History of the Pennsylvania State Regiment (PSR)

An Abbreviated History as Researched by Larry G. Gorecki

March 5, 1776 The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish: The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, known as Miles’s Regiment, was to consist of two battalions of six companies of seventy-eight enlisted men, armed with rifles: The State Battalion of Musketry, known as Atless’s Battalion, was to consist of eight companies of fifty-eight enlisted men, armed with muskets. /1/

August 11, 1776 The Pennsylvania troops are ordered to New York and are assigned to the brigade commanded by General William Alexander. /2/

August 25-27, 1776 The Battle of Long Island. The Pennsylvania Riflemen are sent to the left near Flatbush and the Musketeers are sent to the right with General Alexander. During the battle, Colonel Miles, Atlee and Lt. Colonel Piper are captured. Lt. Colonel Brodhead is placed in command of the consolidated forces and ordered by General Washington to withdraw to Manhattan. /3/

October 28, 1776 The Battle of White Plains. A portion of the Pennsylvanians, most of them riflemen, served on the American left flank against the Hessians. /4/

November 16, 1776 The fall of Fort Washington. The Pennsylvanians assigned to the fort, mostly from the Musket Battalion, are among those captured. /5/

December 26, 1776 The Battle of Trenton. Participating in a part of the left wing under Nathaniel Green, the Pennsylvanians assist in the defeat of the Hessians under Colonel Rall. /6/

January 3, 1777 The Battle of Princeton. With less than 200 troops remaining, the consolidated troops are assigned to Brig. General Hugh Mercer and attack a group of British dragoons. /7/

March 1, 1777 The Pennsylvania State Regiment is officially activated as a unit. The Pennsylvania Council of Safety prescribes that there will be ten companies, "eight of them armed with muskets and the other two with riffles." (sic) /8/ They are officially uniformed in a blue regimental coat with red lining and facing and pewter buttons inscribed PSR. /9/ Black regimental hats are bound up in yellow. /10/ Records of deserters in 1777-78 show however, men clad in various color regimental coats and hunting shirts. /11/

June 10, 1777 The transfer of the Pennsylvania State Regiment to the Continental service is formalized. /11/

September 11, 1777 The Battle of Brandywine. After exchanging fire in the area of Chadd’s Ford, The PSR, as part of General Greene’s division move to meet the main British assault. /13/

October 4, 1777 Battle of Germantown. Still assigned to Greene’s division, the PSR participates in the assault of the British right flank. /14/

November 12, 1777 The Pennsylvania State Regiment is officially designated the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. /15/

FOOTNOTES

1/ Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pgs 250-251
2/ Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pgs 251
3/ Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Volume XV, pg. 199
4/ Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pg. 391
5/ Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pg. 256
6/ Smith, S. S., The Battle of Trenton, pg. 20
7/ Trusdell, J.B.B., The Pennsylvania Line, pg. 182
8/ Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Volume X, pg. 743
9/ Mollo, J., Uniforms of the American Revolution, pg. 192
10/ Elting, J.R., Military Uniforms of America, pg. 86
11/ Trussell, J.B.B., The Pennsylvania Line, pg. 174
12/ Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pg. 514
13/ Trussell, J.B.B., The Pennsylvania Line, pg. 184
14/ Trussell, J.B.B., The Pennsylvania Line, pg. 185
15/ Berg, F.A., Encyclopedia of Continental Army Units, pg. 99

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Berg, Fred Anderson, Encyclopedia of Continental Army Units, Harrisburg, Pa; Stackpole Books, 1972

Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa; Tho Finn & Co., 1853