This short article was composed in order to provide the reader an understanding as to why the assignment of specific uniform coat and facing colors to certain regiments in the patriot Army during the American Revolution is difficult.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive study of the constant disbanding and merging of various units. Several books including the two volume set on American Revolutionary Organizations provide much more detailed data.

The consolidation of depleted units to form full strength regiments became a common practice in the Continental Army. The following examples illustrate the constant turmoil in a unit caused by frequent merging of regiments.

In 1776 the Continental Army was expanded from 27 Regiments to 88 regiments with each state having the following responsibility for raising a specific number of units. MASS = 15, VA = 15, PA = 12, NC = 9, CONN = 8, MD = 8, SC = 6, NJ = 4, NY = 4, NH = 3, RI = 2, DE = 1, GA = 1. In 1779 the authorization for reduced to 80 regiments with mergers occuring within the units of the same state. The new unit allocation was : MASS = 15, VA = 11(-4), PA = 11 (-1), NC = 6 (-3), CONN = 8, MD = 8, SC = 6, NJ = 3 (-1), NY = 5 (+1), NH = 3, RI = 2, DE = 1, GA = 1.

A more drastic merger and reduction occurred in 1780 which dropped the total of regiments to 60 but I currently do not have the state allotments for that year. The following year, 1781, the total was reduced to 50 regiments. (The minus number is the change from 1779 totals.) The state allotments were changed to: MASS = 10 (-5), VA = 8 (-3), PA = 6 (-5), NC = 4 (-2), CONN = 5 (-3), MD = 5 (-3), SC = 2 (-4), NJ = 1 (-1), NY = 2 (-3), NH = 2 (-1), RI = 1 (-1), DE = 1, GA = 1

Other examples (but not a complete list) of mergers between units include :

In 1779 Pulaski's Mounted Dragoons were transferred to the 1st Cont. Dragoons.

In 1780 The South Carolina 1st and 2nd Regiments merged to form the 1st Rgt.

The 3rd Ranger Rgt became the 2nd Infantry Rgt and the 5th and 6th Rifles became the 3rd Infantry Rgt.

In 1779 Virginia reduced its force from 15 Rgts to 9 Rgts and 2 State Guard Rgts. In 1780 the Virginia force was reorganized again. The 1st Rgt was created by merging the old 1st, 5th, 7th, 10th and 11th Rgts. The 2nd Rgt included elements from the 2nd, 3rd and 4thg Rgts. The 3rd Rgt received men from the 6th, 8th and Grist's Rgt.

In 1779 McLane Light Infantry company was transferred from Patton's Additional Cont Rgt to Lee's Partisan Legion. This was just one example of frequent changes in Legion organization. When formed often the commander could requit a half dozen or so men from the local established units.

Like the Legions, the understrength Artillery regiments could recruit qualified men from other units preferably from their own recruitment state. 1st = VA, 2nd = NY, 3rd = MASS, 4th = PA.

In 1781, all Light Dragoon regiments were expanded to include four mounted and two dismounted troops which in essence converted them into Legions.

Lt Col William Washington's Light Dragoon Squadron during 1780-81 included men from the 1st, 3rd and 4th Light Dragoon Rgts.

In April 1779 Jackson's Additional Cont. Rgt was disbanded with men sent to both Henley's and Lee's Additional Cont. Rgts.

Smallwood's Maryland Rgt ( Later the 1st Md Rgt) was formed from independent companies with many men continuing to wear the uniforms of the old unit.

Rhode Island's 1st Rgt (Varnum) in Dec 1775 had men sent to the 9th and 11th Continental Rgts

The 1776 3rd Pennsylvannia Rgt became the 4th PA Rgt in 1777.

In 1777 the 7th Connecticut was combined with one company from the 21st Rgt and one company from the 13th Rgt to create Bailey's Rgt.

In 1781 the 1st and 8th Connecticut Rgts were combined to create the %th Conn Rgt.

In 1781 the 3rd NY was merged with the 1st Rgt and the 4th and 5th Rgts were merged with the 2nd Rgt. Also at the same time NY raised two new State Rgts for garrison duties..

In addition to reorganization, many state units wore regimentals only when in garrison. On campaigns and patrols, they often wore hunting frocks. The North Carolinia and Georgia troops in particular rarely wore regimentals. Of course local volunteer and militia forces would wear frontier dress, civilian clothes and even some regimentals from the deserter or expired enlistment soldiers.

I mentioned in the other article about the deplorable conditons at Valley Forge. The Winter Encampment policy was one which I find grave fault with the Continental Congress and General Washington. The decision to house the troops in hastily built huts rather than relocating to a series of local towns where quarters could be obtained was a poor one. The quartering policy of using local private and public housing was used by British troops and even Patriot troops in other regions.

The "That was Why we fought" argument is a poor one. Throughout American History and even today in the case of war private homes were and still can be conficated for use by the government. The failure to use a quartering policy resulted in numerous non-combat casualty losses among experienced troops. It also resulted in unnecessary drain on all types of supply including uniforms. Tactically any unexpected movement by British forces would have been hampered and slowed by winter weather long enough for a response force to be rallied which would have been in better combat shape by staying in towns. Such administrative decisions are poor at best and seriously negligent at worst.