© Sixth Maryland Regiment 2012 Made with Xara A Brief History of the 6th Maryland Regiment The 6th Maryland Regiment was formed in December of 1776, as part of the Maryland quota of troops raised by order of the  Continental Congress.  In 1777, a pivotal year for the United Colonies, the 6th distinguished itself at Staten Island, New York and  Germantown, Pennsylvania.  The following year at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, the 6th was again hotly engaged.  In April  1780, the Regiments of the Maryland Line and the Delaware Regiment left their winter quarter near Morristown, New Jersey, and  marched to Head of Elk, Maryland, where they then embarked for Yorktown, Virginia.  The 6th Maryland was part of the 2nd Brigade  under General Mordecai Gist.  On August 16, 1780, the weary and starving Maryland and Delaware Continentals were thrown into utter  confusion at the very opening of the Battle of Camden.  Virginia and North Carolina Militia had fled before the advancing British  Regulars and light infantry without firing a shot.  Indeed, the 1st Brigade was swept aside by the fleeing militia, despite Colonel Otho  William's efforts to rally them.  The Colonel then returned to lead the 2nd Brigade, now outnumbered, virtually surrounded, and fought  on until overwhelmed.  Certainly, many of the pitifully few survivors of this disaster remained with the colors.  It is fitting that these  veterans finally won lasting glory at the Cowpens in January 1781.  Shortly thereafter, the 6th Maryland Regiment was officially  disbanded with its remaining soldiers being transferred to another Regiment. The Regimental Commander, Otho Holland Williams, was a superb field officer.  Among the first Marylanders to volunteer for  service, he joined Michael Cresap's Rifle Company as a Lieutenant, and marched to Boston with them in 1775.  He was wounded and  captured at Fort Washington in November 1776, but was exchanged for a British Brigadier General, and soon rejoined the colors.  He  served with distinction throughout the remainder of the war.