Active 1777–1779 Type Infantry Part of Continental Army | Allegiance Continental Congress Size 4 companies Nickname(s) Forman's Red Coats | |
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Forman's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for a little more than two years during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized on 11 January 1777, the unit was recruited from southern New Jersey and Maryland. Raised by Colonel David Forman in early 1777, it saw service with the Continental Army in the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777 and 1778. In April 1779 the regiment was absorbed by Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment,
History
Forman's Additional Continental Regiment came into being on 11 January 1777 for service with the Continental Army and was assigned to the main army. The unit was one of 16 so-called Additional Continental Regiments. David Forman, previously the colonel of a regiment of New Jersey state troops, was appointed commander. Samuel Griffin had begun organizing the regiment but refused the command when he found that he would not be promoted to general. When Forman took over, he continued Griffin's initial work. As usual with the Additional Regiments, George Washington gave Forman wide authority to choose his own officers. The regiment's field officers were Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Henderson who served from 12 January 1777 to October 1777, and Major William Harrison who served from 1 May 1777 to 1 July 1778.
Forman's Additional regiment was recruited in the spring of 1777 from men from southern New Jersey and Maryland. The unit had a strength of four companies. It participated in the brief campaign in Northern New Jersey in June 1777. The regiment probably fought at the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777 in William Smallwood's 1,500-strong left flank column which was composed mostly of Maryland and New Jersey militia. Forman, who held a brigadier general's commission in the militia, commanded all 600 New Jersey troops that were present. Among the New Jersey soldiers under Forman, more than one observer distinguished between the militia and "General Forman's Red Coats". Likewise, Smallwood's Maryland militia included a portion of "enlisted men", that is, continentals. The left flank column overran a few outposts, but finally were driven off by the Queen's Rangers and the grenadier and light companies of the Brigade of Guards.
The unit served during the Monmouth Campaign in June 1778. The regiment is not listed in Brendan Morrissey's order of battle, though Philemon Dickinson's New Jersey militia was very active during the campaign and battle. Forman personally served on Charles Lee's staff during the battle on 28 June. On 1 April 1779, the remaining soldiers joined Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment and Forman's Regiment ceased to exist. Another source states that the regiment was dissolved on 1 July 1778 and the men transferred to the New Jersey Line.