Verplanck’s Point
Rhode Island Regiment
Take a closer look at the anchor-decorated colonnade of the Rhode Island Regiment. The Rhode Islanders’ tents were set up between the Massachusetts and Connecticut brigades. An officer’s marquee tent is visible in the foreground of this section of the painting.
Image: Museum of the American Revolution, Gift of the Landenberger Family Foundation
Notice the anchor on this colonnade. These are the tents of the Rhode Island Regiment. The anchor is the state symbol of Rhode Island. In 1782, the Rhode Island Regiment included nine companies, two of which were composed entirely of soldiers of African and Native American descent led by white officers. Most regiments in the Continental Army featured far fewer soldiers of color.
See a portrait of a Rhode Island soldier Take a closer lookNine regiments, or nearly 3,500 troops, from Massachusetts comprised the largest representation of soldiers from a single state at Verplanck’s Point. The tents seen here belonged to the 6th and 9th Massachusetts Regiments.
See a portrait of an officer from the 9th Massachusetts RegimentQuartermaster General Timothy Pickering oversaw the Continental Army supplies while on the campaign. At Verplanck’s Point, Pickering had to lay out the camp, move supplies, keep track of livestock, and regulate sutlers.
Take a closer look Learn more about Timothy PickeringHorses and oxen helped the Continental Army move supply wagons and cannons from place to place. Officers and cavalrymen also rode horses. To keep track of them, all the valuable horses used to pull artillery at Verplanck’s Point were required to be returned to their pens each night. The camp’s guards were also ordered to keep watch for stray livestock.
Take a closer look