A historical reenactment unit representing the 16th Massachusetts Regiment.
Based in the Midwest regions of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, The River Valley Colonials (RVC) was
established in 1990 by four fifers and one snare drummer. Their goal was to expand their repertoire of 18th century
military music and drill associated with the Continental Army of the American Revolution during the time period of
1775-1783.
16th Massachusetts Regiment
The 16th Massachusetts Regiment, also known as Henry Jackson's Additional Continental Regiment, was a unit of the
American Massachusetts Line, raised on January 12, 1777, under Colonel Henry Jackson at Boston, Massachusetts. The
regiment would see action at the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Rhode Island. The regiment was disbanded on
January 1, 1781, at New Windsor, New York.
Orgins
In the years before the American Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, the Province of Massachusetts Bay had a
volunteer militia corps known as the Governor's Company of Cadets. Based in Boston, the company was disbanded in
1774
after its commander, John Hancock, was dismissed by Governor Thomas Gage. A number of its members left the city when
the
Siege of Boston began, and reformed themselves as an independent company under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Henry
Jackson after the British evacuated the city in March 1776.
The company petitioned the Continental Congress to be included in the Continental Army, and on January 12, 1777,
Jackson
was given a colonel's commission and authorization to raise an "Additional Continental regiment". Recruitment was
conducted primarily in the Boston, but the regiment eventually had members from as far off as Connecticut. The
unit's
surgeon from 1779 onward was Dr. James Thacher, who kept an extensive journal of his war experience.
Service history
The regiment left Boston in October 1777 to join General George Washington's Main Army outside Philadelphia. In 1778
it
was with that army as it followed the British across New Jersey, and served with distinction in the June 28, 1778
Battle
of Monmouth. The regiment was then sent to Providence, Rhode Island, where it played a major role in the August 29,
1778
Battle of Rhode Island. It remained in Rhode Island in 1779, but was despatched to Boston as part of a mobilization
made
in response to the British seizure of Castine, Maine. The regiment was not part of the disastrous Penobscot
Expedition
that Massachusetts mounted to drive the British out, but it had been boarded onto transports and was en route to the
area when the expedition dissolved following the arrival of British reinforcements. It was disembarked at Kittery,
where
it assisted in bringing in the remnants of the expedition that arrived there overland.
Following the British withdrawal from Newport in October 1779, the regiment was sent to New Jersey, where it spent a
difficult winter. It was involved in a failed attack on Staten Island in January that was aborted when surprise was
lost. The regiment then fought in the June 23, 1780 Battle of Springfield.
On July 24, 1780, the regiment was adopted into the Massachusetts Line and renamed the 16th Massachusetts Regiment.
It
was disbanded as part of a major reorganization of the army on January 1, 1781. Colonel Jackson was given command of
the
4th Massachusetts Regiment, and later commanded the 1st American Regiment, the last major Continental Army unit.
RVC actively participates in Midwest historical events. One such event is the annual Freezer Jam. This winter event,
brings together all
the Midwest Fife & Drum Corps for a day filled with classes and peformances. This year three RVC members cordinated
the instruction at this year's Freezer Jam. See a clip of the Freezer Jam students and instructors practicing
MacPherson's Lament.
Visit our Facebook Page to see more videos of RVC members performing and news about upcoming events.
