De Lancey's Brigade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids De Lancey's Brigade |
|
|---|---|
| Country |  Great Britain |
| Allegiance |  British Army |
| Branch | British Provincial unit |
| Type | infantry, dragoons (mounted infantry), (auxiliary troops) |
| Role | intelligence, special operations, maneuver warfare, guerrilla warfare, light infantry, cavalry, cattle raiding |
| Size | three battalions (500 each), brigade (1,500) |
| Garrison/HQ | Oyster Bay, Huntington, Brookhaven, Long Island, Kingsbridge, Bronx (Province of New York) |
| Nickname(s) | De Lancey's Volunteers, De Lancey's Corps, De Lancey's Provincial Corps, De Lancey's Refugees, Refugees, Cowboys, Cow-boys |
| Engagements | American Revolutionary War
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
|
De Lancey's Brigade was a special military group during the American Revolutionary War. They were also known by many names like De Lancey's Volunteers or even the "Cowboys." This unit was made up of Loyalists, who were American colonists loyal to the British King. They fought for the British side against the American Patriots.
The brigade was led by Brigadier General Oliver De Lancey. His nephew, James De Lancey, also helped command the unit.
Contents
Forming De Lancey's Brigade
De Lancey's Brigade was created in September 1776. This happened on Long Island, in New York. It was after the American Patriot forces lost the Battle of Brooklyn. This battle was part of the British plan to take over New York.
The brigade was quite large. It had three groups called battalions. Each battalion had about 500 men. This meant the whole brigade had around 1,500 soldiers. Oliver De Lancey was both a general and the leader of the 1st Battalion.
Where They Were Stationed
During the winter of 1776 and 1777, the three battalions were spread out. One was at Oyster Bay. Another was in Huntington. The third was in Brookhaven, all on Long Island. Some were also stationed in Kingsbridge, Bronx.
In May 1777, the 1st and 2nd Battalions moved. They went to the Kingsbridge area, which is north of Manhattan. The next month, the 1st Battalion returned to Long Island. The 2nd Battalion stayed in Kingsbridge. By spring 1778, some forts were left empty. The 1st and 3rd Battalions moved to a camp near New Town.
Role in the War: The "Neutral Ground"
General Oliver De Lancey's brigade often worked north of New York City. This area was in Westchester County, New York. It was known as the "Neutral Ground." This name came from it being a disputed area between British and American forces.
The "Cowboys" and "Skinners"
In the "Neutral Ground," there was a lot of back-and-forth fighting. De Lancey's "Cowboys" were known for their actions there. They worked with another group called the "Skinners." The Skinners were part of the New Jersey Volunteers. Both groups were Loyalists.
These groups were good at gathering information for the British. They also collected supplies, like cattle, from the countryside. This helped the British forces.
Battles and Disbandment
Even though the brigade was first meant to defend Long Island, some battalions moved. In November 1778, the 1st and 2nd Battalions went south. They fought in important battles in the Carolinas. This included the Siege of Ninety-Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs.
The 3rd Battalion, however, stayed on Long Island for the entire war. General De Lancey also remained on Long Island.
The entire De Lancey's Brigade was officially ended in 1783. This happened in Woodstock, New Brunswick. After the war, many soldiers from the regiment settled in Nova Scotia. Sadly, 99 out of 174 men from the 2nd regiment died in a shipwreck off Nova Scotia.
