American Revolutionary War
Continental Regiments

American Army in 1775

Connecticut  ●  Pennsylvania  ●  New Hampshire  ●  Massachusetts  ●  New York  ●  Rhode Island  ●  New Jersey  ●  Maryland  ●  North Carolina   ●  South Carolina   ●  Canada

New England Army

Most of the American Continental Line Regiments raised in 1775 were by the New Englanders. As there was no real standard for the entire Army, regiment sizes varied from state to state. Most states had regiments of about 600 men in 10 companies, except the Connecticut 1st to 6th Regiments which were to have 1000 men in 10 companies. Only briefly did these regiments stay at their full strength.

Regiment sizes in July, 1775 were between 400 and 600 men, except for the Connecticut regiments which did have about 1000 men each. By December, 1775 the regiments averaged between 500 and 600 men. Almost everyone of these regiments' enlistments expired at the end of 1775 and they were disbanded and reformed into the Continental Regiments of 1776.

Massachusetts Regiments

Authorized 27 Infantry regiments on 22 May 1775

New Hampshire Regiments

New Hampshire Authorized 3 Infantry regiments on 22 May 1775:

  • 1st New Hampshire Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. John Stark
    • Authorized May 1775; Organized June 1775
    • Adopted June 1775 into the Continental Army (see also 1776)
  • 2nd New Hampshire Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Enoch Poor
    • Authorized May 1775
    • The regiment was organized May-June 1775
    • Adopted June 1775 into the Continental Army (see also 1776)
  • 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
    • commanded by Col. James Reed
    • Authorized May 1775
    • The regiment was organized June 1775
    • Adopted June 1775 into the Continental Army (see also 1776)
  • Major Timothy Bedel's Corps of Rangers
    • Commanded by Maj. Timothy Bedel
    • Authorized May 1775 as Captain Timothy Bedel's Company of Rangers
    • The regiment was organized June 1775 (see also 1776)

Rhode Island Regiments

Rhode Island authorized 3 Infantry regiments and 1 company of artillery on 8 May 1775

  • 1st (Varnum's) Rhode Island Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. James Mitchell Varnum
    • Authorized May 1775 as Varnum's Regiment
    • The regiment was organized May 1775
    • Re-organized June 1775
  • 2d (Hitchcock's) Rhode Island Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Daniel Hitchcock
    • Authorized May as Varnum's Regiment
    • The regiment was organized May 1775
    • Re-organized June 1775
  • 3d (Church's) Rhode Island Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Thomas Church
    • Authorized May as Church's Regiment
    • The regiment was organized May 1775
    • Re-organized June 1775
    • Disbanded Dec. 1775
  • Crane's Artillery Company
    • Commanded by Captain John Crane
  • Richmond's Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. ?
    • Authorized Oct 1775
    • The regiment was organized Nov. 1775

Connecticut Regiments

Connecticut authorized 8 Infantry regiments on 27 April 1775:

New York Regiments

June 1775 New York Provincial Congress authorizes the raising of four infantry regiments

Maryland Companies

Organized 21 June 1775 by Frederick County, Maryland, Committee of Safety

Pennsylvania State Regiments & Battalions:

New Jersey Battalions

New Jersey Congress authorizes raising of two battalions on October 9, 1775

Virginia Regiments

Virginia Convention authorizes raising of two regiments on, July 17, 1775

  • 1st Virginia Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Patrick Henry
    • Authorized Aug 1775 in the Virginia State Troops
    • The regiment was organized Oct 1775
    • Adopted Nov 1775 into Continental Army (see also 1776)
  • 2nd Virginia Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. William Woodford
    • Authorized Aug 1775 in the Virginia State Troops
    • Organized Oct 1775
    • Adopted Nov 1775 into Continental Army (see also 1776)

North Carolina Regiments

North Carolina Provincial Congress authorizes raising of two regiments on Sept 1, 1775

  • 1st North Carolina Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. James Moore, later by Col. Francis Nash
    • Authorized Sept. 1775
    • The regiment was organized fall of 1775 (see also 1776)
  • 2nd North Carolina Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Robert Howe, later by Col. Alex Martin
    • Authorized Sept. 1775
    • The regiment was organized fall of 1775 (see also 1776)

South Carolina Regiments

South Carolina authorizes raising of four regiments on 6 June 1775

  • 1st South Carolina Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Gadsen
    • Authorized June 1775 in SC State Troops
    • The regiment was organized in summer 1775
    • Adopted Nov. 1775 into Continental Army
  • 2nd South Carolina Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Moultrie
    • Authorized June 1775 in the South Carolina State Troops
    • The regiment was organized in summer 1775
    • Adopted Nov. 1775 into Continental Army
  • 3rd South Carolina Regiment (aka South Carolina Regiment of Horse Rangers)
    • Commanded by Col. Thompson
    • Authorized June 1775 in South Carolina State Troops as the South Carolina Regiment of Horse Rangers
    • The regiment was organized in summer 1775
    • Redesignated 12 November 1775
    • Adopted July 1776 into Continental Army
  • 4th South Carolina Regiment
    • Commanded by Col. Robert
    • Authorized Nov. 1775
    • The regiment was organized Nov-Dec 1775
    • Adopted June 1776 into Continental Army

Canadian Regiments

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