Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for two years and three months in the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

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 the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. Like other Additional Regiments, Grayson's remained directly under

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

's control, unlike state regiments. Authorized in January 1777, the unit's nine companies were recruited from the colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Raised by Colonel

William Grayson William Grayson (1742 – March 12, 1790) was a planter, lawyer and statesman from Virginia. After leading a Virginia regiment in the Continental Army, Grayson served in the Virginia House of Delegates before becoming one of the first two U ...

, the regiment participated in actions in Northern New Jersey in early 1777, at Brandywine in September 1777, at Germantown in October 1777, and at

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

in June 1778. In April 1779 the regiment was absorbed by

Gist's Additional Continental Regiment Gist's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for four years in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in January 1777, the unit was intended to be made up of four companies of l ...

and ceased to exist.

History

Formation to Germantown

Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment was authorized on 10 January 1777 for service with the

and assigned to the main army.Wright (1989), 322

, a former aide to

was appointed

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

of the regiment. Grayson recruited his soldiers in northern Virginia and in adjacent Maryland where

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 Governo ...

, his soon-to-be brother-in-law was very popular. The regiment assembled at

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

in the spring of 1777. Grayson's regiment was one of 16 planned Additional Continental Regiments. Unlike the September 1776 state regiments, the Additional Regiments were put directly under Washington's control. On 27 December 1776, the

Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was the meetings of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, which established American independence ...

authorized these units, along with three artillery regiments, 3,000 light cavalry, and an engineer corps. Washington was convinced that capable officers were being held back by the states on political grounds. Activating the Additional Regiments was seen as a way to bring these competent men into leadership roles in the Continental Army. Three Additional Regiments were allotted to Virginia. On 22 May, the unit was assigned to the 4th Virginia Brigade under the leadership of Charles Scott. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Virginia Brigades were led by

Peter Muhlenberg John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg (October 1, 1746October 1, 1807) was an American clergyman and military officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. A member of Pennsylvania's prominent Muhlenberg family political dynasty, he became ...

, George Weedon, and

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 before becoming a general of the 2nd Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War ...

, respectively. The other units in Scott's Brigade were the

4th Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'', a 1972 Soviet drama ...

8th Eighth is ordinal form of the number eight. Eighth may refer to: * One eighth, , a fraction, one of eight equal parts of a whole * Eighth note (quaver), a musical note played for half the value of a quarter note (crotchet) * Octave, an interval b ...

, and

12th Virginia Regiment The 12th Virginia Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776, at Williamsburg, Virginia, for service with the (U.S.) Continental Army. The regiment saw action in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege o ...

sWright (1989), 286-290 and

Patton's Additional Continental Regiment Patton's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that existed for two years during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized on 11 January 1777, the unit was recruited from the colonies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Del ...

. Grayson's Regiment was present during the skirmishing in northern New Jersey in the late spring and early summer of 1777. Scott's and

's brigades were part of

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 Geor ...

's division at the

Battle of Brandywine The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Am ...

on 11 September 1777. On that day, Sir William Howe maneuvered one wing of his army to reach Osborn's Hill in the American right rear. After belatedly learning of Howe's march,

ordered John Sullivan to take charge of his own division plus those of

Lord Stirling William Alexander, also known as Lord Stirling (December 27, 1725 – January 15, 1783), was a Scottish-American major general during the American Revolutionary War. He held a claim to be the male heir to the Scottish title of Earl of Stirl ...

and Stephen and stop the British. Near the Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse, Stephen's 1,500 men drew up on the right flank, Stirling's 1,500 soldiers defended the center, and Sullivan's troops filed into position on the left. The British outnumbered the Americans by approximately 8,000 to 4,000 men. Stephen's division and two cannons held a wooded hill in a place called Sandy Hollow. As Howe's attack gained momentum, the division stoutly held its position, pinning down the Hessian Jägers and the British 2nd Light Infantry Battalion. Sullivan's division collapsed first, exposing Stirling's left flank. After severe fighting, Stirling's men retreated leaving Stephen's flank in the air. The British then concentrated on Scott's brigade, which held Stephen's left flank. The Virginians' line finally broke and the men retreated to the south. The British captured two cannons which were stubbornly defended by their crews. Still part of Stephen's division, Scott's brigade marched with

Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...

's left wing at the

Battle of Germantown The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe, and the American ...

on 4 October 1777. Washington planned for Greene's troops to attack the British right flank while Sullivan and Stirling thrust at the enemy left. Sullivan's and

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

's divisions attacked first and drove in the British 2nd Light Infantry Battalion, together with some regiments that marched to their support. However, Greene's column was late arriving on the field and its deployment was marked by "monumental" confusion. The divisions of Greene and Stephen advanced so rapidly that

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 maj ...

's Connecticut Brigade lost track of them in the fog. One observer believed that the brigades of Scott and Muhlenberg (Greene's division) acted together. In fact, Stephen accused Scott of deliberately operating independently. Part of Woodford's brigade and its supporting artillery stopped to fire on 100 British troops at the Chew House. As part of Stephen's division advanced, it spotted one of Wayne's brigades in the fog and a

friendly fire In military terminology, friendly fire or fratricide is an attack by belligerent or neutral forces on friendly troops while attempting to attack enemy or hostile targets. Examples include misidentifying the target as hostile, cross-fire while ...

incident was the result. Wayne's men, who had carried all before them up to that point, panicked and took to their heels. Stephen was later convicted of unofficerlike behavior and drunkenness and dismissed from the army.

Valley Forge to Charleston

Valley Forge Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. It was the t ...

, Grayson's Regiment was listed as an element of Scott's brigade. The

field officers A senior officer is an officer of a more senior grade in military or other uniformed services. In military organisations, the term may refer to any officer above junior officer rank, but usually specifically refers to the middle-ranking group of ...

were Colonel Grayson, Lieutenant Colonel

Leven Powell Leven Powell (1737August 23, 1810) was a Virginia planter, merchant, Continental Army officer and Federalist politician who served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates as well as in the Virginia Ratification Convention representin ...

, and

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

John Thornton. On 28 June 1778, the regiment fought at the

Battle of Monmouth The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near the Village of Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey and Manalapan, New Jersey, Manalapan, on J ...

. Before the battle, Scott was named commander of a 1,440-man task force consisting of detachments under Richard Butler, Joseph Cilley,

Mordecai Gist Mordecai Gist (1743–1792) was a member of a prominent Maryland family who became a brigadier general in command of the Maryland Line in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Life Gist was born February 22, 1742/3 in Ba ...

, and Richard Parker. In Scott's absence, Grayson took charge of the 4th Virginia Brigade which became known as Grayson's Detachment. This force numbered 33 officers, 124 noncoms, 15 staff personnel, and 455 rank and file fit for duty. Besides Grayson's Regiment, the other units were a converged battle group of the 4th, 8th, and 12th Virginia Regiments under James Wood, Patton's Additional Continental Regiment, and Thomas Wells' two-gun company of the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment. As part of Charles Lee's Advance Guard, Grayson's Detachment led the American column of march on the morning of the battle. After a skirmish,

Philemon Dickinson Philemon Dickinson (April 5, 1739February 4, 1809) was an American lawyer and politician from Trenton, New Jersey. As a brigadier general of the New Jersey militia, he was one of the most effective militia officers of the American Revolutiona ...

's New Jersey militia was driven back by the

Queen's Rangers The Queen's Rangers, also known as the Queen's American Rangers, and later Simcoe's Rangers, were a Loyalists fighting in the American Revolution, Loyalist military unit of the American Revolutionary War that specialized in cavalry tactics, clo ...

. When Grayson's Detachment came on the scene, the Queen's Rangers retreated eastward. Dickinson advised Grayson not to advance any farther because it would a put narrow bridge behind his troops with British troops hovering nearby. However, Lee created an ''ad hoc'' command made up of Grayson's Detachment, Butler's detachment, Henry Jackson's detachment, and Eleazer Oswald's four cannons and sent the troops forward under Wayne. Seeing British troops around 9:30 AM, Wayne ordered Butler and Jackson to engage them while keeping back Grayson's men to guard a key road intersection. Wayne's men skirmished with their adversaries. Grayson suggested to Jackson that they attack the British right wing, but Jackson declined. Lee still believed that he faced a small rear guard. But, he soon observed that Sir Henry Clinton was bearing down on him with at least 6,000 troops. At this time, some American units began to withdraw without orders. Jackson had seen two of Oswald's guns pulling back and asked Lee's aide

John Francis Mercer John Francis Mercer (May 17, 1759 – August 30, 1821) was a Founding Father of the United States, politician, lawyer, planter, and slave owner from Virginia and Maryland. An officer during the Revolutionary War, Mercer initially served in th ...

for new orders. Mercer told Jackson to hold his ground, but when he returned he found that Jackson was retreating. Mercer then ordered Grayson to pull back as well. Threatened by the advancing British columns, Butler also fell back, taking a detour to the north to get away. Finding 3,000 of his troops withdrawing, Lee ordered a general retreat. Oswald's massed 10 guns to cover the movement. As Washington rode forward, he was surprised to see Lee's division retreating toward him, led by Grayson's and Patton's Additional Regiments. The men were suffering badly from the intense heat of the day. Farther on, Washington and Lee patched together a line consisting of Jeremiah Olney's brigade, detachments under Walter Stewart, Nathaniel Ramsey, and Henry Livingston Jr., and Oswald's four guns. It is likely that Wood's Virginians (though not Grayson's Regiment) were part of this force. After a fierce action, the British broke through, but the holding action allowed enough time for Washington's main body to form a line of battle. Except for two New Jersey regiments and Cilley's and Parker's detachments, Lee's division was sent to the rear to reorganize. Grayson's Regiment transferred to the 3rd Virginia Brigade on 22 July 1778, though it still formed part of the main army. On 15 November the remaining men of

Thruston's Additional Continental Regiment Thruston's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for a little more than two years in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in March 1777, four companies were organized in Virgi ...

were attached. The regiment's career came to an end on 22 April 1779 when it and Thruston's Regiment merged with

and the new unit reorganized in eight-company strength. The consolidated unit was captured by the British army at the

Siege of Charleston The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory in the American Revolutionary War, fought in the environs of Charles Town (today Charleston), the capital of South Carolina, between March 29 and May 12, 1780. The British ...

on 12 May 1780. This disaster resulted in the capture of at least 2,650 Continentals plus militia.Boatner (1994), 213

Service record

References

;Bibliography * * * * * *

External links

Bibliography of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania
compiled by the

United States Army Center of Military History The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment Military units and formations of the Continental Army Virginia regiments of the Continental Army Military units and formations established in 1777 Military units and formations disestablished in 1779