13th Pennsylvania Regiment

The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment was an infantry formation associated with Pennsylvania and the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It originated in the Pennsylvania State Regiment system created in 1776, drawing on earlier Pennsylvania formations including the Pennsylvania State Battalion of Musketry and the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, commonly known as Miles's Regiment after its commander, Samuel Miles. The unit was initially organized for the defense of Pennsylvania and later transferred into Continental service. The regiment's formation reflected the fluid military organization of the early Revolutionary War. In 1776, Pennsylvania authorities consolidated surviving elements of Miles's Regiment and Atlee's Battalion. The resulting Pennsylvania State Regiment combined musketry and rifle companies and was initially placed under Colonel John Bull. Opposition from members of the regiment led Pennsylvania officials to replace Bull with Colonel Walter Stewart. An additional company was later attached for the protection of powder mills, bringing the formation to eleven companies during part of its state-service period. The regiment's transition to the Continental Army was completed on June 10, 1777. Within weeks, Continental authorities and military records were referring to it as the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment. Walter Stewart became its commanding officer on June 17, 1777, and subsequently led the unit during the Philadelphia campaign, including the Battle of Brandywine. The regiment also participated in major operations of the New York and New Jersey campaigns, including the Battle of Long Island context through its predecessor formation, the Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton. Its later service included the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. The unit's personnel included officers and soldiers whose careers began in the earlier Pennsylvania formations. Samuel Miles commanded the predecessor regiment and was captured at the Battle of Long Island. John Robb, John George Hoffner, and Jacob Snider progressed through several ranks during the regiment's formation and Continental service. Their careers illustrate how Pennsylvania's local militia and state troops supplied officers for the Continental Army. The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit on July 1, 1778, when it was merged into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. It therefore has no modern commercial operations, products, headquarters, corporate owner, or continuing brand management. Its historical significance rests on its role as a Pennsylvania infantry regiment during the Revolutionary War and on the administrative transition from state-raised forces to the Continental Army.

The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment developed from Pennsylvania's effort to organize military forces for the defense of the colony and, later, state during the Revolutionary War. Its immediate antecedents included the Pennsylvania State Battalion of Musketry and the Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, the latter commonly identified as Miles's Regiment. Samuel Miles was appointed its commanding officer on March 3, 1776. These formations were part of a broader effort to mobilize Pennsylvania troops while the Continental Army was still being assembled and its regimental structure remained unsettled. During 1776, the remnants of Miles's Regiment and Atlee's Battalion were brought together under the authority of the Pennsylvania Council of Safety. The consolidation process required officers to indicate whether they wished to continue in state service or enter the Continental establishment. On October 5, the council began soliciting officer lists, and on October 25 it announced the companies that would form the new Pennsylvania State Regiment. The resulting formation contained eight musketry companies and two rifle companies. It was initially commanded by Colonel John Bull, but protests from members of the regiment prompted Pennsylvania authorities to appoint Walter Stewart in his place. A further company was added to guard powder mills, an assignment reflecting the importance of arms and ammunition production to Pennsylvania's wartime defense. The regiment's military identity changed again in 1777. Its transfer to the Continental Army was completed on June 10, and the unit was soon designated the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment. On June 17, Walter Stewart became its commander. Under Stewart, the regiment served in the Continental Army during the campaigns in New York and New Jersey and the operations around Philadelphia. Its service record included participation in the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton, as well as the engagements at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. At Brandywine, it fought as part of George Weedon's 2nd Virginia Brigade, demonstrating the way Pennsylvania regiments could be placed within larger Continental brigades for field operations. The regiment's personnel history is also connected with the earlier Pennsylvania formations. Samuel Miles, its predecessor commander's namesake, was captured at the Battle of Long Island. John Robb began as a second lieutenant in Miles's Regiment in March 1776 and became a captain in the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment on April 18, 1777. John George Hoffner entered Miles's Regiment as a sergeant in May 1776, advanced to ensign and first lieutenant, and became a captain late in 1777. Jacob Snider, associated with Sunbury, followed a similar progression from sergeant to ensign and then captain, receiving his captain's commission on April 18, 1777. The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment was not a permanent postwar institution. On July 1, 1778, it was merged into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. Its separate existence therefore lasted only through the organizational changes of the early Revolutionary War. The regiment is remembered as part of Pennsylvania's contribution to the Continental Army, particularly during the campaigns that shaped the middle years of the war.

1. 1778Merger into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment

   The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment was merged into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment on July 1, ending its separate organizational existence.

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2. 1777Transfer to the Continental Army

   The regiment's transfer from Pennsylvania state service to the Continental Army was completed on June 10.

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3. 1777Designation as the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment

   Following its Continental transfer, the formation began to be identified as the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment.

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4. 1777Service under Walter Stewart

   Walter Stewart became the unit's commander on June 17 and led it during subsequent Continental Army operations.

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5. 1776Pennsylvania formations organized

   The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment, later known as Miles's Regiment, and related state formations were organized for Pennsylvania's defense.

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6. 1776Consolidation into the Pennsylvania State Regiment

   The remnants of Miles's Regiment and Atlee's Battalion were consolidated into a new Pennsylvania State Regiment under the state's Council of Safety.

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7. 1776Walter Stewart assumes command

   After opposition to the initial command arrangement, Walter Stewart replaced John Bull as commander of the Pennsylvania State Regiment.

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• 1777Transfer into Continental serviceStrategy

  The Pennsylvania State Regiment was moved from a primarily state-defense role into the Continental Army structure.

  What changed. Its transfer to Continental service was finalized on June 10, after which it was identified as the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment.

  Aftermath. The regiment served in major Revolutionary War campaigns before being merged into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment in 1778.

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• 1776Consolidation of Pennsylvania formationsStrategy

  Pennsylvania authorities sought to combine the remnants of Miles's Regiment and Atlee's Battalion while determining which officers would remain in state service and which would enter the Continental Army.

  What changed. The Council of Safety established the Pennsylvania State Regiment from selected musketry and rifle companies and later added a company assigned to guard powder mills.

  Aftermath. The consolidated formation became the basis of the regiment later designated the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment.

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1. 13th Pennsylvania Regiment