1775

Key events of the American Revolution in 1775 included the opening battles Lexington  and Concord in April, the Second Continental Congress convening in May at Philadephia  and appointing George Washington as Commander - in - Chief of the Continental Army in June, as well as the Battle of Bunker Hill in June.  Additionally, colonial forces captured Fort Ticonderoga in May, and an American invasion of Quebec failed in the winter. 

Fort Ticonderoga 

The Second Continental Congress met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in May 1775 and prepared the Olive Tree Petition which was sent to King George III in July 1775. It expressed loyalty to the Crown while requesting repeal of laws deemed by the Congress to be oppressive. King George III refused to read it and declared the colonies to be in a state of revolt on 23 August 1775 with the Proclamation of Rebellion. 

In response to the growing unrest and events in America, the Royal Highland Emigrants were formed in 1775. They were raised by Lieutenant - Colonel Allan Maclean and Major John Small to defend Canada from American invasion and consisted of two battalions, the first initially headquartered at Quebec and the second in Halifax.  It was authorized to be raised by Lieutenant - General Thomas Gage, the Commander - in - Chief of British forces in North America, on June 12, 1775, in Boston.  The regiment was led by highland officers who had participated in the Seven Years War, and had recruits from parts of America, including Nova Scotia, and other areas.  It was officially numbered as the 84th Regiment of Foot within the British Army in 1779.  

Royal Highland Emigrants (84th Regiment)

The raid on Charlottetown by two American Privateering ships on November 17th and 18th, 1775 led Nova Scotia Governor Frances Legge to declare martial law. The Royal Fencible American Regiment and the Loyal (or Royal) Nova Scotia Volunteers were also established to defend the area from attack. 

Lord Dunmore, Governor of the British colony of Virginia, issued a Proclamation on 7 November 1775 which instituted martial law and provided that any indentured person or slave held by rebels who fled and joined the British Army would be granted their freedom. It was a practical measure which aimed to undermine the rebel cause in the colony of Virginia. This call to arms spread through the colonies causing thousands of enslaved people to self - emancipate and go behind British lines.