Black Company of Pioneers

Black Company of Pioneers
Active1777–1783
Country British America
Allegiance Britain
BranchBritish provincial unit
TypeLabour detail, (auxiliary troops)
RoleConstruction, street cleaning, garbage collection
SizeCompany (50–70)
Nickname(s)Black Pioneers, Clinton's Black Pioneers
Motto(s)Liberty to Slaves
EngagementsAmerican Revolutionary War (no combat experience, except for former soldiers, coming from the disbanded Ethiopian Regiment)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
General Sir Henry Clinton

Major James Moncrief
Captain Allen Stewart
Captain Donald McPherson
Colonel Stephen Blucke
Sergeant Thomas Peters

Sergeant Harry Washington

The Black Company of Pioneers, also known as the Black Pioneers and Clinton's Black Pioneers, were a British Provincial military unit raised for Loyalist service during the American Revolutionary War. The Black Loyalist company was raised by General Sir Henry as a non-combatant replacement force for the disbanded Ethiopian Regiment in Philadelphia in late 1777 or early 1778. Pioneers were soldiers employed to perform engineering and construction tasks. In 1778, the Pioneers merged into the Guides and Pioneers, led by Colonel Beverley Robinson in New York. Its company commanders were Captain Allen Stewart and Captain Donald McPherson. In 1783, the company was disbanded in Port Roseway, Canada, now Shelburne, Nova Scotia.