The Continental Army
The following rosters of troops, arranged chronologically under the headings A, B, C, and D, include the quotas contributed by Connecticut to what was known as the Continental Army of the Revolution.
The term "Continental Army" first appears upon the printed records of the Continental Congress in the summary of the proceedings for June 14, 1775, where the form of enlistment to be subscribed by companies of riflemen is given. It was to be an enlistment into "the American Continental Army." On the same day a Committee of five was appointed to prepare rules and regulations for the government of this prospective army, which were reported and adopted on the 30th. On June 15th, it was resolved "That a General be appointed to command all the Continental forces, raised or to be raised, for the defence of American Liberty," and Washington was unanimously elected.
At the opening of the War, or for the year 1775, no Continental force was in the first instance organized as such by Congress. As the New England Colonies were mustering their own troops around Boston and Ticonderoga after the Lexington alarm, Congress adopted them as Continental. Troops joining them from New York and elsewhere were generally recruited on the Continental basis. For the succeding years of the wars, Congress took the initiative and raised troops for the common army under its own regulations respecting pay, subsistence, and term of service. The force, as will appear, was organized and re-organized several times and for various terms.
These Continentals were the "regulars" of the Revolution. They formed the main army in the field and were the chief dependence of the Colonial cause. In arranging rosters of that war, according, the Continental army occupies the central and most prominent place. All other troops raised during the war, whether State or Militia, were to act as reinforcements of this army or to relieve it by serving in alarms at different points. They are so classified after the Continentals. See "Arrangements of the Rolls" in the Introduction
[ Connecticut In The Revolution ]