In late 1775, the Colony of Pennsylvania authorized six infantry battalions to serve the American cause.  These battalions were to be enlisted for one year of service.

The 4 th Battalion was created on December 9, 1775.  It was recruited primarily in Chester, Lancaster and Bucks Counties, Pa.,   The unit was mustered in the town of Chester in January 1776.  It consisted of 8 companies (A through H).  Company E was designated a rifle company, the rest of the men were to be armed with muskets.  From the very beginning, this unit was commanded by a man who would become one of the most famous American military figures of the Revolution, Colonel (later General) Anthony Wayne.
    
Figure 1- to the right- Anthony Wayne (portrait attributed to James Sharples Sr., circa 1795)

In February 1776, companies of the 4 th Battalion began moving from Chester, Pa. to New York City, N.Y.  The companies moved separately since each was not supposed to leave Chester until it had been fully equipped and armed which took some time.  Even so, by May of 1776 some companies had to leave Pennsylvania for the Main Army without proper weapons.

On May 2, 1776, Colonel Wayne along with three companies (B,C & E) left New York City for Albany, N.Y.  Four companies were kept on Long Island until muskets could be procured for them.  Company A which was already armed, also remained on Long Island and was employed in arresting Loyalists.

From Albany, Wayne and his small command were ordered into Canada and by early June, had joined an American invasion force already there.  On June 9 1776, companies B,C & E of the 4th Battalion were part of an American force that attacked a British outpost at Three Rivers between Montreal and Quebec.  The overall attack was a dismal failure that resulted in an American defeat and heavy losses.  However, Wayne and his 4th Battalion companies distinguished themselves by forcefully attacking the British and later covering the American withdrawal.

With the failure to capture Quebec and conquer Canada, the American invasion force began a painful retreat back into New York.  Disease and suffering marked this dark chapter in American military history.  The three companies of the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion were assigned to the rear guard of the retreating American force and they finally arrived at Fort Ticonderoga on July 10, 1776.  One week later, the 5 companies that had remained in New York City, arrived at the fort as reinforcements.  For the first time the entire 4th Battalion was together in the field.

During the next several months, the Battalion served as a garrison for Fort Ticonderoga.  While there was no major fighting during this period, the time was well spent by Wayne in drilling and training his men.  At the  beginning of January, 1777, the enlistments of the 4 th battalion expired but the men were unable to leave Fort Ticonderoga for home until January 24th.

In the early spring of 1777 the men of the 4 th Battalion who re-enlisted, were re-organized and incorporated as the 5 th Pennsylvania Regiment.  They rejoined the Main Army at Morristown, N.J.

Descriptions of the Uniforms of the 4 th Pennsylvania Battalion

The following descriptions were excerpted from documents of the period.  As can be seen from reading these snippets, the clothing worn by men even in a single regiment varied greatly.  While attempts were made to clothe the soldiers uniformly, quite often many were forced to wear civilian clothing. "Our regimental coats were deep blew (sp) faced with white, white vests & overalls edged with blew(sp) cloth........a very beautiful uniform but on experience we found, much better adapted for parades than utility in the hardships of the camp, as they too easily became soiled, and hard to clean".

Deserter descriptions....

Deserted from Captain Thomas Church's Company

"...wearing a whitish coat and jacket, new buckskin breeches, blue stockings, coarse shoes with plated buckles", "wearing a long bluish surtout, snuff colored coatee, black velvet breeches". (Pennsylvania Ledger, March 2, 1776)

"...wearing a long gray surtout coat, old waistcoat and breeches", "wearing a brown surtout coat, lightish colored jacket, blue under jacket, buckskin breeches, check shirt, blue yarn stockings". (Pennsylvania Gazette, March 6, 1776)

Deserted from Captain Persifor Frazor's Company

"...wearing a brown coat with blue silk facings", " wearing a light colored sagathy coat, remarkably long, a felt hat bound with yellow, a yellow rose on it".  (Pennsylvania Packet, April 15, 1776)

Deserted from Captain Caleb North's Company

"...wearing a reddish brown coat, red jacket, large hat cocked behind". (Pennsylvania Ledger, February 24, 1776)


Regimental Buttons of the 4 th Pennsylvania Battalion

The regimental button of the 4 th Pennsylvania Battalion bears the following marking "4 B over P" within a beaded rim.  Like most American regimental buttons, the lettering on the face is oriented perpendicular to the mold seam on the back of the button. 

Two sizes of these buttons with several minor lettering variants have been found.  These buttons are one piece cast white metal with large loop shanks.  The coat size buttons are approximately 22 mm in diameter, while the vest size buttons are 17 mm in diameter.  An unusual feature of many of these buttons is that on the back, the shank is attached to the body of the button upon a small raised mound, somewhat similar to British style Regimental buttons.  Although  more common than several of the other Pennsylvania Battalion buttons, the 4BP is still considered a rare find.  Examples with excellent faces and full rims are exceptionally desirable and very expensive. Any non-dug specimen of this button would be considered an exceptional rarity.

Figure 2 -to the right- "4 BP" Buttons.

Figure 3 -Bottom Right- Back of "4 BP" Buttons, showing distinctive mound typical of these buttons.  Shanks missing.

While most recoveries of these buttons have been made in upstate New York in the vicinity of Fort Ticonderoga, the two examples illustrated in this article were found in New Jersey. 

The small vest size example was recovered from an early spring-1777 American encampment in Northern New Jersey where it was likely lost by a member of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment.  The larger coat size button was recovered by the author in a 1779 encampment of the Virginia Continental Line in Central New Jersey.  How this button came to be lost at this location is a mystery.

References used in the preparation of this article

"The Pennsylvania Line - Regimental Organization and Operation, ", by John B. B. Trussell Jr., Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977.

"Uniforms of the American, British, French, and German Armies in the War of the American Revolution", by Lt. Charles M. Lefferts, W.E. Inc publishers.

"Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons", by Alphaeus H. Albert, 1976.

"The Continental Army", by Robert K. Wright Jr., Center of Military History, United States Army, 1986.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE.... DON TROIANI'S NEW BOOK ON REVOLUTIONARY WAR BUTTONS
SHOULD BE OUT BY THE TIME THIS ARTICLE GETS ONLINE OR SHORTLY AFTERWARD.  I
HAVE SEEN A PRE-PUBLICATION COPY OF THIS BOOK AND IT IS EXCELLENT.  THIS IS
ONE YOU MUST HAVE ON YOUR SHELF !!  IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THOMAS
PUBLICATIONS, CHECK TO SEE IF JEFF AT THE "DEPOT STORE" CARRIES THIS TITLE.

UPDATE!! DON'S BOOK IS NOT OUT YET BUT WE HAVE ORDERED THEM AND THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DEPOT STORE AS SOON AS THEY ARE RELEASED! ...JT