Unit Name: | New Jersey Volunteers (Skinner's Greens) |
Type: | dragoons (mounted infantry), (auxiliary troops) |
Branch: | British Provincial unit |
Dates: | 1776-1783 |
Specialization: | intelligence, special operations, maneuver warfare, guerrilla warfare, light infantry, cavalry light infantry, cavalry, cattle raiding |
Size: | six battalions (500 each), regiment (1,800) |
Garrison: | New York City, Province of New York |
Nickname: | Jersey Volunteers, Skinner's Corps, Skinner's Greens, Skinners |
Battles: | American Revolutionary War
Battle of Long Island (1776)
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Notable Commanders: |
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.