Colonel Tye
Encyclopedia
Colonel Tye, also known as Titus Cornelius (c. 1753–1780), was a slave of African descent in New Jersey
who achieved notability during the American Revolutionary War
by his leadership and fighting skills, when he fought as a Loyalist
. He was one of the most effective guerrilla leaders opposing the American rebel forces in central New Jersey
.
Although never commissioned an officer by the British Army
, which did not appoint blacks in such positions, Colonel Tye earned his honorary title as a sign of respect for his tactical and leadership skills. His knowledge of the terrain in Monmouth County, New Jersey
was integral to his success. As the commander of the elite Black Brigade, he led raids against the American rebels, seized supplies and assassinated many American leaders during the war. He provided substantial aid to the British. His aid to the British in New York City
helped them withstand a siege by American forces under Gen. George Washington
.
practice to teach slaves how to read and write and to free them at age 21. Corlies refused to do so, and he was known to be hard on his slaves, severely whipping them for minor causes.
, the royal governor of Virginia
, issued a proclamation
offering freedom to all slaves and indentured servants who would leave rebel masters and join the royal Loyalist forces. The proclamation led almost 100,000 slaves to escape and join the British — Titus among them. Planters considered this a "diabolical scheme"; it contributed to their support for the Patriot
cause (Henretta et al. 2006). Having learned to sell his own goods and memorized a map of the region, Titus escaped from Corlies and traveled down the coast to Virginia
. There he passed as a freedman
and did odd jobs. Corlies posted a reward for Titus's capture and return, describing him as "about 21 years of age, not very black, near six feet high".
. He survived the famine
and sickness that plagued the unit after they retreated from Virginia. Returning to New Jersey, he joined the elite Black Brigade, a guerrilla group of 24. His first recorded military action was at the Battle of Monmouth
in June 1778, where he captured an American captain.
Tye's knowledge of Monmouth County and his bold leadership soon made him a well-known and feared Loyalist guerrilla commander. The British paid him and his men to destabilize the region. Colonel Tye led several successful raids during the summer of 1779, seizing food and fuel, taking prisoners, and freeing many slaves. During the winter of 1779, Tye and the 23 members of the Black Brigade served with a white Loyalist unit called the Queen's Rangers
, also guerrillas; together they helped defend the British in New York.
Tye continued to fight through 1780, exacting revenge against his former owner and others. He killed the well-known rebel Joseph Murray, who was known to summarily execute all captured Loyalists.
. Huddy and a female servant had managed to resist Tye's band for two hours before the Loyalists set fire to the house. Colonel Tye developed tetanus
and gangrene
from his wound, which soon caused his death.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
who achieved notability during the American Revolutionary War
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 his leadership and fighting skills, when he fought as a Loyalist
Black Loyalist
A Black Loyalist was an inhabitant of British America of African descent who joined British colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War...
. He was one of the most effective guerrilla leaders opposing the American rebel forces in central New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Although never commissioned an officer by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, which did not appoint blacks in such positions, Colonel Tye earned his honorary title as a sign of respect for his tactical and leadership skills. His knowledge of the terrain in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
was integral to his success. As the commander of the elite Black Brigade, he led raids against the American rebels, seized supplies and assassinated many American leaders during the war. He provided substantial aid to the British. His aid to the British in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
helped them withstand a siege by American forces under Gen. 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...
.
Early life
Born in about 1753, Titus was originally owned by John Corlies, a Quaker in Monmouth County. Corlies held slaves despite his religion's increasing opposition to slavery. It was QuakerReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
practice to teach slaves how to read and write and to free them at age 21. Corlies refused to do so, and he was known to be hard on his slaves, severely whipping them for minor causes.
Prelude to revolution
In November 1775 John Murray, 4th Earl of DunmoreJohn Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
, the royal governor of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, issued a proclamation
Dunmore's Proclamation
Dunmore's Proclamation is a historical document issued on November 7, 1775, by John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, royal governor of the British Colony of Virginia...
offering freedom to all slaves and indentured servants who would leave rebel masters and join the royal Loyalist forces. The proclamation led almost 100,000 slaves to escape and join the British — Titus among them. Planters considered this a "diabolical scheme"; it contributed to their support for the Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
cause (Henretta et al. 2006). Having learned to sell his own goods and memorized a map of the region, Titus escaped from Corlies and traveled down the coast to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. There he passed as a freedman
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
and did odd jobs. Corlies posted a reward for Titus's capture and return, describing him as "about 21 years of age, not very black, near six feet high".
Military actions
Going by the name of "Tye", Titus became a captain in Dunmore's Ethiopian RegimentEthiopian 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...
. He survived the famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
and sickness that plagued the unit after they retreated from Virginia. Returning to New Jersey, he joined the elite Black Brigade, a guerrilla group of 24. His first recorded military action was at the Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
in June 1778, where he captured an American captain.
Tye's knowledge of Monmouth County and his bold leadership soon made him a well-known and feared Loyalist guerrilla commander. The British paid him and his men to destabilize the region. Colonel Tye led several successful raids during the summer of 1779, seizing food and fuel, taking prisoners, and freeing many slaves. During the winter of 1779, Tye and the 23 members of the Black Brigade served with a white Loyalist unit called the Queen's Rangers
Queen's Rangers
The Queen's Rangers was a military unit who fought on the Loyalist side during the American War of Independence. After the war they moved to Nova Scotia and disbanded, but were reformed again in Upper Canada before disbanding again, in 1802, a decade prior to the War of 1812.-French and Indian...
, also guerrillas; together they helped defend the British in New York.
Tye continued to fight through 1780, exacting revenge against his former owner and others. He killed the well-known rebel Joseph Murray, who was known to summarily execute all captured Loyalists.
Death and legacy
In September 1780, Tye was injured by a musket ball that passed through his wrist. He was trying to smoke out the patriot leader Captain Joshua HuddyJoshua Huddy
Joshua "Jack" Huddy , the commander of a New Jersey Patriot militia unit and a privateer ship during the American Revolutionary War, was captured by Loyalist forces twice escaping once. Following his second capture, Huddy was summarily hanged by irregular forces of the Associated Loyalists...
. Huddy and a female servant had managed to resist Tye's band for two hours before the Loyalists set fire to the house. Colonel Tye developed tetanus
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...
and gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
from his wound, which soon caused his death.
Colonel Tye in culture
- Colonel Tye and other African-American Loyalists are among the subjects of PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
's Slavery and the Making of AmericaSlavery and the Making of AmericaSlavery and the Making of America is a 2004 PBS series and documentary on African American slaves and their contributions to the United States. Famous African Americans such as Colonel Tye and historical figures such as President George Washington and John Murray are all documented in the series...
. - Tye is listed as the possible namesake for Battlestar Galactica character Colonel TighColonel TighColonel Tigh is a fictional character in the original 1978 TV series Battlestar Galactica, played by Terry Carter. He is the Executive Officer of the titutlar ship. In his early years, he flew a Viper in the same squadron as Commander Adama. Tigh at first appears to be strictly by-the-book and a...
.
External links
- "Black Loyalists: Our History, Our People", Canada
- "The Black Brigade and Colonel Tye", from "Black Loyalists: Our History, Our People"
- "Colonel Tye", PBS, Study the Past
- "Colonel Tye", Children's play, Liberty's Kids
- History of the Ethiopian Regiment, Digital Collections, Canada
- "Ethiopian Regiment", The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies