Brant's Volunteers
Encyclopedia
Brant's Volunteers was an irregular corps raised in spring of 1777 during the American Revolutionary War
by Joseph Brant
which fought on the British side in the Province of New York
.
The corps initial size was about one hundred men consisting of one-fifth Mohawk and the rest New York Loyalists. The Loyalists were mostly of English, Scottish or Irish descent and drawn from New York. They wore a piece of yellow lace on their hats as identification. Why the Loyalists would prefer Brant's command is difficult to explain; some refused any other service whatsoever. A simple explanation is that they were wild and undisciplined. Brant's men, at least on occasion, dressed as Indians due to lack of supply and to disguise themselves while raiding their former neighbors:
"Colonel Alden's Report To General, Stark.
Head Quarters, Cherey Valley Aug'st 12th 1778.
Dear General; I have the honour to Informe you that this Morning a Scout of mine Came in who have been Peace Down the Suscohanna taking their rout round by the Butternuts and Returnd by the way of one Tunecliffts who they have, with fourteen or fifteen other Torrys, Brought In Likewise two of Brant's party, who ware Collecting Cattel at the Butternuts for Brant. Ware Clothed and painted Like Indians; with them they have Brought about one hundred head of horn'd Cattel, and horses besides thirty or Forty Sheep then of Brant's Party ware a Scout up to the Butternuts from the Unidlles and ware there Collecting Cattle, Expectlng In two or three Days a Party from Brant's to assist in Careing them Down, but as good Luck would have It we have ben two quick for them, I have Exeamined them and verily think all of them to be Enemys to this Country, Should much Rather fall Into the hands of Brant then either of them."
Though Joseph himself received a Captain's commission in the Six Nations Indian Dept., Brant's Volunteers were Associators
; they were unpaid by the British and relied upon plunder (and Joseph's credit) for their compensation. Eventually, Frederick Haldimand
authorized provisioning, but no money. Since their unit had no official recognition, many members transferred to Butler's Rangers
and the King's Royal Regiment of New York
. It grew to at least three hundred men. Later in the war, Brant was able to attract a larger number of Indians to his unit.
They were at the Battle of Oriskany
(1777), Raid on Cobleskill, Battle of Minisink
, Raid on German Flatts, Raid on Springfield (1778) and at many other battles seeing more action than most other units.
A few of the non-natives were still with the unit at the end of the war and settled with Brant along the Grand River
in Canada.
One, Brant's Volunteers (Oquaga) is based in Brant's home in the Mohawk Valley of NY: www.oquagavolunteers.com
The second group is associated with the Northwest Territorial Alliance (NWTA) and are based in Indiana.
A third is based out of Fort Niagara in western NY.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
by Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
which fought on the British side in the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
.
The corps initial size was about one hundred men consisting of one-fifth Mohawk and the rest New York Loyalists. The Loyalists were mostly of English, Scottish or Irish descent and drawn from New York. They wore a piece of yellow lace on their hats as identification. Why the Loyalists would prefer Brant's command is difficult to explain; some refused any other service whatsoever. A simple explanation is that they were wild and undisciplined. Brant's men, at least on occasion, dressed as Indians due to lack of supply and to disguise themselves while raiding their former neighbors:
"Colonel Alden's Report To General, Stark.
Head Quarters, Cherey Valley Aug'st 12th 1778.
Dear General; I have the honour to Informe you that this Morning a Scout of mine Came in who have been Peace Down the Suscohanna taking their rout round by the Butternuts and Returnd by the way of one Tunecliffts who they have, with fourteen or fifteen other Torrys, Brought In Likewise two of Brant's party, who ware Collecting Cattel at the Butternuts for Brant. Ware Clothed and painted Like Indians; with them they have Brought about one hundred head of horn'd Cattel, and horses besides thirty or Forty Sheep then of Brant's Party ware a Scout up to the Butternuts from the Unidlles and ware there Collecting Cattle, Expectlng In two or three Days a Party from Brant's to assist in Careing them Down, but as good Luck would have It we have ben two quick for them, I have Exeamined them and verily think all of them to be Enemys to this Country, Should much Rather fall Into the hands of Brant then either of them."
Though Joseph himself received a Captain's commission in the Six Nations Indian Dept., Brant's Volunteers were Associators
Associators
Associators were members of a Military Association, more commonly known as a militia. During King Georges War, Benjamin Franklin, in 1747, wrote and published the pamphlet, Plain Truth, calling for a voluntary association to defend Philadelphia. This was in line with his earlier formation of...
; they were unpaid by the British and relied upon plunder (and Joseph's credit) for their compensation. Eventually, Frederick Haldimand
Frederick Haldimand
Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB was a military officer best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
authorized provisioning, but no money. Since their unit had no official recognition, many members transferred to Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers
Butler's Rangers was a British provincial regiment composed of Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War, raised by Loyalist John Butler.Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York...
and the King's Royal Regiment of New York
King's Royal Regiment of New York
The King's Royal Regiment of New York was one of the first Loyalist regiments raised in Canada during the American Revolutionary War....
. It grew to at least three hundred men. Later in the war, Brant was able to attract a larger number of Indians to his unit.
They were at the Battle of Oriskany
Battle of Oriskany
The Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, was one of the bloodiest battles in the North American theater of the American Revolutionary War and a significant engagement of the Saratoga campaign...
(1777), Raid on Cobleskill, Battle of Minisink
Battle of Minisink
The Battle of Minisink was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought at Minisink Ford, New York, on July 22, 1779. It was the only major skirmish of the Revolutionary War fought in the northern Delaware Valley...
, Raid on German Flatts, Raid on Springfield (1778) and at many other battles seeing more action than most other units.
A few of the non-natives were still with the unit at the end of the war and settled with Brant along the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
in Canada.
Legacy
There are three reenactment groups.One, Brant's Volunteers (Oquaga) is based in Brant's home in the Mohawk Valley of NY: www.oquagavolunteers.com
The second group is associated with the Northwest Territorial Alliance (NWTA) and are based in Indiana.
A third is based out of Fort Niagara in western NY.