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The King's American Regiment is one of the best known and best documented of the Loyalist Regiments. The Regiment was raised primarily in Westchester and Long Island, New York beginning in December of 1776. It consisted of ten companies, including one each of grenadiers and light infantry, with a battlaion company being converted to cavalry in 1781. It's initial field officers were Colonel Edmund Fanning, Lt. Col. George Campbell and Major James Grant. The regiment served on Long Island and Kingsbridge, New York from 1777 to the middle of 1778, when it was transferred to Rhode Island. During that time it had served on Sir Henry Clinton's foraging expedition to Bergen County, NJ in September, 1777 and his Hudson Highlands expedition a month later. While at Rhode Island it had a prominant role in the fighting during the Battle of Quaker Hill, 29 August 1778. In July of 1779 it embarked to take part in Major General Tryon's raids on New Haven and Fairfield, returning to New York afterwards. It garrisoned Lloyds Neck until ordered to embark for Virginia under General Leslie in October of 1780. Desperately needing reinforcements in South Carolina, the expedition left Virginia for that place, arriving by sea the December following.

In early 1781 the regiment was in garrison at George Town, S.C. and fought heavily at Lord Rawdon's victory at Hobkirk's Hill, S.C. on 25 April 1781. In May/June following the regiment (light infantry company excepted) embarked from Charlestown to reinforce Savannah, Georgia, where their troop of light dragoons was formed. Here detachments from the regiment fought in several skirmishes through 1782, when the city and province was evacuated in July of that year. Part of the regiment was re-landed at Charlestown while the remainder returned to New York. When Charlestown was evacuated in December of 1782, the regiment was re-united in New York.

There were three detachments made from the regiment during the war. The first was in August of 1777 when drafts were made from the Provincial Regiments serving at Kingsbridge to form a corps of marksmen armed with rifles commanded by Captain Andreas Emmerick. Some of these men eventually returned to the regiment. The second was in December of 1779 when drafts were made from the Provincial Corps at New York (who were not taking part in the Charlestown Campaign) to form a corps of marksmen and rangers under Captain Patrick Ferguson for that expedition. This corps served until wiped out at King's Mountain. A few officers and men eventually returned to the regiment. The last was when their Light Infantry Company was joined to that of five other Provincial battalions to form the Provincial Light Infantry.

This corps likewise served on the Leslie expedition to Virginia and South Carolina, often involved in skirmishes with such rebel leaders as Thomas Sumter. After the Battle of Eutaw Springs on 8 September 1781, the Light Company rejoined the regiment in Savannah about two months later.

The regiment was made a part of the American Establishment in early 1781, designated the 4th American Regiment. This confirmed permanent rank in America and half pay to the officers upon the regiment being disbanded. Likewise their own distinctive buttons and clothing ordered directly from England specifically for the corps. The regiment received it's highest honor when it was made a regular regiment (The King's American Regiment of Foot) on 25 December 1782. This made the officer's rank permanent anywhere. The regiment was disbanded in New Brunswick (still then a part of NS) on 10 October 1783.

There are many sources of information for the regiment, including two known orderly books, an account book, muster rolls, and petitions of officers and soldiers, as well as courts martial. Also of great interest is the Diary of Henry Nase at the New Brunswick Museum. Nase was a sergeant, sergeant major, clerk and finally ensign in the regiment. The muster rolls can be found in three locations, the RG 8 "C" Series at the NAC, The Loyalist muster rolls at the New Brunswick Museum (1777-1778) and at the Public Record Office in War Office 12 for the two 1783 musters while they were a British Regiment. The orderly books can be found at the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan and the New Brunswick Museum. The courts martial are at the PRO, War Office Class 71. The petitions and memorials dot the Audit Office Papers, War Office Class 42 and the various land grant petitions of the Maritimes and Upper Canada.