While looking for info. on British uniforms, I came across a painting by Jacques de Loutherbourg entitled the Mock Attack, which is one of the most remarkable depictions I've seen of Revolutionary War combat. In this painting, one can see British infantry engaged in wargames: two lines make a mock attack against a third, positioned behind a gorge and defended by guns of the Royal Artillery. The infantry and artillery are firing blanks.
The uniform details were based off a series of sketches that de Loutherbourg made in 1778. The painting was rendered circa 1779.
I don't think this work is well known, so I thought I would share it with readers here.
Below are some excerpts of the painting, which I pulled off a couple of websites, then enhanced and annotated. One of the sites is a blog called the Mock Attack ( themockattack.blogspot.com ), which is well worth visiting if you're interested in clothing details of this era.
Light infantry company of the 69th Regiment of Foot. The unit is wearing a 1768 warrant uniform. Light infantry caps were not standardized, and this model is particularly striking.
Light infantry company of the 6th Regiment of Foot. The two figures in the left foreground are advancing at the ready with both hands on the musket – not unlike the "ready" pose favored by many military miniature manufacturers. In front of them a soldier sends a solitary shot at the opposing line. The difference in the tactics of the light infantry vs. the regular infantry and grenadiers in the background is quite striking. Soldiers from the 69th light infantry are at the left edge of the image.
Here is part of the defending line. Note that it makes a L-turn, and that we are looking chiefly at the horizontal bar in the L. In front is the Glamorgan light infantry company, split into two halves, with a field piece between them. These light infantry (and the matrosses) wear full length gaiters. One half of the light infantry is about to fire. Note the men are in two ranks in close order formation and that the first rank is kneeling. The rest of the company appears to be loading their muskets. Oddly, only part of this group has a clear line of fire, because a second field piece has been placed in front of the others.
In the background is a group of musicians that appears to include mostly drummers with a couple of fifers.
Royal Artillery. This gun is closest to the viewer in the painting. This is a fascinating depiction of the Royal Artillery in action.
