July 1775

After George Washington was appointed as General to command all of the troops to be raised for the defense of American Liberty in June,  troops were raised to accompany Washington as he moved to the aid of the Boston troops.

The sharpshooters who accompanied General George Washington to Boston in 1775 were Continental Army riflemen recruited from the backcountry and frontier regions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. They were among the first companies raised by the Second Continental Congress to reinforce the siege of British-occupied Boston. 

Notable companies included:

Virginia: Two companies of riflemen arrived in Boston, commanded by Captain Daniel Morgan and Captain Hugh Stephenson. Morgan's men were known for their exceptional accuracy with the long rifle and their frontier skills.

Pennsylvania: Nine companies were formed into the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, the first battalion in the Continental Army.

Maryland: Two companies of riflemen came from Maryland. 

These elite frontier soldiers were known for their marksmanship and were a new and fearsome sight to both the New England militia and the British soldiers. 

The group marched to Boston stopping in towns along the way for ceremonial welcomes as the crowds cheered their progress.  The group finally arrive in Cambridge Massachusetts on July 2 1775.  On July 3, 1775 George Washington formally took control of the Continental Army