"White tape edge on British bicornes flanders 1794" Topic

After examining Hewgill's plates (by E. Dayes) on the Napoleonic Series site I noticed that not all regiments had white tape edges along the top of the bicorne.

Discounting the Guards regiments I noticed that some of the numbered regiments have white while other do not.

Can anyone explain this and provide info on those that did / did not?

Many thanks in advance!
Beeker

If memory serves, the hat lace is tied to the button color--white lace & silver buttons, yellow and gold.

The 1768 Warrant prescribed white tape for corporals and privates of all Regiments. This was not changed by subsequent revisions.

However, being the British Army, Regiments frequently made unauthorized "improvements", or ignored things altogether*. There certainly is no pattern regarding who did and didn't have white tape at this time.

For those interested, here is a PDF which has the various alterations and amendments to the 1768 Warrant, up to 1802.

PDF link

*I've read a fair amount of correspondence between "Horse Guards" and various Regiments regarding uniform regulations, mainly from the late 19th through the early 20th centuries. This typically begins with either HG pointing out a violation, or a Regiment requesting to do something differently. There's a certain humor in the terse, impersonal and firm tone of HG, while the Regiments variously feign ignorance, flat out deny, plead extenuating circumstances, claim ancient privileges, or threaten to involve some highly placed patron, usually a Royal.

Many thanks EP – I'll claim 'creative license' then when presenting these on the table! :)

Cheers!
Beeker

There were a lot of field modifications to uniforms made throughout the period. Up to the officer commanding and the also a function of the resupply as well.

Beeker,
which figures you will be using?

6mm Adler AWI .. so lots of latitude

in 6m I would paint all the tape edge white