Changes

In 1775 Royal Governor Dunmore in Virginia called on slaves of Patriot owners (not Loyalist owners) to flee and join his army. About 300 did so. They fought one battle, wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves." After the battle about half died of disease in British camps and the "Ethiopian Regiment" was disbanded.<ref>McDonnell in ''A Companion to the American revolution'', (2000), ch 43; Calhoun in ibid. p. 241.  Simon Schama, ''Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution'' (2006); [http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/africanns/ch2.asp]; [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/  Black Loyalists]; [http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html  Black Loyalists] at American Revolution.</ref>

In 1775 Royal Governor Dunmore in Virginia called on slaves of Patriot owners (not Loyalist owners) to flee and join his army. About 300 did so. They fought one battle, wearing the motto "Liberty to Slaves." After the battle about half died of disease in British camps and the "Ethiopian Regiment" was disbanded.<ref>McDonnell in ''A Companion to the American revolution'', (2000), ch 43; Calhoun in ibid. p. 241.  Simon Schama, ''Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution'' (2006); [http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/africanns/ch2.asp]; [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/  Black Loyalists]; [http://www.americanrevolution.org/blk.html  Black Loyalists] at American Revolution.</ref>

About 5000 blacks served in the Continental army. Slaves who fought in that Army for a set period were usually legally emancipated. Thousands more served in militia and state units. Very few free blacks became Loyalists.<ref>See PBS report at [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html  and Benjamin Quarles, ''Black Mosaic: Essays in Afro-American History and Historiography'' 1988, ch 2–3.]</ref>

About 5000 blacks served in the Continental army. Slaves who fought in that Army for a set period were usually legally emancipated. Thousands more served in militia and state units. Very few free blacks became Loyalists.<ref>See PBS report at [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr4.html  and Benjamin Quarles, ''Black Mosaic: Essays in Afro-American History and Historiography'' 1988, ch 2–3.]</ref>

As the war ended, Loyalist slaveowners took an estimated 75,000 slaves with them; they were usually taken to the British sugar colonies in the West Indies, especially Jamaica, where life expectancy was short.  About 400 to 1000 free blacks went to London and joined the community of about 10,000 free blacks there. About 3500 to 4000 went to the British colonies of [[Nova Scotia]] and [[New Brunswick]], where the British provided many with land. Over 1,500 settled in Birchtown, Nova Scotia, instantly making it the largest free black community in North America. However about 1,500 were dissatisfied and left Nova Scotia for the new British colony of [[Sierra Leone]] in Africa after 1787, where they became part of the ruling elite.<ref>See [http://www.nps.gov/revwar/unfinished_revolution/black_loyalists.html  Black Loyalists] at NPS.</ref>

As the war ended, Loyalist slaveowners took an estimated 75,000 slaves with them; they were usually taken to the British sugar colonies in the West Indies, especially Jamaica, where life expectancy was short.  About 400 to 1000 free blacks went to London and joined the community of about 10,000 free blacks there. About 3500 to 4000 went to the British colonies of [[Nova Scotia]] and [[New Brunswick]], where the British provided many with land. Over 1,500 settled in Birchtown, Nova Scotia, instantly making it the largest free black community in North America. However about 1,500 were dissatisfied and left Nova Scotia for the new British colony of [[Sierra Leone]] in Africa after 1787, where they became part of the ruling elite.<ref>See [http://www.nps.gov/revwar/unfinished_revolution/black_loyalists.html  Black Loyalists] at NPS.</ref>