"Additional Continental Regiments" were those paid (theoretically, at least) by the Continental Congress, but outside of the quotas it had assigned to each of the individual colonies.
This regiment was raised in January of 177 by Henry Sherburne, primarily from recruits in eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island.
On May 25, 177, one company of the Regiment took part in the audacious raid (known as Meig's Raid, or the Battle of Sag Harbor) on eastern Long Island, returning after destroying forage and capturing 90 prisoners. The men crossed from Guilford, CT to Sag Harbor in whaleboats, accompanied by 2 schooners. Having grown up living on, swimming in, and also sailing on Long Island Sound in Greenwich, CT, let me tell you that there is no way I would want to row across it in ay kind of boat. It is a very large body of water, quite deep, and the waves can very from fairly calm to not so much! The raid was lead by Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs. For a fascinating account of the action, both written and audio, as well as how someone got the name "Return Jonathan", see episode 139 of the American Revolution Podcast blog. 
The regiment saw action during the New York and New Jersey campaign of 1776 -1777, and the Philadelphia Campaign of 177 - 1778, including wintering at Valley Forge. It took part in the battles of Staten Island (1777) and Rhode Island (1778).
In 1778, the regiment was well documented to be wearing brown coats (quite possibly captured British coats died brown) with yellow facings and North American made green serge vests and breeches.
I have given the regiment the Fort Mercer lag, with no historical justification at all, because it's an interesting early variation on the eventual US flag, and the fighting at Fort Mercer at least was part of one of the campaigns of the regiment. The flag itself was generated from internet images.
I believe this is a Don Troiani painting of a soldier from Sherburne's regiment
This image is from Charles Lefferts book on uniforms of the American Revolution.
Great uniform, good choice of regiment and very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donnie!
DeleteIt is indeed a great uniform - which is why I have it in my collection, too! Not sure what flag I gave them - maybe just the good ol Betsy Ross one?
ReplyDeleteSomething about the green pants with the brown coats is so wrong that it's right! :-)
DeleteA lot of unique uniform combos in this period
ReplyDeleteEven if many of them may have only been worn by 100 men or less! :-)
DeleteGood looking figures. Nice to see a unit in the brown uniform.
ReplyDeleteIt was evidently pretty common to dye captured British uniforms brown, plus of course plenty of local brown cloth!
DeleteBrown can be quite an effective colour for a uniform when nicely contrasted and these look great. How many more to go now Peter?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence. I agree, brown uniforms can be quite attractive with contrasting facing colors!
DeleteHmm, let's see... I have 6 more units painted yet to post, plus a slew of commanders. I have another 7 or so German units to paint, 4 British/Loyalists, a few more Guns, and then a small French force of 8 units (probably not this year!), and another Native American unit. That contrasted with more than 40 units posted so far.