An army has to have some Generals to command it, right? These are Perry figures
At first there was little regulation of the uniforms for Generals of the Continental army. In July 1775, Brigadier Generals were ordered to wear pink sashes to distinguish them. This was followed by purple sashes for Major Generals
Aides de camp were to wear green sashes, and Army Commanders light blue.
Field officers wore red sashes, more or less the same as in the British army.
General Washington customarily wore a dark blue coat with buff facings, and this later became the standard uniform for Continental Generals.
Does this mean you are getting near completion for this project.? I think the table will look striking.
ReplyDeleteWell... it means that I have more than enough for some playtests games. Counting 5 more units I expect to complete by the end of today, there will be 16 (!) units in the backlog yet to post (snow days have been a painting bonanza). That will leave me with several more Patriot and a few British still to paint. Biggest project after that will be the "Hessian" contingent of 9 infantry plus a battery and command figures. I have lead for a somewhat smaller French contingent as well, but those won't likely see paint until after Historicon.
DeleteNice looking officers - I do have this set - might need a few more soon, after all the units I have been painting recently - will be on show soon!
ReplyDeleteI look froward to seeing your work Keith; I have additional officers from Fife an Drum yet to paint, and also some Perry "Militia Colonels" and a few command from Brigade games, too.
DeleteCool looking Officers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray; the one doffing his hat is likely supposed to be Washington, but I'll use a Fife and Drum figure for him.
DeleteThank you very much for the information regarding the color of the command sashes. They likely influenced the color of the command sashes worn by French generals during the Revolution and the First Empire. Under the monarchy, generals did not wear sashes.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you painted the hunting jacket blue. These jackets were, I believe, made of suede, and to maintain their suppleness, they weren't dyed. On the Perry brothers' website, it appears in white. I think it must have been ochre-brown.
It's interesting that the French army (Ancien regime, Revolution, and Empire) never used sashes of national/royal color for field officers; they were nearly universal in all of the other armies of the time. As you note, during the Empire they used light blue for General de Brigade, red for General de Division, and white for Marshals (even if not a technical "rank").
DeleteAs for hunting shirts, the natural color was either off white (linen) or tan/yellowish. For military practice (Washington had originally proposed the hunting shirt as the national uniform), it was not uncommon to dye them; indeed I am just completing 5 units in hunting shirts right now. Aside from white and brown/tan/yellowish, there are examples in blue, green, black, and purple (!) in Mollo's Uniforms of the Revolution, which can be accessed on line. Some are mentioned or illustrated in Lefferts as well (also available/accessable on line). Rarely, the fringes were in a different color, as I have done with this General. What miniature wargamer can resist the colored versions... not I! :-)
Very nice
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gary!
DeleteI too wondered if this meant you were nearing completion. Generals and staff officers are normally the last in my queues. Great work Peter, and I didn't know about the sash colours.
ReplyDeleteThey are usually among the last for me as well, but in this case it was easier to paint them with the Cavalry (more of them to come), and I wanted a few officers (and as previously discussed, few is the options for Perry officers!) for playtesting the rules. There will ultimately be another half dozen (Fife and Drum, mostly) or more officers for both sides, plus some Hessian and French Generals, eventually.
DeleteGreat looking command. They are always last on my list too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard. The "2nd flight" of leaders will be towards late spring or early summer, in all probability!
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