Loyal American Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Loyal American Regiment was a Royal Provincial regiment
composed of American loyalists
who served in the American Revolution
from 1777 to 1783. The unit fought in many engagements throughout the war and was among the thousands of loyalists exiled to Nova Scotia
in 1783.
. Robinson, a childhood friend of George Washington
, commanded the unit until it was disbanded at the end of the war in 1783. Several of Robinson's sons were officers in the regiment. Many of those enlisted in the regiment were Robinson's tenant farmer loyalists in lower Dutchess County
and Westchester County, New York
.
The regiment was part of many engagements in the war, often in detachment
strength. The Loyal American Regiment spent many months of the war at Kingsbridge, New York, defending the British position in New York City
. A detachment from the regiment was captured in July 1779 when the fort at Stony Point, New York
was captured
by the American army. The unit is best known as being the first regiment to enter Fort Montgomery
when it was taken
by British-Loyalist forces on October 6, 1777.
, 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 1793), 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
.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
composed of American loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
who served in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
from 1777 to 1783. The unit fought in many engagements throughout the war and was among the thousands of loyalists exiled to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1783.
Regiment's history
The regiment was raised in mid-March of 1777 by the wealthy commander of the regiment, Beverley RobinsonBeverley Robinson
Beverley Robinson , a wealthy colonist from New York, was a son of the Hon. John Robinson of Virginia, who was the President of that colony. He is mostly remembered as the commander of the Loyal American Regiment, a loyalist regiment in the American War of Independence and for his work with the...
. Robinson, a childhood friend of 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...
, commanded the unit until it was disbanded at the end of the war in 1783. Several of Robinson's sons were officers in the regiment. Many of those enlisted in the regiment were Robinson's tenant farmer loyalists in lower Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
and Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
The regiment was part of many engagements in the war, often in detachment
Detachment (military)
A detachment is a military unit. It can either be detached from a larger unit for a specific function or be a permanent unit smaller than a battalion. The term is often used to refer to a unit that is assigned to a different base from the parent unit...
strength. The Loyal American Regiment spent many months of the war at Kingsbridge, New York, defending the British position 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...
. A detachment from the regiment was captured in July 1779 when the fort at Stony Point, New York
Stony Point, New York
Stony Point is a triangle-shaped town in Rockland County, United States. Rockland County is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The town is located north of the town of Haverstraw, east and south of Orange County, New York, and west of the Hudson River and Westchester County. The population...
was captured
Battle of Stony Point
The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on the night of July 15–16, 1779. A select force of Continental Army infantry made a coordinated surprise night attack and stormed a fortified position of the British Army on the Hudson River south of West Point, New...
by the American army. The unit is best known as being the first regiment to enter Fort Montgomery
Fort Montgomery
Fort Montgomery is the name of a fortification built on the Hudson River during the American Revolution. It was one of the first major investments by the Americans in strategic construction projects...
when it was taken
Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
The Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in the highlands of the Hudson River valley, not far from West Point, on October 6, 1777. British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then...
by British-Loyalist forces on October 6, 1777.
After the war
When the war was over, Loyalists were unwelcome in the former colonies. From New York CityNew 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...
, Britain transported thousands of Loyalists to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
throughout the early fall of 1783. In all about 33,000 were settled in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (separated from Nova Scotia in 1793), Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
(including areas that were eventually separated to form Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, eventually renamed Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
). Many members of the Loyal American Regiment settled there; some were among the first colonists of the newly formed province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.