Pennsylvania Archives volumes and not directly from original archival records. After the war he became the Commander of the First American Regiment, for a time they only infantry unit in the fledgling army of the independent United States. In March 1777, this indeed occurred. Huddy was captured but escaped on the way back . During this period, 135 men and officers were detached to Col. Daniel Morgan and participated in the Saratoga campaign as part of his rifle corps. Relieved in January 1777 from Stirling's Brigade. The Regiment was authorized on June 14, 1775 in the Continental Army as 6 separate companies of Pennsylvania Riflemen and assigned to the Main Army. Advancing his main force as support, Marion again ordered Horry to charge. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. Fairfax County, Brief History of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment of 1777. Substitute Fine was paid. On 22 July 1778 the regiment was re-assigned to the 2d Pennsylvania Brigade. The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion. who served in the war of the American Revolution, 1775-1783 Pennsylvania therefore adapted her fleet to shallow waters. Nothing will give me greater pleasure, than to do justice to your merit, and I shall miss no opportunity of declaring to Congress, the Commander-in-chief of the American Army, and to the world in general, the great sense I have of your merit and services. A separate article discussing the various form of military service during this conflict will be added in the near future. USA. Reorganized and redesignated on January 1, 1777 as the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, to consist of 8 companies. If you have Pennsylvania ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, you may be confused by the varying names for forms of service. Shortly afterward, the Regiment helped delay Cornwallis before the Battle of Princeton. Choosing escape, Watson abruptly wheeled his Regiment to the right and proceeded to move at a quick pace across fifteen miles of marsh and pine lands to the Santee Road. On June 30, 1775, the Provincial Assembly gave official recognition to the Associators and grouped their companies into battalions. December 19, 1777 - After an encampment of almost six weeks at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania the army moved into its winter quarters at Valley Forge where they would remain for the next six months. Supporting Army Rangers past, present, and future-RLTW. Explaining Pennsylvania's Militia - Journal of the American Mifflin' Brigade re-designated on October 8, 1776 as Stirling's Brigade. In December, the 2nd Pennsylvania returned to Morristown for another winter. In many instances, members of the militia gave no military service beyond occasional routine drill, and some escaped even that. Armand's remained a shell during 1781, but Lee had great success in the Carolinas carrying out those specific missions for which the 3-3 mix of mounted and dismounted troops had been designed. There, Marion waited, knowing that Watson would eventually appear. The 7th Pennsylvania fought at Middlebrook, New Jersey on June 17. A militiaman called for active duty who found such duty inconvenient was permitted to hire a Substitute to march and fight in his stead. [2] The only time Pennsylvania seems to have had any sort of basic militia prior to the draft is during the winter months of 1776 into 1777. Nine miles from Georgetown, the harried regiment approached the Sampit River. Northampton County Revolutionary War Militia The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 3d Pennsylvania Battalion. Membership in the Associators differed greatly from membership the militia, for, technically, enrollment in the Associators was voluntary, while membership in the militia was strictly compulsory with the obligation legally defined. 1 . This Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. Continental Regiments, 1st Pennsylvania Regiment 2d Pennsylvania Regiment 3d Pennsylvania Regiment 4th Pennsylvania Regiment 5th Pennsylvania Regiment 6th Pennsylvania Regiment 7th Pennsylvania Regiment 8th Pennsylvania Regiment 9th Pennsylvania Regiment 10th Pennsylvania Regiment 11th Pennsylvania Regiment 12th Pennsylvania Regiment 13th Pennsylvania Regiment Nelson's Independent Rifle Company William's Independent Company Morehead's Independent Company Weaver's Independent Company Pugh's Independent Company Doyle's Independent Rifle Company Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion Carlisle Independent Companies State Militia Units. Congress passed the first national conscription act in the country's history. The Pennsylvania State Regiment of Foot was organized at the end of April, 1777, from the men and officers of Miles's rifle battalion and Atlee's musketry battalion. Formed in 1780 as a result of the brutality of British General Cornwallis severe measures, this unit was commanded by Brigadier General Francis Marion, considered by many to be one of the boldest and most dashing figures of the American Revolution. Undaunted by the destroyed bridge or the rebels fire, the lead guardsmen closed column and plunged across the river. During the battle, Colonel Miles, Atlee and Lt. Many of the men who served in 1776 reenlisted and to these were added new recruits to fill out the regiment. Pierce's Certificates. In this contest "Lord Sterling's Division & particularly Conway's Brigade" were seen to have "remarkably distinguished themselves." Many men listed on company rosters never drilled, and tens of thousands enrolled in the militia never experienced a single day of active duty. Col. DeHaas was promoted to a brigadier general in February and was replaced by Col. James Irvine, who resigned in June. RevWar Progressive This time, the question of military service was no longer optional. Other units in the Continental Army either used the term ranger in their designation or were commonly called rangers, but did not serve in that capacity in the traditional sense. Northumberland County Revolutionary War Militia Upper Division Associators, 24 January 1776 Commanding Officers: Col. unknown They spent the winter at Valley Forge and fought at the battle of Monmoth on June 28, 1778. Relieved on November 14, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the. On October 14, under pressure from the British rejoined the main force at Ticonderoga. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. American Revolutionary War From Bedford County Despite the fact that a totally comprehensive collection is not available, a number of rosters of Patriots of the American Revolutionary War from Bedford County, Pennsylvania have survived. On the brink of war, the Continental Congress passed a resolution on 14 June 1775, on what is known as Flag Day, that six companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia. From these beginnings of the Continental Army, a group of expert riflemen composed of hardy frontiersmen were formed in 1777 into an organization George Washington referred to as The Corps of Rangers. The U.S. Army Ranger history predates the Revolutionary War. The four regiments of light dragoons transformed into combined arms Legionary Corps composed of four mounted and two dismounted troops; the various partisan elements consolidated into two Partisan Corps, each with three mounted and three dismounted troops. Each partisan unit in the Continental Army, however, had a unique organizational structure. Colonel Stewart called his regiment the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Regiment in his weekly return of October 27, and it was so designated and officially added to the Continental Line by a resolution of the Continental Congress dated November 12, 1777. For line troops, neither the type of service rendered nor the term of enlistment was uniform. Comment: Adapted here with some reformating, and standardization, Links to person articles to be added as they come available. Capt. On these permanent billet rolls the men in each company were listed as being either part of the first class, second class, third class, etc. Late that afternoon, he bivouacked south of Nelsons Ferry. An attempt to move the cannon and depress the muzzles led to the crews being run off by the highly accurate fire of the sharpshooters. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment. October 28, 1776 The Battle of White Plains. The Regiment was authorized on January 30, 1776 in the continental Army as Capt. The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 2d Pennsylvania Battalion. Within the formation were the wagons, periodically stopping to gather more wounded or dead. Organized between January 31- August 19, 1777 at Lancaster as Capt. (sic)They are officially uniformed in a blue regimental coat with red lining and facing and pewter buttons inscribed PSR. November 30, 2006 by Trevor. President Joe Biden signed a presidential determination authorizing the use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities to rebuild and expand the nations domestic hypersonics industrial base. Many of the Invalids were subsequently pensioned. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 - Ancestry The west bank was a high bluff with the roadway passing down through a ravine to the bridge. This Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. At least one company of the regiment joined in the assaults on the Chew House and lost a number of men. United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 FamilySearch Under the provisions of the Militia Law, the men called up for active duty were automatically assigned to companies whose numbers were different from their own company numbers on the permanent billet rolls. Online Revolutionary War Indexes and Records - Military Indexes In the meantime, the regiment was commanded by the senior officer present for duty, Maj. William Williams. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Valcour Island, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Springfield. From there it moved to Morristown, New Jersey, for the encampment in Jockey Hollow where it endured the most brutal winter of the 18th Century. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The Regiment was authorized on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. The Flying Camp? The regiment was in combat again on September 20 when, with the rest of Wayne's division, it was surprised at Paoli. Following the British practice of calling a regiment after its commander, this battalion came to be called Thompson's Rifle Battalion. They took part in campaigns against the Indian towns in northwest Pennsylvania in concert with the Sullivan/Clinton campaign, and again against the hostile Indians in southeast Ohio. The history of Army Rangers from 1775 to now An Official Pennsylvania Government Website. During the 1777 campaign, the regiment split, with the smaller rifle corps joining Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates at Saratoga. and assigned to the. By March 30, four of the companies had arrived at the American lines in front of Quebec, but before the remainder could come up the attack on the city was abandoned and the battalion started the slow retreat back to New York. Here the regiment shared the sufferings of the Continental Line, trained in Von Steuben's new manual of arms and brought itself up to strength. These sharpshooters were proving to be so successful that Watson felt compelled by noon to redeploy his regiment to a large open field about a half-mile away. Sending forth his Loyalist cavalry to cross the causeway, Marion met the charge with one of his own led by Peter Horry and his mounted men. Congress called for a Flying Camp to serve under General George Washington. The Regiment was authorized on April 8, 1777 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as Capt. In contrast, however, they received uniforms and arms from the state. For an account of the arrangement and operations of the Pennsylvania Line soldiers see Militias were paid out of Pennsylvania's then-functioning provincial treasury. The financial difficulties of the new government, difficulties that lasted into the 1790's, complicated the payment of troops. For the 2nd Class, the colonel of the 2nd Battalion, lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion, and major of the 4th Battalion entered service in command of the 2nd Class active-duty battalion. It was organized during the spring of 1777 to consist of eight companies of volunteers from Westmoreland, Lancaster, Chester, Philadelphia and Cumberland counties of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Maybe they were militia or Rangers. Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872 from NARA microfilm publication T718. On June 7, it fought at Connecticut Farms and on June 21 was at "the blockhouse" at Bergen Hts., where it joined the First Pennsylvania Regiment in a gallant but futile headlong charge on a sturdy Loyalist fortification despite the attempts of the officers to restrain the men. Re-designated on June 22, 1775 as the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment. The Pine Tree Shilling. As circumstances would have it, Rogers, who had never earned the trust of those like George Washington, sought and received a commission from Great Britain, consequently raising and leading the Queens Rangers and Kings Rangers during the American Revolution, flying the Union Jack of Great Britain rather then the red, white, and blue colors of the newly declared American colonies. Allen, William; lieutenant in Colonel Timothy Green's battalion, 1776; wounded at White Plains. Consolidated and reorganized on July 1, 1778 with the. Bucks County Associators and a chart showing how the units were organized is available. Were your ancestors part of the Pennsylvania Line? The American leadership stressed the ideas of Maurice, comte de Saxe and the comte de Guibert, two leading French military theorists, which advocated cross-training every soldier to perform both line or light infantry roles to allow mission flexibility. Men From the Turloch Militia who Joined Kings Royal Rangers of New York and Butler's Rangers; 1778 List of Men From Pennsylvania who joined the British Army. When the classes were called up, each captain would deliver a notice to each man's dwelling or place of business. Watson rode back to rally his men only to have his horse shot from under him. After each tour of duty was completed, all of the privates and the company and field officers were returned to their permanent battalion billets. Under the provisions of the Militia Act, each individual summmoned had the right to file an appeal asking that their service be delayed and some successfuly avoided service by repeatedly filing appeals. Having suffered so many casualties, by November 1, the 7th Pennsylvania only had 17 officers and 105 men fit for duty. September 11, 1777 - Stirling's Division takes part in the action on the right of Washington's army during the battle of Brandywine. Search Connecticut Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from The National Archives, Search Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served from Connecticut in the American Army During the Revolution from The National Archives. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (M246), and other historical records. Rangers, who served long enlistments on the frontier against the Indians. Robert Rogers of New Hampshire organized a corps of New England woodsmen as full-time Provincials directly under British military auspices and paid out of British funds. During this assault one regiment, possibly the 6th Pennsylvania attacked the pickets at Mount Airy. Refusal to turn out for military exercises would result in a fine, the proceeds from which were used to hire substitutes. Pennsylvania, Furloughed on June 11, 1783 at Philadelphia. Later that evening, one of Marions scouts reconnoitered the camp and rode off to warn his brigadier. March 5, 1776 The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish: The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, know as Miles's Regiment, was to consist of two battalions of six companies of seventy-eight enlisted men, armed with rifles: The State Battalion of Musketry, known as Atless's Battalion, was to consist of eight companies of fifty-eight enlisted men, armed with muskets. In fact, Major General Friedrich von Steuben wrote a separate drill manual for them in late 1780. During the summer, the 11th Pennsylvania was assigned to the 2d Brigade of Anthony Wayne's division. During this time the brigade under General Thomas Conway, to which the 6th Regiment belonged, was reputed to be "the best instructed and disiplined" in the army. For all intents the Regiment ceased to exist. Various state governments did employ such units for local frontier security, but the Continental Army formed very few, in part because George Washington considered frontier security to be a local responsibility and focused national military forces on opposing regular British and German units in a formal battlefield context. With less than 200 troops remaining, the consolidated troops are assigned to Brig. After spending the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge with the other regiments of the Pennsylvania Line, the 11th Pennsylvania took part in the campaign across New Jersey which followed. With his men in a panic and the number of wounded and suffering growing, Watson shelved his pride and addressed a letter to Marion not only requesting permission to send seven of his most seriously wounded through the lines but once again alluding to the fact that Watson believed Marion was conducting himself in a manner contrary to civilized war. Samuel Morehead's Independent Company, an element of the. The 6th Pennsylvania was then posted there for the next three months and was involved in several brushes with the British. He and Washington intended it to be the companion to the famous "Blue Book", but operational factors prevented its publication and distribution. Undaunted, the British Regulars held their ground, unlimbered their field cannon, and repelled the attack. The Thirteenth was incorporated with the Second Pennsylvania, July 1, 1778. The item Washington County, Pa., Frontier Rangers, 1781-1782 : Washington County, Pa., Rangers, Revolutionary War burials of Greene County, Pa., Revolutionary War burials of Washington County, Pa., compiled by Paul W. Myers represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Indiana State Library. The Regiment then marched to Tappan to bolster the Garrison at Ticonderoga after Arnold's defection. In January 1776, the eight companies of the newly-formed battalion began leaving the state to participate in Benedict Arnold's ill-fated attempt to capture Quebec. The 1st Continentals also participated in the battles at Fort Washington, Harlem Heights, and White Plains. Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Philadelphia City and Berks, Chester, Philadelphia and Northumberland Counties. based on information from your browser. Weve updated the security on the site. The cat and mouse advance continued on the far bank. It halted the British attack but was itself compelled to retire under subsequent artillery fire. Military Association, a civilian reserve designed to repel invasion. Ages ranged from sixteen to sixty years. These nine companies were to form a battalion to be commanded by Col. William Thompson of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Church (1639-1718) of Massachusetts developed a special full-time unit mixing white colonists selected for frontier skills with friendly Indians to carry out offensive strikes against hostile Indians in terrain where normal militia units were ineffective. Rangers committed to prolonged enlistment periods and rather than fight the war for independence, they patrolled Pennsylvania's western frontier, often fending off Indian attacks. Conway's Brigade continued at attack and eventually drove "the enemy a mile and a half below Chew's house" before being forced to retire. Roster01.htm - Bedford The men in each battalion elected their own field officers who carried the rank of colonel, lieutenant colonel and major and these officers were then commissioned by the state and expected to serve for three years. The infantry moved at a trot the entire way, stopping only to fire a volley to their rear. Revolutionary War General. 21 Thacher, James, Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, pp. Organization was territorial, so that normally a company consisted of men from a single township, while a battalion included all the Associators of several neighboring townships. Mother Bedford - The Pennsylvania Frontier Of The 1700s In enrollment, it probably never numbered as many as one thousand men. An attack against Morgan and his crack shots by a British force of 1,100 men would result in a brilliant double envelopment that has been called by historians the American Cannae. The British defeat was total with over 110 soldiers killed and 830 captured. This was the decisive point of the campaign that required Marion to attack. (When an individual filed an appeal, they could also, however, be placed into a later class.) After the British attacked at Long Island, the 1st Continental Regiment covered the retreat the American army. Relieved on May 19, 1778 from the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the. Marion knew that if he did not continue to press, theyd be back with a vengeance. Many members of the Pennsylvania Navy were entitled to and received Depreciation pay certificates, and, rather curiously, some were paid off with Certificates of the Funded or Militia Debt. For most counties, the town or township from which each of the companies were recruited is also given when known. Strafford County, On New Year's Day, 1781, members of the 6th Pennsylvania joined the mutiny of the Pennsylvania regiments then quartered at Morristown. Union County, None of the light units employed by the Continental Army carried out a training role as Rogers' Rangers had during the French and Indian War. Only Elisha Sheldon's 2d Legionary Corps (a Connecticut unit serving in 1781 in the West Point-Westchester County zone) fully exploited the possibilities of the combined arms structure. In the Western Department, the unit helped construct and garrison Fort McIntosh on the Beaver River, and Fort Laurens on the Tuscarawas. Flying Camps were what we today might call mobile military reserves. It performed excellently in a light infantry role at the battle of Harlem Heights on 16 September 1776, but Knowlton suffered a mortal wound. Brinkerhoff, Jacob; ensign, Captain Williams' company, Colonel Michael Swope's battalion of the flying camp; in service, 1776. Subsequently, management of these troops was assumed by the Continental Congress. Lower Bridge was only twelve miles away. And, they were still separate from the militias sanctioned by Pennsylvania's Provincial Assembly. The young officer, nicknamed "The Irish Beauty" by the ladies of Philadelphia, was a close friend of Anthony Wayne's and well acquainted with Washington as well. At Brandywine, the women of the 6th Pennsylvania were cited for their bravery under fire while bringing water to the men. It should be noted that these fines were not necessarily intended to be punitive. They were either used to augment the operations of the Continental Line such as when some of the Associators accompanied General Washington in crossing the Delaware in January 1777. A quick fight ensued with heavy firing. In Pennsylvania, the Associators once again stepped up to fill these roles, but the cost and commitment of their near continuous service were growing burdensome. The 5th Pennsylvania Regiment was raised December 9, 1775 at Chester, Pennsylvania for service with the Continental Army. In the mid 1700s, Capt. The sharpshooters were placed at the abutment where they had the clearest shot at the far end of the bridge while the remaining musketeers secured their flanks. At Morristown, during the winter of 1780-81, the 7th Pennsylvania was involved in a mutiny with other Pennsylvania Regiments after which the unit was disbanded.