Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment
Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment was a unit of the Continental Army which served from January 1, 1777 until it was disbanded on January 1, 1781. It was commanded by Colonel Henry Sherburne. (see below) [1]
History
Sherburne's Regiment was one of sixteen additional regiments authorized by the Continental Congress in late 1776. It was organized on January 12, 1777 with soldiers mostly recruited from Rhode Island and Connecticut. It was at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777 to 1778 and was at the Battle of Rhode Island in August 1778.
Field Officers
- Colonel Henry Sherburne (see below)
- Lieutenant Colonel Return J. Meigs (served from February 22 to May 12, 1777)
- Major William Bradford (served from January 12, 1777 to January 1, 1781) [2]
Colonel Henry Sherburne
Colonel Henry Sherburne was born about 1740 and was commissioned as the major of Church's Regiment (a.k.a. 3rd Rhode Island Regiment) in May 1775. He served with this unit during the Siege of Boston. On January 1, 1776 he became the major of the 15th Continental Regiment and was captured at the Cedars in May 1776 and was later exchanged. He was noted for his heroism at the Battle of Trenton in December 1776. On January 1, 1777 he became the major of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.[3]
On January 12, 1777 Sherburne was commissioned as colonel of his own regiment. He served in this position until the regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781.
Sherburne's life after the war is not known. It is possible that he was the same Henry Sherburne who served as Rhode Island General Treasurer from 1793 to 1807.