3rd Continental Artillery Regiment

The 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment, initially known as Colonel John Crane's Continental Artillery Regiment, was a Continental Army artillery formation organized during the American Revolutionary War. It entered Continental service on January 1, 1777, bringing together 12 artillery companies from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Some of its constituent companies had previously served in Henry Knox's Continental Artillery Regiment. The regiment operated primarily with George Washington's main army, while three companies associated with Ebenezer Stevens' Provisional Artillery Battalion maintained a separate existence in the Northern Department until the end of 1778. The regiment received its permanent numerical designation on August 10, 1779, when the Continental Army numbered its four artillery regiments. The numbering followed a determination by two boards of generals that neither John Lamb's regiment nor Crane's regiment could establish a direct lineage from Knox's regiment. Charles Harrison's regiment therefore became the 1st Continental Artillery Regiment. Lamb's regiment became the 2nd after lots were drawn, and Crane's regiment became the 3rd. Thomas Proctor's regiment, the last of the four to join the Continental Army, was designated the 4th. Its service formed part of the broader Continental artillery system directed by Henry Knox. Knox sought to integrate artillery into infantry operations, using guns in brigade support, an artillery park, and garrison assignments. The army employed a mixture of 3-pounder and 6-pounder field guns, heavier 12-pounder and 24-pounder pieces, and several types of howitzers. Knox preferred the more maneuverable French 4-pounder, but existing ammunition and equipment made a wholesale transition impractical. Companies from the main army rotated among different assignments and trained in the handling of the available weapons. Knox's tactical doctrine emphasized concentrating artillery fire against infantry rather than engaging opposing artillery in prolonged duels. This approach was considered effective in battles such as Monmouth, although the available reference material does not provide a regiment-specific action record for that engagement. In August 1782, the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment was reassigned to the Highlands Department. It was reorganized on a four-company establishment in June 1783, as the Continental Army was reduced after the fighting ended. The regiment was ultimately disbanded at West Point, New York, on January 1, 1784. It is therefore a historical military unit rather than a continuing commercial brand.

The 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment originated as Colonel John Crane's Continental Artillery Regiment and entered the Continental Army on January 1, 1777. Its initial establishment consisted of 12 artillery companies drawn from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Several companies had earlier associations with Henry Knox's Continental Artillery Regiment, reflecting the Continental Army's effort to consolidate and standardize artillery forces during the Revolutionary War. Three companies connected with Ebenezer Stevens' Provisional Artillery Battalion remained separately assigned to the Northern Department until the end of 1778, when they returned to the regiment. The unit served with Washington's main army. Its artillerymen operated within a system that divided duties among infantry-brigade support, the army's artillery park, and garrison positions. Henry Knox, the Continental Army's artillery chief, intended to provide infantry brigades with several light guns, but the army continued to rely on available 3-pounder and 6-pounder ammunition and equipment rather than fully adopting his preferred French 4-pounder. The artillery park included heavy cannon, howitzers, and smaller field pieces, requiring crews to train for different tactical and operational roles. On August 10, 1779, the Continental Army assigned numbers to its four artillery regiments. Boards of generals concluded that neither Crane's regiment nor John Lamb's regiment could trace its lineage directly to Knox's regiment. Charles Harrison's regiment consequently received the 1st designation. Lamb's regiment became the 2nd after a drawing of lots, while Crane's regiment became the 3rd. Thomas Proctor's regiment received the 4th designation because it had entered Continental service last. The regiment's wider artillery doctrine emphasized firing on enemy infantry and avoiding unnecessary artillery duels. The reference account identifies this method as effective at the Battle of Monmouth, though it does not specify the 3rd Regiment's individual movements or battery assignments during that battle. In August 1782, the unit moved to the Highlands Department. As the Continental Army contracted after the war, the regiment was reduced to a four-company establishment in June 1783. The 3rd Artillery was finally disbanded at West Point, New York, on January 1, 1784.

1. 1784Disbanded

   The 3rd Artillery was disbanded at West Point, New York, on January 1.

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2. 1783Reduced to a four-company establishment

   The regiment was rebuilt on a four-company establishment in June as the postwar army contracted.

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3. 1782Reassigned to the Highlands Department

   The regiment was transferred to the Highlands Department in August.

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4. 1781Reduced to ten companies

   The regiment was reorganized with 10 companies after several companies were transferred to another artillery regiment.

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5. 1779Redesignated as the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment

   On August 10, the Continental Army numbered its four artillery regiments and Crane's regiment received the 3rd designation.

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6. 1778Northern Department companies rejoined

   Three companies that had operated separately with Ebenezer Stevens' Provisional Artillery Battalion in the Northern Department returned to the regiment at the end of the year.

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7. 1777Entered Continental Army service

   John Crane's Continental Artillery Regiment entered the Continental Army on January 1 with 12 companies from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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A Revolutionary War Continental Army artillery regiment organized for field, park, and garrison artillery duties.

1. 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment