6th Massachusetts Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=6th Massachusetts Regiment


caption=
country=
allegiance=Continental Congress
type=Infantry
branch=Continental Army
dates=1775-1783
specialization=
command_structure=Massachusetts Line
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of Bunker Hill
New York Campaign
Battle of Trenton
Battle of Princeton
Battle of Saratoga
notable_commanders=John Nixon,
Thomas Nixon,
Benjamin Tupper
anniversaries=Campaign
name=Boston campaign, 1775–1776
battles=Boston siege – Bunker Hill – Dorchester HeightsCampaign
name=New York and New Jersey, 1776–1777
battles=Long Island – Kip's Bay – Harlem Heights – Pell's Point – White Plains – Fort Washington – 1st Trenton – 2nd Trenton – Princeton – Forage War – Bound BrookCampaign
name=Saratoga campaign, 1777
battles=Ticonderoga – Hubbardton – Fort Ann – Oriskany – Bennington – 1st Saratoga (Freeman's Farm) – 2nd Saratoga (Bemis Heights)The 6th Massachusetts Regiment also known as the 4th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel John Nixon outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Saratoga. The regiment was furloughed June 12, 1783 at West Point, New York and disbanded on November 3, 1783.

Bunker Hill

During the battle of Bunker Hill the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, under the command of Colonel John Nixon, was positioned in the redoubt on Breeds Hill near Captain Jonathan Brewer and Captain William Prescott regiments. During General William Howe's first attack on Breed's Hill, Nixon was wounded and was withdrawn from the battle. The remaining members of the regiment withdrew when the redoubt was overtaken by Howe's second attack. [Thomas J. Fleming, "The Story of Bunker Hill" (New York: Collier Books, 1960), 243-286.]

Additional Battles

The 6th Massachusetts fought in the Battle of Harlem Heights and the Battle of Trenton under General Nathanael Greene [Henry B. Carrington, "Battles of the American Revolution, 1775-1781" (New York: Promontory Press, 1877 [reprint 1974] ), 221.] . The regiment reinforced General Philip Schuyler at Stillwater, New York in July 1777. [Carrington, "Battles of the Revolution", 319.] The 6th Massachusetts composed part of the main body of General Horatio Gates at the Battles of Saratoga. [Carrington p.336]

Commanding Officers

John Nixon- Commanded the 6th Massachusetts as a Captain and Colonel from April 1775 until August 1776 when he was promoted to Brigidier General.

Thomas Nixon- Brother of John Nixon. Took command of the 6th Massachusetts August 1776 as a Colonel. Retired January 1781.

Benjamin Tupper- Commanding officer January 1783 until the unite was disbanded in November 1783.

Other Officers

Thomas Barnes- Served as Captain from January 1777 to March 1779 when he was promoted to Major with the 12th Massachusetts.

Richard Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant, 2d Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until his death in November 1779.

William Buckmaster- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from December 1776 until his death on November 1776.

Japhet Daniels- Served as Captain from January 1777 to June 1783.

Samuel Frost- Served as Sergeant-Major, Ensign, 1st Lieutenant, Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1776 to June 1783.

Peter Harwood- Served as Captain and Major from November 1776 until he resigned October 1780.

Benjamin Heywood- Served as Lieutenant, Captain from December 1775 until June 1783.

Abel Holden- Served as Lieutenant and Captain from December 1775 until he resigned May 1781.

John Holden- Served as Captain Lieutenant and Captain from January 1777 until he resigned April 1780.

Calvin Smith- Served as Lieutenant-Colonel from November 1776 to March 1779 and Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant from January 1781 to June 1783.

John Spur- Served as Captain and Major from January 1777 until he retired January 1781.

Joseph Thompson- Served as Captain and Major from January 1776 until he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the 10th Massachusetts in December 1777.

William Toogood- Served as 1st Liutenant and Captain from January 1776 until he resigned April 1779.

Notes and Citations

References and Further Reading

Fleming, Thomas J. "The Story of Bunker Hill". New York: Collier Books, 1960.

Carrington, Henry B. "Battles of the American Revolution, 1775-1781". New York: Promontory Press, 1877 (reprint 1974).

Heitman, Francis B. "Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution". Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1914 (reprint 1982).

"Collections of The New York Historical Society: Muster and Pay Rolls of the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783". Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1914.

External links

RevWar'75 [http://www.revwar75.com]

Continental Line [http://www.continentalline.org/articles/article.php?date=9901&article=990102]

Massachusetts Revolutionary War Soldiers [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ma/state/revwar/index.html]

ee also

*6th Massachusetts Regiment (Spanish American War), Unit in the Spanish American War 1898.

Peter Salem