"War of 1812 US grey and British blue grey" Topic

I have decided to paint some of the new Armies and Plastic 54mm figures as Scott's regulars for the 1814 campaign. I keep reading that the grey jacket was a dark grey but most of the paintings and painted figures I see tend to be a much lighter shade of grey.

Also, I generally see most people paint their British infantry with grey trousers…but in many references the color is mentioned as blue-grey. Any guidance?

I'm sure I read somewhere that the grey is a myth anyway and they wore blue like evryone else (or black?). I'm sure someone who actually knows or has access to their reference books can tell you for sure.

Judge for yourself. These two illustrations seem accurate to what I have seen with actual copies of the uniforms worn by re-enactors. Remember that different lots of issued uniforms would have different types and variations of dye and when you add in exposure wear and tear and washings the colours would soon vary.

There are too many references that describe to the grey uniforms for Scott's brigade to show that the colour is correct

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Scott's brigade was all in grey jackets.

Also note that the grey jackets worn by some units in the war, were round jackets/sleeved waistcoats (similar to later shell jackets)without tails as opposed to coatees. Some units earlier did have grey coatees in 1812.

Also its now been found that many US infantry during the war wore black rather than regulation white belts due to production issues.

It seems that Scott's brigade thus, probably had the tail-less coat and probably black jackets but most people would be quite happy seeing grey coatees and either colour of belt.

As for the British, existing fragments indicate a much darker blue-grey than the surviving water colour illustrations portray and which have been much used as a reference. In addition many of the Canadian units both regular/fencible and incorporated militia were issued dark blue trousers rather than grey. Not sure why but the same was done in India later on. May have had to do wuth the material more than the colour.

-Ross

Thanks for the info everyone.

Ross I have been a big fan of your games for years…despite you turning your back on 54mm! I have been tempted by 40mm, but haven't made a leap…hard enough staying focused on my few projects as it is.

I think I am going to go with a medium grey jacket and now trying to decided on white or black belts. I definitely think I am going to go with the more blue-grey trousers for the Brits.

I'm sure there were variations in shade from regiment to regiment, too!

There was some discussion in the past about whether Scott's Brigade drummer wore the red coatees or wore the grey like the rest of the foot. I have never read anything about the color either way- my drummers wore red (I assumed that either the quartermaster had enough of these or that the officers contributed money to purchase proper drummer's uniforms).

The Royal Marines usually wore dark blue trousers in winter and in colder climates. As Ross says, watercolours of British troops in this era don't always recreate the correct tone of blue coats and trousers, mainly because of the limitations of blues in that medium, but also possibly due to fading of the artwork over time and the fact that they were often painted in strong sunlight (look at the contemporary depictions of the coat colour of British light cavalry in the Peninsula, by St Clair and others, to see what I mean).

A further complication in the grey/blue argument over US uniforms, is that if they used indigo dye for the dark blue like the French did, this often faded to a grey colour with other ranks' uniforms due to the poorer quality materials and dyes used (I've even been told this is the origin of "French Grey", but I've never seen it confirmed).

Scott's Brigade did wear the grey "coat" as there are QMD records for them being issued. It does not describe them, other than they were grey. A few years back the CMH Journal published letters from members of the brigade describing the "new" uniform as being cut short and without tails, much like a sailor's jacket.

As to the drummer's uniforms chances are these wear the regulation red coat. I remember reading about an American privateer capturing a cargo of British uniforms and these being reworked by the QMD for musicians.

AICUSV- you are correct, a privateer did capture a cargo of British uniforms (sadly can't remember which British regiment). The National governemtn was able to purchase it from auction.

For my Scott's Brigade I painted my drummers in red.

I have seen all shades of grey for the Brigade. Mine are of the more lighter grey variety.

104th regiment , I believe. Buff facings.

Lessee here ,I have Scott's Brigade in 1814 in gray roundabout jackets,tombstone shakos with white plumes and chords,white pants,BLACK crossbelts and slings.Pewter single row of buttons on jacket, pewter shako plate and crossbelt plate.Drummers in Gray jackets with white crossbelts.

Terry L,

Major Thomas Jesup's 25th Infantry actually wore blue.

On 25 July at Lundy's Lane they were responsible for turning the British left (along the Niagara) and spent quite a time in the timber. But since they were not in "the field" being mauled by Royal Foot Artillery with the 9th/22nd and 11th they are oftentimes excluded from being referenced. The other three wore grey and you are correct.

I have Jesup's 25th U.S.in gray for my 54mm Lundy's Lane 100'diorama as from D.E. Graves denotes ,not enough blue coats for Scott's Brigade…"All camp stocks of blue coattees were given to Miller's 21st INF.,the other regiments were given the gray jackets.

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