By 1775, war between the British and the American colonies seemed inevitable. Sir Guy Carleton, Governor of Canada, authorized Lieutenant-Colonel Allan MacLean to raise volunteer regiments from the British population in Canada on 12 June 1755. The first regiment established was the Royal Highland Emigrants. He raised two battalions, one in Canada and the other in Nova Scotia. Two additional regiments were raised in the summer of 1775, the Royal Fencible Americans Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Nova Scotia Volunteers.
Through 1775/76, the British had raised additional regiments in Canada. The two largest and most active loyalist units were 2 battalions of the Kings Royal Regiment of New York and Butler's Rangers. Both units were recruited from loyalists from upstate New York.
