Organized between January 31- August 19, 1777 at Lancaster as Capt. Keystone State. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 1st Pennsylvania Regiment (Revolutionary War) FamilySearch 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. 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. 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. Seven miles later at Ox Swamp, he encountered destroyed bridges and an abatis across the causeway. List of 10,000 Revolutionary Soldiers 1775-1783. There is a problem with your email/password. During the Revolutionary War, Western Pennsylvania saw much fighting between American soldiers and British rangers and their Indian allies. The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 3d Pennsylvania Battalion. Sullivan in his campaign against the Iroquois in western Pennsylvania. A quick fight ensued with heavy firing. Still assigned to Greene's division, the PSR participates in the assault of the British right flank. Concurrent with the establishment of county militias was the creation of five companies of Rangers. Watson and his men remained where they were, subsisting off the plantation, gathering from those homes around them anything else they needed. October 4, 1777 - Possibly because of their service at Brandywine, Conway's Brigade was chosen to lead the main column of Washington's army in the attack on the British at Germantown. Diarist Joseph Plumb Martin described him as "an excellent officer, much beloved and respected by the troops of the Line he belonged to.". It sustained casualties at Paoli on Sept. 21, including one officer killed, and at the Battle of Germantown it was the left flank of the American troops attacking the British center that was mistakenly fired on by other American troops. Soldiers who served during the years 1777-1780, when the currency was depreciating, were paid inContinental bills of Credit, which quickly lost value. Later, some of the 11th Pennsylvania took part in the patrol actions in New Jersey, which marked the spring and summer of 1777. Organized on September 5, 1776 at Lancaster with recruits from central Pennsylvania and assigned to the. 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. In fact, Major General Friedrich von Steuben wrote a separate drill manual for them in late 1780. The Pennsylvania Council of Safety prescribes that there will be ten companies, "eight of them armed with muskets and the other two with riffles." The 7th Pennsylvania marched with Brig. The Continental Army's other light troops sprang from a relatively new European concept not the native American ranger tradition. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion. To each of her line soldiers, who served to the end of the war, Pennsylvania grantedDonation Landin certain western counties, land that remained free from taxation so long as the soldier lived and retained ownership. Associators patterned essentially upon groups which had existed briefly in 1747-1748 and again after Braddock's defeat in 1755. He is said to have been wounded and taken prisoner at Stillwater, N.Y., during a British-Indian attack on Morgan's camp in September 1777. USA, Winfield, Less than a week later, on July 1, the unit was dissolved, and merged with elements of the 10th Pennsylvania. The original 8th Pennsylvania Regiment was formed in July 1776 of men from Westmoreland and Bedford counties in western Pennsylvania. All males aged 20 to 45 - including immigrants seeking citizenship - had to register for the draft. Each partisan unit in the Continental Army, however, had a unique organizational structure. Ages ranged from sixteen to sixty years. It was assigned on December 1, 1776 to the, It was assigned on May 22, 1777 to the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade, an element of the. Undaunted, the Swamp Fox ordered an immediate advance and moved to position himself at Wiboo Swamp. And, they were still separate from the militias sanctioned by Pennsylvania's Provincial Assembly. 302-324. return to scholars showcase. Rangers in Colonial and Revolutionary America - RootsWeb Imposing and silent, highly disciplined and trained, impressive in their bright red uniforms, the guards led with bayonets that gleamed and sparkled on the ends of upraised muskets. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1783. Eight days later, Pennsylvania was directed to raise two additional companies, followed by a third. Member of the first and second continental Durham, In many instances, members of the militia gave no military service beyond occasional routine drill, and some escaped even that. The regiment was furloughed January 17, 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey and disbanded on January 1, 1783. Essentially, the old 2nd Pennsylvania ceased to exist before the final campaign in Virginia and South Carolina, although former members of the regiment were battle casualties at Green Springs on July 6 and Yorktown in October. They spent the winter at Valley Forge and fought at the battle of Monmoth on June 28, 1778. By December 8, a remnant of the First Battalion was at New Germantown, New Jersey, but the bulk of the men had been mustered out of service. During the 1777 campaign, the regiment split, with the smaller rifle corps joining Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates at Saratoga. History affords no instance wherein an officer has kept possession of a country under so many disadvantages as you have; surrounded on every side with a superior force; hunted from every quarter with veteran troops, you have found means to elude all their attempts, and to keep alive the expiring hopes of an oppressed Militia, when all succor seemed to be cut off. Revolutionary War Online Records Organized spring 1777 at York, Pennsylvania, with personnel from York County. Soldiers remaining in the regiment were reassigned to other units and eventually sent south to take part in the Yorktown Campaign. 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 January 1, 1777, the survivors of the 5th Battalion, along with exchanged prisoners and new recruits, were reorganized into the 6th Pennsylvania. They marched from Hannastown, Pennsylvania, to New Jersey in the winter of 1776-77, and the following campaign season took part in a number of battles, including Paoli, Brandywine, White Marsh, Boundbrook, and Germantown as part of Brig. Before daybreak, Marion roused his men and deployed his troops. The 7th Pennsylvania was present at Whitemarsh but did not fight. Continental bills of Credit, which quickly lost value. The regiment was disbanded on January 17, 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey. Pennsylvania Line Regiments and other Pennsylvania Units. Pennsylvania Long Rifles. These groups assisted state-controlled - yet still temporary - militias. Another form of line service was with the Largely due to its Quaker roots, Pennsylvania did not initially (like neighboring colonies) form a standing militia. The Regiment was authorized on July 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as Capt. USA. The following is a brief explanation of the differences between these branches of service. When spring came, the regiment was again actively engaged in patrols and skirmishes with British forays from New York. This data collection contains an estimated 80,000 application files from officers and enlisted men who served in the Revolutionary War in all branches of the American military: army, navy, and marines. 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. 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. At Mount Hope Swamp, Marion had his men disassemble the bridge. Pennsylvania, 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. In January 1780, the Regiment after suffering long and hard service with pay in arrears, poorly fed, and poorly equipped, joined the other Pennsylvania regiments in a mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line at Morristown, New Jersey. Online Revolutionary War Indexes and Records - Military Indexes The Regiment then marched to Tappan to bolster the Garrison at Ticonderoga after Arnold's defection. The morning following their initial engagement, Watson resumed his march down the Santee Road with Marion slowly backing away before him, remaining out of the range of the British artillery. Leaving twenty dead from the engagement, he, the wagons, and the remainder of his regiment forced the ford. and were required to show up for their two months of active duty at the time and in the order that their class was called up. 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. PHMC. As we continue to get closer to a complete collection of The Pennsylvania Archives, we find more interesting facts. based on information from your browser. This Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. As with all his previous battles, he was on his own with this fight. The regiment was assigned to the 3d Pennsylvania Brigade of the Main Continental Army on 27 May 1777. An online listing of officers in the In the mid 1700s, Capt. Organized between January 2- February 11, 1776 at Chester to consist of 8 companies from Chester, Bucks and Lancaster Counties. On New Year's Day, 1781, members of the 6th Pennsylvania joined the mutiny of the Pennsylvania regiments then quartered at Morristown. March 1, 1777 The Pennsylvania State Regiment is officially activated as a unit. It was here that they received a new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harmar, on the 1st of January 1778. He was an able leader with a reputation of taking care of the welfare of his men. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. 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. July to August 1777 - With the rest of Washington's army the 6th Regiment marched back and forth across New Jersey and into New York and Pennsylvania while trying to ascertain the destination of General Howe's army, which had embarked on the British fleet. The regiment was in combat again on September 20 when, with the rest of Wayne's division, it was surprised at Paoli. Most of the muster rolls that have survived were made up just before the men were discharged from duty. Its main objective was the defense of Philadelphia and the protection of the Delaware river and bay of the outward and inward bound trade of the state. December 26, 1776 The Battle of Trenton. Joshua Huddy, who was every bit as feared by loyalists as Tye was by patriots. Revolutionary War Records - Ancestry Please try again later. The traditional ranger usage reached its peak during the French and Indian War. The infantry moved at a trot the entire way, stopping only to fire a volley to their rear. However, the men who remained in service were all redistributed among all these units and this establishment was mostly on paper. 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.. Men who served with Regiment and continued their service saw action at Yorktown and mopping up operations in South Carolina. Home Battles 1775 to 1783 Campaigns Continental Army Continental Navy British Army Flags of the Revolution War Facts War Leaders Patriot Leaders British Leaders John Nelson's Independent Rifle Company and assigned to the. The 1st Continentals also participated in the battles at Fort Washington, Harlem Heights, and White Plains. Mifflinburg, As his situation grew more desperate with each passing day, Watson finally decided to retreat. Northumberland County Revolutionary War Militia Upper Division Associators, 24 January 1776 Commanding Officers: Col. unknown The situation was not good. It then reported to march with the army under Col. Arthur St. Clair and was involved at Three Rivers on June 9. At the Battle of Brandywine on Sept. 11, 1777, the regiment was part of the force guarding Chadds Ford until the British diversionary force stormed across the creek and compelled Wayne's Division to withdraw. For this reason, a separate permanent billet record and an active duty record would have existed for each individual who saw active duty. 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. The "Act to Regulate the Militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" passed 17 March 1777, and the the subsequent Militia Act passed March 20, 1780, together with their amendments, required all white men between the ages of 18 and 53 capable of bearing arms to serve two months of militia duty on a rotating basis. For purposes of administration and drill, Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Westmoreland, Lancaster, Chester, Philadelphia and Cumberland Counties. Revolutionary War: Black loyalists sought freedom at Sandy Hook NJ When new elections were held for field officers in 1780 and 1783, the colonels elected at that time again drew lots for their rank and this resulted in a new order for the battalions. They also helped garrison Fort Pitt, Fort Henry, and a number of smaller posts. Marion was located past Murrys Ferry. The regiment as a whole seems to have seen its first major action at the Battle of Brandywine, on September 11, 1777, and saw especially hard fighting, taking heavy casualties. Inspite of the the heavy loss of life at Paoli the Regiment fought on October 4, 1777 at Germantown. Volume Reel 0822 American Revolutionary War Service Records; Soldiers--United States--Registers Pennsylvania, Seventh Battalion (Cumberland County Militia), Seventh Regiment: A -F It was assigned on August 12, 1776 to Stirling's Brigade, an element of the, The Regiment was authorized on October 6, 1777 in the Continental Army as two Carlisle Independent Companies and assigned to the, Organized between October 20- December 22, 1777 at Carlisle. Later that evening, one of Marions scouts reconnoitered the camp and rode off to warn his brigadier. Relieved on November 18, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade. Consolidated on November 6, 1777 with the, Bayard's Philadelphia Associators Regiment, Cadwalader's Philadelphia Associators Regiment, Matlack's Philadelphia Associators Rifle Battalion, Morgan's Philadelphia Associators Regiment, Moulder's Philadelphia Associators Artillery Company, Klotz's Lancaster County Militia Regiment, McAllister's York County Militia Regiment, Montgomery's Cumberland County Militia Regiment, Watt's Cumberland County Militia Regiment. The regiment was merged into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on July 1, 1778. Relieved on May 19, 1778 from the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the. While all of these types of records reflect enrollment in the militia, only the muster rolls of the actual marching companies demonstrate actual service while the fine books and appeal books are evidence of lack of actual service. Ohio, 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. In the spring of 1777, the Regiment was assigned to Brig. The 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment had its origins in a unit established on October 12, 1775, and designated "The First Pennsylvania Battalion." Maybe they were militia or Rangers. 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. There they remained until the 6th Pennsylvania was mustered out on March 15, 1777. After this, the 7th Pennsylvania spent time in New York and New Jersey watching the British. Queen's Rangers. 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was officially authorized on October 25, 1776. Commanded by Dan Morgan, this Ranger force was singled out by British General John Burgoyne, the commander of British forces intent on isolating the New England colonies, as the most famous corps of the Continental Army, all of them crack shots.. Volume Reel 0821 American Revolutionary War Service Records; Soldiers--United States--Registers Pennsylvania, Sixth Battalion (1776) Sixth Regiment: L - Z. Furloughed on June 11, 1783 at Philadelphia. Such men of the Pennsylvania Line as became disabled in service but were found capable of light garrison duty were transferred to this special continental regiment. The resulting restructuring of the Pennsylvania Line perpetuated a 2nd Regiment among the state's six reorganized units, with Walter Stewart still in command. Relieved on November 14, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the. Filename: Description: Date: Submitter: Revolutionary War: 1bat1782.txt : Rev War: 1782 - First Battalion, Washington County: May 1998: m. Burns: Frontier Rangers/Militia Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion. It was assigned on August 12, 1776 to Stirling's Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Perry County, The four regiments of light dragoons raised in 1777 as a reconnaissance force derived from European developments in light cavalry during the eighteenth century. Where it was involved in several minor battles and skirmishes. Immortalized in song and story, Francis Marion became a hero of the Revolution second only to the commander-in-chief and first President of the United States, George Washington. Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection. Tabulated company returns were periodically compiled from the muster rolls and from these the adjutants for each battalion compiled battalion returns that were then tabulated by the muster master general of the brigade and submitted to the brigadier general in the form of a general return (not to be confused with the Battalion General Return mentioned above). The battalion colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors were called to active duty in a specific order. At some point, the settlers at Hannastown erected a stockade, fashioned of logs placed upright in the ground, around a spring and a blockhouse at the edge of town. Frequently no substitute was furnished, but instead a An Official Pennsylvania Government Website. 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. To cross it would put Watson deep within the heartland of the Whig resistance. 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. Washington County, Pa., Frontier Rangers, 1781-1782 - Indiana Marion and his brigade soon arrived and forded the river. 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. Other examples of this type of service include the large numbers of Pennsylvania militia employed in the summer and autumn of 1777 to oppose the British invasion at Brandywine and on the flanks at the battle of Germantown, though in neither case did they actually see action. Pierce's Certificates. Rangers, who served long enlistments on the frontier against the Indians. 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. January 3, 1777 The Battle of Princeton. Pennsylvania Archives volumes and not directly from original archival records. For example, when the 1st Class was called up, the colonel of the 1st Battalion, the lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion, and the major of the 3rd Battalion entered into service commanding the 1st Class active-duty Battalion. 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. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. 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. A third type of militia duty was in providing guards for supply depots located in Lancaster, Lebanon and Reading and at various prisoner of war camps. Unfortunately, neither this stick nor the carrot achieved the desired results. Capt. Bedford County Revolutionary War Militia The 11th Pennsylvania fought again at Germantown on October 4, 1777. June 10, 1777 The transfer of the Pennsylvania State Regiment to the Continental service is formalized. The Regiment was authorized on April 8, 1777 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as Capt. . October 28, 1776 The Battle of White Plains. On 22 July 1778 the regiment was re-assigned to the 2d Pennsylvania Brigade. Furloughed on January 17, 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Springfield. For Northumberland County, the number of militiamen serving in each company of the 1776 Associator Battalions and for the 1778 3rd and 4th Militia Battalions is provided. The regiment was raised in Cumberland and York counties (companies G and H). Seventy men, thirty of whom were sharpshooters, were dispatched to ride ahead to secure and hold the Lower Bridge under Major James. This collection is from Record Group 93, War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, and is National Archives Microfilm publication M246. For the rotation of field officers on active duty, it was therefore necessary to substitute Colonel for Captain, Lieutenant Colonel for 1st Lieutenant, Major for 2nd Lieutenant, etc in the column under each Battalion for Company. These volunteer companies made up the