26th Continental Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 26th Continental Regiment was an infantry unit of the Massachusetts Line
during the US Revolutionary War. The regiment was formed for one year in Massachusetts in January 1776 from the remnant of the 25th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment known as Gerrish’s Regiment. The old regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. The 26th Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Loammi Baldwin
, who was promoted to that rank on January 1, 1776. Baldwin had previously commanded the 25th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment in 1775 as a lieutenant colonel during the Siege of Boston
.
in April 1776 and becoming part of Heath's Brigade
there. In August, the 26th Regiment was transferred to Clinton's Brigade
. The regiment's strength report for September 1776 showed 23 officers
, 35 non-commissioned officer
s, 5 staff officers, and 255 privates
.
and bayonets that had been captured from the British.
and the Battle of Pell's Point
, holding off a much larger British force to allow George Washington
to withdraw from Manhattan to White Plains. The regiment then joined Washington in White Plains for that battle.
The 26th Regiment also served at Trenton
. On the night of December 25, 1776, in the face of a violent and extremely cold storm of snow and hail, General Washington and his army crossed the Delaware
to the New Jersey
side, and fought the Battle of Trenton
. Baldwin and his regiment participated in both the crossing and the fight.
(Wesson’s Regiment) was formed by consolidating the remnant of the 21st Continental Regiment with the remnant of the 26th Continental Regiment. Colonel Baldwin was forced to retire due to ill health. The new commanding officer of the 9th Regiment, James Wesson, had been a major of Gerrish’s Regiment in 1775 and the lieutenant colonel of the 26th Continental Regiment in 1776.http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/states/ma-09.htm
Massachusetts Line
The Massachusetts Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Massachusetts Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states,...
during the US Revolutionary War. The regiment was formed for one year in Massachusetts in January 1776 from the remnant of the 25th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment known as Gerrish’s Regiment. The old regiment had to be reduced from ten companies to eight. The 26th Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Loammi Baldwin
Loammi Baldwin
Colonel Loammi Baldwin was a noted American engineer, politician, and a soldier in the American Revolutionary War....
, who was promoted to that rank on January 1, 1776. Baldwin had previously commanded the 25th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment in 1775 as a lieutenant colonel during the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
.
Initial Officer Cadre
In a report dated January 8, 1776 at Cambridge Camp, Colonel Baldwin reported the following roster of officers for his newly organized regiment, in addition to himself and his second in command, Lieutenant Colonel James Wesson. He also noted that he had no chaplain. Each line of this report represents a company of the regiment.| Captains | 1st Lieutenants | 2nd Lieutenants | Ensigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mighill | Thomas Cummings | Mark Cressey | Amos Bailey |
| Thomas Cogswell | Moses Dunton | Amos Cogswell | James Walker |
| Richard Dodge | Paul Dodge | Michael Farley (Quartermaster) | Abijah Hastings |
| Isaac Sherman | Caleb Robinson | Michah Hoit | Ebenezer Light |
| John Wood | Abraham Child | Nathan Dix | Sylvannus Wood |
| Barnabas Dodge | Joseph Cheever | Joseph Knight | Joseph Edes |
| Ezra Badlam | Samuel Carr | John Noyes | Wadleigh Noyes |
| Joseph Pettingill | Samuel Thomson | John Woodward (Adjutant) | Joseph Walker |
Organization
Baldwin's 26th Continental Regiment was ordered to join the Main Army, moving to New York CityNew York and New Jersey campaign
The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles for control of New York City and the state of New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir William Howe and the Continental Army under General George Washington in 1776 and the winter months of 1777...
in April 1776 and becoming part of Heath's Brigade
William Heath
William Heath was an American farmer, soldier, and political leader from Massachusetts who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War....
there. In August, the 26th Regiment was transferred to Clinton's Brigade
James Clinton
James Clinton was an American Revolutionary War soldier who obtained the rank of major general.He was born in Ulster County in the colony of New York, in a location now part of Orange County, New York...
. The regiment's strength report for September 1776 showed 23 officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, 35 non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s, 5 staff officers, and 255 privates
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
.
Equipment
The 26th Regiment uniform was brown coats with buff facings similar to the British. They wore waistcoats and breeches of white cloth. The 26th was one of the first regiments of the Continental Army to outfit a grenadier company. Under the command of Captain Thomas Mighill, the company wore the traditional grenadier's mitre cap. One of these caps has survived in the Smithsonian collections. The roman numerals 'XXVI' and the cipher 'GW,' for George Washington, are embroidered on the front. The regiment was referred to as the "George Washington Regiment." Mighill rearmed his grenadiers in July 1776 with Short Land Pattern MusketsBrown Bess
Brown Bess is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred...
and bayonets that had been captured from the British.
Battles
The regiment saw action on Long Island and distinguised itself at the Battle of Throg's NeckBattle of Pell's Point
The Battle of Pell's Point , also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish fought between British and American troops during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
and the Battle of Pell's Point
Battle of Pell's Point
The Battle of Pell's Point , also known as the Battle of Pelham, was a skirmish fought between British and American troops during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
, holding off a much larger British force to allow George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to withdraw from Manhattan to White Plains. The regiment then joined Washington in White Plains for that battle.
The 26th Regiment also served at Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
. On the night of December 25, 1776, in the face of a violent and extremely cold storm of snow and hail, General Washington and his army crossed the Delaware
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
side, and fought the Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
. Baldwin and his regiment participated in both the crossing and the fight.
Reorganization
In 1777, the 9th Massachusetts Regiment9th Massachusetts Regiment
The 9th Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Line was created on November 1, 1776. The unit served until January 1, 1783 when, in compliance with the general order of December 24, 1782, the unit was disbanded....
(Wesson’s Regiment) was formed by consolidating the remnant of the 21st Continental Regiment with the remnant of the 26th Continental Regiment. Colonel Baldwin was forced to retire due to ill health. The new commanding officer of the 9th Regiment, James Wesson, had been a major of Gerrish’s Regiment in 1775 and the lieutenant colonel of the 26th Continental Regiment in 1776.http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/states/ma-09.htm
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Massachusetts compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History