British Grenadiers, American Revolutionary War

Certainly the Grenadiers sport one of the most iconic British uniforms of this era.

My unit is made up of one stand each from the  21st (dark blue facings), 24th (willow green), 47th (white), and 62nd (yellow/buff) regiments.

They probably left their bearskins behind, but that would be unacceptable in this man's army. 

Similarly, they are carrying the King's color of the21st regiment, because, as previously established, flags are a must!  :-)

The finial of the flagpole has since been trimmed and gilded!

Charge!

A little mood music: "The British Grenadiers".

I first heard the tune in grade school in the US, when we taught to sing a number of patriotic songs, which is relatively out of fashion these days. It is currently known as "Free America", and is set to the music of "The British Grenadier"

The text of this song is attributed to Dr. Joseph Warren (1741–75), a soldier and leader in the war for independence. It was Warren who, on April 18, 1775, sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to Lexington and Concord on their famous ride to warn local patriots that British troops were being sent against them. This song appears in different versions and may have appeared in print as early as February of 1770, which was some time before the movement to free America was popular. It appeared in the Massachusetts Spy on May 26, 1774, and in the Connecticut Courant on May 8, 1775. It was originally known in some colonies as “A New Massachusetts Liberty Song.” In the song, "America" is pronounced "Americay" to fit the riming scheme. I think we only ever learned a modified version of the first verse in school, as is often the case with such things:

That seat of Science, Athens,

And earth's proud mistress, Rome;

Where now are all their glories?

We scarce can find a tomb.

Then guard your rights, Americans,

Nor stoop to lawless sway;

Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose,

For North America.

We led fair Freedom hither,

And lo, the desert smiled!

A paradise of pleasure

Was opened in the wild!

Your harvest, bold Americans,

No power shall snatch away!

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,

For free America.

Torn from a world of tyrants,

Beneath this western sky,

We formed a new dominion,

A land of liberty:

The world shall own we're masters here;

Then hasten on the day:

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,

For free America.

Proud Albion bowed to Caesar,

And numerous lords before;

To Picts, to Danes, to Normans,

And many masters more:

But we can boast, Americans,

We've never fallen a prey;

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,

For free America.

God bless this maiden climate,

And through its vast domain

May hosts of heroes cluster,

Who scorn to wear a chain:

And blast the venal sycophant

That dares our rights betray;

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,

For free America.

Lift up your hands, ye heroes,

And swear with proud disdain,

The wretch that would ensnare you,

Shall lay his snares in vain:

Should Europe empty all her force,

We'll meet her in array,

And fight and shout, and shout and fight

For North America.

Some future day shall crown us,

The masters of the main,

Our fleets shall speak in thunder

To England, France, and Spain;

And the nations over the ocean spread

Shall tremble and obey

The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons

Of brave America.