Loyal American Regiment

Loyal American Regiment
Active 1777-1783
Country  Great Britain
Allegiance  British Army
Branch British Provincial unit
Type infantry, (auxiliary troops)
Size detachment - regiment
Garrison/HQ Kingsbridge, Province of New York
Nickname(s) King’s American Rangers
Engagements

American Revolutionary War

Commanders
Notable
commanders
Monument to Major Thomas Barclay of the Loyal American Regiment, Middleton Park, Middleton, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Loyal American Regiment was a British Provincial regiment raised in 1777 for Loyalist service during the American Revolutionary War. The regiment fought in many engagements throughout the war and the men were among the thousands of loyalists who settled in Nova Scotia, after the regiment disbanded in 1783.

Regiment formed

The "Loyal American Regiment" was raised in mid-March 1777 by wealthy Loyalist Beverley Robinson. Robinson, a childhood friend of George Washington, commanded the regiment until it was disbanded at the end of the war in 1783. Several of Beverley Robinson's sons were officers in the regiment. A number of the enlisted men in the "Loyal Americans" were tenant farmers who worked Robinson's estate in lower Dutchess County and Westchester County, Province of New York.

Campaigns

The Loyal American Regiment served in many war-time engagements, often at detachment strength. The Loyal Americans spent many months of the war in the Province of New York at Kingsbridge defending British-occupied New York City. The Loyal Americans are best known for being the first British regiment to enter Fort Montgomery when it was captured on October 6, 1777. A detachment of the regiment was captured in July 1779 when the fort at Stoney Point was taken by the Continental Army. On September 6, 1781, the Loyal American Regiment participated in the British raid on New London, Connecticut commanded by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold.

Regiment disbanded and resettled in British Canada

When the war was over, Loyalists were unwelcome in the former colonies. From New York City, Britain transported thousands of Loyalists to Nova Scotia throughout the early fall of 1783. In all about 33,000 were settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (separated from Nova Scotia in 1784), Prince Edward Island, and Quebec (including areas that were eventually separated to form Upper Canada, eventually renamed Ontario). Many members of the Loyal American Regiment settled there; some were among the first colonists of the newly formed province of New Brunswick.

Present day

Reenactors have recreated Robinson's unit wearing green coats, the standard issue for loyalist soldiers at the beginning of the war.

See also

References

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