Rhode Island Line
Encyclopedia
The Rhode Island Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Rhode Island Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Rhode Island 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.
Early in 1777, Washington offered command of one of these additional regiments to Ezekiel Cornell
of Rhode Island. Cornell declined in order to command a brigade of Rhode Island state troops.
Washington also offered command of an additional regiment to Henry Sherburne of Rhode Island, who accepted. In 1776, Sherburne has served with distinction at the Battle of The Cedars
. Half of Sherburne’s Regiment was drawn from 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.
In response, the Rhode Island Assembly voted, on May 6, 1775, to contribute 1,500 men to this army. The Rhode Island troops were formed into a brigade of three infantry regiments. Nathanael Greene
was the brigade commander. Two of the regiments had eight companies each, and one of the regiments had seven companies. (The Rhode Island Train of Artillery, which was a part of this force, brought the brigade's strength up to 24 companies. Rhode Island infantry regiments initially had an official establishment of 487 officers and men in eight companies (but one regiment had only 427 men in seven companies). The troops were enlisted to serve until December 31, 1775.
The legislation of the Rhode Island Assembly which created this force described it as an Army of Observation. This term was also used for the forces raised by the four New England colonies to observe the British garrison in Boston, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts requested reinforcements from the other New England colonies following the Battle of Bunker Hill
. Rhode Island responded, on June 28, 1775, by raising six new companies and assigning two companies to each Rhode Island regiment.
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." In General Orders, Washington often referred to his regiments by these numbers; and they appear in the strength reports compiled by Adjutant General Horatio Gates
.
Varnum's Regiment was commanded by Colonel James Mitchell Varnum
. In August 1775, Varnum's Regiment was designated "The 12th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston until its disbandment.
Hitchcock's Regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel Hitchcock. In August 1775, Hitchcock's Regiment was designated "The 14th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston
until its disbandment.
Church's Regiment was commanded by Colonel Thomas Church
. In August 1775, Church's Regiment was designated "The 15th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston
until its disbandment.
the Continental Army, exclusive of artillery and extras, should consist of 27 infantry
regiments: 1 from Pennsylvania
, 3 from New Hampshire, 16 from Massachusetts, 2 from
Rhode Island, and 5 from Connecticut. Each regiment was to have an official
establishment of 728 officers and men in eight companies. The regiments were to receive
numbers instead of names, and the troops were to be enlisted to serve until December 31,
1776.
For the campaign of 1776 Rhode Island was to provide the 9th and 11th Continental Regiments.
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.
Early in 1777, Washington offered command of one of these additional regiments to Ezekiel Cornell
Ezekiel Cornell
Ezekiel Cornell represented Rhode Island in the U.S. Continental Congress from 1780 to 1782.Ezekiel Cornell was born in 1732 in either Dartmouth, Massachusetts or Scituate, Rhode Island. He attended the public schools and was employed as a mechanic...
of Rhode Island. Cornell declined in order to command a brigade of Rhode Island state troops.
Washington also offered command of an additional regiment to Henry Sherburne of Rhode Island, who accepted. In 1776, Sherburne has served with distinction at the Battle of The Cedars
Battle of the Cedars
The Battle of The Cedars was a series of military confrontations early in the American Revolutionary War during the Continental Army's invasion of Quebec that had begun in September 1775. The skirmishes, which involved limited combat, occurred in May 1776 at and around The Cedars, west of...
. Half of Sherburne’s Regiment was drawn from 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.
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Assembly voted, on May 6, 1775, to contribute 1,500 men to this army. The Rhode Island troops were formed into a brigade of three infantry regiments. Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
was the brigade commander. Two of the regiments had eight companies each, and one of the regiments had seven companies. (The Rhode Island Train of Artillery, which was a part of this force, brought the brigade's strength up to 24 companies. Rhode Island infantry regiments initially had an official establishment of 487 officers and men in eight companies (but one regiment had only 427 men in seven companies). The troops were enlisted to serve until December 31, 1775.
The legislation of the Rhode Island Assembly which created this force described it as an Army of Observation. This term was also used for the forces raised by the four New England colonies to observe the British garrison in Boston, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts requested reinforcements from the other New England colonies following the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. Rhode Island responded, on June 28, 1775, by raising six new companies and assigning two companies to each Rhode Island regiment.
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." In General Orders, Washington often referred to his regiments by these numbers; and they appear in the strength reports compiled by Adjutant General Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
.
Varnum's Regiment was commanded by Colonel James Mitchell Varnum
James Mitchell Varnum
James Mitchell Varnum was an American legislator, lawyer and a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:James Mitchell Varnum was born in Dracut, Massachusetts...
. In August 1775, Varnum's Regiment was designated "The 12th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston until its disbandment.
Hitchcock's Regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel Hitchcock. In August 1775, Hitchcock's Regiment was designated "The 14th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
until its disbandment.
Church's Regiment was commanded by Colonel Thomas Church
Thomas Church
Thomas Church may refer to:* Thomas Dolliver Church, American landscape architect* Thomas Haden Church, American actor* Thomas Langton Church , Canadian politician...
. In August 1775, Church's Regiment was designated "The 15th Regiment of Foot." It served in the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
until its disbandment.
Numbered Continental Regiments, 1776
On November 4, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that on January 1, 1776,the Continental Army, exclusive of artillery and extras, should consist of 27 infantry
regiments: 1 from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 3 from New Hampshire, 16 from Massachusetts, 2 from
Rhode Island, and 5 from Connecticut. Each regiment was to have an official
establishment of 728 officers and men in eight companies. The regiments were to receive
numbers instead of names, and the troops were to be enlisted to serve until December 31,
1776.
For the campaign of 1776 Rhode Island was to provide the 9th and 11th Continental Regiments.
- 9th Continental Regiment.
- 11th Continental Regiment.
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Rhode Island compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History