11th Pennsylvania Regiment
11th Pennsylvania Regiment (Old 11th) | |
---|---|
Active | 1776–1778 |
Allegiance | Continental Congress |
Type | Infantry |
Size | 728 soldiers |
Part of | Pennsylvania Line |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Colonel Richard Humpton |
The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment or Old Eleventh was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the
A new 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was formed in January 1779 by consolidating two "additional" regiments and elements of a third. The New Eleventh served in the Sullivan Expedition in the summer of 1779. The unit existed until January 1781, when it merged with the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment.
History
Princeton
The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment came into existence on 16 September 1776.
The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was assigned to the main army on 27 December 1776.[1] Together with the 2nd, 4th, 10th, and 12th Pennsylvania Regiments, the 11th was assigned to Thomas Mifflin's brigade. Since the brigade fielded 1,500 troops, the five regiments averaged around 300 men each.[5] Mifflin's brigade crossed the Delaware River to Burlington, New Jersey on 28 December.[6] By 1 January 1777, Mifflin moved his troops to Bordentown, New Jersey.[7] He joined the main army the next day in time to be present at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek. Mifflin was at George Washington's council of war that evening.[8]
Before the
Philadelphia campaign
On 22 May 1777, Washington placed the 11th Regiment in the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade.
In De Haas' absence, Humpton led the brigade at the
Washington withdrew behind the
At the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777, the 11th Regiment fought in John Sullivan's right column. The attack was led by Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade.[20] In the foggy dawn, Conway's men engaged the British 2nd Light Infantry Battalion at Mount Airy. Sullivan fed in his division of two Maryland brigades on the right flank, while Wayne deployed his two brigades on the left of Germantown Road.[21] As at Brandywine, Hartley's 1st Brigade formed on the right, next to the road, while Humpton's 2nd Brigade, including the 11th Regiment, deployed on the left. Faced with their tormentors of Paoli, Wayne's men attacked in a battle frenzy. Set upon by the Pennsylvanians and Marylanders, the 2nd Light Infantry was routed for the first time and suffered the loss of their camp.[22]
A little later, the
Monmouth
The 11th Regiment's last action was the
At the beginning of the action, Lee's vanguard sparred with the British rear guard but quickly retreated when Clinton advanced at the head of 6,000 men. Units fell back without orders, and Lee was compelled to order a retreat.[32] While elements of Lee's advance guard put in some stiff fighting at a hedgerow around noon, Washington and Lord Stirling deployed the 2nd and 3rd Pennsylvania Brigades, and the brigades of Jedediah Huntington, John Glover, and Ebenezer Learned in line on Perrine Ridge. Knox positioned about 12 cannons to brace this position. Both armies then endured a cannonade for two hours.[33] At 2:00 PM, Clinton tried to turn Lord Stirling's left flank with Grey's brigade, but the attempt failed. Clinton began a deliberate withdrawal when an American battery on Comb's Hill started to enfilade his lines from the left. After several clashes, the British successfully broke contact and continued their retreat.[34] Almost immediately after the battle, on 1 July, the "Old Eleventh" was merged into the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment.[1] As the senior colonel, Humpton took command of the consolidated regiment.[2]
New Eleventh
On 13 January 1779, a new 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was formed by consolidating several existing units. The bulk of the troops came from Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment and Patton's Additional Continental Regiment. Also, the companies of Captains John Doyle, John Steele, and James Calderwood were transferred from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment. The new regiment was organized with nine companies. It was first assigned to the Middle Department. On 9 April 1779, the "New Eleventh" was transferred to Edward Hand's Brigade in the main army. The regiment went on the Sullivan Expedition against the Iroquois in the summer of 1779. On 1 August 1780, the unit became part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade, still in the main army. The new 11th was absorbed by the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on 17 January 1781.[35]
Service record
Designation[1] | Date | Brigade | Department |
---|---|---|---|
11th Pennsylvania Regiment | 16 September 1776 | none | none |
11th Pennsylvania Regiment | 27 December 1776 | Mifflin's | Main Army |
11th Pennsylvania Regiment | 22 May 1777 | 2nd Pennsylvania | Main Army |
11th Pennsylvania Regiment | 1 July 1778 | 2nd Pennsylvania | consolidated |
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Wright (1989), 267
- ^ a b Boatner (1994), 534
- ^ Wright (1989), 47-48
- ^ Wright (1989), 49
- ^ Fischer (2004), 409
- ^ Fischer (2004), 275
- ^ Fischer (2004), 283
- ^ Fischer (2004), 313
- ^ Fischer (2004), 321
- ^ Fischer (2004), 324-325
- ^ Boatner (1994), 891-893
- ^ Fischer (2004), 335-336
- ^ Wright (1989), 262-265
- ^ a b McGuire (2006), 248
- ^ Wright (1989), 112
- ^ Boatner (1994), 325
- ^ McGuire (2006), 249-251
- ^ McGuire (2006), 306-309
- ^ McGuire (2006), 310-317
- ^ McGuire (2007), 65
- ^ McGuire (2007), 67-68
- ^ McGuire (2007), 71-73. The author explained that the light infantry had retreated at Bunker Hill and Harlem Heights.
- ^ McGuire (2007), 76-78
- ^ McGuire (2007), 84-85
- ^ McGuire (2007), 86-89
- ^ McGuire (2007), 97-99
- ^ Boatner (1994), 1199-1200
- ^ Heitman, 11
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 40-41
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 88
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 85. The reader may infer that the Pennsylvania officers led troops from their state, but this is not stated in the text.
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 52-53
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 69-71
- ^ Morrissey (2008), 71-74
- ^ Wright (1989), 322
Bibliography
- Boatner, Mark M. III (1994). Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0578-1.
- ISBN 978-0-19-518159-3.
- Heitman, Francis Bernard (1914). Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution. Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Publishing Company.
- McGuire, Thomas J. (2006). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume I. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0178-6.
- McGuire, Thomas J. (2007). The Philadelphia Campaign, Volume II. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0206-5.
- Morrissey, Brendan (2008). Monmouth Courthouse 1778: The last great battle in the North. Long Island City, N.Y.: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-772-7.
- Wright, Robert K. Jr. (1989). The Continental Army. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 60-4.