After receiving a medical certification from Trinity College, Dublin, Hand was enlisted as Surgeon's Mate with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot in 1767 ("Welcome to Rock Ford Plantation"). The regiment was created in 1684 by the Earl of Granard from independent companies in Ireland. It later became known as The Royal Irish Regiment due to its performance at the Siege of Namur under King Williams III’s leadership ("Unit History: Royal Irish Regiment"). In 1767, Hand and his regiment arrived in Philadelphia and passed through Lancaster on their way to Fort Pitt. During his time in Western Pennsylvania, Hand spoke with local Indians and learned their medical practices and their use of plants and herbs with medicinal value (Zervanos). In 1772, the 18th Regiment was reassigned to Philadelphia after the British decommissioned Fort Pitt. The reason for leaving Fort Pitt was because the cost of repairs due to floods was too expensive and Britain wanted to help strengthen relations with Native Americans ("What was Fort Pitt"). While staying in Philadelphia, Hand witnessed the impact the Tea Act had on the colonists. Colonists began calling for liberty and their intense spirit of resentment toward Britain led Hand to also resent the British. In 1774, he resigned from the British army, moved to Lancaster to practice medicine and married Katherine …show more content…
He was shortly made lieutenant colonel and was sent to join the Continental army camped outside Boston. Hand led his troops through the struggle in Boston and New York. He also fought against the British at Trenton and Princeton under George Washington’s command. On January 2, 1777, British troops were deployed for the Second Battle of Trenton. Colonel Hand knew that he could not beat the incoming force, but he could slow them down as much as possible. Hand and his riflemen waited behind natural covers near Shabakunk Creek until the British arrived. The several musket fires turned into an all-out brawl with musket fires raining back and forth between the two armies. However, the concentrated fires coming from Hand’s side caused more casualties to the British side. British soldiers were so confused by this amount of force they thought crossed paths with the main American line. As fire continued to be laid down, Hand and his men destroyed the bridge across Shabakunk Creek. They quietly sneaked away during all the commotion and took a new position at a ravine called Stockton’s Hollow. British forces continued deploy troops until it was too much for Hand’s riflemen to handle. They retreated to Assunpink Creek and now deployed Continental artillery was positioned and started laying fire on the British (Johnson). Hand had successfully slowed down the British for