Continental Artillery Regiment

The Continental Artillery Regiment was an American military unit that served during the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War. It was the only large American artillery formation operating during the early part of the conflict and became particularly associated with Colonel Henry Knox, although it was initially commanded by Colonel Richard Gridley. The regiment originated in the Massachusetts State Troops under the name Regiment of the Train of Artillery. It was authorized on 10 May 1775 and assembled at Cambridge, Massachusetts, during May and June. Recruitment drew men from five Massachusetts counties, and the original organization consisted of ten batteries. On 14 June 1775, the unit entered the newly established Continental Army and took the name Continental Artillery Regiment. Gridley, an experienced but elderly officer, remained in command during the early months of service. The regiment was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, where the handling and employment of American artillery were considered ineffective. In response to the demands of the campaign, the regiment was reorganized into eleven companies at the end of June. Henry Knox succeeded Gridley as commander on 17 November 1775. One of Knox's first major assignments was to transport heavy artillery captured at Fort Ticonderoga to the American position around Boston. The operation involved moving guns and other matériel over difficult winter terrain from the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain region toward Cambridge. Completed by the end of January 1776, the movement supplied Washington's army with artillery that became central to the American effort to force the British evacuation of Boston. On 1 January 1776, the Rhode Island Train of Artillery was consolidated with the regiment. The enlarged organization contained twelve companies, including the Rhode Island companies commanded by Captains Ebenezer Stevens and Jotham Drury. During the fortification of Dorchester Heights in March 1776, Knox's artillery was positioned as a critical element of the American operation. The new emplacements threatened Boston and British shipping, helping compel the British withdrawal and ending the Siege of Boston. The regiment subsequently accompanied the Continental Army during the New York and New Jersey Campaign. Its guns were employed or placed in support during the Battle of Long Island, the Battle of White Plains, and the fighting at Fort Washington in 1776. Detachments also served in the defense of the Lake Champlain area. In late December, artillery from Knox's organization contributed to the American victory at the Battle of Trenton, where the presence and use of field guns strengthened the Continental attack and helped consolidate the defeat of the Hessian garrison. The Continental Artillery Regiment was disbanded on 1 January 1777. It was replaced by four newly raised Continental artillery regiments, reflecting the Continental Army's effort to expand and regularize its artillery arm rather than maintain the original single-regiment structure. The unit therefore had a short existence, but its organization, logistical achievements, and battlefield service helped establish the artillery capability of the Continental Army during the war's formative campaigns.

The Continental Artillery Regiment emerged from the Massachusetts State Troops during the first months of the American Revolutionary War. Authorized on 10 May 1775 as the Regiment of the Train of Artillery, it assembled at Cambridge in May and June with ten batteries. Its personnel were recruited from five Massachusetts counties, making it an early attempt to create a substantial, organized artillery arm for the American forces surrounding Boston. The unit entered the Continental Army on 14 June 1775 and adopted the name Continental Artillery Regiment. Colonel Richard Gridley became its first commander. The regiment took part in the Battle of Bunker Hill a few days later, but the American artillery was not employed effectively. The organization was consequently revised, and by the end of June it had been divided into eleven companies. Colonel Henry Knox assumed command from Gridley on 17 November 1775. Knox then directed one of the most important logistical operations associated with the regiment: the movement of artillery captured at Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge. The guns had to be hauled across difficult winter routes, but the operation was completed by the end of January 1776. The arrival of this artillery materially strengthened the American position around Boston. On 1 January 1776, the Rhode Island Train of Artillery was merged into the Continental Artillery Regiment. The combined unit had twelve companies, including two Rhode Island companies commanded by Ebenezer Stevens and Jotham Drury. In March, the regiment's artillery was essential to the fortification of Dorchester Heights. The American batteries placed there threatened Boston and British naval positions, contributing directly to the British evacuation and the conclusion of the Siege of Boston. The regiment then served during the New York and New Jersey Campaign. Its artillery participated in or supported operations at Long Island, White Plains, and Fort Washington, while other elements helped defend the Lake Champlain region. In December 1776, Knox's guns were also important during the Battle of Trenton, one of the Continental Army's most consequential early victories. The regiment ceased to exist as a separate organization on 1 January 1777. Its place was taken by four newly raised artillery regiments, a reorganization intended to provide a broader and more durable artillery structure for the Continental Army. Although its active life lasted less than two years, the regiment helped establish the logistical, organizational, and operational foundations of American field artillery.

1. 1777Disbandment

   The regiment was disbanded on 1 January and replaced by four newly raised Continental artillery regiments.

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2. 1776Fort Ticonderoga artillery reaches Cambridge

   The winter transport of captured artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge was completed by the end of January.

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3. 1776Rhode Island Train of Artillery merger

   The Rhode Island artillery organization joined the regiment on 1 January, bringing the total to twelve companies.

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4. 1776Dorchester Heights operation

   The regiment supplied critical artillery support for the fortification of Dorchester Heights, helping force the British evacuation of Boston.

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5. 1775Authorization as the Regiment of the Train of Artillery

   The Massachusetts State Troops authorized the artillery regiment on 10 May, beginning the formation of the early American army's principal large artillery unit.

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6. 1775Integration into the Continental Army

   On 14 June, the regiment was incorporated into the Continental Army under Colonel Richard Gridley.

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7. 1775Reorganization into eleven companies

   Following the Battle of Bunker Hill, the regiment was reorganized into eleven companies at the end of June.

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8. 1775Henry Knox takes command

   Knox replaced Gridley as colonel on 17 November and led the unit through its most prominent operations.

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A historical military formation rather than a commercial brand. Its institutional role was to provide organized artillery capability to the early Continental Army.

• 1776Siege of Boston and Dorchester Heights

  The regiment provided artillery for the fortification of Dorchester Heights, creating a position that threatened Boston and British naval forces.

  Outcome. The British evacuated Boston, bringing the siege to an end.

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• 1776New York and New Jersey Campaign

  The regiment supported Continental operations at Long Island, White Plains, and Fort Washington. Detachments also served in the defense of Lake Champlain, and the unit's guns contributed to the Battle of Trenton.

  Outcome. The regiment remained active through the end of 1776 before being replaced during the 1777 artillery reorganization.

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• 1775Boston campaign and Battle of Bunker Hill

  The regiment assembled around Cambridge and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. American artillery employment during the battle was ineffective, contributing to subsequent organizational changes.

  Outcome. The regiment survived the initial campaign but was reorganized into eleven companies.

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• 1775Fort Ticonderoga artillery expedition

  Under Henry Knox, the regiment transported captured heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to the American lines at Cambridge during the winter of 1775–1776.

  Outcome. The guns arrived by the end of January 1776 and strengthened the American position against Boston.

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• 1777Replacement by four artillery regimentsStrategy

  The Continental Army sought a larger and more systematic artillery organization after the campaigns of 1775 and 1776.

  What changed. The original Continental Artillery Regiment was disbanded on 1 January and replaced by four newly raised artillery regiments.

  Aftermath. The regiment ended as a separate unit, while its personnel and institutional experience contributed to the development of the Continental Army's later artillery arm.

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• 1776Merger with the Rhode Island Train of ArtilleryM&A

  The Continental Army needed to consolidate available artillery personnel and capabilities.

  What changed. The Rhode Island Train of Artillery was merged into the regiment on 1 January.

  Aftermath. The combined regiment operated with twelve companies, including two Rhode Island companies.

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• 1775Reorganization after Bunker HillOther

  The regiment's artillery was not handled effectively during the Battle of Bunker Hill, exposing weaknesses in the initial organization.

  What changed. The unit was reorganized into eleven companies at the end of June.

  Aftermath. The reorganization provided a revised structure for subsequent operations around Boston and beyond.

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• 1777Regiment disbanded and replaced by four artillery regiments

  The original regiment was disbanded on 1 January and superseded by four newly raised Continental artillery regiments.

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• 1776Rhode Island artillery companies join the regiment

  The Rhode Island Train of Artillery merged with the regiment on 1 January, increasing its organization to twelve companies.

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• 1776Artillery supports the fortification of Dorchester Heights

  The regiment's guns played a central role in the American fortification of Dorchester Heights, an operation that helped end the Siege of Boston.

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• 1775Regiment authorized in the Massachusetts State Troops

  The Regiment of the Train of Artillery was authorized on 10 May 1775 as a Massachusetts formation and began assembling at Cambridge.

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• 1775Formation transferred to the Continental Army

  On 14 June, the unit became part of the Continental Army and was designated the Continental Artillery Regiment under Colonel Richard Gridley.

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• 1775Henry Knox assumes command

  Henry Knox replaced Richard Gridley as commander on 17 November and soon directed the movement of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge.

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1. Continental Artillery Regiment