Cover, The Continental Army

ARMY LINEAGE SERIES




THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
 
by
Robert K. Wright, Jr.
 
CMH Logo
 
 
 
CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D. C., 1983

 



Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Wright, Robert K., 1946-

The Continental Army.

(Army lineage series)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. United States. Continental Army-History. 2. United States-History-Revolution, 1775-1783-Campaigns and battles.

I. Title. II. Series.

UA25.W84 1983 355.3'0973 82-16472

First Printed 1983-CMH Pub 60-4

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402


ARMY LINEAGE SERIES
David F. Trask, General Editor
Advisory Committee
(As of 1 January 1982)
 
James C. Olson 
University of Missouri
Joseph E. Harris 
Howard University
Maj. Gen. Quinn H. Becker 
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.A.
John H. Hatcher 
The Adjutant General Center
Maj. Gen. John B. Blount 
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
Morten Jay Luvaas 
Allegheny College
Brig. Gen Dallas C. Brown, Jr. 
U.S. Army War College
James O'Neill 
National Archives and Records Service
Richard D. Challener 
Princeton University
John Shy 
University of Michigan
Col. Roy K. Flint 
U.S. Military Academy
Col. William A. Stofft 
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Arthur L. Funk 
University of Florida
Betty M. Unterberger 
Texas A&M University

U. S. Army Center of Military History
Brig. Gen. James L. Collins, Jr., Chief of Military History
 
Chief Historian David F. Trask
Chief, Histories Division Col. James W. Dunn
Editor in Chief  John Elsberg
 
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Foreword

This volume completes the Center of Military History's trilogy of special studies on the War of American Independence (the Revolution). As part of the Army's contribution to the Bicentennial, the center undertook three separate but related projects to produce significant monographs on previously unexplored aspects of the Revolutionary War. Dr. Mary C. Gillette's The Army Medical Department, 1775-1818 was published in 1981 as was Dr. Erna Risch's Supplying Washington's Army. Each has increased the information available on the war by detailing the support furnished to the fighting man. The Continental Army now directs us to the basic military organization used during the war and to the forming of the Army's traditions and first tactical doctrine. This book traces the birth of the Army and its gradual transformation into a competent group of professionals and emphasizes for the first time the major influences of eighteenth century military theorists on that transformation. It should join the other two volumes as a basic reference on the military history of the Revolution.

The Continental Army is the first volume of the Army Lineage Series published under a revised format. Hereafter, lineage volumes will include lengthy, footnoted narratives, along with lineages and bibliographies. In a sense, a study of the Continental Army, the forerunner of today's Regular Army, is a fitting choice for beginning a new series. Later volumes will detail the development of specific branches of the army from those early days to the present. The U.S. Army Center of Military History regards this series as essential to its mission of helping today's Army prepare for tomorrow by better understanding its past. In addition, the narratives herein make accurate information available to those in the Army as well as the general public. Furthermore, the lineages should help to foster unit esprit-de-corps. We hope that this volume with its new format will prove as popular as earlier volumes in the series.
  

Washington, D.C. 
1 May 1982
JAMES L. COLLINS, JR. 
Brigadier General, USA 
Chief of Military History
 
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The Author

Robert K. Wright, Jr., received a B.A. degree in history from the College of the Holy Cross in 1968 and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in early American history from the College of William and Mary in 1971 and 1980, respectively. He served with the Army on active duty from 1968 to 1970, first as a radio-teletype operator in Germany and then in the 18th Military History Detachment. During the latter assignment, he recorded the combat operations of the 25th Infantry Division in the former Republic of Vietnam for 1969 and 1970. Before returning to graduate school, Dr. Wright attained the rank of sergeant. He joined the Organizational History Branch, U.S. Army Center of Military History in 1974. In 1982 he was commissioned as a captain in the Virginia Army National Guard. Dr. Wright is also the author of many articles related to the War of American Independence and to unit history.

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Preface

Past historical accounts of the War of American Independence have largely ignored two areas which I find fundamental to evaluating campaigns and generalship. The basic concepts of military organization within units and in the larger realm of command and staff determine an army's capabilities. These concepts, for example, can insure that an army will be unable to cope with irregular opponents in difficult terrain. An army's doctrine—a theory on employing force which is taught to the army and is based on carefully worked out principles—in turn reveals how well that army's leaders understand their own organization and the situation in which they intend to fight. This monograph treats the organization and doctrine used in the Continental Army during the War of American Independence.

This book is not, however, a comprehensive account of the Revolution. Militia and regular state troops gave invaluable service during the war, but other historians have already dealt with these forces' contribution. This volume does not address logistical and medical support within the Continental Army because other volumes of the U.S. Army Center of Military History have covered those subjects in detail. Also, this volume does not discuss actual operations. Instead, The Continental Army provides a background for other historians to better evaluate campaigns through understanding how the Continentals and their adversaries organized and deployed their troops.

The present volume grew out of a proposal in January 1975 to produce a shorter, special volume in the Army Lineage Series for the Bicentennial. We then assumed that the Continental Army's organizational history was simple, that we could produce a short narrative relatively quickly, and that the book would serve primarily as a reference tool by including lineage (outline histories) of the approximately 200 regiments and smaller units which made up that Army. However, actual research soon revealed an untold story. The Continental Army actually underwent a complex evolution which greatly affected the military, political, and social history of the Revolution. Our discovery of Revolutionary leaders' decision to adopt many then contemporary European, and especially French, military theorists' concepts justified transforming a short narrative into the present footnoted monograph. Yet we have retained the original plan to include all 177 unit lineages and have added extensive bibliographies. I hope that the military and academic communities will accept this volume as a serious, scholarly treatment of a very important subject. I also expect it to be useful as a reference for professional and amateur historians and for genealogists interested in a specific unit's services. Nevertheless, practical considerations mandated including only selective bibliographies and publishing the lineages without footnotes. Those interested in more extensive bibliographies or in sources for a particular lineage entry may write to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, ATTN: DAMH-HSO, Washington, D.C. 20314 for additional information. [NOTE: Bibliographic information is now available in expanded form on this Internet site instead of by writing.]

Many contributed to the success of this project. Cols. Walter McMahon, William F. Strobridge, and Robert N. Waggoner, successive Chiefs, Historical Services Divi-

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sion, lent their support. As Chief, Organizational History Branch, and later as supervisory historian of that division, Mr. Stanley R. Connor read the manuscript and shared his expertise. Ms. Janice E. McKenney, the current branch chief, contributed many valuable suggestions which improved both the narrative and the lineages. Past and present coworkers in the branch asked critical questions, endured frequent monologues, and reminded me to step down from my soapbox.

Dr. Robert Coakley served as this book's midwife during his tenure as deputy chief historian. He patiently read each draft and provided countless suggestions, corrections, and words of encouragement. Mr. Detmar Finke loaned me numerous rare volumes, saving long hours of research time. Mr. Howell C. Brewer prepared the superb maps and charts, and Mr. Arthur S. Hardyman, Chief, Cartographic Branch, reviewed them and suggested placing the state maps within the lineage section.

The polish of the finished product is due in no small measure to the skill of several editors: Mr. John W. Elsberg, Mrs. Sara Heynen, and Mrs. Ann Conley. They patiently worked with me to turn my rough prose into a readable book. Typing support came from Mrs. Reda Robinson, the division secretary, and from the members of the center's Word Processing Unit, especially Mrs. Elizabeth Miles and Mrs. Joycelyn Bobo.

I cannot list all of the archivists and librarians who extended courtesies to me during my research. Several, however, merit special thanks: Carol Anderson and Joseph Mosley of the center's library, John Slonaker and Phyllis Cassler of the Military History Institute, Penny Crumpler of the Corps of Engineers Library, Ronald Gephart of the Library of Congress, Stewart Butler and Charles Shaughnessy of the National Archives, John Kilbourne of the Anderson House Museum of the Society of the Cincinnati, and Thomas Dunning of the New-York Historical Society. Professors Richard Kohn, Russell Weigley, and Charles Royster read parts of the manuscript and deserve commendation for their insights. Mr. Nicholas D. Ward and Col. Joseph B. Mitchell of the American Revolution Round Table of the District of Columbia allowed me to read chapters before their group and to benefit from that organization's critical skills.

Every historian is the product of his teachers. I want to acknowledge the contributions of some of the more influential men who helped to mold my career: Professors Edward F. Wall and James F. Powers of the College of the Holy Cross; Richard M. Brown, now of the University of Oregon; John Selby, Ludwell H. Johnson, and Thomas F. Sheppard of the College of William and Mary; and an extra thanks to Dr. Bruce T. McCully, formerly of the latter institution.

One group actually contributed more to this book than any other: my family. My parents and brother sacrificed innumerable vacations to my eccentricities and allowed me to walk over many of the battlefields and encampment areas of the Revolution. Insights gained then gave me an edge in dealing later with documentary sources. My sons Robbie and Michael endured abandonment many evenings and weekends to let me put in the hours necessary to meet deadlines and to compensate for unavoidable interruptions during normal duty hours. Marcia, my wife, put me through graduate school, brewed the oceans of coffee to keep me going, and gave me remedial spelling lessons.

In spite of the best efforts of so many, some errors may have gone undetected. I am fully responsible for them.
  

Washington, D.C. 
1 May 1982
ROBERT K. WRIGHT, JR.
 
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Contents
 
Chapter
Page
1. THE ARMY OF OBSERVATION: NEW ENGLAND IN ARMS
3
Warfare in the Eighteenth Century
3
Colonial Military Experience
5
The Coming of the Revolution
8
Massachusetts Acts
11
Formation of a New England Army
15
Summary
19
2. THE CONTINENTAL ARMY: WASHINGTON AND THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
21
Adoption of the Army
21
Selection of Commanders
25
Washington Takes Command
29
The War Spreads to Canada
40
Summary
43
3. THE CONTINENTAL REGIMENTS OF 1776: BOSTON AND QUEBEC
45
Washington's Unified Reorganization
45
The Canadian Department
56
Summary
65
4. AN ARMY TRULY CONTINENTAL: EXPANDING PARTICIPATION
67
The Southern Colonies
67
The Middle Colonies
76
The Departments and the Main Army
82
Summary
89
5. AN ARMY FOR THE WAR: 1777
91
The Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve
91
Trenton and Princeton
94
Rounding out the Army
98
Fielding the New Army
107
Summary
119
6. PROFESSIONALISM: NEW INFLUENCES FROM EUROPE
121
Valley Forge
121
Foreign Advisers
128
The Contributions of Steuben
137
The Reorganization of 1778- 79 in Practice
146
Summary
151
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Chapter
Page
7. PERSEVERANCE TO VICTORY
153
Economy and the 1781 Reorganization
153
Triumph at Yorktown
165
The Road to Newburgh
171
Peace
179
Concluding Remarks
182
LINEAGES (Note:  Not Currently Included)
195
New Hampshire
197
Massachusetts
203
Rhode Island
227
Connecticut
233
New York
247
New Jersey
255
Pennsylvania
259
Delaware
273
Maryland
277
Virginia
283
North Carolina
299
South Carolina
305
Georgia
313
Canada
317
Extra and Additional Continental Regiments
319
Miscellaneous Units
329
Artillery
335
Light Dragoons, Partisan Corps, and Legionary Corps
345
BIBLIOGRAPHY [NOTE: Not Included]
355
Appendix
A. U.S. Army Units Dating From the Revolution [NOTE: Not Included (out of date)]
429
B. Department Commanders
431
C. Principal Staff Officers
432
D. Engagements
433
GLOSSARY
435
INDEX [NOTE: Not Included]
441
Tables
 
1. Infantry Regiments 1775
13
2. 1775 Officers Willing To Serve in 1776
51
3. Regiments, 1776
69
4. Distribution of Regiments 1777
93
5. 1781 Quotas
157
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Charts
 
1. Massachusetts Artillery Regiment 1775
14
2. Infantry Regiment 1776
47
3. British Infantry Regiment 25 August 1775
48
4. Artillery Regiment 1776
53
5. South Carolina Artillery Regiment 12 November 1775
73
6. Hesse-Cassel Infantry Regiment 1776
95
7. Light Dragoon Regiment 1777
107
8. Infantry Regiment 27 May 1778
127
9. Light Dragoon Regiment 27 May 1778
128
10. Infantry Regiment Deployed in Two Battalions 1779
143
11. Infantry Regiment 1781
158
12. Artillery Regiment 1781
159
13. Legionary Corps 1781
160
14. Partisan Corps 1781
161

Maps (Only the First One Currently Included)
 
Territorial Departments
83
New Hampshire
196
Massachusetts
202
Rhode Island
228
Connecticut
232
New York
246
New Jersey
254
Pennsylvania
260
Delaware
274
Maryland
276
Virginia
284
North Carolina
298
South Carolina
306
Georgia
312
Canada
316
 
Illustrations (Not Currently Included)
 
They Scrambled up the Parapet (Frontispiece)  
Timothy Pickering
9
Artemas Ward
12
John Adams
23
Otho Holland Williams
24
Horatio Gates
27
Nathanael Greene
28
Boston, July 1775
30
General Return, Main Army, 19 July 1775
31
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Page
Pay Roll
33
Muster Roll
34
Thomas Mifflin
37
Marinus Willett
43
James Mitchell Varnum
52
Henry Knox
54
Philip Van Cortlandt
61
Benjamin Franklin
63
Second Embarkation, New London, 1776
64
Thomas Sumter
74
Lachlan McIntosh
76
Commission of Alexander Spotswood
77
Anthony Wayne
79
William Smallwood
80
The Declaration of Independence
86
George Clinton
88
General Return, Main Army, 22 December 1776
96
George Baylor
97
David Forman
101
Thomas Forrest
103
John Eager Howard
111
John Laurens
115
Elias Boudinot
116
Henry Dearborn
117
Marie- Paul-Joseph- Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette
123
Oath of Allegiance of Benedict Arnold
124
Louis le Begue de Presle Duportail
129
Thaddeus Kosciuszko
130
Casimir Pulaski
133
Benjamin Flower
135
Henri Bouquet
138
Jean-Baptiste, chevalier de Temant
140
Enlistment Form of Private Shafer
144
Benjamin Lincoln
148
Johannes de Kalb
155
Charles Tuffin Armand, marquis de la Rouerie
162
Joseph Reed
164
Arthur St. Clair
166
Henry Lee
168
William Washington
169
Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
171
General Return, Main Army, 27 October 1781
172
Robert Morris
173
Monthly Return, Main Army, June 1782
174
The Resignation of Washington
181
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Page
Size Roll
185
Newburgh, May 1783
353

The following color illustrations appear between pages 187 and 194:

The Battle of Bunker Hill

The Death of General Warren at Bunker Hill

Death of General Montgomery in the Attack on Quebec

The Retreat Through the Jerseys

Capture of the Hessians at Trenton

The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton

Attack Upon the Chew House

The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga

The Meeting of Greene and Gates

Guilford Court House, 15 March 1781

Thomas Shubrick

Morgan Lewis

Jacob Kingsbury

Jacob Reed, Jr.

Henry Henley Chapman

William Trueman Stoddard

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown

Frederick Wihelm Augustus von Steuben

Illustrations courtesy of the following sources: p. 135 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association; pp. 138 and 162 from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; p. 101 from the Permanent Collection, the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Mass.; p. 63 from the American Philosophical Society; pp. 43 and 88 from the Art Commission of the City of New York; p. 97 and between pp. 187 and 194 from the Anderson House Museum of the Society of the Cincinnati (photographs by Sgt. Jim Moore, 50th Military History Detachment); the frontispiece and between pp. 187 and 194 from the Delaware Art Museum, Howard Pyle Collection; pp. 9, 12, 23, 24, 27, 28, 37, 52, 54, 61, 74, 76, 79, 80, 103, 111, 115, 116, 117, 123, 129, 130, 133, 140, 148, 155, 164, 166, 168, 169, 171, 173, and between pp. 187 and 194 from the Independence National Historical Park Collection; and p. 86 and between pp. 187 and 194 are copyright the Yale University Art Gallery. The documents on pp. 31, 33, 34, 77, 96, 124, 144, 172, 174, and 185 are from Record Group 93, National Archives. Illustrations on pp. 30, 64, and between pp. 187 and 194 are from the Army Art Collection. The line art on pp. 328, 334, and 344 is by William S. Ballou, Typography and Design Division, U.S. Government Printing Office.

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