New Jersey Volunteers (Skinner's Greens)

New Jersey Volunteers (Skinner's Greens)

Cortlandt Skinner's New Jersey Volunteers, known as, Skinner's Greens or "Skinners" wore similar green, wool, uniform coats, as the British Loyalist soldiers, their counterparts and rivals, De Lancey's Refugees, or "Cowboys"', wearing this uniform, in the painting, by Charles M. Lefferts
Active 1776-1783
Country  Great Britain
Allegiance  British Army
Branch British Provincial unit
Type dragoons (mounted infantry), (auxiliary troops)
Role special operations, maneuver warfare, guerrilla warfare, light infantry, cavalry light infantry, cavalry
Size six 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

The New Jersey Volunteers also, known as Jersey Volunteers, Skinner's Corps, Skinner's Greens, and "Skinners" were a Loyalist, British provincial, military unit, raised for service, by Loyalist, Cortlandt Skinner, during the American Revolutionary War.

Regiment formed in Province of New York

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

Garrison duty

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

Campaigns

Brigadier General Cortlandt Skinner conducted regular operations, in the region, east of New York City, in Westchester County, New York, between Morrisania and the Croton Rivers, which was infamously known as, the "Neutral Ground", of eastern Long Island. 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, island, countryside.

One battalion, of "Skinner's Greens", another nickname, for the loyalist New Jersey Volunteers, because of their green, wool, uniform coats, was later sent to East Florida, assisting in the capture of Savannah, others served in the Battles of Eutaw Springs and King's Mountain, with a detachment, participating in the Siege of Yorktown.

On September 6, 1781, the 4th Battery, of the New Jersey Volunteers, took part in 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, the disbandment of the New Jersey Volunteers regiment, occurred, after the British lost the war, in the loyalist settlement of New Brunswick, British Canada.

References

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