Prince of Wales' American Regiment

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Prince of Wales' American Regiment
Prince of Wales' American Volunteers
Prince of Wales' Royal American Volunteers
Active1777-1783
Country Great Britain
Allegiance Great Britain
BranchBritish Provincial unit
TypeInfantry
EngagementsRidgefield, Rhode Island, Charleston, Hanging Rock, Cowpens, Fort Granby
Commanders
Notable
commanders

The Prince of Wales' American Regiment was a volunteer

Bahamas.[2][3] Recruits were largely from among Connecticut Loyalists.[4][5]

The regiment was initially based in the New York City area [6] and saw early action in 1777 at the Battle of Ridgefield, in which the British sought to destroy American military supplies stored at Danbury, Connecticut.[7][8][9] The regiment later participated in the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.[10][11]

When the British refocused their efforts on a southern strategy, the regiment was moved to South Carolina, where it participated in the Siege of Charleston in 1780.[12][13]

The regiment saw its heaviest action at the Battle of Hanging Rock, in which the regiment, under the command of Major John Carden, contributed substantially to repulsing a surprise attack by the Continental Army under the command of General Thomas Sumter.[14][15] Although the battle was a tactical victory, the Prince of Wales' American Regiment suffered heavy casualties.[16][17] In addition, Major Carden was disgraced for resigning his command in the heat of battle.[18] Portions of the regiment later served at the Battle of Cowpens[19][20] and the Siege of Fort Granby.[21][22]

The regiment remained in South Carolina until late 1782, when it returned to New York.[23] The regiment was disbanded on October 10, 1783.[24][25] Over 150 members of the regiment, along with family and servants, resettled in New Brunswick, Canada.[26][27] The community of Prince of Wales, New Brunswick was named for the regiment by Lieutenant Colonel Gabriel DeVeber, who settled there with his family.[28]

References

  1. ^ John Carden, American Battlefield Trust webpage. Accessed June 19, 2020.
  2. ^ McCain, Diana Ross (November 12, 1997). "Tories Hung Out In Colonial Middletown". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. ^ A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment - Part 1 of 7 webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  4. JSTOR 44224742
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  5. ^ McCain, Diana Ross (November 12, 1997). "Tories Hung Out In Colonial Middletown". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  6. JSTOR 359219
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  7. .
  8. ^ A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment - Part 2 of 7, Baptism at Danbury webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  9. ^ Abbott, Tim (April 28, 2008), Walking the Berkshires: Tryon's Danbury Raid webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  10. JSTOR 44224742
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  11. .
  12. .
  13. ^ Siebert, Wilbur H. (1916). "The Refugee Loyalists of Connecticut" (PDF). Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, 3d Series. X: 84.
  14. JSTOR 44224742
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  15. ^ A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment - Part 4 of 7, Hanging Rock webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  16. JSTOR 44224742
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  17. ^ Hanging Rock, American Battlefield Trust webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Chesney, Alexander (October 30, 1921). "The Journal of Alexander Chesney, a South Carolina Loyalist in the Revolution and After". The Ohio State University Bulletin. 26 (4): 90.
  19. .
  20. ^ The American Revolution in South Carolina: Cowpens webpage. Accessed June 19, 2020.
  21. JSTOR 44224742
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  22. ^ The American Revolution in South Carolina: Fort Granby webpage. Accessed June 19, 2020.
  23. JSTOR 44224742
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  24. .
  25. ^ A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment - Part 7 of 7, Final Days webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  26. JSTOR 359219
    .
  27. ^ A History of the Prince Of Wales' American Regiment - Part 7 of 7, Final Days webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.
  28. ^ Point of Interest, Prince of Wales American Regiment, University of New Brunswick webpage. Accessed May 15, 2020.