Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Military of Southampton, Suffolk County, New York 1776

During the Revolutionary war the people of Suffolk County were exposed to peculiar hardships. So remote from the field of operations, it was a region strategically not worth defending, but by its wealth of forage and stock well worth the attention of the enemy while in occupation of New York. Until recently it has not been known how extensively the inhabitants participated in the actual struggle in the field, nor has another element in the history of the Island during this period been estimated at its due importance in influencing the condition of the people. This was the oath of allegiance to the British crown exacted by Governor Tryon of the islanders.

In this battle were engaged, besides the two Long Island Regiments before mentioned, two other bodies of troops, as follows:

First Southampton Company, February 23, 1776

Second Southold Company,  May 3, 1776

Brookhaven, Smithtown, Manor of St. George and Moriches Company,

The second military organization was an Artillery Company attached to Col. Smith's Minute Regiment, the officers of which were as follows:

I suppose this to be the list of the commissioned officers of the Second Regiment whose staff officers were before mentioned, but of the regiment as reconstructed after the battle of Long Island. The list is as follows:

The officers above named of the "battalion" were commissioned September 13, 1775, and were composed of some of those of Colonel Smith's Minute Regiment which was disbanded as a regiment after the battle of Long Island, as it is reported, by the orders of Washington, in order that such as was needed to protect their homes should return, and others as preferred could enlist under a new organization.

 Southampton| AHGP New York