British Legion (American Revolutionary War)
The British Legion was an elite British provincial regiment established during the American Revolutionary War, composed of Loyalist American troops, organized as infantry and cavalry, plus a detachment from the 16th Light Dragoons. The unit was commonly known as Tarleton's Legion, after the British officer who led it on campaign, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. It was a unit the size of a regiment, consisting of artillery, cavalry, and light infantry, and able to operate independently.
| British Legion | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton in the uniform of the British Legion, 1782 painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds | |
| Active | 1777–1782 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Allegiance | British Army |
| Branch | British provincial unit later, regulars on the American Establishment (1779), then British establishment (1782) |
| Type | Artillery Dragoon Light infantry |
| Role | Anti-guerrilla warfare Cavalry tactics Charge Counterinsurgency Indirect fire Patrolling Raid Reconnaissance Screening Shock tactics Skirmisher Tracking |
| Size | 400 (Regiment) |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Edward, Province of New York |
| Nickname(s) | Tarleton's Legion |
| Engagements | American Revolutionary War
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | General Lord William Cathcart
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton |
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