4th Independent Maryland State troops, American Revolutionary War

Surely a most unusual unit, this one is illustrated in Mollo's Uniforms of the American Revolution and also by Lefferts.

"Seven companies, each of 100 men, were raised in January 1776 to join Washington in New Yor. The 4th company was commanded by Captain Hindeman, who clothed his men in Osnaburg (a rough flax cloth originating from Osnabruck in lower Saxony)  dyed purple with red cape and cuffs"

The unit joined Washington in July 1776 and fought at the Battle of Long Island alongside Smallwood's Maryland regiment. 

I left off the red cuffs and capes (the upper fringed part of the shirt around the neck in this case), but might go back to add them to make the kit even more outrageous! Its recruiting area included Baltimore. 

The flag bears the arms of the first Lord Baltimore, George Calvert (the present day flag of the state of Maryland has the arms of the 2nd Lord Baltimore, with this pattern in 2 of the quarters (blazoned paly of six Or and Sable, a bend countercharged). Supposedly the arms were originally granted as a reward for storming a fortification in battle, with the vertical bars symbolizing the palisade.

During the Colonial and Revolutionary eras, only this part of the Arms were used on Maryland seals and flags (this one being by Adolfo Ramos). The figures are Paul Hicks sculpts by Brigade Games. 

British 24th Foot, American Revolutionary War

Here's the last of the British infantry units in "Saratoga" uniforms.

The regiment's origins date back to the 9 years war (1689 -1697) in Ireland. During the War of the Austrian Succession, it fought at Blenheim ()1704) and Ramillies (1706); indeed, the Regiment's Colonel was none other than the Duke of Marlborough himself from 1702 - 1704! It was numbered as the 24th Regiment in 1751. 

The Regiment was sent to North America  in 1776, and participated in the repulse of the American attempt to take Quebec, lead by Benedict Arnold, among others. The following year, it was part of the army of "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne's army that invaded upstate New York from Canada in 177. It surrendered at Saratoga, along with the rest of Burgoyne's army, not being released until the end of the War in 1783. In 1782 it received the county designation of 2nd Warwickshire. 

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Regiment fought in Egypt, at the Cape of Good Hope, and at Talavera (1809). The bulk of the 1st Battalion was captured at Sea when a French Frigate encountered and took 2 Indiamen that were transporting the troops. After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment spent much of its time fighting in India. 

The Regiment famously  fought in the Zulu War, where the 1st battalion formed the majority of the regular forces at the disastrous battle of Isandlwana. The garrison of Rourke's drift was composed mainly of men from the 2nd battalion, and received 7 Victoria Cross medals for its desperate and successful defense of that place. Cue: Men of Harlech!

During the Revolution, the Regiment was unique in its dark green horsehair ornamentation on the cut down "Saratoga" headgear, presumably chosen to complement its green facings. This flag is by Adolfo Ramos. 

Yes, Virginia (and Maryland,. and North Carolina, etc), there is a re-enactor group for this regiment too!

Pennsylvania Rifles

The latest addition to the Patriot forces is this unit of riflemen wearing green hunting shirts.

Although by far the majority of Patriots units were musket armed, there were several units composed entirely of riflemen. 

Their rifles were far more accurate than the musket, but took much longer to load, and could not accommodate a bayonet until well after the Napoleonic era. 

Thus they were chiefly used as skirmishers, and were particularly a threat to British officers. 

The flag is an historical one, belonging to a Pennsylvania rifle regiment. 

Morgan's (Virginia) rifles were perhaps the most famous of all the rifle armed units; they wore white hunting shirts for the most part.

This flag is actually one of the few Revolutionary era flags that actually survives, although badly damaged; above is a modern reproduction. The Latin moto means "I will not be subjugated". And yes, there is a re-enactment group for this unit as well (in the photos, they wear white, brown, and grey hunting shirts for all but the officers), which was also numbered as the 1st Continental regiment.  

Hessian Musketeer Regiment Von Wutginau

 The Hessians are coming!

The number of troops that the British felt were needed to quash the rebellion of he 13 colonies exceeded what they were capable of fielding without excessively draining the defenses of its other territories. Hence the contract with Hesse-Cassel to provide 12,000 men for service in North America, concluded January 15, 1776.

The troops to be provided were 4 Grenadier battalions, 15 Line Infantry battalions (each with two 3 lber guns and crew), 2 Jager companies, along with supporting Generals and staff. 

The first wave of Hessian troops, 8,000+ men strong, arrived in New York on August 12, 1776. Troops contracted from several other German principalities also participated in the American Revolutionary War, most notably about 4,00 men from Brunswick-Wolfenbuettel, which formed almost half of General Burgoyone's army in 1776.

These men are from the Von Wutingau Musketeer regiment, which arrived in the second wave of Hessian troops in October, 1776. It became the Landgraf regiment in late 1776, and then the Leib infantry regiment in 1783. 

It participated in fighting at Fort Washington, Rhode Island, Tyron's Raid, Connecticut Farms, and Springfield. These are Perry figures with a flag from Flags of War. 

British Artillery #2, American War of Independence

The British also receive some reinforcements of the "Big Bang" variety. 

They wear cut down uniforms more suitable to climate and terrain of North America!

These are Perry figures.

Ready...    FIRE!

 

Continental Artillery #2

With all the infantry units I have been posting lately, it's time for a bit more artillery!

One battery is wearing hunting shirts dyed blue, with fancy buff trim. 

The other wears brown coats faced red, and a peculiar leather cap with an Anchor emblem on the front. 

These chaps belong to the Rhode Island Train of Artillery, a militia outfit first raised in 1774. By that time, relations between Britain and her North American had descended into open hostility in aftermath of the Boston Tea Party (December 1773) protesting the Townshend Acts. Parliament responded with the Coercive Acts (aka the  Intolerable Acts), closing Boston harbor, ending self-governance in Massachusetts. It became increasingly likely that outright war would develop in the not too distant future. This fostered the development new colonial militia units, in p[reparation for the coming storm.

Yes, this is another Revolutionary War unit that has a re-enactment group!

Cannon included:  Their facebook page has many more pictures and historical information

This is an actual cap of the unit, found on the battlefield after the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The unit suffered heavy losses there, and was later absorbed into Henry Knox's new Continental Artillery.  

British 47th Foot, and... The American Revolution Podcast

The 47h Regiment of foot traces its origins back to 1741, whe nit was raised in Scotland as Sir John Mordaunt’s Regiment of Foot, and was ranked 58th in order of seniority. In 1743, Mordaunt was replaced as Colonel by Lieutenant-Colonel (later Lieutenant General) Peregrine Lascelles. The regiment would fight its first two campaign’s as Lascelles’ Regiment. 

These are Perry metals in "Saratoga uniforms", with a regimental color by Adolfo Ramos. 

The original 47th Regiment of Foot, also known as the 4th Regiment of Marines, was raised in 1739 and fought in the War of Jenkin’s Ear. The Regiments of Marines were disbanded in 1748, which meant that Lascelle’s Regiment became 47th in seniority. In 1751, regiments were officially known by their seniority number (47) rather than the name of their Colonel. In 1782, the 47th were given the county designation ‘Lancashire’.

The relatively inexperienced regiment first saw action at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745, trying to quash the Jacobite uprising lead by Bonnie Price Charlie; instead, along with the rest of the army, it was swept aside after an engagement of only about 20 minutes, with many of the men taken prisoner. Not as auspicious start! Quite a number of years ago, my freind from the UK, Tim Couper, ran a series of fantastic Jacobite battles at Historicon, bringing all of his 28mm Front Rank  figures with him in his luggage! As I recall, the wargame emulated history quite closely, to the chagrin of the Government players!

In 1750, the unit was sent to Nova Scotia in North America, which had been transferred to British control in 1748, and fought in a number of clashes between the French and British settlers. During the French and Indian War (Seven Years War), the regiment fought at the siege of Louisbourg (1758), on the Plains of Abraham and the capture of Quebec (1759), and the capture of Montreal (1760); the regiment returned to Great Britain at the end of the war in 1763. 

With the increasing unrest in Britain's 13 North American colonies, the regiment was dispatched there in 1773, initially being stationed in New Jersey. It participated in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill in 1775. It took parting the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, surrendering with the bulk of General Burgoyne's army, and spent the next 6 years as prisoners of war. 

This is yet another AWI unit with a re-enactor organization (several, actually). This photo is from this outfit in the UK.  During the Napoleonic Wars, a 2nd battalion was raised in 1803. The first battalion was widely traveled, including the Cape of Good Hope (1806), Montevideo and Buenos Aires (1807), and India (1808). The 2nd battalion was sent to Gibraltar (1809) and then Portugal (1811), notable engagements including Barrosa (1811), Siege of Tarifa (1811), Vittoria (1813), Siege of San Sebastian (1813), Battle of the Nive (1813), and Bayonne (1814). 

I've mentioned in passing that listening to The American Revolution Podcast by Michael Troy has really made my painting time go by quickly. Michael has been posting (nearly) every week, starting in 2017, covering the Revolution chronologically, starting with its origins back to the French and Indian War (7 Years War). Most episodes are about 20 minutes  in length (I'm up past episode 200 already), and quite engaging. They are backed up buy additional images, maps, links, and reading recommendations on his companion blog site. I strongly recommend checking out The American Revolution Podcast blog, and of course the podcast itself (easily found [free] on almost any podcast hosting site, such as Apple Play.