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1775-83
 America
was a British Colony, however its settlers were becoming increasingly
dissatisfied at the way they were being treated by the government in Whitehall,
and they began agitating for independence. In answer to their demands, the
British government sent more troops to put down the rebellion.
After a five month sea voyage the Coldstream set foot in America in August 1776
as part of a Guards Composite Battalion. Almost immediately they were involved
in the capture of New York.
In early 1777, the Composite Battalion was reorganised into a brigade of two
battalions, and took part in most of the engagements of 1776-77. There then
followed two years of garrison duty in New York before they moved south to
Carolina.
In February 1781 the Guards Brigade waded under heavy fire 500 yards across the
Catawba River in North Carolina and drove back the American defenders, and on
15th March, both battalions took part in the battle of Guildford Court House.
Here they defeated a numerically superior force of Americans, but lost half of
their strength in the process.
Soon afterwards General Cordwallis found his force trapped in Yorktown, and
after a valiant defence he surrendered on 19th October, 1781. Over 6,000 men
were captured, including 500 men of the Guards Brigade.
America was finally granted independence in November 1782.
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