The Continental Army was the army raised by the Second Continental Congress to oppose the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The army went through three major establishments: the first in 1775, the second in 1776, and the third from 1777 until after the end of the war.

The Continental Army of 1777 was a result of several critical reforms and political decisions that came about when it was apparent that the British were sending massive forces to put an end to the Revolution. In order to create a more stable, better trained army that would not cease to exist at the end of each year — the army had nearly collapsed at the end of 1776 — men were now required to enlist for either three years, or for the duration of the war.Wright, Continental Army, 93.

Third establishment On September 16, 1776, the Continental Congress passed the "eighty-eight battalion resolve", which called for each state to contribute regiments in proportion to their population. (The terms regiment and battalion were virtually interchangeable at that time since nearly every Continental Army regiment consisted of a single battalion). The quota of infantry regiments was fixed at 15 each from Massachusetts and Virginia, 12 from Pennsylvania, 9 from North Carolina, 8 each from Connecticut and Maryland, 6 from South Carolina, 4 each from New York and New Jersey, 3 from New Hampshire, 2 from Rhode Island, and 1 each from Delaware and Georgia. Each state was expected to arm, clothe, and equip its regiments. A state's quota of infantry regiments was collectively known as that state's "line", such as the Pennsylvania Line. A state "line" was an administrative designation and not a tactical formation like a brigade or division.Wright, Continental Army, 99 fn.

Washington and his generals believed that 88 regiments were insufficient to challenge the British Army, and so on December 27, 1776, Congress gave Washington the authority to raise additional regiments which were placed directly under his control and not under any state. These additional units consisted of 16 infantry regiments, three artillery regiments, a corps of engineers, and 3,000 light horsemen. Including three other regiments previously authorized by Congress (the two Canadian regiments and Seth Warner's regiment of Green Mountain Boys), 110 regiments were authorized for the Continental Army of 1777. Some states exceeded their quotas, and so 119 regiments were actually fielded in 1777.

The decisions implemented in 1777 determined the basic organizational structure of the Continental Army for the duration of the war. Although the army raised in 1777 was the army which served until the close of the war, the Continental Army of 1777 underwent a general reorganization on three important occasions.

On 27 May 1778 Congress reduced the quota of infantry regiments in the state lines to 80. The new regiments were smaller by one-third to cut expenses, and for the first time included a permanent light infantry company. The quota of infantry regiments was so adjusted that Massachusetts provided 15, Pennsylvania and Virginia each provided 11, Connecticut and Maryland each provided 8, North Carolina and South Carolina each provided 6, New York provided 5, New Hampshire and New Jersey each provided 3, Rhode Island provided 2, and Delaware and Georgia each provided 1. Congress also consolidated some of the weaker Additional Continental Regiments. Because this reorganization was proposed just as the campaign of 1778 was about to begin, it was implemented gradually over the next ten months, and finalized on March 9, 1779.Wright, Continental Army, 146.

In October 1780, with the three-year enlistments of 1777 soon to expire, the Continental Congress ordered a new organization of the Continental Army, to become effective on January 1, 1781. The number of infantry regiments was reduced to 50 (including Hazen’s 2d Canadian Regiment, which was retained as the Canadian Regiment). The new regiments were larger, and for the first time they included a regimental depot. The quota of infantry regiments was fixed at 10 from Massachusetts, 8 from Virginia, 6 from Pennsylvania, 5 each from Connecticut and Maryland, 4 from North Carolina, 2 each from New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina, and 1 each from Rhode Island, Delaware, and Georgia. The few Additional Continental Regiments that had survived to this late date were either allotted to a state line or disbanded. The support of the Continental Army’s cavalry and artillery regiments was also made the responsibility of a definite state for the first time, but they retained their status as separate branches of the Continental Army.

As of January 1, 1781, the states were made responsible for regiments in other branches as follows: 1st and 3rd Legionary Corps (formerly 1st and 3d Light Dragoons): Virginia; 2d Legionary Corps (2nd Light Dragoons): Connecticut; and 4th Legionary Corps (4th Light Dragoons): Pennsylvania — 1st Artillery: Virginia; 2d Artillery: New York; 3d Artillery: Massachusetts; and 4th Artillery: Pennsylvania.

Thus the total number of regimental equivalents was reduced to 61. This number included 50 infantry regiments, 4 legionary corps (which were partly dismounted light dragoons), 4 artillery regiments, 2 partisan corps, and 1 artificer regiment.Wright, Continental Army, 157.

Finally, on August 7, 1782, the Continental Congress resolved that the Continental Army should be so reduced that, if possible, all its units should contain at least 500 rank and file. This reorganization was to become effective on January 1, 1783. Under this resolve, the infantry of the Continental Army was reorganized to consist of 1 regiment and 1 battalion (4 companies) from New Hampshire (effected March 1, 1783), 8 regiments from Massachusetts, 1 battalion (6 companies) from Rhode Island, 3 regiments from Connecticut, 2 regiments from New York, 1 regiment and 1 battalion (4 companies) from New Jersey (effected March 1, 1783), 3 regiments from Pennsylvania, 1 regiment (2 companies) from Delaware, 2 regiments from Maryland, 2 regiments from Virginia, 1 regiment and 1 battalion from North Carolina, 2 regiments from South Carolina, and 1 regiment (3 companies) from Georgia. In this instance, with some exceptions, the term "battalion" was used to designate a unit with less than the regulation nine companies.Wright, Continental Army, 176-177.

State lines

Connecticut The Connecticut Line was assigned a quota of 8 infantry regiments for 1777 and 1778–1779, reduced to 5 infantry regiments for 1781, and to 3 infantry regiments for 1783.

1777 +Conn. Rgt.Authorized onConsolidatedWithOn1stSeptember 16, 17768thJanuary 1, 17812nd9th3rd4th4th3rd5th7th6thRedesignated as the 4th7th5th8th1st9thFormerly Webb's Additional Continental Regiment. Allotted to Connecticut Line on July 24, 1780.2nd

1781 1st Connecticut Regiment (1781) (Constituted in Connecticut Line by consolidation of 3rd and 4th Connecticut Regiments of 1777. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 2nd Connecticut Regiment (1781) (Constituted in Connecticut Line by consolidation of 5th and 7th Connecticut Regiments of 1777. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 3rd Connecticut Regiment (1781) (Constituted in Connecticut Line by consolidation of 2nd and 9th Connecticut Regiments of 1777. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 4th Connecticut Regiment (1781) (Constituted in Connecticut Line by redesignation of 6th Connecticut Regiment of 1777. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 5th Connecticut Regiment (1781) (Constituted in Connecticut Line by consolidation of 1st and 8th Connecticut Regiments of 1777. Disbanded January 1, 1783).

Delaware The Delaware Line was assigned a quota of 1 infantry regiment for 1777, 1778–1779, and 1781; and a quota of 1 infantry regiment (of 2 companies) for 1783.

Delaware Regiment (Reauthorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 3, 1783).

Georgia The Georgia Line was assigned a quota of 1 infantry regiment for 1777, 1778–1779, and 1781; and 1 infantry regiment (of 3 companies) for 1783. Three infantry regiments in excess of the quota were raised outside Georgia.

1st Georgia Regiment (Reauthorized September 16, 1776. Captured in Siege of Charleston, May 12, 1780. Redesignated Georgia Regiment January 1, 1781. Redesignated Georgia Battalion January 1, 1783. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 2nd Georgia Regiment (Authorized July 5, 1776. Recruited primarily in Virginia. Captured in Siege of Charleston, May 12, 1780. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 3rd Georgia Regiment (Authorized July 5, 1776. Recruited primarily in North Carolina. Captured in Siege of Charleston, May 12, 1780. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 4th Georgia Regiment (Authorized 1 February 1777. Recruited primarily in Pennsylvania. Captured in Siege of Charleston, May 12, 1780. Disbanded January 1, 1781).

Maryland The Maryland Line was assigned a quota of 8 infantry regiments for 1777 and 1778–1779, reduced to 5 infantry regiments for 1781, and to 2 regiments for 1783. (Maryland counted those portions of the German Battalion and the Maryland and Virginia Rifle Regiment that were raised in Maryland as the equivalent of an 8th Maryland regiment).

1st Maryland Regiment (1777) (Reauthorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded 15 November 1783). 2nd Maryland Regiment (1777) (Reauthorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded 15 November 1783). 3rd Maryland Regiment (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 4th Maryland Regiment (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 5th Maryland Regiment (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 6th Maryland Regiment (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 7th Maryland Regiment (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781).

Massachusetts The Massachusetts Line was assigned a quota of 15 infantry regiments for 1777 and 1778–1779, reduced to 10 infantry regiments for 1781, and to 8 infantry regiments for 1783.

1st Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 3, 1783). 2nd Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 3, 1783). 3rd Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 3, 1783). 4th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 3, 1783). 5th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 6th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 7th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 8th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded November 15, 1783). 9th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 10th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1783). 11th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 12th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 13th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 14th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 15th Massachusetts Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Disbanded January 1, 1781). 16th Massachusetts Regiment (Formerly Jackson's Additional Continental Regiment. Allotted to Massachusetts Line July 24, 1780. Disbanded January 1, 1781).

New Hampshire The New Hampshire Line was assigned a quota of 3 infantry regiments for 1777 and 1778–1779, reduced to 2 infantry regiments for 1781, and to 1 regiment and 1 battalion (of 4 companies) for 1783.

1st New Hampshire Regiment (1777) (Authorized September 16, 1776. Redesignated New Hampshire Battalion, June 22, 1783. Disbanded January 1, 1784).