2nd Rhode Island Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Rhode Island Regiment also known as Hitchcock's Regiment was authorized on 6 May 1775 under Colonel Daniel Hitchcock in the Rhode Island
Army of Observation and was organized on 8 May 1775 as eight companies of volunteers from Providence County
of the colony of Rhode Island
. As part of a brigade organized under Nathanael Greene
, the unit participated in the Siege of Boston
during the remainder of 1775. Some elements accompanied Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec late in the year. The unit was renamed the 11th Continental Regiment on the first day of 1776.
In its new designation, the regiment fought in the New York and New Jersey campaign
starting in August 1776. After retreating across New Jersey, the unit was renamed the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment and fought at Assunpink Creek and Princeton
in early January. Hitchcock died soon after and the 2nd Regiment was ordered away to defend the Hudson River
valley. In September 1777 the regiment, now under Colonel Israel Angell
, was recalled to the main army for the Philadelphia Campaign
. With the 1st Rhode Island, it won a victory at Red Bank
in October 1777. Portions of the unit defended Fort Mifflin
where the 2nd Regiment's Major Simeon Thayer
assumed command of the fort near the end of the siege.
In 1778 the regiment fought at the battles of Monmouth
and Rhode Island
. In June of the following year it was in the thick of action at Springfield
in New Jersey. On 1 January 1781, the regiment was consolidated with the 1st Regiment and the new unit was renamed the Rhode Island Regiment. For the unit's subsequent history, see the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
.
on 14 June 1775. The regiment was re-organized to ten companies on 28 June 1775 and assigned to Greene
's Brigade on 22 July 1775. The regiment was re-organized as the 11th Continental Regiment on 1 January 1776. The regiment would see action at Roxbury, Massachusetts during the Battle of Bunker Hill
. The regiment was re-organized as the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment after the death of Colonel Daniel Hitchcock on 13 January 1777. In late 1777 it fought at the Battle of Red Bank
and Major Simeon Thayer
of the 2nd led the defenders during the latter part of the Siege of Fort Mifflin
. The 2nd Rhode Island Regiment served to February 1781, having distinguished itself at the Battles of Monmouth
, Rhode Island
, and Springfield
with several other skirmishes and minor engagements. In February 1781, the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment was combined with the remnants of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
to form the Rhode Island Regiment (1781–1783).
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Army of Observation and was organized on 8 May 1775 as eight companies of volunteers from Providence County
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
of the colony of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. As part of a brigade organized under Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
, the unit participated in the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
during the remainder of 1775. Some elements accompanied Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec late in the year. The unit was renamed the 11th Continental Regiment on the first day of 1776.
In its new designation, the regiment fought in the New York and New Jersey campaign
New York and New Jersey campaign
The New York and New Jersey campaign was a series of battles for control of New York City and the state of New Jersey in the American Revolutionary War between British forces under General Sir William Howe and the Continental Army under General George Washington in 1776 and the winter months of 1777...
starting in August 1776. After retreating across New Jersey, the unit was renamed the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment and fought at Assunpink Creek and Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
in early January. Hitchcock died soon after and the 2nd Regiment was ordered away to defend the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
valley. In September 1777 the regiment, now under Colonel Israel Angell
Israel Angell
Israel Angell was a soldier of the American Revolutionary War.He was born to Oliver and Naomi Angell in Providence, Rhode Island. He was a descendant of one of the original settlers in Rhode Island. He had a good education and developed an early interest in scientific matters...
, was recalled to the main army for the Philadelphia Campaign
Philadelphia campaign
The Philadelphia campaign was a British initiative in the American Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of the Second Continental Congress...
. With the 1st Rhode Island, it won a victory at Red Bank
Battle of Red Bank
The Battle of Red Bank was a battle of the American Revolutionary War in which a Hessian force was sent to take Fort Mercer on the left bank of the Delaware River just south of Philadelphia, but was decisively defeated by a far inferior force of Colonial defenders...
in October 1777. Portions of the unit defended Fort Mifflin
Siege of Fort Mifflin
The Siege of Fort Mifflin or Siege of Mud Island Fort from September 26 to November 16, 1777 saw British land batteries commanded by Captain John Montresor and a British naval squadron under Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe attempt to capture an American fort in the Delaware River commanded by...
where the 2nd Regiment's Major Simeon Thayer
Simeon Thayer
Simeon Thayer fought in Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War and made a harrowing escape from French-allied Indians. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, the Rhode Island assembly appointed him an officer. He quickly raised a company of soldiers and marched with them to...
assumed command of the fort near the end of the siege.
In 1778 the regiment fought at the battles of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
and Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
. In June of the following year it was in the thick of action at Springfield
Battle of Springfield (1780)
The Battle of Springfield was fought during the American Revolutionary War on June 23, 1780. After the Battle of Connecticut Farms, on June 7, 1780, had foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen’s expedition to attack General George Washington’s army at Morristown, New Jersey,...
in New Jersey. On 1 January 1781, the regiment was consolidated with the 1st Regiment and the new unit was renamed the Rhode Island Regiment. For the unit's subsequent history, see the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
1st Rhode Island Regiment
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was a Continental Army regiment from Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War . Like most regiments of the Continental Army, the unit went through several incarnations and name changes. It became well-known as the "Black Regiment" because, for a time, it had...
.
History
The regiment was adopted into the Continental ArmyContinental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
on 14 June 1775. The regiment was re-organized to ten companies on 28 June 1775 and assigned to Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
's Brigade on 22 July 1775. The regiment was re-organized as the 11th Continental Regiment on 1 January 1776. The regiment would see action at Roxbury, Massachusetts during the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. The regiment was re-organized as the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment after the death of Colonel Daniel Hitchcock on 13 January 1777. In late 1777 it fought at the Battle of Red Bank
Battle of Red Bank
The Battle of Red Bank was a battle of the American Revolutionary War in which a Hessian force was sent to take Fort Mercer on the left bank of the Delaware River just south of Philadelphia, but was decisively defeated by a far inferior force of Colonial defenders...
and Major Simeon Thayer
Simeon Thayer
Simeon Thayer fought in Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War and made a harrowing escape from French-allied Indians. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, the Rhode Island assembly appointed him an officer. He quickly raised a company of soldiers and marched with them to...
of the 2nd led the defenders during the latter part of the Siege of Fort Mifflin
Siege of Fort Mifflin
The Siege of Fort Mifflin or Siege of Mud Island Fort from September 26 to November 16, 1777 saw British land batteries commanded by Captain John Montresor and a British naval squadron under Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe attempt to capture an American fort in the Delaware River commanded by...
. The 2nd Rhode Island Regiment served to February 1781, having distinguished itself at the Battles of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, Rhode Island
Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill and the Siege of Newport, took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan were withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island after abandoning their siege of...
, and Springfield
Battle of Springfield (1780)
The Battle of Springfield was fought during the American Revolutionary War on June 23, 1780. After the Battle of Connecticut Farms, on June 7, 1780, had foiled Lieutenant General Wilhelm, Baron von Knyphausen’s expedition to attack General George Washington’s army at Morristown, New Jersey,...
with several other skirmishes and minor engagements. In February 1781, the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment was combined with the remnants of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
1st Rhode Island Regiment
The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was a Continental Army regiment from Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War . Like most regiments of the Continental Army, the unit went through several incarnations and name changes. It became well-known as the "Black Regiment" because, for a time, it had...
to form the Rhode Island Regiment (1781–1783).
Service record
| Designation | Date | Brigade | Department |
| Hitchcock's Regiment | 8 May 1775 | none | none |
| Hitchcock's Regiment | 22 July 1775 | Greene's Nathanael Greene Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United... |
Main Army |
| 11th Continental Regiment | 1 January 1776 | Greene's | Main Army |
| 11th Continental Regiment | 12 August 1776 | Nixon's | Main Army |
| 11th Continental Regiment | 22 December 1776 | Hitchcock's | Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 1 January 1777 | Hitchcock's | Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 13 January 1777 | none | Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 12 March 1777 | none | Highlands |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 10 July 1777 | Rhode Island | Highlands |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 14 September 1777 | Rhode Island | Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 19 July 1778 | 1st Massachusetts | Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 21 July 1778 | Rhode Island | Eastern |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 17 November 1779 | Stark's John Stark John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New... |
Main Army |
| 2nd Rhode Island Regiment | 1 January 1781 | Stark's | consolidated |
External links
- 2nd Rhode Island Regiment Interview (video)
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Rhode Island compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History