is a re-creation of an original American Revolutionary Rifle Unit which fought
during the American War Of Independence.
Some of it's engagements that we have documentation for were in the
New Jersey Campaigns of 1777 at Bound Brook, Short Hills, Woodbridge.
Pennsylvania engagements in Brandywine, Germantown and at winters quarters in
Valley Forge.
By the Fall of 1778 the unit was deployed on the frontier settlements of the Minisink, NY.
The Spring 1779 saw the unit marching for the Pennsylvania settlement of Wyoming,
making preparations for the widerness campaign of General Sullivan.
During the Sullivan Expedition, Selin's Company was attached to the 3rd Brigade
under General Edward Hand. In part, this group consisted of
Light Corps and Rifles who served as the van throughout the Campaign.
The Battle of Newtown, NY, in August 1779 was the major engagement during this Campaign.
After the Sullivan - Clinton Campaign, we served as frontier guards for the
Wyoming Settlement and surrounding outposts.
1781 saw the unit attached to Moses Hazen's Regiment,
through The Seige of Yorktown.In the latter days of the American Revolution most of the Rifle Companies were
converted to Line units and their rifles were replaced with muskets.
From our research to date, it appears that Selin's Company retained
most of it's original rifleman throughout the war.
Later designated an Independent Company of Foot from returns of 1780; the unit appears
to be comprised of Light Infantry and Riflemen working in conjunction with each other.
We can trace our lineage back to the formation of the"Corps de Ottendorf" or Ottendorf's Corps, which was
authorized Dec. 5, 1776, assigned to the main Army.
Three main Companies (also two secondary companies) were organized in Eastern Pennsylvania Dec. 9, 1776 thru June 17, 1777. Company No. 1 was composed of Light Infantry and Commanded by Major De Ottendorf until June of 1777 when it was taken over by Charles Armand. This was Armand's first command in the American War. Company No. 2 was commanded by Captain Antoni Selin. This Independent Company of Foot was composed of light infantry & rifles (hunters). Company No. 3 was commanded by John Paul Schott, also working as an independent company, it to, was similar in composition to Selin's Company.
By mid June of 1777 it was redesignated as the
Late Ottendorf's Corps, commanded Col. Armand, as just mentioned.
Armand began recruiting Frenchmen who would fight for the cause. Now comprising of a number of partisan officers Company No 1 was composed of mounted Cavalry, dismounteddragoons and lights . Antoni Selin still had command of the Independent Company of Foot through the Fall of 1778. This now comprised a portion of Schott's original Company also, since he had been taken prisoner at the Battle of Short Hills in June 1777
In April of 1778 the Corps was broken up and
redesignated as Armand's Partisan Corps,
Capt. Henry Bedkin's Independent Troop of Light Horse and
Captains John Paul Schott's and
Anthony Selin's Independent Companies, which were elements of the Middle Department.
On January 1, 1781 Selin's Company was relieved
from the Middle Department and assigned to the Main Army,
then later to be consolidated with Moses Hazen's
2nd Canadian Regiment ( Congress' Own).
We are members of the Continental Line, a National Organization of American War of Independence Reenactors and as such take part in the many
sponsored events each year. We are based out of upper New York State and our members range from New York and PA.
In 1995, Selin's Ind. Rifle Company became a provisional member of the Continental Line
under the sponsorship of the 3rd NY, Dewitt's Co.On February 3, 1996, our unit was accepted for full membership at the annual meeting
of the Continental Line in Warrington, Pa.
Johann Heinrich Bartholomey's Service in Selin's Company 1777
Orderly
Book of Captain Selin's Company 1777 available in .pdf format * New*
or as a html
page
Muster rolls, Payrolls and Assorted list of the men of Selin's Company during the Revolution, along with it's associated units, companies and Corps. *New* A Geneologist Haven!
