The Combatants

The Combatants. . , Backcountry Militiamen , Each American colony had militia units consisting of men trained to fight in times of emergency. Mounted militiamen, or "rangers," were the backbone of both Patriot and Loyalist militia regiments in the Carolinas. At the time of Huck's Defeat, the backcountry Patriot militia was commanded by General Thomas Sumter, "the Gamecock." Sumter's militiamen were equipped to fight both on horseback and on foot., British Provincials , During the Revolution, the British army recruited men in the American colonies for service to the Crown. Known as Provincials, these men were uniformed professional soldiers, trained and equipped to fight like the British regular army. Two northern Provincial units fought at Williamson's Plantation: the New York Volunteers (infantry) and the British Legion (cavalry). Both units also included men from the Carolinas and Georgia., African Americans , African Americans, both free and enslaved, served in the American and British armies as armed troops and as laborers known as "pioneers." Colonel William Bratton's slave, Watt, accompanied his master at the Battle of Huck's Defeat, as did several slaves of Loyalist militia officers including Miller Sam, the African slave of Loyalist Colonel Matthew Floyd., Captions , Patriot Militia Ranger , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Don Troiani , Courtesy of Historical Art Prints, Patriot Militia Rifleman , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Bob Graham , Charleston, South Carolina , Loyalist Militiaman , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Don Troiani , Courtesy of Historical Art Prints, South Carolina , Provincial Infantryman , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Bob Graham , Charleston, South Carolina , New York Volunteer , Mounted Infantry Officer , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Don Troiani , Courtesy of Historical Art Prints , British Legion Cavalryman , or "Dragoon" , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Don Troiani , Courtesy of Historical Art Prints , "Black Pioneer" , British Provincial Troops , Circa 1780-1781 , Painting by Bob Graham , Charleston, South Carolina