Forman's Additional Continental Regiment

Forman's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It was authorized on 11 January 1777 as one of sixteen so-called Additional Continental Regiments created to expand the Continental Army beyond the standing state-based lines. The regiment was recruited principally in southern New Jersey and Maryland, with a particularly strong connection to Monmouth County, New Jersey, where Colonel David Forman had substantial civilian and military associations. Samuel Griffin initially began organizing the regiment, but declined its command when he learned that he would not receive promotion to the rank of general. David Forman, already known as a New Jersey militia officer and former colonel of a New Jersey State Troops levy regiment, then assumed command and continued the recruiting effort. George Washington granted Forman broad authority to select officers, a common arrangement for the Additional Continental Regiments. The unit's senior officers included Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Henderson and Major William Harrison. Recruiting was difficult. Like other Additional Continental Regiments, Forman's unit struggled to attract enough men despite the use of enlistment bonuses and other incentives. It ultimately consisted of only four companies rather than a full-strength regiment. In April 1777, the regiment received captured British uniforms taken from ships seized in Raritan Bay, New Jersey. The clothing gave the soldiers an unusual appearance: observers sometimes referred to them as Forman's "Red Coats," because they could visually resemble British troops more closely than other Continental formations. During the summer of 1777, the regiment served in northern New Jersey, performing scouting and coastal security duties around Raritan Bay and the North Jersey coastline. It also helped defend and operate the Continental salt works in Monmouth County, an important local military supply installation. Its first major combat was the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777, where it served within William Smallwood's left-wing column alongside Maryland and New Jersey forces. The column initially overran several outposts but was later forced back by British and Loyalist formations. Forman's troops appear to have performed effectively during the withdrawal and rear-guard fighting. After Germantown, the regiment returned to New Jersey with the New Jersey Militia Brigade under Forman's command. Its soldiers were assigned both military security and salt-works duties. Following the Continental victory at Red Bank on 22 October 1777, most of the regiment reinforced Fort Mercer and pursued retreating British and German troops east of the Delaware River. The unit later crossed the Delaware and joined the Continental Army at White Marsh, Pennsylvania, before moving into the winter encampment at Valley Forge. Forman's regiment remained at Valley Forge and participated in the 1778 Monmouth Campaign. In April 1778 it was attached to Colonel Israel Shreve's 2nd New Jersey Regiment. Forman also personally served on Charles Lee's staff during the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778. The regiment's administrative history is somewhat disputed: one account places its dissolution on 1 July 1778, with its men transferred elsewhere, while the principal account records that the remaining soldiers were absorbed into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment on 1 April 1779. In either case, the unit ceased to exist as a separate regiment after a short period of service lasting little more than two years.

The regiment was authorized on 11 January 1777 as part of the Continental Army's wartime expansion. It belonged to the group known as the Additional Continental Regiments, which were raised outside the normal numbered state lines. Although Samuel Griffin started the organizational work, he refused the command after learning that it would not bring him a general's promotion. David Forman subsequently took control and completed the effort with authority from George Washington to select much of the officer corps. Recruitment took place chiefly in southern New Jersey and Maryland during the spring of 1777. Monmouth County supplied many of the officers and enlisted men because of Forman's local connections. The regiment never reached full establishment. Limited success with enlistment bonuses and other incentives left it with four companies, reflecting the broader manpower difficulties faced by the Additional Continental Regiments. In April 1777, captured British uniforms taken from ships seized in Raritan Bay were issued to Forman's men. Their appearance led observers to distinguish them from other American troops as Forman's "Red Coats." During the short northern New Jersey campaign in June, the regiment scouted around Raritan Bay and the coastal region and helped guard the Continental salt works in Monmouth County. The installation provided an important military commodity and also required protection from British and Loyalist raiders. The unit entered major combat at Germantown on 4 October 1777. It served in William Smallwood's left-flank column, which included Maryland and New Jersey militia and Continental personnel. The column captured or overran several outposts before British forces, including the Queen's Rangers and elements of the Brigade of Guards, pushed it back. Forman's soldiers appear to have contributed effectively to the rear guard that covered the retreat. After Germantown, Forman's regiment returned to New Jersey with the militia brigade commanded by Forman. Washington and New Jersey Governor William Livingston wanted Forman to remain in the state while attempting to raise additional temporary Continental service. Because adequate barracks were unavailable, his own troops were sent back to the salt works, where they combined production and defensive duties. After the Battle of Red Bank on 22 October, approximately three-quarters of the regiment reinforced Fort Mercer and pursued withdrawing British and German troops on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. They arrived too late to save Fort Mifflin but remained at Fort Mercer until mid-November. The regiment then crossed the Delaware, joined the army at White Marsh, and marched with it to Valley Forge. The regiment stayed at Valley Forge through the winter and later joined the 1778 Monmouth Campaign. In early April 1778 it was attached to Israel Shreve's 2nd New Jersey Regiment. At the same time, Forman faced an investigation by Governor Livingston concerning his militia rank, responsibilities, and administration of the Manasquan salt works. Forman retired from the New Jersey State Militia and concentrated on his Continental Army responsibilities. During the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778, he served personally on Charles Lee's staff. The precise end date of the regiment is treated differently in surviving accounts. One source says it was dissolved on 1 July 1778 and its soldiers transferred to another formation. The principal account states that the remaining men were incorporated into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment on 1 April 1779. The latter date is generally used for the unit's formal disappearance as an independent organization. Forman's Additional Continental Regiment therefore had a brief existence, but its service included local security operations, supply protection, the Philadelphia Campaign, the Valley Forge winter, and the Monmouth operations.

1. 1779Absorption into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment

   The remaining soldiers were absorbed into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment on 1 April, ending the unit's independent existence.

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2. 1778Valley Forge and Monmouth service

   The regiment wintered at Valley Forge, was attached to the 2nd New Jersey Regiment in April, and participated in the Monmouth Campaign.

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3. 1777Regiment authorized

   The Continental Congress authorized Forman's Additional Continental Regiment on 11 January as one of the Additional Continental Regiments assigned to the Main Army.

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4. 1777Recruitment in New Jersey and Maryland

   David Forman continued the recruiting effort begun by Samuel Griffin, drawing most personnel from southern New Jersey, Maryland, and especially Monmouth County.

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5. 1777Captured uniforms issued

   The regiment received captured British uniforms in April, producing its distinctive appearance as Forman's so-called Red Coats.

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6. 1777Battle of Germantown

   The regiment fought at Germantown on 4 October as part of William Smallwood's left-flank column.

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7. 1777Defense of Fort Mercer

   After Red Bank, most of the regiment reinforced Fort Mercer and remained there until mid-November before joining the army at White Marsh.

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A wartime infantry formation organized for Continental Army service, rather than a commercial brand.

• 1778Monmouth Campaign

  New Jersey

  The regiment remained with the army after Valley Forge and was attached to Israel Shreve's 2nd New Jersey Regiment. David Forman personally served on Charles Lee's staff during the Battle of Monmouth.

  Outcome. The unit's remaining personnel continued in Continental service before later being absorbed into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment.

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• 1777Northern New Jersey campaign

  Northern New Jersey · Raritan Bay

  The regiment performed scouting, coastal observation, and security duties in northern New Jersey. It also helped defend and operate the Continental salt works in Monmouth County.

  Outcome. The unit supported local Continental logistics and coastal defense before moving into the Philadelphia Campaign.

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• 1777Philadelphia Campaign

  Pennsylvania · New Jersey · Delaware River region

  Forman's regiment fought at Germantown, returned to New Jersey, reinforced Fort Mercer after the Battle of Red Bank, and later joined the Continental Army at White Marsh and Valley Forge.

  Outcome. The regiment survived the campaign and entered the Valley Forge winter encampment, although its small size limited its independent operational role.

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• 1779Absorption into Spencer's Additional Continental RegimentM&A

  The regiment remained a small formation after prolonged recruiting difficulties and wartime reorganization.

  What changed. Its remaining soldiers were transferred into Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment on 1 April.

  Aftermath. Forman's Additional Continental Regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit.

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• 1777Concentration on local supply and security dutiesStrategy

  The understrength regiment lacked the manpower of a full infantry formation and was based in a region containing the Continental salt works.

  What changed. Commanders used the unit for scouting, coastal defense, salt-works protection, and reinforcement of Fort Mercer in addition to field operations.

  Aftermath. The regiment provided useful local support while still joining major army movements at Germantown, White Marsh, Valley Forge, and Monmouth.

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1. Forman's Additional Continental Regiment