3rd Continental Light Dragoons

The 3rd Continental Light Dragoons was a mounted regiment of the Continental Army raised on January 1, 1777, at Morristown, New Jersey. It was commanded initially by Lieutenant Colonel George Baylor and became known by the informal names Baylor's Horse and Lady Washington's Horse. The regiment formed part of the Continental cavalry establishment during the American Revolutionary War and operated in both the northern and southern theaters. The regiment participated in several major engagements, including the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Guilford Court House. Its most severe early setback occurred on September 27, 1778, when British and allied forces surprised the regiment while many of its men were sleeping in barns near Old Tappan, New Jersey. The action, remembered by Continental forces as the Baylor Massacre, caused heavy losses among the regiment's personnel and horses. At least 67 men became casualties and approximately 70 horses were killed. George Baylor was among those captured. Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, transferred from the 4th Continental Light Dragoons, replaced him in command on November 20, 1778. During 1779, the regiment undertook recruiting and remounting activities. Its personnel were also involved in rescuing James Wilson during the Fort Wilson Riot in Philadelphia. On November 1, 1779, the regiment was assigned to the Southern Department, where its mounted operations became closely associated with the Continental response to British cavalry and loyalist forces. On April 14, 1780, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton launched a night attack that inflicted another major loss. Fifteen members of the regiment were killed, 17 were wounded, and approximately 100 were captured; 83 horses were also lost. The weakened regiment was unofficially combined with the 1st Continental Light Dragoons, producing the formation commonly called the 1st and 3rd Light Dragoons. William Washington initially deferred to the senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony White, but resumed command on May 6, 1780, after White was captured during an attack near the Santee River. The consolidated force played an active role in the 1781 southern campaign. Its mounted charges at Cowpens in January, Guilford Court House in March, and Eutaw Springs in September contributed to the Continental cavalry's battlefield reputation. At Eutaw Springs, Washington was trapped beneath his fallen horse, wounded with bayonets, and captured. Captain William Parsons, the senior surviving officer, then directed the unit until George Baylor was exchanged in June 1782 and returned to command. During the siege of Yorktown, the remaining mounted personnel of the 4th Continental Light Dragoons were distributed among other formations, and the 1st and 3rd accepted some of those troopers. The 3rd Continental Light Dragoons ceased to exist as a separate regiment when it was officially merged into the 1st Legionary Corps on November 2, 1782. The consolidated corps consisted of five troops. The regiment is remembered primarily for its service in the Continental cavalry, its severe losses at Old Tappan and in the 1780 Southern Department operations, and its participation in several decisive engagements of the Revolutionary War.

The 3rd Continental Light Dragoons was organized for the Continental Army on January 1, 1777, at Morristown, New Jersey. As a mounted regiment, it provided the Continental forces with mobile reconnaissance, courier, screening, and shock-cavalry capabilities. The unit was associated with George Baylor, its original lieutenant colonel, and acquired the informal names Baylor's Horse and Lady Washington's Horse. In the northern theater, the regiment fought at Brandywine and Germantown. Its most notorious reverse came at Old Tappan, New Jersey, on the night of September 27, 1778. British forces surprised the regiment in barns near their positions, killing or wounding at least 67 men and killing about 70 horses. George Baylor was captured. William Washington, formerly of the 4th Continental Light Dragoons, assumed command on November 20, 1778. The regiment spent much of 1779 rebuilding its strength through recruitment and the acquisition of replacement horses. During this period, members helped rescue James Wilson during the Fort Wilson Riot. The regiment was transferred to the Southern Department on November 1, 1779, where the strategic importance of mounted troops was particularly pronounced because British forces relied heavily on mobile cavalry under officers such as Banastre Tarleton. Tarleton's night attack of April 14, 1780, caused another devastating reduction in the regiment. Fifteen men were killed, 17 wounded, and about 100 captured, while 83 horses were taken or destroyed. The losses led to an unofficial consolidation with the 1st Continental Light Dragoons. This combined formation became known as the 1st and 3rd Light Dragoons. William Washington initially gave precedence to Anthony White, the senior officer, but resumed command after White was captured in an action near the Santee River on May 6, 1780. The combined cavalry force continued operating in the Southern campaign. At Cowpens in January 1781, Continental cavalry participated in mounted attacks that helped disrupt British forces. The regiment and its associated formation also fought at Guilford Court House in March and Eutaw Springs in September. At Eutaw Springs, William Washington was pinned beneath his horse, wounded by bayonet, and captured. William Parsons then assumed operational command as the senior surviving officer. George Baylor returned after being exchanged in June 1782. The unit's final organizational phase occurred during the Yorktown campaign and its aftermath. Remaining personnel from the 4th Continental Light Dragoons were distributed among existing cavalry formations, with the 1st and 3rd accepting some of the available mounted troops. On November 2, 1782, the regiment was formally absorbed into the 1st Legionary Corps, a five-troop consolidated formation. This administrative action ended the separate existence of the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons.

1. 1782Absorption into the 1st Legionary Corps

   The regiment was formally merged into the five-troop 1st Legionary Corps.

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2. 1781Southern campaign actions

   The combined formation fought at Cowpens, Guilford Court House, and Eutaw Springs.

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3. 1780Tarleton's night attack and consolidation

   Heavy losses in a British attack led to the regiment's unofficial combination with the 1st Continental Light Dragoons.

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4. 1779Transfer to the Southern Department

   After rebuilding its strength, the regiment was assigned to the Southern Department.

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5. 1778Old Tappan defeat

   A nighttime surprise attack near Old Tappan caused severe losses in personnel and horses and resulted in George Baylor's capture.

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6. 1777Regiment raised

   The 3rd Continental Light Dragoons was raised at Morristown, New Jersey, for service in the Continental Army.

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A Revolutionary War Continental Army cavalry regiment specializing in mounted reconnaissance, battlefield charges, and operations against British and loyalist forces.

• 1781Southern campaign

  Cowpens · Guilford Court House · Eutaw Springs

  The combined 1st and 3rd Light Dragoons participated in major Continental cavalry actions in the South.

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• 1778Old Tappan action

  New Jersey

  A British surprise attack on sleeping troopers near Old Tappan inflicted exceptionally heavy casualties and destroyed much of the regiment's mounted capacity.

  Outcome. The regiment had to rebuild its personnel and horse strength.

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• 1777Philadelphia campaign

  Brandywine · Germantown

  The regiment took part in Continental Army operations during the Philadelphia campaign, including the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

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• 1782Formal merger into the 1st Legionary CorpsM&A

  Following the later stages of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army reorganized its remaining mounted forces.

  What changed. The regiment was officially merged into the five-troop 1st Legionary Corps on November 2, 1782.

  Aftermath. The 3rd Continental Light Dragoons ceased to exist as a separate regiment.

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• 1780Unofficial consolidation with the 1st Continental Light DragoonsStrategy

  A British night attack caused losses of 15 killed, 17 wounded, approximately 100 captured, and 83 horses. The regiment was no longer able to operate at full strength independently.

  What changed. The 3rd was combined in practice with the 1st Continental Light Dragoons under the designation 1st and 3rd Light Dragoons.

  Aftermath. The combined formation continued fighting in the Southern Department and in the 1781 campaign.

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1. 3rd Continental Light Dragoons