6th Connecticut Regiment

LINEAGE

• Authorized on September 16, 1776 in the Continental Army as the 6th Connecticut Regiment.
• Organized between January 1 - April 1777 at New Haven to consist of 8 companies from New Haven and New London Counties.
• Assigned on April 3, 1777 to the 1st Connecticut Brigade, an element of the Highland's Department.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on June 15, 1777 from the Highland's Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on July 2, 1777 from the Main Continental Army and assigned to the Highland's Department.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on July 21, 1778 from the Highland's Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on May 28, 1779 from the Main Continental Army and assigned to the Highland's Department.
• Reorganized on July 11, 1779 to consist of 9 companies.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on November 16, 1779 from the Highland's Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
• Relieved on September 25, 1780 from the 1st Connecticut Brigade and assigned to the Highland's Department
• Assigned on October 6, 1780 to the 1st Connecticut Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• 2d Connecticut Brigade relieved on November 16, 1779 from the Highland's Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
• 1st Connecticut Brigade relieved on November 27, 1780 from the Main Continental Army and assigned to the Highland's Department.
• Reorganized and redesignated on January 1, 1781 as the 4th Connecticut Regiment, to consist of 9 companies, concurrently relieved from the 1st Connecticut Brigade and assigned to the 2nd Connecticut Brigade, an element of the Highland's Department.
• Disbanded on January 1, 1783 at West Point, New York

ENGAGEMENTS

• New York 1777
• Hudson Highland's
• New York 1781

HISTORY

In the year 1777, there was a re-organization of the Continental Army. Each colony was to provide a number of infantry regiments, the number being based on the population of the colony. Each colony was also to provide additional regiments of Dragoons and Artillery.

The Continental Regiments from each colony were to called a "LINE," for example, the Connecticut Line. Collectively the Lines were known as the Continental Line. Connecticut provided eight regiments plus many additional Regiments, such as, Webb’s Additional Regiment.

Brig. Gen. ?? Parsons had the job of organizing the Connecticut Line. On April 14, 1777, he instructed the regiment as to where they were to be raised, the 6th Connecticut.

Regiment was raised at New Haven under Col. William Douglas and in Middletown under Col. Return Jonathan Meigs. Douglas was to expire from previous wounds and Col. Meigs then headed the Regiment.

On May 23, 1777, three weeks after the Battle of Ridgefield, Col. Meigs and 170 men from New Haven left Guilford, Connecticut in 13 whale boats and 2 armed sloops, not forgetting to take an extra sloop in which to bring back prisoners. This raid was planned as a reprisal for the British Brig. Gen. ?? Tyron’s raid on Danbury whose action had cost the life of General David Wooster of New Haven.

Landing on Long Island they marched across to Sag Harbor, surprised the garrison, burned a dozen vessels, destroyed a large quantity of military stores, killed several of the enemy and took 90 prisoners. All of this, without losing a man. Imagine, if you will, rowing across the Sound, doing all of what they did and rowing back again, without losing a man. Incredible! For this action, Col. Meigs was voted a Sword by Congress. This sword now hangs in the Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

After the Sag Harbor raid, the 6th Connectuct went to Peekskill, New York to join the other line regiment. The Connecticut Line wintered at West Point during the winter of 1777-1778. While there, they constructed “Meigs Redoubt” and other fortifications in the area.

In the summer of 1778, the Connecticut Line was encamped with the Army under General Washington at White Plains, New York near the battlefield of 1776. It was here that the Connecticut Line was divided into two brigades, which stood until January 1, 1781. The 6th Connecticut was placed in the 1st Brigade under Parsons. From White Plains, they took up winter quarters at Redding, Connecticut. The troops built huts and settled in. Maj. Gen. Isreal Putnam took command of all forces at Redding.

In the early part of 1779, the 6th Connecticut was encamped on the Highlands across from West Point. When Tryon raided Connecticut in July, the Connecticut Line was sent to defend it’s own state, but arrived after Tryon and his men had left.

The Connecticut Line was then called on to provide a number of Light Infantry Companies to join with Brig. Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne. Being a Light Infantry Regiment, the 6th Connecticut filed the role perfectly and was sent, under Col. Meigs, to join with General Wayne.
on July 15, 1779 this force successfully stormed the British fort at Stony Point on the Hudson River.

From Stony Point, the 6th Connecticut was stationed with the Connecticut Line around West Point where it worked again on fortifications in the area. Maj. Gen. Baron Von Steuben praised the Connecticut Line for their proficiency on performing his manual of arms exercises.

The Morristown huts in New Jersey were the site of winter quarters for the two Connecticut Brigades in the winter of 1779-80. While the troops were in Morristown, the Connecticut troops protested their conditions and mutinied. Col. Meigs quelled this mutiny with reason and affection and with no loss of life. A letter from General Washington for this action commended him.

The Connecticut Line spent the summer of 1780 along the Hudson and while in Orangetown, New Jersey, heard of the treason of Connecticut’s own Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold and his flight on September 25. The Connecticut 6th Regiment was ordered to West Point to defend any attack the enemy might have planned. There was no attack and Connecticut Line went into winter quarters near West Point.

In 1781, the 6th Connecticut was consolidated with part of the 4th as the Continental forces wound down their forces pending the outcome of peace talks in Paris. Peace was to come some two years later in September 1783.