The first siege of Charleston, the largest city South of Virginia, by Sir Henry Clinton in 1776, was defeated by Continental Major General Charles Lee, and SC Militia Colonel William Moultrie in June of 1776.

The British did not return to Charleston until 1780, as part of their “Southern Strategy”. Clinton was particularly keen to expunge the stain of his 1776 failure. This time, the city was approached from the land, and the defense was poorly coordinated between the Continental forces under Major General Benjamin Lincoln and South Carolina State forces (a persistent problem when dealing with the fractious South Carolina sate government). The garrison delayed evacuating the city until it was surrounded, resulting in the capture of the city and with it 2500 Continentals. Honor satisfied, Clinton sailed back to New York, leaving Cornwallis in command.

Before he left, Clinton made Cornwallis’ job much more difficult by issuing a proclamation declaring that all men who had been given parole were released from that state and required to swear allegiance to the crown, and expected to serve when ordered by His Majesty’s government.

This regiment has blue jackets with yellow facings. a uniform actually recorded for a North Carolina unit. They are Brigade Games Southern Militia figures. 

The flag is actually a South Carolina naval flag, but seemed to suit this unit especially well. 

The uniform had orange lapels, cuffs, and turnbacks. The cloth backing on the Fusilier miters was black; somewhat curiously, the backing of the Grenadier miters of this regiment were orange. 

These are Brigade Games figures with a flag by Flags of War. 

The Regiment fought at Long Island, White Plains, and Fort Washington; the bulk of the Regiment was captured at Trenton, but contingents fought at Brandywine Creek and Monmouth Courthouse. 

The regiment was renamed Alt Lossberg and became a Musketeer regiment in 1782. 

These are Brigade Games figures, with the soldiers drawn form each of 4 additional units of Regulars after the first. 

Thus there is a mix of Buff, white, yellow, and dark blue facing colors in the unit. 

The compulsory shoulder “wings” are of course present. 

They also wear the somewhat peculiar “chain” caps.

Appearing soon at the Battle of  Brandywine!

Having initially focused on the New England and mid Atlantic contingents of the American army, it’s time to move down South a bit.

This regiment was one of North Carolina’s contingent of Continental regiments. 

It was noted to have blue coats faced with green in 1777 – 1778.

The flag they are carrying here is one of the many variations on the “Stars and Stripes” theme before designs became [somewhat] more standardized. 

The drummer has to have the fashionable “Reversed Colors”, right?! The figures are Brigade Games “Southern Militia”, and the flag was created from images on the internet. 

The uniform coats had black collar, cuffs, and lapels.

The waistcoats, pants, and the backing of the Fusilier Miter were all paille. 

The buttons and metal on the miters were brass. These are Brigade Games figures; flag by Adolfo Ramos. 

The Regiment fought at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, and Fort Washington. Much of the Regiment was captures at Trenton, but contingents later fought at Brandywine and Monmouth. 

It is estimated that roughly one third of the Hessian and other German troops sent to America opted to remain behind and settle here at the end of the Revolutionary War.