I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 363 
To award a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island 
Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolu-
tionary War. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2015 
Mr. 
CICILLINE
(for 
himself, 
Mr. 
BECERRA, 
Ms. 
BORDALLO, 
Mr. 
BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. COSTA, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. HAS-
TINGS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. POLIQUIN, Mr. 
RANGEL, and Ms. SEWELL of Alabama) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 
First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their 
dedicated service during the Revolutionary War. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘First Rhode Island 
Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) During the winter of Valley Forge, from 
1777–1778, the Continental Army had difficulty re-
cruiting the necessary quotas of men set by the Con-
gress. 
(2) At the same time, the State of Rhode Island 
was ordered to supply two battalions while faced 
with the occupation of the City of Newport by the 
British. 
(3) In January 1778, at the urging of Brigadier 
General James Varnum, General George Washington 
wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of the State of 
Rhode Island requesting assistance recruiting men 
for the Continental Line. 
(4) On February 14, 1778, the Rhode Island 
General Assembly voted to allow the enlistment of 
‘‘every able-bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man 
slave’’. 
(5) In addition, the Rhode Island General As-
sembly provided that any enlisted slave ‘‘upon his 
passing muster before Colonel Christopher Greene, 
be immediately discharged from the service of his 
master or mistress, and be absolutely free as though 
he had never been incumbered and be incumbered 
with any kind of servitude or slavery.’’. 
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(6) As a result, between February 1778 and 
June 1778, Colonel Christopher Greene, Lt. Colonel 
Jeremiah Olney and Major Samuel Ward recruited 
almost 200 men of African and Native American de-
scent who formed the core of the First Rhode Island 
Regiment. 
(7) The First Rhode Island Regiment became 
among the first units in American History in which 
men of every race and ethnicity were recruited to 
serve. 
(8) On August 28, 1778, at the Battle of 
Rhode Island, following an attempted siege of Brit-
ish-occupied Newport along with the newly allied 
French fleet, the First Rhode Island Regiment acted 
heroically in holding back Hessian forces and caus-
ing them to retreat. 
(9) During the Battle of Rhode Island, the 
First Rhode Island Regiment’s losses included three 
killed, nine wounded and eleven missing soldiers. 
(10) For an additional 5 years, the First Rhode 
Island Regiment fought bravely to win American 
independence including at Fort Oswego, Saratoga, 
and Yorktown. 
(11) On June 13, 1783, at Saratoga, the First 
Rhode Island Regiment was demobilized. 
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