The Rifle Companies of 1775
Two companies of Virginia riflemen under Hugh Stephenson and Daniel Morgan were recruited in 1775 and taken directly into Continental service. The marksmen were asked to reenlist for two years into the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment. Most of these men were captured at Fort Washington in November 1776. Some who evaded capture helped form Daniel Morgan's 11th Virginia Regiment during the winter of 1777, and many went into Morgan's Provisional Rifle Corps.
“America's First Company Commanders” (Patrick H. Hannum, Infantry, p.12)
“The Maryland and Virginia Rifle Companies of 1775” (Travis Shaw, Lovettsville Historical Society & Museum)
“The Beeline March: The Birth of the American Army." (John Grady, JAR) The rush to recruit and march to Boston.
“The Beeline March Begins 250 Years Ago” (Kevin Pawlak, ERW)
“Patriot Riflemen During the Ammunition Crisis at the Siege of Boston, 1775," (Hugh T. Harrington, AmericanRevolution.org) What the riflemen did when they got to Boston.
“Unit History of the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment (1776–1781): Insights from the Service Record of Capt. Adamson Tannehill" (Tucker F. Hentz, VMHC) A good analysis of the rifle companies from Maryland and Virginia from their origins as independent units through their later service in the Maryland & Virginia Rifle Regiment and Daniel Morgan's Provisional Rifle Corps.
New & Notable
“The Coming of War in Culpeper, Virginia” (Jim Bish, ERW) - The origins of the Culpeper Minute Battalion.
“The Last Men Standing” (Gabe Neville and Rob Orrison, ERW) - A conversation about Gabe Neville's new book on the 8th Virginia Regiment.
“Samuel Brady, a Frontier Legend, Rescues Jane Stoops” (Eric Sterner, JAR)
“Glenn Williams on Lord Dunmore's War” (ERW)
“Kentucky Rifles” (Brian LaMaster and Tim Hodges, Historic Shepherdstown Museum) An excellent video presentation on the “Kentucky” rifle.
“The War is Here: The Politics of Continental Army Dispositions on the Upper Ohio" (David P. Ervin, JAR) 13th Virginia Regiment recruits were promised they would stay in the west, but they were taken east anyway.
“Crickett Hill and Gwynn's Island: Captain Arundel's Only Fight" (Pat Hannum, JAR)
“Scott's Levies: The Virginia Detachments, 1779-1780" (John Settle, JAR) After the Virginia Continental Line was captured at Charleston, survivors and recruits were thrown together into ad hoc "detachments."
“Revolution Revisited" (VMHC) A new podcast series about the Revolution from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
