Delaware Line facts for kids

The Delaware Line was a special group of soldiers from Delaware who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Think of it like a team or a section within the larger army.

What Was the Delaware Line?

The term "Delaware Line" referred to the number of soldiers, usually one infantry regiment, that Delaware was expected to provide for the Continental Army. This expectation came from the Continental Congress, which was like the government of the new American states during the war.

Each of the thirteen states had its own "Line," which was its assigned group of soldiers. Together, all these state "Lines" formed the main part of the Continental Army, known as the Continental Line.

Why Was the "Line" Important?

The "Line" concept was very important for military officers. An officer is a leader in the army, like a captain or a major. Usually, an officer could only get promoted (move up in rank) within the "Line" of their own state. For example, a captain from the Delaware Line would typically only be promoted to a higher rank within the Delaware Line, not in another state's Line. This rule applied to most officers below the rank of brigadier general, which is a very high-ranking officer.

Regiments Not Part of the State Quota

Not every group of soldiers from a state was automatically part of its "Line" or state quota. Sometimes, the Continental Congress gave George Washington, who was the commander of the Continental Army, special powers.

On December 27, 1776, Washington was given the authority to create more regiments. These were extra groups of soldiers that were not tied to a specific state's quota. He could raise up to sixteen of these additional regiments.

Delaware Soldiers in Other Regiments

Even though Delaware had its own "Line," some soldiers from Delaware also served in these "at large" regiments. For example, in 1777, Washington asked John Patton of Pennsylvania to lead one of these new regiments. A group of soldiers called McLane's Company, which was originally part of Patton's Regiment, came from Delaware.

Other regiments, like Grayson's, Hartley's, and Patton's Regiments, also had soldiers from Delaware. These units were not part of Delaware's official "Line" quota. Sometimes, other smaller units were also formed for special missions or temporary service, and they too might have included soldiers from Delaware.

The Delaware Regiment was a well-known part of the Continental Army.