Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment, sometimes referred to as the 5th New Jersey Regiment, was an American infantry unit that served for four years in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress authorized sixteen "Additional" Continental Regiments in late 1776 and Colonel Oliver Spencer accepted command of this regiment with rank from January 15, 1777.[1]
Recruiting for Spencer's Regiment took place in numerous New Jersey counties but especially in Essex (now Union), Morris and Sussex Counties and adjacent Orange County in New York. When it assembled at Middlebrook, New Jersey in late May, 1777, nine companies comprised the regiment, including one independent Continental company raised in Pennsylvania.[2] Spencer's Regiment was assigned to Brigadier General Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade in late May 1777 [3] and was engaged at the Battle of Short Hills late that June. It was in the thick of the fighting at the Brandywine where it suffered heavy casualties.[4] It sustained further losses during Germantown on October 4, 1777 when Conway's Brigade lead the advance of Wayne's and Sullivan's columns.[5] After Conway was appointed Major General and Inspector General of the Continental Army, Spencer was in acting command of the Brigade throughout much of the brutal winter at Valley Forge.[6] At the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, Spencer's Regiment took part in Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's late afternoon attack on the British 1st Grenadier Battalion and fought at the hedgerow and Parsonage. It was detached from the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade July 19, 1778 and assigned to the Hudson Highlands.[7] It spent the winter on the New Jersey frontier at Minisink under Brigadier General Edward Hand.
During the spring of 1779, Spencer's Regiment absorbed the two remaining New Jersey companies of Forman's Additional Continental Regiment and those enlisted men credited to New York from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment when those units were reduced. Spencer's Regiment repaired the military road leading to the Susquehanna in advance of Sullivan's Expedition in the summer of 1779, during which it was assigned to the New Jersey Brigade. It overwintered at Jockey Hollow, between Mendham and Morristown, NJ. It lost a handful of men captured while on command at Paramus, NJ on April 16, 1780.[8] In late May it was assigned to the front lines at Elizabethtown, New Jersey.[9] Spencer's Regiment fought in the Battle of Connecticut Farms on June 6–7, 1780 where it suffered more losses than any other Continental unit engaged, including half the officer casualties in the Jersey Brigade and nearly half the wounded enlisted men.[10]
The unit was transferred to the Highland Department in September 1780, where it garrisoned Stony Point until disbanded on the first of January 1781. At that time, Spencer's Regiment was the very last of the sixteen Additional Regiments still in the field that had never been formally incorporated into the Continental regiments of the various states.[11] Its remaining men from New Jersey who had enlisted for the duration of the war were assigned to Captain John Holmes' company, 2nd New Jersey Regiment, while those from New York and a few who remained from Pennsylvania were transferred respectively to the New York and Pennsylvania Lines. Very few of Spencer's officers received new Continental appointments in 1781, but others returned to commands in various militia units.[12]
↑ National Archives and Records Service (NARS) microfilm publications, publication Number M246, Record Group 93, Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; Spencer's Regiment 1777-1780: Roll 127 (161), Roll 128 (162-170), Roll 129 (171-178).
↑ Based on muster rolls, pension records and other contemporary and secondary accounts, it appears that Spencer's Regiment took at least 34 casualties at Brandywine, including 5 men killed in action, 1 officer and 14 men wounded, 1 officer and 6 men taken prisoner (2 of whom were also wounded), 3 men missing in action, and 4 men deserted.
↑ From endorsements on muster rolls signed by Spencer in his capacity as acting commandant of "Late Conway's" Brigade, Colonel Spencer was apparently in charge starting in December, 1777 and at least through the Battle of Monmouth at the end of June, 1778, except for a six-week period when he was on command in February and March, 1778 on a "grand forage".
↑ Based on muster rolls, pension records and other contemporary and secondary accounts, the casualties in Spencer's Regiment at Connecticut Farms appear to be 1 ensign and 1 corporal killed in action, 1 lieutenant and as many as 13 men wounded, and 1 man deserted.
↑ Webb's Additional Regiment had been officially designated the 9th Connecticut; the three understrength Additional Continental Regiments from Massachusetts had been reorganized as the 16th Massachusetts, and Gist's Additional Continental Regiment had been captured at Charleston, South Carolina on 12 May 1780 and was disbanded on January 1, 1781.
↑ Among those who remained in Continental Service were Lieutenant Colonel William Stephens Smith, who was appointed an aide-de-camp to General Washington 6 July 1781, while Spencer's Adjutant Peter Taulman and Lieutenant David Kirkpatrick both were appointed Captain-Lieutenants in the Corps of Sappers and Miners.
McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign: Volume One: Brandywine and the Fall of Philadelphia. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN0811701786.
McGuire, Thomas J. (2007). The Philadelphia Campaign: Volume Two: Germantown and the Roads to Valley Forge. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN978-0-8117-0206-5.
Morrissey, Brendan (2008). Monmouth Courthouse 1778: The last great battle in the North. Long Island City, N.Y.: Osprey Publishing. ISBN978-1-84176-772-7.
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 under the command of Colonel Moses Hazen. All or part of the regiment saw action at Staten Island, Brandywine, Germantown and the Siege of Yorktown. Most of its non-combat time was spent in and around New York City as part of the forces monitoring the British forces occupying that city. The regiment was disbanded on November 15, 1783, at West Point, New York.
The 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, first known as the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion, was a unit of the United States of America (U.S.) Army, raised December 9, 1775, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action during the New York Campaign, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth, and Green Spring. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1783.
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 originally called Mackay's Battalion after its commander, Colonel Aeneas Mackay. Transferred to the main army in November 1776, the unit was renamed the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment on 1 January 1777. It completed an epic winter march from western Pennsylvania to New Jersey, though Mackay and his second-in-command both died soon afterward. In March 1777 Colonel Daniel Brodhead assumed command. The regiment was engaged at the Battles of Bound Brook, Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown in 1777. A body of riflemen were detached from the regiment and fought at Saratoga. Assigned to the Western Department in May 1778, the 8th Pennsylvania gained a ninth company before seeing action near Fort Laurens and in the Sullivan Expedition in 1778 and 1779. The regiment consolidated with the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1781 and ceased to exist.
The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment or Old Eleventh was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army. On 25 October, Richard Humpton was named colonel. In December 1776, the regiment was assigned to George Washington's main army and was present at Assunpink Creek and fought at Princeton in January 1777. During the spring the unit assembled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a strength of eight companies. The soldiers were recruited from Philadelphia and four nearby counties. On 22 May 1777 the regiment became part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade. The 11th was in the thick of the action at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown in 1777. It was present at White Marsh and Monmouth. On 1 July 1778, the unit was consolidated with the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment and the 11th Regiment ceased to exist. Humpton took command of the reorganized unit.
The 12th Pennsylvania Regiment also known as Northampton and Northumberland Defense Battalion was an American infantry unit that fought during the American Revolutionary War as part of the Continental Army. The regiment was raised 23 August 1776 at Sunbury, Pennsylvania, as a state militia regiment and later renamed the 12th Pennsylvania. In January 1777 the 12th was commanded by Colonel William Cooke at Princeton. Assigned to Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade, the regiment would see action at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. The regiment was merged into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment shortly after Monmouth and went out of existence.
The 3rd Maryland Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It served from 1776 to 1783, mostly in the Middle Atlantic Region of the conflict.
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 strength of 10 companies. Its first commander was Colonel Peter Muhlenberg, a clergyman and militia leader. The unit marched to defend Charleston, South Carolina in 1776, but saw no fighting. At the start of 1777, the 8th Virginia moved to join George Washington's main army. When Muhlenberg was promoted to general officer, Colonel Abraham Bowman took command of the unit.
The 1st North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army was raised on September 1, 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina. In January 1776 the organization contained eight companies. Francis Nash was appointed colonel in April 1776. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in 1776. It transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. At that time, Thomas Clark became colonel of the 1st Regiment. The regiment became part of General Francis Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July.
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 army in February 1777, the regiment subsequently fought at Brandywine and Germantown during the Philadelphia Campaign. After most other North Carolina regiments were sent home to recruit, the 1st and 2nd Regiments remained with the main army and fought at Monmouth in June 1778. The regiment was transferred to the Southern Department and was captured by the British army in May 1780 at the Siege of Charleston. Together with the 1st Regiment, the unit was rebuilt and fought capably at Eutaw Springs. The 2nd was furloughed in April 1783 and officially dissolved in November 1783.
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 defense of Charleston in June 1776. The 3rd Regiment transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. Assigned to Francis Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July 1777, it soon saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and was present at White Marsh. Sumner went home ill in early 1778. Together with the 4th, 5th, and 6th North Carolina Regiments, the 3rd Regiment was reduced to a cadre and sent home to recruit up to strength on 1 June 1778. The rebuilt regiment returned to the main army in late 1778, but it was reduced to a cadre again in April 1779 and sent back to its home state. Assigned to the North Carolina Brigade, the regiment fought at the Siege of Charleston where it was captured by the British Army on 12 May 1780. The regiment was officially disbanded on 15 November 1783.
William Maxwell was an Irish-born brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Thomas Proctor or Thomas Procter commanded the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in County Longford, Ireland, emigrated to British America, married in 1767 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and joined the carpenter's guild in 1772. Receiving a commission as an artillery captain in October 1775, he proceeded to raise a company of Pennsylvania state artillery. After a second company was recruited, Proctor was promoted to major and both companies joined George Washington's army. Proctor led his gunners at Princeton in January 1777. The state authorities elevated Proctor to the rank of colonel and charged him to recruit an eight-company Pennsylvania State Artillery Regiment a month later.
The 4th Continental Artillery Regiment, also known as Reign’s Continental Artillery Regiment, was an American military unit during the American Revolutionary War. The regiment became part of the Continental Army on 10 June 1777 as Colonel Thomas Proctor's Continental Artillery Regiment. It was made up of eight artillery companies from eastern Pennsylvania. At the time of the regiment's formation, two companies were already in existence, one from as early as October 1775. One company served at Trenton in December 1776 where it performed well in action. In February 1777, Pennsylvania expanded its two-company battalion into an eight-company regiment. After officially joining the Continental Army, the regiment saw much fighting in the Philadelphia campaign in late 1777. Elements of Proctor's Regiment fought at Monmouth in June 1778 and joined the Sullivan Expedition in summer 1779.
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Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit of the Continental Army that served for two years during the American Revolutionary War. The regiment was authorized in January 1777 and Thomas Hartley was appointed its commander. The unit comprised eight companies from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. When permanent brigades were formed in May 1777, the regiment was transferred to the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade. Hartley's Regiment fought at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown in 1777. The unit helped defend the Pennsylvania frontier against indigenous raids in the Summer and early Fall of 1778. In January 1779, following a resolution of the Continental Congress the regiment, along with Patton's Additional Continental Regiment and part of Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment, were combined to form a complete battalion known as the "New" 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. The 11th participated in the Sullivan Expedition in the summer of that year. In January 1781 the 11th merged with the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment and ceased to exist.
Forman's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for little more than two years during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized on 11 January 1777, the unit was recruited from southern New Jersey and Maryland. Raised by Colonel David Forman in early 1777, it saw service with the Continental Army in the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777 and 1778. In April 1779 the regiment was absorbed by Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment.
Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for two years and three months in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Like other Additional Regiments, Grayson's remained directly under George Washington'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, 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 in June 1778. In April 1779 the regiment was absorbed by Gist's Additional Continental Regiment and ceased to exist.
The "German Battalion" was an infantry formation of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in May 1776 as an extra Continental regiment, the battaltion recruited ethnic Germans from Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Oliver Spencer was a New Jersey officer during the American Revolutionary War and received a special commission to enlist and lead one of 16 Additional Continental Regiments. He was born in Connecticut and later moved to New Jersey, where he married Anna Ogden and became a tanner. He joined the revolutionary cause and engaged a British force in December 1776 as a major of New Jersey militia. On 15 January 1777 during the Forage War, his militiamen captured 70 German mercenaries. That month George Washington authorized him to recruit Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment. As colonel, he led this unit at Brandywine and Germantown in 1777 and Monmouth in 1778. His regiment participated in the Sullivan Expedition in 1779 and was disbanded at the beginning of 1781. The conflict having ruined his home and his tanning business, he moved to Ohio, where he served as a probate judge and militia commander. He was the nephew of General Joseph Spencer.
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