Flying Camp

[Rancocas]

Not wishing to hijack the thread about "Bushmen", but along what I think may be similar lines...
One of my wife's direct ancestors was known to have been in the American War for Independence. One reference states that he was a member of the "flying camp".
So, what was the "flying camp"?
My guess is that it was something like a ranger unit for scouting, skirmishing, and ready for action at a moments notice.

 

[64Springer]

Like a Flying Squad in the Navy.

Drop Of The Hat Fast.

To respond to shipboard emergencies or, in your case, to slaughter the tea sipping tyrants.

 

[Paul-in-PA]

"Flying Camp" - Read this Wikipedia - Flying Camp - Wikipedia.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Not wishing to hijack the thread about "Bushmen", but along what I think may be similar lines...
One of my wife's direct ancestors was known to have been in the American War for Independence. One reference states that he was a member of the "flying camp".
So, what was the "flying camp"?
My guess is that it was something like a ranger unit for scouting, skirmishing, and ready for action at a moments notice.

Alas, Wikipedia is not very accurate in how it reads, thus...

"A Flying Camp was a military formation employed by the Continental Army in the second half of 1776, during the American Revolutionary War."

NO

THE Flying Camp, was a unit formed from state Militia units, those militia units that volunteered to leave their states, to operate under the command of The Continental Army.... The sentence quoted above from Wikipedia appears to read that Continental Army units were made into The Flying Camp, and that is incorrect. Militias were for the defense of their states, and could not be ordered to leave their states during the AWI, unless the members volunteered to leave to fight outside their states. Further, Flying Camp officers were considered of lesser rank than officers of The Continental Army because The Flying Camp was militia.

ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE

"RESOLVES OF CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 16 SEPTEMBER. 1776.
"Resolved, That 88 battalions be inlisted as soon as possible, to serve during the present war, and that each state furnish their respective quotas in the following proportions

Maryland 8 battalions."

RESOLVES OF MARYLAND CONVENTION, 9 OCTOBER, 1776.
"Resolved, That the 8 battalions required by congress to be raised by this state, exceeds its just quota. That this state, desirous of exerting the most strenuous efforts to support the liberties and independence of the United States, will therefore use its utmost endeavours to raise the 8 battalions required, (including the troops already raised and in the service of the United States), as soon as possible.
That four commissioners be appointed to repair to the camps in the Jerseys and New York, and there obtain a list of such of the officers in the regular troops and flying camp from this state, now in the service of the United States, as are willing to engage in the service during the war; and also to enlist or cause to be enlisted all or every of the said regular troops or flying camp militia in the service of the United States during the war, continuing the regular battalion and forming the independent companies into a battalion, and filling both up according to the Continental establishment."

So, The Flying Camp was seen as different from "regular troops" i.e. Continental Army troops, and were referred to where I have marked with an underline, as "flying camp militia".

LD

 

[Rancocas]

Ah ha. That explains some things. Thank you.
BTW; Most of my wife's ancestors of the AWI period were Marylanders, and some from Delaware. Succeeding generations moved up to Pennsylvania and some crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey.
Mine were mostly PA and NJ. You and I talked once about AWI action in my home town of Mt. Holly, NJ.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Ah ha. That explains some things. Thank you.
BTW; Most of my wife's ancestors of the AWI period were Marylanders, and some from Delaware. Succeeding generations moved up to Pennsylvania and some crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey.
Mine were mostly PA and NJ. You and I talked once about AWI action in my home town of Mt. Holly, NJ.

Yep, and IF you're also the sutler that uses "Rancocas" in the company name, I've also been a customer.

LD

 

[Rancocas]

Yep, and IF you're also the sutler that uses "Rancocas" in the company name, I've also been a customer.

LD

Nope. I'm not a sutler. I was not aware of a sutler using that name. I reckon he must be from that area of NJ.
Rancocas is the creek in Burlington Co., NJ that I grew up beside, on, and in. There are two branches, north and south that come together downstream from where I lived. I lived on the north branch. There is also the village of Rancocas downstream of where I hung out.
Rancocas is an English corruption of a Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indian word, supposedly meaning amber water or dark water. That "cedar water" is the color of root beer.

My wife is a member of DAR. She has a half dozen or more Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania ancestors who were in the AWI. Just the one, though, was in a "flying camp".
I'm a member of SAR, but so far I have only found one ancestor who was in the 3rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, Continental Army. I keep looking for more, but most of my ancestors of that period were non-combatant "Quakers".
Fun stuff.

 

[springfield art]

Not wishing to hijack the thread about "Bushmen", but along what I think may be similar lines...
One of my wife's direct ancestors was known to have been in the American War for Independence. One reference states that he was a member of the "flying camp".
So, what was the "flying camp"?
My guess is that it was something like a ranger unit for scouting, skirmishing, and ready for action at a moments notice.

Or maybe one of the crew that put up, tore down, the HQ tent and etc., in a trained hurry; often had to be moved quickly.