"Psychology of uniforms" Topic

So I'm working on this brief paper on a NYC militia unit in the 18th c and am looking for something rather specific: so I turn to the experts. Anyone have a period quote/statement about a soldier geting or coveting a uniform? Part of the paper is the desire by some militia units for brilliant uniforms that mimicked Regular army in an attempt to recruit, to ennoble the lowly, to connect to a larger cause, etc. I've got some good scholarly stuff bout the psychology of uniforms, but an 18th c account of an American or British man joining up because of h norm or being very excited about the regimental coat would be great. Rather specific, I know, but maybe one of you guys just read something that fits the bill. Super Max I'm looking in your direction!

There are several references to George Washington wanting to become a Regular British Officer.

Hi,

Are you looking at all ranks, or just enlisted men? If the latter, then I honestly don't know if you'll find (m)any enlisted men admitting that they joined up for the uniform, if only because so few could write. The three principal British accounts from non-officers are Lamb, Sullivan and Robertshaw (two of whom chose to desert and stay in America, of course, thus evidencing that the allure of the uniform could be overcome by other considerations).

Have a look at this blog, check out the entries and there may be one that appeals; but Don H is very approachable and would be happy to point you at something more specific.

redcoat76.blogspot.co.uk

Here is a list of contemporary diaries of Continental soldiers, who were probably (if only slightly) more likely to be literate than their British counterparts:-

PDF link

To this list can be added the post-war published journal of Plumb Martin (Pvte Yankee Doodle), and the journal of Sgt Mjr Seymour who served under Greene in the South. A chap called John Rees is the equivalent guy to approach for the Continentals and Militia.

However, two points you might want to look at (if you haven't already):

1) Recruiting parties were generally decked out in the best uniforms they could find, to give an exaggerated idea of how good a potential recruit would look. Also, such groups would naturally attract women and the potential recruit would note this.

2) I have read (I cannot recall where) that a number of desertions from Continental regiments was – at least in part – because of the failure of the authorities to provide the promised uniforms. Now this could be simply the lack of clothes per se, or it could be the hoped-for increase in self-esteem from wearing a uniform.

I'll try to think of something more, but Hagist is a good starting point. Good luck and keep us informed of progress.

In terms of the AWI I think it would mostly be the troops being fed up with wearing rags rather than not getting smart uniforms. They fought well enough when clothed in anything the they could get after all.

Jaz
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This more than likely is not what you are looking for but…

I remember reading accounts of when Major General Charles Lee was a prisoner of the British. He had made and wore a yellow uniform based off of a Polish uniform he had seen. What I remember reading is Lee was very enamored with how the uniform looked.

So if he had been able to take Washington's position, our countries first official uniform might have been yellow. lol

Ironwolf,

I hadn't heard that one before, but can't say it surprises me as Lee was just a weirdo all round. I'm firmly convinced that if he was alive today, he'd probably be on a sex offenders register.

In similar vein, the first suggestion for the emblem of French army units during the Consulate was a cockerel. Imagine a Franco-American war – an army that was officially chicken against an army that was officially yellow!

ON a more serious note, bear in mind that "yellow" was a fairly common coat colour among European armies in the late 17th/early 18th Centuries – and even into the 19th with Spanish cavalry and Swiss infantry (plus the Poles tended to be a bit behind everyone else in military fashion anyway). Quite often it was originally chosen because of its similarity to buff leather, especially when a unit decided to replace the leather with cloth to save money. In such cases, it was more an ochre or sand tone, than the bright hue we tend to automatically think of when the name "yellow" comes up.

Thinking about it, several SYW hussar units – or at least the officers – really got into yellow boots.

…but can't say it surprises me as Lee was just a weirdo all round.

At least on this we agree.

There is some quote somewhere about women being attracted to a red coat like a mackeral to herring or some other such fish/bait analogy.

So it was either the smell or the wriggling?

In some instances the uniform was an extra inducement to enlist. In some New England States, the regimental coat was called a 'bounty' coat.

"On the 5th of July, 1775, a resolve was passed to provide each of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army authorized to be raised under resolve of April 23, 1775, with a coat, and 13,000 were ordered to be provided by the towns and districts, in accordance with a regular apportionment. This gift of a coat was considered in the nature of a bounty, and later, at the time of their distribution, the men in service were permitted to choose between acceptance of the coat or a sum of money in lieu thereof." [Source: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War (Boston: Wright and Potter, 1896) 1:xvi].

"It is a well known fact that not only silly girls are attracted to a red coat, but a mackeral will pursue the foulest of things so long as they are covered in scarlet." This may not be the exact quote, but I believe it is from 18th century England. Anyone remember the exact source?

The biggest attraction was being given clothing and fed regulalry.

I'd like to throw in the mention of Highlanders attracted to the army by the option of wearing the kilt during it's prosciption in civil life.

Ah yes, the irresistible urge to slip into a skirt….I'm sure that ranked right up there with unemployment, hunger, dodging the local magistrate and simply wanting a bit of adventure…
:)

Patton would fine soldiers for not wearing a necktie. Even in combat!
His psychology was that smart looking soldiers would take more pride. I don't know if that is valid or not, since some of the pictures of Navy Seals look like a convention of hobos. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

Could be something in that. Napoleon's troops would change into dress uniform if possible before giving battle. IIRC the Spartans did something similar.

In my day we still had to "bull" (spit shine) our boots in between dodging bricks and nail bombs in Northern Ireland. Nobody said it was going to be fun ;) Navy SEALS on the other hand have to be able to blend in more easily with the civilian population…

In Britain, weren't volunteer units more commonly clothed in *blue* – to differentiate them from the regulars in plebean *red*?

And the opposite problem of the reissuing of white uniforms by Napoleon. Nothing highlights the horror of war as blood on white cloth ;-)

If I remember correctly Lee did serve in Poland. So to him he was very dashing.

"but can't say it surprises me as Lee was just a weirdo all round. I'm firmly convinced that if he was alive today, he'd probably be on a sex offenders register.

I'm trying to find the book I read this in. If I recall correctly the book said Lee wore this uniform to several parties in Philadelphia while a prisoner of the British. It went on to talk about how Lee was a slob. lol So I'd have to agree he was a weirdo and if he was not on a sex offenders list some where in the world. Then he would be on the tv show Hoarding: buried alive. lol
link

Almost everyone who met him seems to have been "impressed" by his personal hygiene! On his return from captivity, he was allowed to sleep in a spare bedroom in Washington's own HQ – apparently he kept the Boss and his wife awake all night by having noisy sex with the wife of a sergeant (he also seems to have been a bit of a groper, hence the register comment).

Poor old NYIrish, we seem to have hijacked his thread somewhat! (Apologies!!!)

It's ok, it was a long shot. Lee had his HQ for the figh at White Plains not far from me. The story has him cutting up the good lady's prize bed curtains for a cloak. If that is an 18th century metaphore I have no idea what for. I'm looking through the Recuiting Officer to maybe find a good line. The opening speech has a good bit Where he calls the grenadier mitre the cap of honor.

"So I'm working on this brief paper on a NYC militia unit in the 18th c and am looking for something rather specific: so I turn to the experts. Anyone have a period quote/statement about a soldier geting or coveting a uniform?"

I think we have indeed lost focus on this thread. Since your focus is on militia, not regulars. IIRC, the militia unit in Boston was regarded as a rather fancy (dandy) unit. I am not sure of other cities, but I am not aware of any country militia units having a uniform at all – other than perhaps the one Washington wore for his local militia unit – a uniform I believe he wore when he attended Congress and subsequently wore when serving in the field. This was most likely only worn by a handful of senior officers in his own unit, not the men, but I am not completely sure on that.

"Part of the paper is the desire by some militia units for brilliant uniforms that mimicked Regular army in an attempt to recruit, to ennoble the lowly, to connect to a larger cause, etc."

Unless I miss my mark, this is a faulty assumption. Militia service was compulsory, not voluntary, so joining a militia unit was a legal obligation. The fact they had fancy uniforms – paid for by the locality – was happenstance. I am not sure how long such compulsory service existed after the war, but I seem to recall that many pre-civil war militias had very fancy uniforms, no doubt in part to attract members.

"I've got some good scholarly stuff bout the psychology of uniforms,"

I've never seen anything like that myself, so I'd be interested to hear what you found. I've read a lot of junk on the subject, including how soldiers carried 100 lbs of equipment, or that the British wore red to hide the blood, and be seen through the smoke of battle. Noted historian John Keegan talked about how at Braddock's defeat the Indians saw the flash of the British grenadiers' hat plates through the woods – trouble is that in 1755 they didn't have any. My point being, there seems more junk that fact in certain areas. Be careful of what you are quoting as you may be passing on more myth than fact.

Soldiers at the time were paid roughly what day labors were paid – though at times less. Recruiting for anyone in N America proved a challenge, even during the F&I period as there was usually a labor shortage, and workers could make more as a laborer than as a soldier – either regular or civilian. On top of that, I don't think militia was paid since it was compulsory service for men between certain ages (16-60?) to show up once or twice a year and drill, or be called up in times of emergency. They were usually to supply their own weapon and clothing, and to be fed by the state. In many cases they showed up without any weapon, and were pretty much useless. MD struggled to find weapons for their called up militia during the Brandywine campaign.

"but an 18th c account of an American or British man joining up because of h norm or being very excited about the regimental coat would be great."

SM and others (I think) have addressed the fact that few men in the ranks could read or write, so this would be difficult information to find indeed. I also seem to recall some dandy militia units for 1812 as well, so you might look to that, but uniformed militia units were pretty rare pre-war. During the war the states had a hard time securing uniforms for anyone, and that only got harder as time went on, until the lottery coats.

A casual read of deserter descriptions does not leave a reader very impressed with rebel clothing, and the Brits were often in rags as well – in both the F&I and Rev War, due to the extended supply chain and hard campaigning.

In short, my own take is that someone joining a militia unit was compulsory, so the allure of a uniform played a minimal role. Your hypothesis may hold more water in other periods though, especially pre-1812 and pre-Civil war.

Suitably chastened…. ;^)) ….here's some better leads.

One possible avenue, which I alluded to in my first reply when I mentioned historian John Rees who is a mine of information on Continental soldiery, was that as the war went on, several States used militia levies to fill out the ranks of their Continental units (the New Jersey line at Monmouth Courthouse, for example, had a lot of "9-month" men). Now I have no idea what uniforms they were issued if any, or even if they were entitled to stuff for this service – quite possibly nothing – but it might be the one chance you have of fitting militia into a uniform-covetting situation for this conflict. And of course pension applications could likely prove to be your friend here.

A lot of the uniformed pre-war militia units tended to be gubernatorial "bodyguard" units (I think Benedict Arnold belonged to the one in Connecticut). Whilst this was by no means universal in these units, it was not uncommon for the role of the uniform to be not so much to attract recruits, as to help in "selecting" them (ie keep out the "riff-raff") via the cost. I think to some extent, uniformed militia also reflected the image of propserity that certain Colonies wished to project, both at home and back in Blighty.

Another example that comes to mind is Smallwood's Maryland battalion at Gowanus (Long Island). This unit was an amalgam of several pre-war militia formations, at least one of which (from Annapolis, IIRC) had a snazzy red coat with buff facings and small clothes; this group may even have formed the bulk of the regiment. However, in action, and certainly when parading through NYC a few weeks earlier, they all wore tan-coloured hunting shirts – quite possibly to present a uniform appearance (which they very much did, as at least one observer commented), as much as to protect the expensive uniforms.

Hope that helps a little.

No offense mean to you, sir. :-) You are well font of information I readily look to as well. :-)

By the way, I always look forward to your General Lee stories. His creepiness never ceases to amaze me. :-)

I always thought it ironic that his Indian name translated as "Boiling Water" – apparently a reference to his temper, but a substance he seldom seems to have had any contact with.

I don't have any evidence directly on the theme under discussion. But the Austrian officer Cognazzo writing in the 1780s wrote about the effect of uniform varitions of elite troops- noting that 'experience has taught us that in out army it does a man good simply to give him a Grenadier bearskin. Just because he is treated with a little distinction he is less inclined to desert, and fights better.'
There may be slight exaggeration for effect here, as Austrian Grenadiers (like those of other armies) were not simply the lucky winners in a bearskin cap raffle. But it is an illustration of the synergy between morale/efficiency and distinguished appearance which often seems to have occurred.

"I always look forward to your General Lee stories. His creepiness never ceases to amaze me"

Put me down as agreeing with the above as well. lol

Right- so a fuller idea of my topic: I'm writing about one company of one of NY city's independent companies. Lasher's Battalion was indeed a "dandy" unit -parades, etc. with some action in '75-76. I'm looking at one unit whose volunteers came from the higher ranks of NY society that fell on the Whig side of things. My thesis is how their uniform reflected a broader Whig ideology, but within an British context. These men were by no means coerced into service, and many of them had connections to King's College (later Columbia). Lasher's and the other Independent companies had been around before the Revolution, but new units were created in the Whiggish zeal of the 1770s and I'm thinking that some aspects of their uniform choice, and once those choices had been made the decision to join that unit rather than the Oswego Rangers or the NY Grenadiers, was grounded in a literary understanding of British Whig ideals. The Marylanders are a good example of my unit.

Don't know much about Lasher's Regiment, I'm afraid. Did it morph into another unit post-1776, or become amalgamated into a better-known corps?

The choice of yellowish buff for facings and small clothes was often a reflection of Whig politics, as the party's traditional colours were blue and yellow (the Tories were red and blue, I think). I believe this was why Washington chose it for the generals' uniforms; even today, in parts of Sussex near where I live, you will still find cottages with yellow doors, window frames and shutters, marking the property as belonging to a Whig landlord.

I would have to think you'd have to research the local papers of the time to support that idea.

Lasher's and Malcolm's city militia were well uniformed -2 companies of grenadiers, 2 companies of rangers, and all sorts of interesting unit names: the Bold Foresters, the Free Citizens, the Brown Buffs, Prussian Blues, etc. The unit I'm looking at was the Corsicans- Alexander Hamilton was a member in his student days. They served at Long Island and the defense of NYC but after White Plains the units dissolve. The more resolute appear in other units. I like that quote, Seneffe, and I have found a few in that vein. Always helpful, boys.

Here's an interesting example from the Troiani stable:

link

SM

For Lasher's Grenadiers see Osprey MAA 273 George Washington's Army 1: 1775-1778 plate 1 figure 2.

The NY Grenadiers were actually armed with grenades at Long Island, which greatly surprised me, though, of course, it is Brooklyn.

The 26th Continental regiment in 1776 had a grenadier company with mitre caps embroidered with "GW" for George Washington, but I doubt it was an inducement to enlist.

I know of an anecdote of an American soldier stripping the uniform off of a dead Hessian officer around the time of White Plains, but I'm not sure that really fits.

I don't think you really see the mania for uniforms in militia units until the 19th century.

I would love that story about White Plains- I live there!

During the skirmishing in Westchester NY, and in particular the action near Split Rock, Capt Evelyn of the 4th Foot's light company had his silver laced hat stolen as he lay wounded, by a Rebel soldier (who apparently risked his own life to acquire the item).

While covering a later period, I would think that Scott Myerly's British Military Spectacle: From the Napoleonic Wars through the Crimea (Harvard University Press, 1996), might address some of the issues in which you are interested.

The skirmish near Split Rock is on the grounds of my school. We call it the Battle of Pelham. On this Memorial Day I wish the soul of that fallen man well-even if he is not an American!