"AWI Highlander dress?" Topic

I bought four 20 man units of 40mm S&S AWI Highlanders. These lads are in trousers

link

According to Osprey 261 (18th century Highlanders) the 71st, 74th, 84th and North Carolina Highlanders and Queen's rangers highland company had kilts.

Does that leave me the 42nd and 76th? Is there any issue with the head wear the above figures have?

BTW, I bought extra units of these Highlanders to give away as samples. People over here are only interested in big toys.

Depends what period of the war you want to represent. The jury still seems to be out on how far into the war the 42nd and 71st wore theirs – at least until late/end 1776 according to some. I believe the 42nd had overalls at Monmouth, not sure about the Philadelphia campaign. The 71st converted their kilts into trews for 1779 campaigns in Georgia, and were issued overalls for Charleston and after.

I think the 74th had kilts at least up until they arrived in NYC; however, the flank companies probably wore trousers or overalls in the Southern campaigns.

According to Chartrand's Osprey MAA on the Loyalists, the 1/84th spent the first 2-3 years of the war in the same outfits that other units raised in Canada had – namely green coats faced red, with buff small clothes. The 2/84th – which was based at Halifax – got kilts first and these were only passed on to the 1/84th in 1777.

At least one wing of the 76th became mounted infantry in the South, so I suspect that portion of the regiment at least would have worn trousers.

Bonnets: maybe a little too Napoleonic in terms of height and stiffness, but certainly the correct style for the late war period, IMO.

More information can be gleaned from these sites (and I expect their owners would be happy to help with any other enquiries you might have).

link
link
bissett.org/76th.html
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84thregiment.org

Wow, S-M is up early! he says it all.

4 20 figure units of Highlanders??!!! Wow!

I also got the same from S&S, and they are going to be the 71st,as I already got the 40mm 71st flags. In 28mm, I have the 71st,and 76th,both in overalls.And both are for my Southern Army.
As some on here have seen,I'm part of the "you'll never see my Highlanders in kilts" crowd! :-)

Bob

Well, the 42nd was double-strength compared to "English" line regiments, and the 71st was over 2,000 strong when it left for America – more than four battalions' worth at the pre-war establishment of 477 all ranks.

This is purely from memory, so I may be wrong, but aren't there some kilted Highlanders in the van Blaremberghe paintings of the Surrender at Yorktown? If so, they could only be the 76th's centre companies. Supposedly done from eye-witness reports/drawings, by French officers (including Berthier) – but then I think the British all got new uniforms just prior to the march out.

but then I think the British all got new uniforms just prior to the march out.
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Really? How so,if they were blockaded in?

Bob

Remember Cornwallis was at Yorktown long before the French fleet arrived to blockade them. He just did not have enough transports and support ships to leave for New York or Charleston.

The idea of keeping new supplies of regimantal coats (regular re-issue for high priority units on the british establishment like Highlander or Guard units as copared to the lower priority supply position held by Provincial troops is not unheard of.

To use older regimentals for campaign activities does make sense.

I know it is a different era but during the 1815 campaign I know that I read that the French units (IIRC the Guard) had their dress uniforms in their backpacks for a parade in brussels after the battle. They still wore regimentals for campaign dress.

All my Highlanders are in kilts--Not very historical but I don't care--I understand that trews were brought in quite quickly --Mostly because the fabric could make 2 pairs of trews!!

As for wearing the kilt at Yorktown I would have thought that pipers would have worn Highland dress at all times--As they did up until WW2 (Korea even????)..

Also the 71st did have 4 battalions although the 4th was taken prisoner to a man when they docked at Boston in April 1776!!! Nobody had told them the British had left!!

Oooops!!!

Not very historical but I don't care-
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Be nice Bob,Be nice Bob,be nice Bob!!!

Ugh!

Bob
Holding my tongue!

Also the 71st did have 4 battalions although the 4th was taken prisoner to a man when they docked at Boston in April 1776!!! Nobody had told them the British had left!!
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I thought there were only TWO Bn's of the 71st?

As both grenadier companies were captured at Stony Point in 1779.

Bob

>Oooops!!!

The AWI was a disaster for the British. Spare a thought for poor King George..

Thanks for your thoughts on this everyone. I knew this was going to be a can of worms from my reading.

71st (several battalions to do)
1779 campaigns in Georgia – tartan trews
Charleston and after – overalls (Brown?)

42nd
Monmouth – overalls (Brown?)

2/84th at Halifax (were they at Saratoga?)

You have all stimulated my AWI neurons. Can't wait to get these lads painted! I've already finished six units of continental infantry and have two continental artillery pieces and crew, plus a couple of militia units, in the pipe line. Just started working on two units (of seven each) cavalry for Rebs and two for the Brits and loyalists.

Neil
reinforcementsbypost.com
games2trains.com

"The AWI was a disaster for the British."
Very true but it meant the Royal Navy had to buck up its ideas and the Army improved its tactics (only to change them in favour of Prussian tactics)….Also more importantly it was a huge disaster for the Frogs--It bankrupted Louis XVI and meant he had to call the estats general which in turn led to the French Revolution….

(You could also say it was a disaster for the Yanks…!! ;P )

IIRC, the 42nd turned in their kilts after Long Island campaign in 1776. I also want to say that the 71st held on to their kilts a bit longer before going with overalls. I think there were actually more highlanders in the 71st than there were in the 42nd, thus the kilts for a longer period.

I also want to say that the brown overalls may have been winter wool ones, and linen would have been worn in the summer, and why would you dye them brown?

I think both had two battalions. Lots of out of work Scots.

I'm not aware of any other units than the 42nd and 71st wearing kilts, as there were other units composed of Scots, but none wore kilts. Hmmm, now that I think on it, I think the 84th did at some point (RHE), and maybe one company of the QR. But no other line units (the RHE was formed from people in the colonies).

also want to say that the brown overalls may have been winter wool ones, and linen would have been worn in the summer, and why would you dye them brown?
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Brown were usually brown WOOL for winter. In the spring and summer,natural linen would be worn. NOT bright white,more closer to gray.

Bob C.

I am doing two units as the 42nd and two of the 71st. My figures have trousers and I will paint these natural wool colour.

Thanks for all the interesting discussion.

I have half done one figure just to see if I am on track with the uniforms. This guy is 71st. All the colours will be lighter because he hasn't been highlighted. The pants will be a natural wool light grey, the gaiters will be white.

I hope people will let me know my s before I go too far

picture

I have half done one figure just to see if I am on track with the uniforms. This guy is 71st. All the colours will be lighter because he hasn't been highlighted. The pants will be a natural wool light grey, the gaiters will be white.
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Umm,they aren't wearing gaiters…

Bob

They did not wear gaiters, overalls were a one piece of clothing from the waist to the shoe coverings.

The color of linen can vary, and depends. If gray, then very light. Honestly though, linen has a lot of white in it too. Perhaps hard to reproduce in this scale as it is a rough texture.

Thanks – this is the sort of thing it is great to pick up before you highlight 80 figures!!

The eventual colour of the wool trousers will be off white greyish.

As historygamer says, the nether garment you've painted half grey and half white is a one-piece item, often referred to as "gaiter-trousers", overalls, or in hotter climates and a slightly later period, "mosquito trousers". Otherwise, I'd say you are pretty much spot on – I really like that pale red; historygamer is better placed to comment, being a re-enactor of many years standing (as, I think is 95th), but that is probably very close to what they would fade to in dry weather.

As raised, the 71st had 2,340 personnel in two battalions (ie there were two sets of flank companies). However, the 1st Battalion's light infantry and 2nd Battalion's grenadiers – or mebbe t'other way aboot, ye ken – along with 2-3 battalion companies, were captured when their transports were attacked by privateers (not all were taken in Boston harbour – some were well outside). One of their major's was killed and the regiment's Quartermaster was among the prisoners.

The centre companies were placed with the Reserve and formed into three battalions (bear in mind they were all at least double – if not triple – strength compared to Line regiments); it was one of the few units whose flank companies served with the battalions (and on occasions on their own) during the war.

Yes, the red looks very good. The redcoats were a madder red – kind of a red brick color – made from madder roots. Officers and sergeant's coats would be a brighter red – almost like a fire engine red, so as to stand out.

Will post some pics once everything is highlighted. Thanks for all the help.