The 64th Regiment of Foot is the Age of Napoleon Branch of the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment
The 64th Regiment of Foot began as the Second Battalion of the 11th Regiment of Foot and was formed as such in 1756. King George II determined that he preferred to have single battalions and authorized the 64th Regiment of Foot into being in 1758.
The Regiment eventually was ordered to the North American Colonies and arrived in Boston in 1768. Unrest in the Colonies was on the increase through the early 1770’s and in February 1775 Lt. Col. Alexander Leslie was ordered to Salem, Mass with some of his own 64th Regiment to confiscate arms and military stores reported to be held there. During the course of events that day one Soldier from the 64th pricked a townsman in Salem thus shedding the ‘first blood’ of the American Revolution. The 64th returned to Boston and was then stationed on Castle Island (today this is known as Fort Independence on the Boston waterline but at that time an island quite far out into Boston Harbor). The 64th did not take part in the events of April 1775 at Lexington or Concord. It was not part of the action on Breed’s (Bunker’s) Hill. The 64th Regiment was one of the last to leave Boston when the city was evacuated.
The Regiment then went to Halifax, Nova Scotia but would return to be part of the New York Garrison.
In the 64th Regiment of Foot the Company was commanded during the first part of the American Revolution by Captain Thomas Armstrong. Captain Armstrong would leave the Company and Regiment in 1778 to become Major in the 17th Regiment of Foot. The Company was then commanded for the balance of the war by Captain William Snow.
Detached to serve with the Second Battalion of Light Infantry the Company saw numerous engagements, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Paoli, Old Tappan and others. It is difficult to establish whether the Company surrendered at Yorktown in 1781. While there is some evidence which suggests it may very well have, there is just as much evidence which seemed to place it back in the New York City area at the time. The Company participated in numerous battles as part of the Second Battalion of Light Infantry and saw heavy action throughout the New York and Pennsylvania campaigns. There is some evidence which suggests it may have been involved in various engagements in the New York City and Westchester County area’s during the last stages of the war. The recreated Light Company is fortunate to have the muster rolls of it which were taken from December 1774 through war’s end and thus can track individuals in it to some degree. We are also fortunate that among the George Washington papers was found the Orderly Book for the Company for the period which includes the battle of Brandywine as well as the action at Paoli Tavern.
