American Revolution
Historic Massachusetts 2nd Regiment Enlisted Man's Button
c. 1781 Revolutionary War Period, Historic Massachusetts 2nd Regiment, Enlisted Soldiers Pewter Button, with Original Shank, Fine.
17 mm. Small Size Massachusetts 2nd Regiment Enlisted Man's Pewter Button. Arched letters "MASSA" over an Arabic "2" over "REG". Original shank intact and straight. Small edge chip at upper right at 2:00 yet overall whole and complete with a very readable "2". See: Troiani "AM2.f" listing and plate illustrated on page124 of his reference work "Military Buttons of the American Revolution". This button with a deep gray patina with wear yet mostly readable and pleasing as shown. Although not as popular as the classic Continental Army "USA" button, it is rarer and should be treasured. This historic unit was formed and fought right at the outbreak of the American Revolution. It was a successor to a number of Massachusetts Provincial Regiments from the Continental Army's original 1775 establishment then known principally the "2nd Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment." It was initially raised on April 23, 1775, (four days after the Battle of Lexington and Concord and its "The Shot heard round the World.") under Colonel John Thomas outside of Boston, Massachusetts.
The 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, also known as Thomas' Regiment and Bailey's Regiment, was a unit of the Massachusetts Line in the 1777 establishment of the Continental Army.
It was a successor to a number of Massachusetts provincial regiments from the army's 1775 establishment (principally the 2nd Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment), and was known as the 23rd Continental Regiment during the 1776 establishment. It was raised on April 23, 1775, under Colonel John Thomas outside of Boston, Massachusetts; the commanding officer for much of its existence was Colonel John Bailey.
The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth. The regiment was also encamped during the winter of 1777"1778 at Valley Forge. The Massachusetts 2nd Regiment remained active throughout the enire war, from its very start to finish, and was disbanded on November 3, 1783, at West Point, New York.