Black Pioneers
Encyclopedia
The Black Pioneers were an African American
regiment established in May 1776 out of Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment
. Famous American
slaves such as Thomas Peters
were Black Pioneers. Their motto, which was embroidered on their uniforms, was "Liberty to Slaves."
During the American Revolution, the Black Pioneers would "Assist in Cleaning the Streets & Removing all Nuisances being thrown into the Streets." The Black Pioneers followed British troops under the command of Henry Clinton as they moved from New York to Philadelphia to Charleston, and, after the fall of Charleston, back to New York again.
The Black Pioneers were commanded for a time by Major James Moncrief of the Royal Engineers
. Moncrief had great faith in the ability of African-American slaves to fight. In a letter to Clinton at the close of the war he offered to continue the war with a brigade of African American troops. he also advocated for their freedom in light of their service to the British Army.
One recruit was the former slave of General George Washington
. After Lord Dumore's proclamation of freedom to any slave that helped the British Army, Henry Washington
ran away from the Washington plantation to join the Black Pioneers in 1776. After the Black Pioneers arrived in New York in 1783 many former slaves escaped from the harbor in fear of being repossessed by their former masters. It is still unknown how many former slaves escaped from New York during this period, although it is known that after the evacuation of the British approximately 15,000 African American
s were involved.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
regiment established in May 1776 out of Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment
Ethiopian Regiment
Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment or Ethiopian Regiment was the name given to a British colonial military unit organized during the American Revolution by John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, and last Royal Governor of Virginia. Composed of slaves who had escaped from Patriot masters, it was led by...
. Famous American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
slaves such as Thomas Peters
Thomas Peters (black leader)
Thomas Peters was one of the Black Loyalist Founding Fathers of Sierra Leone. Peters, along with David George, Moses Wilkinson, Cato Perkins, and Joseph Leonard, were influential blacks who recruited African settlers in Nova Scotia for colonization of Sierra Leone...
were Black Pioneers. Their motto, which was embroidered on their uniforms, was "Liberty to Slaves."
During the American Revolution, the Black Pioneers would "Assist in Cleaning the Streets & Removing all Nuisances being thrown into the Streets." The Black Pioneers followed British troops under the command of Henry Clinton as they moved from New York to Philadelphia to Charleston, and, after the fall of Charleston, back to New York again.
The Black Pioneers were commanded for a time by Major James Moncrief of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. Moncrief had great faith in the ability of African-American slaves to fight. In a letter to Clinton at the close of the war he offered to continue the war with a brigade of African American troops. he also advocated for their freedom in light of their service to the British Army.
One recruit was the former slave of General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. After Lord Dumore's proclamation of freedom to any slave that helped the British Army, Henry Washington
Henry Washington
Henry Washington was a one time African American slave of the first president of the United States, George Washington. His history and linked documents can be found on-line He was a saltwater slave from Africa purchased from a deceased estate in 1763 to be part of Washington's workforce in the...
ran away from the Washington plantation to join the Black Pioneers in 1776. After the Black Pioneers arrived in New York in 1783 many former slaves escaped from the harbor in fear of being repossessed by their former masters. It is still unknown how many former slaves escaped from New York during this period, although it is known that after the evacuation of the British approximately 15,000 African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s were involved.
Sources
- http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/blkpion/blkhist.htm
- http://blackloyalist.com/canadiandigitalcollection/
- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6948815/
- http://www.nps.gov/revwar/unfinished_revolution/black_loyalists.html