Colonel Thomas Proctor’s Pennsylvania artillery, which became Proctor’s Continental Artillery Regiment and was redesignated the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment in August 1779. The officer you call “CPT Turnball” appears to be Charles Turnbull (also spelled Trumbull in some records). I found unusually good primary-source documentation for him, including the Library of Congress and National Park Service. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
1. Unit identity and lineage
| Date | Organization/designation | Status / assignment |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct. 1775 | Pennsylvania State Artillery Company authorized | Pennsylvania State service |
| 27 Oct.–27 Nov. 1775 | Company organized at Philadelphia | Capt. Thomas Proctor commanding |
| 14 Aug. 1776 | Pennsylvania State Artillery Battalion | Expanded to 2 companies |
| 23 Sept. 1776 | Pennsylvania State Artillery Battalion | Assigned to Washington's Main Army |
| 6 Feb. 1777 | Pennsylvania State Artillery Regiment | Expanded to 8 companies; relieved from Main Army |
| 10 June 1777 | Proctor's Continental Artillery Regiment | Entered Continental Army; Middle Department |
| 14 July 1777 | Proctor's Continental Artillery | Assigned to Main Army |
| 10 Aug. 1779 | 4th Continental Artillery Regiment | Redesignated; Main Army |
| 1 Jan. 1781 | 4th Continental Artillery | Expanded/reorganized to 10 companies |
| 20 Feb. 1781 | 4th Continental Artillery | Transferred to Southern Department |
| 1 Jan. 1783 | 4th Continental Artillery | Reduced to 4 companies |
| 24 Apr. 1783 | 4th Continental Artillery | Transferred to Middle Department |
| 11 June 1783 | 4th Continental Artillery | Furloughed at Philadelphia |
| 15 Nov. 1783 | 4th Continental Artillery | Disbanded |
This lineage is confirmed by the U.S. Army's The Continental Army, which is a much better source for the organizational dates than relying on secondary genealogy sites. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
Important distinction about the "date formed"
There are three dates that can legitimately appear in a family or military history:
16 October 1775 — Pennsylvania authorized Proctor's artillery company.
27 October–27 November 1775 — the original company was actually organized at Philadelphia.
6 February 1777 — Pennsylvania expanded the organization into the eight-company Pennsylvania State Artillery Regiment that became Proctor's Continental regiment.
10 June 1777 — it was formally adopted into the Continental Army as Proctor's Continental Artillery Regiment. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
So if you're documenting the ancestry of the 4th Continental Artillery, I would use 16 October 1775 as the authorization/lineage date, 27 October–27 November 1775 as the original organization date, and 10 June 1777 as the date it became a Continental Army regiment.
2. Colonel Thomas Proctor
Thomas Proctor was originally an artillery officer in Philadelphia. He raised the Pennsylvania artillery company in 1775 and eventually commanded the eight-company Pennsylvania regiment.
In January 1777, while General Henry Knox was temporarily absent, Knox placed Proctor in temporary command of the Continental Army's artillery. Pennsylvania then made Proctor colonel of its expanded eight-company artillery regiment. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
The U.S. Army's history of Continental artillery specifically describes Proctor's battalion as the Pennsylvania unit adopted into the Continental Army in 1777. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
Proctor remained commander through the major northern campaigns, but resigned on 9 April 1781 after conflicts with Pennsylvania authorities over promotions and administration. Washington accepted his resignation while expressing his appreciation for Proctor's service. (Wikipedia)
The regiment itself, however, continued after Proctor's resignation under subsequent officers.
3. Major campaigns and assignments
1775 — Philadelphia and Delaware Bay
The original company was organized at Philadelphia in late 1775. Its initial duty was essentially local defense, including protection of Fort Island and the Delaware approaches.
The company also participated in operations in Delaware Bay. (Military History Fandom)
1776–early 1777 — New York and New Jersey Campaign
The two-company Pennsylvania artillery battalion joined Washington's Main Army in September 1776.
It participated in the dramatic winter campaign:
Trenton — 26 December 1776
Second Trenton / Assunpink Creek — 2 January 1777
Princeton — 3 January 1777
Morristown winter encampment — January–May 1777
The Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati's unit history specifically records the Trenton, Assunpink/Trenton, Princeton and Morristown service. (PA Society of the Cincinnati)
1777 — Bound Brook
This is particularly important because Charles Turnbull's military career changed dramatically here.
On 13 April 1777, British and Hessian forces under Cornwallis surprised the American force at Bound Brook, New Jersey.
Washington reported that the Americans lost two artillery pieces along with Lieutenants William Ferguson and Charles Turnbull and about twenty men of Proctor's regiment. (Library of Congress Tile)
Turnbull was captured and became a prisoner/paroled officer.
4. Charles Turnbull —
This is almost certainly the man you are looking for.
The National Park Service identifies him as Charles Turnbull, a Continental artillery officer buried at St. Paul's Chapel in New York. (National Park Service)
His career is especially interesting:
| Date | Charles Turnbull |
|---|---|
| Apr. 1775 | Enlisted in Proctor's artillery as a private |
| 1775 | Promoted to sergeant |
| 5 Oct. 1776 | Commissioned/promoted 2nd Lieutenant |
| 3 Mar. 1777 | Promoted Captain-Lieutenant, 4th Continental Artillery |
| 13 Apr. 1777 | Captured at Bound Brook, NJ |
| 16 July 1777 | Commissioned Captain while a prisoner |
| 3 Apr. 1780 | Exchanged |
| 1780–1783 | Returned to Continental service |
| June 1783 | Discharged/finally left service |
The Library of Congress's Washington Papers explicitly identify him as "Lieut. Charles Turnbull, of Procter's artillery", record his promotion to captain-lieutenant on March 3, his capture at Bound Brook on April 13, and his subsequent promotion while a prisoner. (Library of Congress Tile)
The National Park Service gives essentially the same career, noting that he enlisted in Proctor's artillery in 1775, became a sergeant, then a second lieutenant in October 1776, and was captured at Bound Brook in April 1777. (National Park Service)
His 1777 capture
This is a particularly well-documented event.
Washington's report says that the British force approached Bound Brook from Brunswick and nearly captured General Benjamin Lincoln. The Americans escaped, but two artillery pieces and Turnbull, Ferguson and about twenty men of Proctor's regiment were captured. (Library of Congress Tile)
A contemporary prisoner list also records:
Charles Turnbull — Captain Lieutenant — Proctor's artillery — taken April 13, 1777, Bound Brook.
So if you are researching an ancestor named Charles Turnbull/Turnball, this is a very strong identification.
5. 1777 Philadelphia Campaign
After becoming a Continental regiment in June 1777, Proctor's artillery joined Washington's Main Army.
The regiment participated in the Philadelphia Campaign, including the major battles:
- Brandywine — 11 September 1777
- Germantown — 4 October 1777
- retreat through Pennsylvania
- Valley Forge — December 1777–June 1778
Washington's papers show Proctor's corps moving with the army during the 1777 campaign. (Library of Congress)
At Valley Forge the 4th Continental Artillery was part of the artillery force concentrated under Henry Knox. The National Park Service notes that Knox trained approximately 630 officers and soldiers from the four Continental artillery regiments at the artillery park. (National Park Service)
6. 1778 — Valley Forge and Monmouth
The regiment continued with Washington's army through the Valley Forge encampment and the campaign that followed.
The most important engagement was:
Battle of Monmouth — 28 June 1778
Proctor's artillery was heavily involved in the artillery action at Monmouth. The U.S. Army's history of the Valley Forge–Monmouth campaign specifically identifies Proctor's regiment as the 4th Continental Artillery Regiment. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
This is also the regiment associated with William Hays and the later Molly Pitcher tradition. The National Park Service records that Hays served in the 4th Continental Artillery and that his wife Mary was present with the army at Monmouth. (National Park Service)
7. 1779 — Sullivan Expedition
In 1779 the regiment accompanied Major General John Sullivan's expedition against the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee in New York.
This was one of the regiment's most unusual assignments.
Proctor's artillery expeditionary detachment included:
- four 3-pounder cannon
- two 6-pounder cannon
- two howitzers
At the Battle of Newtown, 29 August 1779, the artillery used howitzer fire against the opposing force. (Wikipedia)
On 10 August 1779, the regiment was officially redesignated the:
4th Continental Artillery Regiment
It received the number "4th" because Proctor's regiment had entered Continental service later than the three older Continental artillery regiments. (Wikipedia)
8. 1780 — New Jersey / Bull's Ferry
The regiment returned to operations in New Jersey.
The major action was:
Battle of Bull's Ferry — 20/21 August 1780
General Anthony Wayne's Pennsylvania troops attacked a Loyalist blockhouse near Bull's Ferry with artillery support from Proctor.
The four guns attempted to reduce the blockhouse, but the Loyalist defenders held out.
British Major John André subsequently wrote his famous satirical poem "The Cow Chace," which specifically mocked Proctor and the American artillery. (Wikipedia)
This is one of the better-known episodes associated with Proctor personally.
9. 1781 — Southern Department and Yorktown
On 1 January 1781, the regiment was reorganized from eight to ten companies.
Four companies were added/transferred from other Continental artillery organizations, including companies associated with the 2nd Continental Artillery and Artillery Artificer Regiment. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
On 20 February 1781, the regiment was transferred from Washington's Main Army to the:
Southern Department
Proctor resigned in April, but portions of the regiment continued south.
In May, a detachment of the regiment accompanied Anthony Wayne toward Virginia. The regiment participated in operations against Cornwallis, including the Battle of Green Spring, 6 July 1781. (Wikipedia)
Yorktown — October 1781
The regiment was represented at the Siege of Yorktown.
The National Park Service's official order of battle for Yorktown lists:
Artillery Brigade — Major General Henry Knox
and specifically:
Detachment, 4th Continental Artillery — Captain Patrick Duffy
Three small companies of the 4th Continental Artillery, totaling about 60 men, were present at Yorktown. (Wikipedia)
Thus, the 4th Continental Artillery was definitely a Yorktown unit, although it is important not to imply that the entire ten-company regiment was concentrated there.
10. 1781–1782 — Southern Theater
After Yorktown, portions of the regiment remained in the South and supported General Nathanael Greene's operations in the Carolinas.
This explains why the regiment's history does not simply end with Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown.
The surviving elements continued operating in the Southern Theater through 1782. (Wikipedia)
11. Final organization and disbandment
By the end of the war, the regiment was greatly reduced:
- 1 January 1783: reduced from ten to four companies
- 24 April 1783: transferred from Southern to Middle Department
- 11 June 1783: furloughed at Philadelphia
- 15 November 1783: officially disbanded
These dates come directly from the U.S. Army's lineage history. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
So the cleanest answer to "when did Proctor's 4th Continental Artillery exist?" is:
Lineage: 16 October 1775–15 November 1783
Continental Army service under Proctor's name: 10 June 1777–10 August 1779
As the 4th Continental Artillery: 10 August 1779–15 November 1783
12. Campaign/assignment summary
| Years | Campaign / assignment | Principal locations/actions |
|---|---|---|
| 1775 | Pennsylvania defense | Philadelphia, Fort Island, Delaware River/Bay |
| 1776–1777 | New York & New Jersey Campaign | Trenton, Assunpink Creek, Princeton, Morristown |
| Apr. 1777 | New Jersey operations | Bound Brook — Turnbull captured |
| 1777 | Philadelphia Campaign | Brandywine, Germantown |
| 1777–78 | Valley Forge | Artillery Park / winter encampment |
| 1778 | Philadelphia–Monmouth Campaign | Monmouth |
| 1779 | Sullivan Expedition | New York frontier; Newtown |
| 1780 | New Jersey operations | Bull's Ferry |
| 1781 | Southern Department | Virginia, Green Spring |
| 1781 | Yorktown Campaign | Siege of Yorktown |
| 1781–82 | Southern Theater | Carolinas / Greene's operations |
| 1783 | Postwar consolidation | Philadelphia; furlough |
| 15 Nov. 1783 | — | Disbanded |
The U.S. Army's official lineage confirms the major organizational changes and departmental assignments, while NPS and Library of Congress material fills in the individual actions and Turnbull's service. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
13. Particularly useful sources for your research
For genealogical or military-service research on Charles Turnbull/Turnball, I would prioritize these:
- U.S. National Park Service — Charles Turnbull: gives a biographical account of his enlistment, promotions and capture. (National Park Service)
- Library of Congress — George Washington Papers: primary-source documentation of Turnbull's status and the Bound Brook capture. (Library of Congress Tile)
- U.S. Army Center of Military History — The Continental Army: best source for the regiment's official lineage, dates and assignments. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)
- Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati: useful for company-level officers and Pennsylvania unit history. (PA Society of the Cincinnati)
- NPS Yorktown order of battle: confirms the 4th Continental Artillery's presence at Yorktown. (National Park Service)
One correction worth emphasizing: the historical records generally spell the officer's name Charles Turnbull, although variant spellings such as Turnball/Trumbull occur in secondary material. The Library of Congress and NPS both identify him as Charles Turnbull. (National Park Service)