Prior to the American
Revolution, in the process of colonizing of the Americas, the Dutch, Spanish and
Portuguese armed free and enslaved blacks for defense against the indigenous
natives and each other. Not surprisingly, militarily trained and experienced in
European warfare, the slaves turned on their oppressors. There was much pay
back, and it wasn't pretty, with much killing, and what seems to be a recurring
fear, "debauchery". With the outbreak of hostilities
in British colonies, the home office sought to avoid arming blacks, to spare
fellow countrymen the nightmare of slave rebellion seen in this
hemisphere. However, on the ground, we see British commanders taking initiatives
to the contrary. On June 8th 1775, facing growing unrest, John Murray, the Earl
of Dunmore and Virginia Governor, vacated the capitol aboard an armed ship. With
this, other ships, and a force of 300 soldiers and sailors, he hit the rebels
where it hurt. Sailing up and down the York River he found vulnerable
plantations to plunder, carry off, and recruit blacks to increase the size of
his army. Hearing word of this, escaped slaves flocked to be under his
protection. Lord Dunmore later declared martial law, and issued a proclamation
declaring that indentured servants, blacks, or others subject to rebel authority
free, that were able and willing to bear arms and join the Crown's forces, to put
an end the rebellion. From these recruits, he formed the wars first and largest
black fighting unit, the Ethiopian Regiment. Prompted by John Murray, Lt. Gen.
Thomas Gage sent a communique to London on June 12th, asserting that the
rebellion was a crisis that called for the use of every available resource that can
be brought to bear, even blacks.
At the Battle of Bunker Hill June 17th 1775, 100 blacks and Native-Americans are documented to have fought. Noteworthy is Salem Poor, for whom a petition for
exceptional bravery was submitted to the Congress, signed by 14 officers citing
his behaviour like that of an experienced officer and excellent soldier. One Peter
Salem, a slave, who was temporarily released by his master to serve, is credited
to have fired the shot the killed Maj. John Pitcairn. Shortly after Washington
declared that slaves could no longer be recruited for the militia.
In 1777 the Continental suffered significant losses in the Philadelphia campaign. Rhode Island regiments were particularly hard hit and unable to fill the ranks with enough able bodied white men to meet its' quota. Taking advantage of the active recruitment of blacks by the British, Brig. Gen. Varnum, was able to convinced Washington to allow the state to recruit slaves. Washington agreed provisionally, based on consultations with the Congress, which bought Varnum time to initiate efforts to recruit black, mulatto, and Native American slaves, but due to the its' unpopularity with state residents the legislature set a cut-off-date of June 10, 1778.
At the Battle of
Monmouth June 28th 1778, Captain Arnold's black company, detached from the 1st Rhode
Island, marched with Varnum's Brigade, and fought a holding action against the advancing British.
