Provincials and British Legion

During the American Revolutionary War, the British army recruited men from the colonies to fight for the Crown. These recruits were known as Provincials. They were uniformed professional soldiers who were trained to fight like the British army so they looked like “regular” British soldiers. They were a combination of infantry, cavalry, and artillery forces. Provincials were frequently joined by special units such as the Scottish Highlanders.  

British Provincials wore red or green uniforms.  In the Revolutionary War, cavalry units were typically referred to as “dragoons” or a “troop of horse.” Some Loyalist dragoons wore green, like Tarleton’s British Legion, or the Queen’s Rangers.  

Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton led the British Legion in the Battle of Waxhaws against Colonel Abraham Buford's and his men.

Christian Huck, a loyalist from Philadelphia, led a British Legion into the South Carolina back country near the Williamson's Plantation on Brattonsville. 

 

Resources

You need to be logged in to listen to view this content. Create an account now; it's quick, easy, and free!

Log In to View

More in this Series

Southern Campaign / Battle of Camden

Cowpens: A Brilliant Victory | The Southern Campaign About The Southern Campaign

Video

Grades

  • 8
About The Southern Campaign
The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, picks up the story after the fall of Charleston in 1780. After catastrophes at The Waxhaws and Camden, victories in battles and skirmishes such as...
General Horatio Gates | Battle of Camden

Photo

Grades

  • 4
  • 8
General Horatio Gates | Battle of Camden
Episode 1
General Horatio Gates was the leader of the new Continental Army in the South. He was known as the “Hero of Saratoga,” one of the biggest patriot victories, in New York State in 1777. His second-in...
Lt General Charles Earl Cornwallis | Battle of Camden

Photo

Grades

  • 4
  • 8
Lt General Charles Earl Cornwallis | Battle of Camden
Episode 3
Lieutenant General Charles Earl Cornwallis was appointed by General Henry Clinton to lead the Southern Campaign when Clinton returned to New York. On August 16, 1780, General Gates' army, joined by...

Southern Campaign / Overview

Cowpens: A Brilliant Victory | The Southern Campaign About The Southern Campaign

Video

Grades

  • 8
About The Southern Campaign
The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, picks up the story after the fall of Charleston in 1780. After catastrophes at The Waxhaws and Camden, victories in battles and skirmishes such as...
Revolutionary War Names | Southern Campaign Behind The Scenes: Cowpens Blog (Southern Campaign)

Video

Grades

  • 8
Behind The Scenes: Cowpens Blog (Southern Campaign)
The ETV Endowment sponsored a series of tours of three different Southern Campaign battlefields of the American Revolution. With my being a history enthusiast, I was lucky to accompany Steve Folks...
Continental Congress

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Continental Congress
"The Continental Congress, also known as the Philadelphia Congress, was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies which became the governing body of the United States during...
African Americans' Roles in the American Revolutionary War
   - Episode 4 Revolutionary War Names | Southern Campaign

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Revolutionary War Names | Southern Campaign
Americans opposed to the British were known as “patriots,” “Whigs” “rebels,” or “partisans.” Americans on the British side were called “loyalists,” “royalists,” “Tories,” “the King’s men,” or “Crown...