African Americans in the American Revolution

African Americans joined the revolutionary war, because the principles underlying the revolution implied the end of slavery and granting of rights for them. American historian Benjamin Quarles, understood the African American community's need for equality and freedom, when he summed it up in the following words, "realizing that loyalty was not to a place or a people, but to a principle". Around 5,000 African Americans served as soldiers in the Continental Army and about 20,000 in the British Army.

African Americans in the American Revolution
African Americans served as soldiers, guides, messengers and spies for both, the Continental Army and the British Army. They proved to be honest and brave soldiers, despite many misgivings on the part of the white Southern Americans, especially about arming them with weapons. Following is a brief of some of the African-American soldiers.

Crispus Attucks
Attucks is considered as the first martyr of the American Revolution. In March, 1770, a fight broke out between the British soldiers and a crowd of American colonists led by an African American, Crispus Attucks. In the attack, a British soldier was struck on the head with a stick, which many believe was Attucks handiwork, as he was seen with a stick in his hand. The struck soldier fired his musket at Crispus Attucks and the crowd surrounding him, killing five people instantaneously. Attucks was buried as a hero in the Granary Burying Ground. He is one the few martyrs of that Boston Massacre who is still remembered for his bravery.

Colonel Louis Cook
Louis Cook fought against the British army and it was George Washington, Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, who referred to him as "Colonel Louis." He participated in many attacks on the British troops, sometimes leading from the front. In March, 1778 he was sent by General Philip Schuyler to destroy British ships at Niagara. He received his commission from Continental Congress as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army and was the first and perhaps the only African American to be awarded this highest rank, during the revolution.

Colonel Tye
Tye was an African American slave born as Titus Cornelius and was a soldier in the British army. He was a Loyalist guerrilla leader, known for his tactical leadership skills, which earned him the honorary title of a 'Colonel'. His first recorded military action was the capture of an American captain at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778. Tye attacked and assassinated many American leaders during the revolutionary war. All through 1779, he took prisoners and freed many slaves, seized food and fuel from the American Continental army. Tye was seriously injured in September 1780, by a musket ball attack and later died because of the unhealed wound. He is most known for his tactical skills that made it difficult for American forces, to capture New York City.

Jack Sisson
Sisson payed an important role in the capture of British General Richard Prescott, in July 1977. He was part of the forty armed Continental soldiers, led by Colonel William Barton, who cut across British controlled waters to sneak up on Prescott. Sisson used his own head to break down Prescott's door and capture him. He served as the pilot for one of the boats in this mission.

Thomas Peters
Peters is one of the four founding fathers of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Born as a slave and sold numerous times, he managed to escape North Carolina with the Britishers during the American Revolutionary War. He joined the Black Loyalist Regiment, which was made up of many runaway African American slaves. He rose to the rank of a sergeant and was wounded twice in the battle against the American forces. After the war, Peters and many of his fellow soldiers traveled to Nova Soctia, Canada with the British army. He then traveled to England, to further his cause for settling African Americans in Sierra Leone, West Africa and wanted it declared as a free state. He returned triumphant from London and manged to convince about 3,500 African American to move to Africa. Peters died a free man in 1792, in Freetown. He died of malaria.

African Americans, who fought for the British troops were recognized for their bravery and strength. They were also instrumental in the Continental army's win against the Britishers. Although they were not immediately given their due rights of freedom and equality, it ushered them into an era where they could not be stopped from fighting for their rights.