British 16th Light Dragoons - American Revolutionary War

  

The regiment was raised as the second of the new regiments of light dragoons in 1759, as the 16th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, also known as Burgoyne’s (yes, that Burgoyne, then a Colonel) Light Horse. In 1766 they were renamed after Queen Charlotte as the 2nd (or The Queen’s) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, the number being an attempt to create a new numbering system for the light dragoon regiments. However, the old system was quickly reestablished, with the regiment returning as the 16th (The Queen’s) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1769. It saw action during the 7 Years War, supporting Britain's ally, Portugal. 

The 16th Light Dragoons arrived in New York in September, 1776. They were involved in fighting at White Plains (1776) Brandywine (1777), Paoli (1777), Germantown (1777) and Monmouth Court House (1778). 

By December, 1778, the regiment was so depleted that the remaining men were drafted into the 16th Light Dragoons, and the officers returned to Britain to recruit. 

The regiment originally had black facings, but changed to dark blue with the change to the "Queen's" title.  In 1784, the regiment changed to Dark blue jackets along with the rest of the British Light Dragoons, in their case with scarlet facings. During the Napoleonic Wars, it fought at Talavera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Bussaco, Sabugal, Salamanca, Burgos, Vittoria, San Sabastian Nive, and Waterloo!

The unit was converted to the 16th Lancers in 1816, wearing a dark blue Lancer uniform until 1832, when a scarlet coatee was authorized for service in India. When the unit returned to England in 1846, it petitioned to retain the scarlet uniform when all the other Lancer regiments were ordered to return to dark blue; it thus  was unique in wearing a scarlet uniform (faced dark blue) until 1914!

Virginia State Infantry, AWI

Here's the last of the American units wearing hunting shirts.

What nakes this a Virginia unit?

First of all, the flag (by Adolfo Ramos), which has the goddess Virtus standing over a fallen tyrant (representing George II), and the motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis", "Thus always to Tyrants" . More or less the same design continues as the present day Virginia state flag. 

At least one Virginia regiment was known to have worn hunting shirts died blue. 

These are once again the fine Brigade Games figures, sculpted by Paul Hicks. 

A rather business like looking lot!

AWI 71st (Frazier's) Highlanders

 

The 71st Regiment of Foot, unofficially known as Frazier's Highlanders, was raised in Inverness, Stirling, and Glasgow1775, specifically intended for service in putting down the rebellious American colonies. .

It took ship to North America in April 1776, and arrived in New York City in July of that year. Figures are Perry with a flag by Adolfo Ramos.

It saw action soon thereafter at the Battle of Long Island in August, and then the Battles of Fort Washington and Fort Lee in November 1776.

It took part in the Philadelphia Campaign, and fought at Brandywine Creek in September 1777.

A detachment of the Regiment also marched North form New York City in support of General Burgoyne's operations along the Hudson river, participating in the capture of Forts Clinton and Montgomery in October of 1777.

The regiment then served in the Southern theater, participating in the capture of Savannah (December 1778), the Battle of Brier Creek (March 1779), Siege of Savannah (September 1779), Siege of Charleston (March 1780), Battles of Camden (August 1780), Cowpens (January 1781), Guilford Courthouse (March 1781), and finally the Siege of Yorktown (September 1781). The unit was disbanded in 1786. It's uniforms were similar to the Black Watch, but with white facings. 

There are several re-enactment groups for this unit; such as this one. They didn't ordinarily wear the kilt in the field due to the conditions in North America. There are many pictures there of the men wearing their bonnets with standard British pants, etc.; one year they eveidently wore trews made from their old kilts. 

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.