The 4th New York Regiment was one of four established by the
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress (1775–1777) was a revolutionary provisional government formed by colonists in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-American alternative to the more conservative New York General Assembly, and as a repla ...
at the direction of the
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...
for the defense of
King's Bridge where Manhattan Island joins the mainland, and of the Hudson River. The regiment would see action in the
Invasion of Canada,
New York Campaign
The New York and New Jersey campaign in 1776 and the winter months of 1777 was a series of American Revolutionary War battles for control of the Port of New York and the state of New Jersey, fought between British forces under General Sir Willia ...
,
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led an invasion ...
,
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It pitted the Continental Army, co ...
and the
Sullivan Expedition
The 1779 Sullivan Expedition (also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, the Sullivan Campaign, and the Sullivan-Clinton Genocide) was a United States military campaign during the American Revolutionary War, lasting from June to October 1779 ...
. The regiment was merged into the
2nd NY on January 1, 1781.
Initial organization
After the
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
The capture of Fort Ticonderoga occurred during the American Revolutionary War on May 10, 1775, when a small force of Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold surprised and captured the fort's small British garrison. ...
on May 10, 1775, by
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen ( – February 12, 1789) was an American farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, lay theologian, American Revolutionary War patriot, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of Vermont and for ...
, it became apparent that it was unlikely to be a peaceful settlement with Britain in the foreseeable future. On May 25, the
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...
, requested New England and New York to raise troops for a campaign into Canada. The New York Provincial Congress authorized the raising of four Regiments totaling 3,000 soldiers to serve under the command of major general
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler (; November 18, 1804) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.
Born in Alba ...
until December 31. Schuyler was in charge of the troops in New York, which constituted the North Department. Former British officer
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery (2 December 1738 – 31 December 1775) was an Irish soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and he is most famous for l ...
was named brigadier general. It was anticipated the Montgomery's combat experience would complement Schuyler administrative and logistical skills.
The
1st New York Regiment, under the command of Colonel
Alexander McDougall
Alexander McDougall (1732 9 June 1786) was a Scottish-born American seaman, merchant, a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution, and a military leader during the Revolutionary War. He served as a m ...
was raised in New York City; the
2nd New York Regiment
The 2nd New York Regiment was authorized on May 25, 1775, and formed at Albany from June 28 to August 4 for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Goose Van Schaick. The enlistments of the first establishment ended on Dece ...
, under Colonel
Goose Van Schaick
Goose Van Schaick (September 5, 1736 – July 4, 1789) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War.
Early life
Van Schaick was born in Albany on September 5, 1736. He was the first child born to Sybrant Van Schaick, who ...
at Albany; the
3rd New York Regiment
The 3rd New York Regiment was authorized May 25, 1775, and organized from June 28 to August 4 from the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, and Suffolk under the command of Colonel James Clinton for five months service in Canada. The enlis ...
, under Colonel
James Clinton
Major General James Clinton (August 9, 1736 – September 22, 1812) was an American Revolutionary War officer who, with John Sullivan, led in 1779 the Sullivan Expedition in what is now western New York to attack British-allied Seneca and ...
from the west bank of the Hudson; and, the 4th, under Colonel James Holmes from the east side of the river.
While
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
dealt with the British in Boston, Schuyler was to undertake an invasion of Canada. The troops were to receive uniforms in Albany, but the Provisional Congress overestimated the merchants' available stock of cloth required, and having headed north so soon after forming, there were only enough for the first two regiments raised. The 4th received only regimental short coats. In August 1775, Philip Van Cortlandt described many of the men of the 4th wanting shirts, shoes, stockings, underclothes, and, in short, without anything fit for a soldier except a uniform coat. Arming the troops also proved challenging. More of the muskets, bayonets, ramrods, etc. had been supplied to the 1st and 2nd, leaving Holmes without enough to supply a company. The colony did not have sufficient material to supply so many soldiers.
Washington assigned colonel
Henry Knox
Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806), a Founding Father of the United States, was a senior general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving as chief of artillery in most of Washington's campaigns. Following the ...
to
retrieve the British artillery from Ticonderoga and bring it to Boston. He wrote that "no trouble or expense must be spared to obtain them." On November 16, Washington wrote to Schuyler requesting that he assist Knox in the endeavor. The 4th, the least equipped regiment, was posted along an area from Albany to
Lake George (New York) Lake George, New York may refer to one of several locations in New York State in the United States:
*Lake George (lake), New York
*Lake George (town), New York
*Lake George (village), New York, which sits within the town of Lake George
See also
* ...
to maintain essential lines for supplies and communication. Those at Ticonderoga provided the main manpower to enable Knox to move the cannons and munitions. During the
Invasion of Quebec in late 1775, General Schuyler became too ill to continue and turned command of the expedition over to Montgomery. Montgomery was killed during an assault on
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...
in December 1775.
The second establishment of the regiment was authorized on January 19, 1776.
Saratoga
![Array of Units on the Freeman's Farm Battlefield](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Array_of_Units_on_the_Freeman%27s_Farm_Battlefield.png)
In August 1777, the 4th New York, which was under Colonel
Henry Beekman Livingston
Henry Beekman Livingston Jr. (October 13, 1748 – February 29, 1828) has been proposed as being the uncredited author of the poem ''A Visit from St. Nicholas'', more popularly known (after its first line) as ''The Night Before Christmas''. Cre ...
, was attached to
Enoch Poor
Enoch Poor (June 21, 1736 (Old Style) – September 8, 1780) was a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was a ship builder and merchant from Exeter, New Hampshire.
Biography
Poor was born and raised ...
's brigade at Loudon's Ferry, not far from
Van Schaick Island
Van Schaick Island is an island in the city of Cohoes, New York. Van Schaick is a part of the delta of the Mohawk River at its mouth with the Hudson River. The island has been referred to by numerous names including Quehemesicos, Long, Anthony' ...
. By mid-September, they were at Saratoga, where they came to the aid of
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan (1735–1736July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. One of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, he later commanded troops during the sup ...
's
rifleman
A rifleman is an infantry soldier armed with a rifling, rifled long gun. Although the rifleman role had its origin with 16th century hand cannoneers and 17th century musketeers, the term originated in the 18th century with the introduction o ...
at
Freeman's Farm
The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led an invasion ...
on September 19.
[Luzader, John F. ''Saratoga: A Military History of the Decisive Campaign of the American Revolution''. New York: Savas Beatie. p. 240 ] On October 7, they were in
General Gates' left wing. The regiment spent the following winter at
Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the B ...
.
Coming out of winter quarters, the Americans met the British at
Monmouth Courthouse in June 1778. The 4th regiment, still part of Poor's brigade, was put in the main line of defense, while Col. Beekman was detached to lead a hand-picked battalion in the vanguard.
Frederick von Weissenfels
Frederick, Baron de Weissenfels Frederick, von Weissenfels lso Friedrich Heinrich Freiherr von Weissenfels lso Frederick, Baron de Weissenfels(1738 Elbing, Prussia - 14 May 1806 New Orleans) was a leading soldier in the service of the Continental Army and the State of New York d ...
became Lt. Colonel Commanding of the 4th New York on January 13, 1779, and remained in that post until the unit was reduced by the State of New York on January 1, 1780. The 4th New York was known during the war as Weissenfel's Regiment.
References
Sources
* Fernow, Berthold, ''New York in the Revolution'', 1887
* Heitman, Francis B., ''Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution. New, enlarged, and revised edition.'', Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, 1914
* Wright, Robert, ''The Continental Army'', 1983
External links
4th New York Regiment- Reenactment Group from Putnam County, NY
{{Authority control
New York (state) regiments of the Continental Army
Military units and formations established in 1775