<Li> Tryon's raid (Norwalk) </Li> <Li> Fort St. George </Li> <P> The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Battle of Newport) took place on August 29, 1778 . Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan had been besieging the British forces in Newport, Rhode Island, which is situated on Aquidneck Island, but they had finally abandoned their siege and were withdrawing to the northern part of the island . The British forces then sortied, supported by recently arrived Royal Navy ships, and they attacked the retreating Americans . The battle ended inconclusively, but the Continental forces withdrew to the mainland and left Aquidneck Island in British hands . </P> <P> The battle was the first attempt at cooperation between French and American forces following France's entry into the war as an American ally . Operations against Newport were planned in conjunction with a French fleet and troops, but they were frustrated in part by difficult relations between the commanders, as well as by a storm that damaged both French and British fleets shortly before joint operations were to begin . </P>

Why did the battle of rhode island happen