Military Loyalists of the American Revolution

Walter T. Dornfest is a retired librarian and professor emeritus from the City University of New York's College of Staten Island. He lives in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania.

• Table of ContentsPreface      Introduction      Notes and Abbreviations      The Officers      Military OrganizationsNorth American CommandROYAL PROVINCIAL UNITSAmerican Legion      American Volunteers      Armed Boat Company      Black Pioneers      Brig.-Gen. Cortlandt Skinner’s Queen’s American Volunteers      British Legion      Bucks County Light Dragoons      Caledonian Volunteers      Collett’s Independent Company      Corps of Foot in Newfoundland      Corps of Incorporated Cavalry at Charlestown, SC      Delancey’s Brigade, 1st Battalion      Delancey’s Brigade, 1st Battalion (New)      Delancey’s Brigade, 2nd Battalion      Delancey’s Brigade, 2nd Battalion (New)      Delancey’s Brigade, 3rd Battalion      Diemar’s Hussars      Dutchess County (NY), 1st Company      Emmerick’s Chasseurs and Dragoons      Emmerick’s Company of Chasseurs      Forshner’s Independent Company      Garrison Battalion      General Skinner’s Dragoons      Georgia Light Dragoons      Georgia Loyalists      Governor Wentworth’s Volunteers      Guides and Pioneers      Hierlihy’s Independent Companies      Hutchins’ Independent Provincial Company (WF)      King’s American Dragoons      King’s American Regiment      King’s Orange Rangers      King’s Rangers (Carolina)      King’s Rangers (Rogers), 1st Battalion      King’s Rangers (Rogers), 2nd Battalion      Kinloch’s Independent Troop of Light Dragoons      Kollock’s Independent Company      Locke’s Independent Company      Loyal American Regiment      Loyal Foresters      Loyal New Englanders      Loyal Nova Scotia Volunteers      Loyal Rhode Islanders      Lyman’s Independent Provincial Company (WF)      Maryland Loyalists, 1st Battalion      Miller’s Independent Provincial Company (WF)      Nassau Blues (NY)      New Hampshire Volunteers      New Jersey Volunteers, 1st Battalion      New Jersey Volunteers, 2nd Battalion (old)      New Jersey Volunteers, 2nd Battalion (new)      New Jersey Volunteers, 3rd Battalion (old)      New Jersey Volunteers, 3rd Battalion (new)      New Jersey Volunteers, 4th Battalion      New Jersey Volunteers, 5th Battalion      New Jersey Volunteers, 6th Battalion      New York Provincial Companies      New York Volunteers      North Carolina Highlanders      North Carolina Independent Company      North Carolina Independent Dragoons      Pennsylvania Loyalists, 1st Battalion      Philadelphia Light Dragoons, 1st Troop      Philadelphia Light Dragoons, 2nd Troop      Prince of Wales’ American Regiment      Provincial Light Infantry      Queen’s American Rangers (also Queen’s Rangers)      Queen’s Royal Rangers      Roman Catholic Volunteers      Royal American Reformees      Royal Fencible Americans      Royal Highland Emigrants, 2nd Battalion      Royal North Carolina Regiment      Simpson’s Independent North Carolina Company      Smyth’s Independent Company      South Carolina Light Dragoons (Campbell)      South Carolina Light Dragoons (Fenwick)      South Carolina Light Dragoons (L. McLean)      South Carolina Rangers      South Carolina Royalists, 1st Battalion      South Carolina Royalists, 2nd Battalion      Stanton’s Volunteers (NY?)      Starcloff ’s Hessian Troop of Light Dragoons      Staten Island Troop of Horse      Volunteers of Ireland      Volunteers of New England      Volunteers of the Island of St John      West Florida Dragoons      West Florida Royal Foresters      West Jersey Volunteers      REGIONAL/LOCAL UNITSArmed Batteaux Men (NY)      Boston Company of Volunteers (MA)      Boyd’s Volunteers (NC, SC, GA)      Brewerton’s Volunteer Company (LI, NY)      Bucks County Volunteers (PA)      Campbell’s Black Pioneers Company (Savannah, GA)      Chrystie’s West Florida Negro Company      Chrystie’s West Florida Volunteers      Coleman’s South Carolina Independent Company      Commissary of Prisoners Company, Commissary General’s Dept. (VA)      Company of Rangers (Penobscot, ME [later MA])      Corps for the Defence of Sequestered Estates (SC)      Corps of Black Pioneers (Charleston, SC)      Cuyler’s Volunteers (NY)      Dunlop’s Corps (SC)      East Florida Loyal Volunteer Company      East Florida Rangers      East Florida Troops of Horse      Georgia Light Dragoons      Georgia Rangers      Goldin’s Independent Company (NY)      Hanscomb’s Black Pioneers Company (Savannah, GA)      Lord Dunmore’s Virginia Volunteers      Loyalist Volunteers (Yorktown, VA)      McKenzie’s Company of Negroe Volunteers (Savannah, GA)      Natchez Defense Force (WF)      Natchez Volunteers (WF)      Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Volunteers      Newfoundland Volunteers      North Carolina Provincials, McDonald’s Wing      North Carolina Provincials, Rutherford’s and MacLean [2]’s Wing      North Carolina Volunteers      Pensacola Volunteers (WF)      Pentecost’s Company of Negroe Volunteers (Savannah, GA)      Pringle’s Volunteers (Newfoundland)      Queen’s Own Loyal Virginia Regiment      Reid’s North Carolina Independent Company      Royal Ethiopian Regiment (VA)      Royal Foresters (SC)      Royal Foresters, Deveaux’s Bahamas Expedition      Royal Volunteers of North Carolina      Royal Volunteers of South Carolina      South Carolina Regiment of Light Dragoons      Spragg’s Independent Company (NY)      Staten Island Troop of Expresses and Guides      Virginia Troop of Light Dragoons      Virginia Volunteers Company      Volunteers of Augusta (GA)      Wagstaff ’s Company of Volunteers (NJ)      West Florida Provincials      West Florida Royal Volunteers (Pensacola)      ROYAL MILITIASBahama Islands Militia      Bermuda Militia Regiment      East Florida1st Regiment, East Florida Militia      2nd Regiment, East Florida Militia      Minorca Volunteer Company      Loyal Refugee Company [1st?]      Loyal Refugee Company [2nd?]      Georgia1st Regiment of Foot ([Savannah?])      2nd Regiment of Foot (Augusta)      3rd Regiment of Foot (Sunbury)      4th Regiment of Foot (St. George’s)      5th Regiment of Foot (Ceded Lands)      Company of Light Infantry (Savannah)      Douglass’ Regiment      Georgia Artillery      Georgia Rifle Dragoons      Horse Patrol      MassachusettsNew JerseyMonmouth County      New YorkKing’s County Regiment (Brooklyn)      King’s County Troop of Dragoons      Queen’s County Regiment      Queen’s County Troops of Horse (New Town)      Richmond County Battalion (Staten Island)      Richmond County Troop      Suffolk County Regiment      Tryon County: Turlock Company      Westchester County Chasseurs      Westchester County Refugees and Militia      New York CityArmy Civil Departments Volunteer Militia      Enrolled [City] Militia      Volunteer [City] Militia      NewfoundlandLevingstone’s Volunteers      North CarolinaCol. Robert Anderson’s Regiment      Col. Samuel Bryan’s Regiment      Col. Samuel Campbell’s Regiment      Lt. Col. John Moore’s Regiment      Anson County Regiment      Bladen County Regiment      Chatham and Randolph Counties Regiment      Cumberland County Regiment      Orange County Regiment      Nova ScotiaAnnapolis County      Annapolis Township Volunteer Company      Colchester County      Cumberland County Regiment      Halifax County Regiment      Hants County      King’s County      Lunenburg County Regiment      Queen’s County Regiment      Sunbury County      Rhode IslandSouth CarolinaChesney’s Troop of Horse      Fanning’s Independent Troop of Volunteer Horse      James Island Independent Troop of Light Dragoons      Lawrence’s Company, SC Volunteers      Sanders’ Independent Company      Beaufort District      Berkeley and Craven County Regiment      Camden District      Charleston District      Cheraws District Regiment      Colleton County Regiment      Georgetown District Regiment      Ninety- Six District      Orangeburgh District Regiment      VirginiaBorough of Norfolk      West FloridaAssociated Company of Loyal Militia of Tensaw      Tombeckby Militia      ASSOCIATORSAssociated Loyalists (NY)      Board of Associated Loyalists (NY)      Hatfield’s Volunteer Company of Guides (NY)      Hazard’s Corps of Refugees (NY)      King’s Militia Volunteers (NY)      Leonard’s Newport Fleet (RI)      Loyal American Association (Boston, MA)      Loyal American Associators (Boston, MA)      Loyal Associated Refugees (RI)      Loyal Irish Volunteers (Boston, MA)      Loyal Newport Associators (RI)      Loyal Refugee Volunteers (NY)      Maryland Royal Retaliators      Massachusetts Associators      NYC Associated Loyalist Militia Companies      Refugee Marine Battalion      Robins’ Company of Refugees (NY)      Royal North British Volunteers (Boston, MA)      Stewart’s Company of Refugees (NY)      INDIAN DEPARTMENTSSix Nations Indian Department      Southern Indian Department      Canadian Command(Province of Quebec)ROYAL PROVINCIAL UNITSBoucherville’s Canadian Company      Butler’s Rangers      Harkimer’s Batteaux Company      King’s Northern Rangers      King’s Royal Regiment of New York, 1st Battalion      King’s Royal Regiment of New York, 2nd Battalion      Loyal Rangers      Meyers’ Independent Company      Monin’s Canadian Company      Rouville’s Canadian Company      Royal Highland Emigrants, 1st Battalion      REGIONAL/LOCAL UNITSAdams’ Company of Rangers      American Volunteers      Beaujeu De Villemomble’s French Canadian Loyal Volunteers      Corps of Royalists (provisional)      Detroit Volunteer Chasseur Company      Drummond’s Independent Company      Fraser’s Independent Company      Hawley’s Batteaux Corps      King’s Loyal Americans      King’s Royal Cadets      Leake’s Independent Company      Loyal Volunteers      Munro’s Batteau Company      Queen’s Loyal Rangers      Wilcox’s Company of Pioneers      ROYAL MILITIASDetroit      Detroit Militia Volunteers      District of Quebec      District of Montreal      District of Three Rivers      Montreal City Canadian Militia      Quebec City Corps of British Militia      Quebec City French Canadian Militia      Vincennes Militia      1st Montreal Levy (French)      2nd Montreal Levy (British)      INDIAN DEPARTMENTProvince of Quebec Indian Department      Jamaican CommandAmherst’s Corps      Duke of Cumberland’s Regiment, 1st Battalion      Duke of Cumberland’s Regiment, 2nd Battalion      Independent Companies ( Jamaica)      Jamaica Rangers, 3 Battalions      Loyal American Rangers      Turks Islands Company      LOCAL/REGIONAL UNITSBay of Honduras Fusileers      Black River Volunteers (Honduras)      Jamaica Legion      Jamaica Royal Volunteers      Loyal Regiment of Dragoons ( Jamaica)      Mosquito Shore Company (Honduras)      Mosquito Shore Volunteers (Honduras)      Rattan Volunteers (Honduras)      Royal Batteaux Volunteers ( Jamaica)      Young’s Independent Company (Honduras)      ROYAL MILITIASIsland of Rattan Militia (Honduras)      Jamaica Militia      INDIAN DEPARTMENTMosquito Shore Indian Dept. (Nicaragua)      Leeward and Caribee Islands CommandROYAL PROVINCIAL UNITSBarbadian Rangers      Carolina Black Corps      ROYAL MILITIASAntigua Militia      Barbados Militia      Grenada Militia      St. Christopher Militia      Appendix: Issuers of Military Commissions, Warrants and Appointments      Bibliography      Index

“This work contains the foundation on which future historical research will be built...an invaluable contribution to Loyalist studies...amazing”—Patriots of the American Revolution; “valuable resource”—The Journal of Southern History; “invaluable...Military Loyalists is the fruit of the most painstaking, careful, and thorough research and represents scholarship at its best. It is an outstanding work, an essential reference for any serious student of the War for Independence”—Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research; “a detailed work...impressive...invaluable tool”—The NYMAS Review; “this book has been too long in coming...the most complete and authoritative source available...extensively researched”—Reference Reviews.