People seldom discuss what happened to them other than they fled to Canada or Britain, etc. Were there general guidelines of how the continental army should treat them and their properties? Were there any major atrocities on the civilian loyalists committed by the continental army, the militia or patriot civilians?
They were generally treated very poorly. Many had property confiscated or destroyed, were tarred and feathered, and some were stripped naked and paraded through the streets (including women and children). It's pretty messed up, all in the name of patriotism. That's why so many fled from the colonies during the war. In the treaty of Paris, one condition was that Loyalists could return to the new little country if they wanted and weren't to be harrassed anymore, but I don't know how well that worked out.