Tarleton's Raiders
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- For other uses of British Legion, see British Legion (disambiguation)
Tarleton's Raiders was the name given to a British provincial regiment composed of American Loyalist infantry and cavalry.
This unit was raised in New York in July, 1778 as the British Legion from the Caledonian Volunteers and other companies with Lord William Cathcart as its colonel.[1] Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was its commander in the field.
The unit saw action in all across the southern colonies. Their most notable action came at the Battle of Waxhaw, a British victory. By mid-1781, the Raiders were conducting raids throughout southeastern Virginia. The raids were generally considered a success, although they did nothing to affect the outcome of the Revolution. The Raiders' most famous engagement during their foray into Southside was Francisco's Fight in July, 1781. It was interned at Yorktown.
The Bucks County Dragoons was attached to this unit for the 1780 campaign and was permanently merged into this unit in 1782. It was taken onto the American Establishment on March 7, 1781 as the 5th American Regiment. On December 25, 1782 it was taken onto the British Establishment.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Katcher, Philip, Encyclopaedia of British Provincial, and German Army Units 1775-1783, 1973, ISBN 0811705420 p.83
