Loyalist (Tories) Units in the American War of Independence

 

My collection of Loyalist Units.

The Queen's Rangers or 1st American Regiment had a unique organization consisting of 8 line companies, a light company, a grenadier company and a Highland company. It also had a light dragoon troop and a hussar troop.  Jack Scruby (now Historifigs) made a line figure and a hussar figure.

Another view of the Queens Rangers. The figures are 25mm Jack Scruby figures now produced by Historifigs.  Modeling the unit in old school 25mm is a bit of a challenge given that there is only one pose available from Historifigs. The Queens Rangers retained their green coats throughout the war and as a whole functioned as a light infantry unit.

The Historifigs Queens Rangers Hussars. 

The King's American Regiment was raised in New York but saw considerable service in the Southern Campaign. Loyalist units, in general, started the war in green coats, switching to red coats in 1777 and 1778. I modeled most of my Loyalist units in green to distinguish them from British Foot.

Another view of the King's American Regiment

This photo and the subsequent photo feature Emmerich's Chasseurs. The unit functioned like mounted infantry, serving mainly between the lines by raiding and scouting. The figures are Airfix from the Washington's Army set.

The mounted portion of Emmerich's Chasseurs. The figures are Jack Scruby's (Historifigs) mounted infantry. 

Emmerich's Chasseurs as a unit for Rebels and Patriots

The Royal Regiment of New York or Johnson's Royal Greens. The regiment served in Upper New York and Canada, usually serving with the Iroquois who were loyal to Great Britain. 

Johnson's Royal Greens from the Airfix Washington's Army set. 

Butler's Rangers known by the patriots as Butler's baby killers for atrocities both real and imagined for propaganda purposes. Butler's unit always served with the Iroquois and that meant atrocities on both sides..

The figures are 20 Band B Miniatures from the UK. Although 20mm they fit in with my other units. The height difference being imperceptible. They are excellent sculpts with a "chunky" look to them.

War at Saber Point:Book Review

 Bloody Tarleton,” “Bloody Ban,” or “Tarleton’s Quarter” is how Banastre Tarleton is known, if known at all today. Movies like The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson, created a fictional Colonel Tavington loosely (very loosely) modeled on the real Banastre Tarleton. In the film, Tavington earned the epithets “Bloody Tarleton” and “Tarleton’s Quarter.”

In his War at Saber Point, John Knight seeks to set the record straight by giving a far more nuanced view of Tarleton and the British Legion.

Knight describes Tarleton as a libertine, a term rarely used today—libertine acts without moral restraint; a self-indulgent person.

The use of the term fits Tarelton (and other young gentlemen in Georgian London, p7) as he was a gambler with little restraint and a womanizer until late in his life after he married. 

Tarleton’s mother, Jane, bailed him out of a gambling debt. She also purchased a commission for him in the 1stKing’s Own Dragoon Guards. The Horse Guards were dominated by aristocrats, which Tarleton was not. A commission purchase would have cost 1600 pounds, of which Tarleton received 800 from his mother.

On the outbreak of hostilities in the American colonies, British officers were allowed to volunteer their services in other units going to the colonies. Thus began a long association with Major General Charles Earl Cornwallis.

The British Army was well-trained and usually well-led but small, with many commitments. For this reason, George III turned to his German connections and hired Hessian, Brunswick, and other Germans for service in North America. These troops are usually described as “mercenaries,” but the only people that made money from them were the German princes who hired them out.

The British also came to depend on Loyalist units, called Tories, by the patriots or rebels, depending on your point of view.

This unit of "Tories" was named Emmerich's Chasseurs, The unit featured a mounted and dismounted element. For game purposes in Rebels and Patriots I show them both ways. The figures are Jack Scruby 25mm for the mounted figures and Airfix infantry.

The British sent two cavalry (light dragoons) to America, the 16th and 17th. Lieutenant Colonel William Harcourt was the commander of the 16th. Harcourt, a well-placed aristocrat, would sponsor Tarleton’s career (p.19).

Tarleton did not look down on Loyalists, as did many British officers: his charismatic personality and openness led to the formation of the British Legion in 1778. 

A “legion” was a combined arms formation of cavalry: infantry and artillery. The British Legion originally consisted of four infantry companies and three troops of light dragoons. A Royal Artillery contingent would be assigned as necessary and available. Many soldiers who served in the British Legion were deserters from the patriot cause. This is not surprising given the divided loyalties of the time, where it was said 1\3 of the population favored the patriots, another 1\3 favored the crown, and the remaining 1\3 did not care one way or the other.

The use of cavalry in the American Revolution was quite limited, given the nature of the terrain and the expense of raising horse troops. The Americans raised four regiments of light dragoons, but they were tiny.

The British 16th Light Dragoons soon departed back to England, leaving the 17th Light Dragoons and British Legion’s Light Dragoons as the two major cavalry forces on the British side.

My Queen's Hussars and 17th Light Dragoons from Jack Scruby miniatures in 25mm.

Under Tarleton’s leadership, the British Legion fought an action against the 2nd Continental Dragoons, capturing its flag. (Chapter: Surrender You Dammed Rebel)

Standard of the 2nd Continental Dragoons, painting by Don Troiani.

British Legion Light Dragoons from my collection. Figures are 20mm size from Irregular Miniatures in the UK.

After the northern campaigns bogged down for the British, they turned their attention to the Southern Colonies, where thousands of Loyalists were believed to rally to the crown. In the south, the British Legion would gain fame and infamy.

After the fall of Charleston to British forces in 1779, Tarleton already had a reputation for being an aggressive cavalry leader. Light Dragoons are not meant to be primarily battle cavalry in the sense of charging home with the saber. They are better suited to scouting, serving as pickets, foraging, escort duties, and skirmishing with their opposites. 

While the British Legion horse indeed performed all those duties, under Tarleton, charging home with the saber was the norm rather than the exception.

Tarleton surprised a patriot camp at the Battle of Monck’s Corner by leading a saber charge straight into it. The American General Huger was careless and primarily responsible for the one-sided British victory. Accounts of atrocity followed the success, including sabering soldiers trying to surrender and rape. Contrary to American propaganda, the rapes outraged Tarleton, but a higher-up in the chain of command showed leniency to the culprits (pgs. 88-89).

The incidents at Monck’s Corner pale compared to what happened at the Battle of the Waxhaws.

A small force of patriot Virginians under Abraham Buford was on their way to Charleston when the city fell. Aware of this force, Tarleton was sent to destroy them, catching them in an area known as the Waxhaws (pgs. 95-07).

It was not much of a battle. Inexplicably, Buford ordered his men in line of battle to hold their fire until the British cavalry (British Legion and a contingent from the 17th Light Dragoons) were within 50 yards. This allowed for only one volley before the cavalry was upon them.

Predictably, the Virginians lost formation and fled as the dragoons broke through, sabering the fleeing soldiers and causing further panic.

The Americans lost about 260 killed and wounded compared to the British, losing 17 dead and injured.  The lopsided ratio was not typical of a battle during this period, giving rise to accusations of atrocity and massacre.

But was it a massacre? Asks John Knight as he carefully unpacks the evidence from primary sources.

From the evidence presented, it was not a massacre in the sense of killing off soldiers trying to surrender or the wounded later. This is not to say things like that did not happen; it was, after all, a brutal civil war with plenty of opportunity for both sides to commit atrocities upon each other. 

The Americans lost little time turning the debacle into a potential rallying point. Knight concludes the Battle of the Waxhaws like this:

But Waxhaws turned out to be a poisoned chalice. Although the battle had been a military disaster for the patriots, it galvanized rather than subdued resistance…” Remember Tarleton’s Quarter” became a rallying cry that provoked hundreds into the militia ranks (Pg. 103).

Tarleton and the British Legion would go on to more victories and accusations until they were stopped cold at the Battle of the Cowpens. American General Daniel Morgan effectively used the militia and his few Continentals as Tarleton failed to appreciate the Americans' chosen ground.

American militia performed well at Cowpens because Daniel Morgan recognized their limitations, and he chose the ground well. The figures are Airfix in 1\72, painted by my friend J.Z, in 1976 as part of our bicentennial project. (The flag was painted by hand.)

I have read War at Saber Point twice, relishing the detail in this great book. Knight’s research and use of primary sources make the book a gem, and his writing style simply adds to the enjoyment.

Fittingly, I picked the book up at a South Carolina bookstore where Tarleton gained his fame and infamy.

Classic Airfix AWI

 My vintage AWI collection includes units of Airfix figures. When I and a friend (JZ) started wargaming in the period (1975) we both had units of Airfix figures.

Airfix made two sets. One was of British Grenadiers, and the other was marketed as Washington's Army.

We threw in the Airfix units with whatever metal figures we could find back in the 1970s. These included Minifigs, Hinchcliffe, and Garrison. Sadly, I sold off my collection in the late 1980s, but my friend JZ kept his.

When we got back together in 2014, we started gaming again in the period with the Rebels and Patriots rules. I had to re-raise the British, German, and Loyalist units. I was sure to include some of the classic Airfix figures.

British Grenadiers. You always needed more than one box to get a unit in the same pose. The detail on the two sets was quite good, considering they originally came out in the 1970s. The set lacked an officer on foot, but the mounted officer was very nice. There is a famous painting of the British Grenadiers storming Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) and the Airfix Grenadier pose captures the painting nicely.

The Washington's Army set is painted up as British. Standard bearers in both sets were unusable, so conversions had to be made. Here, I substituted command figures (Irregular Miniatures 20mm from the UK). The unit is painted as the 9th Foot. Once again, the mounted officer is a pleasant addition. 

2nd New Hampshire from the classic Lefferts collection

Unlike my figures above, the following pictures of figures date back to the 1970s: My friend (JZ) painted them up as the 2nd New Hampshire. The flags are hand-painted. At least four of the figures have round hats instead of the standard cocked hats that came with the Washington's Army box.

These are conversions from the regular Washington's Army box. One was painted up with a coonskin cap to represent a Continental riflemen. (JZ)

These were painted up in the Continental uniforms of Washington's bodyguard. (JZ)

JZ also did quite a few militia units. This one represents a typical New England unit. The flag is hand-painted.

IMEX AWI Artillery

The figures are 1/72 IMEX from the British and American artillery sets. I used some from each set. They are painted as Continental artillery although the British uniform is not much different. The poses are excellent imo, but the guns that come with the sets are terrible. They are way to small which is to bad because it’s a howitzer in the British set. I tried to make them work but no go so I salvaged two guns from an IMEX set of Mexican artillery for the Mexican American War.

 War at Saber Point book review

The book is about the Banastre Tarleton and the British Legion. It is detailed and provides good ideas for Osprey's Rebels and Patriots.

British Legion Light Dragoons by Irregular Miniatures, UK.

25mm Scruby Queens Rangers

 The Queens Rangers were a Loyalist (Tory) Regiment that fought in the American War of Independence.

It may the best known Loyalist unit. Late in the war it became part of the British Establishment as British Regulars. After the war, members of the regiment were settled in Ontario, Canada due to the hostility of the victorious American patriots (rebels depending on your point of view). The regiment still exits as part of the Canadian Army (Queens York Rangers, I think.)

The regiment was unique in many ways.

First it was a descendent of the famous Roger's Rangers from the French and Indian War, although the regiment's most notable officer was John Graves Simcoe and not Robert Rogers who initially raised the unit.

The regiment consisted of ten companies of infantry and one troop of light cavalry called hussars. Another troop from the 16th British Light Dragoons were often attached.

The regiment was organized as a "light corps" similar to the converged battalions of British Light "Bobs" that were so effective in the war.

Reenactors in the Uniform of the Queens Rangers

In addition to the line companies that functioned as light infantry the regiment had an official light company and grenadier company just like the British line infantry regiments of the period.

From the Osprey book on American Loyalist  units.

In addition to the line companies, the light infantry company and the grenadier company the regiment featured an additional Highland company pictured above. The Hussar troop is also pictured but other renditions show the green uniform to be much darker.

Most Loyalist units began the war in green uniforms to distinguish them from the British red. Many changed over to red during the war on the basis that they were subjects of the crown and should have the same status as regular British units.

The Queens Rangers were one of the exceptions and they retained their green uniforms throughout the war.

My collection featuring the Queens Rangers is limited to 12 infantry figures and 6 hussar figures. I intend to add the Highland company, a troop from the 16th Light Dragoons and possibly more line companies for use in Rebels and Patriots skirmish actions.

The Scruby line was limited but at the time they were first produced they represented a sincere attempt to have war-game units in distinctive uniforms.

By today's standards Scruby's are small 25mm figures. Although the height is close, the "bulk" is not. 

I have no problem mixing them in separate units with the old Musket Miniatures 25mm AWI or Airfix or even Irregular Miniatures of 20mm AWI. 

I enjoy the old Scruby figures because I think they have a classic look to them. I also gloss coat them for the same reason.

The troop of Hussars. It's debatable how many men the troop could actually put in the saddle but the unit is too unique to ignore!

My "battalion" of infantry.

I was ablate obtain a Kings and Queen's color from Maverick flag in the UK.

Musket Miniatures "Light Bobs" in 25mm

 

These are 25mm "Light Bobs' from Musket Miniatures. At one time Musket Miniatures was Stone Mountain and the owner produced a line of 25mm AWI and 22mm ACW. A new owner (many years later) bought the molds for the AWI and ACW. The ACW are still available but for some reason he has not done anything with the AWI. It's too bad because they are little gems and compatible to Scruby in separate units.I have about 75 mostly unpainted that I picked off eBay

Scruby Continental Infantry

 This is another part of my Jack Scruby collection. Jack Scruby was a pioneer in American wargaming. He organized the first wargaming convention in California in 1956. He also produced wargaming figures in multiple scales.

I first came across Scruby's miniatures in the early seventies. At the time, all we had for wargames were the Airfix plastic sets. We were largely unaware of the English manufacturers like Hinton Hunt, Miniature Figurines, Garrison and Lamming.

I purchased some Scruby's hoplites and they served for quite a while in one of my early armies. They disappeared when I sold off my collection in the late 1980's. 

Since returning to the hobby in 2014, I've sought out the old figures from the 1970s and 80s. Most I find on eBay, but for a time I could find Scruby's figures at historifigs.com. Although the website is still up it does not appear they are taking any orders.

This is one of my AWI units painted for Rebels and Patriots rules. They represent a Continental Regiment with half being clothed in the famous hunting shirts and the other half being issued one of the many varieties of period uniforms. This unit represents one of the Massachusetts Regiments that served in the Saratoga Campaign.

I like the classic toy soldier look to Scruby's and have gloss coated them to reflect the old style.

Scruby American War of Independence

Scruby figures in 20-25mm scale were meant to be compatible with Airfix and although crude by today's standards they were popular. Since I have a bit of nostalgia in me I decided to rebuild part of my lost collections with Jack Scruby figures since I value the old "toy soldier" look they possess.

I found that most Scruby figures are still available through Historifigs.com, an outfit in my home state of Wisconsin.

Below are pictures of what I have thus far for my AWI collection.

The Germans from the Principality of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel. Almost 6000 soldiers were supplied for the campaign. Few returned to the their native land.

The collection is organized around the Osprey Rules, Rebels and Patriots.

The crazy quilt of German States around the time of the American Revolution

Brunswick Jaegers. One company of around 150 were supplied as part of the Light Infantry Battalion Barner. 

Brunswick Infantry Regiment Von Specht. Grenadier Company to the left.

Brunswick Infantry Regiment Von Specht.

The 21st Foot, the Royal North British Fusileers. They were part of the Saratoga Campaign.

The Queens Rangers, one of the premier Loyalist or Tory formations. They were not at Saratoga.

The Queens Rangers had a Hussar Company, pictured left. The British Dragoons are part of the 17th Light Dragoons. 

The Queens Rangers wore distinctive head gear and like most Tory units were clad in dark green. Later in the war many Tory units switched to red, but not the Queen's Rangers.

My Scruby British contingent, the 21st Ft, a light company and the 17th Lt. Dragoons

Brunswick Infantry Regiment Von Specht with the Grenadier Company.

Brunswick Infantry Regiment Von Specht with the Jaeger Company.

I have a few AWI Musket Miniatures which are not available anymore. They were marketed as 25mm but are close enough to integrate with the Scrubys. I buy them up when I can find them. They are better quality than Scruby. It was a fine line!