Connecticut Line

The Connecticut Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Connecticut Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Connecticut at various times by the Continental Congress, the size of its allocation determined by the size of its population in relative to that of other states. These, together with similarly apportioned contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

In the course of the war, 27 infantry regiments were assigned to the Connecticut Line. This included the eight provincial regiments of 1775, Wooster's Provisional Regiment (formed by consolidation of the remnants of the original 1st, 4th, and 5th Regiments), the five numbered Continental regiments of 1776, the eight Connecticut regiments of 1777, S.B. Webb's Additional Continental Regiment, which later became the 9th Connecticut Regiment, and four new regiments created by consolidation in 1781.

Not all Continental infantry regiments raised in a state were part of a state quota, however. On December 27, 1776, the Continental Congress gave Washington temporary control over certain military decisions that the Congress ordinarily regarded as its own prerogative. These “dictatorial powers” included the authority to raise sixteen additional Continental infantry regiments at large.

Early in 1777, Washington offered command of one of these additional regiments to Samuel Blatchley Webb, who accepted. Webb had formerly served as one of Washington’s personal aides. Webb’s Regiment was allotted to the Connecticut Line on July 24, 1780, and officially designated the 9th Connecticut Regiment. The 9th Connecticut Regiment was consolidated with the 2d Connecticut Regiment on January 1, 1781.

Half of Sherburne’s Additional Continental Regiment was drawn Rhode Island and half from Connecticut.

Still other Continental infantry regiments and smaller units, also unrelated to a state quota, were raised as needed for special or temporary service. Elmore's Regiment, raised in 1776 for the defense of Canada, was an example of such an “extra” regiment.

Connecticut Provincial Regiments, 1775

On April 23, 1775, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted to raise a volunteer force of 13,600 men, and it called upon the other New England colonies for assistance in raising an army of 30,000 men.

In response, the Connecticut Assembly voted, on April 27, 1775, to contribute 6,000 men to this army. The Connecticut troops were formed into six infantry regiments. Connecticut infantry regiments had an official establishment of 1,046 officers and men in ten companies. The troops were enlisted to serve until December 10, 1775.

The New England delegates to the Continental Congress urged that the Congress assume responsibility for the provincial troops of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, that were blockading Boston. This was done on June 14, 1775, and these troops were designated the Continental Army.[1] George Washington was selected as commander in chief of this force, and all other Continental Army troops, the following day.[2]

In an effort to weld the separate New England armies into a single "Continental" Army, on August 5, 1775, General Washington ordered that a board be convened to determine the rank of the regiments at Boston. The board was to consist of a brigadier general as moderator and six field officers as members. It completed its task on August 20, 1775, and reported its decision to Washington. The regiments of infantry in the Continental Army were accordingly numbered without reference to their colony of origin. There were thirty-nine "Regiments of Foot in the Army of the United Colonies."[3] In General Orders, Washington often referred to his regiments by these numbers;[4] and they appear in the strength reports compiled by Adjutant General Horatio Gates.[5]

The 1st Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel David Wooster. Wooster's Regiment was assigned to the Separate, or New York, Department in 1775 and did not receive an additional designation in August.

The 2d Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Joseph Spencer. In August 1775, Spencer's Regiment was designated "The 33d Regiment of Foot."

The 3d Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Israel Putnam. In August 1775, Putnam's Regiment was designated "The 34th Regiment of Foot."

The 4th Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Benjamin Hinman. Hinman's Regiment was assigned to the Separate, or New York, Department in 1775 and did not receive an additional designation in August.

The 5th Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel David Waterbury. Waterbury's Regiment was assigned to the Separate, or New York, Department in 1775 and did not receive an additional designation in August.

The 6th Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons. In August 1775, Parsons' Regiment was designated "The 13th Regiment of Foot."

Massachusetts requested reinforcements from the other New England colonies following the Battle of Bunker Hill. Connecticut responded by raising two more infantry regiments.[6] They were authorized by the Connecticut Assembly on July 1, 1775, and placed on the Continental establishment on July 19, 1775

The 7th Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Charles Webb. In August 1775, Charles Webb's Regiment was designated "The 39th Regiment of Foot."[7]

The 8th Connecticut Provincial Regiment (1775) was commanded by Colonel Jedediah Huntington. In August 1775, Huntington's Regiment was designated "The 29th Regiment of Foot."

Numbered Continental Regiments, 1776

On November 4, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that on January 1, 1776, the Continental Army, exclusive of artillery and extra regiments, should consist of 27 infantry regiments. The troops were to be enlisted to serve until December 31, 1776.[8] The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 1 from Pennsylvania, 3 from New Hampshire, 16 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, and 5 from Connecticut.[9]

Each regiment was to have an official establishment of 728 officers and men in eight companies.[10]

The regiments were to receive numbers instead of names. For the campaign of 1776 Connecticut was to provide the 10th, 17th, 19th, 20th, and 22d Continental Regiments.[11]

Connecticut Line, 1777

During 1776, the Continental Congress gradually overcame its ideological objections to a standing army, and, on September 16, 1776, it resolved that, on January 1, 1777, the Continental Line should consist of 88 infantry regiments, to be maintained for the duration of the war.

The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 3 from New Hampshire, 15 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, 8 from Connecticut, 4 from New York, 4 from New Jersey, 12 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 15 from Virginia, 9 from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina, and 1 from Georgia.[18]

The quotas for states outside New England included regiments that had been on the Continental establishment earlier, but the term Continental Line was now broadened to include the lines of all the states.

Reorganization of the Connecticut Line, 1778-1779

While the Main Army, that portion of Washington’s army under his immediate command, was in winter quarters at Valley Forge,[31] the Congress acted to reduce the size and increase the tactical efficiency of the Continental Army.

On May 27, 1778, it resolved that the number of infantry regiments be reduced from 88 to 80. The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 3 from New Hampshire, 15 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, 8 from Connecticut, 5 from New York, 3 from New Jersey, 11 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 11 from Virginia, 6 from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina, and 1 from Georgia. Under this reorganization, the number of regiments in the Connecticut quota was unchanged.

The official establishment of a regiment was reduced to 582 officers and men. Each regiment was to consist of nine rather than eight companies. The ninth company was to be a company of light infantry, and was to be kept up to strength by drafting men from the regiment’s eight other companies if necessary. During the campaigning season, the light infantry companies of the regiments in a field army were to be combined into a special corps of light infantry.[32]

Because the Continental Congress passed this resolve at the beginning of the campaigning season, it was nearly a year before this reorganization was completed. The reorganization of the Continental Line was finalized on March 9, 1779.[33]

On July 24, 1780, S.B. Webb's Additional Continental Regiment was officially redesignated the 9th Connecticut Regiment.[34]

Reorganization of the Connecticut Line, 1781

In October 1780, the Continental Congress, in consultation with General Washington, passed resolutions providing for what would be the last reorganization of the Continental Army before its final disbandment.

On January 1, 1781, the Continental Line was to be reduced from 80 regiments to 50. The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 2 from New Hampshire, 10 from Massachusetts, 1 from Rhode Island, 5 from Connecticut, 2 from New York, 2 from New Jersey, 6 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 5 from Maryland, 8 from Virginia, 4 from North Carolina, 2 from South Carolina, 1 from Georgia. In addition, one regiment (Colonel Moses Hazen’s Canadian Regiment) was to be raised at large .[35] Under this reorganization, the number of regiments in the Connecticut quota was reduced from eight to five.

The official establishment of an infantry regiment was increased to 717 officers and men. Each regiment continued to have nine companies, including a light infantry company, but the companies were made larger. For the first time, each regiment was to have a permanent recruiting party of 1 lieutenant, 1 drummer, and 1 fifer.[36] Thus, there were to be five recruiting parties in Connecticut to systematically find and forward recruits to the Connecticut regiments in the field.

On January 1, 1781, the Connecticut Line was reorganized to consist of five regiments.[37]

Demobilization of the Connecticut Line

January 1, 1783.

June 15, 1783.

November 15, 1783.

The three remaining regiments in the Connecticut Line were disbanded.

Notes

  1. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 23.
  2. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 25.
  3. ↑ Peterson, Continental Soldier, 256.
  4. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Writings: III:448, 465, 472, 489, 496; IV:20, 30, 39, 64.
  5. ↑ Force, American Archives, S4, V3; 253, 853.
  6. ↑ Force, American Archives, S4, V2, 1445.
  7. ↑ Lesser, Sinews, 8.
  8. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 46.
  9. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 47.
  10. ↑ Wright, Continental Army; 46, 47.
  11. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 46.
  12. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 10, 21.
  13. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 22.
  14. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 22.
  15. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 267.
  16. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 9, 23.
  17. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 23.
  18. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 91-93.
  19. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 16.
  20. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17, 577.
  21. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17.
  22. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17.
  23. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17, 208,
  24. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 18.
  25. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 18, 202.
  26. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 18.
  27. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 18.
  28. ↑ Heitman, HIstorical Register, 19, 250.
  29. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 19, 477.
  30. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 19.
  31. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 119.
  32. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 126.
  33. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 146.
  34. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 238.
  35. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 157.
  36. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 158.
  37. ↑ Wright, Continental Army, 233-238.
  38. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 16.
  39. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17.
  40. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17.
  41. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 17, 138.
  42. ↑ Heitman, Historical Register, 18.

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/29/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.