Maryland Line
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Maryland Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Maryland at various times by the Continental Congress
. These, together with similar 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.
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.
Forman’s, Gist’s, Grayson’s, and Hartley’s Regiments were partially drawn from Maryland.
Still other Continental infantry regiments and smaller units, also unrelated to a state quota, were raised as needed for special or temporary service.
The Maryland Line has a reputation of being among the best of the Continental Army. Because of the long service of the high quality regiments, George Washington
, according to tradition, referred to the Maryland units as his "Old Line," giving Maryland one of its nicknames as "The Old Line State."
The Maryland Line was assigned a quota of 8 regiments in 1777, which was reduced to 5 in 1781. The regiments of the line were:
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. These, together with similar 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.
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
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
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.
Forman’s, Gist’s, Grayson’s, and Hartley’s Regiments were partially drawn from Maryland.
Still other Continental infantry regiments and smaller units, also unrelated to a state quota, were raised as needed for special or temporary service.
The Maryland Line has a reputation of being among the best of the Continental Army. Because of the long service of the high quality regiments, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, according to tradition, referred to the Maryland units as his "Old Line," giving Maryland one of its nicknames as "The Old Line State."
The Maryland Line was assigned a quota of 8 regiments in 1777, which was reduced to 5 in 1781. The regiments of the line were:
- 1st Maryland Regiment1st Maryland RegimentThe 1st Maryland Regiment originated with the authorization of a Maryland Battalion of the Maryland State Troops on 14 January 1776...
, disbanded in 1783 - 2nd Maryland Regiment2nd Maryland RegimentFor the American Civil War regiment, see 2nd Maryland Infantry.-Summary:The 2nd Maryland Regiment origins were authorized on 14 January 1776 in the Maryland State Troops as seven independent companies.From 7 to 14 March 1776 the companies were organized from various counties from the eastern region...
, disbanded in 1783 - 3rd Maryland Regiment3rd Maryland Regiment-Summary:The 3rd Maryland Regiment was organized on 27 March 1776 of eight companies from Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Talbot, Harford and Somerset counties of the colony of Maryland. The regiment was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army and was assigned on 27...
, disbanded in 1783 - 4th Maryland Regiment4th Maryland RegimentThe 4th Maryland Regiment was organized on 27 March 1776 with eight companies from Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Somerset counties in the colony of Maryland. It was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army and assigned to the main on 27 December 1776. It was assigned to...
, disbanded in 1783 - 5th Maryland Regiment5th Maryland RegimentThe designation "5th Maryland" has been held by several units over the years, not all of which necessarily share the same lineage and honors. The first such unit, the 5th Maryland Regiment was organized on 27 March 1776 composing of eight companies of volunteers from the counties of Queen Anne's,...
, disbanded in 1783 - 6th Maryland Regiment6th Maryland RegimentThe 6th Maryland Regiment was organized on 27 March 1776 composed of eight companies of volunteers from Prince Georges, Queen Anne's, Frederick, Cecil, Harford, and Anne Arundel counties in the colony of Maryland.It was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army and was...
, disbanded in 1781 - 7th Maryland Regiment7th Maryland RegimentThe 7th Maryland Regiment was authorized on 16 September 1776, for service with the Continental Army and was assigned on 27 December 1776. The regiment was composed of eight companies of volunteers organized from Frederick and Baltimore counties of the colony of Maryland. On 22 May 1777, it was...
, disbanded in 1781 - German Battalion (counted as half a regiment against the quota), disbanded in 1781
- Maryland and Virginia Rifle RegimentMaryland and Virginia Rifle RegimentThe 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...
(counted as half a regiment against the quota), disbanded in 1781 - 2ND Independent Maryland Company - Somerset County2nd Independent Maryland Company - Somerset CountyThe Second Independent Maryland Company - Somerset County was an infantry company formed on the orders of the Maryland Convention for the protection of the province during the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
absorbed into the 2nd Maryland Regiment in 1781
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Maryland compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History