5th Maryland Regiment facts for kids

The 5th Maryland Regiment is a name used by different army groups over time. Not all of these groups are connected. The first unit to use this name started in 1776. It was made of volunteers from the countryside in Maryland. Later, the name was often used for local army groups in Baltimore.

Today, the name "5th Maryland" is officially linked to the 175th Infantry Regiment. This unit is part of the Maryland Army National Guard. This article, however, focuses on the original 5th Maryland Regiment. This first group had a history separate from the Baltimore units.

The 5th Maryland in the American Revolution

The first 5th Maryland Regiment was formed on March 27, 1776. It was made up of eight companies. A company is a group of soldiers. These soldiers were volunteers from different counties in Maryland. These counties included Queen Anne's, Kent, Caroline, and Dorchester.

Recruitment Areas

On September 16, 1776, the regiment was approved to serve in the Continental Army. The Continental Army was the main army of the American colonies fighting for independence. On December 27, 1776, the regiment joined the main Continental Army.

In May 1777, it became part of the 1st Maryland Brigade. Later, in May 1779, it was reorganized into nine companies. On April 5, 1780, the regiment was sent to the Southern Department. This meant they would fight in the southern states. In January 1781, it was moved to the Maryland Brigade.

Battles and Service

The 5th Maryland Regiment fought in many important battles during the American Revolutionary War. These included:

• The Battle of Long Island in 1776
• The Battle of Brandywine in 1777
• The Battle of Germantown in 1777
• The Battle of Monmouth in 1778
• The Battle of Camden in 1780
• The Battle of Guilford Court House in 1781

The regiment was given a break from duty on January 1, 1782, in South Carolina. It was officially ended on January 1, 1783.

Two Regiments, One Name

Another unit called the 5th Maryland was created in 1867. This unit was nicknamed "The Dandy Fifth." Its history is continued today by the Maryland Army National Guard's 175th Infantry Regiment.

Even though this 5th Maryland also traces its history back to the American Revolutionary War, it is not the same as the first 5th Regiment. Instead, its roots come from local army groups raised in Baltimore. This means its battle honors, or the battles it fought in, are different from the Revolutionary War 5th Regiment. The 175th Infantry's history includes the 5th Maryland Regiment from the War of 1812 and the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA from the American Civil War.