11th Pennsylvania Regiment

The 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The designation applied to two successive Pennsylvania formations rather than to a continuing modern organization. The first regiment, commonly called the Old Eleventh, was authorized on 16 September 1776 and commanded by Colonel Richard Humpton, a former British Army officer and veteran of the Seven Years' War. Its soldiers were recruited principally from Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania counties, including Berks, Chester, Philadelphia County as then defined, and Northumberland County. The original regiment joined George Washington's main army late in 1776. It crossed the Delaware River with Thomas Mifflin's brigade and was present during the operations around Assunpink Creek before taking part in the American victory at Princeton on 3 January 1777. In the following campaign season it became part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade. The regiment fought in the Philadelphia campaign at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, and later served during the winter encampment at Valley Forge. At Brandywine, Humpton effectively commanded the brigade because its designated commander, John Philip De Haas, did not join it. At Paoli, the regiment was caught in the British night attack on Anthony Wayne's advanced Pennsylvania division. At Germantown, it attacked with John Sullivan's right column and participated in the confused fighting that followed the American advance through the fog. The Old Eleventh's final battle was Monmouth on 28 June 1778. Shortly afterward, on 1 July, it was consolidated with the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment, ending the existence of the original 11th as a separate unit. Humpton assumed command of the consolidated regiment as its senior colonel. A new 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was organized on 13 January 1779 through the consolidation of Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment, Patton's Additional Continental Regiment, and companies transferred from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment. This New Eleventh served first in the Middle Department and then joined Edward Hand's Brigade in Washington's main army. Its most notable assignment was the Sullivan Expedition of 1779, a major Continental campaign against Iroquois communities allied with the British. The regiment later returned to the Pennsylvania brigade structure and was absorbed into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on 17 January 1781. The regiment was therefore a historical military unit, not a commercial brand or operating company. Its significance lies in its participation in several major northern campaigns of the Revolutionary War and in the broader reorganization of Pennsylvania's Continental infantry as wartime manpower and administrative requirements changed.

The first 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was authorized by the Continental Congress on 16 September 1776 as part of the wartime expansion of the Continental Army. Richard Humpton was appointed colonel on 25 October. Recruitment drew on Philadelphia and nearby Pennsylvania counties. The regiment was organized around eight companies, although Continental regiments commonly operated below their paper establishment because of recruiting difficulties, illness, detachments, and battlefield losses. On 27 December 1776, the regiment was assigned to Washington's main army and placed in Thomas Mifflin's brigade alongside the 2nd, 4th, 10th, and 12th Pennsylvania Regiments. The brigade crossed the Delaware River late in December and moved through Burlington and Bordentown before rejoining Washington's forces. The 11th was present at the operations around Assunpink Creek and marched with the army toward Princeton. On 3 January 1777, it participated in the Battle of Princeton, where American forces defeated British troops after a difficult night march and a confused engagement around the Thomas Clark House and nearby heights. The regiment spent part of the spring assembling at Philadelphia. On 22 May 1777, Washington assigned it to the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade, which also included the 4th, 5th, and 8th Pennsylvania Regiments. The brigade fought throughout the Philadelphia campaign. At Brandywine on 11 September, it formed part of Anthony Wayne's Pennsylvania division near Chadds Ford. Humpton directed the brigade in practice because its appointed commander, John Philip De Haas, never joined it. The brigade withdrew in good order as British and Hessian forces pressed the American position. During the night of 20–21 September, the regiment was involved in the Battle of Paoli, when Charles Grey led a British bayonet attack against Wayne's advanced division. The attack caused serious American losses and disrupted the Pennsylvania formation during its withdrawal. At Germantown on 4 October, the 11th fought in John Sullivan's right column. The American advance initially drove back British light infantry, but fog, battlefield confusion, the unresolved fighting around the Chew House, and accidental firing between American formations contributed to the collapse of the attack. The regiment was also present at White Marsh in December and subsequently entered winter quarters at Valley Forge. The Old Eleventh fought its last major action at Monmouth on 28 June 1778. It formed part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade, although detachments for special advance and skirmishing duties reduced the brigade's effective strength. After the battle, the regiment was consolidated with the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment on 1 July. The original 11th ceased to exist as a separate regiment, and Humpton took command of the reorganized unit. A second regiment bearing the designation 11th Pennsylvania was created on 13 January 1779. It was formed mainly from Hartley's and Patton's Additional Continental Regiments, with several companies transferred from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment. The New Eleventh initially served in the Middle Department before joining Edward Hand's Brigade in the main army on 9 April 1779. During the summer it participated in the Sullivan Expedition against Iroquois communities associated with the British alliance. In August 1780 it became part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade. The regiment was finally absorbed into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on 17 January 1781.

1. 1781Final absorption

   The New Eleventh was absorbed into the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on 17 January.

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2. 1779New regiment formed

   A new 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was organized on 13 January from additional Continental regiments and transferred companies.

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3. 1779Sullivan Expedition

   The New Eleventh served in the Sullivan Expedition during the summer campaign against Iroquois communities allied with Britain.

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4. 1778Original regiment consolidated

   On 1 July, the Old Eleventh was merged with the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment.

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5. 1777Participated in the Princeton campaign

   The regiment was present at Assunpink Creek and fought at Princeton on 3 January.

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6. 1777Joined the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade

   On 22 May, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade.

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7. 1777Philadelphia campaign

   The regiment fought at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown and was present at White Marsh.

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8. 1776Original regiment authorized

   The Continental Congress authorized the first 11th Pennsylvania Regiment on 16 September as part of the Continental Army's wartime establishment.

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9. 1776Richard Humpton appointed colonel

   Richard Humpton, a former British officer and Seven Years' War veteran, was appointed colonel on 25 October.

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10. 1776Assigned to Washington's main army

    The regiment joined the main army on 27 December and was placed in Thomas Mifflin's brigade.

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A Revolutionary War Pennsylvania infantry regiment serving in the Continental Army.

• 1779Sullivan Expedition

  New York and Pennsylvania frontier

  The New Eleventh served in Major General John Sullivan's expedition against Iroquois communities allied with the British.

  Outcome. The expedition conducted operations across the northern frontier before the regiment returned to the Continental Army's wider Pennsylvania brigade structure.

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• 1778Monmouth campaign

  New Jersey

  The Old Eleventh participated in the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June as part of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade.

  Outcome. The British army continued its withdrawal toward New York, and the regiment was consolidated with the 10th Pennsylvania shortly afterward.

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• 1777Philadelphia campaign

  Pennsylvania

  The regiment fought at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown and served during the subsequent operations at White Marsh and Valley Forge.

  Outcome. British forces occupied Philadelphia, while Washington's army remained intact and entered winter quarters at Valley Forge.

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• 1776New Jersey campaign

  New Jersey

  The original regiment joined Washington's main army during the campaign in New Jersey, including the movements around Assunpink Creek and the Battle of Princeton.

  Outcome. The campaign culminated in the American victory at Princeton and the stabilization of Washington's army.

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• 1779Creation of the New EleventhStrategy

  Pennsylvania's additional Continental regiments and detached companies were reorganized to maintain effective field formations.

  What changed. A new 11th Pennsylvania Regiment was formed on 13 January from Hartley's and Patton's Additional Continental Regiments and companies transferred from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment.

  Aftermath. The new regiment served through the Sullivan Expedition and remained in service until its absorption into the 3rd Pennsylvania in 1781.

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• 1778Consolidation with the 10th Pennsylvania RegimentM&A

  The original regiment was reorganized after the 1778 campaign as part of broader Continental Army efforts to manage depleted units.

  What changed. The 11th Pennsylvania was merged with the 10th Pennsylvania on 1 July, ending the Old Eleventh as a separate formation.

  Aftermath. Richard Humpton became commander of the consolidated regiment.

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1. 11th Pennsylvania Regiment