About a fifth of American colonists remained loyal to the Crown. They raised regiments and wore distinctive uniforms, often in green rather than red.
Quick answer. American Loyalist regiments wore a variety of uniforms. The most famous units, Tarleton's British Legion and the Queen's Rangers, wore dark green coats with facings in different colours. The Royal Highland Emigrants wore kilts and red coats. Other provincial regiments wore red or green with varied facings. The green coat became associated with loyalist and ranger units because it distinguished them from British regulars (red) and Continentals (blue).
The Queen's Rangers
Raised by Robert Rogers in 1776 and later commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe, the Queen's Rangers became one of the most effective loyalist formations. Dress: dark green coat with no lace, buff facings, dark green waistcoat, buff breeches, short gaiters, black leather light infantry helmet with crest. The regiment served through the Peninsular campaign and in the Southern theatre. After the war it was continued as a British regular regiment and later as the Royal Canadian Rangers.
The British Legion
Banastre Tarleton's British Legion was a composite legion of infantry and cavalry, famous for aggressive mounted raids in the Southern campaign. Dress: dark green coat with black facings, white or buff waistcoat, white or buff breeches, high boots for the dragoons, short gaiters for the infantry. The Legion dragoons wore the famous Tarleton helmet, a leather helmet with a bearskin crest and a plume on the left side. The helmet became iconic of late 18th century British light cavalry and was named after Tarleton himself. The Legion was feared and hated by Southern Americans, who dubbed Tarleton Bloody Ban after the Waxhaws massacre of 1780.
The Royal Highland Emigrants
The Royal Highland Emigrants, raised in 1775 from Scottish settlers in Canada and New York, wore the Highland dress: red coat with blue facings, kilt in government tartan, feather bonnet, hose and sporran. The regiment served in Canada and the northern campaigns. After the war it was taken into the British regular army as the 84th Regiment of Foot and later disbanded. The Royal Highland Emigrants are the direct ancestor of the modern Canadian Highland regiments.
Other loyalist regiments
Many smaller loyalist regiments served through the war. The Prince of Wales American Regiment wore red with blue facings. The King's Royal Regiment of New York wore red with blue facings. Butler's Rangers wore green with scarlet facings. Delancey's Brigade wore red with white facings. The variety reflected the diverse origins of loyalist settlers: Scottish, German, Dutch, Highland, Lowland, Northern and Southern. By 1783 some 30,000 American loyalists had served in uniform, and about 60,000 total went into exile in Canada, Britain, the West Indies or Africa.
The green coat tradition
Green became associated with loyalist and ranger units during the war. The practical reason was visibility: green distinguished loyalists from both British regulars (red) and Continentals (blue), reducing friendly fire. The symbolic reason was the ranger tradition going back to Rogers' Rangers in the Seven Years War, who had worn green or dark brown. The green coat became the mark of light infantry and ranger units on both sides of the Atlantic, influencing the British 60th Rifles and the 95th Rifles of the Napoleonic era.
After the war
The loyalist regiments mostly disbanded after 1783. Some officers and men received British army commissions. Many settled in Canada, where land grants were offered by the Crown. The Loyalist diaspora shaped the development of English Canada, particularly in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The regimental traditions survive in some Canadian militia and regular units today, including the Queen's York Rangers (descended from the Queen's Rangers) and the Royal Canadian Regiment.
Common questions
What colour did Loyalists wear?
Most provincial regiments wore red or green coats. Red for line infantry regiments, green for rangers and light infantry.
Who was Tarleton?
Banastre Tarleton, a British officer who commanded the British Legion. Famous for aggressive cavalry raids in the Southern theatre. His name attached to the Tarleton helmet worn by his dragoons.
How many Americans fought as Loyalists?
Around 30,000 Loyalist Americans served in uniform during the war. Another 30,000 or so served as militia or non combatants.
What happened to Loyalist units after the war?
Most disbanded. Some were taken into the British regular army. Many officers and men settled in Canada under land grants from the Crown.
Can I buy a replica Loyalist uniform?
Yes. Reenactor tailors build the full range of provincial regiment uniforms, including the famous British Legion green and Queen's Rangers patterns.