An important component in the defense of the English colonies in America was the recruiting of provincial units. These were recruited by the colonial governors and were supposed to be armed, clothed, and/or maintained by the individual colonies, although the nature and amount of commitment toward this latter end varied greatly from colony to colony. Organization, uniforms, training, and morale also varied, not only from colony to colony, but sometimes from regiment to regiment. In most cases, a regiment was only recruited for one year, then disbanded at the end of the campaigning season, only to be rerecruited back up to strength the following year.

Connecticut Provincial Regiments

There were four Connecticut regiments raised in 1755. These were to total 2,000 men, or 500 each. The commanders in 1755 were Colonel (later General) Phineas Lyman (the 1sti), Colonel Goodrich (the 2nd), Colonel Dyer (the 3rd), and Colonel Chaucey (the 4th). The first two regiments initially comprised six companies each, but were later increased to nine. The other regiments comprised nine companies each from their dates of inception. In 1756, each of the regiments had eight companies and were commanded by Lyman, Wooster, Whiting, and Ward. In 1757, there was just one 14-company regiment led by General Lyman. In 1758, the organization had returned to four regiments, this time consisting of twelve companies each. The regiments were commanded by Lyman, Whiting, Fitch, and Wooster.

In 1759, the regiments of Lyman and Whiting had ten companies, later increased to thirteen. Those of Wooster and Fitch also had ten companies, later increased to twelve. These four regiments had twelve companies each for the campaign of 1760. In 1761 and 1762, only the first two regiments were raised, each with twelve companies. Services of the Connecticut regiments included the battle of Lake George, where the 2nd Regiment fought. General Lyman himself was the second in command of the army after William Johnson and assumed temporary command of the army while Johnson was getting his wound dressed. At Ticonderoga, Lyman's 1st (500), Whiting's 2nd (475), Wooster's 3rd (424), and Fitch's 4th (475) participated in the attack. Major Israel Putnam, of future Bunker Hill fame, also commanded a 75-man company of Connecticut rangers during this campaign. [2]

The Connecticut provincials served in other campaigns, with all four at Oswego from 1759-60 and at Crown Point in 1761. At the siege of Havana, eleven companies of the 1st Connecticut Provincial Regiment served under Israel Putnam. In 1764, a five-company battalion regiment of 265 of all ranks was formed. 157 of these under Colonel Putnam occupied Detroit in August. [3]

Coats were red with yellow facings. Waistcoats were yellow and breeches were red. Officers' lace was silver. Enlisted men would have worn no lace. The uniforms of the Connecticut rangers are unknown, but may have been similar to those of Rogers' Rangers (see below). Author's illustration.

Connecticut also raised an independent artillery company. The uniform in 1762 consisted of a blue coat and breeches with a light buff waistcoat and facings. Buttons and hat lace were gold. [4]

Delaware Provincial Companies

The Three Lower Counties of Delaware each raised a company of 100 men from 1758 through 1759. They constituted a portion of Forbes' army and helped repel attacks against Fort Ligonier.

The uniform was a short green jacket, faced with green, and green or red breeches. Waistcoat was red. Buttons were of white metal and hat lace was white.

Georgia Provincials

Georgia's sole contribution to the war effort consisted of three mounted troops of rangers organized in 1756. These were quickly disbanded owing to a lack of funding. Further details are lacking.

Maryland Provincial Regiment

A 50 to 60-man company of rangers under Captain Dagworthy was raised by Governor Horatio Sharpe in 1754 to stand guard at Fort Cumberland. Later, with a strength of 51 men, they subsequently served in Braddock's campaign. After Braddock's defeat, another 80 men were recruited by the Maryland legislature for frontier duty. In 1756, a total of three 100-man companies were raised. In 1757, the number of Maryland provincials numbered some 500 in five companies. In 1758, the number was reduced to 300. Members of this regiment served in Forbes' expedition against Fort Duquesne, and around 100 were involved in Major Grant's defeat. They also participated in the defence of Fort Ligonier during the attack on it on the 15th of October. In 1759, the Marylanders again guarded the frontier of the colony at a strength of 300. This was their last year to be embodied.

The uniform was red with red waistcoat and breeches. Cuffs were black and buttons were of white metal. Hat lace was white. Author's illustration.

Massachusetts Provincial Regiments

Numbering around 500 men each, the first Massachusetts Provincial Regiment was to consist of two battalions, each of ten fifty-man companies. This was known as Shirley's regiment with Governor William Shirley as its colonel-proprietor. [5]

The first two battalion commanders were Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow and Lieutenant Colonel Scott. Both of these battalions were sent to Nova Scotia, where they served in the campaign against Forts Beausejour and Gaspareau. After the fall of Fort Beausejour, the regiment under Winslow was used to garrison Nova Scotia. As of June 1, 1755, Winslow's Regiment had a strength of 1,950 men. [6]

Three more battalions under Colonels Williams, Titcomb, later Bagley, and Willard served on the upper Hudson valley. [7]

Williams' regiment fought at near Lake George, where he was killed during the "Bloody Morning Scout." The survivors of his regiment later joined those regiments of Ruggles and Willard behind Johnson's fortifications, where all three did good service against the French regulars and their Indian allies. A train of artillery was also formed in the spring of 1755 that included eleven pieces of ordinance and twenty-two personnel. These were also present at the battle of Lake George. In September of the same year, an additional regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Gridley was raised.

In 1756 the following regiments were established: Bagley's, Dwight's, Gridley's, Plaisted's, Ruggle's, and Tacher's, with two of ten companies each and four of nine companies. [8] There were also two companies of artillery consisting of 221 of all ranks that were attached to Gridley's regiment. A regiment served at Fort William Henry (792). In 1757 a single regiment of 1,800 men divided into seventeen companies under the command of Colonel Joshua Frye was authorized. They were deployed at Forts George and William Henry, where some 800 were captured by Montcalm's army when the latter fort capitulated that same year. [9]

At Ticonderoga in 1758, the following Massachusetts regiments were listed in Abercrombie's army: Ruggles' (375-377), Bagley's (446-450), Preble's (525), William's (470-471), Partridge's light infantry (980-989), Nicol's (c. 475) and Doty's (770-772). [10] William's Regiment (432) and portions of Doty's (248) subsequently took part in Bradstreet's attack on Fort Frontenac that same year.

In February of 1759, 6,800 men were authorized to be raised. 400 of these were formed into four companies as a garrison for Fort Penobscot. Of the remaining 6,400 men, 6,000 comprised the regiments of Preble, William Williams, Joseph Williams, Doty, and Nichols, all in New York; Bagley's Regiment in Louisbourg; and Ruggle's and Willard's serving with General Amherst's army. 400 others served at Fort Cumberland (formerly Beausejour) on the Nova Scotia border.

In 1760, the Massachusetts contingent consisted of 5,000 men formed into Ruggle's, Willard's, and Thomas' regiments serving with Haviland's army, Bagley's regiment at Louisbourg, and Thwing's, which remained in garrisons. [11] In 1761, with the war winding down, only three 1000-man regiments were authorized under Colonels Hoar, Thwing, and Saltonstall. In 1762, 520 men in five companies of Hoar's Massachusetts Regiment took part in the recapture of St. John's, Newfoundland. [12]

The uniform consisted of blue coats with red facings. Breeches were wool, either blue or red. Author's illustration.

New Hampshire Provincial Regiment (Colonel Blanchard's)

This colony raised 450 men under Colonel Blanchard, including Robert Rogers' own company of rangers. [13] 250 of these men served under Blanchard at Fort Edward, which they constructed in 1755. This regiment fought at the battle of Lake George, where a portion of them comprised a 200-man body of New Hampshire and New York troops under Captain McGinnis that defeated a body of French and Indians at the third battle of the day at Bloody Pond. In September of that same year, an additional 300 men were formed into a regiment under the command of Colonel Gillman.

In 1756, 500 men comprised Colonel Meserve's regiment, and the following year, 350 men were mustered, also under the command of the same officer. These men were divided. A portion of them were sent to Halifax, and the remainder were sent to Fort William Henry, where 221 of its men were surrendered. On the heels of the surrender and subsequent massacre, a 250-man battalion was raised under the command of Major Tash, comprising two companies of cavalry and three of infantry. These served at Fort Number 4 until November.

In 1758, a regiment was recruited for a nine-month enlistment. It participated in the Ticonderoga campaign under Colonel John Hart and counted 610 men of all ranks. There was also a 90-man company of New Hampshire Rangers under Captain Lovewell in this campaign. In 1759, a 700-man regiment under Colonel Lovewell served at Oswego. In 1760, a 77 1/2-mile road was constructed from Fort Number 4 to Crown Point by 800 New Hampshire soldiers under Colonel Goffe. [14] In 1761 and 1762, the New Hampshire provincials numbered 534 men serving mostly at Fort Number 4, Crown Point, and other Posts. [15]

Uniform details for these formations are lacking, although the rangers probably dressed in a fashion similar to those of Robert Rogers (see below).

New Jersey Provincial Regiment (Col. Schuyler's "Jersey Blues")

This 500-man, five-company regiment was authorized in 1755 and was led by Colonel Schuyler. Half of the regiment was at Oswego with Schuyler and half was at Schenectady in 1756, when Montcalm attacked the former fort. Schuyler and his portion of the regiment surrendered and were taken to Canada. Captain Parker took over the command. During the campaign of 1757, three hundred men under Captain Parker were attacked while riding in boats on a scouting expedition on Lake George on July 23rd 1757. Two hundred and fifty of them were captured in this affair. [16] The remaining 301 were captured when Fort William Henry surrendered and were later paroled.

The regiment was raised up again in 1758 as a 1,000-man regiment, of ten companies, including one of grenadiers, under Colonel John Johnson and fought at Ticonderoga (615) and Frontenac (418). In 1759, again under the command of Colonel Schuyler, it participated in the campaign against Fort Niagara. The following year, it served at Oswego, then formed a part of Amherst's army that advanced on Montreal. In 1761, it comprised 600 men posted at Oswego and Niagara. Two companies comprising 222 men also served at Havana. The regiment also served during Pontiac's uprising. This regiment had a reputation for good discipline. [17]

The uniform consisted of a short, blue "Highland jacket" and breeches, with cuffs and lapels of red. Grenadiers wore grenadier caps. The illustrations are after Knotel.

New York Provincial Regiment

Formed in 1755, this regiment consisted of eight 100-man companies. It was commanded by Colonel Oliver DeLancey. The men served in the area around Crown Point, including the battle of Lake George, where five companies were posted at Fort Edward and the remaining five fought at the actual battle itself. In 1756, it was again raised with a strength of 1,715 of all ranks, and was again raised in 1757. Fifty-five New Yorkers were paroled at the time of the surrender of Fort William Henry.

In 1758, it was organized into three battalions comprising some 2,680 officers and men. At the battle of Ticonderoga, the regiment consisted of some 1,291 men, consisting of the 1st Btn. under Lt. Col. Lerux, the 2nd Btn. under Lt. Col. Woolsey, and the 3rd Btn. under Lt. Col. Glasier. Numbering 1,112 men, it served in the attack on Fort Frontenac. In 1759 and 1760, the regiment consisted of two battalions, but the total strength was the same as the previous year. It participated in the siege and capture of Fort Niagara in 1759. It counted 1,787 of all ranks at Oswego in 1761. Part of the regiment, some 567, later served in the operations at Havana and 900 remained at Oswego. [18]

The New York regiment also participated in fighting during Pontiac's rebellion and accompanied Bradstreet to Detroit in 1764.

The uniform is described as made from "dark drab" with the sleeves turned up with "middle drab" cloth. Breeches and waistcoat were of buckskin and the stockings were of dark worsted. The illustration is after Knotel.

New York Artillery

There are nineteen New York artillerists listed as having served at the recapture of St. John's, Newfoundland. [19] It is likely that these were simply volunteers from the New York Provincial Regiment serving English guns, however they are here listed separately.

North Carolina Provincial Regiment

A 450-man regiment under Colonel James Innes was raised in 1754 and sent to Virginia but, arriving too late to see any action, it then was disbanded owing to problems of payment and logistics. [20] During the Braddock expedition, some 72-80 provincials under Captain Dobbs formed a part of Colonel Dunbar's second brigade. These men saw no action at the time of Braddock's defeat and those who did not desert outright retreated with the remainder of Dunbar's force. 52 men of all ranks served in Forbes' expedition in 1758 and helped to defend Fort Ligonier when it was attacked by French and Indians. A 500-man regiment and a 50-man company were raised in 1761 for garrison and frontier duty.

The uniform was blue with red cuffs, lapels, turnbacks, and waistcoat. Breeches were blue. Buttons were of white metal, and hat lace was white.

Pennsylvania Provincial Regiment

A two-battalion regiment was raised in 1756. The first battalion consisted of ten companies raised west of the Susquehanna River, and the second, eight raised east of the river. Later, a third battalion was mustered for the construction and garrison of Fort Augusta. The first two battalions became known as the Pennsylvania Regiment, and the latter was known as the Augusta Regiment. [21]

Its first commander was Lt. Colonel Clapham, and the regiment counted some 400 men. It participated in a raid against hostile Indians on Great Haven (present-day Lock Haven, PA) on November 4, 1756. On Dec. 8 of the same year, Clapham resigned and was replaced by Major Burd. Some 307 Pennsylvanians served under Lt. Col. John Armstrong in his expedition against the Delawares at Kittaning. These latter consisted of eight companies of the 2nd Battalion. [22]

In 1757, the three regiments were amalgamated into a two-battalion regiment, with the first of 12 companies and the second of 13. A third battalion of 17 companies was raised in early 1758. At the same time, two troops of light horse under Captains Thompson and Hambright were attached to the first two battalions. In June of 1758, the 3rd Battalion was incorporated into the 2nd. [23]

These men, under Col. (formerly Major) Burd served in the Forbes expedition against Fort Duquesne. [24] Some 100 of these men participated in the battle of Grant's Hill. [25] The 1st and 2nd battalions also were at Fort Ligonier, where they resisted attacks by the French and Indians.

Although initially bedecked in civilian clothes, by 1757, they were ordered to wear green coats faced red, red waistcoats, and buckskin breeches. The second battalion may have had green facings. From 1759-60, the coats were changed to blue, probably with red, later blue, facings. Illustration after Knotel.

Rhode Island Provincial Regiment (Col. Harris' - later Col. Babcock's)

In 1755, a 400-man regiment was raised in the month of March. This was increased by 150 men in May and another 200 in September, until the regiment stood at a strength of 750 men in 11 companies. Some op the men served at the Battle of Lake George. All of these men, except for 185, were sent home at the end of the year. In February of 1756, a 500-man regiment was raised to consist of ten companies. This received a 100-man reinforcement in May, was later reduced to 400, and then disbanded in November. In 1757, a 450-man regiment was raised under the command of Colonel Angel, and on the 19th of September a 70-man ranger company was created from the ranks of this regiment. 250 men served at Fort Edward the following winter.

The regiment authorized for 1758 was of 1,000 men under Colonel Babcock and the regiment fought at Ticonderoga with a strength of 680 men. 318 Rhode Islanders participated in the attack on Fort Frontenac the same year. In 1759, Babcock's was raised once again for service in Amherst's army. The following year, it served at Crown Point under Colonel Harris. In 1761, it was commanded by Colonel Whiting. Its ranks varied from 1,000 to 666 men. In 1762, the 666 men were commanded by Colonel Rose, with 436 serving at Fort Stanwix and 217 at Havana.

These soldiers apparently wore no uniform at all, at least initially. Instead they wore whatever civilian clothing was considered serviceable. Author's illustration.

South Carolina Provincial Regiment

This regiment, known as Colonel Howarth's South Carolina Regiment, was created by the colonial legislature in 1757 and was supposed to consist of seven one hundred-man companies. However it was only recruited up to a maximum strength of 500 men by 1758. It was subsequently reduced and reclassified as a three-company regiment in 1759. They were used for garrison duty along South Carolina's frontier. One company was blockaded in Fort Loudoun by the Cherokee and surrendered to them in August of 1760. In February of the same year, a new regiment of South Carolina troops was embodied under the command of Colonel Middleton. It was supposed to have 1,144 of all ranks in ten companies, but only mustered up to 700. It saw action fighting against the Cherokee in 1761.

The uniform consisted of a blue wool coat and blue breeches with buff cuffs, linings, and waistcoat for Howarth's Regiment. The tricorne had white hat lace and stockings were white. Middleton's Regiment wore blue coat, breeches, and waistcoat with red facings and a black light infantryman's hat with a white crescent moon on the front.

South Carolina also had a unit of artillerists known as the Charleston Artillery Company. The uniform consisted of blue coat and breeches with a red waistcoat. Facings were red and buttons and hat lace were gold. [26]

Virginia Provincial Regiment

This regiment was raised in 1754 with Joshua Fry as its colonel and George Washington as the lieutenant colonel. Washington succeeded to the command upon Fry's sudden death that same year. Three companies of the Virginia Regiment participated in the Fort Necessity campaign. The following year, during Braddock's expedition, seven companies under Captains Peyronie (47), Waggoner (42), Stephens (51), Hogg (36), Polson (49), Mercer (27) and Cocke (46) formed a part of the English force. Three of these companies, Captains Polson's, Peyronie's, and Waggoner's, saw action at the battle of the Monongahela. There was also a small troop of twenty-eight light horse under the command of Captain Robert Stewart formed from members of this regiment that constituted a portion of the vanguard of Gage's force during the Braddock campaign. Most of the latter were killed, wounded, or captured

Members of the Virginia Regiment later campaigned against the Indians in western Virginia during the war. In April of 1757, the regiment counted 1,270 men in twelve companies. In 1758, Virginia authorized the establishment of two regiments of 1,000 men each. The old First Regiment was commanded by Colonel Washington, and the new Second Regiment was under Colonel Byrd. Both regiments also served in the Forbes' Expedition, where elements of the First Regiment fought at the battle of Grant's Hill. The Second Virginia Regiment was disbanded on the 1st of December 1758, but the First Virginia Regiment continued to serve along the frontier until its disbanding in 1762.

At first, only the officers had uniforms. The soldiers during the Fort Necessity campaign seem to have worn servicable civilian clothing. It is known that the officers' uniforms were of blue broadcloth with red facings and cuffs and silver lace trim. The waistcoat was to be scarlet with plain silver lace. Breeches were blue. Early soldiers' uniforms seem to have been red, sometimes with blue facings, often with leather breeches. Other reconstructions show the men dressed like the officers, but without the lace. Upon the reorganization of 1755, the established uniform was blue with red facings.

Independent Companies of Rangers (Goreham's Rangers)

The first two 60-man companies of "Nova Scotia Rangers" were raised in 1744, prior to the War of the Austrian Succession. A third company, led by John Gorham and recruited mostly from Metis and Mohawk Indians, was sent with the others by Governor Shirley to defend Annapolis Royal. Later, after the war hand ended, the first two companies were disbanded, but Goreham's remained. These men fought in numerous engagements along the Canadian frontier well before the declaration of war in 1756. In 1755, they had a strength of 120 men. By 1757, their strength had increased to 138 of all ranks. John Gorham himself had been granted a King's Commission in 1747. Thus his men were considered to be a part of the King's forces and were paid accordingly.

"Major" Joseph Gorham (actually a captain), John's younger brother, assumed command the company in 1758. Four ranger companies, including Gorham's, fought at Louisbourg (500) and six companies, including Gorham's, served under Wolfe at Quebec. Eighty-four rangers fought at the battle of Ste Foy in 1760. In 1761, Joseph Gorham was officially commissioned a major in the regular British service. From around this time, Gorham is referred to as commanding the Corps of Rangers, also called the North American Rangers in the army lists. Two companies consisting of 225 men under Joseph Gorham served at the siege of Havana. At the conclusion of the siege, the surving men were drafted into various British regiments. Gorham and the officers came back to America, where the rangers were recruited back up to a one-company unit. Personnel of this unit apparently served at Detroit during the Pontiac uprising. The unit was then disbanded sometime between 1763 and 1764.

The men's attire changed over time. In 1757, they are merely described as having leather caps. John Knox stated that they wore regular clothing that was cut short. Goreham's men are later described as wearing grey. In May of 1759, the uniform of the ranger companies in Quebec, again according to Knox, is given as "black ratteen or frize, lapelled and cuffed with blue." They wore a sleeved waistcoat and a short jacket without sleeves, but with wings on the shouldiers similar to those of the grenadiers. Buttons were of white metal and breeches were of linen or canvas. They also wore a "blue skirt or petticoat," open in front and extending just short of the knees. They wore blue leggings and blue Scottish bonnets. By 1761, the uniform seems to have consisted of red coats turned up with brown with brown linings that could be worn inside out. Waistcoats were brown and breeches were of linen. For headgear they wore leather jockey caps with oak leafs or branches painted on the left side. The Illustration of Knox's 1759 ranger is a reconstruction after Embleton. Rickman's reconstruction from Chartrand's study are quite different. Plate E depicts an infantryman from 1755 in a very light grey coat and breeches with a red waistcoat and black "jockey" style cap, whereas Plate F shows a ranger from 1759-61 in the brown reversable coat mentioned above.

His Majesty's Independent Companies of American Rangers (Rogers' Rangers)

This unit began as a scouting party of Blanchard's New Hampshire Provincial Regiment, raised for the 1755 Crown Point expedition. Upon the disbanding of that army at the conclusion of the campaigning season, Rogers continued to serve with his forty-three men. By the summer of 1757, these rangers consisted of five 100-man companies commanded by Robert Rogers, Richard Rogers (later John Stark), John Shepherd, Charles Bulkeley and a company of Mohegan Indians under Moses Brewer. They were considered to be neither a provincial unit nor a regular unit, but their fame certainly demands their inclusion here. Their area of operations was along the Champlain Valley, where they participated in numerous actions, including the First Battle on Snowshoes in 1757, the Second Battle on Snowshoes in 1758, Ticonderoga (Rogers', Stark's, Burbank's, Shepperd's, and two companies of Stockbridge Indians totaling 416 men), Frontenac (60), and the raid on Saint Francis (c. 140).

By the year 1757, the rangers counted nine companies. In 1758, five additional companies were recruited. One company was sent up the Mohawk valley under the command of Sir William Johnson. Four companies were sent to Halifax, from where they participated in the attack on Louisbourg. These, along with Goreham's, were placed under the command of Major Scott of the 40` Foot.. [27]

Six companies advanced with General Amherst's army up Lake Champlain in 1759. Hazen's company of rangers fought at the battle of Ste Foy in 1760. A detachment of 200 rangers under Robert Rogers took possession of Detroit in late 1760. The rangers were known for their numerous exploits, their high casualty rates, and a laxity of discipline. Nevertheless, they were considered indespensible for the type of wilderness fighting found in North America, and by the end of the war, the unit had swelled to a force of ten companies, including two of Stockbridge Indians.

It is known that at least two of the companies wore grey duffle coats and greatcoats, at least two others wore green jackets or hunting shirts, and that the Indians wore their own native dress. Buckskin hunting shirts were also worn. The reconstruction of Rogers' uniform here is an educated guess by the author. The illustration is adapted from an old engraving purporting to be of Robert Rogers' likeness. A similar engraving in the Osprey Essential History of the French-Indian War shows Rogers bedecked in a blue coat with buff waistcoat and breeches.

Queen's Royal American Rangers

Captain Joseph Hopkins raised this unit in 1762 in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It was on the regular establishment and consisted of four officers and 100 enlisted men. They were recruited too late to participate in the French and Indian War, but saw their share of fighting near Detroit during Pontiac's rebellion.

Their uniform consisted of green jacket, waistcoat, and breeches with buckskin leggings, yellow button lace, and a green light infantryman's cap bearing in green letters on a yellow scroll the words "PER SYLVAS." [28]

Colonel Bradstreet's Armed Batteau Men

This seems to have been an ad hoc unit recruited by Bradstreet to help convey Abercrombie's men during the 1758 Ticonderoga campaign, where they numbered 1,600 men in three divisions. Eventually this corps numbered around 2,000. 270 of them were subsequently used in Bradstreet's famous attack on Fort Frontenac later that same year. They continued to serve until the cessation of hostilities. Uniform details, if any, are unknown.