5th Continental Regiment - History

History

The 1st New Hampshire Regiment was authorized as New Hampshire State Troops on 22 May 1775, and was organized as 10 companies of 800 volunteers from Hillsborough and Rockingham counties of the colony of New Hampshire at Medford, Massachusetts, commanded by John Stark. The regiment was adopted into the Continental Army on 14 June 1775, and assigned to General John Sullivan's brigade on 22 July 1775. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

The regiment was redesignated the 5th Continental Regiment on 1 January 1776, as eight companies in Sullivan's Brigade in the main Continental Army. On 27 April 1776, the regiment was relieved from the brigade and assigned to the Canadian Department. On 2 July 1776, the regiment was re-assigned to the Northern Department, and on 20 July 1776, it was assigned to General John Stark's brigade. On 26 November 1776, the regiment was re-assigned to the main Continental Army and later assigned to Sullivan's brigade.

On 1 January 1777, the 5th Continental Regiment was re-organized to eight companies and redesignated as the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. The regiment was relieved from the brigade on 14 February 1777, and assigned to the Northern Department. On 28 April 1777, the regiment was assigned to the New Hampshire Brigade. On 20 October 1777, the brigade was re-assigned to the main army and re-organized to nine companies on 23 December 1778. The brigade was re-assigned to the Highlands Department on 19 August 1781. Between 10 and 14 October 1781, the brigade was re-assigned to the Northern Department. On 12 November 1782, the brigade was re-assigned to the main army. The regiment was redesignated as the New Hampshire Regiment and re-organized as nine companies on 1 March 1783.