Feb 27 - The Delaware battalion was assigned to the Middle Department (covering the mid-Atlantic states).

Apr 12 - The unit was at nearly full strength. Six companies were stationed in Dover and two in Lewes. Arms were in short supply. Haslet noted that Capt. Caldwell was in Lewes with 150 men "completed for the field" but had very few guns in Dover. [Ward pp 7-8]

Jun 03 - Congress resolved to establish a "flying camp" to defend New Jersey. It was made up of 10,000 militiamen from Pennsylvania, Delaware (apparently they anticipated the separation from Pennsylvania), and Maryland to be led by Gen. Hugh Mercer of Virginia. The term of enlistment was five months. Delaware's flying camp was led by Col. Samuel Patterson, a miller from Christiana Bridge.

Jun 15 - The Assembly of the Lower Counties (of Pennsylvania) voted to separate itself from England and also from the rest of Pennsylvania to become the state of Delaware. This was three weeks before the Declaration of Independence was issued by the Continental Congress.

July 12 - American troops in and around New York City watched as 150 ships arrived from England to supplement the 130 ships that had arrived several days previously from Halifax.

Aug 05 - The Delaware Battalion arrived in Philadelphia with about 200 guns that had been borrowed from the Kent County militia. By Aug 8 the men were was fully armed with English muskets and bayonets. [Ward pp 8, 10]

Aug 06 - The Delaware Battalion was assigned to the Main Army to join the "Flying Camp" under General Hugh Mercer. On August 8 they received orders to proceed to Amboy NJ. [Ward p 15]

Aug 25 - Haslet's Delaware Battalion was assigned to Stirling's Brigade (Main Army, under William Alexander -- who claimed the title of Lord Stirling) and moved to New York City.

Aug 26 - In the battle of Long Island NY Haslet's Delaware Battalion was in the battle line next to the Maryland Regiment. A strong British attack put DE and MD troops in the crossfire of two British units. Those who escaped fled under grapeshot and heavy musket fire through the Gowanus swamp, which required crossing a deep creek. Some 300 of the 400 men from Maryland died, along with 31 of the 750 Delawareans [DE figure from Ward pp 28-42].

Sep 01 - The Delaware Battalion was assigned to Mifflin's Brigade (under Gen. Thomas Mifflin of PA).

Oct 08 - Mifflin's Brigade was redesignated as Stirling's Brigade.

Oct 09 - Patterson's Flying Camp Battalion of militia, about 480 strong, arrived in Amboy NJ. The only battle in which the unit participated was an attack Oct 14 on a British fort at the east end of Staten Island. This led to skirmish in which one Delawarean died [Ward p 489].

Oct 28 - In the battle of White Plains NY
Haslet's Delaware Battalion fought well.

Nov 29 - Both of the Delaware units were both in Brunswick NJ briefly. Patterson's Flying Camp battalion of militia had no tents and their enlistments were to be completed in two days. The men resisted entreaties to remain in Brunswick to resist the British advance through New Jersey and instead returned home before the British forces appeared. That was the end of the Flying Camp.

Dec 2-7 - Haslet's Regiment remained with Washington and was the rear guard unit during the retreat from Princeton to Trenton. Washington's 2,200 exhausted men crossed the Delaware River, just three miles ahead of 20,000 British troops. [Ward p 99-102; Green p 64]

Dec 14-18 - Three New Castle County militia companies under Major Thomas Duff marched to Philadelphia. They did not participate in the battle of Trenton, but remained in service until February 1777. The Light Infantry Company of Dover under Capt. Thomas Rodney (brother of Casesar Rodney) also marched its 35 men to Philadelphia and became part of Col. John Cadwalader (of PA)'s Brigade. [Green p 66]

Dec 12 - The captains returned to Delaware to recruit, while Col. Haslet and the remaining Delaware troops stayed with Washington. By Dec 22 there were only 100 men on the rolls of the Delaware regiment. [Green p 64]

Dec 25 - Haslet's Delaware Regiment was among the last units to cross the Delaware River for the surprise attack on the Hessian camp at Trenton NJ. The Delawareans were at the center of the American line (under Stirling), and after several volleys from American cannon they charged down King and Queen Streets, overwhelming all opposition. This victory renewed hope for the cause of independence. Cadwalader's Brigade (with the Dover Light infantry) had crossed the river with the goal of providing a supporting attack, but withdrew when they couldn't get their two cannon across. [Green pp 67-68]

Dec 27-Jan02 - Cadwalader's Brigade (with the Dover Light infantry) crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey and were later joined there by Washington's main force (with Haslet's troops). [Green pp 69]

Jan 03 - There were only a half-dozen men in the Delaware Regiment at the battle of Princeton NJ. Washington's surprise night-time withdrawal and move around Cornwallis' flank was undone by the unexected appearance of several British regiments coming to reinforce Cornwallis. In the sharp battle that followed Gen. Hugh Mercer of Virginia was killed. Soon after that Delaware's Col. John Haslet was shot through the head and died instantly. Cadwalader's Brigade helped stem the British attack and later drove them from the field. In all, 23 Americans died at Princeton. [Green pp 69-71]

Jan 06 - Rodney's Light Infantry were asked to be Washington's guard during winter camp at Morristown NJ, but their enlistments were up and on January 14 they left for home. [Green p 72]

March - Lt. Col. David Hall was promoted to Colonel to lead the Delaware Regiment. Some 312 soldiers of the new Delaware Regiment marched into camp at Morristown.

May 11 - Samuel Patterson was now a colonel of the New Castle County militia regiment, encamped at Naamans Creek. By July he and two other colonels, Thomas Duff and Richard Cantwell, had raised 1,075 men for duty, although ammunition was in scarce supply, with only about four rounds per man. [Ward pp 502, 506]

May 22 - The Delaware Regiment assigned to 1st Maryland Brigade (Main Army) under Gen. William Smallwood. After an attack to ravage Staten Island they marched south to oppose the British invasion of Delaware. Although they arrived too late to participate in the Battle of Cooch's Bridge they were present for the Battle of the Brandywine [Green p 75] (see next paragraph).

Aug 25 - British troops landed at Elkton MD, and marched into Delaware. They camped near Newark DE. The advance toward Newark DE of a column of 9,000 British troops was opposed by a mixed force of 700 U.S. Continentals from many states (but not Delaware) and 300 men of the Delaware militia.

Sep 11 - At the battle of the Brandywine. (near the Delaware- Pennsylvania border) the Delaware Continentals were with General Stirling's reserve units at the rear when a surprise flanking attack by the British threw them into the thick of battle. They fought well and managed an orderly retreat under fire.

Oct 04 - At the battle of Germantown (Pennsylvania) the Delaware Regiment's attack went well at first, but then they ran short of ammunition and scattered when their deep advance on a narrow front left them surrounded by the enemy. The Delaware Regiment suffered heavy losses. Col. Hall was severely wounded and did not fight again.

Jul 22 - The Delaware Regiment was assigned to 3rd Virginia Brigade (Main Army). Capt. Allen McLane's company was assigned to the 2nd Partisan Corps 1778 Dec 16 to 1779 Jan 13.

Aug 19 -- After Capt. Allen McLane (on detached duty with the 2nd Partsan Corps) gained entry and brought back information about the garrison in the British fort at Paulus Hook his unit participated in the successful attack on that fort.

Apr 05 - The 2nd Maryland Brigade was assigned to the Southern Army.

Aug 16 - At the battle of Camden SC the Delaware Regiment suffered heavy losses. All officers above captain were captured and 48 men died. Gen de Kalb also died. After this time the unit had no colonel and ceased to function as a regiment.

Sep 03 - The Delaware Regiment was reorganized into two companies under captains Robert Kirkwood and Peter Jaquett.

Jan 17 - The two Delaware companies participated in the battle of Cowpens SC.

Mar 15 - The two Delaware companies participated in the battle of Guilford Courthouse SC.

Apr 25 - The two Delaware companies participated in the battle of Hobkirk's Hill (in Camden SC).

summer - Two additional Delaware companies were formed at Christiana Bridge DE.

Sep 8 - The two Delaware companies in the south participated in the battle of Eutaw Springs SC.

Sept-Oct - The two northern companies were swept up with the allied troops going to Yorktown. During the siege and bombardment they were assigned to assist in the American artillery park (under Gen. John Knox).

Nov 4 - The two northern companies marched south to join the two southern companies in Gen. Nathaniel Greene's Southern Army, arriving at "the Round O" near Charleston SC on Jan 4, 1782. Capt Kirkwood and others with long service in the south were sent back to Delaware on furlough.

Late in the year they started the long march home, reaching Delaware in January of 1783.

Nov 15 - The four Delaware companies were disbanded.