The Pennsylvania Line: Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 by John B.B. Northampton County Revolutionary War Militia Furloughed on June 11, 1783 at Philadelphia. The traditional ranger usage reached its peak during the French and Indian War. In 1779, a detachment accompanied light infantry troops in the storming of Stoney Point. Watson did not take long to initiate the fight. Queen's Rangers - Wikipedia Watsons Buffs were considered to be one of the finest regiments in the British army. The names of these individuals will be found on the appeal lists. During the Revolutionary War, Western Pennsylvania saw much fighting between American soldiers and British rangers and their Indian allies. January 3, 1777 The Battle of Princeton. William Hendrick's and Mathew Smith's companies each additionally served in: On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution calling for the raising of six companies of expert riflemen from Pennsylvania, two from Maryland, and two from Virginia. 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. October 28, 1776 The Battle of White Plains. 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. American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies . Colonel Brodhead is placed in command of the consolidated forces and ordered by General Washington to withdraw to Manhattan. The individuals who volunteered at this time were formed into battalions by county and were known as "Flying Camps" that served on active duty until November 30, 1776. The 1781 reorganization of the Continental resolved the issue of light troops by bringing greater centralized control. A County Lieutenant holding the rank of colonel was responsible for implenenting the law with the assistence of sub-lieutenants who held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. 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. The enlisted men were held by the British until December 26, 1776 when they were set free on parole and, most probably, exchanged for prisoners held by the Continental Forces. For the remainder of the war, the fame of Morgan and of his Rangers continued to grow as they deployed throughout the colonies engaging British forces. 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. Some elements of the 11th Pennsylvania saw action in the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. Washington County, PA Militia 1778-1783 - Genealogy - WeRelate Union County, 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. Following a brief skirmish on the narrow land bridge, both sides withdrew. On March 14, 1776, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion was sent to New York City. Union County, The situation was not good. 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. 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. Gen. Anthony Wayne's Division. Organized between January 2- February 11, 1776 at Chester to consist of 8 companies from Chester, Bucks and Lancaster Counties. The term "Pennsylvania Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Pennsylvania at various times by theContinental Congress. Rangers in Colonial and Revolutionary America - RootsWeb 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. During the afternoon the forces under General John Sullivan fought with the enemy for almost two hours near Birmingham Meeting House. Nine miles from Georgetown, the harried regiment approached the Sampit River. That evening both sides encamped, though Marion did order his night patrols to take shots at Watsons sentinels. Another form of line service was with theCorps of Invalids. Unfortunately for Watson, the lack of trees and concealment did not diminish the fires, nor their accuracy. Revolutionary War Re-Enactors. 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. Consolidated on January 17, 1781 with the, Reorganized on January 1, 1783 at Ashley Hills, South Carolina, to consist of 9 companies, and assigned to the. 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. Huddy was captured but escaped on the way back . Revolutionary War General. Maybe they were militia or Rangers. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Source:Egle, William Henry, 1898. The financial difficulties of the new government, difficulties that lasted into the 1790's, complicated the payment of troops. Many of the men who served in 1776 reenlisted and to these were added new recruits to fill out the regiment. The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment and Miles's Regiment, was raised March 6, 1776, as a state militia regiment and later for service with the Continental Army. Were your ancestors part of the Pennsylvania Line? 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. Union County, Samuel Morehead's Independent Company, an element of the. Redesignated on September 16, 1776 as the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment. Two lieutenants were mortally wounded here and a number of men killed. 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." Re-designated on June 22, 1775 as the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment. 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. Organized between June 25- July 20, 1775 to consist of 9 companies from Cumberland, Lancaster, Northumberland, Northampton, Bedford, Berks and York Counties. 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. The tranditional ranger usage had only limited application during that later war. About. Relieved on August 31, 1776 from Stirling's Brigade and assigned to Mifflin's Brigade, an element of the. Soon, though, just as Marion had expected, the guardsmen wheeled around and made their way back to the Kingstree intersection. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 23 (No. 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. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Translate. At Trenton, it was the 1st Continental Regiment (now known as the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment) that cut off the Hessian retreat from Trenton, causing them to surrender. 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. Washington wanted to use it as a vehicle for insuring tribal support--its Native American members would become hostages for the good behavior of the rest of the tribe--as well as a combat element. For an account of the arrangement and operations of the Pennsylvania Line soldiers see 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. Associators remained independent of the Continental (Pennsylvania) Line which was comprised of regular, enlisted infantrymen. The Regiment was authorized on March 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania State Troops as the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment. 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. Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Philadelphia City and Berks, Chester, Philadelphia and Northumberland Counties. To get things off to a spirited start, he dispatched a detachment of sharpshooters across the river to the plantation where Watson and his troops were housed with orders to shoot his sentries and to wreak havoc.