06/04/2026
Celebrate the 250 Anniversary of the United States with Know Facts about the American Revolution: Cowboys Fought On The British Side
The first cowboys weren't rugged individuals out in the West, but cattle rustlers -lawless raiding bands operating in the “Neutral Ground” of Westchester County, New York — the area between British and American-controlled territories and working on behalf of the British crown in New York. The unit was raised by British loyalist Oliver De Lancey in 1776 and tasked with conducting guerrilla operations in Westchester County.
They were primarily Loyalist or Tory partisans, though some patriots also joined them. They were organized as light horse units, often under British officers like Colonel James DeLancey, and were equipped with weapons, uniforms, and sometimes horses for swift raids. Their name likely came from their practice of stealing cattle and selling them to the British garrison in New York City for profit. Some accounts suggest they also used cowbells to lure lost cows into ambushes.
Cowboys engaged in guerrilla-style raids on farms and rural settlements, looting livestock, supplies, and food. They targeted both loyalists and patriots indiscriminately, creating a climate of fear. Their actions were part of a broader partisan conflict where colonists from both sides fought each other, unlike the more disciplined Continental or British regular armies.
Opposing the Cowboys were the Skinners, a group of Patriot partisans who tried to stop the raids. The name “skinners” referred to their practice of stripping farmers of food and goods. While their origins are less clear, they were active in the same Neutral Ground area, often clashing with the Cowboys.
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