Volunteer soldiers who answered the call.
The Cumberland Riflemen were a company of volunteer soldiers commanded by Captain William Hendricks who answered the call to arms at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Drawn largely from frontier communities, these men were experienced hunters and woodsmen, bringing with them skills that differed sharply from European-style soldiers. They marched over a thousand miles to Quebec, Canada, in 1775 to fight under General Richard Montgomery before the Declaration of Independence was even signed. Captain Hendricks was killed in action during the assault on Quebec on December 31, 1775, and many of his men were captured or killed.
Unlike regular infantry armed with smoothbore muskets, the Cumberland Riflemen carried long rifles, which were slower to load but far more accurate. This made them especially valuable for scouting, skirmishing, and targeting enemy officers or artillery crews at long range. Their abilities helped introduce a more flexible, distinctly American style of warfare.
Many of these riflemen became part of early units like William Thompson’s rifle battalion, among the first troops sent by the Continental Congress to support the army around Boston, and another stop along the Patriots’ Path trail.
Address: Market Street (between 24th & 25th Streets), Camp Hill, PA 17011
Access Notes: The marker is accessible and stands outdoors along the roadside–no formal park or museum entrance is required to view it. Street parking is the most common option; there are nearby residential streets where short-term parking is typically available. Be mindful of traffic on Market Street — use sidewalks and cross at marked crosswalks where possible.
Visiting Tips: Camp Hill’s Market Street and surrounding area has several well-rated places to grab a meal or snack:
The Watershed Pub is a historic pub with American fare and a full bar on Market Street, great for lunch or dinner.
Turning Point Camp Hill is a popular brunch and breakfast spot with a creative daytime menu.
Chef de Crêpe is a highly rated creperie for breakfast, brunch, or lunch.
Kahaani Indian Restaurant is a well-reviewed Indian cuisine (slightly west on Market Street).
Chop Shish Mediterranean Restaurant offers Mediterranean dining with warm reviews.
Silantra Asian Street Kitchen is an Asian fusion quick-casual option.
Takashi is a Japanese restaurant with excellent reviews.
Patriot Story: Captain William Hendricks
Died December 31, 1775
Answered the call and died far from home.
Captain William Hendricks was among the frontier officers from Cumberland County who answered the Continental Congress’s call in 1775 to carry the war north into Canada. When Colonel Benedict Arnold launched his audacious march through the Maine wilderness toward Quebec, Hendricks commanded a company of Pennsylvania riflemen—men selected for endurance, marksmanship, and their ability to survive in unforgiving terrain. The expedition was conceived as a bold gamble: surprise the British stronghold at Quebec, encourage Canadian support for the Patriot cause, and deny Britain a northern base of operations.
The march quickly became one of the most punishing campaigns of the Revolutionary War. Hendricks and his men endured weeks of cold rain, hunger, disease, and near starvation as they forced their way through dense forests, swamps, and rivers with inadequate maps and supplies. Many soldiers collapsed or turned back; others pressed on driven by discipline and shared purpose. As a captain, Hendricks bore responsibility not only for military command, but for holding his company together under conditions that tested the limits of human endurance.
On December 31, 1775, the American force launched its desperate assault on Quebec during a blinding snowstorm. Captain Hendricks led his riflemen forward in the attack and was killed in the opening phase of the engagement, becoming one of the expedition’s early casualties. The assault ultimately failed, and the campaign to seize Quebec collapsed, but the courage displayed by officers like Hendricks left a lasting mark on the Continental Army.
William Hendricks’ death in Canada places Cumberland County squarely within one of the Revolution’s most daring—and costly—operations. His story reminds us that the fight for independence extended far beyond Pennsylvania’s borders and that local men were willing to risk everything on distant ground in pursuit of a new nation.
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Content in this section was curated by volunteers from the Army Heritage Center Foundation.