5th Regiment of Foot

My first British Regiment of Foot are the 5th.

Short regimental AWI History from Drums and Colours

Leaving Ireland on May 7, 1774, the 5th arrived in Boston July of 1774. The regiment’s Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies saw action at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and were part of the British "march back" to Boston.

After fighting in the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, the Battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776, and participating in the capture of Fort Washington, New York, November 16, 1776 and Fort Lee, New Jersey, November 20, 1776, the 5th spent the cold, bitter winter of 1776-1777 quartered near New York City.

As part of Howe’s campaign to capture Philadelphia, the 5th again saw action at the Battle of Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, August 25, 177.

The regiment spent the winter of 1777-78 comfortably in Philadelphia, until Franceentered the war, necessitating the evacuation of the city and retreat to New York. On the retreat through New Jersey, the British Army was attacked at Monmouth Court House on June 28, 1778.

Once back in New York, the 5th remained until November 3, 1778 when they left America for the French West Indies.