History

The 1st Rhode Island Infantry was organized on May 8, 1775. The eight companies in the regiment (men from Rhode Island’s Kings and Kent Counties) were placed under the command of Col. James Mitchell Varnum of East Greenwich, a founder and the first commander of the Kentish Guards. 

The 1st RI Infantry became known as Varnum’s Regiment, after its first commander. 

Shortly after its formation, Varnum’s Regiment participated in the Siege of Boston. While there, the Second Congressional Congress established the Continental Army, and Varnum’s Regiment became part of that Army within  days of its formation. 

Varnum’s Regiment went on to participate in the Battles of Bunker Hill (1775), Long Island (1776),Trenton (1776) and Princeton (1777). 

After Col. Varnum’s promotion to Brigadier General in late 1777, Col. Christopher Greene assumed command of the regiment. Under Greene’s command, the regiment fought at the Battle of Red Bank (1777)  and the Battle of Rhode Island (1778) . At the Battle of Pine Bridge in 1781, Col. Christopher Greene was killed, and Lt. Col. Jeremiah Olney became commander. 

Under Olney’s leadership, the regiment participated in the Siege of Yorktown (1781). 

In December of 1783, the regiment was positioned in Saratoga. The American Revolution came to an end, and the regiment was disbanded. Notably, the regiment was one of only a handful that had been active during the entirety of the Revolution.