Connecticut Line - Connecticut Line, 1777

Connecticut Line, 1777

During 1776, the Continental Congress gradually overcame its ideological objections to a standing army, and, on September 16, 1776, it resolved that, on January 1, 1777, the Continental Line should consist of 88 infantry regiments, to be maintained for the duration of the war.

The quota of regiments assigned to the states was 3 from New Hampshire, 15 from Massachusetts, 2 from Rhode Island, 8 from Connecticut, 4 from New York, 4 from New Jersey, 12 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Delaware, 8 from Maryland, 15 from Virginia, 9 from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina, and 1 from Georgia.

The quotas for states outside New England included regiments that had been on the Continental establishment earlier, but the term Continental Line was now broadened to include the lines of all the states.

• The 1st Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel Jedediah Huntington from 1 January to 12 May 1777. On the latter date, Colonel Huntington became a brigadier general in the Continental Army. He was succeeded, on 27 May 1777, by Colonel Josiah Starr, who served as the regiment's colonel until 1 January 1781

• The 2nd Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel Charles Webb from 1 January 1777 until his resignation on 13 March 1778. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Zebulon Butler from 13 March 1778 to 1 January 1781.

• The 3rd Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel Samuel Wyllys from 1 January 1777 to 1 January 1781.

• The 4th Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel John Durkee from 1 January 1777 to 1 January 1781. Colonel Durkee was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth.

• The 5th Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel Philip Burr Bradley from 1 January 1777 to 1 January 1781.

• The 6th Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel William Douglas from 1 January 1777 until his death on 28 May 1777. Colonel Douglas had been an aide de camp to General Wooster, and had been wounded at Harlem Plains on 16 September 1776. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs from May 1777 until 1 January 1781.

• The 7th Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel Heman Swift from 1 January 1777 to 1 January 1781.

• The 8th Connecticut Regiment (1777) was commanded by Colonel John Chandler from 1 January 1777 until his resignation on 5 March 1778. He was succeeded on the latter date by Colonel Giles Russell, who died on 28 October 1779. The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman from 28 October 1779 to 1 January 1781.