Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion of 1775 (Later the 1st Continental & 1st Pennsylvania Regiment)

Description

Historic Rock Ford's America250 Lecture Series welcomes Col. (Ret) John A. Bonin, PhD as he presents "Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion of 1775 (Later the 1st Continental and the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment)." 

This presentation will focus on the context, circumstances and service of the first battalion of the Continental Army. After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the New England Colonies formed an army of militiamen outside of Boston to oppose the ministerial Regulars. However, discipline was problematic and supplies scarce. The New England Colonies requested the 2d Continental Congress provide a commander and to adopt their army. On June 14, 1775, Congress acted and adopted the New England Army but also “Resolved,  That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia;  That each company as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army.”  These were the first soldiers recruited for up to a year directly under Congress and hence these were the first Continentals. Due to an excess of expert riflemen volunteering from the Pa frontier, on June 22, Congress expanded the original requirement for six companies from Pennsylvania to eight, now to be constituted as a battalion under field grade officers recommended by the Pennsylvania Assembly.  William Thompson of Carlisle was commissioned as the Colonel in Command, Edward Hand of Lancaster as the Lieutenant Colonel and second in Command, and as the MAJ, Robert MaGraw of Carlisle. Thompson commanded the battalion until promoted to Brig Gen in March 1776. Edward Hand was promoted to Colonel and subsequently led the redesignated 1st Continental /1st Pennsylvania Regiment until Hand was promoted to Brig Gen in March 1777. 

This presentation will begin at 6:30 PM in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn. It will be approximately one hour in length.  Please note that admission is for the lecture and does not include the Snyder Gallery.  

About the Presenter: COL (Ret) JOHN A. BONIN, PhD is a Distinguished Fellow at the US Army War College and has written extensively on Army topics. He graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1972 and held a variety of field and academic positions during 30 years as an infantry officer retiring in 2002 as a Colonel on the faculty of the US Army War College. From 2003-2020, he served as the Army War College’s doctrine advisor retiring as a full professor and the Elihu Root chair of military studies. From 2020-2023 he served as a Special Government Employee at the War College focusing on theater armies. He holds degrees from Duke and Temple Universities in Military History. 

Date & Time

Wed, Sep 30, 2026 6:30 PM

Venue Details

Historic Rock Ford

881 Rockford Road
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602

Rock Ford Foundation