The World Turned Upside Down - 2nd Canadian Continental Regiment, 'Congress's Own'.

 

The 2nd Canadian Regiment (1776–1783), also known as Congress's Own or Hazen's Regiment, was a Continental regiment consisting primarily of volunteers from the Province of Quebec, which was authorized on January 20th, 1776 under the command of Colonel Moses Hazen. 

All or part of the regiment saw action at Staten Island, Brandywine, Germantown and the Siege of Yorktown, with most of its non-combat time spent in and around New York City as part of the forces monitoring the British forces occupying that city. The regiment was disbanded on November 15th, 1783 at West Point, New York.

Officer of the 2nd Canadian Regiment 1777-79

The regiment was one of a small number of Continental Army regiments that was the direct responsibility of the Continental Congress, as most Continental regiments were funded and supplied by a specific state. 

Drummer of the 2nd Canadian Regiment 1777-79

Commanded by Colonel (later Brigadier General) Moses Hazen for its entire existence, the regiment was originally made up of volunteers and refugees from Quebec who supported the rebel cause during the disastrous invasion of Canada, and Hazen and his staff were later authorized by Congress to recruit in other areas to supplement their ranks.

Fort Chambly, captured by American forces on October 20, 1775, during the American Invasion of Canada of 1775–76, it was held until the spring of 1776 when it was evacuated and burned, as the Americans retreated southward to Fort Ticonderoga.

Late in 1775, Colonel James Livingston raised and commanded a regiment of Canadians that fought at St. Jean, Quebec, in support of General Montgomery's 1775 invasion of Quebec, and Livingston's 300 Canadians, along with about 50 Americans, were instrumental in the fall of Fort Chambly during that engagement. Livingston's regiment, which was not formalized by Montgomery until November 1775, also participated in the action at Quebec.

Moses Hazen had served as a lieutenant in the 44th Regiment during the French and Indian War and was receiving a half-pay pension for his British service, and in 1775, while he was living on this plus the income from his estate in St. Jean, Quebec, the colonial army invaded. Hazen was arrested by the British on suspicion of spying for the Americans, and was held a prisoner for fifty-four days, until he was finally released by General Montgomery after the fall of Montreal in November. 

Benedict Arnold is escorted away wounded in the failed assault on Quebec, 31st December 1775 - Osprey CAMPAIGN 128: Quebec 1775

Hazen then joined the American cause, and took part in the Battle of Quebec, and following the American failure to take the city, Hazen and Edward Antill, an American expatriate, travelled to Philadelphia to report on the battle; following which Congress partially compensated Hazen by establishing the 2nd Canadian Regiment, for which he accepted the command, whilst Antill was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment. 

On January 20th, 1776, Congress authorized the 2nd Canadian Regiment with an allowed maximum strength of 1,000 men, and consisting of four battalions (5 companies each), the only oversized regiment in the Continental Army, and seemingly borrowing its structure from the French army, no doubt meant to attract French Canadians, but not proving a resounding success, never raising more than half its compliment.

It was assigned to the Army's Canadian Department, and was organized by Hazen on February 10th, 1776, at Montreal, to be recruited from the Richelieu and St. Lawrence Valleys. Over the next two months, Hazen and Antill recruited in those areas, until early April, when the recruiting funds dried up, having raised about 250 men, and by July 1776 when the regiment was based in Albany its numbers had dwindled to about 100 men.

2nd Canadian Regiment, Light Company

It was reorganized on January 1st, 1777, to consist of four battalions (20 companies), and Hazen was given permission to recruit "at large" – that is, he was allowed to recruit from any states, not just Quebec. These recruitment efforts met with mixed success, as most states had been assigned quotas for troop recruitment to fill their line companies, and thus preferred to have men enter those commands rather than Hazen's. On January 8th, the regiment was assigned to the Main Army.

The regiment was at Princeton, New Jersey, as early as May 19th, 1777, where it was assigned on May 22nd to the 2nd Maryland Brigade of the Main Army, and in early August the regiment, brigaded as part of General John Sullivan's Division, was encamped at Hanover, New Jersey. 

Division: Major General John Sullivan 

1st Maryland Brigade: Unknown commander (William Smallwood's brigade)

1st Maryland Regiment
3rd Maryland Regiment
7th Maryland Regiment
1st Delaware Regiment, Colonel David Hall (250)

2nd Maryland Brigade: Brigadier General Chevalier Philippe Hubert Preudhomme de Borre

2nd Maryland Regiment
4th Maryland Regiment, Colonel Josias Carvil Hall
6th Maryland Regiment
2nd Canadian Regiment, Colonel Moses Hazen (400)

Several of the regiment's companies participated in the Battle of Staten Island on August 22nd, 1777 suffering the loss of 8 officers and 40 men, and the captured including Antill who would not be exchanged until November 10th, 1780.

Troop movements during Battle of Staten Island, August 22, 1777
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Staten_Island#/media/File:Battle_of_Staten_Island,_1777.svg
The Battle of Staten Island was a failed raid by Continental Army troops under Major General John Sullivan against British forces on Staten Island with the raid suffering from a shortage of boats to effect its retreat, costing it two companies, and one of its detachments was misled by its guide to the front of the British position rather than its rear. As a result, American losses of dead, wounded, and captured were each double or more those of the British, depriving Washington of some 180-300 men needed for his summer campaign.

Sullivan's division then marched south to join Washington's army in the defence of Philadelphia and on September 11th, 1777, the regiment was in De Borre's Brigade of the Division, and was initially assigned the task of defending Wistar's (200 men) and Buffington's Fords (200 men) situated just below the forks of the Brandywine Creek at the extreme right of the Continental position east of the Brandywine, where they were nearly cut off by Howe's flanking attack that afternoon. 

Jeffrey’s Ford: Battle of Brandywine Creek on 11th September 1777

Hazen's troops spotted the British flanking manoeuvre crossing the Brandywine River, and they sent a report of this movement to General Washington, who initially did not believe this intelligence despite its corroboration by Lieutenant Colonel James Ross. 

Map of the Battle of Brandywine Creek on 11th September 1777  - Map by John Fawkes 
The early morning moves in the Battle of Brandywine saw British General Howe's flanking force under Earl Cornwallis set off on its march at 04.00 to arrive on the battlefield via Trimble's and Jeffries Fords, outflanking Hazen's Canadians at Wistar's and Buffington's Fords.

They were later used to screen the artillery and other troops of Sullivan's division as they manoeuvred to get into position to meet the fast moving British attacking force.

American troops at the Battle of Brandywine Creek on 11th September 1777 - Frederick Coffay Yohn

Outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, Washington was forced to call a full retreat as British and Hessian forces approached from front and flank, threatening to trap and destroy his entire army.

Caught up in the resulting rout was Sergeant John Hawkins of the 2nd Canadian Regiment, who attempting to climb over a fence, was forced to leave his encumbering knapsack behind in order to escape onrushing British Highlanders. Though he would live to fight another day, and be promoted to Sergeant Major the very next month, Hawkins would never see the contents of his knapsack again, with his account appearing in the 1896 issue of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

"September 11, 1777. — About one o'clock the enemy appeared in motion advancing towards us. Our regiment was posted on the right of the Army, and was the first attacked and among the last to leave the field.  A heavy fire of artillery and musketry was carried on by both sides the whole afternoon with scarcely any intermission. The enemy were much superior to us in numbers, as but a small part of our army were engaged, the greater part being away on the left. In justice to the brave officers and men of our regiment, Col. Hazen thought himself obliged to affirm, that no troops behaved better, nor any troops left the field in greater order. Four officers, and seventy-three non-commissioned officers and rank and file of the regiment were killed, wounded and taken prisoners. "

In the engagement, I lost my knapsack, which contained the following articles, viz. 1 uniform Coat — brown faced with white; 1 shirt; 1 pr. Stockings; 1 sergeants sash; 1 pr. knee buckles; } lb Soap; 1 Orderly Book; 1 Mem° Book, of Journal and state of my company; 1 quire paper; 2 vials ink; 1 brass Ink horn; 40 Morning returns, printed blanks; 1 tin gill cup; A letter and a book entitled Rutherford's Letters. I likewise lost my hat, but recovered it again.

The Museum of the American Revolution have put together a marvellous reconstruction of Sgt. Hawkins knapsack and its contents which can be seen in more detail in the link below.
https://www.amrevmuseum.org/sergeant-john-hawkins-lost-pack-discovery-cart

The weather was very warm, and tho my knapsack was very light, was very cumbersome, as it swung about when walking or running, and in crossing fences was in the way so I cast it away from me, and had I not done so would have been grabbed by one of the ill-looking Highlanders, a number of whom were fireing and advancing very brisk towards our rear. The smoke was so very thick that about the close of the day I lost sight of our regiment, and just at dark I fell in with the North Carolina troops, and about two o'clock in the morning (Sept. 12), arrived at Chester just as the whole of the baggage wagons were leaving. I saw several regiments which had been halted for a rest. I searched around for tidings of my regiment, but could only find one officer and three or four men. I rested by one of the camp fires until day, when I heard that my regiment was coming. About 8 o clock it reached Chester, when the whole body of troops that was there marched towards Darby. On a hill, just beyond Darby, we halted and rested for two hours, and then marched until we came to the Lancaster road. near Gardner's Place, where we halted and at the edge of a woods rested for the night."

" September 13. — The different regiments marched down to the Middle Ferry on Schuylkill, crossed on the Floating Bridge, and proceeded through the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia to Germantown, just back of which we halted and pitched our tents.

"September 14. — Tents struck, baggage sent off to Bethlehem, and marched to Swede's Ford, crossed, the water up to our middle, thence to Merion meeting-house, when we turned into the Lancaster road and kept on until we came near the eleven mile stone, when we halted in the woods and rested for the night. Here a number of our men joined us, whom we thought had been captured.''

Still under Sullivan's command, the regiment participated in the Battle of Germantown on October 4th, 1777. 

Division: Major General Sullivan (1,000)

1st Maryland Brigade: Colonel John Hoskins Stone

1st Maryland Regiment, Colonel John Hoskins Stone
3rd Maryland Regiment
7th Maryland Regiment
1st Delaware Regiment, Colonel David Hall

2nd Maryland Brigade: Colonel Moses Hazen

2nd Maryland Regiment
4th Maryland Regiment, Colonel Josias Hall, Major John Eager Howard
6th Maryland Regiment
2nd Canadian Regiment, Colonel Moses Hazen

The British were encamped at Germantown northwest of Philadelphia, and on the evening of October 3rd General Washington ordered his troops, encamped at Skippack Creek on the north side of the Schuylkill River, to march 17 miles as part of a planned surprise attack on the British at daybreak. 

Map of the Battle of Germantown on 4th October 1777  - Map by John Fawkes

Washington determined to surprise the British army in camp, and his plan required a strong column under Major-General Nathaniel Greene, with the brigades of McDougall, Muhlenberg, Stephen and Scott, to attack the right wing of the British army, which comprised Grant’s and Donop’s troops. The second column, which Washington commanded, with Stirling and Sullivan, would advance down the main Philadelphia road and attack the British centre. Forces of American militia would attack each wing of the British force, formed of the Queen’s Rangers on the right, and, on the left near the Schuylkill River, Hessian Jägers and British Light Infantry.

The regiment was part of the platoon of the advance party that first entered Germantown before the battle became general. Unbeknownst to Washington, the columns of Greene and Smallwood got lost. Washington himself accompanied Sullivan's force and, at 5 am, ordered him to launch the assault. The leading element of Sullivan's column, General Thomas Conway's brigade, attacked the British 2d Light Infantry battalion, which had been reinforced by the British 40th Regiment of Foot under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Musgrave. 

When Washington was finally compelled to break off the battle, the final tally of casualties amounted to 500 British killed, wounded or captured and 1,000 Americans killed, wounded or captured that included 50 Americans killed attacking the Chew House.

The 2nd Canadian regiment formed part of Sullivan's early attack on the British, and its losses were 3 officers and 19 men.

On December 21st, 1777, the regiment and a detachment of the Maryland Line under the command of General William Smallwood (the 2nd Maryland Brigade) arrived at Wilmington, Delaware, to protect the city from the British, that would see Smallwood's capture of the British armed brigantine Symmetry on December 30th laden with supplies, including winter clothing, en route to the British in Philadelphia.

For my early war incarnation of the 2nd Canadians, I have used a white colour to match their facings, but have the brown and gold option to use with a more suitable red faced battalion for later war actions.

From January 1778 the regiment was transferred to the Northern Department with a resurrected plan of a second invasion of Quebec later called off in the following March following difficulties in acquiring the required manpower and supplies that would see the 2nd Canadians begin their extended tour of duty observing the British garrison in New York city.

One of the advantages of basing with sabots is that I can change figures as required, so here utilising my generic red-faced battalion, top left, to recreate the 2nd Canadians after 1779 to which I will add a red faced standard bearer/ensign carrying the alternative brown and gold colour from Flags of War range.
https://www.flagsofwar.com/collections/awi-american-patriots

In 1779, the regiment was somewhat unique in that it didn't change uniform to the new regulation army dark blue, but instead maintained the brown, changing to red facings.

Private soldier of the 2nd Canadian Regiment after 1779 - Don Troiani

In the spring of 1780, the regiment was subjected to a thorough inspection by Baron von Steuben, and was found to be "well taken care of", with Von Steuben making recommendations that resulted in the merging of the 1st and 2nd Canadian regiments in 1781, which would be designated as the Canadian Regiment, with foreign volunteers assigned to the regiment.

On June 29th, 1781 Hazen was finally given a brevet promotion to brigadier general.

Sergeant John Hawkins, hand raised, and knapsack restored, beckons forth the 2nd Canadian, Congress's Own, Regiment of Continentals.

On August 10th, 1781, the Canadian Regiment was reassigned from the Northern Department to the Main Army, and on August 19th, Washington used the regiment to feint preparations for an attack on New York. Meanwhile, the main body of the American Army was starting their southward movement toward Yorktown, with the regiment withdrawn, for three days from August 22nd–25th.

It then went down the Hudson River and joined the army on the way to Yorktown and on September 24th, Hazen was given command of the second brigade of the Marquis de Lafayette's Light Division, to which the Canadian Regiment (now under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Antill) was assigned,  the regiment arriving at Yorktown on September 28th.

Assault on Redoubt 10 at Yorktown by the American Light Infantry under Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton on the evening of October 14, 1781 - U.S. Army Center of Military History

Roughly a quarter of the regiment participated in the siege, and was involved in the October 14th attacks on the British redoubts, in which, according to Lafayette's own account, the Americans did not fire a gun, but used only the bayonet. 

In June 1783, with the peace nearly finalised, much of the regiment was furloughed and, with issues over outstanding pay from Congress finally resolved, the regiment was completely disbanded on November 15th, 1783, at West Point, New York.

My 2nd Canadian Regiment are composed of the plastic Continental Infantry offerings from Perry Miniatures and are fitted out with the white colour from Flags of War, and completed with my low-profile sabot bases from Supreme Littleness Designs.

Going forward, I plan to add another sabot of four figures to raise the Canadians to a twenty figure battalion, better suited to represent them at the 400 plus men level than the 320 plus men they are shown as here.

As always, more anon.

JJ