3rd Continental Regiment 1776

Please note this is my second edition of this regiment.  The first was using RSM LTD. Miniatures.  These are from Brigade Games.  Why the change?  First these new figures are more correct for the  1776 period.  Why?  They are a mixture of The 1775 Bounty coats (Massachusetts gave to soldiers enlisting), Regimental coats (being issued but in small numbers in 1776) and civilian clothing.  This creates just The right impression I was looking for  originally.  The old 3rd will repainted to continue its service.  

The 3rd Continental Regiment was raised  in January 1776 by consolidating Colonel Learned's, Danielson's and Wood's  1775 regiments .  It was enlisted until January 1777 and  served during the seige of Boston and later in the campaigns around New York city.  It was Commanded by Colonel Ebenezer Learned until his retirement in May 1776 due to illness.  Learned later returned to military service and commanded a brigade during the Saratoga campaign.

During the siege of Boston Colonel Learned and the 3rd Continental regiment manned the important Dorchester heights position which forced the British evacuation of Boston.  When the Americans marched into Boston the 3rd led the march into the city and was assigned the duty of removing obstacles like abatis and caltrops.  Afterwards they marched south to New York city.  Although they did not participate in the fight on Long Island they did see service later in the campaign.  They were assigned to the Brigade commanded by General John Glover with the 13th, 14th and 26th Continental regiments.  At Kip's Bay September 5 they formed the defensive line at Kingsbridge  that Washington's forces retreated past.  At Pell's Point  on October 14 they fought a delaying action against advancing British light forces.  Remnants of the Regiment fought at Trenton before being disbanded with the expiration of enlistments.  Many of the men later enlisted into the 4th Massachusetts regiment of 1777.


  Little is known of the uniform of the 3rd Continental Regiment.  One return I found suggested drab color coats.  These could be a shade of brown or undyed wool.  Massachusetts had large supplies of brown wool on hand.  These included captured and re dyed British coats.  Usually coats were supplied with a facing color and waistcoat or vest to  match.  There were a variety of wool for facing colors avalible.  Since none are listed for the 3rd I have assigned them blue as there were supplies of this material avalible.