5th Maryland Regiment
Encyclopedia
The designation "5th Maryland" has been held by several units over the years, not all of which necessarily share the same lineage and honors. The first such unit, the 5th Maryland Regiment was organized on 27 March 1776 composing of eight companies of volunteers from the counties of Queen Anne's, Kent
, Caroline
, and Dorchester
of the colony of Maryland
and was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army
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It was assigned to the main Continental Army
on 27 December 1776. On 22 May 1777, it was assigned to the 1st Maryland Brigade and re-organized on 12 May 1779 to nine companies. It was re-assigned to the Southern Department
on 5 April 1780. The regiment was re-assigned from the 1st Maryland Brigade to the Maryland Brigade on 1 January 1781. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Long Island
(1776), the Battle of Brandywine
(1777), the Battle of Germantown
(1777), the Battle of Monmouth
(1778), the Battle of Camden
(1780), and the Battle of Guilford Court House
(1781). The regiment was furloughed 1 January 1782, at Round O, South Carolina
and disbanded on 1 January 1783.
The 5th Maryland Regiment saw action during the War of 1812
at both the Battle of Bladensberg and the Battle of North Point
. At Bladensberg the regiment was routed, along with the rest of the army, by the advancing British, but at North Point they proved more effective. There, the Maryland Volunteers under General John Stricker
bore the brunt of the British attack, holding off the enemy long enough for the defense of Baltimore
to be successfully shored up. The battle formed part of the larger Battle of Baltimore
and proved a turning point in the War of 1812
.
Not all the militia regiments performed with equal distinction. The 51st, and some members of 39th, broke and ran under fire. However, the 5th and 27th held their ground and were able to retreat in good order having inflicted significant casualties on the advancing enemy.
Corporal John McHenry of the 5th Regiment wrote an account of the battle:
Another 5th Maryland, nicknamed "The Dandy Fifth" was formed in 1867. The lineage of this unit is carried on today by the Maryland Army National Guard's 175th Infantry Regiment
. This 5th Maryland also traces its lineage back to the American Revolution, but ironically, its battle honors differ from those of the Revolutionary 5th Regiment.
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
, Caroline
Caroline County, Maryland
Caroline County is a wholly rural county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by Queen Anne's County to the north, Talbot County to the west, Dorchester County to the south, Kent County, Delaware, to the east, and Sussex County, Delaware, to the southeast. As...
, and Dorchester
Dorchester County, Maryland
Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake...
of the colony of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and was authorized on 16 September 1776 for service with the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
.
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
on 27 December 1776. On 22 May 1777, it was assigned to the 1st Maryland Brigade and re-organized on 12 May 1779 to nine companies. It was re-assigned to the Southern Department
Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War
The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War was the central area of operations in North America in the second half of the American Revolutionary War. During the first three years of the conflict, the primary military encounters had been in the north, focused on campaigns around the...
on 5 April 1780. The regiment was re-assigned from the 1st Maryland Brigade to the Maryland Brigade on 1 January 1781. The regiment would see action during the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
(1776), the Battle of Brandywine
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
(1777), the Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
(1777), the Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
(1778), the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
(1780), and the Battle of Guilford Court House
Battle of Guilford Court House
The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 in Greensboro, the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, during the American Revolutionary War...
(1781). The regiment was furloughed 1 January 1782, at Round O, South Carolina
Round O, South Carolina
Round O is an unincorporated community in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. Its elevation is 36 feet , its zip code is 29474 and it is located at . It has two churches within the community Canaan Baptist Church, and Mount Sinai Baptist, and also has a small US Post Office....
and disbanded on 1 January 1783.
War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
at both the Battle of Bladensberg and the Battle of North Point
Battle of North Point
The Battle of North Point was fought on September 12, 1814, between General John Stricker's Maryland Militia and a British force led by Major General Robert Ross. Although tactically a British victory, the battle delayed the British advance against Baltimore, buying valuable time for the defense of...
. At Bladensberg the regiment was routed, along with the rest of the army, by the advancing British, but at North Point they proved more effective. There, the Maryland Volunteers under General John Stricker
John Stricker
Brigadier General John Stricker was a Maryland Militia officer who fought in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812...
bore the brunt of the British attack, holding off the enemy long enough for the defense of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
to be successfully shored up. The battle formed part of the larger Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
and proved a turning point in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Not all the militia regiments performed with equal distinction. The 51st, and some members of 39th, broke and ran under fire. However, the 5th and 27th held their ground and were able to retreat in good order having inflicted significant casualties on the advancing enemy.
Corporal John McHenry of the 5th Regiment wrote an account of the battle:
- "Our Regiment, the 5th, carried off the praise from the other regiments engaged, so did the company to which I have the honor to belong cover itself with glory. When compared to the [other] Regiments we were the last that left the ground...had our Regiment not retreated at the time it did we should have been cut off in two minutes."
Another 5th Maryland, nicknamed "The Dandy Fifth" was formed in 1867. The lineage of this unit is carried on today by the Maryland Army National Guard's 175th Infantry Regiment
175th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 175th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Army National Guard.-History:The 175th Infantry is one of only nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812....
. This 5th Maryland also traces its lineage back to the American Revolution, but ironically, its battle honors differ from those of the Revolutionary 5th Regiment.
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Maryland compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History