"AWI british gaiter trouser" Topic

I'm about to start painting the 71° for Guildford Coruthouse, what the right color for the gaiter trousers, brown or white?
Is it brown(wool) for winter and white(linen) for summer?
Or the white ones were introduced later in the war?
I have the same doubt for the others Regiments that fought at Guildford Courthouse, so any help will be very welcome.

Don Troiani has depicted the 71st in both off-white/dirty white gaiter trousers (American Heritage magazine, June 1973), and in tartan gaiter trousers, made from kilts (Don Troiani's Soldiers of the American Revolution.)

For what it's worth, the William Britains Company produce some painted 54mm soldiers for the battle of Yorktown, including some soldiers of the 71st. I saw some on Ebay in the last month or two, and couldn't help but notice that they were wearing white gaiter trousers.

I don't know what Don Troiani's or William Britains' sources are, but I thought you might be interested in these modern-day depictions anyway.

Jeff

According to several re-enacting units there is an entry in a least one orderly book ordering the men to use the old tents to make the gaiter trousers. That would make them white to off white.

I'll also add thatas far as I know there is no winter uniform. My understanding is that one uniform served all seasons.

Brown, blue or (I believe) also black wool leggings or overalls were issued during the winter months in New York and Canada. Whether this happened in the South, where the winters were less inclement, I am not sure.

Linen, or occasionally canvas overalls/gaiter-trousers (some of Burgoyne's forces had theirs made up from surplus sailcloth, but tents were not uncommon, as stated) were usually worn in the field, during the campaign season. A Hesse Cassel officer noted British troops wearing such garments during the action on Long Island, so they were not a mid-war development.

The 71st are thought to have had kilts or plaids made into "trews" when they went South in 1779; however, by the time of GCH it is likely they would have replaced them with normal white ones, or possibly they might have been coloured "winter" issue – I know some wargamers use blue or brown overalls to distinguish the 1st and 2nd battalions.

Brown, blue or (I believe) also black wool leggings or overalls were issued during the winter months in New York and Canada. Whether this happened in the South, where the winters were less inclement, I am not sure.

Linen, or occasionally canvas overalls/gaiter-trousers (some of Burgoyne's forces had theirs made up from surplus sailcloth, but tents were not uncommon, as stated) were usually worn in the field, during the campaign season. A Hesse Cassel officer noted British troops wearing such garments during the action on Long Island, so they were not a mid-war development.

The 71st are thought to have had kilts or plaids made into "trews" when they went South in 1779; however, by the time of GCH it is likely they would have replaced them with normal white ones, or possibly they might have been coloured "winter" issue – I know some wargamers use blue or brown overalls to distinguish the 1st and 2nd battalions.

Many thanks for the answers.

"or possibly they might have been coloured "winter" issue "
Do You mean the winter brown ,blue trousers were painted white?

Other source I found state that the 42° "Black Watch" Highlander received trousers of hemp from Russia in May 1780 for the upcoming hot summer weather.
It is right to think that other regiments and also the 71°could have received such trousers?

Finally, such trouser of hemp are full white or more on a browngrey white?

Blue,brown and black overalls were normally WOOL,or winter issue. Troiani also show the 7th Fusiliers in brown overalls in his Cowpens print. He's also depicted the 42nd Highlanders and 16th Foot Light Infantry in them. They were also at Cowpens which was in the winter of 1781.
I have painted my 7th in brown,and my 71st,and will also paint my von Bose Hessian regt. in brown as well,as Troiani also depicts them in brown as well.

Bob

The Foot Guards also had brown overalls in the South at one point, but possibly not as late as the GCH action.