British and Colonial Unit Definitions for the Revolutionary War
The following table provides the basic guidelines for determining the sizes of British and American forces during the American Revolution.| Unit Definitions | ||
|---|---|---|
| BRITISH UNIT | DEFINITION | TOTAL |
| Regiment/Battalion | 10 companies of 38 men : 8 line infantry companies, 1 light infantry and 1 grenadier company. | 380 men |
| Dragoon Regiment | 6 companies of 37 men : 6 Cavalry companies | 222 men |
| AMERICAN UNIT | DEFINITION | TOTAL |
| Provincial / Minute Man | 10 companies of 50 men : 10 infantry companies | 500 men |
| Continental Line | 8 companies of 86 men : 8 infantry companies | 688 men |
| Continental Rifle Corps | 10 companies of 68 men : 10 riflemen companies | 680 men |
| American Dragoon Regiment | 6 companies of 68 men : 6 cavalry companies | 408 men |
It is important to point out that these figures cannot be assumed to be exact for either side. The British forces numbered exactly as defined, but often their effective fighting force was reduced by illness, battle losses and desertion.
As for the Continental units, Baron von Steuben was quoted as stating:
"the words company, regiment, brigade, and division were so vague that they did not convey any idea upon which to form a calculation, either of a particular corps or of the army in general. They were so unequal in numbers that it would have been impossible to execute any maneuver."
However, he did institute standard definitions of unit compositions in the reorganization of the Continental Army in May of 1778.
Information taken from Johnson.
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