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Rifle Battalion
Chapter 4: Thompson’s Rifle Batallion
Thompson’s Rifle Battalion was formed in response to a call for Riflemen to join the cause. “On June 14, 1775, The Continental Congress acted to send additional troops to the support of the New England Army. This was done by calling for the recruitment of 10 companies of riflemen in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia ... within 10 days after news of the battle of Bunker Hill had reached the Province of Pennsylvania her first regiment was officered and completed ... Colonel Thompson’s battalion were filled to overflowing…” [15]
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Two who responded to the call from William Thompson who was putting together Captains for his soon to be rifle company were William Hendricks and Robert Cluggage. Hendricks had been selected by Thompson of Carlisle as was Robert Cluggage. Both were appointed Captains. Under these men were men from present day Mifflin County and were among the first to enlist. Serving under Cluggage was John Davis and under Hendricks was William Small. While many men were enlisting to help those fighting in Lexington and Concord, this particular unit was different. The flintlock rifle in expert hands was capable of consistently hitting a target at between 150 and 200 yards. Possibly Captain Hendricks with whom Small was under, devised a contest to weed out the less skillful. An unnamed captain drew the figure of a nose on a board and placed at a distance of 150 yards. Sixty riflemen hit the target and
A pair of Pennsylvania historical markers recognize Thompson’s Rifle Battalion. This marker tells of Captain James Chambers’ company. This marker can be found in Falling Spring Park in Chambersburg in Franklin County.
were chosen. Quite a feat for anyone, even in that time period. That is the distance of one and one-half football fields! “This Battalion of Thompson’s is cited by the official lineage book of the U.S. Army as having furnished six of the first 10 companies of the Continental army.” [16]
Surgeon James Thacher in his: A Military Journal During the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, describes this battalion: “They are remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle
A pair of Pennsylvania historical markers recognize Thompson’s Rifle Battalion. This marker tells of Captain John Lowdon’s company. This can be found on North Front Street in Sunbury in Northumberland County.
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shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance. At a review, a company of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inches diameter, at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are now stationed in our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers who expose themselves to view, even at more than double the distance of common musket shot.”
Edward Hand of Pennsylvania was a commanding officer who spoke of their first loss at the Battle of Bunker Hill. From a letter he writes on the 20th: “Poor Simpson (beau) had one of his legs shattered by a cannon ball. The director general took it off, but the poor lad was buried this evening.” [17]
This unit was made up of “men born in Ireland or the sons of Irish immigrants. The other two companies were predominantly of German birth, or the sons of German immigrants…there were even a few of English birth or descent scattered throughout the battalion, among which was the brother and son of
John Harris, founder of Harrisburg. Within this unit also were Catholics and Protestants, but all were vehemently anti-British.” [18]
Captain Hendricks company, which would have included Andrew Small, went to Cambridge and then to Quebec. The hopes were that Quebec would become the 14th, Colony; however, the ill-fated expedition was a disaster resulting in working their way through swamps, getting lost, almost dying of starvation only to arrive and not have the expected support from the Canadians. The invasion collapsed. Captain Hendricks would be killed in that expedition.
Thompson’s Rifle Battalion would become the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line, the first regiment of the newly formed United States Army.
Commanding the eighth company of the Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion of the Continental Line, was Captain Robert Adams from Mifflin County. He was killed at Isle Oxnaux on June 21, 1776. Also in that company were other Mifflin County men including William Bratton as the first lieutenant.
Men from Mifflin County went to New Jersey in December and were followed in January of 1776 under the command of Captain Arthur Buchanan but were later ordered back to protect the frontier.
A company of 50 men went to defend against the native Americans in Frankstown. After the Spring of 1778, the frontier demanded the attention of all available forces from the county. [19]
Our Militia was officially organized July 31, 1777, which was the Fifth Battalion of Cumberland County Militia, again with Arthur Buchanan as colonel. The Battalion was to protect the frontier. Four of these companies were sent to the Continental Line and the regular army at Marcus Hook and were involved in the Battle of Brandywine. That battle was a defeat for the Americans, but this unit was assigned to meet and annoy the British on their march from Brandywine into Philadelphia.
Captain Thompson’s company went to Valley Forge in January 1778. They were discharged from there in March of 1778.
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‘Map of the Province of Pensilvania’ circa 1775 shows local features including the Juniata River, Raystown, Shermans Valley and the Augwick Creek. (Retrieved from www.mapsofpa.com)
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