Major-General Sir Charles Thompson was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment, in September, 1775, by Major-General Richard Earl of Cavan, from the fifty-fifth regiment of foot. [Sidenote: 1776] In the meantime, the determined spirit evinced by the British colonists in North America to resist the acts of parliament passed in England for raising a revenue in their country, had been followed by hostilities, and the FIFTEENTH regiment was one of the corps selected to proceed across the Atlantic, to aid in the attempt to reduce the refractory provincials to submission. The regiment embarked from Ireland early in 1776, and proceeded to Cape Fear, in North Carolina, with four other corps, under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis. These troops arrived on the coast of North Carolina early in April, and Lieut.-General Clinton assumed the command. The men landed at Cape Fear to refresh themselves after the voyage, and returning on board the transports, sailed, on the 1st of June, with the expedition against _Charleston_. After passing Charleston bar, the troops landed on one of the islands, but the armament proved of insufficient strength for the capture of the capital of South Carolina, and the five regiments re-embarked and proceeded to Staten Island, where the main body of the British forces was assembled under General Sir William Howe. The FIFTEENTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, were formed in brigade with the fourth, twenty-seventh, and forty-fifth regiments, under Major-General Pigot. A landing was effected on _Long Island_ on the 22nd of August, and the FIFTEENTH regiment formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Clinton, which advanced after dusk on the evening of the 26th to seize on a pass in the heights, and turn the enemy's left flank at Flat-bush. This pass was taken possession of on the following morning; the army advanced, and the Americans were driven from their position with considerable loss, and forced to retreat to their fortified lines at _Brooklyn_. The loss of the regiment on this occasion was limited to a few men wounded. The Americans quitted their fortified lines during the night of the 28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to New York; and the reduction of Long Island was thus accomplished in a few days, with little loss. From Long Island the regiment proceeded with the army across the East River, when General Washington was forced to abandon New York, which city was taken possession of by the British. Proceeding up the river, the regiment took part in the operations of the army by which the Americans were forced to evacuate their lines on _White Plains_; but it did not sustain any loss. The regiment took part in the attack and capture of the enemy's lines and redoubts near _Fort Washington_, on the 16th of November, when it had a few private soldiers killed and wounded. After taking part in these services, the regiment proceeded into winter quarters at the city of New York.