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2nd
Massachusetts Regiment
LINEAGE
- Authorized on April
23, 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Thomas' Regiment.
- Organized
in spring 1775 at Roxbury to consist of 10 companies from northern Plymouth County.
- Adopted
on June 14, 1775 into the Continental Army and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
- Redesignated
on July 1, 1775 as Bailey's Regiment.
- Assigned
on July 22, 1775 to Thomas' Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
- Consolidated
on January 1, 1776 with Cotton's
Regiment, and consolidated unit redesignated as the 23d Continental Regiment,
an element of Thomas' Brigade, to consist of 8 companies.
- Relieved
on April 24, 1776 from Thomas' Brigade and assigned to Heath's Brigade, an element
of the Main Continental Army.
- Relieved
on August 12, 1776 from Heath's Brigade and assigned to the Clinton's Brigade, an
element of the Main Continental Army.
- Relieved
on August 31, 1776 from Clinton's Brigade and assigned to the Nixon's Brigade, an
element of the Main Continental Army.
- Relieved
on August 12, 1776 from Nixon's Brigade and assigned to the Clinton's Brigade, an
element of the Main Continental Army.
- Consolidated
on January 1, 1777 with the 7th Continental
Regiment and Clap's Company, 21st Continental Regiment and Peter's Company,
13th Continental Regiment and consolidated unit redesignated as Baily's Regiment,
to consist of 8 companies.
- Relieved
on Febraury 9, 1777 from Clinton's Brigade and assigned to the Northern
Department.
- Assigned
on August 13, 1777 to the 4th Massachusetts Brigade, an element of the Northern
Department.
- 4th
Massachusetts Brigade relieved on October 27, 1777 from the Northern
Department and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
- 4th
Massachusetts Brigade relieved on October 27, 1777 from the Main Continental Army and assigned to the Highland's
Department.
- Reorganized
on May 12, 1779 to consist of 9 companies.
- Redesignated
on August 1, 1779 as the 2nd Massachsetts Regiment.
- Relieved
on January 1, 1781 from the 4th Massachusetts Brigade and assigned to the 2d Massachusetts
Brigade, an element of the Highland's
Department.
- Disbanded
on November 3, 1783 at West Point, New York.
ENGAGEMENTS
HISTORY
The
2nd Massachusetts Regiment traced its lineage to Thomas' Massachusetts Regiment,
one of twenty-seven infantry regiments raised by the Bay Colony in the spring
of 1775 after the outbreak of the American Revolution. Given an authorized strength
of 599 officers and men, Thomas' Regiment drew its personnel from northern Plymouth
County, forming them into ten companies. The men enlisted to serve until December
31, 1775. Incorporated into the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, Thomas'
Regiment participated in the Siege of Boston as part of General George Washington's
Main Army. On July 1,
the unit changed its name to Bailey's Massachusetts Regiment. When Washington
reorganized the Continental Army for 1776, he consolidated Bailey's Regiment with
Cotton's Massachusetts Regiment, designating the new entity as the 23rd Continental
Regiment. The 23rd was supposed to contain 723 officers and men enlisted for one
year and divided into eight companies. Remaining with the Main
Army, the 23rd endured defeat in Washington's unsuccessful defense of
New York City and then tasted victory at Trenton and Princeton. On
September 16, 1776, Congress necessitated another reorganization of the Continental
Army by voting to raise eighty-eight infantry battalions for the duration of the
war. On January 1, 1777, Washington combined the 23rd and 7th Continental Regiments,
along with elements of the 13th and 21st, into an amalgam known as Bailey's Regiment.
On February 9, 1777, Washington assigned Bailey's Regiment to the Northern
Department to counter the pending British invasion of upstate New York.
By mid-August
1777, Bailey's Regiment had joined the Massachusetts regiments of Colonels James
Wesson and Michael Jackson, the 1st New York Regiment, and the 1st Canadian Regiment
in the 4th Massachusetts Brigade under Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned. Learned's
Brigade figured prominently in the Saratoga Campaign, assisting in the relief
of Fort Stanwix, stiffening the American left flank at Freeman's Farm, and spearheading
the attack that shattered the British right at Bemis Heights. Ordered
to return to the Main Army
on October 27, 1777, Bailey's Regiment was reassigned to the Highlands Department
a year later. In 1779, it added a light infantry company to its table of organization
and was re-designated as the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. The 2nd Massachusetts
remained in service until November 3, 1783, when it was discharged |
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