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Archibald Campbell's Company of New York Provincials

What is a Provincial?   Historians differ on the exact percentages, but almost all agree that the War for American Independence was far from a unified movement. By conservative estimates, only one-third of the population of the 13 rebellious colonies actually supported Independence.* One-third was apathetic, and the last third remained loyal to the crown. This last group -- American-born people who remained loyal to the King -- were collectively known as Loyalists.

Some Loyalists were raised, outfitted and formed into military units by the Crown to help in the fight against the Independence movement. The British gave these American-raised troops the name "Provincials" to distinguish them from the British regulars.

Many Provincial units, like Campbell's and Grant's Companies, were well-disciplined, tenacious fighters and were well regarded by the British high command. Campbell's and Grant's Companies were raised from the loyal citizenry living along the Hudson River Valley, but Provincials fought in most theaters of the War and were deeply resented by the rebels. In the southern colonies especially, there was no love lost between Loyalists and Patriots. The Southern campaigns late in the Revolution became something of a civil war, and it was not unusual to find members of the same family fighting against each other in brutal battles.

The Rebels were brutal to the Loyalists, and many gave up their homes and businesses and fled to England. After Independence was won, most of the remaining Loyalists went to Canada. Many were lawyers, judges, physicians and other professionals from influential families, and they are largely credited with transforming Canada from a vast wilderness into a prosperous country.

Venturing Crew 1776 will be patterning our impression after the New York Provincial Company, commanded by Captain Archibald Campbell (a second company was commanded by Alexander Grant). These men probably marched into camp in whatever clothing they had on when they left home, but, by the time of the battle for Long Island (August 27, 1776) the New York Provincials had probably adopted some semblance of a uniform.

The dress of the New York Provincials is not very well documented except for a few cryptic statements from contemporary journals. One description of them comes from Thompson Forster who was a surgeon in His Majesty's Detached Hospital from late 1775-1777. On August 27th, 1776, Forster wrote that "The only mark of distinction the New Yorkers had to be known from the Enemy in the field was a Red Cross they wore on their hats or rather caps." (Forster, p 90). The red cross is the symbol of St. George, the patron Saint of England, and is also the central device of the British national flag. Note that Forster seems unable to decide if the New York Companies are wearing hats or caps. This may seem of little importance, but his apparent confusion may in fact offer an important clue.

In the 18th-century, a cap was usually a piece of headgear without a brim. A hat was also a piece of headgear, but a hat has a brim. Forster's use of both terms in describing their headgear suggests that the New York Provincials were wearing some form of hybridñprobably an item known as a hat-cap.

The hat-cap is made from a cut-down battalion hat and is similar in style to a modern baseball cap. Cutting down hats into caps was a practical adaptation, as the latter were less cumbersome and more likely to stay on the head when pushing through the woods or chasing the enemy in the heat of battle. As early as June of 1775 the British Commander-in-Chief, Thomas Gage, authorized that "The Regiments who choose to cut their old hats, after the manner the 4th have done, may do it, but are not to cut any of their new hats."41 We donít know exactly how these hats were being cut up, but a court martial transcript from the British 18th Foot, then serving on the Illinois frontier, describes the process in some detail. This description, coupled with pictorial evidence from the period, suggests the New York Provincials were probably wearing headgear like that shown here. In fact, this style of headgear relatively common among both British and American troops (see Baule and Burke/Bass).

Forster also offers some clues for the rest of the uniform worn by the New York Provincials. Forster states that they did duty right alongside the British light infantry during the battle of Long Island and assisted in pushing the rebel Major-General John Sullivanís troops out of the pass on Flatbush Road. As they rushed through the fleeing enemy they were, unfortunately, fired upon by British troops. Forster claims this was because their dress was indistinguishable from the rebels (Forster, pp 90-92). The rebel units involved in this action were McDougallís and Sterlingís brigades of the Continental Army. McDougall's troops included the 1st and 3rd New York, and19th Continental regiments. The New Yorkers were, of course, raised in New York and are described as wearing a variety of civilian and regimental coats during this battle (Lefferts, pp 120-121). The 19th Continental Regiment was raised in Connecticut and also wore a mix of civilian and military dress. Major-General Sterling commanded Smallwood's Maryland Regiment, Haslett's Delaware Battalion, plus the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, Musketry Battalion, and Ltuz's, Kachlein's and Hay's militia, all from Pennsylvania (Mollo, p 166) Colonel Samuel Miles commanded the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, which wore a hunting shirt described in July of 1776 as either "black" or "lead" colored, though earlier deserter descriptions mention "light colored" hunting shirts being worn (Lefferts, p 122) Smallwood's Maryland Regiment and Atlee's Musketry Battalion were dressed in a variety of civilian clothing (Lefferts, p 100, 122-123).

The hunting shirts worn by some of the Pennsylvania troops are of particular interest, as after the battle, a captured Pennsylvania officer wrote a letter stating that "several companies of their Light Infantry are cloathed exactly as we are, in hunting shirts and trowsers." (Penn and the Rev, p 310) Another account collaborates this, stating that "I discovered, as I thought, our battalion on a hill coming in, dressed in hunting shirts, but was stopped by one of our soldiers, who told me they were the enemy in our dress." (Force, folio 1195)

It is almost certain that the troops being described were not British Light Infantry, as was further suggested by the writer, but were in fact the New York Provincials.

The hunting shirt was probably adopted as a very inexpensive and easy to procure article of uniform clothing. It did not require a high degree of tailoring skill to make, and dozens could have been quickly sewn up as one-size-fits all to outfit the men. But economy and practicality were not the only reasons for this dress. In 1776 Washington suggested that his men be dressed in hunting shirts and gaitered trousers for economy, as well as to make the British think that they were all huntsmen and therefore each "a complete marksman." (Washington's Writings, Vol. 5, p 336). It would stand to reason that the British may have considered this as well, or they may have chosen the hunting dress for the New York Provincials to purposely throw the enemy into confusion! An idea of what the New York Campbellís company of New York Provincials may have looked like is shown in the illustration above.

The Crown also supplied the New York Provincials with arms and accouterments. On the 29th May, 1776, an entry in Howe's Orderly Book states that "The Two Companies of Grant's and Campbell's are to hold themselves in readiness to move with the Army; they will receive Arms and Cartridge Boxes from the Ordinance stores for their effective numbers, and 24 Rounds of Cartridges Per Man, to morrow at 12 o'Clock." (Howe, NYHS, pp 374-375)

Note that the New York Provincials were ordered to march WITH THE ARMY. This indicates that these two companies are not being treated as simple militia, but were regarded as auxiliary troops -- on the same footing as the Hessians. On July 31st, Howe further indicates that the New York Provincials were at "Great Kills with the 71st, 55th, 40th, 17th and 1&2 battalions of Grenadiers (Howe/Gilbert)" These regiments comprised the British 4th Brigade, which was in the thick of almost every battle during the first few years of the war. On August 19th, just before the battle of Long Island, Howe ordered the New York Provincials to "hold themselves in readiness to Embark upon the shortest Notice (Howe/Gilbert)." They were to be part of the advanced guard for the Long Island invasion, and two days before the battle of Long Island General Howe commends the "Spirited Behavior of Captain Cambell and Grant, & detachment of New York Companies, upon a scouting party of yesterday." (Howe/Gilbert). The next day, on 26th August, 1776, the New Yorkers were ordered out yet again, this time the order was that "The New York Companies are immediately to Escort the Artillery from Head Quarters to Denyces [sicñDenise's] House, where they will receive further orders." This artillery was to form part of the British left--the diversion set up during the battle for Long Island. Major-General James Grant, colonel of the 55th foot, commanded this wing, which included the 4th brigade, and Denice's Ferry was an important link in the British supply lines. During the battle of Long Island, the New York Provincials had four men killed and 17 woundedñone of the highest casualty ratios of any British unit engaged.(CO, class 5, vol. 93, folio 263, p 527). Throughout September the two New York companies were assigned various important guard duties and other tasks on Long Island. On November 5, 1776, during the British Armyís march back from the battle of White Plains the New York Provincials covered the right flank -- a very prestigious duty (Ewald, p 14).

It is important to note that these provincial troops are being trusted to be part of the eyes and ears for the entire Long Island invasionñthe largest expeditionary force Great Britain had ever assembled. On one hand, this makes perfect sense, as the men of the Provincial companies would have been raised in the area and knew the lay of the land. However, with loyalties in doubt all through the colonies, the high level of trust and confidence placed on them by the commander-in-chief of the British forces speaks very highly of the New York Provincials. These companies were efficient and effective troops that quickly earned the trust and respect of the British high command. Their uniform was plain and simple, and they were not very highly outfitted, yet they did their duty--right alongside British troops--with a great deal of initiative, bravery and enthusiasm.

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*It is also important to note that there were more than 13 British colonies in North America. Depending on your criteria for defining a colony, it could be argued that there were as many as 32 British colonies in North America and the Caribbean. On the North American continent alone, there were the 13 colonies; Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, plus several that did NOT declare their Independence; East Florida, West Florida, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Britain or Labrador.

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