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Virginia in the Revolutionary War: Difference between revisions
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== Organization == | |||
=== History === | |||
"The Convention ... passed an ordinance July 17, 1775, for raising two regiments of regulars and for organizing the militia. The first regiment was to consist of 544 rank and file, with a colonel, lieutenant- colonel, major, 8 captains, 16 lieutenants, and 8 ensigns; and the second of 476 rank and file, with seven companies and corresponding officers. The field officers were appointed by the Convention - Patrick Henry to command the first regiment, and Colonel Woodford the second. The companies were to consist of 68 men each, to be enlisted in districts, and to serve one year. ... The company officers were appointed by the members of the Convention from the district. | |||
"The Convention ... passed an ordinance July 17, 1775, for raising two regiments of regulars and for organizing the militia. The first regiment was to consist of 544 rank and file, with a colonel, lieutenant- colonel, major, 8 captains, 16 lieutenants, and 8 ensigns; and the second of 476 rank and file, with seven companies and corresponding officers. The field officers were appointed by the Convention - Patrick Henry to command the first regiment, and Colonel Woodford the second. The companies were to consist of 68 men each, to be enlisted in districts, and to serve one year. .. The company officers were appointed by the members of the Convention from the district. | |||
"The whole state was divided into military districts, and the militia were ordered to be embodied as minute-men. ... Each district was to raise a battalion of 500 men, rank and file, from the age of 16 to that of 50, to be divided into ten companies of 50 men each. The officers were to be appointed by committees, selected by the various county committees. The battalion was required to be kept in training at some convenient place for twelve days, twice a year; and the several companies to be mustered four days in each month, except December, January and February, in their respective counties. | "The whole state was divided into military districts, and the militia were ordered to be embodied as minute-men. ... Each district was to raise a battalion of 500 men, rank and file, from the age of 16 to that of 50, to be divided into ten companies of 50 men each. The officers were to be appointed by committees, selected by the various county committees. The battalion was required to be kept in training at some convenient place for twelve days, twice a year; and the several companies to be mustered four days in each month, except December, January and February, in their respective counties. | ||
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"The Legislature elected under the State Constitution met for the first time October 7, 1776, and soon thereafter passed an act for raising six additional battalions 'on the continental establishment...'"<ref name="waddell">Joseph A. Waddell, ''Annals of Augusta County, Virginia'' (Richmond, Va.: Wm. Ellis Jones, Book and Job Printer, 1886), 156-158.</ref> | "The Legislature elected under the State Constitution met for the first time October 7, 1776, and soon thereafter passed an act for raising six additional battalions 'on the continental establishment...'"<ref name="waddell">Joseph A. Waddell, ''Annals of Augusta County, Virginia'' (Richmond, Va.: Wm. Ellis Jones, Book and Job Printer, 1886), 156-158.</ref> | ||
"In September, 1778, the number of Virginia regiments were reduced from fifteen to eleven and designated as follows: The Ninth was incorporated with the First; the Sixth with the Second; the Fifth with the Third, and the Eighth with the Fourth; the Seventh was designated the Fifth; Tenth the Sixth; Eleventh the Seventh; Twelfth the Eighth; Thirteenth the Ninth; Fourteenth the Tenth, and Fifteenth the Eleventh."<ref name="heitman" /> | "In September, 1778, the number of Virginia regiments were reduced from fifteen to eleven and designated as follows: The Ninth was incorporated with the First; the Sixth with the Second; the Fifth with the Third, and the Eighth with the Fourth; the Seventh was designated the Fifth; Tenth the Sixth; Eleventh the Seventh; Twelfth the Eighth; Thirteenth the Ninth; Fourteenth the Tenth, and Fifteenth the Eleventh." <ref name="heitman" /> | ||
=== Virginia Military Units | === Virginia Military Units === | ||
Most units were numbered. Some were named. See the list below for links to more detailed information. | Most units were numbered. Some were named. See the list below for links to more detailed information. | ||
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Virginia regiments typically consisted of 8 to 10 companies recruited from specific areas of Virginia.<br> | Virginia regiments typically consisted of 8 to 10 companies recruited from specific areas of Virginia.<br> | ||
==== Regiments | ==== Regiments ==== | ||
*[[1st Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War)|1st Virginia Regiment]] | *[[1st Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War)|1st Virginia Regiment]] | ||
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*[[15th Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War)|15th Virginia Regiment]] | *[[15th Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War)|15th Virginia Regiment]] | ||
==== State Regiments | ==== State Regiments ==== | ||
*[[1st Virginia State Regiment (Revolutionary War)|1st Virginia State Regiment]] | *[[1st Virginia State Regiment (Revolutionary War)|1st Virginia State Regiment]] | ||
*[[2nd Virginia State Regiment (Revolutionary War)|2nd Virginia State Regiment]] | *[[2nd Virginia State Regiment (Revolutionary War)|2nd Virginia State Regiment]] | ||
==== Militia | ==== Militia ==== | ||
[http://lib.jrshelby.com/mcallister-harris.pdf link to digitized book called Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War By J. T. McAllister] | [http://lib.jrshelby.com/mcallister-harris.pdf link to digitized book called Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War By J. T. McAllister] | ||
*<span style="font-weight: bold">Amherst </span>'''County Militia'''. Captain Samuel Higginbotham of Amherst County.<ref>William Montgomery Sweeny, "Higginbotham Family of Virginia," ''The William and Mary Quarterly'', Vol. 26, No. 4 (Apr. 1918):269. Digital version at [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914759 JSTOR] ($).</ref> | *<span style="font-weight: bold">Amherst </span>'''County Militia'''. Captain Samuel Higginbotham of Amherst County.<ref>William Montgomery Sweeny, "Higginbotham Family of Virginia," ''The William and Mary Quarterly'', Vol. 26, No. 4 (Apr. 1918):269. Digital version at [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914759 JSTOR] ($).</ref> | ||
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*'''Posey's''', Lt. Colonel Thomas Posey; Captain Alexander Parker; Captain Thomas Parker; Captain Beverly Roy; Captain Joseph Scott; Captain Clough Shelton<ref name="heitman" /> | *'''Posey's''', Lt. Colonel Thomas Posey; Captain Alexander Parker; Captain Thomas Parker; Captain Beverly Roy; Captain Joseph Scott; Captain Clough Shelton<ref name="heitman" /> | ||
=== Virginia Districts | === Virginia Districts === | ||
In July 1775, Virginia was divided into 16 military districts for the purpose of raising battalions. Each district encompassed multiple counties. The 16 districts were:<ref name="hening">"An ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient force, for the defense and protection of this colony," July 1775, in William Waller Hening, ed. ''The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619'' (Richmond, Va.: J. and G. Cochran, Printers, 1821), Vol. 10:16. Digitized by [http://vagenweb.org/hening/vol09-01.htm VAGenWeb].</ref> | In July 1775, Virginia was divided into 16 military districts for the purpose of raising battalions. Each district encompassed multiple counties. The 16 districts were:<ref name="hening">"An ordinance for raising and embodying a sufficient force, for the defense and protection of this colony," July 1775, in William Waller Hening, ed. ''The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619'' (Richmond, Va.: J. and G. Cochran, Printers, 1821), Vol. 10:16. Digitized by [http://vagenweb.org/hening/vol09-01.htm VAGenWeb].</ref> | ||
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'''Source''': "Alphabetical List of Engagements," Appendix in John H. Gwathmey, ''Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution. Soldiers. Sailors. Marines. 1775-1783 ''(1938; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979), 864-868. | '''Source''': "Alphabetical List of Engagements," Appendix in John H. Gwathmey, ''Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution. Soldiers. Sailors. Marines. 1775-1783 ''(1938; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979), 864-868. | ||
== Resources | == Resources == | ||
=== Service Records | === Service Records === | ||
The Family History Library and the National Archives have the: | The Family History Library and the National Archives have the: | ||
=== Pension Records | === Pension Records === | ||
=== 1840 Census | === 1840 Census === | ||
=== Regimental Rosters | === Regimental Rosters === | ||
Regimental rosters with biographical information of Virginia soldiers are published in: | Regimental rosters with biographical information of Virginia soldiers are published in: | ||
=== Committees of Safety | === Committees of Safety === | ||
=== Guides to Military Units | === Guides to Military Units === | ||
For guidebooks to Virginia's military units for the Revolutionary War, the following sources are helpful: | For guidebooks to Virginia's military units for the Revolutionary War, the following sources are helpful: | ||
=== Internet Sites | === Internet Sites === | ||
== References | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Virginia - Military - Revolutionary War, 1776-1783]] | [[Category:Virginia - Military - Revolutionary War, 1776-1783]] | ||