| Razor78 | 27 Jan 2012 5:28 a.m. PST |
What light units could be represented by Old Glory's "Continental Lights Advancing figures" ? link |
| Supercilius Maximus | 27 Jan 2012 5:49 a.m. PST |
Given that they have the distinctive caps, winged coats etc, I think they are supposed to represent the Corps of Light Infantry after the 1779 uniform regs and La Fayette's return from leave in France when he brought back some new kit and flags. In practical terms, this uniform was probably only seen in the 1781 campaigns in the South, as Stony Point was too early in 1779 for the changes to have taken effect. Just to be clear, the figures are for the battalions formed from the "official" light companies (ie the ninth company in each regiment in each state line) when they were drawn off and converged in 1779. I'm not sure if there was enough kit to supply the second tranche, which comprised the "ad hoc" extra light company created by many regiments from the best shots of their eight centre companies (and which were, themselves, later drawn off and converged to create more light battalions). |
| zippyfusenet | 27 Jan 2012 9:18 a.m. PST |
These figures have no wings on their coats. |
| cavcrazy | 27 Jan 2012 11:58 a.m. PST |
Mine will be continental lights from New York, in the buff facings, and white for Massachusetts. |
| epturner | 27 Jan 2012 3:54 p.m. PST |
You could always throw in a brown coated unit with red facings for Massachusetts. Eric |
| cavcrazy | 27 Jan 2012 8:45 p.m. PST |
The Old Glory lights are late war figures with the light helmet.
Late in the war Massachusetts uniforms were blue with white facings.
I'm thinking that the brown coats were still in service though. |
| Supercilius Maximus | 28 Jan 2012 5:19 a.m. PST |
Many of the Lottery Coats from France were brown (faced red) and there are recorded sightings of brown-coated New England troops at Yorktown and in 1782. |
| roughriderfan | 28 Jan 2012 6:44 a.m. PST |
While blue was the supposed standard – don't forget that supplies of red wool for the British Army could be picked up at sea by American privateers. Red cloth can not be dyed blue – however it can be dyed brown – so an officer needing to provide for a regiment could end up using brown instead of the regulation blue if supply and costs were the issue |
| Supercilius Maximus | 30 Jan 2012 6:40 a.m. PST |
Several researchers I've spoken to in the US reckon that blue actually became, if not rare, then quite possibly less common than brown as the 1779 clothing regulations had the effect of raising demand (and thus price) for blue cloth, making it harder to find. As roughriderfan points out, captured British coats could be turned brown with relatively little work. |
| cavcrazy | 30 Jan 2012 6:47 a.m. PST |
If you look at the Old Glory lights , they should be wearing the blue uniform.
I can't find one picture or reference to the light infantry wearing the light infantry cap that those figures are wearing to be in anything but the blue uniform. If anyone has any information on them wearing the brown coat with the light infantry hat with the side plume, I would love to see it, it could help make my AWI Continentals look all the more realistic. But the Old Glory figures are meant to be light infantry in blue. |
's motivation to paint Napoleonic ships returns!
