line. Patriot forces also camped here in August 1778 during the advance on Newport.

Lawton's Valley Redoubt
(1778), Lawtons, Middletown
A British redoubt located on the west side of Lawton's Valley, on the east side of the old road, south of Lawton's Mill.

A second British redoubt may have also been located just to the south. Both were most likely built in August 1778.

Weaver's Cove Redoubt ? ?
(1778 ? 1780 ?), Middletown
An undesignated redoubt is found on a 1780 French map, located on a small rise south of what was labeled Weaver's Cove. No other data could be found. This site would be within the present-day U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center complex, south of the Wanumetonomy Country Club.

Honeyman's Hill Redoubts
(1778), Middletown
Several small Patriot offensive works (at least eight batteries with connecting trenchworks) located along the west side of the hill opposing the British Exterior Line on Bliss Hill and at Green End during the August 1778 advance on Newport.

Barker's Hill Redoubts
(1778), Middletown
Several small Patriot defensive works (ten to thirteen, depending on the source) on Barker Hill, built during the August 1778 advance on Newport to guard their camps against British counterattacks.

Green End Fort
(1778, 1780 - 1781), Middletown
The extant earthwork located here at the northwest corner of Green End Pond is actually the French Redoute de Saintonge (1780 - 1781) (50 men), located in a small park at 193 Vernon Ave., owned by the Newport Historical Society since 1923. The stone monument (1924) on site mistakes it for the nearby British Green End Redoubt (aka Card's Redoubt) (1778) (two guns, 70 men) that is also still extant (on private property 825 feet to the north, on the north side of Miantonomi Ave.), which was at the eastern end of the British exterior defensive lines around Newport. This work was also identified in the past as Bliss Hill Fort, but that is also in error. Green End/Card's was attacked by Patriots in August 1778, and then abandoned with the rest of the defensive line in September 1778. The French did later reuse Green End/Card's in 1780, known as Flèche ruinée par Sullivan, as well as build a new work nearby, the Saintonge Redoubt. New signage in the park now reflects the proper identification.

Newport Exterior Line
(1778, 1780 - 1781), Middletown
A British line of entrenchments, batteries, and redoubts located along the crest of Bliss Hill, built beginning in April 1778 until June 1778. Also known as the New Line. It later incorporated several nearby independent redoubts into the line in August 1778, including a westward extension of the line to the Tonomy Hill works (see below), as well as adding several new batteries along the entrenchments south of Dudley's Redoubt. This line was the focus of the Patriots' August 1778 advance against Newport. The guns were removed and the works dismantled in September 1778. Major works were: Irish's Redoubt (2) (three guns) (70 men), located at the north apex of the line near the "Irish House" (which the British took down), overlooking the junction of the East and West Roads coming into Newport; Banister's Redoubt (three guns) (70 men), located near the "Banister House" and gardens; Dudley's Redoubt (two guns) (70 men), located just northeast of the "Dudley House", which was a British field hospital before the siege; and Card's Redoubt (see Green End Fort above), actually located forward of the entrenchment line southeast of Dudley's. A British 50-man battery (flèche) (no guns) was located west of Tonomy Hill, about midway along a line of abatis (August 1778) that extended west from Tonomy Hill to the shore opposite Coasters Harbor Island.

Some of the larger works of the line were reoccupied by the French after September 1780, although they pushed their new defense line a little further east than the old British line. None of the British trenchworks and minor batteries of this line were reused by the French. Irish's Redoubt (2) became Redoute à côté de grand Chemin. Banister's Redoubt became Lunette des Deux-Ponts (50 men). Dudley's Redoubt became Redoute du Jardin de Banister (100 men).

Fort Fanning
(1778 - 1779, 1780 - 1781), Middletown
A British 10-gun fort (200 - 300 men) built in October 1778 at "Banister's Garden", behind the former Exterior Line and Banister's Redoubt, which had been abandoned after the August seige. Reoccupied by the French in 1780 as Fort des Hessois.

Fort Clinton
(1778 - 1779, 1780 - 1781), Middletown
A British fort begun sometime between October and December 1778 behind the former Exterior Line and Dudley's Redoubt, which had been abandoned after the August seige. This work was not later reused by the French.

The French reused the old Dudley's Redoubt (see above), and built a new work further east called Lunette des Bourbonnois (50 men), which was just west of, and closer to, the former British Card's Redoubt at Green End.

Fort Percy
(1778 - 1779, 1780 - 1781), Middletown
A British three-gun fort begun sometime between October and December 1778 at the southern end of the former Exterior Line, which had been abandoned after the August seige. Reoccupied by the French in 1780 as Redoute à gauche du chemin de l'inondation.

A new French work, Redoute de la queue de l'Etang (1780) (four guns), was located southeast of the former Fort Percy, and west of Green End Pond.

Coddington's Cove Fort
(1778, 1780 - 1781), Newport
A French earthen fort (Lunette de Soissonnois) (September 1780) was located at or near present-day Coddington Field at Coddington Highway and Maple and Girard Aves.. No remains. The British planned a redoubt here in 1778 but it was never built.

The French also built a heavy gun battery nearby, Coddington's Point Redoubt (August 1780), at the base of the point overlooking the southern shore of the cove. Trace remains may possibly still exist (?) on a wooded parcel within the north corner of Whipple Street and Meyerkord Ave., on the grounds of the U.S. Navy Officer Training Command complex. The British also planned a redoubt and detached shore battery here in 1778 and 1779 respectively, but they were also never built, although there was a temporary British shore battery somewhere on the point in August 1778, created by the crew of the H.M.F. Juno as the French fleet arrived.

Tonomy Hill Fort (1)
(Miantonomi Memorial Park)
(1776 - 1781), Newport
Originally a Patriot redoubt (March 1776) located on Miantonomi Hill (aka Tonomy or Great Tonomy Hill, with various historic spellings) (155 feet elevation). It was later reworked by the British into their outer defensive lines (April - June 1778), armed with eight guns and holding 200 men. Occupied by the French in August 1780 until June 1781 (four guns). This may have also been referred to as Towering Hill Fort by some later historians. Earthworks are still extant in the heavily wooded park around the present World War I Memorial tower (1929). A blockhouse was later built here in 1796 (see page 3). Became a city park in 1921.

Just to the north on Little Tonomy Hill (aka Sunset Hill or Beacon Hill) (65 feet elevation), also within the park, are the extant remains of an August 1780 French redoubt (Lunette des Americains). This was previously a British two-gun battery (flèche) from August 1778 that was later reworked and enlarged by the French. This section was added to the park in 2006, and the entire park is protected by easement under the Aquidneck Island Land Trust.

A French 50-man infantry "swallowtail" redoubt (Queue d'hironde des Chasseurs) was located almost due east of Little Tonomy Hill in 1780. No remains, this was not located within the present park boundaries. Sited somewhere along the modern town line between Newport and Middletown.

Coaster's Island Redoubts
(1779 ?, 1780 - 1781), Coasters Harbor Island
The British planned three redoubts here in 1779, but they were probably never built. The French did build a redoubt and a six or eight-gun battery during their stay in 1780.

Newport Interior Line
(1777 - 1778, 1780 - 1781), Newport
A British line of entrenchments with five redoubts was built beginning in July 1777 and continuing until January 1778, extending from Dyer's Gate, just north of the North Battery (1) on Eaton's Point, eastward towards the Barrier Gate at the old Middletown Road (present Broadway), then southeastward to the west end of Easton's Beach. Redoubt Five (two guns) was located about halfway between North Battery (1) and Redoubt Four (four guns) (aka Barrier Redoubt) at "the three windmills" at "Hubbard's place" along the Middletown Road. A barrier gate was built here to control access into Newport. The line then continued southward to Redoubt Three (two guns) and Redoubt Two (three guns) before terminating at Redoubt One (three guns) (aka Easton's Redoubt) at Easton's Bar (Beach) (at present-day Old Beach Road and Memorial Blvd.). Also known as the Old Line after construction of the new exterior line was begun in April 1778 (see above). The line was abandoned and all guns removed in September 1778.

Redoubt One at Easton's Beach was the only work of this line that was reused by the French in 1780. The French did build a new work just north of Easton's Redoubt, outside of the old British entrenchment line, known as Lunette de la Tête de l'Etang.

North Battery (1)
(1776 - 1779/1782), Newport
A semi-circular redoubt (up to 20 guns) located at Eaton's (or Dyer's) Point, opposite the north end of Goat Island. The original unnamed Patriot work, begun in April 1776, was never completed before the British took the city in December 1776. Not garrisoned by the British until it was enlarged in May 1778, then leveled in October 1779 when the British evacuated the city. It may have been rebuilt by the Patriots soon thereafter, and also used by the French Marines in 1780 and 1781 (Dyer's Point Battery on French maps). Marker at the seawall at Battery Park (became a city park in 1891), at Washington and Battery Streets. This later became the site of Fort Greene (1) in 1798 (see page 3).

Newport Powder House
(1755 - 1871), Newport
A colonial powder house was once located at Gallows Field at Gravelly Point near the end of the Long Wharf, 20 feet high and 20 feet in diameter. It was replaced by a new municipal powder magazine in 1871 near Easton's Beach. Gravelly Point no longer exists, the old cove having been filled-in long ago, but the general area would be near Mary Ferrazzoli Park on the Long Wharf Mall.

Fort George
(1700 - 1784), Goat Island
Originally an unnamed crude earthen battery, rebuilt and formally named Fort Anne in 1702, armed with 12 guns. Abandoned in 1724. Renamed Fort George in 1730, it was rebuilt with stone and armed with up to 50 or 60 guns, completed in 1735. In disrepair by 1756, new plans to rebuild the fort were not carried out. Local Patriot forces captured most of the guns and powder in December 1774, and the rest were removed in August 1775. The barracks were burned in January 1776. Rebuilt by the Patriots as Fort Liberty in April 1776, with 25 guns. In November 1776 the guns were ordered removed, but five guns were left when captured by the British in December 1776, who then renamed it Fort George again. The fort was apparently not then needed by the British who did not provide a garrison until July 1778. Also known by the British at this time as the Stone Battery. After the British demolished the works in October 1779 and left town, the Patriots rebuilt and regarrisoned it, with 28 guns. The French Marines used the fort in 1780 and 1781, armed with 40 guns taken from French ships moored nearby. Abandoned in 1784. Renamed Fort Washington in 1789, although it was no longer an active defense by then. The site later became Fort Wolcott in 1798 (see page 3). Located about midway on the western shore of the island. Now a developed area.

Rose Island Fort
(1778 - 1781), Rose Island
A British battery was begun on the island in July 1778, but probably never completed. The French built a 40-gun fort here in July 1780, in use until June 1781. There are no records of any American/Patriot use of the island during the war, before or after the British occupation.

Fort Hamilton (see page 3) was built on the island in 1798.

Artillery Park Battery
(1778 - 1779, 1780 - 1781), Newport
Originally an unnamed three-gun British battery (flèche) from August 1778, guarding the Upper Road (east side of present-day Spring Street) at the "Gorge of Brenton's Neck", possibly near present-day Dixon Street (?). Repaired and reoccupied by the French in July 1780 to protect the new Artillery Park (on the west side of the road) and the adjacent encampment of the Auxonne Artillery (on the east side of the road behind the battery).

Just to the east of the artillery encampment were the French encampments of the Bourbonnois, Royal Deux-Ponts, Soisonnois, and Saintonge Regiments, protected by two 50-men batteries (lunettes) on the south side of the camps, facing south.

Fort Chastellux ?
(1778 - 1779, 1781), Newport
Built by the French in the summer of 1781 (or possibly as early as March 1781) to protect the fleet in Newport Harbor and to cover the batteries at Goat Island. After the last French squadron departed (or possibly after the war) it was renamed Fort Harrison as it was on the Harrison Farm property. It was rebuilt and renamed Fort Denham in 1798 (see page 3). Located on Halidon Hill, between Berkeley and King Streets, near King Park.

This location may have been the site of the earlier British four-gun 50-man North Redoubt (2) constructed in August 1778. The British four-gun 50-man South Redoubt (2) (August 1778) was located south, just northwest of Lily Pond, probably in the vicinity of the present-day intersection of Ruggles Ave. and Hazard Road. They were both abandoned in October 1779. The South Redoubt was apparently not later reused by the French or Patriots. The British had planned five additional redoubts spanning Newport Neck in 1779, but they were never built.

Castle Hill Batteries
(1776, 1780 - 1781), Castle Hill, Newport
A small Patriot battery was in use here in April 1776. Exact location unknown. Likely abandoned well before the British arrived in December 1776. The British did not build any works here during their occupation of the city.

The French built four small works and one redoubt at Castle Hill in the summer of 1780 to protect the nearby encampment of the Lauzun Regiment. The redoubt (Redoubt de Lauzun) and two redans were located west of present-day Ridge Road, on the present grounds of the Ocean Cliff Hotel and U.S. Coast Guard Station. A small lunette battery was located on the southern point of Castle Hill Neck at the west end of Collins Beach. Another battery (flèche) was located on a rocky prominance at the end of present-day Winans Ave., and this was said to be still extant as late as 1880, if not later. The Castle Hill Lighthouse was built in 1890.

Brenton's Point Fort
(1641, 1683, 1750's, 1776 - 1782), Newport
This point was fortified as early as 1641 with four guns, and again in 1683 with two guns, known as Brenton's Battery. Possibly refortified in the 1750's. Patriot forces built a battery and redoubt here in April 1776. Captured by the British in December 1776, but not utilized as an active defense by them until July 1778. The British called it the South Battery (1). It was destroyed and burned when they left in October 1779. The French rebuilt the battery in July 1780, armed with 12 guns and four mortars, along with two additional four-gun batteries further south facing the channel, used until June 1781. Abandoned in 1782. Fort Adams (see page 3) was built here beginning in 1793.

Fort Dumpling Rocks
(Fort Wetherill State Park)
(1776 - 1781), Jamestown
Located at Fort Cove on Dumpling Point, aka "the Dumplings" or Dumpling Rocks. It was originally the Patriot eight-gun Dumpling Rocks Battery (August 1776); then the British Fort Dumpling Rocks (July 1778) with two guns; briefly occupied by the French in July 1778; rebuilt by the British as Fort Brown (October 1778 - October 1779) with a four-gun battery with barracks, and 60-man redoubt adjacent to the battery. The French very briefly occupied the fort again in July 1780.

The stone Dumplings Tower (aka Fort Conanicut (2)) was later built here in 1798, then replaced by Fort Wetherill in 1898 (see page 3).

Eldred's One-Gun Battery
(1776), Jamestown
Supposedly (according to local lore) a local settler's small cannon located somewhere on the eastern side of Conanicut Island. It was used to harrass passing British ships (sometime between January and April 1776), and was soon captured by the British.

Jamestown Redoubt
(1777 - 1779), Jamestown
A British redoubt (built summer 1777) located on a height along the road between the two ferry landings for the East and West Passages. Exact location undetermined, probably in the general vicinity of the present-day intersection of Southwest and Narragansett Avenues and North Road.

Mackerel Cove Redoubt
(1777 - 1779, 1780), Jamestown
A British redoubt (built December 1777) located on the east end of Mackerel Beach at the head of Mackerel Cove, with barracks located on a hill further east. Briefly occupied by French marines in July 1780. Site is at or near the present-day intersection of Beavertail Road and Hamilton Ave..

Beaver Tail Fort
(1776), Jamestown
A Patriot six-gun battery or redoubt was begun in May 1776, but work was stopped after about a month in favor of a work at Beaver Head Point (actually Prospect Hill). No further military use of Beaver Tail Point is known during the war, although the British did utilize and guard the 1754 lighthouse here during their occupation.

Conanicut Battery (1) (Historic Park)
(1776 - 1779), Jamestown
A Patriot six-gun redoubt built in June 1776 on Prospect Hill. The British occupied the abandoned redoubt in December 1776, but no further use is known until the French fleet arrived in 1778. Regarrisoned by the British in July 1778, but armed with only two guns before it was abandoned after a brief French naval attack. Possibly reoccupied by the British after October 1778. The British erroneously referred to this site as Fox Hill Fort (2), but no use of the true Fox Hill further north at Beaver Head Point is known. Also known as Prospect Hill Fort (1) and as Beaver Head Battery in some sources. The current earthworks here are of British construction, located just south of Fort Getty Road on Battery Lane, overlooking the West Passage. The 22-acre town park was created in 1963, and was restored in 2002.

Also located here on the summit of Prospect Hill (just to the east of the redoubt) are six concrete observation stations (1921 - 1946) for the former gun batteries at nearby Fort Getty. The military acquired the site in 1916. (see also page 3)

Dutch Island Trading Post
(1630's), Dutch Island
A Dutch trading post was once located here. The island's name reflects that heritage.

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