1776

No advantage being likely to result from the possession of Boston under the circumstances in which the troops were placed, it was evacuated in the middle of March, 1776, and the Tenth were moved to Nova Scotia. They were stationed at Halifax until June, when they sailed with the expedition to Staten Island, to take part in an extensive plan of operations.

The regiment landed on Staten Island in the early part of July; reinforcements arrived from England, also a body of Hessians, and the Tenth, thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, and fifty-second regiments, formed the third brigade of the army, under Major-General Jones, in the division commanded by Lieut.-General Earl Percy.

On the 22nd of August, a descent was made on the south-west end of Long Island, and on the night of the 26th, the Tenth advanced, in support of the leading division, to seize on a pass in the mountains. This pass was occupied without opposition; the troops crossed the hills, and directed their march towards the enemy's lines at Brooklyn. Arriving at Bedford, an attack was commenced on the American battalions which were quitting the woody heights to return to their lines, and the enthusiastic ardour of the royal forces overcame all opposition. Encouraged by their success, and inspired with lively anticipations of victory, the soldiers urged their way towards the lines to storm the works; but they were ordered to desist, to spare the unnecessary effusion of blood which an attack by storm would have occasioned. The conduct of the British troops on this occasion was highly commended in General Sir William Howe's despatch.

The Americans abandoned their lines, and retreated across the East River to New York. The Tenth having thus had the honour of taking part in the reduction of Long Island, crossed the river to New York Island, and were engaged in the movements by which the American army was driven from the city of New York.

In the second week of October, the regiment again embarked in boats, and proceeded up the river to the vicinity of West Chester, where it went ashore; but afterwards re-embarked and sailed to Pell's Point, where a sharp skirmish occurred. The regiment was also engaged in the movements by which the passage of the Brunx river was effected, and the American army forced to abandon its fortified lines on White Plains. In the action on the 28th of October, the Tenth lost two men.

From White Plains the army withdrew to engage in the siege of Forts Washington and Lee, which obstructed the navigation of the North River. Fort Washington was invested, and on the 16th of November, the Tenth were engaged, under Lieut.-General Earl Percy, in assaulting the right flank of the enemy's entrenchments; they took part in carrying an advanced work, and afterwards passed the lines, which were carried in a most gallant manner, and upwards of two thousand provincials surrendered prisoners of war. The loss of the regiment was limited to Captain Mackintosh and three rank and file killed; five rank and file wounded.

In the early part of December, the regiment was detached, with other troops, under Lieut.-Generals Clinton and Earl Percy, against Rhode Island, which was the principal station of the enemy's naval force, and from whence the Americans sent out privateers which interrupted the British commerce. The regiment sailed on this enterprise in the early part of December; a landing was effected on the morning of the 9th of that month, and the island was speedily reduced to submission to the British government.

1777

After passing several months on Rhode Island, the Tenth embarked for New Jersey, and formed part of the army which took the field, under General Sir William Howe, in the early part of June, 1777.