As we continue to get closer to a complete collection of The Pennsylvania Archives, we find more interesting facts. In the meantime, the regiment was commanded by the senior officer present for duty, Maj. William Williams. 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. 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. Following additional successes by the Swamp Fox, General Nathanael Greene would write the following to Francis Marion: When I consider how much you have done and suffered, and under what disadvantage you have maintained your ground, I am at a loss which to admire most, your courage and fortitude, or your address and management. As a result of this alliance, Rogers greatest claim to fame during the Revolution and possibly most infamous overall was the seizure of Nathan Hale. Morgans losses were placed at twelve killed and sixty-one wounded. Similar groups, commonly known as Associators, soon sprang up in surrounding counties. Certificates of the funded or Militia Debt. Relieved on May 19, 1778 from the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the. In 1776, the state's Provincial Assembly was replaced by a General Assembly and a new Pennsylvania constitution. A militiaman called for active duty who found such duty inconvenient was permitted to hire a Substitute to march and fight in his stead. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The battalion colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors were called to active duty in a specific order. 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. A man who failed to report for drill merely paid an 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. As the advance guard made its way across the river, Marion fell upon the rear guard. Watson did not take long to initiate the fight. 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. To make amends for such depreciation, each of these men who in 1781 yet remained in line service was awarded a substantial sum inDepreciation Pay Certificates, which were both interest bearing and negotiable, like bonds of the present day. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, so many men volunteered to join the Associators that a more formal operating structure was required. In pursuit was Peter Horry, firing on the retreating forms from every bush and thicket. Unfortunately for Watson, the lack of trees and concealment did not diminish the fires, nor their accuracy. September 11, 1777 - Stirling's Division takes part in the action on the right of Washington's army during the battle of Brandywine. (these are free with registration) Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from National Archives (NARA) microfilm publication M246. In addition, he sent a pass for the safe passage of the wounded and their attendants. Relieved on November 14, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade and assigned to the. By July 10, it was encamped with the American Army at Ft. Ticonderoga. After the British attacked at Long Island, the 1st Continental Regiment covered the retreat the American army. "Pennsylvania Rifle: Revolutionary Weapon in a Conventional War." Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 103 (July 1979), pp. Later, some of the 11th Pennsylvania took part in the patrol actions in New Jersey, which marked the spring and summer of 1777. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment. As such, they were subject to the orders of the Provincial Assembly. Both Watson and Marion rode out to face each other across a quarter-mile causeway spanning the mire and marsh of the swamp. New Hampshire, Learn more. Ancestry.com and our loyal RootsWeb community. Nine miles from Georgetown, the harried regiment approached the Sampit River. Some of the muster rolls provide the date when duty began, and in the case of officers, the date of their commission, and perhaps some additional comments indicating such types of information as whether they were detached on special duty or the dates of any desertions. It was here that they received a new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harmar, on the 1st of January 1778. Gen. Anthony Wayne's Division. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. 14 cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. It remained at Ticonderoga voluntarily until November 13 (three weeks beyond its term of service) to await the arrival of replacement troops. Occasionally, militia reinforcements from Cumberland, Lancaster, and York counties would be brought in to reinforce these frontiers as occurred in the summer of 1778. Donation Land in certain western counties, land that remained free from taxation so long as the soldier lived and retained ownership. 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. 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. 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. Diarist Joseph Plumb Martin described him as "an excellent officer, much beloved and respected by the troops of the Line he belonged to.". 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. During the afternoon the forces under General John Sullivan fought with the enemy for almost two hours near Birmingham Meeting House. Captain Nathan Hale of this corps gained immortality as a brave but singularly inept spy. Pennsylvania, List of 10,000 Revolutionary Soldiers 1775-1783. 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. Though titled Rangers by Washington and a grateful American people, Morgans Rangers were not, in essence, Rangers in the sense of the uniquely trained, motivated, and challenged soldier. Morning arrived and Watson again resumed his march with Marion leading. Trussell, Jr. (Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977). American Revolutionary War 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. USA, Somerset, Union County, The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion. The 7th Pennsylvania was present at Whitemarsh but did not fight. 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. Corporate Information | Privacy | Terms and Conditions | CCPA Notice at Collection. The regiment was officially disbanded in January, 1783, although in reality, no regiment had existed since 1781. In this contest "Lord Sterling's Division & particularly Conway's Brigade" were seen to have "remarkably distinguished themselves." Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Two lieutenants were mortally wounded here and a number of men killed. Most of Whitcomb's men came from New Hampshire and the Hampshire Grants (now Vermont). 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. Stephanie Hoover 2017 - All Rights Reserved, Directory of Pennsylvania Genealogical & Historical Societies, Pennsylvania Research Reference Materials. After camping at Valley Forge, the First Pennsylvania saw limited action at Monmouth. There was a problem getting your location. The names of men in each company of each battalion were listed on a roll called "General Returns of the Battalion" together with the names of any substitutes that were provided. Another form of line service was with the The light infantry companies continued under their existing practice of forming provisional battalions for each campaign season. 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.. Translate. Pennsylvania was assigned to provide 12 of these "Continental" regiments and decided to use the battalions created in 1775 as the foundation for the state's quota. Lee particularly shined when his regulars stiffened the irregular local forces of leaders like Francis ("Swamp Fox") Marion. In many instances, members of the militia gave no military service beyond occasional routine drill, and some escaped even that. This account has been disabled. On November 3, 1783, after a distinguished career, the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment was officially mustered out in Philadelphia, then capital of the United States of America. Avoiding militia calls was not difficult. The Pennsylvania Navy was created in 1775 and, like the Pennsylvania Line, was filled by voluntary enlistment. 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. At the beginning of 1775, Pennsylvania, founded under Quaker auspices, differed from other American colonies in being totally devoid of military organization. It was assigned on February 27, 1776 to the, Remainder of Regiment reorganized and re-designated 1 January 1, 1777 as the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, an element of the, Relieved on July 22, 1778 from the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade and assigned to the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade, an element of the. They also became very adept at employing the mounted troops in a raid designed to provoke a British pursuit which would end with a classic "L-shaped" ambush. 14 cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. They also fought at Bergen Neck. 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. Instead, it protected itself with the passage of temporary laws authorizing organized militias. It halted the British attack but was itself compelled to retire under subsequent artillery fire. 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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Resend Activation Email. 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. Organized between January 8- March 20, 1776 at Carlisle to consist of 8 companies from Cumberland and York Counties. 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. Fairfax County, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File, Revolutionary War Pension Files and Related Accounts, Military Pension Accounts and Related Papers, Revolutionary War Soldiers' Claims and Related Papers, Revolutionary War Accounts and Miscellaneous Records (Associators Accounts), Revolutionary War Accounts and Miscellaneous Records (Line Accounts), Revolutionary War Accounts and Miscellaneous Records (Militia 3A Accounts), Revolutionary War Accounts and Miscellaneous Records (Militia 3B Accounts), Revolutionary War Accounts and Miscellaneous Records (Navy Accounts), American Loyalist Claims, [ca. RevWar Progressive 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. When one considers those parameters, there truly was only one group of American revolutionaries who could be considered an excellent example of early American Ranger prowess. Many men listed on company rosters never drilled, and tens of thousands enrolled in the militia never experienced a single day of active duty. Revolutionary War Records at FamilySearch. Colonel Piper are captured. Battle of Wyoming - Wikipedia Relieved on November 18, 1776 from St. Clair's Brigade. L.G. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. The two dismounted troops armed and equipped as light infantry provided a defensive element to protect the camp from enemy surprise attack, and also provided a base of fire around which the mounted elements could maneuver. This active-duty roll was therefore a completely different roll from the permanent billet roll. 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. The mutiny failed and resulted in many of the soldiers receiving their discharges. Marion was located past Murrys Ferry. The cat and mouse advance continued on the far bank. 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. 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 regiment spent the winter months at Morristown, New Jersey, where it built up strength and was placed in Brig. In March 1777, this indeed occurred. John Nelson's Independent Rifle Company and assigned to the. These volunteer companies made up the Early in that year, as tension mounted, there appeared spontaneously in certain localities volunteer companies of It was consolidated with the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment on 17 January 1781 and re-designated as the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment and concurrently furloughed at Trenton, New Jersey. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The Pine Tree Shilling. Soldiers remaining in the regiment were reassigned to other units and eventually sent south to take part in the Yorktown Campaign. Formation [ edit] The Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion. In the spring of 1777, the Regiment was assigned to Brig. 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. Revolutionary War Re-Enactors. About; Leadership; Public Information; Contact; Join; . 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. A covering force of riflemen were swept aside by Watsons artillery, allowing Watsons guard to ford the stream unopposed. Revolutionary Soldiers, thanks again Ed Carsons In April of 1781, Robinson's Rangers had already been involved, as General Potter stated in his letter xiv in a "sharp engagement at Bald Eagle Creek." Little is known of that particular engagement, and perhaps it is the same one related by Van Campen, later. Joshua Huddy, who was every bit as feared by loyalists as Tye was by patriots. 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. 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. Following the reduction of the Pennsylvania Line in the winter of 1780-81 the unit was redesignated "the detachment of the Pennsylvania Line", and consisted of two companies. Participating in a part of the left wing under Nathaniel Green, the Pennsylvanians assist in the defeat of the Hessians under Colonel Rall. As with all his previous battles, he was on his own with this fight. The Pennsylvania Lineoriginated in 1775 was organized into thirteen regiments and several independent companies. The distance from bank to bank was the perfect sharpshooter distance, fifty yards. It then reported to march with the army under Col. Arthur St. Clair and was involved at Three Rivers on June 9. 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. Rogers wrote the 19 standing orders that are still in use today. The battle took place in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania on July 3, 1778 in what is now Luzerne County. Please reset your password. Joshua William's Independent Company. 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. Undaunted by the destroyed bridge or the rebels fire, the lead guardsmen closed column and plunged across the river. Jacob Weaver's Independent Company, Consolidated on November 7, 1777 with the. In enrollment, it probably never numbered as many as one thousand men. Were your ancestors part of the Pennsylvania Line? Virginia, 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. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Eight days later, Pennsylvania was directed to raise two additional companies, followed by a third. In the mid 1700s, Capt. The 7th Pennsylvania marched with Brig. It was assigned on August 12, 1776 to Stirling's Brigade, an element of the Main Army. (these are free with registration) Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from National Archives (NARA) microfilm publication M246. USA. Two months later the remnants of the corps fell into British hands when Fort Washington surrendered.