Categorie: Internetblog

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!

Although by far the majority of Patriots units were musket armed, there were several units composed entirely of riflemen. 

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.  

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. 

The British also receive some reinforcements of the “Big Bang” variety. 

They wear cut down uniforms more suitable to climate and terrain of North America!

These are Perry figures.

Ready…    FIRE!

One battery is wearing hunting shirts dyed blue, with fancy buff trim. 

The other wears brown coats faced red, and a peculiar leather cap with an Anchor emblem on the front. 

These chaps belong to the Rhode Island Train of Artillery, a militia outfit first raised in 1774. By that time, relations between Britain and her North American had descended into open hostility in aftermath of the Boston Tea Party (December 1773) protesting the Townshend Acts. Parliament responded with the Coercive Acts (aka the  Intolerable Acts), closing Boston harbor, ending self-governance in Massachusetts. It became increasingly likely that outright war would develop in the not too distant future. This fostered the development new colonial militia units, in p[reparation for the coming storm.

This is an actual cap of the unit, found on the battlefield after the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The unit suffered heavy losses there, and was later absorbed into Henry Knox’s new Continental Artillery.