Tryon County militia

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Tryon County Militia


caption=
country=
allegiance=State of New York
type= militia
branch=
dates=1775 to 1783
specialization=
command_structure=New York Militia
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of Oriskany Attack on German Flatts (1778)
Battle of Klock's Field
notable_commanders=Nicholas Herkimer Abraham Ten Broeck Robert Van Rensselaer Marinus Willett
anniversaries=

Militia Regiments

On March 8, 1772, The Province of New York passed a bill for the establishment of organized militia in each county. In 1775, at the start of the American Revolution, the Tryon County militia comprised four regiments, formed according to their geographical locations:

* 1st regiment: Canajoharie District
* 2nd regiment: Palatine District
* 3rd regiment: Mohawk District
* 4th regiment: German Flatts & Kingsland district

In 1777, a 5th regiment from Cherry Valley was created.

Before they fled to Canada in 1775, Hendrick Frey, Daniel Claus, Sir John Johnson, and Guy Johnson were colonels and in command of these regiments.

On August 22, 1775, by order of the New York Provincial Congress, the Tryon County militia and the Albany County militia were organized together into a brigade. One fourth of each company were to be selected as Minute Men. [Fernow, pg. 30]

On October 5, 1776 a resolution of the New York State congress appointed Nicholas Herkimer Brigadier General of the Brigade of Militia of Tryon County.

On August 6, 1777 the Tryon County militia was at the Battle of Oriskany.

In 1779, the Tryon County militia was amalgamated with the Albany County militia. On March 20, 1780 Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer was given command of a brigade of militia which included the Tryon County Militia.

In 1781, Marinus Willett was given over all command of the Tryon County Militia.

Rangers

Rangers were raised for service in their home counties: "unless called forth for the defence of a neighboring County or State by the Mutual Consent of the bordering County Committees of the respective Counties or States".

On July 23, 1776, by order of the Provincial Congress of New York, three ranger companies were established under the commands of: [Fernow, pg. 117]

* Mark Demuth
* Christian Gettman
* John Winn

These ranger companies were disbanded on March 27, 1777

On July 17, 1777, by order of the Provincial Congress of New York, two ranger companies were established under the commands of:

* John Harper
* James Clyde

Footnotes

References

* Berry, A.J., "A Time of Terror", 2005, ISBN 1-4120-6527-5
* Fernow, Berthold, "New York in the Revolution", 1887
* Fonte, Allan, "Liberty March, The Battle of Oriskany", 1998, ISBN 0-925168-72-6