"The Ex-Slaves Who Fought with the British" Topic

"When American colonists took up arms in a battle for independence starting in 1775, that fight for freedom excluded an entire race of people—African-Americans. On November 12, 1775, General George Washington decreed in his orders that "neither negroes, boys unable to bear arms, nor old men" could enlist in the Continental Army.

Two days after the patriots' military leader banned African-Americans from joining his ranks, however, black soldiers proved their mettle at the Battle of Kemp's Landing along the Virginia coast. They captured an enemy commanding officer and proved pivotal in securing the victory—for the British.

After the battle, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia who had been forced to flee the capital of Williamsburg and form a government in exile aboard the warship HMS Fowey, ordered the British standard raised before making a startling announcement. For the first time in public he formally read a proclamation that he had issued the previous week granting freedom to the slaves of rebels who escaped to British custody…"
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Armand

For Lord Dunmore's Aethiopians, I of course use the Perry figures.
Then, there's the Foundry Maroons in their Pirate range.
Old Glory Pirate range Voodoo Warriors also look good.

John, thanks for the recommendations. Ex-slave units were common in NJ skirmishes. Great addition for Muskets and Tomahawks.

British privateers plagued the Virginia tidewater throughout the war.Their crews often included former slaves, but ironically slaves were also their favorite loot: easily portable and with a ready market in the islands. (There was far less of the racial solidarity we see today.)

Virginia counties kept small watchposts of militia (on a monthly rotation) at the mouth of their rivers, to give the alarm if a privateer sailed up the river.

There is great potential here for skirmish games, and also for roleplaying, as the slaves might have decidedly mixed feelings about being carried off to the Bahamas.

The other thread about militia cavalry is relevant here; planters might mount half-a-dozen men not only to scout the privateers but also to harass them as they returned to their ship burdened with loot.

I have the Bachman model RR plastic plantation. There are lots of available barns out there.
One of my reasons for getting the Lord Dunmore Task Force is to conduct a raid game to burn Mister Randolph's barn, and or seize tobacco. See Thingsfromthebasement for a nice variety of wagons.
That plus Perry and Fife and Drum mounted militia will round out the Patriot side.
A nice raid with "freed" slaves fighting for the nominal Bad Guys brings up the possibility of a fun non political correctness game.

And also, thanks, doc for the idea of using captured slaves as loot. That adds to the political correctness uncertainty. The Whigs will then be recapturing and "rescuing" them from a miserable life as slaves in the Sugar Islands.
"You don't know how well off you have it here!"
Ye gods and little fishes… That's a scenario NEVER to be played in public at a convention. It would be sure to get the convention banned and shut down. Rightfully so.
What goes on in the OFM's basement stays in the OFM's basement.

Now I need more Voodoo Warriors. My last bag was used up as Coolie railroad workers in China.

As for "racial solidarity", perhaps the family crest of the heroic John Archbald Dortmunder applies here. "Quid lucrum istic mihi est?"

Also note that if it's uncomfortable calling the mounted plantation militia "Patriots", call them "Whigs".

Instead of slaves and tobacco John, have "resource points" that can be captured. This would avoid the need of defining whether what is being captured is tobacco, livestock, the meats in the smoke house, the family silver or the plantation residents, free, indentured or enslaved. Yes it is sanitizing history, but our games already do that.

Bill, only if I were to do that game in public. My guys can handle it.

As for tobacco being in the same category as slaves…
I was sitting down to watch a movie on Netflix. Now they feel compelled to give "trigger warnings". Ok. I'm all for warning about sex, drug use, language, nudity, or violence, but "smoking"? Gasp! Fetch the smelling salts, Miranda!

Some "resource points" can fit in a wagon. I have wagons, barrels and bales. Others are mobile.
I have had games where French, Huron and "Couriers du Boises" looted Sir William Johnson's manor, making off with his library, his whiskey and his harpsichord. I have all the loot I need.

Thanks!.

Armand