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North Carolina Line, Revolutionary War

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Date: 1775 [unknown]
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North Carolina Line of the Continental Army

The North Carolina Line was a formation within the Continental Army during the US American Revolutionary War.[1]

The term "North Carolina Line" referred to the quota of infantry regiments assigned to North Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

Not all Continental infantry regiments raised in a state were part of a state quota. However, on December 27, 1776, the Continental Congress gave General George Washington temporary control over certain military decisions that the Congress ordinarily regarded as its own prerogative. These "dictatorial powers" included the authority to raise sixteen additional Continental infantry regiments at large.

Still other Continental infantry regiments and smaller units, also unrelated to a state quota, were raised as needed for special or temporary service.

On June 26, 1775, less than ten weeks after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress voted to support 1,000 Continental troops in North Carolina. This force was organized in September of that year as two regiments of 500 men each.

There were initially 9 numbered regiments in the North Carolina Line, numbered 1 through 9 with an additional regiment 10 added in 1777.

The North Carolina LIne included the following officers who obtained the rank of general:[2]:


Regiments

1st North Carolina Regiment

The 1st North Carolina Regiment was raised on 1 September 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. In January 1776 the organization contained eight companies. Francis Nash was appointed colonel in April 1776. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in 1776. It transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. At that time, Thomas Clark became colonel of the 1st Regiment. The unit became part of Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July.

In 1777 the 1st North Carolina saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and it was present at White Marsh. Still led by Colonel Clark, it fought at Monmouth in June 1778. The North Carolina Brigade marched south under the command of James Hogun and arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina in March 1780. The 1st Regiment was captured by the British army at the Siege of Charleston on 12 May 1780. Colonel Clark and 287 men became prisoners. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781 and fought well in Jethro Sumner's brigade at Eutaw Springs in September that year. The 1st North Carolina was furloughed on 23 April 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on 15 November 1783.[3]

Type: Infantry

Engagements: Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge (1775), Battle of Sullivan's Island (1776), Battle of Brandywine (1777), Battle of Germantown (1777), Battle of White Marsh (1777), Battle of Monmouth (1778), Siege of Charleston (1780), Battle of Eutaw Springs (1781)

Commanders: Colonel James Moore (later promoted to brigadadier general), Colonel Francis Nash, Colonel Thomas Clark

2nd North Carolina Regiment

The 2nd North Carolina Regiment was an American infantry unit that was raised for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1776 the regiment helped defend Charleston, South Carolina. Ordered to join General George Washington's main army in February 1777, the regiment subsequently fought at Brandywine and Germantown during the Philadelphia Campaign. After most other North Carolina regiments were sent home to recruit, the 1st and 2nd Regiments remained with the main army and fought at Monmouth in June 1778. The regiment was transferred to the Southern Department and was captured by the British army in May 1780 at the Siege of Charleston. Together with the 1st Regiment, the unit was rebuilt and fought capably at Eutaw Springs. The 2nd was furloughed in April 1783 and officially dissolved in November 1783.[4]

The 2nd North Carolina Regiment was authorized on 1 September 1775 for service with the Continental Army. Ten companies were organized at Edenton, New Bern, and Salisbury, North Carolina during the autumn of 1775. Robert Howe was appointed colonel. At the end of 1775, he marched his regiment north to Virginia. Arriving near Norfolk, Virginia on 14 December 1775, Howe provoked a British attack on the town on 1 January 1776 which resulted in the Burning of Norfolk and the withdrawal of Lord Dunmore's forces. On 4 January 1776, the 2nd Regiment was reorganized in the strength of eight companies. The unit was assigned to the Southern Department on 27 February 1776. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd North Carolina Regiments participated in the successful defense of Charleston that culminated in the Battle of Sullivan's Island. At the time, the three regiments were only half of their nominal strength. The early successes of local militia over American loyalists and Indians convinced many southerners that professional soldiers were not required for defense. Therefore, the Continental Army regiments received less support than was seen in the northern colonies.

The 2nd North Carolina was transferred to the main army on 5 February 1777. The unit became part of the North Carolina Brigade on 8 July 1777. When the North Carolina Brigade arrived near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was so badly understrength that the field officers suggested transferring all the soldiers into the three senior regiments. However, this was not done until the following May when the other regiments were reduced to cadres and sent home to recruit. The 2nd Regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777. The North Carolina Brigade, under Brigadier General Francis Nash was deployed in reserve near Chadds Ford. Late in the afternoon, after Sir William Howe's flanking column had broken the American right wing, Washington directed Nathanael Greene's division and Nash's brigade to block the British thrust. Though the battle resulted in an American defeat, Howe's advance was brought to a halt in a fierce musketry duel and Washington's army limped away to fight again.

At the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777, the North Carolina Brigade and William Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade were part of Lord Stirling's Reserve Division. During the advance, a cannon ball killed one of Maxwell's aides and mortally wounded Nash. Presently, Lord Stirling's column found itself confronted by about 100 British soldiers in the Chew House. After a bombardment by cannon failed to reduce the structure, two New Jersey regiments tried to storm the place. The North Carolina troops fired on the north side of the house in support, but all American attacks were repulsed with heavy losses. During the 1777–1778 winter encampment at Valley Forge, Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh took command of the North Carolina Brigade. Colonel John Patten, Lieutenant Colonel Selby Harney, and Major Hardy Murfree were the field officers in the 2nd North Carolina.

The regiment fought at the Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment would be captured by the British Army at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781, furloughed January 1, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on November 15, 1783.


Engagements: Burning of Norfolk (1776), Battle of Sullivan's Island (1776), Battle of Brandywine (1777), Battle of Germantown (1777), Battle of Monmouth (1778), Siege of Charleston (1780), Battle of Eutaw Springs (1781)

Commanders: Colonel Robert Howe, Colonel John Patten

3rd North Carolina Regiment

The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was raised on 16 January 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. In April, 'Jethro Sumner" was appointed colonel. The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in June 1776. The 3rd Regiment transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. Assigned to Francis Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July 1777, it soon saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and was present at White Marsh. Sumner went home ill in early 1778. Together with the 4th, 5th, and 6th North Carolina Regiments, the 3rd Regiment was reduced to a cadre and sent home to recruit up to strength on 1 June 1778. The rebuilt regiment returned to the main army in late 1778, but it was reduced to a cadre again in April 1779 and sent back to its home state. Assigned to the North Carolina Brigade, the regiment fought at the Siege of Charleston where it was captured by the British Army on 12 May 1780. The regiment was officially disbanded on 15 November 1783.[5]

Engagements: Battle of Sullivan's Island (1776), Battle of Brandywine (1777), Battle of Germantown (1777), Battle of White Marsh (1777), Siege of Charleston (1780), Commanders: Colonel Jethro Sumner


4th North Carolina Regiment

The 4th North Carolina Regiment was raised on January 16, 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army under the command of Thomas Polk. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment was captured by the British Army at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1783.[6]

Engagements: Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth, Siege of Charleston.

5th North Carolina Regiment

The 5th North Carolina Regiment was assigned on March 26, 1776, to the Continental Army in the Southern Department. It was organized in the spring of 1776 at Wilmington, North Carolina, as eight companies of volunteers from the districts of New Bern, Edenton and Hillsborough of the colony of North Carolina. On 5 February 1777, the regiment was assigned to the main Continental Army and assigned to the North Carolina Brigade on 8 July 1777. The regiment was reduced to a cadre on 1 June 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and was assigned to the Southern Department. The regiment was re-organized to nine companies during the fall of 1778 at Halifax and assigned on 11 January 1779 to Sumner's Brigade. On 3 June 1779, this brigade was redesignated as Armstrong's Brigade. The regiment was captured by the British Army on 12 May 1780 at Charlestown, South Carolina and was officially disbanded on 1 January 1781.[7]

The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth, Siege of Savannah and the Siege of Charleston.

6th North Carolina Regiment

The 6th North Carolina Regiment was raised on March 26, 1776, at New Bern, North Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth. The regiment was furloughed at Purrysburg, South Carolina, on February 11, 1779, and disbanded on January 1, 1783.[8]

7th North Carolina Regiment

The 7th North Carolina Regiment was raised on 16 September 1776 at Halifax, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. Colonel James Hogun was appointed the regimental commander in November 1776. The 7th Regiment was initially assigned to the Southern Department but in February 1777 the unit transferred to George Washington's main army. In July 1777, the regiment was assigned to the North Carolina Brigade which was led by Francis Nash. All the North Carolina regiments were badly understrength, with only two mustering over 200 men. The regiment saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and it was present at White Marsh. Together with the 8th, 9th, and 10th North Carolina Regiments, the 7th Regiment was disbanded on 1 June 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The rank and file were consolidated with the three senior regiments and the superfluous officers were sent back to North Carolina to recruit new regiments.[9]

8th North Carolina Regiment

The 8th North Carolina Regiment was raised on 16 September 1776 at Halifax, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The unit saw action at the Battle of Brandywine and Battle of Germantown. The regiment was disbanded on 1 June 1778 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.[10]

Commanders: Colonel James Armstrong

Valley Forge known commanders: Captain Francis Tartanson, Captain John Walsh,Captain Joseph Rhodes, Captain Michael Quin, Captain Henry Pope and Captain William Dennis Sr.

9th North Carolina Regiment

The 9th North Carolina Regiment was raised, on 16 September 1776, at Halifax, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Brandywine and Battle of Germantown. The regiment was disbanded, on 1 June 1778, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.[11]

Commanders: Colonel John P. Williams

10th North Carolina Regiment

On June 17, 1777, the Continental Congress accepted the offer of North Carolina to furnish another regiment for the Continental Army. This regiment was unofficially designated the "10th North Carolina Regiment." This unit contained 728 soldiers and was refered to as Sheppard's Regiment.[12]

Commanders: Colonel Abraham Sheppard,

North Carolina Line Soldiers

For a list of known soldiers and officers in each unit with links to their WikiTree profiles, see the following categories.

Note: Profiles of soldiers in North Carolina where the unit us unknown or uncertain can be found under the Category:North Carolina, American Revolution category.

Sources

  1. ↑ Wikipedia North Carolina Line
  2. ↑ Wikipedia North Carolina Line
  3. ↑ Wikipedia:1st_North_Carolina_Regiment
  4. ↑ Wikipedia:2nd North Carolina Regiment
  5. ↑ Wikipedia:3rd_North_Carolina_Regiment
  6. ↑ Wikipedia:4th_North_Carolina_Regiment 4th Regiment
  7. ↑ Wikipedia:5th_North_Carolina_Regiment
  8. ↑ Wikipedia:6th North Carolina Regiment
  9. ↑ Wikipedia:7th North Carolina Regiment
  10. ↑ Wikipedia:8th North Carolina Regiment
  11. ↑ 9th North Carolina Regiment
  12. ↑ Wikipedia:10th North Carolina Regiment

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Categories: North Carolina, American Revolution | North Carolina Line, American Revolution