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Daniel Morgan's Rifle Company and John Lamb's Artillery Company are modern reincarnations of units which fought as members of the Continental Army during the American War for Independence.
The two companies are member units of the Brigade of the American Revolution and of the Continental Line and the artillery company is a member of the British Brigade. These are umbrella organizations devoted to reenacting the Revolution.
The units are joined as the Morgan Rifle Corps, Inc. a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey and holding tax exempt status under Section 501-c-3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The two companies often do shows and presentations together in addition to larger reenactments sponsored by the umbrella organizations.
Both units are actively recruiting. Requirements for membership include an interest in (but not necessarily prior knowledge of) the history of the period, and the legal ability to own a firearm in your State of residence. Women and children are welcome. Help with sources of clothing and equipment is available.
The original company was raised in Winchester, Virginia, in June of 1775. Morgan marched his company to Cambridge, Mass. to join the army under General Washington besieging the British in Boston. They made the 600 mile march in 21 days, without a man dropping out. At Cambridge that company was one of three rifle companies selected to join an expedition under Benedict Arnold. The objective was to capture Quebec. The route was up the Kennebec River 'in what is now the State of Maine, across the Height of Land, and down the Chaudiere River to the St. Lawrence. the hardships were enormous, cold, hunger and exhaustion took a heavy toll. The little army reached Quebec in late November and was joined there by troops under General Montgomery, which included John Lamb's Artillery Company.
The combined force attacked Quebec in a blinding snowstorm on Dec. 31 1775. Arnold was wounded in the leg, and Morgan took command of his troops. Morgan and some of his men were able to get over the wall into the Lower Town, the only American troops to succeed in entering the city. With Montgomery dead leading the attack on another part of the city, and Arnold wounded, the attack failed. Morgan and many of the riflemen were captured by the British. Morgan was exchanged in the Spring and went on to play an active role in the War, notably as a Colonel leading a Corps of Riflemen at Saratoga and as a Brigadier General in command at the Battle of Cowpens.
The recreated Morgan Rifle Company attempts to present a true picture of the Rifleman of the Revolution - the clothes he wore, the weapons and equipment he carried, the tactics he used, and the part he played in the War. The men of the company wear typical riflemen's dress, broad brimmed hats cocked up on the left side, shirt and rifle frock, trousers, and shoes or moccasins. They carry period-correct rifles, a tomahawk, powder horn and hunting bag, belt knife and haversack.
If you wish to contact Daniel Morgan's Rifle Company, please email Nils Person.
The Company of Artillery of the Department of New York was founded in My of 1775 by John Lamb, a 41 year old New York City merchant and leader since of 1768 of the Son's of Liberty, upon acceptance by the Continental Congress of his application for a Captaincy of Artillery.
To outfit the Company he raided the Royal storehouse at Turtle Bay; later he absconded with 21 cannon from the Battery. Assigned to the Northern Army, Lamb's Artillery helped Montgomery to capture Montreal and lay siege to Quebec. When Montgomery was killed in the assault lamb, with Morgan, led the army into the City where, knocked out by a grapeshot that shattered his left cheekbone, Lamb was taken prisoner. During his captivity Congress promoted Lamb to Major in Knox's Regiment of Artillery and made him commander of artillery in the Northwest Department.
A prisoner exchange released Lamb from parole and he rejoined the army at Morristown in January 1777, where he was commissioned Colonel Commandant of Artillery, empowered to command six companies. Lamb used his own credit to obtain money to fill the six companies. He became the principal advisor to General Knox, now commander of all Continental Artillery.
Lamb directed the artillery defenses of the Hudson Highlands, was appointed Surveyor of Ordnance in March 1779, and was made commander of Artillery at West Point in June of 1780. In 1781 Lamb led the American artillery to Yorktown where, as second in command to Knox, he directed the barrage that led to Cornwallis's surrender on October 19, 1781.
Today's Lamb's Artillerymen wear uniforms of blue faced buff wool regimental coats, buff weskits and knee breeches, and carry swords, bayonets, and reproductions of British Brown Bess and French Charleville muskets. Their cannon is a full size replica of a British 3 pound field piece, the bronze barrel cast from an original captured at the Battle of Saratoga.
If you wish to contact John Lamb's Artillery Company, please email Al Florio.
Women and children are welcome members of the Corps. They portray camp followers, wives and children of the soldiers who followed their men on campaign and supported them in camp. The women make good use of the Corps equipment-tents, cooking gear and so forth. The children play period games, use reproduction toys of the 18th Century, and learn a great deal of history while having a grand time.
For information on these units or joining, please contact:
If you wish to contact Daniel Morgan's Rifle Company, please email Nils Person.
If you wish to contact John Lamb's Artillery Company, please email Al Florio.