Sapeur | 03 Aug 2014 9:53 a.m. PST |
I am doing some research for my latest project. Standard bearers, drummers and sapeurs for Spanish Infantry. Most people appear do do their units in bicornes or shakos. Obviously Grenadier units had their fur caps. Can anyone clarify whether use of "top hats" was general or restricted to only certain units? Any assistance appreciated. Thanks. |
Rudysnelson | 03 Aug 2014 10:00 a.m. PST |
In the USA at the same time (1810-20, it was both. Some States issued Entire units with top hats and hunting fricks (actually dyed with matching base and fringe) The top hat was very popular as a sign of some level of wealth. So some militai and volunteer units their was a mix of hats including top hats. I would imagine the Spanish irregular units were the same way in regards to having a mix. As far as entire untis, i did read somewhere in the past that there were some. |
Mollinary | 03 Aug 2014 10:12 a.m. PST |
Cannot be long before either Steven Summerfield or Gerard Cronin are along to direct you towards the thread on this board earlier this year discussing their new book on Spanish infantry uniforms of the Peninsula War up to 1811.. It is, by all accounts, excellent. Mollinary |
BrigadeGames | 03 Aug 2014 10:38 a.m. PST |
Top hats were worn by militia units. link |
Sapeur | 03 Aug 2014 11:27 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the information. |
Major Bloodnok | 03 Aug 2014 3:18 p.m. PST |
Chartrand's book on Spanish uniforms also shows "round hats" being shipped over from England, along with uniforms. |
UpperCanada | 03 Aug 2014 5:44 p.m. PST |
That's the term: Round Hats. |
Druzhina | 03 Aug 2014 7:23 p.m. PST |
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138SquadronRAF | 03 Aug 2014 7:47 p.m. PST |
Spanish uniforms is complex. but this is the basic idea: 1808 and earlier: 18thC style uniform with bicorn later 1808 – 1812 Top hats become common with brown uniforms. 1812 British supplied uniforms with stovepipe shako and blue uniforms take over. Osprey book II on the Spanish Napoleonic is a good guide. |
Sapeur | 03 Aug 2014 11:38 p.m. PST |
It was the Osprey book 2 [MAM 332] that made me raise the question. Many of the plates show top or round hats. There appears to be a presumption that if shakos were not shown as being issued then round hats were worn. |
mike0liver | 06 Aug 2014 6:14 a.m. PST |
If you can locate a copy of José Maria Bueno-Carrera's book "Uniformes Españoles de la Guerra de Independencia" (which is presently out of print), it provides a good guide as to who wore top hats and roughly when. Various regiments on the Isla de Leon at Cádiz had them and BrigadeGames is right they seemed to be the preferred headgear for militia regiments – but there were line regiments who had them. 1810 is the big problem – most of the old white uniforms had worn out and Britain was supplying various shades of blue plus French supply trains were being plundered and local manufacture provided various items (often brown or undyed material) so "uniform" is a misnomer. One of the big advantages is that, if you can locate some definitive info, there aren't many who could tell you that you are mistaken! |