King's American Dragoons

The King's American Dragoons were a British provincial military unit, raised for Loyalist service during the American Revolutionary War. They were founded by Colonel Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford, in 1781.[1] They were initially formed from the remnants of other British Loyalist units, including Black Loyalist soldiers.

King's American Dragoons
Lt.Col. Benjamin Thompson Count Rumford
Active1781-1783
Country Great Britain
Allegiance British Army
Branchdragoons (mounted infantry)
TypeBritish provincial unit, (auxiliary troops)
Roledemolition, construction
Size?
Garrison/HQLong Island, Province of New York
EngagementsAmerican Revolutionary War Never saw combat
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Major General Sir Guy Carleton Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Thompson

The King's American Dragoons primarily served on Long Island in 1782 and early 1783,[2] where they earned local notoriety for destroying a church and burial ground in order to erect Fort Golgotha in Huntington.[3]

They were evacuated from New York and resettled in Saint John, New Brunswick, in July 1783.[4] They were disbanded there in October.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Ellis, George Edward; Sciences, American Academy of Arts and (1 January 1871). Memoir of Sir Benjamin Thompson, count Rumford: with notices of his daughter. Estes and Lauriat.
  2. ^ Siebert, Wilbur Henry (1 January 1916). The Loyalist Refugees of New Hampshire. Ohio State University.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Ellis, George Edward; Sciences, American Academy of Arts and (1 January 1871). Memoir of Sir Benjamin Thompson, count Rumford: with notices of his daughter. Estes and Lauriat.
  5. ^ Ellis, George Edward; Sciences, American Academy of Arts and (1 January 1871). Memoir of Sir Benjamin Thompson, count Rumford: with notices of his daughter. Estes and Lauriat.