A BRIEF HISTORY OF GRAYSON’S ADDITIONAL CONTINENTAL REGIMENT

NB: The research for Grayson’s Additional Continental Regiment is ongoing. This history is subject to change based on the findings of additional research.

Introduction

Following the string of defeats in New York and the subsequent retreat through New Jersey coupled with the mass expiration of enlistments, General Washington began to request extra battalions (1) from Congress in late 1776. Moreover, unlike the state levies, Washington intended these additional battalions to be recruited at large throughout the various states and solely under his command. On the 27th of December 1776, Congress notified the Commander-in-Chief that they had authorized the raising of sixteen additional battalions on an at large basis. He was approved to appoint the colonels to command the new regiments. By early January 1777, he had nominated candidates and offered each the command of one of the new regiments. Washington sent a circular letter to the chosen colonels with the instruction to begin recruiting men to serve a “term of three Years or during the continuance of the War with Great Britain, and upon such pay bounties & allowances as have been resolved on by Congress” on the 11th of January 1777. Over the next several days, he gave further recruiting instructions through another circular letter to the colonels that stipulated the age range, status, physical abilities, and term of service. Also, mentioned was that deserters from the British Army and those with physical infirmities were disqualified from service. (2)