Connecticut Line - Numbered Continental Regiments, 1776

Numbered Continental Regiments, 1776

On November 4, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that on January 1, 1776, the Continental Army, exclusive of artillery and extra regiments, should consist of 27 infantry regiments. The troops were to be enlisted to serve until December 31, 1776. The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 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. For the campaign of 1776 Connecticut was to provide the 10th, 17th, 19th, 20th, and 22d Continental Regiments.

• The 10th Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons from 1 January to 9 August 1776. Parsons became a brigadier general in the Continental Army on the latter date. John Tyler, who had been the lieutenant colonel of the regiment since 1 January 1776, served as its colonel from 10 August to 31 December 1776.

• The 17th Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Jedediah Huntington from 1 January to 31 December 1776.

• The 19th Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Charles Webb from 1 January to 31 December 1776. Nathan Hale, who was captured by the British and hanged as a spy on 22 September 1776, was one of the captains in this regiment.

• The 20th Continental Regiment was commanded by John Durkee, with the rank of lieutenant colonel from 1 January to 12 August 1776 and with the rank of colonel from 12 August to 31 December 1776. Benedict Arnold had been appointed the colonel of this regiment as of 1 January 1776, but on that date he was serving in Quebec and, on 10 January 1776 he was made a brigadier general in the Continental Army.

• The 22nd Continental Regiment was commanded by Colonel Samuel Wyllys from 1 January to 31 December 1776.