When the American Revolutionary War began in 1773, the regiment was posted to North America.Cannon, p. 89 The light infantry and grenadier companies took heavy losses at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775;Cannon, p. 93 it participated in nearly every campaign up to the Siege of Yorktown in September 1781.Cannon, p. 113 At Yorktown, it was the only British regiment not to surrender its colours, which were smuggled out by a junior officer.
