The Continental Army was the army raised by the Second Continental Congress to oppose the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. The army went through three major establishments: the first in 1775, the second in 1776, and the third from 1777 until after the end of the war. The 1776 differed in some significant ways from both the 1775 establishment and the 1777 establishment.

Second establishment

The Continental Army was established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, which is also recognized as the founding date of its successor, the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

. On that day, the Continental Congress assumed responsibility for militia regiments that had been raised by the colonies of

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

, and

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...

. These units and others authorized by Congress served in the Siege of Boston and the invasion of Quebec launched in September 1775. With these operations ongoing, Congress voted to authorize a second establishment of the army for 1776. The enlistments of most soldiers in the Continental Army of 1775 expired on the last day of the year. On January 1, 1776, a new army was established. General

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

had submitted recommendations for reorganization to the Continental Congress almost immediately after accepting the position of Commander-in-Chief, but these took time to consider and implement. Despite attempts to broaden the recruiting base beyond New England, the 1776 army remained skewed toward the Northeast both in terms of its composition and geographical focus.

Main Army units

;Numbered infantry regiments The bulk of the newly organized Main Army (that was commanded by General Washington) consisted of 27 infantry regiments, which were numbered in order of the seniority of the colonel of each regiment, and styled as "Continental Regiments". This differed from the regiments in the Southern Department, which retained state designations, some of which were assigned in the 1775 establishment. The Main Army regiments were created by reorganizing existing units and by encouraging soldiers to reenlist for another year. Each new regiment comprised eight companies, which at full strength fielded a total of 728 men. Of these, 640 provided the firepower (privates and corporals with muskets); the remaining were officers and staff, including three field officers (a colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major), a captain for each company, a surgeon, a quartermaster, drummers, etc. Other units were also authorized. ;Other infantry units * Commander-in-Chief's Guard ("Washington's Life Guard"). *Rawlings' Independent Maryland Rifle Company. Captain

Moses Rawlings Moses Rawlings (1740–1809) served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, most notably at the Battle of Fort Washington. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before leaving the military in 1779. He later served as t ...

. (''Consolidated with the

Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment The Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment, most commonly known as Rawlings' Regiment in period documents, was organized in June 1776 as a specialized light infantry unit of riflemen in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. T ...

, June 14, 1776''). *Williams' Independent Maryland Rifle Company. Captain Thomas Price continued from 1775; Captain

Otho Holland Williams Otho Holland Williams (March 1, 1749 – July 15, 1794) was a Continental Army officer from Maryland in the American Revolutionary War. He participated in many battles throughout the war in the New York, New Jersey and Southern theaters, event ...

, January 14, 1776. (''Consolidated with the

, June 14, 1776''). *Stephenson's Independent Virginia Rifle Company. Captain Hugh Stephenson. (''Consolidated with the

, June 14, 1776''). *

. Colonel Hugh Stephenson, Lieutenant Colonel Moses Rawlings, Major

. (''Formed June 14, 1776''). ;Artillery *

Continental Artillery Regiment The Continental Artillery Regiment, also known as Gridley's Continental Artillery Regiment or Knox's Continental Artillery Regiment, was the only large American unit of artillery in the early part of the American Revolutionary War. It was authoriz ...

(Massachusetts). 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 ...

Canadian Department units

;Initial infantry units * Wooster's Provisional Regiment. Brigadier General

David Wooster David Wooster ( – May 2, 1777) was an American general who served in the French and Indian War and in the American Revolutionary War. He died of wounds sustained during the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Several cities, schools, and public ...

; field commander, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Ward. (''Formed in Canada in December 1775 by consolidation of the remnants of the disbanded 4th and 5th Connecticut Regiments (1775) with the

1st Connecticut Regiment The 1st Connecticut Regiment was a unit of the Continental Army, and was involved in the American Revolutionary War. The regiment was initially formed in 1776, and was active in various forms until 1783. 1776–1780 The 1st Connecticut Regiment ...

(1775); disbanded April 15, 1776''). * Van Schaick's Regiment (New York). 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 ...

. (''Raised from the 2nd New York Regiment of 1775; designated the

1st New York Regiment The 1st New York Regiment was authorized on 25 May 1775 and organized at New York City from 28 June to 4 August, for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel Alexander McDougall. The enlistments of the first establishment e ...

in 1777''). * 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel Arthur St. Clair. (''Assigned to the Canadian Department, January 8, 1776; designated the

3rd Pennsylvania Regiment The 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment, first known as the 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion, was raised on December 9, 1775, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Valcour Island, ...

in 1777''). *

1st Canadian Regiment The 1st Canadian Regiment (1775–1781), was an Extra Continental regiment of the American Patriots' Continental Army. The 1st was raised by James Livingston to support Patriot efforts in the American Revolutionary War during the invasion ...

. Colonel James Livingston. *

2nd Canadian Regiment The 2nd Canadian Regiment (1776–1783), also known as Congress' Own or Hazen's Regiment, was authorized on January 20, 1776, as an Extra Continental regiment and raised in the province of Quebec for service with the American Continental Army ...

. Colonel

Moses Hazen Moses Hazen (June 1, 1733 – February 5, 1803) was a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rang ...

. ;Continental Regiments authorized by Washington on January 19, 1776 after Montgomery's defeat at the Battle of Quebec (December 31, 1775): *

Bedel's Regiment Bedel's Regiment was first raised as a single company of rangers in Coos, New Hampshire on May 26, 1775 under the command of Timothy Bedel for the protection of northern New Hampshire during the early days of the American Revolutionary War. Bet ...

(New Hampshire). Colonel

Timothy Bedel Timothy Bedel (1737 – February 24, 1787) was a soldier and local leader prominent in the early history of New Hampshire and Vermont. Bedel was born in Salem, New Hampshire. During the French and Indian War he served as a lieutenant in the New Ha ...

. (''Most of Bedel's command was captured at the Battle of The Cedars in May 1776, and was released shortly afterwards''). * Porter's Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel Elisha Porter. *Burrall's Regiment (Connecticut). Colonel Charles Burrall. ;Reinforcements dispatched from New York City on April 15, 1776 under Brigadier General William Thompson *8th Continental Regiment (New Hampshire). Colonel

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 ...

. *

15th Continental Regiment The 1st Massachusetts Regiment was an infantry unit of the Continental Army that fought during the American Revolutionary War. It was first authorized on 23 April 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Paterson's Regiment under Colonel John ...

(Massachusetts). Colonel John Paterson. *24th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel John Greaton. *

25th Continental Regiment The 25th Continental Regiment, also known as Gardner's and Bond's Regiment, was raised April 23, 1775, as a Massachusetts militia Regiment at Cambridge, Massachusetts, under Colonel Thomas Gardner. Colonel Gardner was mortally wounded at the Bat ...

(Massachusetts) Colonel William Bond. ;Reinforcements dispatched from New York City on April 27, 1776 under Brigadier General John Sullivan *2nd Continental Regiment (New Hampshire). Colonel James Reed. * 5th Continental Regiment (New Hampshire). Colonel

John Stark Major-General John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) was an American military officer who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Batt ...

. * 2nd New Jersey Regiment. Colonel William Maxwell. *4th Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel

Anthony Wayne Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his mil ...

. (''Redesignated the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1777''). *6th Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel William Irvine. (''Redesignated the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1777''). ;Additional units raised later in the year *Dubois' Regiment (New York). Colonel Lewis Dubois. (''Redesignated the

5th New York Regiment The 5th New York Regiment was authorized on November 30, 1776, as part of the New York Line for service with the Continental Army, under Colonel Lewis DuBois. It was organized January 26, 1777, from companies in central New York and assigned to ...

in 1777''). *Nicholson's Regiment (New York). Colonel John Nicholson. (''Disbanded December 31, 1776''). *Warner's Regiment (Vermont). Colonel

Seth Warner Seth Warner (May 17, 1743 – December 26, 1784) was an American soldier. He was a Revolutionary War officer from Vermont who rose to rank of Continental colonel and was often given the duties of a brigade commander. He is best known for his l ...

. (''Reraised and expanded from the

Green Mountain Boys The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization first established in 1770 in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants and later in 1777 as the Vermont Republic (which late ...

'').

Northern Department units

*Elmore's Regiment (Connecticut). Colonel Samuel Elmore. *1st New York Regiment (1775–1776). 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 ...

. (''Reorganized February 24-May 21, 1776; assigned to the Main Army, April 24, 1776''). *2nd New York Regiment (1776). 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 ...

. (''Raised from the 3rd New York Regiment of 1775; designated the

4th New York Regiment The 4th New York Regiment was one of four established by the New York Provincial Congress at the direction of the Continental Congress for the defense of King's Bridge where Manhattan Island joins the mainland, and of the Hudson River. The r ...

in 1777''). *3rd New York Regiment (1776). Colonel

Rudolphus Ritzema Colonel Rudolphus Ritzema (1739–1803) was an American officer in the New York Line during the American Revolutionary War, and later changed sides, serving as a lieutenant colonel in a British regiment. He was born to the Reverend Johannes Rit ...

. (''Raised from the 4th New York Regiment of 1775; designated the 2nd New York Regiment in 1777''). *4th New York Regiment (1776). Colonel Cornelius D. Wynkoop. (''Consolidated with Van Schaick's Regiment to form

in 1777''). *

1st New Jersey Regiment The 1st New Jersey Regiment was the first organized militia regiment in New Jersey, formed in 1673 in Piscataway "to repel foreign Indians who come down from upper Pennsylvania and western New York (in the summer) to our shores and fill (themse ...

(1776). (''Assigned to various departments in 1776''). *

3rd New Jersey Regiment The 3rd New Jersey Regiment was raised on January 1, 1776, at Elizabethtown, New Jersey for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Valcour Island, New York Campaign, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germanto ...

(1776). (''Assigned to various departments in 1776''). *1st Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel John Philip De Haas. (''Assigned to the Main Army in November; designated the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment in 1777''). *Mackay's Battalion (Pennsylvania). Colonel Aeneas Mackay. (''Assigned to the Main Army in November; designated the

8th Pennsylvania Regiment The 8th Pennsylvania Regiment or Mackay's Battalion was an American infantry unit that became part of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized for frontier defense in July 1776, the eight-company unit was originall ...

in 1777''). ;Artillery units: *Wool's Artillery Detachment (New York). Captain Lieutenant Isaiah Wool. (''Remnant of Lamb's Artillery Company of 1775; assigned to the 2d Continental Artillery Regiment in 1777''). *Bauman's Continental Artillery Company. Captain Sebastian Bauman. (''Assigned to the Main Army, April 13, 1776; later part of the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment). *Romans' Continental Artillery Company. Captain Bernard Romans.

Eastern Department units

*6th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel Asa Whitcomb. (''Assigned to the Northern Department August 8, 1776''). * 14th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel John Glover. (''Stationed at Beverly,

;Lesser, ''Sinews'', 12. assigned to the Main Army in New York on July 20, 1776''). *16th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel Paul Dudley Sargent. (''Assigned to the Main Army in New York on July 11, 1776''). *18th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel Edmund Phinney. (''Assigned to the Northern Department on August 3, 1776''). *27th Continental Regiment (Massachusetts). Colonel Israel Hutchinson. (''Assigned to the Main Army in New York on July 11, 1776''). * Long's Regiment (New Hampshire). Colonel

Pierse Long Pierse Long (1739 – April 13, 1789) was an American merchant from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He served as a colonel of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and served as a New Hampshire delegate to the Confederation Congress in 1 ...

. (''Assigned to the Northern Department, November 22, 1776''). *Ward's Regiment (Connecticut). Colonel Andrew Ward. (''Assigned to the Main Army, August 1, 1776''). ;Rhode Island Garrison Regiments. Two regiments of Rhode Island state troops which served with the Continental Army in 1776, but were not placed on the Continental establishment.Berg, ''Encyclopedia'', 106. * Richmond's Regiment (Rhode Island). Colonel William Richmond. (''Assigned to the Eastern Department, November 1775''). *

Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment was a regiment raised for the defense of Rhode Island during the American Revolution. History The regiment was one of two formed by the state of Rhode Island between November 1775 and January 1776 to deter an attack by ...

(Rhode Island). Colonel Henry Babcock: January 15, 1776; Colonel

Christopher Lippitt Christopher Lippitt (October 28, 1744 – June 17, 1824) was a prominent Revolutionary War officer and founder one of the earliest textile mills in Rhode Island. Early life Lippitt was the fourth child of Christopher Lippitt (1712–1764) and Ca ...

: May 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army, May 11, 1776'').

Middle Department units

The

Middle Department The Middle Department was an administrative military district created by the United States War Department early in the American Civil War to administer the troops in the Middle Atlantic states. The department was created on March 22, 1862 by the Ad ...

was created on February 27, 1776,Wright, ''Continental Army'', 82. as a military administrative district embracing New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. When the Main Army moved from Boston to New York in April 1776 and

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 ...

opened his headquarters in New York City, he assumed direct command of the department. As a result the Main Army became, for the remainder of the war, the field army associated with the Middle Department.Wright, ''Continental Army'', 84. At the same time New York and the Northern Department became practically coextensive; only the Hudson Highlands and parts of New York to the south remained in the Middle Department.Wright, ''Continental Army'', 83-84. These changes left Washington holding three posts at once: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Commanding General of the field army under his immediate command, the Main Army, and Commanding General of the Middle Department. ;Infantry units *3rd Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel John Shee. (''Assigned to the Middle Department, February 27, 1776; assigned to the Main Army, June 11, 1776; captured at Fort Washington, New York, on November 16, 1776; reconstituted and designated the

4th Pennsylvania Regiment The 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, first known as the 3rd Pennsylvania Battalion, was raised on December 9, 1775, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment was assigned to Thomas Mifflin's brigade in the ...

in 1777''). *5th Pennsylvania Battalion. Colonel Robert Magaw. (''Assigned to the Middle Department, February 27, 1776; assigned to the Main Army, June 11, 1776; captured at Fort Washington, New York, on November 16, 1776; reconstituted and designated the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1777''). *

Delaware Regiment The 198th Signal Battalion is an Expeditionary Signal Battalion in the Delaware Army National Guard. Delaware is known as the "First State," as referenced in their motto "First Regiment of First State." The unit specializes in command post ...

. Colonel

John Haslet John Haslet ( – January 3, 1777) was an American Presbyterian clergyman and soldier from Milford, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the French and Indian War and an officer of the Continental Army in the American Revolution, serving ...

: January 19, 1776; Colonel David Hall: April 5, 1777. (''Assigned to the Main Army, August 5, 1776. Colonel Haslet was killed at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777''). *

1st Maryland Regiment The 1st Maryland Regiment (Smallwood's Regiment) originated with the authorization of a Maryland Battalion of the Maryland State Troops on 14 January 1776. It was organized in the spring at Baltimore, Maryland (three companies) and Annapolis, M ...

. Colonel

William Smallwood William Smallwood (1732February 14, 1792) was an American planter, soldier and politician from Charles County, Maryland. He served in the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of major general. He was serving as the fourth Governor ...

. (''State regiment assigned to the Main Army, July 6, 1776; placed on the Continental establishment, August 17, 1776''). * 2nd Maryland Regiment (''Separate state companies assigned to the Main Army, July 6-August 15, 1776; placed on the Continental establishment, August 17, 1776''). *

German Battalion The "German Battalion" (also known as the "German Regiment" or 8th Maryland) was an infantry formation of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in May 1776 as an extra Continental regiment, the battaltion rec ...

(8th Maryland). Colonel Nicholas Haussegger. (''Assigned to the Main Army, September 23, 1776''). *Westmoreland Independent Companies ( Westmoreland County, Connecticut). Captains Samuel Ransom and Robert Durkee. (''Assigned to the Main Army, December 12, 1776'').

Southern Department units

The Continental Congress established the Southern Department on February 27, 1776. The department was the organizing unit for regiments raised in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. ;Virginia infantry *

1st Virginia Regiment The 1st Virginia Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Virginia Line that served with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. History Origins The regiment originated from the Charles City-Henrico County Regiment of ...

(1776). Colonel

James Read James Christopher Read (born July 31, 1953) is an American actor. He played the role of George Hazard in the ''North and South'' television miniseries, and had a recurring role as Victor Bennett on the supernatural series ''Charmed'' between 2 ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on July 20, 1776''). *

2nd Virginia Regiment The 2d Virginia Regiment (the spelling most commonly used in period references) was authorized by the Virginia Convention, July 17, 1775, as a force of regular troops for the Commonwealth's defense. It consisted of seven companies, 476 privates ...

(1776). Colonel

William Woodford William Woodford (October 6, 1734 – November 13, 1780) was a Virginia planter and militia officer who distinguished himself in the French and Indian War, and later became general of the 2nd Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War, ...

. (''assigned to the Main Army on December 27, 1776''). * 3rd Virginia Regiment (1776). Colonel

Hugh Mercer Hugh Mercer (16 January 1726 – 12 January 1777) was a Scottish-born American military officer and physician who participated in the Seven Years' War and Revolutionary War. Born in Pitsligo, Scotland, he studied medicine in his home country ...

: February 13, 1776; Colonel

George Weedon George Weedon (1734–1793) was an American soldier during the Revolutionary War from Fredericksburg, Colony of Virginia. He served as a brigadier general in the Continental Army and later in the Virginia militia. After the Revolutionary War ...

: August 13, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on July 20, 1776''). *

4th Virginia Regiment The 4th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Suffolk Court House, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germant ...

(1776). Colonel

Adam Stephen Adam Stephen ( – 16 July 1791) was a Scottish-born American doctor and military officer who helped found what became Martinsburg, West Virginia. He emigrated to North America, where he served in the Province of Virginia's militia under Georg ...

: February 13, 1776; Colonel Thomas Elliott: September 3, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on September 3, 1776''). *

5th Virginia Regiment The 5th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Richmond, Virginia, for service with the U.S. Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Ba ...

(1776). Colonel William Peachy: February 13, 1776; Colonel Charles Scott: May 7, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on September 3, 1776''). *

6th Virginia Regiment The 6th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Williamsburg, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, ...

(1776). Colonel Mordecai Buckner. (''Assigned to the Main Army on September 3, 1776''). *

7th Virginia Regiment The 7th Virginia Regiment was raised on January 11, 1776, at Gloucester, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown (after which it wintered at Valley Forge), B ...

(1776). Colonel William Dangerfield: February 20, 1776; Colonel

William Crawford William Crawford may refer to: Entertainment * William Broderick Crawford (1911–1986), American film actor * Bill Crawford (cartoonist) (1913–1982), American editorial cartoonist * William L. Crawford (1911–1984), U.S. publisher and editor ...

: August 14, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on December 27, 1776''). *

8th Virginia Regiment The 8th Virginia Regiment or German Regiment was an infantry unit that served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in January 1776, the regiment was raised from men of several northwestern counties in the stre ...

(1776). Colonel

Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (October 1, 1746October 1, 1807) was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly independent United States. A Lutheran minister, he serve ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on January 21, 1777''). *

9th Virginia Regiment The 9th Virginia Regiment was authorized in the Virginia State Troops on January 11, 1776. It was subsequently organized between February 5 and March 16, 1776, and comprised seven companies of troops from easternmost Virginia. The unit was adopte ...

(1776). Colonel Charles Fleming: March 2, 1776; Colonel Isaac Read: August 13, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on November 23, 1776''). ;North Carolina infantry *

1st North Carolina Regiment The 1st North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army was raised on September 1, 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina (originally authorized by the North Carolina Provincial Congress as state troops but on November 28, 1775, it became part of th ...

(1776). Colonel

Francis Nash Francis Nash (October 7, 1777) was a brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Prior to the war, he was a lawyer, public official, and politician in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and was heavily involved ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). *

2nd North Carolina Regiment The 2nd North Carolina Regiment was an American infantry unit that was raised for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776 the regiment helped defend Charleston, South Carolina. Ordered to join George Washington's main ...

(1776). Colonel Alexander Martin. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). *

3rd North Carolina Regiment The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was raised on 16 January 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. In April, Jethro Sumner was appointed colonel. The regiment was present at the Battle of Sullivan's Island, defens ...

(1776). Colonel

Jethro Sumner Jethro Exum Sumner ( – c. March 18, 1785) was a senior officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Virginia, Sumner's military service began in the French and Indian War as a member of the state's Provi ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). * 4th North Carolina Regiment (1776). Colonel

Thomas Polk Thomas Polk (c. 1732–January 25, 1794) was a planter, military officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1781, and a politician who served in the North Carolina House of Commons, North Carolina Provinci ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). * 5th North Carolina Regiment (1776). Colonel

Edward Buncombe Edward Buncombe (1742–1778) was a plantation owner from the Province of North Carolina who served as a colonel in the North Carolina militia and Continental Army (the army of the Patriot side) in the American Revolutionary War. He is the namesak ...

. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). * 6th North Carolina Regiment (1776). Colonel John Alexander Lillington; field commander, Lieutenant Colonel William Taylor, from May 6, 1776. (''Assigned to the Main Army on February 5, 1777''). ;South Carolina infantry *

1st South Carolina Regiment The 1st South Carolina Regiment (Infantry) was authorized on June 6, 1775, at Charleston, South Carolina, for service with the South Carolina State Troops. On November 4, 1775, the unit was adopted into the Continental Army and on February 27, 17 ...

(1775). Colonel Christopher Gadsden: June 17, 1775; Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: September 16, 1776. *

2nd South Carolina Regiment The 2nd South Carolina Regiment was raised on June 6, 1775, at Charleston, South Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. History At organization the regiment consisted of 10 companies from eastern South Carolina and was part of the So ...

(1775). Colonel

William Moultrie William Moultrie (; November 23, 1730 – September 27, 1805) was an American planter and politician who became a general in the American Revolutionary War. As colonel leading a state militia, in 1776 he prevented the British from taking Charle ...

: June 17, 1775; Colonel Isaac Motte: September 16, 1776. * 5th South Carolina Regiment (1st South Carolina Rifle Regiment). Colonel Isaac Huger. * 6th South Carolina Regiment (2d South Carolina Rifle Regiment). Colonel

Thomas Sumter Thomas Sumter (August 14, 1734June 1, 1832) was a soldier in the Colony of Virginia militia; a brigadier general in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolution, a planter, and a politician. After the United States gained independe ...

.Wright, ''Continental Army'', 72. ;Georgia infantry *

1st Georgia Regiment The 1st Georgia Regiment, or as it was also known, the 1st Georgia was a regiment of the Continental Army, and formed part of the Georgia Line. History On 4 November 1775, the Georgia Regiment was authorised in the Continental Army, and organ ...

. Colonel

Lachlan McIntosh Lachlan McIntosh (March 17, 1725 – February 20, 1806) was a Scottish American military and political leader during the American Revolution and the early United States. In a 1777 duel, he fatally shot Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaratio ...

: January 7, 1776; Colonel

Joseph Habersham Joseph Habersham (July 28, 1751 – November 17, 1815) was an American businessman, Georgia politician, soldier in the Continental Army, and Postmaster General of the United States. Early years Born in Savannah, Georgia, to James Habers ...

: September 16, 1776. ;Cavalry units * 3rd South Carolina Regiment (1775), (South Carolina Ranger Regiment). Colonel William Thompson: June 17, 1775. (''Converted to infantry in 1777'').Wright, ''Continental Army'', 108. *

Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers The Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers were Georgia State troops that became part of the Georgia Line of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The 1st and 2nd Troops of Georgia Horse were authorized on January 1, 1776, and were org ...

. * North Carolina Corps of Light Dragoons. ;Artillery units * 4th South Carolina Regiment (South Carolina Artillery Regiment). Colonel

Owen Roberts Owen Josephus Roberts (May 2, 1875 – May 17, 1955) was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1930 to 1945. He also led two Roberts Commissions, the first of which investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the sec ...

. *Virginia State Artillery Company. Captain James Innis.Wright, ''Continental Army'', 70-71. *Virginia Continental Artillery Company. Captain Dohickey Arundel.

Notes

References

*Berg, Fred Anderson ''Encyclopedia of Continental Army Units: Battalions, Regiments, and Independent Corps''. Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1972. *Lesser, Charles H., Editor. ''The Sinews of Independence: Monthly Strength Reports of the Continental Army.'' Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1976. * Wright, Robert K. ''The Continental Army''. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, 1983. Availabl
online
{{Continental Army 1776 Continental Army 1776 Continental Army units 1776