4th Pennsylvania Battalion, 5th Pennsylvania Regiment
9 December 1775, the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion was authorized to recruit from the county of Chester, primarily, which included what is now Delaware County. Personnel were also drawn from Bucks Co. as well as Lancaster and Philadelphia Counties. The formal enlistment date for this new Battalion was 5 January, 1776. It began assembling in Chester on 9 February of that same year.
The Colonel of this organization was Anthony Wayne.
Anthony Wayne was born in 1745 on the family property, Waynesborough, in Easttown Township, Chester County, approximately five miles from Valley Forge. His penchant for mathematics led to his training as a surveyor. He worked as a surveyor for a number of years, which conditioned and disciplined him for physical endurance. In 1765, he was sent by Benjamin Franklin and several others to Canada to survey land they owned there and catalogue the natural resources. He was there for a year, and returned home with accolades from his employers. At Waynesborough, he worked on developing the farm and established a tannery, while continuing his surveying. He was regarded as a leader in Chester County — serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1774-1775. With the outbreak of war in 1775, Wayne raised a Regiment and was made its Colonel in 1776. He and his regiment were sent to Canada and at the Battle of Three Rivers he was wounded. His service resulted in his promotion to brigadier-general in February 1777.
The Lieutenant Colonel of the battalion from its formation to its mustering out was Francis Johnston. The 4th Battalion had two majors, the first was Nicholas Hausegger. He was replaced by Persifor Frazer when promoted out of the regiment. There were eight companies in the regiment, A thru H. On 5 January, 1777, the one year enlistments expired. Although being mustered out, a large portion of the men promptly re-enlisted to join the newly formed…………………….
5th Pennsylvania regiment.
The regiment was largely manned and officered by veterans of the 4th Battalion. Shortly after the new regiment was formed, Col. Wayne was promoted, and command was given to Col. Francis Johnston, a friend of Anthony Wayne, who had been Lt. Col. of the battalion. Col. Johnston commanded the regiment during the entire span of its existence. It also maintained the eight companies, A thru H. A ninth company was added in March of 1777 under the command of Capt. William Oldham. Also in March, 1777, Capt. John Nelson’s Independent Rifle Company was consolidated with the regiment. In January, 1781, the 5th was consolidated with the 9th PA Reg. The new unit retained its 5th PA designation. It was furloughed at Trenton, NJ and disbanded 1 January, 1783 at the conclusion of the war.
The 4th PA Battalion/5th PA Regiment participated in the following engagements during the American War for Independence;
Three Rivers Canada, June 1776
Garrison force at Ft. Ticonderoga, July 1776-January, 1777
Crown Point NY, Oct. 1776
New Brunswick NJ, June 1777
Battle of Brandywine, Paoli Massacre, Sept. 1777
Battle of Germantown PA, Oct. 1777
Winter encampment ay Valley Forge, 1777-78
Battle of Monmouth NJ, June 1778
Battle of Stony Point NY, July, 1779
Assault on the blockhouse at Bergen Heights NJ, July1780
Encampment at Morristown NJ, Sept.- Jan. 1780-1781
Battle of Green Springs VA, July, 1781
Battle of Yorktown VA, Oct. 1781
Anthony Wayne was born in 1745 on the family property, Waynesborough, in Easttown Township, Chester County, approximately five miles from Valley Forge. His penchant for mathematics led to his training as a surveyor. He worked as a surveyor for a number of years, which conditioned and disciplined him for physical endurance. In 1765, he was sent by Benjamin Franklin and several others to Canada to survey land they owned there and catalogue the natural resources. He was there for a year, and returned home with accolades from his employers. At Waynesborough, he worked on developing the farm and established a tannery, while continuing his surveying. He was regarded as a leader in Chester County — serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1774-1775. With the outbreak of war in 1775, Wayne raised a Regiment and was made its Colonel in 1776. He and his regiment were sent to Canada and at the Battle of Three Rivers he was wounded. His service resulted in his promotion to brigadier-general in February 1777.