Bucks of America

The Bucks of America was a patriot Massachusetts military company during the American Revolutionary War that was composed of African American soldiers. Little evidence survives about the unit.

When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, black soldiers—both slaves and freemen—served with white soldiers in integrated militia units in the New England colonies. Later that year, these New England militia units became the nucleus of the newly created Continental Army, the national army of the colonies. The inclusion of black soldiers in the army was controversial. By the end of 1775, the Continental Congress and the army's Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, decided to stop enlisting black soldiers. Washington soon reversed this decision, however, both because of manpower shortages and because the British had offered freedom to slaves who would escape from Patriot masters to join the British. Washington permitted free blacks to enlist in the Continental Army. White owners could enroll their slaves as substitute forces for their own service.

On the local level, states made independent decisions about the enlistment of African Americans. Massachusetts continued to accept black soldiers in its integrated militia units. It was also one of several northern states to create a segregated unit of black soldiers. Blacks and abolitionists generally disapproved of the creation of segregated units, preferring integrated units. The Bucks of America was the name given to the all-black Massachusetts company. Little is known of the campaign history of the company, but it seems to have operated in the Boston area. It may have acted primarily as an auxiliary police or security service in the city during the war, and probably did not see action against British soldiers.

The dates when the Bucks were formed and disbanded are unknown. The company was celebrated in Boston after the American Revolution ended. Governor John Hancock and his son, John George Washington Hancock, presented the company with a white silk flag, featuring a leaping buck and a pine tree, the symbol of New England. The original flag is held by the Massachusetts Historical Society.

George Middleton was one member of the Bucks of America. Some sources believe that he attained the rank of colonel. Middleton is the only member of the "Bucks of America" to be known by name. Other members of his unit may also have been members of the Prince Hall Freemasonry Lodge, but proof is lacking.