Dunmore's Proclamation
Dunmore's Proclamation was an order issued by Lord Dunmore encouraging slave rebellions in response to an increasingly hostile (toward Britain) colonial populace. Several historians have noted that this proclamation was not pursued for reasons of humanitarianism. The intention was to recruit more soldiers.
Background
In 1775 Royal Governor Dunmore in Virginia called on slaves of Patriot owners (not Loyalist owners) to flee and join his army. About 300 did so. They fought one battle, wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves." After the battle about half died of disease in British camps and the "Ethiopian Regiment" was disbanded.[1]
Conversely, about 5000 blacks served in the Continental army. Slaves who fought in that Army for a set period were usually legally emancipated. Thousands more served in militia and state units. Very few free blacks became Loyalists.[2]
Dunmore's proclamation was followed up by the Philipsburg Proclamation.
References
- ↑ McDonnell in A Companion to the American revolution, (2000), ch 43; Calhoun in ibid. p. 241. Simon Schama, Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution (2006); [1]; Black Loyalists; Black Loyalists at American Revolution.
- ↑ See PBS report at and Benjamin Quarles, Black Mosaic: Essays in Afro-American History and Historiography 1988, ch 2–3.
