This unit was raised in New York in July 1778 by Sir Henry Clinton in order to merge several small Loyalist units into a single force, a "legion" that combined infantry and cavalry forces and a battery of artillery. The infantry consisted of the Caledonian Volunteers, a mounted and foot unit raised in Philadelphia in late 1777 and early 1778, Ritzema's Royal American Reformers, the West Jersey Volunteers, and some members of the Roman Catholic Volunteers. In the autumn of 1780, the British Legion took part in anti-guerrilla operations, engaging in combat at Fishdam Ford and Blackstock's. In January 1781, the Legion was part of the force under Tarleton defeated by Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Cowpens. On December 25, 1782, the regiment was taken onto the British establishment, suggesting that there may have been some thought to maintain the regiment as part of the postwar army. Some officers transferred to other regiments of the British Army. The British Legion was disbanded on October 10, 1783. Most of those discharged settled in Nova Scotia.