September 1776 Commemoration

Today, at the Federal Hall National Memorial, the National Park Service is commemorating September 1776 with a full day of costume interpretation, period music and a lecture by historian Barnett Schecter, author of "The Battle for New York." From Trenton New Jersey, members of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, Reenactors  and the Old Barracks Fife and Drums are participating. The 1st Rhode Island has appeared at several National Park Service to represent and tell the story of  black soldiers in the American Revolution.

Historically, at this point of the war, hundreds of blacks, mostly scattered among the New England regiments, fought for the patriot cause. Black enlistment, beside those who had fought at Bunker Hill, had been vehemently opposed in official circles, including Washington. However, in January 1776, the Continental Congress, under pressure from the enlistment of blacks by the British, gave permission for free blacks of Massachusetts, whose term of enlistment had expired, to re-enlist in the army of Cambridge.These and others, including slaves who substitued for their masters, rallied to the cause.

Every summer, The 1st Rhode Island regiment (a.k.a 6th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops) sponsors several youth to attend the Old Barracks' Summer Day Camp to learn about the American Revolution and life in Colonial times.

 Telling the Story of True Freedom Fighters