Patton's Additional Continental Regiment
An American infantry regiment of the Continental Army that served during the American Revolutionary War from 1777 until its consolidation in 1779.
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Overview
Patton's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit formed for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It was authorized on 11 January 1777 as one of the additional regiments raised to strengthen the main Continental Army. Colonel John Patton, who had previously distinguished himself while commanding a battalion of the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment during the New York and New Jersey Campaign, was selected to organize and command it. Recruiting took place in the spring of 1777 among men from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The regiment was organized with seven companies. Its senior officers included Lieutenant Colonel John Parke, an assistant quartermaster general, and Major Peter Scull, who had served as a brigade major. As with other additional Continental regiments, Patton's unit benefited from the considerable authority granted to its colonel in selecting officers and organizing the command. The regiment was assigned to the Continental Army's main army and placed in the 4th Virginia Brigade under Brigadier General Charles Scott on 22 May 1777. It participated in operations in northern New Jersey during June 1777 and subsequently served in the Philadelphia Campaign later that year. These campaigns formed part of the Continental Army's efforts to contest British movements and defend the revolutionary capital region. The regiment's best-documented combat service occurred at the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778. By then, Lieutenant Colonel Parke was leading the unit. Patton's men formed part of a roughly 600-man detachment commanded by William Grayson, supported by two artillery pieces. The detachment included Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment, a company from the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment, and converged elements of the 4th, 8th, and 12th Virginia Regiments. During the opening phase of the battle, Grayson's detachment served in the advanced guard of Major General Charles Lee's force and became involved in an unclear engagement with the British rear guard near Monmouth Courthouse. When British commander Sir Henry Clinton launched a major counterattack, Lee's division became disorganized and began withdrawing. Patton's and Grayson's regiments were among the troops retreating toward the position where George Washington encountered them. Washington and his officers established a new defensive line, after which Lee's troops regrouped behind the main body and the battle continued. The episode placed Patton's regiment within one of the most notable command-and-control crises of the northern Revolutionary War. On 22 July 1778, the regiment was transferred from the 4th Virginia Brigade to the Highlands Department. Its independent existence ended on 13 January 1779, when it was consolidated with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment. One element followed a separate path: Captain Allen McLane's Delaware company had detached from Patton's regiment on 16 December 1778 and joined the 1st Delaware Regiment in the 3rd Virginia Brigade. On 13 July 1779, McLane's company was transferred again, becoming the 4th Dismounted Troop of Lee's Legion. Patton's Additional Continental Regiment therefore survived only as a short-lived wartime formation and left no continuing corporate or commercial successor.
History
Authorized on 11 January 1777, Patton's Additional Continental Regiment was part of the Continental Congress's wartime effort to expand the army beyond the original state and Continental formations. John Patton was appointed colonel and was responsible for raising the regiment. He had military experience from the New York and New Jersey Campaign, where he had commanded a battalion of the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment. The regiment was organized in the spring of 1777 from recruits drawn principally from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It contained seven companies. John Parke, an assistant quartermaster general, became lieutenant colonel, while Peter Scull became major. The command was assigned to the main army and joined the 4th Virginia Brigade under Charles Scott on 22 May 1777. It served during the June operations in northern New Jersey and in the Philadelphia Campaign later in the year. At Monmouth on 28 June 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Parke led the regiment as part of William Grayson's detachment. The force included Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment, David Cook's company of the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment, and converged troops from several Virginia regiments. Attached to Charles Lee's advanced guard, it encountered the British rear guard during the initial movement near Monmouth Courthouse. A British counterattack then disrupted Lee's formation and caused a withdrawal. Patton's and Grayson's regiments were among the units moving toward George Washington, who helped organize a fresh defensive position. Lee's troops subsequently re-formed behind the main body for the later fighting. The regiment moved from the 4th Virginia Brigade to the Highlands Department on 22 July 1778. Its separate organization ended on 13 January 1779, when it was consolidated with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment. Captain Allen McLane's Delaware company had already left on 16 December 1778 to join the 1st Delaware Regiment. That company later became the 4th Dismounted Troop of Lee's Legion on 13 July 1779. The regiment was consequently a temporary Revolutionary War formation rather than a continuing military organization.
- 1779
Consolidation with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment
[1]The regiment ceased to exist as an independent organization on 13 January when it was consolidated with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment.
- 1778
Battle of Monmouth
[1]On 28 June, the regiment fought at Monmouth as part of William Grayson's detachment and Charles Lee's advanced guard.
- 1778
Transfer to the Highlands Department
[1]The regiment transferred from the 4th Virginia Brigade to the Highlands Department on 22 July.
- 1777
Regiment authorized
[1]The Continental Army authorized Patton's Additional Continental Regiment on 11 January 1777 and appointed John Patton as its colonel.
- 1777
Organization and brigade assignment
[1]The regiment was organized during the spring with seven companies recruited from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. On 22 May it was assigned to the 4th Virginia Brigade.
- 1777
Service in northern New Jersey and the Philadelphia Campaign
[1]The regiment served in the June operations in northern New Jersey and later participated in the Continental Army's Philadelphia Campaign.
Products and positioning
A short-lived Continental Army infantry regiment raised from recruits in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware for service in the main army during the Revolutionary War.
Marketing campaigns
- 1778Battle of Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
The regiment formed part of William Grayson's detachment in the opening actions at Monmouth. During the British counterattack, it withdrew with elements of Lee's division toward Washington's position before joining the reorganized Continental line.
- 1777Northern New Jersey Campaign
Northern New Jersey
The regiment took part in Continental Army operations in northern New Jersey during June 1777 after joining the main army.
- 1777Philadelphia Campaign
Pennsylvania · New Jersey
Patton's regiment served during the late-1777 campaign surrounding British operations against Philadelphia.
Brand decisions
1779
Consolidation with Hartley's Additional Continental RegimentM&ABackground
The Continental Army reorganized its additional regiments after the unit's short period of service.
Action taken
Patton's Additional Continental Regiment was consolidated with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment on 13 January 1779.
Aftermath
The regiment ceased to exist as an independent formation. Allen McLane's Delaware company had already transferred to the 1st Delaware Regiment.
1778
Transfer to the Highlands DepartmentStrategyBackground
After its service with the 4th Virginia Brigade and at Monmouth, the regiment was reassigned within the Continental Army.
Action taken
The unit was transferred to the Highlands Department on 22 July 1778.
Aftermath
It remained a separate regiment for less than six months before consolidation with Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment.
Sources2 sources
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