25th Continental Regiment

• Authorized on April 23, 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Gardner’s Regiment.
• Organized in spring 1775 at Cambridge to consist of 10 companies from southeastern Middlesex County and Suffolk County.
• Adopted on June 14, 1775 into the Continental Army and assigned to the Main Continental Army.
• Assigned on July 22, 1775 to Greene’s Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• Consolidated (less Craft’s Company) on January 1, 1776 with Mayhew’s Company, Cotton’s Regiment and Epery’s Company, Danielson’s Regiment and consolidated unit redesignated as the 25th Continental Regiment, an element of Greene’s Brigade to consist of 8 companies; concurrently Craft’s Company reorganized and redesignated as Craft’s Company, 24th Continental Regiment. The regiment consisted of eight companies, and was to have a total strength of over 700 men. Each company was commanded by a captain, and consisted of 76 privates, 4 corporals, 4 sergeants, 1 ensign, 2 lieutenants, 1 fifer and 1 drummer. Soldiers enlisted for one year.
• Relieved on April 15, 1776 from Main Continental Army and assigned to the Canadian Department.
• Relieved on July 2, 1776 from Canadian Department and assigned to the Northern Department.
• Assigned on July 20, 1776 to Arnold’s Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
• Arnold’s Brigade redesignated 26 October 1776 as Poor’s Brigade.
• Relieved on November 26, 1776 from Poor’s Brigade and assigned to Vose’s Brigade, an element of the Main Continental Army.
• Vose’s Brigade redesignated on December 18, 1776 as McDougall’s Brigade.
• Consolidated (less Mayhew’s Company) on January 1, 1777 with the 24th Continental Regiment and consolidated unit redesignated Greaton’s Regiment; concurrently Mayhew’s Company reorganized and redesignated as Warren’s Company, Alden’s Regiment.

ENGAGEMENTS

• Siege of Boston - The regiment served outside Boston through March of 1776. In March, the arrival of cannon from Fort Ticonderoga led to the British evacuating the city on March 17, 1776. General Washington expected the British would move to New York City, and ordered the regiment to join American forces already there.
• Defense of Canada – The regiment arrived in Canada to find disease (smallpox) prevalent. The arrival of British re-inforcements soon resulted in the June withdrawal of the army south along the Richelieu River. By July 2, 1776, the army had arrived at Crown Point, New York. There the decision was made to defend Lake Champlain by occupying Fort Ticonderoga on the New York side and Mount Independence on the Vermont side of the lake.
• Lake Champlain – The 25th Regiment was at Mount Independence until November. Throughout the Revolution, the Champlain Valley and surrounding area played a key role in the History of the Adirondacks and United States. The troops built extensive fortifications and prepared for a British attack from the north. Brigadier General Benedict Arnold supervised the building and outfitting of a fleet of gunboats to delay the British. (One of these, the Philadelphia, has been raised from the lake and is in the Smithsonian. A copy, the Philadelphia II, can be seen at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Basin Harbor, Vermont.) Although Arnold’s fleet was defeated, the British abandoned there attack as a result of the delay, and the strength of the fortifications at Ticonderoga and Mount Indepedence.
• New York City – The 25th left Boston on March 18, 1776, and marched to New London, Connecticut where it set sail for New York City. The regiment remained in New York until April 21, 1776, when it was ordered by General Washington to join the troops in Canada under Major General John Thomas.
• Northern New Jersey – In mid-November, the regiment was ordered to move south and join Washington’s Main Continental Army in northern New Jersey. The regiment remained in service until January 1, 1777, when it was reorganized as the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Line.