The regiment was disbanded on January 17, 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey. This was in spite of the fact that he "is detested by the officer's of his brigade because he makes his brigade work and personally drills and instructs it, instead of leaving it idle in camp. The financial difficulties of the new government, difficulties that lasted into the 1790's, complicated the payment of troops. They also fought at Bergen Neck. 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. Home Battles 1775 to 1783 Campaigns Continental Army Continental Navy British Army Flags of the Revolution War Facts War Leaders Patriot Leaders British Leaders In March 1777, this indeed occurred. This was the second unit raised by the state (the first was "The Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion") and was enrolled for a term of one year. [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. Company returns, battalion returns, and brigade returns were nearly always filled out on standard printed forms when these were available. Colonel John Bull was appointed colonel on May 2, 1777, but was succeeded on June 17 by Colonel Walter Stewart. Pennsylvania Militia and a chart showing how the units were organized is available. August 25-27, 1776 The Battle of Long Island. In the spring of 1777, the Regiment was assigned to Brig. When active service occurred, it would have been for only sixty days at a time. Under Stewart it operated along the New York-New Jersey border and moved to Middlebrook, New Jersey, in early December for the winter of 1778-79. The names of those who actually turned out for muster duty would then appear on company muster rolls listing the men in their new arrangement. The regiment was furloughed, on June 11, 1783, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and disbanded on November 15, 1783. Remainder of Regiment reorganized and re-designated on January 1, 1777 as the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, an element of the, Relieved on July 18, 1778 from the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the, New York Brigade relieved on May 24, 1779 from the, Relieved on August 24, 1779 from the New York Brigade and assigned to Hand's Brigade, an element of the, Relieved on August 1, 1780 from Hand's Brigade and assigned to 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, an element of the. 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. Keystone State. Relieved on August 31, 1776 from Stirling's Brigade and assigned to Mifflin's Brigade, an element of the. The regiment was raised in Cumberland and York counties (companies G and H). The 6th Pennsylvania was then posted there for the next three months and was involved in several brushes with the British. Lee particularly shined when his regulars stiffened the irregular local forces of leaders like Francis ("Swamp Fox") Marion. In 1780, the 7th Pennsylvania was part of a force which defended against a Hessian attack on New Bridge, New Jersey on April 16, 1780 and then at Paramus. The Regiment was authorized on October 12, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion. The 1st Pennsylvania was considered an elite unit and was given the post of honor on the right of the line. Soon, though, just as Marion had expected, the guardsmen wheeled around and made their way back to the Kingstree intersection. The financial difficulties of the new government, difficulties that lasted into the 1790's, complicated the payment of troops. Before daybreak, Marion roused his men and deployed his troops. Organized on January 2- late March 1776 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from eastern Pennsylvania. In 1776, the state's Provincial Assembly was replaced by a General Assembly and a new Pennsylvania constitution. All males aged 20 to 45 - including immigrants seeking citizenship - had to register for the draft. Re-designated on June 22, 1775 as the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment. In 1747, Ben Franklin (only 39 years of age at the time) created the Philadelphia Militia Association, a completely volunteer force totalling 10,000 enrollees. As Marions men turned back from the fires, Watson loaded two wagons with wounded. Capt. The Regiment was authorized on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. Relieved on November 14, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the. The Pennsylvanians assigned to the fort, mostly from the Musket Battalion, are among those captured. The mix of mounted and dismounted men gave it somewhat greater staying power in independent firefights while also allowing rapid forced marches (each light infantryman held on to a dragoon's stirrups). June 26, 1777 - As part of Lord Stirling's Division the regiment probably joined the army in time to participate in the battle of Short Hills. An Official Pennsylvania Government Website. As the advance guard made its way across the river, Marion fell upon the rear guard. 1st United States President, Revolutionary War Mount Vernon, 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. Two lieutenants were mortally wounded here and a number of men killed. November 16, 1776 - Formerly known as the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion the entire unit was captured at Fort Washington, New York. In offensive operations they became scouts and guides, locating targets (such as villages) for task forces drawn from the militia or other colonial troops. The 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment had its origins in a unit established on October 12, 1775, and designated "The First Pennsylvania Battalion." Soon, the British regiment marched into view. Relieved on April 27, 1776 from Green's Brigade and assigned to the. Please enter your email and password to sign in. List of regimental, company and militia units from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1782, including infantry, cavalry and artillery units. Bucks County Associators and a chart showing how the units were organized is available. The Regiment was authorized on July 11, 1776 in the Continental Army as a Battalion for frontier defense in the, Designated on July 20, 1776 as Mackay's Battalion. Miscellaneous private papers relating to the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection, World War I, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and peacetime military service. 14 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Volume Reel 0822 American Revolutionary War Service Records; Soldiers--United States--Registers Pennsylvania, Seventh Battalion (Cumberland County Militia), Seventh Regiment: A -F With less than 200 troops remaining, the consolidated troops are assigned to Brig. The Pennsylvania Riflemen are sent to the left near Flatbush and the Musketeers are sent to the right with General Alexander. With little winter clothing and half their muskets unservicable, the men struggled by foot, sloop, and bateaux into Canada, their strength sharply reduced by sickness. The Regiment was authorized on January 4, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion. For this reason, a particular private might be listed in a different battalion in 1781 than he was in 1778 but this does not necessarily mean that he was transferred between units or changed residence. November 12, 1777 The Pennsylvania State Regiment is officially designated the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. Consolidated and reorganized on July 1, 1778 with the. Under the Militia Act of 1777, the numbering of the militia units changed every three years though the composition of each unit recruited from a given area tended to remain more or less the same except for casualties and new recruits. Associators remained independent of the Continental (Pennsylvania) Line which was comprised of regular, enlisted infantrymen. It was here that they received a new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harmar, on the 1st of January 1778. A man who failed to report for drill merely paid an The regiment was officially disbanded in January, 1783, although in reality, no regiment had existed since 1781. "Light Horse Harry" Lee of Virginia (the father of Robert E. Lee) raised the only American-born unit under this concept. Due to bad tactics, the unit took the heaviest losses in the engagement. Relieved on May 19, 1778 from the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the. 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. On Sept. 1, 1780, Tye's brigade raided the Colts Neck home of Capt. Similar groups, commonly known as Associators, soon sprang up in surrounding counties. He and Washington intended it to be the companion to the famous "Blue Book", but operational factors prevented its publication and distribution. Supporting Army Rangers past, present, and future-RLTW. Col. Henry Bicker was appointed in his place but did not actually join the regiment until the following October. USA. As such, they were subject to the orders of the Provincial Assembly. Like the Associators, they were volunteers. Occasionally, militia reinforcements from Cumberland, Lancaster, and York counties would be brought in to reinforce these frontiers as occurred in the summer of 1778. Organized in between March 7- May 29, 1776 at Markus Hook, to consist of the 1st Battalion (6 companies) from Philadelphia City and Bucks, Bedford, York, Norhampton and Northumberland Counties; and the 2nd Battalion (6 companies) from Berks, Cumberland, Lancaster and Westmoreland Counties. Safely camped in the vicinity of Georgetown later that evening, Watson was extremely bitter, complaining that Marion and his men would not sleep and fight like gentlemen. Instead, like savages, they were eternally firing and whooping around us by night, and by day waylaying and popping at us from behind every tree! Marion and his partisan group of uncivilized American militia had soundly defeated the Buffs Regiment, one of the finest fighting combat units in the world. These concerns were overcome and the regiment joined the army later in the month. Minute Men, on call for special duty at short notice, but no evidence of the existence of such a corps in Pennsylvania survives. 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. An online listing of officers in the In certain counties there were recruited special troops calledRangers, who served long enlistments on the frontier against the Indians. Redesignated on September 16, 1776 as the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment. Rogers wrote the 19 standing orders that are still in use today. They spent the winter at Valley Forge and fought at the battle of Monmoth on June 28, 1778. Organized in between September 28- December 18, 1776 at Sunbury to consist of 8 companies from Northampton, Berks, Cumberland and Northumberland Counties. Inspite of the the heavy loss of life at Paoli the Regiment fought on October 4, 1777 at Germantown. 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. 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. In their place came a complex system of county battalion classes and officers whose seniority was chosen by the drawing of lots. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. To avoid capture, nearly all its vessels were sunk in the spring of 1778. Relieved on May 22, 1777 from Stirling's Brigade and assigned to the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, an element of the. (When an individual filed an appeal, they could also, however, be placed into a later class.) January to June 1777 - During this period the unit was reorganized as the 6th Regiment with Colonel Henry Bicker as its commander. Revolutionary War Records at FamilySearch. He was an able leader with a reputation of taking care of the welfare of his men. Also important to understand is that the 1777 Militia Act automatically expired in 1780 and was immediately replaced by a new Militia Act that also lasted for three years and was superceded by a third Militia Act in 1783. Watson was cut off from outside information, for his messengers could not break through Marions cordon. Unfortunately, neither this stick nor the carrot achieved the desired results. Revolutionary War PA Colonial Rangers 14 memorials Pvt James Chambers 19 May 1761 - 16 May 1780 Lewis Cemetery Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA PVT George Etzweiler unknown - 26 May 1780 Pvt George Etzweiler Burial Site Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA PVT John Forster Jr. unknown - 16 May 1780 Lewis Cemetery During the Revolutionary War, Western Pennsylvania saw much fighting between American soldiers and British rangers and their Indian allies. March 1, 1777 The Pennsylvania State Regiment is officially activated as a unit. The County Lieutenants ensured that militia units turned out for military exercises, provided the militia units with arms and equipment at the expense of the state, located substitutes for those who declined to serve, and assessed and collected the militia fines. There is no particular record that the unit was involved in any fighting that summer, but in October, 1779, it had 452 officers and men with Wayne at West Point. A quick fight ensued with heavy firing. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. On 22 July 1778 the regiment was re-assigned to the 2d Pennsylvania Brigade. Thousands of militiamen returned from tours of active duty unpaid, bearing only a slip signed by a commanding officer. Watson and his men remained where they were, subsisting off the plantation, gathering from those homes around them anything else they needed. Member of the first and second continental Durham, Marion was located past Murrys Ferry. For an account of the arrangement and operations of the Pennsylvania Line soldiers see Later that evening, one of Marions scouts reconnoitered the camp and rode off to warn his brigadier. For line troops, neither the type of service rendered nor the term of enlistment was uniform. Lower Bridge was only twelve miles away. New Hampshire, Substitute Fine was paid. Though they held military titles, these were actually civilian officers not to be confused with the military officers holding the same ranks in the Continental Army. Swamp to his left and right, passage blocked to the front and Marion closing in from the rear, Watson had to quickly choose whether to flee or fight. PHMC. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Gen. Anthony Wayne's Division. Re-designated the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment and with such a large number of re-enlisting veterans, the unit was ready for duty in a very short time. 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. At the beginning of 1775, Pennsylvania, founded under Quaker auspices, differed from other American colonies in being totally devoid of military organization. Col. DeHaas was promoted to a brigadier general in February and was replaced by Col. James Irvine, who resigned in June. Hiding in his lair on Peyres Plantation or Snows Island by day and stealthily emerging at night to strike around midnight, Marion and his men would wreak havoc on British units from White Marsh to Black Mingo before fading once again into the morasses of the Santee or Peedee Rivers. It was Maxwell's command which fought the delaying action at Iron Hill on September 3, 1777, when Lt. Col. Francis Gurney was wounded. The few present were able to man a section of the army's first line of defense at Whitemarsh in early December, before moving with the rest of Washington's forces into the legendary winter encampment at Valley Forge. Instead, it protected itself with the passage of temporary laws authorizing organized militias. Provision was made for recruiting from the ranks of Associators in each county a small corps of Perry County, The militia did provide a significant defensive force patrolling the south side of the Schuylkill River and engaged in occasional clashes with British outposts and scouting parties including heavy skirmishes at Whitemarsh on December 7. October 28, 1776 The Battle of White Plains. The 7th Pennsylvania fought at Middlebrook, New Jersey on June 17. Unfortunately, when redemption came many of the original holders had long since sold their certificates at heavy discounts. Only during a brief period in the winter of 1777-1778 did the Continental Army experiment with the idea of employing them as a shock force. To cross it would put Watson deep within the heartland of the Whig resistance. This Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. "Pennsylvania Rifle: Revolutionary Weapon in a Conventional War." Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 103 (July 1979), pp. After the British attacked at Long Island, the 1st Continental Regiment covered the retreat the American army. During the Seven Years' War most European armies developed partisan corps (also called frei korps). Militia fines became an important source of revenue. The regiment lost two men wounded in this action. Reorganized on July 1, 1778 to consist of 9 companies. Associators patterned essentially upon groups which had existed briefly in 1747-1748 and again after Braddock's defeat in 1755. Donation Land in certain western counties, land that remained free from taxation so long as the soldier lived and retained ownership. Taking refuge in forests and swamps, for which he earned the appellation the Swamp Fox from his enemies, Marions brigade kept the British off-balance with quick movements that captured British troops, destroyed supplies, and disrupted lines of communications. Marion and his men had won the days skirmish. 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. Furloughed on January 17, 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey. Diarist Joseph Plumb Martin described him as "an excellent officer, much beloved and respected by the troops of the Line he belonged to.". Following a disastrous expedition to Quebec, Canada, and his subsequent capture and parole as a prisoner, Morgan was appointed a colonel of a rifle regiment. In June the men refused to report at camp for duty as they thought they were still on parole and had not been properly exchanged. Sullivan in his campaign against the Iroquois in western Pennsylvania. Flying Camp from among the Pennsylvania Associators who took part in the New Jersey campaign in 1776. In pursuit was Peter Horry, firing on the retreating forms from every bush and thicket. Marions response was to once again reiterate his position that he was only responding in kind to British transgressions. Black regimental hats are bound up in yellow.Records of deserters in 1777-78 show however, men clad in various color regimental coats and hunting shirts. In this contest "Lord Sterling's Division & particularly Conway's Brigade" were seen to have "remarkably distinguished themselves." Seventy men, thirty of whom were sharpshooters, were dispatched to ride ahead to secure and hold the Lower Bridge under Major James. Mounting a second animal, he ordered his artillery to open fire with grapeshot. The Regiment was authorized on April 8, 1777 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as Capt. 1st Continental Regiment. Undaunted, the British Regulars held their ground, unlimbered their field cannon, and repelled the attack. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Military Records Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary War 1st Pennsylvania Regiment Brief History Also known as the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion and Thompson's Rifle Battalion. Contrary to myth, the light troops in the Continental Army overwhelmingly followed European doctrinal concepts. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion. Though the act provided exemptions for members of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council, Supreme Court judges, masters and teachers of colleges, ministers of the Gospel, and indentured servants, as a practical matter anyone could avoid serving either by filing an appeal to delay their service for a period of time or by paying a fine to hire a substitute. Reorganized and re-designated 1 January 1, 1777 as the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, to consist of 8 companies. American Revolutionary War Marion knew that an engagement with them would not be easy and he could expect no support from the American army. 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. The company commanders could also change. When the classes were called up, each captain would deliver a notice to each man's dwelling or place of business. For a more detailed account of how the Pennsylvania militia system worked see "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777" by Hannah Benner Roach in Reorganized on January 1, 1783 at Lancaster, to consist of 7 companies in the. Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Westmoreland, Lancaster, Chester, Philadelphia and Cumberland Counties. Swearingen resigned from the service in August 1779 and settled in Washington County, Pa., where he owned a handful of slaves and became the county's first sheriff two years later. 21 Thacher, James, Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, pp. This was the decisive point of the campaign that required Marion to attack. A covering force of riflemen were swept aside by Watsons artillery, allowing Watsons guard to ford the stream unopposed. The men of the regiment refused at first to join the mutineers, but were finally forced to when the other troops threatened them at bayonet point and with artillery. 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. Thus, the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, being the first unit formed by the state, became the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, The 1st Pennsylvania Battalion became the nucleus of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment and so on. After exchanging fire in the area of Chadd's Ford, The PSR, as part of General Greene's division move to meet the main British assault. Since the company captain and lower officers were also called up, their identities provide a clue to the permanent class, company, and battalion to which a particular individual belonged. Captured by one of Rogers scouting units and personally escorted to confinement by Rogers, himself, the great American patriot Hale would be tried and hung from the gallows shortly thereafter, as a traitor, but not before uttering his immortal declaration, I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country.. USA, New Berlin, Lt. Learn more. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment. If you have Pennsylvania ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, you may be confused by the varying names for forms of service. Still assigned to Greene's division, the PSR participates in the assault of the British right flank. Despite the hardships they had endured on Arnold's forlorn expedition to Canada, about 340 of the nearly 500 men who had been with the 1st Battalion at Ticonderoga did join the Second Pennsylvania Regiment in time enough for Col. DeHaas and a portion of the unit to join Washington's army at Trenton and fight in the battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, in a brigade of Pennsylvanians commanded by Brig. The 11th Pennsylvania fought again at Germantown on October 4, 1777. The 7th Pennsylvania was part of the force that attacked the blockhouse under Wayne at Bergen Heights on july 21, 1780. During the 1777 campaign, the regiment split, with the smaller rifle corps joining Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates at Saratoga. As his situation grew more desperate with each passing day, Watson finally decided to retreat. September 11, 1777 - Stirling's Division takes part in the action on the right of Washington's army during the battle of Brandywine. Most of the regiment's men were recruited from Berks and Chester counties, although many came from Philadelphia and as far away as Northumberland County. Strafford County, For example, what had been Colonel White's 1st York County Battalion continued to be made up of the same men, but could now be designated as perhaps Colonel Black's 7th York County Battalion. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Pennsylvania Line Regiments and other Pennsylvania Units. Scouts abounded about the British regiment. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County, Northumberland Co Revolutionary War Militia, Philadelphia City Revolutionary War Militia, Philadelphia Co Revolutionary War Militia, Westmoreland Co Revolutionary War Militia, PHMC Collections Management Policy Standards, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access Policy. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. 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. The regiment was assigned to the 3d Pennsylvania Brigade of the Main Continental Army on 27 May 1777. This arrangement represents more of a means of organizing manpower from specific geographical localities rather than reflecting the activity of acting military units that were drawn from this manpower pool. In contrast, however, they received uniforms and arms from the state. In the mid 1700s, Capt. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. A separate article discussing the various form of military service during this conflict will be added in the near future. 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. The structure of the legionary corps focused on providing close reconnaissance and security patrols for a field army although various operational and manpower problems hampered most of the regiments from achieving complete success. Here the 2nd Pennsylvania served in a provisional brigade commanded by Lt. Col. Aaron Burr and made a charge from the American left flank into a British force trying to assault the American center. 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.

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