6th Massachusetts Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 6th Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 4th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel John Nixon
outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill
, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton
, Battle of Princeton
and the Battle of Saratoga
. The regiment was furloughed June 12, 1783 at West Point, New York
and disbanded on November 3, 1783.
regiments. During General William Howe's first attack on Breed's Hill
, Nixon was wounded and was withdrawn from the battle. The remaining members of the regiment withdrew when the redoubt was overtaken by Howe's second attack.
in New York Harbor in August 1776 . They later fought in the Battle of Harlem Heights
and the Battle of Trenton
under General Nathanael Greene
. The regiment reinforced General Philip Schuyler
at Stillwater, New York
in July 1777. The 6th Massachusetts composed part of the main body of General Horatio Gates
at the Battles of Saratoga.
- Commanded the 6th Massachusetts as a Captain and Colonel from April 1775 until August 1776 when he was promoted to Brigidier General.
Thomas Nixon- Brother of John Nixon. Took command of the 6th Massachusetts August 1776 as a Colonel. Retired January 1781.
Benjamin Tupper
- Commanding officer January 1783 until the unit was disbanded in November 1783.
Richard Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant, 2d Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until his death in November 1779.
William Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from December 1776 until his death on November 1776.
Japhet Daniels- Served as Captain from January 1777 to June 1783.
Samuel Frost- Served as Sergeant-Major, Ensign, 1st Lieutenant, Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1776 to June 1783.
Peter Harwood- Served as Captain and Major from November 1776 until he resigned October 1780.
Benjamin Heywood- Served as Lieutenant, Captain from December 1775 until June 1783.
Abel Holden- Served as Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until he resigned May 1781.
John Holden- Served as Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1777 until he resigned April 1780.
Calvin Smith- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from November 1776 to March 1779 and Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant from January 1781 to June 1783.
John Spur- Served as Captain and Major from January 1777 until he retired January 1781.
Joseph Thompson- Served as Captain and Major from January 1776 until he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the 10th Massachusetts in December 1777.
William Toogood- Served as 1st Liutenant and Captain from January 1776 until he resigned April 1779.
Joseph Butler- Served as a Captain from January 1776 until December 31, 1776.
Continental Line http://www.continentalline.org/articles/article.php?date=9901&article=990102
Massachusetts Revolutionary War Soldiers http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ma/state/revwar/index.html
John Nixon (Massachusetts)
John Nixon was an American brigadier general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts on March 1, 1724 to Christopher and Mary Nixon. On February 7, 1754, John Nixon married Thankfully Berry also of Framingham...
outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at 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...
, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
, Battle of 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....
and the Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
. The regiment was furloughed June 12, 1783 at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
and disbanded on November 3, 1783.
Bunker Hill
During the battle of Bunker Hill the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, under the command of Colonel John Nixon, was positioned in the redoubt on Breeds Hill near Captain Jonathan Brewer and Captain William PrescottWilliam Prescott
William Prescott was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the rebel forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill...
regiments. During General William Howe's first attack on Breed's Hill
Breed's Hill
Breed's Hill is a glacial drumlin located in the Charlestown section of Boston, Massachusetts. It is best known as the location where in 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War, most of the fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill took place...
, Nixon was wounded and was withdrawn from the battle. The remaining members of the regiment withdrew when the redoubt was overtaken by Howe's second attack.
Additional Battles
The 6th Massachusetts participated in the New York campaign by helping fortify Governors IslandGovernors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
in New York Harbor in August 1776 . They later fought in the Battle of Harlem Heights
Battle of Harlem Heights
The Battle of Harlem Heights was fought during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The action took place in what is now the Morningside Heights and west Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City on September 16, 1776....
and the Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
under General 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 regiment reinforced General Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
at Stillwater, New York
Stillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
in July 1777. The 6th Massachusetts composed part of the main body of General Horatio Gates
Horatio Gates
Horatio Lloyd Gates was a retired British soldier who served as an American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Benedict Arnold, who led the attack, was finally forced from the field when he was shot in the leg – and...
at the Battles of Saratoga.
Commanding officers
John NixonJohn Nixon
John Nixon is the name of:* John Nixon, Armagh, Irish Republican, Hunger Striker 1981.* John Nixon , Member of the Long Parliament in England, representing Oxford City 1646-1648...
- Commanded the 6th Massachusetts as a Captain and Colonel from April 1775 until August 1776 when he was promoted to Brigidier General.
Thomas Nixon- Brother of John Nixon. Took command of the 6th Massachusetts August 1776 as a Colonel. Retired January 1781.
Benjamin Tupper
Benjamin Tupper
Benjamin Tupper was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, achieving the rank of brevet brigadier general. Subsequently, he served as a Massachusetts legislator, and he assisted Gen. William Shepard in stopping Shays'...
- Commanding officer January 1783 until the unit was disbanded in November 1783.
Other Officers
Thomas Barnes- Served as Captain from January 1777 to March 1779 when he was promoted to Major with the 12th Massachusetts.Richard Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant, 2d Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until his death in November 1779.
William Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from December 1776 until his death on November 1776.
Japhet Daniels- Served as Captain from January 1777 to June 1783.
Samuel Frost- Served as Sergeant-Major, Ensign, 1st Lieutenant, Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1776 to June 1783.
Peter Harwood- Served as Captain and Major from November 1776 until he resigned October 1780.
Benjamin Heywood- Served as Lieutenant, Captain from December 1775 until June 1783.
Abel Holden- Served as Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until he resigned May 1781.
John Holden- Served as Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1777 until he resigned April 1780.
Calvin Smith- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from November 1776 to March 1779 and Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant from January 1781 to June 1783.
John Spur- Served as Captain and Major from January 1777 until he retired January 1781.
Joseph Thompson- Served as Captain and Major from January 1776 until he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the 10th Massachusetts in December 1777.
William Toogood- Served as 1st Liutenant and Captain from January 1776 until he resigned April 1779.
Joseph Butler- Served as a Captain from January 1776 until December 31, 1776.
External links
RevWar'75 http://www.revwar75.comContinental Line http://www.continentalline.org/articles/article.php?date=9901&article=990102
Massachusetts Revolutionary War Soldiers http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ma/state/revwar/index.html
See also
- 6th Massachusetts Regiment (Spanish American War)6th Massachusetts Regiment (Spanish American War)In early 1898, 6th Massachusetts was reconstituted as a unit of Volunteers to fight in the Spanish-American War, under the command of Colonel Edmund Rice. The unit should not to be confused with the 6th Infantry Regiment of Regulars, which also fought in the war, though in the Philippines and Cuba...
, Unit in the Spanish American War 1898. - Peter SalemPeter SalemPeter Salem was an African American who served as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, a slave of Jeremiah Belknap. Salem was later sold to Lawson Buckminster, who gave him his freedom. At least one record calls him "Salem Middlesex"- Military...
External links
- Bibliography of the Continental Army in Massachusetts compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History