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. Undaunted, the British Regulars held their ground, unlimbered their field cannon, and repelled the attack. The situation was not good. As Marions men turned back from the fires, Watson loaded two wagons with wounded. This Revolutionary War Militia Arrangement provides a breakdown of the battalions and companies raised in each county and the names of the commanding officers. For Bucks County, information has also been provided from the returns for the Committee of Safety (the Associators) for 1775. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth. A portion of the Pennsylvanians, most of them riflemen, served on the American left flank against the Hessians. For example, men listed on the permanent roll as belonging to the 2nd Class of the 7th Company of the 6th Battalion would in the active duty battalion be automatically placed in the 6th Company of the 2nd (Active Duty) Battalion. The 7th Pennsylvania was part of the force that attacked the blockhouse under Wayne at Bergen Heights on july 21, 1780. Associators patterned essentially upon groups which had existed briefly in 1747-1748 and again after Braddock's defeat in 1755. PHMC. For a more detailed account of how the Pennsylvania militia system worked see "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777" by Hannah Benner Roach in 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. Organized in between September 28- December 18, 1776 at Sunbury to consist of 8 companies from Northampton, Berks, Cumberland and Northumberland Counties. Another form of line service was with the Companies and Battalions of militia were set up on a geographical basis similar to the arrangement already familiar with the Associators. When General Washington asked for the middle Atlantic states to provide additional reinforcements willing to serve for six months duty in 1776, the Associator units were tapped as a manpower pool, though the individual units did not themselves become part of the Pennsylvania Line forces. Donation Land in certain western counties, land that remained free from taxation so long as the soldier lived and retained ownership. Pennsylvania, The following is a brief explanation of the differences between these branches of service. 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. In the original concept rangers
were full-time soldiers employed by the colonial governments to
"range" between fixed frontier fortifications as a reconnaissance
system to provide early warning of hostile raids. [1] For a full account of the social factors and legislation that this article draws from, see Arthur J. Alexander, "Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Militia," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 69:1 (January 1945 ), 15-25. based on information from your browser. . The companies supported British
operations against French Canada on the New York and St. Lawrence
River fronts. At the beginning of 1775, Pennsylvania, founded under Quaker auspices, differed from other American colonies in being totally devoid of military organization. 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. 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.. These nine companies were to form a battalion to be commanded by Col. William Thompson of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Advancing his main force as support, Marion again ordered Horry to charge. Later that evening, one of Marions scouts reconnoitered the camp and rode off to warn his brigadier. Organized between January 2- February 11, 1776 at Chester to consist of 8 companies from Chester, Bucks and Lancaster Counties. The colonel of the 13th, 23-year-old Walter Stewart, became the Second's new commander. Queen's Rangers. Reorganized and redesignated on January 1, 1777 as the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment, to consist of 8 companies. 14 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. On September 21 the regiment was in Hartford, Connecticut, with Wayne to greet French General Rochambeau. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900. In addition, he sent a pass for the safe passage of the wounded and their attendants. Defense Production Act Title III Presidential Determination for Airbreathing Engines, Advanced Avionics Position Navigation and Guidance Systems, and Constituent Materials for Hypersonic Systems, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Co-Hosts the First Irregular Warfare Medical Resiliency Working Group, Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III Message to the Force, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Message to the Force, Ranger Assessment & Selection Program How to Become a 75th Ranger, 75 Years Ago Today. Organized between January 2- February 17, 1776 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. At Brandywine, the women of the 6th Pennsylvania were cited for their bravery under fire while bringing water to the men. Ohio, 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. In March 1777, this indeed occurred. 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. Eighty years after becoming the United States of America, the nation suffered a Civil 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. Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Westmoreland, Lancaster, Chester, Philadelphia and Cumberland Counties. To avoid capture, nearly all its vessels were sunk in the spring of 1778. 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. Relieved on April 27, 1776 from Green's Brigade and assigned to the. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Originally, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion, the 7th Pennsylvania was authorized on January 4, 1776. Inspite of the the heavy loss of life at Paoli the Regiment fought on October 4, 1777 at Germantown. 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. When America officially declared its independence from Great Britain, it was clear more troops were needed to fight in the revolution. Contrary to common belief, none of the lands granted to veterans by the federal government were located in Pennsylvania. Revolutionary War Records Overview The Military Association, 1775-1777 At the beginning of 1775, Pennsylvania, founded under Quaker auspices, differed from other American colonies in being totally devoid of military organization. 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. Upon reaching the ford site, the captain was killed with one shot from the Marions sharpshooter commander. Source:Egle, William Henry, 1898. Recipe Book - 1705. These two needs determined the form and six of her armed vessels and the character of their operations. and assigned to the. Two lieutenants were mortally wounded here and a number of men killed. 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. Revolutionary War Records at FamilySearch. Harmar would remain in this position until 1780. The financial difficulties of the new government, difficulties that lasted into the 1790's, complicated the payment of troops. Instead, it protected itself with the passage of temporary laws authorizing organized militias. A double-pronged attack was planned with Lieutenant Colonel Watson marching down the Santee to attack Marion while Colonel Welbore Ellis Doyle crossed the Lynches River to cut off the rebels escape. 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. Nine miles from Georgetown, the harried regiment approached the Sampit River. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Where it was involved in several minor battles and skirmishes. The resulting restructuring of the Pennsylvania Line perpetuated a 2nd Regiment among the state's six reorganized units, with Walter Stewart still in command. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. 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. The 1st Pennsylvania was considered an elite unit and was given the post of honor on the right of the line. In 1779, the 6th Pennsylvania was part of the force commanded by "Mad" Anthony Wayne that stormed the British fortifications at Stony Point, NY (16 July). 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. For line troops, neither the type of service rendered nor the term of enlistment was uniform. Many of the Invalids were subsequently pensioned. Certificates of the funded or Militia Debt. (these are free with registration) Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from National Archives (NARA) microfilm publication M246. It is believed and written by many that when the time came for the colonies to fight for their independence, the American Rangers were ready. To a degree, when one looks to the likes of Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox, that may be true. Keystone State. Joshua William's Independent Company. On New Year's Day, 1781, members of the 6th Pennsylvania joined the mutiny of the Pennsylvania regiments then quartered at Morristown. Later, some of the 11th Pennsylvania took part in the patrol actions in New Jersey, which marked the spring and summer of 1777. Thousands of militiamen returned from tours of active duty unpaid, bearing only a slip signed by a commanding officer. September 11, 1777 The Battle of Brandywine. Minute Men, on call for special duty at short notice, but no evidence of the existence of such a corps in Pennsylvania survives. 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. In certain counties there were recruited special troops called Resend Activation Email. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Springfield. For all intents the Regiment ceased to exist. The Continental Army's
other light troops sprang from a relatively new European concept
not the native American ranger tradition. Organized in spring 1777 at Philadelphia to consist of 8 companies from Philadelphia City and Berks, Chester, Philadelphia and Northumberland Counties. Organized between February 7- March 17, 1776 at Reading, Pennsylvania, with personnel from Berks County. Please try again later. 21 Thacher, James, Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, pp. USA. There, on January 1, 1781, the mutiny of the Pennsylvania troops took place. 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. Seven miles later at Ox Swamp, he encountered destroyed bridges and an abatis across the causeway. These voluntary "Associators" never represented more than a fraction of the state's total population. Pennsylvania Revolutionary Soldiers The following names are not included in the regular muster rolls. In 1779, a detachment accompanied light infantry troops in the storming of Stoney Point. In October it participated in Anthony Wayne's defeat of the British at Valcour Island, but otherwise had an uneventful tour of garrison duty. 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. General Hugh Mercer and attack a group of British dragoons. 1st Battalion, 1777-1780 . 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. During 1777, the regiment participated in the Philadelphia Campaign and fought at the Battles of Brandywine (11 Sept.) and Germantown (4 Oct.). Exercise Fine. 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. In the Western Department, the unit helped construct and garrison Fort McIntosh on the Beaver River, and Fort Laurens on the Tuscarawas. 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. These certificates (bonds in the modern sense) were ultimately redeemed at face value. 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. 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. 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. 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. On 5 March 1781, Watson began his movement, marching from Fort Watson. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (M246), and other historical records. The regiment was organized June 1775 as Maj. Timothy Bedel's Corps of Rangers . 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. 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 east bank of the river was low, open, and swampy. On September 20, the 7th Pennsylvania bore the brunt of the British assault at Paoli where half of the men present were either killed or wounded. Gen. Anthony Wayne's division. Flying Camps were what we today might call mobile military reserves. USA.