Massachusetts Line

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The Massachusetts Line was a formation within the Continental Army. It comprised the Massachusetts quota of infantry regiments raised for general service which, together with similar contingents from other states, formed the Continental Line. Commissioned officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

There were also infantry regiments and separate companies in the Continental Army that did not belong to the line of any one state. On December 27, 1776, George Washington was temporarily given “dictatorial powers,” which included authority to raise sixteen additional regiments at large for the Continental Line. Three of these were raised in Massachusetts in the spring of 1777. Much of the recruiting for them was done in the Boston area, which until that time had been unable to raise troops because of the British occupation.

One of the additional regiments was raised by David Henley. Before receiving authority to raise this regiment he had been performing the duties of an adjutant general on the staffs of General William Heath and Lord Stirling.

Another of the additional regiments was raised by William Raymond Lee. The year before, Lee had been the major of John Glover’s famous Marblehead regiment, the 14th Continental Infantry.

Finally, an additional regiment was raised by Henry Jackson. On July 24, 1780, “Jackson’s Additional Continental Regiment” was officially designated the 16th Massachusetts Regiment. Although this unit was disbanded in 1781, Colonel Jackson remained in service until 1784 and commanded the last remaining regiment in the Continental Army.

Other regiments and smaller units were raised as needed for some special or temporary service. Porter's Regiment from western Massachusetts, raised in 1776 for the defense of Canada, was such an “extra” regiment.

On April 23, 1775, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted to raise a volunteer force of 13,600 men, and it called upon the other New England colonies for assistance in raising an army of 30,000 men. The Massachusetts provincials were raised in the spring of 1775 and were eventually formed into twenty-six infantry regiments. Massachusetts also took responsibility for a twenty-seventh regiment, originally raised in New Hampshire. Massachusetts regiments had an official establishment of 599 officers and men in ten companies (but five regiments had an eleventh company). The troops were enlisted to serve until December 31, 1775.

The commissions of all Massachusetts officers were dated May 19, 1775. Subsequently the regiments were numbered, although in Massachusetts the regiment was commonly indentified by the name of its colonel.

The 1st Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was initially commanded by General Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury, who was the commanding general of the Massachusetts Bay provincial forces. His general authority over the troops from the other New England colonies was acknowledged, and he commanded the patriot army at Boston until the arrival of George Washington at Cambridge on July 3, 1775. On June 17, 1775, Ward was made a major general in the Continental Army - the first appointment in that grade. Command of the regiment passed to its next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ward, who was promoted to the rank of colonel on that date.

The 2d Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was initially commanded by General John Thomas, of Kingston, who was the lieutenant general (second in command) of the Massachusetts Bay provincial forces. Thomas was made a Continental brigadier general on June 22, 1775. The regiment’s lieutenant colonel, John Bailey, then assumed command. Bailey was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 1, 1775, and the regiment became Bailey’s Regiment.

The 3d Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Timothy Walker, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 4th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Theophilus Cotton, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 5th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment contained eleven companies and had an official establishment of 658 officers and men. It was commanded by Colonel Asa Whitcomb, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 6th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Joseph Read, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 7th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel John Mansfield, who left the service on September 15, 1775. From then until the end of the year the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Israel Hutchinson.

The 8th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment contained eleven companies and had an official establishment of 658 officers and men. It was commanded by Colonel Timothy Danielson, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 9th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment contained eleven companies and had an official establishment of 658 officers and men. It was commanded by Colonel William Prescott, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 10th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel James Frye, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 11th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment contained eleven companies and had an official establishment of 658 officers and men. It was commanded by Colonel Ebenezer Bridge, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 12th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment contained eleven companies and had an official establishment of 658 officers and men. It was commanded by Colonel John Paterson, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 13th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel James Scammon. His regiment was raised in what were then known as the “eastern counties,” the present state of Maine. Scammon served as colonel of his regiment until the end of the year.

The 14th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Ebenezer Learned, of Oxford, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 15th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Thomas Gardner. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and died July 3, 1775. On that date the regiment’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel William Bond, was promoted to the rank of colonel and the regiment became Bond’s Regiment.

The 16th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel John Nixon, of Framingham, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 17th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel John Fellows, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 18th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Ephraim Doolittle, who left the service in October 1775. Command of the regiment passed to its next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Holden.

The 19th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Jonathan Brewer, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 20th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel David Brewer, who was dismissed from the service on October 24, 1775. The next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Putnam, assumed command of the regiment and served until the end of the year.

The 21st Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel William Heath, of Roxbury. Heath was made a Continental brigadier general on June 22, 1775, and command of the regiment passed to Lieutenant Colonel John Greaton. Greaton was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 1, 1775, and the regiment became Greaton’s Regiment.

The 22d Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 23d Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel John Glover, of Marblehead, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 24th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Moses Little, who served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 25th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Samuel Gerrish, who was dismissed from the service on August 19, 1775. Command of the regiment passed to its next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin.

The 26th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Edmund Phinney, whose regiment was raised in the present state of Maine. Phinney served as colonel until the end of the year.

The 27th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment was commanded by Colonel Paul Dudley Sargent, of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

The New England delegates to the Continental Congress urged that the Congress assume responsibility for the provincial troops of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, that were blockading Boston. This was done on June 14, 1775, and these troops were designated the Continental Army. George Washington was selected as commander in chief of this force, and all other Continental Army troops, the following day.

On November 4, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that on January 1, 1776, the Continental Army, exclusive of artillery and extras, should consist of 27 infantry regiments: 1 from Pennsylvania, 3 from New Hampshire, 16 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, and 5 from Connecticut. Each regiment was to have an official establishment of 728 officers and men in eight companies. The regiments were to receive numbers instead of names, and the troops were to be enlisted to serve until December 31, 1776.

The reduction of the Massachusetts Line from an establishment of 16,468 officers and men in 275 companies to an establishment of 11,648 officers and men in 128 companies required a difficult reorganization. For the campaign of 1776 Massachusetts was to provide the 3d, 4th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23d, 24th, 25th, 25th, 26th, and 27th Continental Regiments.

The 3rd Continental Regiment was formed by merging Danielson’s Regiment, and a company of Cotton’s Regiment, into Learned’s Regiment. Colonel Ebenezer Learned commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 4th Continental Regiment was formed from Nixon’s Regiment and a company of Danielson’s Regiment. Colonel John Nixon commanded this regiment until August 9, 1776, the date on which he was made a Continental brigadier general. On that date the regiment’s next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Nixon, assumed command with the rank of colonel.

The 6th Continental Regiment was formed from Jonathan Brewer’s Regiment, a company of Fellows’ Regiment, and a company of David Brewer’s Regiment. However, Jonathan Brewer left the service, and command of this regiment was given to Colonel Asa Whitcomb, whose old regiment, the 5th Massachusetts Regiment, was disbanded.

The 7th Continental Regiment was formed from Prescott’s Regiment, a company of Paterson’s Regiment, and two companies of Scammon’s Regiment. Colonel William Prescott commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 12th Continental Regiment was formed from Little’s Regiment. More than a redesignation was involved, as the regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. Colonel Moses Little commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 13th Continental Regiment was formed by merging Walker’s Regiment and David Brewer’s Regiment into Read’s Regiment. Colonel Joseph Read commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 14th Continental Regiment was formed from Glover’s Regiment. More than a redesignation was involved, as the regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. Colonel John Glover commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 15th Continental Regiment was formed from Paterson’s Regiment and two companies of Scammon’s Regiment. Colonel John Paterson commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 16th Continental Regiment was formed from Sargent’s Regiment. More than a redesignation was involved, as the regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. Colonel Paul Dudley Sargent commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 18th Continental Regiment was formed by merging Scammon’s Regiment and a company of Paterson’s Regiment into Phinney’s Regiment. Colonel Edmund Phinney commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 21st Continental Regiment was formed by merging Fellows’ Regiment and two companies of Cotton’s Regiment into Ward’s Regiment. Colonel Jonathan Ward commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 23rd Continental Regiment was formed by merging Cotton’s Regiment into Bailey’s Regiment. Colonel John Bailey commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 24th Continental Regiment was formed from Greaton’s Regiment and a company of Bond’s Regiment. Colonel John Greaton commanded this regiment throughout 1776.

The 25th Continental Regiment was formed from Bond’s Regiment and a company of Cotton’s Regiment. Colonel William Bond commanded this regiment until his death on August 31, 1776. The regiment’s next senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ichabod Alden, held command until the end of the year.

The 26th Continental Regiment was formed from Gerrish’s Regiment. More than a redesignation was involved, as the regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Loammi Baldwin, who was promoted to that rank on January 1, 1776.

The 27th Continental Regiment was formed from Mansfield’s Regiment. More than a redesignation was involved, as the regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Israel Hutchinson, who was promoted to that rank on January 1, 1776.

The regiments of Asa Whitcomb, James Frye, Ebenezer Bridge, Ephraim Doolittle, and Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge were disbanded at Cambridge, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1775.

During 1776, the Continental Congress gradually overcame its ideological objections to a standing army, and, on September 16, 1776, it resolved that, on January 1, 1777, the Continental Line should consist of 88 infantry regiments, to be maintained for the duration of the war: 3 from New Hampshire, 15 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, 8 from Connecticut, 4 from New York, 4 from New Jersey, 12 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 15 from Virginia, 9 from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina, and 1 from Georgia. The quotas for states outside New England included regiments that had been on the Continental establishment earlier, but the term Continental Line was now broadened to include the lines of all the states.

The 1st Massachusetts Regiment (Vose’s Regiment) was formed from six companies of the 15th Continental Regiment, two companies of the 6th Continental Regiment, and two companies of the 18th Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, Joseph Vose, had been the major of Greaton’s Regiment in 1775 and the lieutenant colonel of the 24th Continental Regiment in 1776.

The 2nd Massachusetts Regiment (Bailey’s Regiment) was formed from his own 23d Continental Regiment, the 7th Continental Regiment, and one company each of the 13th and 21st Continental Regiments. The commanding officer, John Bailey, had been the lieutenant colonel of Thomas’s Regiment, and its commander, in 1775. In 1776 he commanded the 23d Continental Regiment.

The 3rd Massachusetts Regiment (Greaton’s Regiment) was formed from six companies of the 24th Continental Regiment, and all of the 25th Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, John Greaton, had been the lieutenant colonel of Heath’s Regiment, and its commander, in 1775. In 1776 he commanded the 24th Continental Regiment.

The 4th Massachusetts Regiment (Shepard’s Regiment) was formed from the 3d Continental Regiment and a company of the 21st Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, William Shepard, had been the lieutenant colonel of Danielson’s Regiment in 1775 and the lieutenant colonel of the 3d Continental Regiment in 1776. He was wounded at the battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776.

The 5th Massachusetts Regiment (Putnam’s Regiment) was formed from the 27th Continental Regiment and a company of the 13th Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, Rufus Putnam, had been the lieutenant colonel of David Brewer’s Regiment in 1775.

The 6th Massachusetts Regiment (Nixon’s Regiment) was formed by reorganizing the 4th Continental Regiment as a regiment to serve for the duration. The commanding officer, Thomas Nixon, had been the lieutenant colonel of John Nixon’s Regiment in 1775 and lieutenant colonel of the 4th Continental Regiment in 1776. He was promoted to colonel on August 9, 1776.

The 7th Massachusetts Regiment (Alden’s Regiment) was an entirely new unit, raised under the Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve of September 16, 1776. The commanding officer, Ichabod Alden, had been the lieutenant colonel of Cotton’s Regiment in 1775 and lieutenant colonel of the 25th Continental Regiment in 1776. He was killed at Cherry Valley, New York, on November 10, 1778.

The 8th Massachusetts Regiment (Michael Jackson’s Regiment) was formed by reorganizing the 16th Continental Regiment as a regiment to serve for the duration. The commanding officer had been the major of Gardner’s Regiment in 1775, and had been wounded on June 17, 1775, at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776 he had been lieutenant colonel of the 16th Continental Regiment and had been wounded at Montressor’s Island on September 24, 1776.

The 9th Massachusetts Regiment (Wesson’s Regiment) was formed from the 26th Continental Regiment and six companies of the 21st Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, James Wesson, had been the major of Gerrish’s Regiment in 1775 and the lieutenant colonel of the 26th Continental Regiment in 1776. He was wounded on June 28, 1778, at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey.

The 10th Massachusetts Regiment (Marshall’s Regiment) was an entirely new unit, raised under the Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve of September 16, 1776. The commanding officer, Thomas Marshall, had been an officer in the Massachusetts militia.

The 11th Massachusetts Regiment (Francis’s Regiment, later Tupper’s Regiment) was an entirely new unit, raised under the Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve of September 16, 1776. The regiment’s first commander, Colonel Ebenezer Francis, had been a captain of Mansfield’s Regiment in 1775. Colonel Francis was killed at the Battle of Hubbardton, Vermont, on July 7, 1777, and was succeeded by Benjamin Tupper. In 1775 Colonel Tupper had been the major of Fellows’ Regiment and later its lieutenant colonel. In 1776 he had been lieutenant colonel of the 21st Continental Regiment.

The 12th Massachusetts Regiment (Samuel Brewer’s Regiment) was formed from six companies of the 18th Continental Regiment and two companies of the 15th Continental Regiment. The commanding officer was dismissed from the service on September 17, 1778. For the remainder of its existence the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Sprout, who had been the major of Cotton’s Regiment in 1775 and the major of the 3d Continental Regiment in 1776.

The 13th Massachusetts Regiment (Wigglesworth’s Regiment) was formed from six companies of the 6th Continental Regiment and two companies of the 24th Continental Regiment. The commanding officer, Colonel Edward Wigglesworth, had been a militia officer in 1776.

The 14th Massachusetts Regiment (Bradford’s Regiment) was an entirely new unit, raised under the Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve of September 16, 1776. The commanding officer, Gamaliel Bradford, had been a militia officer in 1776.

The 15th Massachusetts Regiment (Bigelow’s Regiment) was an entirely new unit, raised under the Eighty-Eight Battalion Resolve of September 16, 1776. The commanding officer, Timothy Bigelow, was a captain of Ward’s Regiment and the major after June 17, 1775. He was captured at Quebec on December 31, 1775. In 1776 he was appointed major of the 21st Continental Regiment but was a prisoner at the time, was not exchanged until May 1776, and did not join the regiment that year.

The 12th Continental Regiment, under Colonel Moses Little, was disbanded at Morristown, New Jersey in February 1777.

The 13th Continental Regiment, under Colonel Joseph Read, was disbanded at Morristown, New Jersey, in January, 1777. However, one company of this regiment was merged into Bailey’s Regiment and another company was merged into Putnam’s Regiment.

The 14th Continental Regiment, under Colonel John Glover, was disbanded in eastern Pennsylvania on the last day of December, 1776, but Glover later returned to the Continental service as a general officer and commanded one of the Continental Army’s Massachusetts brigades. His third in command, Major William Raymond Lee, became the colonel of Lee's Additional Continental Regiment.

While the Main Army, that portion of Washington’s army under his immediate command, was in winter quarters at Valley Forge, the Congress acted to reduce the size and increase the tactical efficiency of the Continental Army. On May 27, 1778, it resolved that the number of infantry regiments be reduced from 88 to 80: 3 from New Hampshire, 15 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, 8 from Connecticut, 5 from New York, 3 from New Jersey, 11 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 11 from Virginia, 6 from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina, and 1 from Georgia. The official establishment of a regiment was reduced to 582 officers and men. Each regiment was to consist of nine rather than eight companies. The ninth company was to be a company of light infantry, and was to be kept up to strength by drafting men from the regiment’s eight other companies if necessary. During the campaigning season, the light infantry companies of the regiments in a field army were to be combined into a special corps of light infantry.

Because the Continental Congress passed this resolve at the beginning of the campaigning season, it was nearly a year before this reorganization was completed.

On July 24, 1780, Henry Jackson’s Additional Continental Regiment was official redesignated the 16th Massachusetts Regiment

In October 1780, the Continental Congress passed resolutions providing for what would be the last reorganization of the Continental Army before its final disbandment. The Congress determined that on January 1, 1781, the Continental Line should be reduced from 80 regiments to 50: 2 from New Hampshire, 10 from Massachusetts, 1 from Rhode Island, 5 from Connecticut, 2 from New York, 2 from New Jersey, 6 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 5 from Maryland, 8 from Virginia, 4 from North Carolina, 2 from South Carolina, 1 from Georgia, and 1 regiment raised at large (Colonel Moses Hazen’s Canadian Regiment). The official establishment of an infantry regiment was increased to 717 officers and men. Each regiment continued to have nine companies, including a light infantry company, but the companies were made larger. For the first time, each regiment was to have a permanent recruiting party of 1 lieutenant, 1 drummer, and 1 fifer. Thus, there were to be ten recruiting parties in Massachusetts to systematically find and forward recruits to the Massachusetts regiments in the field.

The 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Massachusetts Regiments were disbanded on January 1, 1781, reducing the Massachusetts Line to ten regiments.

The prolonged period of peace negotiations following the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, on October 19, 1781, presented the Continental Congress with the dilemma of keeping up a military force until the definitive peace treaty was signed, even though the national finances were exhausted. It accomplished this by reducing and consolidating the state Lines whenever possible, and by placing units on furlough, subject to recall.

The preliminary peace treaty was signed on November 30, 1782.

On January 1, 1783, the 9th Massachusetts Regiment was disbanded at West Point and the 10th Massachusetts Regiment was disbanded at Verplanck’s Point, New York, reducing the Massachusetts Line to eight regiments.

Great Britain signed preliminary articles of peace with France and Spain on January 20, 1783, and, on February 4, 1783, Britain announced the cessation of hostilities.

The Continental Congress received the text of the preliminary peace treaty on March 13, 1783, and the Continental Congress announced the cessation of hostilities on April 11, 1783. It ratified the preliminary peace treaty on April 15, 1783.

The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Massachusetts Regiments were placed on furlough on June 12, 1783. The Massachusetts Line was reduced to eight regiments, of which only four were actually in the field. The remaining four, on furlough, were never recalled to active duty.

The final treaty of peace was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783.

On October 18, 1783, the Continental Congress proclaimed that Continental troops on furlough were to be discharged on November 3, 1783. The Main Army, with the exception of a small observation force in the Hudson Highlands under the command of General Henry Knox, was disbanded on November 3, 1783. The disbanded units included the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Massachusetts Regiments. After this date no part of the Massachusetts Line remained in the field, although the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Massachusetts Regiments remained on furlough and had not been formally disbanded.

The Northern Army was disbanded on November 5, 1783, and the Southern Army was disbanded on November 15, 1783. On the latter date the furloughed 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Massachusetts Regiments were formally disbanded, and the Massachusetts Line ceased to exist.

New York City was evacuated by British troops on November 25, 1783. The British fleet left New York City on December 4, 1783, and on the same day Washington bid farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern.

On January 1, 1784, the Continental Line was reduced to a single regiment, under the command of Colonel Henry Jackson.

The Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784.

The United States and Great Britain exchanged ratifications of the Treaty of Paris on May 12, 1784.

See Category:Massachusetts Line for list of its regiments.