17th Regiment: Timeline of the American War of Independence

Alan Kael Ball

A company of late 18th century British soldiers in red coats advance across a meadow.

Introduction

One of the main research goals of our society when it was formed in 2011, besides recreating the material culture of the late 18^th century British army, was to understand the movements of the regiment in the wider context of their brigade, division and army; the comings and goings of officers; where and where the flank companies of light infantry and grenadiers were detached, and more.

This document represents a start of the process by tracking events in a simple timeline, from their pre-deployment inspection in Ireland to their evacuation from New York in 1783. This is a work in progress, liable to many additions and changes.

1775

June 9^th: the regiment is inspected by Major-General John Gisborne in Galway, Ireland.WO 27/35, National Archive
November 8^th: Four (4) Companies of the 17th Regiment arrive in BostonKemble, Stephen. (1884). Kemble Papers: Volume 1. p.61
December 30^th & 31^st: Six (6) Companies of the 17^th Regiment arrive in BostonIbid. p.62

1776

January 4^th: Light Infantry company detached into Musgrave's corps.Ibid. p.290
January 21^st: regiment vice light company, assigned to Pigot's brigade.Ibid. pp.298-299
February 8^th: Howe orders all sergeants to replace their halberds with muskets.Ibid. p.303 In places where there weren't enough, Artillery carbines were used.
February 20^th: Hon. Lieutenant. William Leslie promoted to Captain by purchase of Captain Lyon's office.
February 29^th: Army ordered to parade at open order (18-inches between files)Ibid. p.310
March 5^th: Aborted Light Infantry and Grenadier operation on Dorchester Heights.Ibid. p.71
March 14^th-17^th: The 17^th regiment embarks onto transport from Long Wharf for evacuation to Halifax.Ibid. p.73
April 3^rd-9^th: The 17^th Regiment arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Ibid. P.76
April 4^th: Lieutenant-Colonel John Darby was superseded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles MawhoodIbid. p.329 Captain Charles Lyons, previously of the 17th Regiment, is appointed Town Major of Halifax.Ibid. p.331
April 17-20^th: Grenadiers and Light companies detached to exercise with Major Musgrave.Ibid. pp.338-340
May 14^th: Captain Turner Straubenzee of the 17th Light Dragoons promoted to Major in the 17^th Foot, replacing Major Goodenough (Retired 6^th January).Ibid. p.352 The grenadiers are detached to the 1^st Battalion of Grenadiers under Lt. Col. Meadows and Major Mitchell. The Light Company is detached to the 1^st Battalion of Light Infantry under Major Musgrave and Major Dundas. Major Strausbenzee assigned command of the 2^nd Battalion Light Infantry with Major Maitland.Ibid. pp.352-353
May 16^th: The 17th Regiment is assigned to the 4th Brigade (with the 40th & 55th regiments) under the command of Major-General James Grant. The Grenadiers are held in reserve under Major Moncrieffe, the Light Company in their battalion under Brigadier-General Leslie. Ibid. p.355
May 18^th: Regiment assigned to the Felicity and Liberty transports with a reported strength of 383 men. The Grenadiers and Light Company assigned with their respective battalions.Ibid. p.359
May 22^nd: Ensign Matthew Anketel from 55th. Regiment assumes Lieutenant post vacated by William Leslie. Ibid. p.367
May 23^rd: Ensign James O'Brien promoted to Lieutenant (replacing Lt. Mortimer, retired).
May 24^th: Army issued 2 flints per man.Ibid. pp.368-369
June 7-9^th: Army embarked and underway for Sandy Hook, New York.Ibid. pp.382-383 According to orders dated 2^nd May, only 6 women per company allowed to embark, and no children.Ibid. p.345
June 29^th: Fleet anchors off Sandy HookIbid. p.79
July 3^rd: Landings at Staten IslandIbid. p.79
August 21^st: Troops embark transportsIbid. p84
August 26^th: Troops land at New Utrecht, Long Island.Ibid. p85
August 27^th: Battle of Long Island. Captain Sir Alexander Murray, 2 rank and file killed, Lt. Marcus Morgan, 1 sergeant and 19 rank and file wounded.Webb, E. A. H. (1911). A History of the Service of the 17th (The Leicestershire) Regiment. p.68 Cohen, Sheldon S. (1990). Captain William Leslie's “Paths of Glory.” New Jersey History, Vol. 108, Nos. 1-2, Spring/Summer. pp.60-63
August 30^th: Regiment marches and camps at Bedford after the rebels evacuate Brookland and Red Hook.Ibid.
September 11^th: Light Infantry on Montresors IslandKemble. p.87
September 15^th: Landing at Kip's Bay.Ibid. pp.88-89
October 8^th: Capt.-Lieut. Walsh, of the 17th Regiment is appointed Aid-de-Camp to Major-General Prescott.Ibid. p.385
October 11^th: The 4^th Brigade move from New York City to defend redoubts near Fort Washington on the North River.Ibid. p93 Cohen. p.66
October 18^th: Battle of Pelham. Light Infantry engaged rebels.Kemble. pp.93-94
October 28^th: Battle of White Plains. The 17^th Regiment were involved in diversionary and pinning actions as part of Percy's Brigade at Harlem Plains. 5 rank and file killed. Shortly after, the regiment rejoined Howe's army, landing at Rochelle and joining the army at White Plains by November 3rd.Cohen. pp.66-69
November 16^th: Battle of Fort Washington. The Regiment marched with Percy's brigade to Fort Washington; the Light Infantry landed near King's Bridge before making their attack.Kemble. p.100
November 20^th: Fort Lee is abandoned by the Rebels as Clinton's corps, including the 1^st battalion of Light Infantry, cross the North River into the Jerseys.Ibid. p.101
November 24^th - 27^th: The 4^th Brigade arrives at Aquakenunc as reinforcements to Cornwallis's army, marching to Newark.
December 1^st: Army arrives at New BrunswickIbid. p.102
December 4^th: The 17^th Regiment is at Perth AmboyMawhood, Lt. Col. Charles. 17th Regiment of Foot Orderly Book, October 11- December 28, 1776, New York Historical Society Library, transcribed by Gilbert V. Riddle
December 8^th: The 4^th Brigade arrives at Trenton.Kemble. p.102
December 13^th - 25^th: The 17^th deploys to their winter cantonments around New Brunswick and Hillsborough.Mawhood

1777

January 1^st: The 4^th Brigade leaves New Brunswick to march to Princeton.Feinstone 409, transcribed by Paul Pace, p.14
January 2^nd: The 4^th Brigade arrives at Princeton. Shortly after, Cornwallis's army arrives, and the 4^th Brigade is detached under Mawhood to garrison Princeton. The Grenadiers and Light Infantry follow their battalions to Trenton.
January 3^rd: Battle of Princeton. The 17^th Regiment, having been detached with the 55^th regiment, several guns and a troop of dragoons to join the main force at Trenton, left the town at 6am. On the road near Stony Brook, a rebel force was spotted and engage. Not knowing the enemy's strength, the Regiment was ordered to charge bayonets and drove a superior force away. The 55^th were ordered back to Princeton to aid the 40^th Regiment. Being outnumbered by at least 5:1and in danger of being enveloped, the 17^th again charged bayonets and broke through the rebel line to escape. One captain (Leslie) and twelve rank and file killed, one captain (McPherson), one lieutenant, one ensign, 4 sergeants, and 46 rank and file wounded, and one sergeant, one drummer, and 33 rank and file missing (captured, killed or deserted).Extract of a letter from Howe to Germaine, “dated New York, January 5th, 1777.” The London Gazette, Issue 11747, 22 February 1777
January 4^th: Army returns to Brunswick.Feinstone 409, p.15
May 8^th: The 17^th were in New York with the 4^th Brigade under Brigadier-General Agnew with the 37^th, 46^th and 64^th Regiments.Webb, E. A. H. (1911). A History of the Service of the 17th (The Leicestershire) Regiment. p.73. Quoted C05/94 (Held by the National Archives), Military Dispatches.
June 12^th: The 17^th Regiment Brigaded with the 38^th and 64^th under Lt. Colonel Mawhood in Brunswick.Feinstone 409. P.18
June 12^th: The army marches to Hillsborough (Somerset Court House)Ibid. p.20
June 19^th: The army returns to Brunswick.Ibid.
June 21^st: 22^nd — March from Brunswick to Perth Amboy to attempt to draw Washington into an engagement.Kemble. pp.442-445 Feinstone 409. P.20
June 24^th: The 17^th Regiment is assigned to the 3^rd Brigade with the 15^th, 42^nd and 44^th under Major General Grey in readiness to embark for operations.Kemble. p.446
June 26^th: Marched in the left column under Major General Vaughan on the road to Bonham Town, while the light company marched in their battalion with Lt. General Lord Cornwallis and met action at the Battle of Short Hills. Both divisions combined at Westfield.Ibid. p123 Feinstone 409. P.20
June 28^th: Army returned to Perth Amboy.Ibid. p.21
June 30^th: Troops embark on boats to Staten Island.Ibid. Kemble. p.123, p.455
July 5^th: Ensign Mervyn Murray is promoted to Lieutenant to replace Lieutenant May.Ibid. p.464
July 23^rd: having embarked onto ships in the previous few days (July 8th), the fleet sets sail for Chesapeake Bay
August 23^rd: fleet anchored at Turkey Point, Elk River.Feinstone 409. p.22
August 25^th: Army lands at Plumb Point.Ibid. Army Headquartered at Head of Elk.Kemble. pp.476-483
September 3^rd: The army marches from August 28^th and rendezvous at Aikens Tavern (Glasgow, Deleware).Feinstone 409. p.24 The light infantry engaged the enemy near Cooch's Bridge.
September 8^th: The 17^th Marched in Major-General Grant's division towards Newarke, Delaware. The army is headquartered at Nicholl's House, New Garden.Kemble. P.489
September 9^th: The Army headquarters at Cascot, Newcastle County.Kemble. p.490
September 10^th: The army arrived at Kennets Square (near West Chester).Ibid. p.25
September 11^th: Battle of Brandywine.Ibid. p.132 André, J (1904). Major André's Journal. p.20 Feinstone 409. pp.25-32
September 13^th: The Light Infantry and 3^rd Brigades marched with Cornwallis's division to Ashtor, near Chester.Ibid p.33 The 17^th Regiment took possession of Wilmington.André. p.22
September 16^th: Battle of the Clouds. The army joined at Goshen Meeting House (West Chester, Pennsylvania)Ibid.
September 17^th: The 3^rd brigade marched to join Cornwallis near the White Horse on the Lancaster Road.Ibid.
September 18^th: The army marched through Dutch Town and arrived at Tredyffrin.Feinstone 409. p.36
September 19^th: The Light Infantry took post at Valley Forge, taking 4000 barrels of flour and iron entrenching tools.Ibid. André. p.23
September 21^st: The army marched from Tredyffrin to Valley Forge.Ibid. p.25
September 22^nd: The 3^rd brigade fire artillery shot across Gordon's FordFeinstone 409. p.38 to divert attention from the guards crossing at Flatland Ford.André. p.25
September 23^rd: The army proceeded to Norrington. Ibid. Feinstone 409. p.38
September 25^th: The army marched to Germantown. Ibid. André. p.25
September 27^th: The 17^th Regiment grenadiers under Captain Brereton capture the frigate Delaware.Ibid. Webb. p.74. Quoted C05/94 (Held by the National Archives), Military Dispatches.
October 4^th: Battle of Germantown. 1 officer (Ensign Nathaniel Phillips), 1 Sergeant and 4 rank and file killed, 3 sergeants and 21 rank and file wounded.Webb. p.75 Kemble. p.137
October 11^th: Captain Tew of the 17^th Reprimanded for causing a false alarm in the camp at Germantown.Kemble. p.516
October 18^th: 1^st Light Infantry on manoeuvres at Whitemarsh with General Grant.André. p.31
October 19^th: The army fell back to the redoubts at Philadelphia.Ibid. Feinstone 409. p.47 The 17^th Regiment may have been posted at Providence Island to build and protect the works used to reduce the rebel fortifications on Mud Island.
October 31^st: Adjutant Henry Hamilton made Ensign, Ensign Cox deceased. Rowland Hazelton made Ensign (Ensign Nathanial Phillips, deceased). Ensign Robert Amiel promoted to Lieutenant (Lt. Morgan, deceased).Kemble. p.530
November 5^th: Andre records that the 17^th is moved to Philadelphia proper.André. p.33
November 17^th-27^th: Grenadiers and Light Infantry march with Cornwallis to Chester, crossed the river to Billingsport to join Major General Sir Thomas Wilson's division.Ibid. p.35 They Proceeded to Red Bank, destroyed the abandoned works and embarked at Gloucester point, New Jersey for Philadelphia. Feinstone 409. p.49
December 4^th - 6^th: The army marched to Chestnut Hill in sight of a rebel position near Whitemarsh Church. The Column proceeded to Abingdon via Jenkintown. On the 6^th, the 17^th Regiment advanced to Tyson's Tavern.
December 7^th: Battle of Edge Hill.André. pp.31-32
December 8^th: the army returns to Philadelphia.Feinsytone 409. P.51 3 Rank and file missing, 1 Officer (Lieutenant Matthew Anketell, Light Infantry) wounded.Webb. p.75
December 26^th - 28^th: Grand forage under General Grey between Derby Creek and Cobbs' Creek. Returns to Philadelphia for winter quarters.Feinstone 409. p.52 André. p.42

1778

May 10^th: Recruits for the 17^th Regiment arrive from Portsmouth, England at New York onboard the Greenwich Indiaman with Admiral Gambier. They were at sea for 8 weeks.Kemble. p.150
May 20^th: Battle of Barren Hill
June 27^th: The Army halted at Freehold (Monmouth Courthouse)
June 28^th: Battle of Monmouth
July 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd: Troops embark at Sandy Hook(?). 17^th Regiment lands at New Utrecht, Long Island.Ibid. p.154 André. p.49
August 26^th: From Bedford to Flushing Fly (New York)
August 27^th: From Flushing Fly to Whitestone. Embarked on the Margaret & Martha and the Alicia transports.
September 5^th: Skonticut Neck to New Bedford (Buzzard's Bay).
September 10^th-13^th: Martha's Vineyard
September 17^th: Disembark at Whitestone.
September 22^nd: Crossed from Red Hook to Paulus' Hook, camped at Bergen.
September 23^rd: Bergen to English Neighbourhood.
October 15^th: Embarked at Paulus's Hook to New York.

Bibliography

André, John. (1904). Major André's Journal. Kindle Edition
Cannon, Richard. (1848). Historical Record of The Seventeenth, or The Leicestershire Regiment of Foot; containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688, and of its subsequent services to 1848. London: Parker, Furnivall & Parker
Cohen, Sheldon S. (1990). Captain William Leslie's “Paths of Glory.” New Jersey History, Vol. 108, Nos. 1-2, Spring/Summer
Kemble, Stephen. (1884). Kemble Papers: Volume 1. Kemble's journals, 1773-1789 -- British Army orders : Gen. Sir William Howe, 1775-1778 ; Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, 1778 ; Gen. Daniel Jones, 1778. New York: Printed for the New York Historical Society. Available online
Webb, E. A. H. (1911). A History of the Service of the 17th (The Leicestershire) Regiment. London: Vacher and Sons Ltd.

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