Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment was an American infantry unit that served for two years and three months in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Like other Additional Regiments, Grayson's remained directly under George Washington's control, unlike state regiments. Authorized in January 1777, the unit's nine companies were recruited from the colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Raised by Colonel William Grayson, the regiment participated in actions in Northern New Jersey in early 1777, at Brandywine in September 1777, at Germantown in October 1777, and at Monmouth in June 1778. In April 1779 the regiment was absorbed by Gist's Additional Continental Regiment and ceased to exist.
History
Formation to Germantown
Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment was authorized on 10 January 1777 for service with the Continental Army and assigned to the main army. William Grayson, a former aide to George Washington was appointed colonel of the regiment. Grayson recruited his soldiers in northern Virginia and in adjacent Maryland where William Smallwood, his soon-to-be brother-in-law was very popular. The regiment assembled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the spring of 1777.
Grayson's regiment was one of 16 planned Additional Continental Regiments. Unlike the September 1776 state regiments, the Additional Regiments were put directly under Washington's control. On 27 December 1776, the Second Continental Congress authorized these units, along with three artillery regiments, 3,000 light cavalry, and an engineer corps. Washington was convinced that capable officers were being held back by the states on political grounds. Activating the Additional Regiments was seen as a way to bring these competent men into leadership roles in the Continental Army. Three Additional Regiments were allotted to Virginia.
On 22 May, the unit was assigned to the 4th Virginia Brigade under the leadership of Charles Scott. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Virginia Brigades were led by Peter Muhlenberg, George Weedon, and William Woodford, respectively. The other units in Scott's Brigade were the 4th, 8th, and 12th Virginia Regiments and Patton's Additional Continental Regiment. Grayson's Regiment was present during the skirmishing in northern New Jersey in the late spring and early summer of 1777.
Scott's and William Woodford's brigades were part of Adam Stephen's division at the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777. On that day, Sir William Howe maneuvered one wing of his army to reach Osborn's Hill in the American right rear. After belatedly learning of Howe's march, George Washington ordered John Sullivan to take charge of his own division plus those of Lord Stirling and Stephen and stop the British. Near the Birmingham Friends Meetinghouse, Stephen's 1,500 men drew up on the right flank, Stirling's 1,500 soldiers defended the center, and Sullivan's troops filed into position on the left. The British outnumbered the Americans by approximately 8,000 to 4,000 men. Stephen's division and two cannons held a wooded hill in a place called Sandy Hollow. As Howe's attack gained momentum, the division stoutly held its position, pinning down the Hessian Jägers and the British 2nd Light Infantry Battalion. Sullivan's division collapsed first, exposing Stirling's left flank. After severe fighting, Stirling's men retreated leaving Stephen's flank in the air. The British then concentrated on Scott's brigade, which held Stephen's left flank. The Virginians' line finally broke and the men retreated to the south. The British captured two cannons which were stubbornly defended by their crews.