Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment

Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment was an infantry unit of the Continental Army raised during the American Revolutionary War. It was one of sixteen additional regiments authorized by the Continental Congress in late 1776 to expand the army beyond the regular state-line formations. Colonel Oliver Spencer accepted command with rank dating from January 15, 1777, and the unit is sometimes identified as the 5th New Jersey Regiment. Recruiting was concentrated in New Jersey, particularly in Essex County—now largely represented by Union County—Morris County, and Sussex County. The regiment also drew men from adjacent Orange County, New York, and included an independent Continental company raised in Pennsylvania. By late May 1777, nine companies had assembled at Middlebrook, New Jersey. The regiment was placed in Brigadier General Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade, despite its primarily New Jersey recruiting base. The unit entered combat during the Philadelphia campaign. It participated in the Battle of Short Hills in June 1777, fought heavily at Brandywine, and suffered additional casualties at Germantown on October 4, 1777. During the winter encampment at Valley Forge, Spencer exercised acting command of the brigade for much of the period after Conway's promotion to major general and appointment as inspector general of the Continental Army. At the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, the regiment joined Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's late-afternoon attack against the British 1st Grenadier Battalion. Its actions included fighting around the hedgerow and the Parsonage. In July 1778, the regiment left the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade and was assigned to the Hudson Highlands. It later spent the winter on the New Jersey frontier at Minisink under Brigadier General Edward Hand. The regiment was reorganized as the war continued. In spring 1779, it absorbed the remaining New Jersey companies of Forman's Additional Continental Regiment and New York-associated soldiers from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment after those units were reduced. It repaired the military road leading toward the Susquehanna before the Sullivan Expedition and served with the New Jersey Brigade during that campaign. The unit then overwintered at Jockey Hollow near Morristown, New Jersey. Its later service included a small number of captures at Paramus in April 1780 and severe losses at the Battle of Connecticut Farms on June 6–7, 1780. In that engagement, Spencer's Regiment sustained more casualties than any other Continental unit involved, including a substantial share of the officer casualties in the New Jersey Brigade and nearly half of its wounded enlisted personnel. The regiment transferred to the Highland Department in September 1780 and garrisoned Stony Point. Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781. It was the last of the sixteen additional regiments to remain in the field without being formally incorporated into one of the state Continental lines. New Jersey veterans who had enlisted for the duration of the war were assigned to Captain John Holmes's company in the 2nd New Jersey Regiment. soldiers associated with New York and Pennsylvania were transferred to their respective state lines. Only a small number of Spencer's officers received new Continental appointments, while others returned to militia service.

Congress authorized sixteen additional Continental regiments in late 1776 as part of the effort to expand the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Oliver Spencer accepted command of one of these formations with a commission dating from January 15, 1777. The regiment recruited chiefly in New Jersey, with its strongest concentrations in Essex, Morris, and Sussex Counties, while also drawing men from nearby Orange County, New York, and an independent company from Pennsylvania. The regiment assembled at Middlebrook, New Jersey, in late May 1777 with nine companies. Although it was largely a New Jersey formation, the Continental Army assigned it to Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade. Its first major action came at Short Hills in late June. It subsequently fought in the Philadelphia campaign, experiencing heavy combat and casualties at Brandywine and Germantown. At Germantown on October 4, 1777, Conway's Brigade advanced with elements of the divisions commanded by Anthony Wayne and John Sullivan. The regiment later entered the winter encampment at Valley Forge. After Conway's promotion, Spencer served in an acting brigade-command role during much of the winter. The regiment fought at Monmouth in June 1778. During the late-afternoon attack led by Anthony Wayne, it engaged the British 1st Grenadier Battalion in fighting around a hedgerow and the Parsonage. On July 19, 1778, the regiment was detached from the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade and sent to the Hudson Highlands. During the following winter it served on the New Jersey frontier at Minisink under Edward Hand. In spring 1779, the army consolidated weakened additional regiments. Spencer's Regiment absorbed the two remaining New Jersey companies of Forman's Additional Continental Regiment, along with soldiers credited to New York from Malcolm's Additional Continental Regiment. Before the Sullivan Expedition, its troops repaired the military road toward the Susquehanna. The regiment served with the New Jersey Brigade during the expedition and later spent the winter at Jockey Hollow between Mendham and Morristown. The unit continued frontier and defensive operations in 1780. Several men were captured while detached at Paramus on April 16. The regiment was then placed on the front line near Elizabethtown. At Connecticut Farms on June 6–7, it suffered particularly severe losses, recording more casualties than any other Continental unit engaged. Its officer losses represented about half of those suffered by the Jersey Brigade, while its wounded enlisted losses accounted for nearly half of the brigade's total. In September 1780, Spencer's Regiment transferred to the Highland Department and garrisoned Stony Point. It was disbanded on January 1, 1781, making it the final surviving additional regiment that had not been incorporated into one of the state Continental lines. Remaining New Jersey soldiers were placed in Captain John Holmes's company of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment. New York and Pennsylvania personnel were transferred to their respective state lines. Most officers did not receive new Continental commissions, although some returned to militia commands.

1. 1781Disbandment and reassignment

   The regiment is disbanded on January 1. Its remaining soldiers are transferred to the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania lines.

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2. 1780Battle of Connecticut Farms

   The regiment suffers exceptionally heavy losses during the June fighting at Connecticut Farms, New Jersey.

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3. 1779Consolidation of additional regiments

   Spencer's Regiment absorbs surviving New Jersey companies from Forman's Additional Continental Regiment and New York-associated personnel from Malcolm's regiment.

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4. 1778Battle of Monmouth

   The regiment participates in Anthony Wayne's attack on the British 1st Grenadier Battalion at Monmouth.

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5. 1778Transfer to the Hudson Highlands

   On July 19, the regiment leaves the 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade and is assigned to the Hudson Highlands.

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6. 1777Oliver Spencer assumes command

   Oliver Spencer accepts command of the regiment with rank dating from January 15, 1777.

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7. 1777Regiment assembles at Middlebrook

   Nine companies gather at Middlebrook, New Jersey, and the regiment joins Thomas Conway's 3rd Pennsylvania Brigade.

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8. 1777Philadelphia campaign service

   The regiment fights at Short Hills, Brandywine, and Germantown before entering the Valley Forge winter encampment.

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9. 1776Congress authorizes additional regiments

   The Continental Congress authorizes sixteen additional Continental regiments to strengthen the revolutionary army.

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A wartime Continental Army infantry regiment organized as part of the army's 1776 expansion, with a principal recruiting base in New Jersey and service across major Revolutionary War campaigns in the Middle Atlantic region.

• 1779Sullivan Expedition

  New York · Pennsylvania

  The regiment repaired the military road toward the Susquehanna and served with the New Jersey Brigade during the expedition.

  Outcome. The regiment later returned to New Jersey for winter quarters at Jockey Hollow.

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• 1778Monmouth campaign

  New Jersey

  Spencer's Regiment joined Anthony Wayne's late-afternoon attack against the British grenadiers and fought near the hedgerow and Parsonage.

  Outcome. After the battle, the regiment was reassigned to the Hudson Highlands.

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• 1777Philadelphia campaign

  New Jersey · Pennsylvania

  The regiment fought at Short Hills, Brandywine, and Germantown during the Continental Army's operations in the Philadelphia theater.

  Outcome. The regiment suffered heavy casualties and entered the winter encampment at Valley Forge.

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• 1781Disbandment and transfer into state linesOther

  The regiment remained the last additional Continental regiment that had not been formally incorporated into a state regiment.

  What changed. The army disbanded Spencer's Regiment and transferred its remaining personnel to the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania lines.

  Aftermath. The regiment ceased to exist as an independent Continental formation; only a limited number of its officers received new Continental appointments.

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• 1779Consolidation with reduced regimentsStrategy

  The Continental Army reduced or reorganized weakened additional regiments as manpower and unit structures changed.

  What changed. Spencer's Regiment absorbed surviving New Jersey companies from Forman's regiment and New York-associated soldiers from Malcolm's regiment.

  Aftermath. The consolidation kept Spencer's Regiment in active service while other additional regiments disappeared as separate formations.

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1. Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment