Black Company of Pioneers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Company of Pioneers |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1777–1783 |
| Country |  Great Britain |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch | British provincial unit |
| Type | Labour detail, (auxiliary troops) |
| Role | Construction, street cleaning, garbage collection |
| Size | Company (50–70) |
| Nickname(s) | Black Pioneers, Clinton's Black Pioneers |
| Motto(s) | Liberty to Slaves |
| Engagements | American Revolutionary War (no combat experience, except for former soldiers, coming from the disbanded Ethiopian Regiment) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Sir Henry Clinton Major James Moncrief |
The Black Company of Pioneers was a special group of soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. They were also called the Black Pioneers or Clinton's Black Pioneers. This unit was part of the British forces. They were formed by General Sir Henry Clinton in Philadelphia around 1777 or 1778.
These soldiers were called "Pioneers" because their main job was to do building and construction work. They were not meant to fight in battles. General Clinton did not allow Black and white soldiers to serve in the same military groups. In 1778, the Black Pioneers joined another unit called the Guides and Pioneers in New York. The company was officially ended in 1783 in Port Roseway, Canada, which is now Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
Contents
Forming the Black Pioneers
The Black Pioneers were a military group made up of African Americans. They were created in May 1776. This happened after another British Loyalist group, the Ethiopian Regiment, was ended. The Pioneers kept the same motto that was on the Ethiopian Regiment's uniforms: "Liberty to Slaves." This motto showed their hope for freedom.
What the Pioneers Did
During the American Revolution, the Black Pioneers had important jobs. They would "Assist in Cleaning the Streets & Removing all Nuisances." This meant they helped keep cities clean. They also followed the British troops. They traveled with General Clinton's army from New York to Philadelphia, then to Charleston, and back to New York. They helped with many tasks as the army moved.
Important Leaders
The Black Pioneers had several leaders. For a time, Major James Moncrief of the Royal Engineers was in command. Major Moncrief believed that African-American people could be strong soldiers. He even suggested continuing the war with a large group of African-American troops. He also supported their freedom because of their service to the British Army.
One of the most famous leaders was Colonel Stephen Blucke. He led the Black Pioneers for many years. In 1780, Blucke went on to lead another famous group called the Black Brigade. This group used guerrilla tactics. Blucke earned the special rank of "Colonel" for his leadership.
Uniforms and Equipment
The Black Pioneers wore specific uniforms. They had black wool tricorn hats. These hats were trimmed with white fabric. They also wore black spatterdashes on their legs. Their coats were originally blue wool. Later, these were changed to provincial green wool coats. On their uniforms, they kept the motto: "Liberty to Slaves." It is believed that the Black Company of Pioneers were trained to use the standard British Army rifle, called the Brown Bess musket.
Freedom and New Homes
During the war, many people who were forced into slavery joined the British Army. This was because the British offered them freedom. For example, Harry Washington was a person enslaved by General George Washington. He ran away from Mount Vernon to join the Black Pioneers in 1776.
By the end of the war, tens of thousands of enslaved people had escaped. Many joined the British military. When the British left cities like Savannah and Charleston, they also took about 10,000 enslaved people who belonged to Loyalists.
The British helped nearly 20,000 Black people leave America at the end of the war. More than 3,000 of these were free people. Many of them settled in Nova Scotia, Canada. Stephen Blucke, a leader of the Black Pioneers, helped guide many of them to their new homes.
