New Jersey Volunteers

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New Jersey Volunteers (Skinner's Greens)
James Moody (1744-1809), Nova Scotia.png
James Moody, 5th Battalion New Jersey Volunteers.
Active1776-1783
CountryUnion flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
AllegianceUnion flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  British Army
BranchBritish Provincial unit
Type dragoons (mounted infantry), (auxiliary troops)
Role intelligence, special operations, maneuver warfare, guerrilla warfare, light infantry, cavalry light infantry, cavalry, cattle raiding
Sizesix battalions (500 each), regiment (1,800)
Garrison/HQ New York City, Province of New York
Nickname(s)Jersey Volunteers, Skinner's Corps, Skinner's Greens, Skinners
Engagements American Revolutionary War

Battle of Long Island (1776)

Commanders
Notable
commanders
British Loyalist, New Jersey Volunteers reenactors, in front of the New York Historical Society, in New York City NJ Loyalists at N-Y HS jeh.jpg
British Loyalist, New Jersey Volunteers reenactors, in front of the New York Historical Society, in New York City

The New Jersey Volunteers, also known as Jersey Volunteers, "Skinners", Skinner's Corps, and Skinner's Greens (due to their green wool uniform coats), were a British provincial military unit of Loyalists, raised for service by Cortlandt Skinner, during the American Revolutionary War.

Contents

Regiment formed in Province of New York

In 1776, some American loyalist soldiers formed the New Jersey Volunteers, which was raised in the Province of New York, first as three battalions, and eventually as six, of 500 men each.

Garrison duty

The New Jersey Volunteers experienced combat first at the Battle of Long Island, during the British Campaign of New York offensive and after the defeat and flight of the Patriot forces, and was assigned to the initial British garrison of the occupation army, in New York City.

Campaigns

Brigadier General Cortlandt Skinner performed regular operations, in the region north of New York City, in Westchester County, New York, between Morrisania and the Croton Rivers, which was known as the "Neutral Ground". Lawlessness and guerrilla warfare occurred between Skinner's "Skinners", marauders and their rivals, the British loyalist raiders, De Lancey's "Cowboys" who, both, stole cattle, looted, and gathered military intelligence, in the New York countryside.

One battalion of New Jersey Volunteers was later sent to East Florida, assisting with the capture of Savannah; others served in the Battles of Eutaw Springs and King's Mountain, with a detachment participating with the Siege of Yorktown.

On September 6, 1781, the 3rd Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers, participated with the raid on New London, Connecticut, commanded by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, and fought at the Battle of Groton Heights.

Regiment disbanded and resettled in British Canada

In 1783, after the British lost the war, the New Jersey Volunteers regiment was disbanded in the loyalist settlement of Digby, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in British Canada.

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