Were they Scots-Irish?
There were many Scotsman who were players in the RevWar. The greatest (IMO) was Hugh Mercer, veteran of the (Scots) Battle of Culloden, who died a heroes' death at Princeton. All the Mercer Counties are named after him.
A lot of them were. A mix of Scots-Irish, English, Scots, and Irish. Most were privates in the militia, one appears to be Continental Line, and one an officer in the Line and later the Virginia militia.
Have you read Webb's book Born Fighting? A great book for those of Scots-Irish heritage (the "invisible" ethnicity, being the American type). David Hackett Fischer's Albion's Seed is also a valuable book, Webb drew heavily from it.
hedgetrimmer wrote:
> Were they Scots-Irish? <
The "overmountain men," who were so critically important to the Patriots' victories in the Carolinas, were overwhelmingly Scots-Irish.
It's my understanding, however, that the highland Scots who settled the flatlands of southeastern North Carolina were mostly Tories, i.e., pro-British.
I also recall reading somewhere that although some of the local militias all over the Carolinas were initially pro-British, they switched to the Patriots' side after learning of British Col. Bannistre Tarleton's horrible depradations.