"Georgia during the War of 1812" Topic

Does anyone have any information about the uniforms worn by the militias and volunteer companies of georgia during the war? Its the only state I couldnt find any info…

At the outbreak, they wore a Tarleton cap/helmet much like the cap worn by the British Lgts in the 1790s. This was the head gear worn by georgia State and Vol. troops as they arrived to the border with Alabama for the Creek War of 1813.

The Tarletons did not last long and were replaced by hunting frock, civilian dress and wide brim hats. The georgia Hunting frocks were less uniform than the Tenn volunteers.

Georgia troops were withdrawn due to threats of naval landing raids along the coast. The ywere replaced in 1814 by Carolina troops.

Several contemporary illustrations from the era show the Tarleton uniform. Check the Horseshoe Bend site. Under images there was a copy of the print.

generals and officers many wore the USA pattern front-back bicorne or the bell-topShako.

This link has a color illustration of the Tarleton in use but it is not the one that the Horseshoe bend Library has in it. I will ask the park ranger the next time I see him where the B&W illustration is from.

link

Were their coats the same from the US infantry ones at the outbreak of the war? Also, does anyone have any clue about the uniform of the Richmond Troop of Horse, Liberty Independent Troop and Savannah Troop of Horse during the war?

I am under the impression that the Savannah Lgt Horse started the war in the Tarleton but I do not know what they wore on campaign.

The initial Georgia uniform never made it to Autosee Creek or the later Calabee Creek. I am led to beleive that the artillery were the last to lose them since most of it was left at supply stockades nera current Columbus GA. I can see the initial uniforms lasting longer for troops who were tasked as garrison troops only.

One thing about georgia 'volunteers, they were involved in several Patriot movements (or as they later became called Filibusters)with expeditions into Florida.

Richmond Lgt Horse did not fight in the Creek War so I have not researched them.

Rene Chartrand's book "A Most Warlike Appearance: Uniforms, Flags and Equipment of the United States in the War of 1812" describes Georgia Militia and Volunteers on pgs 73-75 and 78-79. The infantrymen started the war with blue coats with red cuffs and collars, round hat with bearskin crest and bicorns for officers (pre 1808 regs). The link that Rudy Nelson provided shows a print that illustrates this uniform. However the uniforms changed during the course of the war.
The other pages describe the basic cavalry uniform and then various cavalry units throughout the state, followed by varied miltia and volunteers.

IronDuke, can you tell me what was the basic cavalry uniform? Also,do you have any clue about the uniform of the Richmond Troop of Horse, Liberty Independent Troop and Savannah Troop of Horse?

As of 5 April 1809 the Georgia state cavalry was assigned a uniform of a:
"Short blue coat, outward skirt turned up with red, with blue hearts, red facings, cuffs and standing capes [collars], all four inches wide--white buttons in a line up and down the center of each pocket; four likewise upon each cuff and two on each sleeve.
Red vest. Blue pantaloons welted with red. Dragoon caps encirlcld with red cloth, four inches wide and boarded around each edge with black half inch wide. Black cockades with silver eagles and loops. White plumes reaching two inches hiigher than the bear skin, black stocks, long black boots and spurs. Black sword belts to be worn over the coat. The officers wil wera army sahes, tied over the sword belt on the right in a line with the seam of the pantaloons.
Silver epauletes: lieutenet-colonels will wear two; captains one, on the right shoulder and silver strap on the left; lieutenents one on the left and a plain red strap on the right. Cornets, one on the left shoulder.
The cavalry will be permitted to wear as undress upone all ordinary and drill ocassions, short deep blue jackets, with standing capes [collars], and the same number and arrangemnt of buttons as for full dress: the lapels calculated to fall back or button quite close up. Arms, horses and furniture: the same as prescibed and contenplated by Militia law of the United States , and more fully detailed in Hoyt." pgs 74-75.

There is no mention of the Richmond Troop of Horse as Georgia militia.

Re Savanagh; "The Savanagh Volunteer Guards, raised in 1802, and the Republican Blues, raised in 1808, were both mustered for active duty in east Florida from June 1812 ….. "The 'Blues' most likey had a uniform of that color…" as did "a volunteer company of Indeepndant Blues in Burke County."

Liberty Independant Troop. "St. John's Parrish had the Liberty Indpeant Troop formes in Walthourville during 1791 that had a blue uniform as it was initially called 'Blues'."

Thanks!Did the state have official uniforms for artillery and rifles?

The rifles in the Creek War were used in one of several main ways and may be used differently for different battles.

The most common way was to attach sections 5-10 men to a musket company. These men were the 'spies' (scouts) and were primarily responsible for foraging by hunting along the march route.

For combat the rifles were merged several times into small companies and attached to a battlaion/regiment. One company per battalion.

They were used for independent operations often with a mounted element and some Lower Creek warriors. The would do things like scout the routes to enemy camps, look for rouge raiders in a patroling fashion. Escort vital supplies to the front.

Not so much with the Georgia force but the Tennessee commands were fond of using small companies of 'Mounted Gunman'. A few were all rifles but most were musketmen with a few rifles attached for spies and hunting.

Thank you! did the state have any uniformed rifle(or light infantry) company? Also, what uniform did the state artillery wear?

The Fort Jackson site of Savannah Ga shows some ethicings of troops from plaques. The artilleryman look to be regular army but is wearing the early war stovepipe felt shalo and not the later war leather belgic shako.
Some other interesting etchings.

You might consider sending them an email and asking some of your questions. I find museum staff very helpful.
Here is the link but I do not know if it will work.

link

Here is a list of Georgia militia Brigades and which counties they were recruited from.

Tennessee counties have a very good account of 1812 troops and even uniform notes on their county websites. You might check the same for georgia counties.

Militia of Georgia
His Excellency, William Rabun, Governor and Commander in Chief elected 6th November 1817
Designation of each General Officers Command. Showing the five Grand Divisions of the Ten Brigade of the Militia of Georgia
1st Division commanded by Major General John Floyd
Subdivided into two Brigades which included the following Counties.
1st Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Francis Hopkins
Wayne, Camden, Glynn, Liberty, mcIntosh, Bryan, Chatham, Effingham
2nd Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General William Byrd
Bullock, Tattnall, Scriven, Emanuel, Montgomery, Burke, Jefferson
2nd Division commanded by Major General Valentine Walker
Subdivided into two Brigades which included the following Counties.
1st Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Thomas Glascock
Richmond, Columbia, Warren
2nd Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General John Irwin
Washington, Hancock
3rd Division commanded by Major General Daniel Newnan
Subdivided into two Brigades which included the following Counties.
1st Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Edward Shackleford
Baldwin, Putnam, Morgan
2nd Brigade Commanded by Brigadier Edward Beall
Greene, Oglethorpe, Clark
4th Division commanded by Major General Wiley Thompson
Subdivided into two Brigades which included the following Counties.
1st Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Jephtha O. Harris
Wilkes, Lincoln, Elbert
2nd Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Frederick Beall
Jackson, Madison, Franklin
5th Division commanded by Major General David Adams
Subdivided into two Brigades which included the following Counties.
1st Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General Thomas J. Hamilton
Jasper, Jones
2nd Brigade Commanded by Brigadier General David Blackshear
Twiggs, Pulaski, Telfair, Laurens, Wilkinson

History of the Georgia Militia 1783-1861
this is a four volume set. You may be able to get it through your inter-library loan program from your local library. That is how I got to look at them.

RE: Did the state have official uniforms for artillery and rifles?
Savannah produced several volunteer units: Chatham Artillery, a unit dating to 1786 wore the standard artillery uniform of blue faced red, yellow metal buttons (brass) and cocked hats. The Savannah Heavy Artillery of 1812 wore a similar uniform.

Chartrand refers to the Chatham Rangers 1798 to 1813 but no uniform description is provided. I am guessing that this a light infantry or rifles unit.

The Chatham Light Dragoons 1798 and the Chatham Hussars, raised in 1811 were dressed in blue as per the State directive for cavalry uniforms. (forgot to mention them earlier)

Thank you all very much! One last question, does anyone knkws the uniform of the Republican Blues of Savannah?

You are welcome but re the last question you really need to read carefully as this has been answered.

Im sorry, just saw it now. Thank you very much then!

Great--not only are there two War of 1812 anniversaries right now but they both have a "Georgia" in them!
;^)

And I think a new printing of the Chartrand book has been published. If you can find a copy of it (assuming I'm remembering correctly), it's well worth whatever price it is.