Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion
Thompson's Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion
THOMPSON'S PENNSYLVANIA RIFLE BATTALION. Although the Continental Congress called for only six companies of riflemen from Pennsylvania, so many volunteers presented themselves that they were formed into nine companies and organized as a battalion under the command of Colonel William Thompson. The unit was created on 25 June 1775. It was reorganized on 1 January 1776 as the First Continental Infantry and as the First Pennsylvania on 1 January 1777 (Heitman, Historical Register, p. 47). Edward Hand was lieutenant colonel of the first organization, and Robert Magaw was its major.
SEE ALSO Riflemen; Thompson, William.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army. Revised edition. Washington, D.C.: Rare Book Shop Pub. Co., 1914.