Most commonly referred to as Scammell's light, light corps, or detachment, this was a light infantry regiment under the new organization of the
Continental Army prescribed by
George Washington in his General Orders of November 1, 1780. The regiment was formed on May 17, 1781. Washington's intent for the regiment is clearly stated in a letter from him Scammell on the same date:
George Washington to Alexander Scammell
Formation and Early Operations in the Highlands
General Washington gave command of the regiment to
Alexander Scammell
Alexander Scammell (March 22, 1747 – October 6, 1781) was a Harvard educated attorney and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was wounded on September 30, 1781, near Yorktown and subsequently died on Oc ...
to honor his services as Adjutant General and to honor Scammell's wishes to command an active line unit.
[Scammell, Nov 16, 1780] The men of this unit were selected from the Continental Line regiments from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Among the men under Scammell's command was
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn (February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American military officer and politician. In the Revolutionary War, he served under Benedict Arnold in his expedition to Quebec, of which his journal provides an important record ...
who later became
U.S. Secretary of War
The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...
under President
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the nati ...
.
Prelude to Yorktown
The regiment was active in the subterfuge that ensured Sir Henry Clinton's forces in New York City stayed there in a defensive posture, allowing Washington's army to make their way southward to Yorktown.
Battle of Yorktown
Alexander Scammell was wounded, and died a few days later in early October 1781. The regiment was divided, with companies being assigned to
John Laurens
John Laurens (October 28, 1754 – August 27, 1782) was an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War, best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recruit slaves to fight for thei ...
and
Alexander Hamilton. Some of these companies participated in the battle to take redoubt number 10 under the command of the
Marquis de Lafayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemason and military officer who fought in the American Revoluti ...
.
References
Bibliography
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Military units and formations established in 1781
Military units and formations of the Continental Army
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