The Roots of the 7th: The 6th Pennsylvania Battalion:

The history of the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment begins with its predecessor unit,the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion, which was authorized to serve for one year by the Continental Congress on January 4, 1776. Six of the 6th Pennsylvania's Battalion's eight companies were recruited from Cumberland County, and two were recruited from York County. William Irvine, a former British naval surgeon from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was appointed colonel of the Battalion, Thomas Hartley was appointed lieutenant colonel, and James Dunlop was appointed major. The Company to eventually be commanded by John Alexander was recruited in the town of Carlisle in Cumberland County by Captain Abraham Smith. John Alexander was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. At this time, the Battalion numbered 710 enlisted men and 31 officers, and Smith's Company (John Alexander's) totaled 86 enlisted men and 4 officers. Reviewing the names of the men of the original 6th Pennsylvania Regiment, you will find most of the names are those of Scots-Irish immigrants with a few Germans thrown in.

On March 14, 1776, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion received orders to march to New York City and join the forces being gathered there. The Battalion arrived at New York on April 24, but on April 26 it was directed to proceed to Albany, New York, to join the expeditionary army that was to attack the British outposts in Canada. Having reached Albany on May 10, the Battalion left three days later for points further north as part of a force commanded by Brigadier John Sullivan. The Battalion's strength at Albany was 735 men and officers. Having passed Lake George on May 24, it reached Charnbly on June 3 and joined the main rebel army at Sorel on June 4. On June 5, as part of a force commanded by Brigadier General William Thompson, it moved on to Nicolette to reinforce Colonel Arthur St. Clair's forces at that point. On June 9, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion was involved in the defeat at Three Rivers, suffering losses of 78 killed, wounded. and captured, including its commander, Colonel William Irvine, who was captured and who was not exchanged until May 6,1778. The American force, including the 6th Battalion, fell back to Isle Aux Noix. The retreat continued further, with the army eventually reaching Crown Point on July I. The Battalion remained at Crown Point as an outpost as the remainder of the army retreated further to Fort Ticonderoga. For the next three and one half months, Lieutenant Colonel Hartley and the 6th Battalion were ordered to screen for the rest of the army, which garrisoned Ticonderoga. There were several scrapes with the British during this period, resulting in some casualties. Most significantly, the Battalion was involved in the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain from October 11-13, which, although a tactical defeat, stalled the British advance. The Battalion held on to Crown Point until October 14, when, with the British approaching, Hartley set fire to the buildings and retreated to Ticonderoga. Carleton's British column fell back to Canada for the winter, and the 6th Battalion settled in as part of Fort Ticonderoga's garrison. By this time, casualties and disease had reduced the Battalion significantly. On October 20, 1776, the unit had a strength of 26 officers and 505 enlisted men, of which only 275 enlisted men were fit for duty. Smith's Company, about to become John Alexander's, had a strength of 4 officers and 64 men, of which 39 were fit for duty. On January 1, 1777, Hartley was promoted to the rank of Colonel and to the permanent command of another Continental regiment. Major David Grier, who had replaced James Dunlop in that capacity on June 1, 1776, became commander of the Battalion. When the 6th Battalion's enlistment term was completed, it returned to Carlisle, where it mustered out on March 15, 1777.

The 7th Pennsylvania Regiment:

In March of 1777, the 6th Peunsvlvania Battalion was reorganized as the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment. The men of the new organization enlisted for "three years or the war", term which would assume significant meaning to the men nearly four years later. Colonel Irvine, although still in command in name, was also still a prisoner of the British. On March 12, Major David Grier was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and had charge of the Regiment. On the company level, Captain Abraham Smith did not re-enlist, and John Alexander was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain on March 20, assuming command of the Company. Muster rolls indicate that 139 enlisted men from the 6th Battalion re-enlisted in the 7th Regiment. This lent a "veteran" status to the Regiment. A Regimental strength report on June 17, 1777 at Middlebrook New Jersey, indicated that of a total strength of 403, 14 had died, 60 had deserted, and 83 were sick. At that time, the Regiment had a fighting strength of 37 officers and 220 men. Upon reorganization, the 7th Regiment became part of the First Pennsylvania Brigade. This brigade was initially commanded by Thomas Hartley, who had been promoted to Colonel of a new regiment named" Hartley's Additional Regiment". The 7th Pennsylvania Regiment along with the 1st, 2nd, and 10th Pennsylvania Regiments and Hartley's Additional Regiment formed the First Pennsylvania Brigade. The four Pennsylvania regiments would remain brigaded together until 1781. The First and the Second Pennsylvania Brigades formed Brigadier Anthony Wayne's Division during the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777.

The 7th Pennsylvania Regiment participated in the 1777 campaign to defend the Capitol and the Congressional Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As part of Wayne's Division, it was involved in the early maneuvering of the campaign. They fought in the largest land engagement of the war at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. The 7th assisted in Anthony Wayne's efforts to hold back Knyphausen at Chadd 's Ford while the rest of General Washington's Continental Army dealt with British General Howe's flanking movement at Birmingham Meeting House. Although the battle was a defeat for Washington and the Continental Army was forced to flee the field in disarray, his army did show signs of being able to stand up to the better trained British and German troops. The engagement also marked the first appearance in battle of the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment's red regimental banner, which may have been one of the first American flags to feature both stripes and stars.

After the defeat at Brandywine, the next action for the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment was the Battle of Paoli, often referred to as "the Paoli Massacre ". Wayne had been directed by Washington to take the First and Second Pennsylvania Brigades and harass the British army's rear as it advanced forward to Philadelphia after the Battle of Brandywine. Th rough a spy, General Howe, the British commander, learned that Wayne was close upon his rear, and he plann ed accordingly. He ordered General Grey to a surprise night attack upon Wayne as it camped near Paoli Tavern. Grey had his Light Infantry remove the flints from their muskets so as not to alert Wayne's pickets to the oncoming storm. The 7th Pennsylvania bore the brunt of the assault of the British Light Infantry, as the Continental pickets and the regiment that was assigned the task of holding the British back until the rest of the army could escape the trap melted away before the British on slaught.

Total casualties at Paoli for Wayne's two brigades were reported as 272 by Congressman Samuel Chase three days after the battle. Documented casualties for the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment totaled at least 56, including Lieutenant Colonel Grier and 2 other officers who were wounded. According to Major Samuel Hay of the 7th Pennsylvania, "Our loss is Coli. Grier, Capt. Wilson & Lieut. Irvine Wounded but none of them Dangerous, and 61 Non-Com Officers and Privates killed, wounded, and missing - which was Just the half of what we then had on the Ground fit for Duty." Also, the Battle of Paoli saw the last appearance of the 7th Regiment's red Regimental standard.

Fourteen days later, on October 4, 1777, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment fought in Washington's surprise attack at the Battle of Germantown. Wayne's Pennsylvanian's had their revenge at Germantown as the first foes they faced were the British Light Infantry. With the rally cry" Have at the bloodhounds! Avenge Wayne 's affair!", the Pennsylvanians rolled forward and eventually routed th e Light Infantry at the point of the bayonet while not taking many prisoners. However, in the fog of battle, and upon hearing what was actually friendly fire in their rear, Wayne retreated, and the Pennsylvanians, nearly out of ammunition, exchanged friendly fire with other Continental troops for some time before the mistake was realized . This pause in Washington's attack enabled the British to recover, and eventually the battlefield was left in the possession of General Howe's British reinforcements.

After Germantown, the Continental Army and Howe's British army continued to maneuver for position, but both armies had been bled heavily and were exhausted. On November 1, 1777, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment had only 17 officers and 105 enlisted men present for duty. Battle, disease, and desertion had taken its toll, and its senior officer was the senior captain, Captain Jeremiah Talbot. On November 2, the Continental Army encamped at Whitemarsh, where on December 5-6, there was some light action as General Howe advanced Washington's position. On December 19, the Continental Army, and the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, finally settled into the area around Valley Forge for the winter of 1777-1778.

At Valley Forge, the Continental Army reflected upon the Philadelphia campaign and just tried to survive. On February 23, 1778, the Army was joined by Baron Friedrich von Steuben and began a process of rebirth. Steuben provided the training and discipline the Continentals so desperately needed. Up to this point, the Army did not have a system of drill that was consistent among all its units and states. Some followed the English drill, others the French, and still others that of the Prussians. Under Steuben, the Army learned one discipline and learned to maneuver as an army should, and the manual of arms was simplified for the still raw Continental troops. This discipline became the basis for Steuben's "Regulations for the Order" and Discipline of the Troops of the United States", which was published in 1779.

In June of 1778, the Continental Army marched out Valley Forge in full pursuit of Howe's British army which had evacuated Philadelphia and was making way across New Jersey on its way to New York. Catching up with Howe, the 7th Pennsylvania fought at the drawn Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778 The British continued their withdrawal across New Jersey to New York City, followed by Washington his Continentals, including the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Although the focus of the war then shifted to the southern states after the Battle of Monmouth, the 7th Pennsylvania continued to serve in Washington's Continental Army, helping to keep the British hottled up in New York and thwarting their raids into the New Jersey countryside. Having spent the winter of 1778-1779 at the Middlebrook, NJ, encampment, it participated in the assault of Stony Point, NY, on July 16, 1779.

The 7th Pennsylvania became part of the West Point, NY, garrison in the fall of that year , but moved to Morristown, N.J, for the winter of 1779-1780. Although the Valley Forge winter encampment ha s caught the attention of posterity, the winter encampments at Morristown in 1779-1780 and again in 1780-1781 were much more severe and tormented the will of each soldier in the Continental Army. However, the Army made it through. The 7th Pennsylvania Regiment saw action at New Bridge and at Paramus, NJ. on April 16, 1780. They also participated in Wayne's attack on the Blockhouse at Bergen Heights, NJ, on July 21, 1780. Two months later, the Regiment was part of Wayne's forced march of 16 miles in 4 hours from Tappan, NY, to the fortress at West Point. Benedict Arnold had betrayed the American cause on September 25, 1780 and attempted to deliver the fort to the British for money and a British commission. However, the quick march put a stop to the treachery, and Arnold went on to live a life in ignominy and financial ruin. In December of 1780, the Continental Army returned to winter quarters at Morristown, NJ. The Pennsylvania troops, including the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment, had not been paid for some time, and there were shortages in food and in clothing as well. The three year enlistments were about to expire for many of the men. However, Congress now ruled that the men must serve for the duration of the war. Rubbing salt into the wound, new recruits were being paid a bounty, and felon s were being released from prison to serve in the army. The entire Pennsylvania Line mutinied on January 1,1781, demanding the choice to go home or to re-enlist under the more liberal terms. After some negotiation, discharges were issued, and by the end of the month, over half of the Pennsylvanians, including many of the 7th Regiment, left the Army. The remaining men of the 7th Pennsylvania were consolidated into the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment and eventually in to one of the 3 "battalions", which then went south to serve in the Yorktown campaign.

Bibliography

Frantz, John B. and Pencak, William, Editors, "Beyond Philadelphia, The American Revolution in the Pennsylvania Hinterland", The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2000, originally 1998

Hatch, Robert McConnell, "Thrust for Canada, The American Attempt on Quebec in 1775-1776", Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979

Linn, John B. and Egle, 'William H., M.D., Editors, "Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series; Pennsylvania in tlt e War ofthe Revolution, Battalions and Line, 1775 - 1783", Harrisburg, E.K. Meyers, State Printer, 1890

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McGuire, Thomas .J., "The Surprise of Germantown, October 4, 1777", Cliveden of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Thomas Publications, 1994

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