Leonard T. Koonce 
Community Submission
We often hear about the fate of the American soldier during the Revolutionary War. However, we rarely hear about the lives of British soldiers, especially those stationed in Rhode Island during the three years British forces occupied Aquidneck Island.
For its first lecture of the year, the Battle of Rhode Island Association and the Butts Hill Fort Restoration Committee are pleased to announce a lecture by acclaimed author Don N. Hagist. Don lives in Providence and has researched the Revolutionary War extensively with particular emphasis on the lives of British soldiers who served in the war. Don’s speech will focus specifically on the lives of the soldiers who occupied Rhode Island from 1776 to 1779.
This unique presentation will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday April 14, 2022 at the historic Portsmouth Friends Meeting House, which was occupied by British troops prior to the Battle of Rhode Island and was a prominent landmark during the fighting. It is located at 2232 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI. A large number of parking spaces are available.
Prior to Mr. Hagist’s speech, Jim Garman, Portsmouth City Historian, will provide a brief introduction to the history of the Meeting House.
The conference is open to the public free of charge; however, donations are welcome. No reservations are required, but those planning to attend are asked to let Nancy Crawford know at [email protected]
Meet the author
Don N. Hagist is editor of the Journal of the American Revolution (allthingsliberty.com). His historical studies focus on presenting an accurate picture of individual soldiers and their families, especially those of the British Army who served in America. This research is conducted using exclusively primary sources, including regimental muster rolls, personal accounts, pension records, order books and a wide range of other archival material. His most recent books, Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who fight the American Revolution (Westholme, 2020), The Revolution’s Last Men: The Soldiers behind the Photographs (Westholme, 2015) and These Distinguished Corps: British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution (Helion, 2022), are available at major bookstores. Don is an engineer for a major medical device manufacturer and writes for several well-known unionized and freelance cartoonists.
