Lawrence Connelly
MSA SC 3520-18162
Biography:
Lawrence Connelly enlisted as a private in the Fourth Independent Company in January 1776 under Captain James Hindman. [1]
Hindman’s company originally played a role in the Maryland Council of Safety’s plan to protect the Chesapeake Bay from potential British invasions. Colonel William Smallwood’s Maryland battalion of nine companies were stationed in Baltimore and Annapolis while the independent companies were divided between the Eastern and Western shores. While centered at Oxford in Talbot County in the summer of 1776, Hindman’s company received orders to march to New York to reinforce the Continental Army for a British invasion. The independent companies, including the Fourth Independent, arrived by mid-August 1776. [2]
On August 27, 1776, American forces faced British troops at the Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island), the first full-scale engagement of the war. Under heavy fire, the American troops attempted to retreat through Gowanus Creek, suffering severe losses in the process. To hold the British at bay, the remaining Marylanders who hadn’t crossed the creek yet mounted a series of charges. The Maryland troops delayed the British long enough for the rest of the Continental Army to escape. Despite the loss of 256 men who were killed or captured, the bravery and sacrifice of the Maryland troops earned them the title of the "Maryland 400." [3]
Connelly and the Fourth Independent saw little combat at the battle and took minimal losses. Hindman defended his company against allegations of non-participation, and blamed their orders for preventing them from taking a more active role: "I have had the vanity to think the company I have had the honor to command have behaved themselves as well as in the service, notwithstanding the dark insinuations that have been thrown out to their prejudice." [4]
Following the battle of Brooklyn, the Fourth Independent fought at the Battle of White Plains, a continuation of the retreat from New York and an American loss. Connelly also witnessed victories at the battles of Trenton and Princeton in the winter of 1776-1777.
At the beginning of 1777, the issue of expiring enlistments came to call. Despite seeing combat in four battles and suffering the privations of an ill-supplied army, Connelly re-enlisted for a three-year service term in the Second Maryland Regiment. [5] He was placed in the company of Archibald Anderson, his former lieutenant. [6]
Congress had required Maryland to raise eight new regiments as part of the force of 88 regiments of the Continental establishment. To fill this, soldiers were recruited from the nine companies of Smallwood’s battalion and the independent companies. The Fourth Independent combined with the other independent companies to form the Second Maryland Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Price. [7]
During 1777-1778, the British and American troops vied for control over the American capital at Philadelphia. As part of the American campaign, Connelly fought with the Second Regiment at the battles of Brandywine (September 1777) and Germantown (October 1777), both American losses. [8]
Just after the Battle of Germantown, Connelly fell sick. He recovered a couple months later only to fall sick again in June 1778, right before the Battle of Monmouth. Connelly was given a furlough in 1779 and most likely returned home to Maryland. [9]
Connelly never rejoined his regiment and was discharged in May of 1780. [10] Connelly's life following the war is a mystery and no information about him can found after his discharge in 1780.
Return to Lawrence Connelly's Introductory Page
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|