"War of 1812 US flags" Topic

I've read that US regimental flags were either white, yellow or buff. Could someone advise me which regiment had which colour flag, or were they all the same? Thanks.

The U.S. Army during the War of 1812 only used the stars and stripes as a post flag. The blue flags, bearing an American eagle with a shield on its breast, and a field of stars above or around the eagle, was the national flag of each regiment. Each battalion also had a regimental flag simply bearing a scroll with the regimental title. The color of the field was officially described as buff, but that term has always been a bit vague, so some interpreted it as yellow, while others thought it meant a cream color, or a very pale tan. At least one regimental flag which survived (Regiment of Light Artillery) was described as yellow in 1809, but is now cream cclored, so fading is an issue. The light dragoons had a national flag of the same pattern, but much smaller than the infantry and artillery flags; however, they carried no regimental flag.

Militia flags are a separate question. Some states had regulations for their militia flags, while others did not. In any case, it was hard to enforce militia regulations, and some units carried whatever they pleased (or could obtain).

Source: "A Most Warlike Appearance: Uniforms, Flags, and Equipment of the United States in the War of 1812," by Rene Chartrand (Ontario, Canada: Service Publications, 2011).

I believe American rifle units regimental flags had a green field.

Glengarry5 is correct. Chartrand confirms the field of the regimental flags of the rifle regiments to have been green. As light infantry, it is unlikely that the rifle regiments carried flags in the field, especially since the rifle companies were scattered about the country in detachments, rather than concentrated in battalion strength.