Few textbooks acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War. An even lesser known fact is that Black slaves also fought for the British in an attempt to win their freedom. Many slaves in fact were deceived by the British into thinking that American slavery would end if the British army defeated the American Continental army. The British actually imprinted the inscription "Liberty to Slaves" across the chest of each Black volunteer soldier.

In November 1775, John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore and British Governor of Virginia, decided that the Revolutionary War would no longer continue as the "White man's war." Both the American and British senior strategists had banned the use of Black soldiers, but Lord Dunmore saw the British as hopelessly outnumbered and was unwilling to overlook any potential support. He also hoped a slave insurrection would deprive the American army of much needed labor for building fortifications and disrupt the American economy since slave labor produced most of the cash crops. Lord Dunmore's proclamation declared "all indentured servants, Negroes, or others: FREE, that are able and willing to bear arms…to his Majesty's crown and dignity."

Dunmore's proclamation led Blacks to believe that the British were genuinely opposed to slavery. Since most American leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were prominent slaveholders, many Blacks saw the British opportunity as their only chance for freedom and consequently joined the British in large numbers. J.A. Rogers states that "5,000 joined Dunmore at Norfolk; 25,000 fled from their masters in South Carolina and nearly seven-eighths of the slaves in Georgia." Nearly 2,000 slaves joined the British forces under General Cornwallis including numerous slaves from George Washington's plantation. Thomas Jefferson declared that Virginia alone lost 30,000 and others estimate that as many as 100,000 slaves found their way to the British lines. One half of Dunmore's troops that fought at Great Bridge on December 9, 1775 were runaway slaves.

Runaway slaves armed by the British are said to have terrorized the South. Many slaves overpowered their masters and handed their plantations over to the British. In the North, a strong garrison of Blacks known as the "Negro Fort", defeated their former masters in a battle in the Bronx, New York City. Other Blacks joined the British Navy as seamen and pilots and successfully stole American ships and attacked numerous coastal towns. During the sieges of Charleston and Savannah, thousands of Black laborers built fortifications, while others in Virginia constructed two dams. Blacks also served as guides, spies, and intelligence agents for invading British armies. Ex-slave Thomas Johnson claimed to have "conducted the detachment which surprised Colonial Washington at Monks Corner." The British even created a Black cavalry troop in 1782. British General William Phillips commented: "These Negroes have undoubtedly been of the greatest use."

George Washington told Congress that "Dunmore's appeal made him the most formidable enemy America has; and his strength will increase like a snowball by rolling and faster if some expedient cannot be hit upon to convince the slaves and servants of the impotency of his designs." American slaveholders were still unwilling to arm their slaves until all other countermeasures were tried. Highway and river patrols were instituted to capture runaway slaves. Vigorous anti-British propaganda was circulated and Southern slaves were frequently hidden in mines to avoid British capture. Several Southern states even approved the death penalty for recaptured slaves, but nothing could stop the Black contributions to the British war effort. General Washington wrote Colonel Henry Lee on December 20, 1775: "We must use the Negroes or run the risk of loosing the war…success will depend on which side can arm the Negroes faster."

The Continental army finally agreed to accept African American volunteers (both slave and free) when the desertion rate of White soldiers began to reach enormous proportions. Washington complained: "The lack of patriotism is infinitely more to be dreaded than the whole of Great Britain assisted by Negro allies." Once freedom was promised, African Americans showed the real "Spirit of '76" and joined the Continental army in such massive numbers that General Schuyler wrote: "Is it consistent with the sons of freedom to trust their all to be defended by slaves?" On October 23, 1777, a British officer named Schlozer wrote: "The Negro can take the field instead of his master and therefore no regiment is to be seen in which there are not Negroes in abundance and among them are able-bodied, strong, and brave fellows." Sir Henry Clinton wrote Lord Germaine, British Minister of State: "It is safe to say that but for the aid of the Negro, independence would not have been won."

The American victory required the evacuation of all persons who had been loyal to the British. About 27,000 White Loyalists were relocated to Nova Scotia, Canada, but the majority of the Black Loyalists were betrayed by the British government which sold almost all of the former slaves back into slavery. Only the original 3,500 Black soldiers who became "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment" were relocated to Nova Scotia. Although they were promised land and provisions, most Blacks received neither and became beggars or cheap laborers for White Loyalists who were given farms as large as 200 acres by the government with free provisions for three years. When a London based abolition group headed by John Clarkson offered the Black Loyalists a new home in Africa, over 1200 sailed in 15 crowded ships for Sierra Leone on January 15, 1792 where they founded the capital city of Freetown. The Nova Scotians eventually embraced and intermarried with the African community and provided the core of what became the national culture, language, and early leadership of Sierra Leone. However, more than two centuries later, their descendents still identify themselves as Nova Scotians and the direct descendents of "Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment".

I'm Dr. Leroy Vaughn and that's my view.