Black Commandos and Rhode island fighters

By: Charity DuPont & Alexander

Kaufman

Black Commandos

Black Commandos

• In December 1776, the second in command of the American Army was captured.

• His name was General Charles Lee and was captured by the British.

• In order to have a fair prisoner exchange, the American Army has to have a British General to have a fair exchange.

Black Commandos Continued • Lt Col. William Barton made a plan that was

dangerous.• His plan to have his men slip past the British

forces at Newport, Rhode Island.• They would enter British camps and capture

General Richard Prescott in his quarters and return him to American territory.

Black Commandos Continued• Lt Col. Barton Barton picked forth elite

soldiers most was black and white. • Waiting till midnight the group loaded

into small boats and went past British warships.

• They landed near the General Headquarters and they broke down the door and grabbed him.

Black Commandos Cont• They safely returned with Prescott to the

American lines where they exchanged for the second in command of the American Army.

• The daring act of Sisson is still celebrated to this day.

Rhode Island Fighters

• The first Rhode Island Regiment consisted of 125 black patriots.

• Most of them were free and others were slaves.

• The commander of the Regiment was Colonel Christopher Greene.

• The Regiment was created during Valley Forge.

Rhode Island Fighters Cont• When reinforcements failed to arrive during

the battle, the Americans were forced to retreat.

• During the retreat the First Rhode Island thrust themselves between the retreating Americans and the British and Hessians (German mercenaries that worked for the British)

Rhode Island Fighters Cont• The First Rhode Island Regiment

inflicted heavy casualties to the British and the Hessians.

• Following the battle, the Hessian commander asked to be transferred to a different location for fear his soldiers might shoot him.

Legacy • Blacks had a bigger role in Victory

during the Revolutionary war.• Blacks helped fight in the Civil war

(Massachusetts 54th)• They were also in WW1 and WW2• They were in the Korean and Vietnam

war• They serve in the U.S Military today

in the war against Terrorist.

Pictures of Blacks during the American Revolution

Pictures of Rhode Island Fightersduring the American Revolution