First raised in 1756, this regiment spent the vast majority of its time in North America, the Caribbean, and Ireland.
During the 7 Years War (French and Indian War in the British North American colonies, it fought at Louisburg and Quebec.
4 companies were sent to Canada in April 1776, and it was a key part of the force invading upstate New York from Canada under General Johnny Burgoyne.
It surrendered as a result of the Saratoga campaign, and the rank and file were imprisoned until 1782. Shortly thereafter it was named the Wiltshire regiment.
The regiment fought in Spain and Portugal during the Napoleonic wars. Flag is by Adolfo Ramos.
Its facings are described as yellowish buff, usually illustrated as pretty much yellow. I decided to forgo the buff accoutrements. The are Perry figures wearing the "Saratoga" uniforms. They probably left their colors behind, but my unit bears the regimental colors proudly! The Union lacks the red saltire cross of St. Patrick, which was added upon the incorp[oration of Ireland in 1801.
A great start, lovely looking unit. The yellow facings set them off really nicely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donnie. Being a facing color junkie, I'll have to have at least one British unit each with yellow, buff, white, blue, black, and green facings! :-)
DeleteVery nice indeed Peter - I have always fancied the Saratoga Campaign for the unusual looking head wear of the Brits - I am not so keen on the historical outcome, however!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith, although I have a rather more positive view of the outcome! :-)
DeleteWell that didn’t take long !! Great first unit
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gary. Yep, there's racetrack at Saratoga these days, and it's off to the races with the AWI project!
DeleteBrilliant. You've set the standard for the rest of this project.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind, as usual, Richard!
DeleteGood stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe!
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ReplyDeleteSome tidbits on the 62nd campaigning in NY ...
ReplyDelete1. In July and early Aug of 1777, they garrisoned Rattlesnake Hill (renamed Mt. Independence) overlooking Ft. Ticonderoga (where the Brits placed cannon causing the Patriots to leave the fort), there encountering so many timber rattlesnakes that some members of the unit were known to have covered they're bayonet scabbards with snake skins.
2. By Sept of 1777, the 62nd had rejoined Burgoyne's army, seeing action at Freeman's Farm under Gen. James Hamilton with the 9th, 20th, and 21st, forming the British center, and where the 62nd suffered over 50% casualties.
3. Only the latter of those three other regiments didn't have yellow facings, blue instead. For the 62nd, it seems the reenactors use a pale yellow, which can be seen in a painting of their commander, Lt. Col. John Anstruther, and Don Troiani depicts them this way as well.
You've done these up nicely, and great to see them for getting things going, congrats!
Thanks, Mark; the 62nd was pretty central to the Saratoga Campaign! As we discussed, Saratoga has great potential for its own "Campaign in a Day" at some point.
DeleteNice! The cut down/light infantry caps definitely mark it as part of Burgoyne's Army.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil, and yes they do!
DeleteWell done, lovely unit!
ReplyDeleteA great start Peter. I always thought it was a bit of a shame that they were only given their county designations right at the end of the AWI, but I went with them anyway to provide a bit of a link to their Napoleonic descendants. What do you have in mind for representing buff? It seems to me that the term encompasses many potentially different shades.
ReplyDeleteI think of buff as a light to medium yellowish brown/tan color.
DeleteAfter the surrender at Saratoga, most of the regiment spent the next 5 years as POW's!
Marvellous Peter. Six days ago you post "I have decided to embark on the American War of Independence". Today *bam* first unit!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thank you, James! In fairness, the *decision* to go with the AWI over Normans, Vikings, and Saxons (at least for now) was made in the Spring, prep work started in August, and painting started the beginning of this month.
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