Order of Battle-Lincoln’s Division-Fall 1776

I’ve been working on a new Connecticut related project for some time now. During my research, I kept coming across a group of Massachusetts militia that served with the Continental Army during the fall of 1776. This was the 4,000-man division of Major General Benjamin Lincoln.[1]

Portrait of Benjamin Lincoln, depicted by Charles Peale, in the collection of the Independence Hall Museum.

In early September, the Massachusetts General Court, the state’s governing, “ordered a fifth part of the Militia, not already in the service (the remote Counties, and some Sea-Port Towns excepted) to be immediately drafted out and to march with all possible dispatch, to [Washington’s] assistance.” They would serve until late November. Lincoln was placed in command of them.[2]

Unfortunately, I was never able to find a complete order of battle or listing of the units of the brigade. Most studies or books just listed them simply as Lincoln's Division. No unit names. I always try to avoid using generic names like “Massachusetts militia,” in my research or writing. I would much rather call them by their actual names. I believe it gives readers a better connection and makes the story better.

Since they were involved in my “Connecticut project,” I really wanted to know more of their identities. At least three of Lincoln’s regiments were stationed in Connecticut at that time. Two of these were stationed in Fairfield preparing for an attack on Long Island. This was two months after the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn (August 29, 1776), and subsequent withdraw to Manhattan. Washington planned to transport these two regiments across the Sound to Long Island. There, they were to assist inhabitants in the removal of their livestock over to Connecticut or to destroy them to deprive them from being used by the enemy.

On October 15, 1776, General George Washington reorganized his army for the third time during the New York Campaign. This was just days before the retreat from Manhattan to White Plains. In this reorganization, Washington ordered that “the Massachusetts Militia [form] another [division], under the Command of Major Genl Lincoln.”[3]  

Despite being identified as a division, they really resembled an oversized brigade consisting of nine regiments. Over the course of my research, I realized that each of the nine regiments were drawn from the militia regiments of a specific Massachusetts county. Likewise, each of the regiment’s field officers were from that same county. That is why I thought it proper to identify them as such.

Their identities were found throughout the 17 volumes of the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War published at the direction of the Secretary of the Commonwealth during the late 19th century. The book quotes a “Colonel; general return dated Boston, Nov. 28, 1776, of nine regiments that marched to New York under Brig. General Lincoln.” Or "Colonel; general return dated Boston, Nov. 28, 1776, made by John Popkin, Brigade Major, of militia regiments that marched from Massachusetts to the state of New York under the command of Maj. General Lincoln." With this, we had discovered each of the colonel's names and their "home unit." It was right in front of our eyes the entire time! Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate the return or returns that was quoted as of yet.

One last note, even though they were organized into a division, they did not serve together as such, until probably after the Battle of White Plains (October 28, 1776). They were detached and used by Washington to cover various strategic points, like Fairfield and Horseneck (Greenwich) in Connecticut, and Valentine Hill, Tarrytown, East Chester, and Dobb’s Ferry in New York.

Lincoln’s Division

Maj. General Benjamin Lincoln

Maj. William Turner, Brigade Major

Howe’s Regiment of Middlesex County Militia                     

Col. Ezekiel Howe

McIntosh’s Regiment of Suffolk County Militia                     

Col. William McIntosh

Moseley’s Regiment of Hampshire County Militia               

Col. John Moseley

Brooks’ Regiment of Middlesex County Militia                     

Col. Eleazar Brooks

Symonds’ Regiment of Berkshire County Militia                  

Col. Benjamin Symonds

Denny’s Regiment of Worcester County Militia                    

Col. Samuel Denny

Carpenter’s Regiment of Bristol County Militia                    

Col. Thomas Carpenter

Cogswell’s Regiment of Essex County Militia                        

Col. Jonathan Cogswell Jr.

Converse’s Regiment of Worcester County Militia              

Col. James Converse

[1] Lincoln’s rank here was his militia rank, not his Continental rank. He would not be promoted to major general in the Continental Army until 1777.

[2] Massachusetts General Court to George Washington, September 13, 1776, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.

[3] General Orders, October 15, 1776, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.