I created this blog as an addition to our Living History organization- the recreated 5th NY Regiment, a Revolutionary War Continental Line unit. The regiment originally began in June 1776 when the Continental Congress promoted Major Lewis Dubois of Nicholson’s Regiment to colonel with instructions to raise a Regiment of eight companies in New York. A dispute between the New York Provincial and the Continental Congress over who had authority to promote New York officers delayed the official authorization of the regiment until November 21, 1776. The men were mainly raised in Orange and Ulster counties “for the war”. The regiment garrisoned Fort Montgomery in the Hudson Highlands early in 1777. The British killed or captured 98 out of 312 present on October 6, 1777 when they stormed Forts Montgomery and Clinton. The survivors joined Brigadier General George Clinton in pursuit of the British up the Hudson but were too late to prevent the British from burning Kingston on October 16. After Burgoyne’s surrender the 5th wintered in Fishkill and healed its wounds. The regiment camped at White Plains in the summer of 1778 and took part in the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign of 1779 against Tories and Indians in western New York. The 5th was again assigned to garrison duty when they arrived at West Point in 1780. The New York Line was consolidated in January 1781 and the 5th New York was merged into the 2nd New York. Members of the original 5th New York were present at Yorktown. They avenged the loss of the Highland Forts when they comprised part of the second wave at the storming of Redoubt #10. (Documentation provided by Mr. Rich McGuiness-5th NY Unit Historian)