Brant's Volunteers
Brant's Volunteers | |
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New York during the American Revolutionary War. | |
Active | 1777-1783 |
Country | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Allegiance | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Branch | Loyalist associators |
Type | Independent rangers (auxiliaries) |
Role | Special operations, guerrilla warfare, light infantry |
Size | 100-300 |
Equipment | Mixed arms (Brown Bess muskets, hunting rifles, tomahawks, scalping knives) |
Engagements | American Revolutionary War
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
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Brant's Volunteers, also known as Joseph Brant's Volunteers, were an irregular unit of
Formation and history
Brant began recruiting Mohawk and Loyalist volunteers in 1777 from his base at Onaquaga.[1] The initial size of his
Although Brant received a captain's commission in the
Brant's Volunteers participated in the 1777
In 1779, Brant's Volunteers defeated the American militia at the
Uniforms
Lacking uniforms, Joseph Brant's volunteers frequently dressed and painted themselves as indigenous warriors.[3] When they wore civilian attire in battle, Brant had them attach yellow lace to their hats so they could be easily identified as Loyalists.[4]
Post-war
By late 1783, just 15 Loyalists remained with Brant's Volunteers. Many of them later settled with Joseph Brant and the Mohawk on the reserve established in 1784 along the Grand River in what is now Ontario.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Graymont, Barbara (1983). "Thayendanegea". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ ISBN 9780815601821.
- ^ ISBN 0679454713.
- ISBN 9780313385650.