American Revolution
"The Siege of Rhode Island, taken from Mr. Brindley's House, on the 25th of August, 1778." Engraved Print 1779
1779, Revolutionary War Period, Engraving Copper Plate Print titled, "The Siege of Rhode Island, taken from Mr. Brindley's House, on the 25th of August, 1778.", Very Fine.
Siege of Rhode Island Revolutionary War Engraving, measuring 8.75" x 9.25" with its original plate marks lightly embossed into the laid period paper with its fully wide outer margins. From February 1779 edition of the Gentleman's Magazine with two original vertical folds. The actual engraving sold here was printed on colonial rag paper in 1779 during the period of the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Rhode Island was the only battle in New England to occur between the Continental army and the British army. The siege of Rhode Island / Battle of Quaker Hill, took place on August 29th 1778. The scene depicted in this print shows the encampments of the American and British troops on Butt's, Quaker, and Turkey Hills at the northern end of the island, in present-day Portsmouth. The British staged an attack on the American position on Butt's Hill but were repulsed by the Americans.
The Battle of Rhode Island was the only battle in New England to occur between the Continental army and the British army.
Fought to dislodge the 7,000 British, Hessian, and provincial troops from their entrenched position in Newport during the month of August, the siege of Rhode Island culminated in the night of August 28, 1778, when the American army retreated from Aquidneck Island--it being the end of the month with militia enlistment expiring and British reinforcement known to be on the way from New York.