The Continental Marines were the Marine force of the American Colonies during American Revolutionary War. The corps was formed by the Continental Congress in November 10, 1775 and was disbanded in 1783. Their mission was multi-purpose, but their most important duty was to serve as on-board security forces, protecting the Captain of a ship and his officers. During naval engagements Marine sharpshooters were stationed in the fighting tops of the ships' masts, and were supposed to shoot the opponent's officers, naval gunners, and helmsmen. Combatants American Revolutionaries France The Netherlands Spain Native Americans Great Britain Iroquois Confederacy German mercenaries American Loyalists Native Americans Commanders George Washington Horatio Gates Marquis de Lafayette Friedrich Steuben Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe Thayendanegea Sir Henry Clinton Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The... The Continental Congress is the label given to two successive bodies of representatives of the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies in 18th century British North America: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774, to October 26, 1774. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Marines were used to conduct amphibious landings and raids during the American Revolution. They landed twice in Nassau, in the Bahamas, to seize naval stores from the British. The first landing, led by a Captain Nicholas, consisted of 250 Marines and sailors who landed in New Providence, in the Bahamas; there they wreaked much damage and seized naval stores. The second landing, led by a Lieutenant Trevet, landed at night and captured several ships along with the naval stores. John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution was a political movement during the last half of the 18th century that resulted in the creation of... Map of the Bahamas Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. ... Map of the Bahamas The Battle of Nassau (March 2 – March 3, 1776) was a naval action and amphibious assault by American forces against British-occupied Nassau, The Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War. ... (This article is about the island in the Bahamas. ...

Continental Marines landed and captured Nautilus Island and the Majabagaduce peninsula in the Penobscot Expedition. A Marine battalion also fought alongside the Continental Army in the Battle of Princeton. A group under Navy Captain Willig left Pittsburgh, traveled down the Mississippi, captured a ship and in conjunction with other Continental Marines brought by ship from the Gulf of Mexico raided British Loyalists on the shore of Lake Ponchartrain. Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders George Washington Charles Cornwallis Charles Mawhood Strength 1,400 1,200 Casualties 30 dead 75 wounded 60 dead 150 wounded 244 captured The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777. ... Lake Pontchartrain is the second largest salt-water lake in the United States, and the largest lake in southeastern Louisiana. ...

The Continental Marines' first and only Commandant was Major Samuel Nicholas and the first Marine Barracks were located in Philadelphia. The first recruiting station was a bar called Tun Tavern. Four additional Marine Security Companies were also raised and helped George Washington defend Philadelphia. The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... Samuel Nicholas (circa 1744 - August 27, 1790) was the first officer commissioned in the United States Continental Marines (now the United States Marine Corps), and by tradition is considered to be the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and was later elected the first President of the United States. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ...

The Continental Marine Act

In accordance with the Continental Marines Act of 1775, the Congress decreed "That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines." The Continental Congress is the label given to two successive bodies of representatives of the inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies in 18th century British North America: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774, to October 26, 1774. ...

Timeline

1775, November 10th - The Continental Marines are created

1776, March - Nicholas' Marines land on New Providence Island, Bahamas. In 13 days they secure 2 forts, occupy Nassau, control the Government House, seize 88 guns, 16,535 shells and other supplies. Returning from the raid, they encountered a British ship. Marines engaged the ship with muskets and assisted in manning the broadside cannon.

1776, December - Nicholas' Marines assist Washington's Army in the second battle of Trenton (the first recorded joint Army-Marine engagement). Later that spring, Washington incorporated some of the Marines in to artillery units of his reorganized Army

1778, January - Marines sail down the Mississippi and secure New Orleans to keep British traders out.

1778, April - A Marine detachment under the command of John Paul Jones makes two raids on Great Britain soil (the 1st in 700 years).

1783, January - Marines board and seize the British ship Baille in the West Indies

1785, June - fter the end of the American Revolutionary War (Jan, 1783), the last of the nations warships are sold. The Continental Marines go out of existance, along with the Navy.

Source - http://www.acidus.com/Continental_Marines.html

References

• United States Marine Corps, Report on Marine Corps Duplication of Effort between Army and Navy 17 December 1932. Contains a very detailed account of almost all the actions of the Continental Marines and USMC until 1932. It's available in scanned TIFF format from the archives of the Marine Corps University.
• Smith, Charles R., Marines in the Revolution: A History of the Continental Marines in the American Revolution, 1775-1783, illustrated by Major Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. 20380, 1975. Forward and Table of Contents online at http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/marrevwat.html
• George E. Buker, The Penobscot Expedition: Commodore Saltonstall and the Massachusetts Conspiracy of 1779, Naval Institute Press, 2002.

See also

• Marines
• United States Marines
• Continental Navy
• Continental Army