In response to the fighting between British troops and
colonists at Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, the Second Continental
Congress placed the Massachusetts volunteers in their own service and selected
George Washington to command them. This
action gave birth to the Continental Army.
Congress also authorized the raising of ten companies of
riflemen, for one year's service as additional manpower. Pennsylvania was expected to provide six
companies of these troops but the commonwealth provided nine. These companies became known as Colonel
Thompson's Battalion of Riflemen.
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| This sign at 44 York Street in Gettysburg marks the location of Gettys' Tavern. |
York County, which at that time included what is now Adams
County, was represented by Captain
Michael Doudel's Company. It was,
"... enlisted principally at Samuel Getty's Tavern..." This company provided at least forty (probably
much more) men to the total of 849 men listed for the battalion. Included in this company was Lt. Henry Miller
of Fairfield (then Millerstown) and Private John Dother, of Marsh Creek. Doudel's men (Company C) left York on July 1
and arrived at Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 25.
Upon their arrival they made a favorable impression to the local
populous. An army surgeon noted,
"They are remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet
in height." As to their prowess as
marksmen he commented, "... their shot have frequently proved fatal to
British officers and soldiers, who expose themselves to view, even at more than
double the distance of common musket shot."
Within four days the company skirmished at Charlestown Neck
and lost one man to capture. The rigors
of the march and combat may have contributed to Captain Doudel becoming
ill. It was so severe that he resigned and
as a result, Henry Miller was promoted to captain.
The men of Company C fought well but they received a
reputation of being insubordinate and undisciplined. When two companies were needed to leave
Cambridge and join an expedition to invade Canada, Lieutenant Colonel Hand
reported, "The General [presumably Washington] refused peremptorily to
take the York company."
In spite of this imperfection, their fighting and shooting
skills keep them in good stead. Company C and the entire battalion continued
to do good service around Boston. They
exhibited tenacious fighting at Ploughed Hill and Lechmere's Point. Their military proficiency did not go
unnoticed by General Washington.
On January 1, 1776, the army was reorganized and the
battalion became the first regiment of the Continental Army complete with its
own flag which bared the motto, "domari nolo" (I will not be
subjugated). The strength of the regiment
was 693 officers and men.
Frustrated with a stalemate in Boston, the British troops departed
the area. Washington received
information that their destination was New York City. As a consequence, on March 14, under orders
from General Washington, the regiment and five others left Massachusetts and
marched to New York City. The journey for
the regiment took two weeks.
Washington recognized the rifle regiment's value and
recommended to Congress the men be offered a two year term of reenlistment because
their term would soon expire on June 30.
The offer was made and most of the men reenlisted.
July 1, 1776 marked the formation of the First Regiment of
the Pennsylvania Line in Continental service.
John Dother remained a private and Henry Miller had been promoted to
major.
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