"Dearborn 's Lights Figures" Topic

I've asked this before, but the thread got sidetracked and I never really got an answer.

Dearborn's picked light infantrymen came from different regiments. So, what figures would you use to represent them in 28 mm?

I would like answers like, Perry packs 1,2, 3 and 6. Or Foundry AWI 4,5,6. and 11. Old Glory # 5,6,7,8.

Specific figures and the reason why.
And let's not stray off topic. Keep to the OP.

Since Dearborn came from NH (and was in a NH regiment), it would make sense to me that he would pick men that he was familiar with and could count on.

That is, if the choice was up to him.
Can anyone advise if Dearborn picked his troops or did someone at HQ?

I am leaning toward using various Old Glory Continentals
with bayonets. All of them painted to represent different Units with different uniform colors and facings.

What are you using?

I'm following a similar path except using Perry Figures. My understanding is that individual Regimental Colonels picked the men to serve in the light companies.

Whatever route you go, they should not be "uniform" in appearance. Mine are mixture of different regimental uniforms as well as civilian clothing.

No "wings", no special hats.
Just Regular regiment troops.

I'm using a mixture of Blue Moon figures, btw. They have a nice mix of guys in regimentals with round hats or cocked hats; hunting shirts with various hats and of course militia type figures in civilian garb. They don't have bayonets, but still.

I use the Light Infantry figures by Front Rank.

They may not be historically accurate, but they scare the bejesus out of my opponents.

Yeah, that uniform looks cool--1779 regs and probably not all that widely used.

I have a unit of Minifigs lights with that kit.

So the men who made up this battalion were hand picked out of the New England Continental units in Gates' army. Drafts from the 2nd and 4th NY Regiments were withdrawn at some point for some unknown reason. The battalion was only made up of five divisions, not the usual eight, thus why it was only commanded by a Major.

This info (my paraphrasing) is from Eric Schnitzer's chapter in the Saratoga Campaign book. The footnote also references a paper Eric did on the unit for the NPS.

It's shocking to see how overweight the (Front Rank) light infantry are.

I settled on a mixture of Old Glory Continentals and Militia, all painted with various colored coats and facings. Plenty of different headgear, but no Light Infantry caps anywhere.
Just ordinary infantry with bayonets.
That's the one rule. The figure had to have a bayonet attached to his musket.
I'm working on a command stand. If I'm going to give Morgan's Riflemen a flag, I may as well do one for Dearborn. Maybe just a generic Liberty Tree?
I wonder if they had time to throw something together to use as a symbol. Something to represent the command. Or was it too short an assignment to worry about such things?

I don't get crazy over who had flags and who didn't. I do this for fun. And let's face it….flags are fun!!
Something to denote who they represent

These are mine behind Morgan's Riflemen. They are Perry Plastics. They are probably over dressed. There are a few in hunting shirts. I like them fine and so did my local club.

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I'd be more worried about all those stars and stripes flags :-)

I am, but I did those years ago when I wasn't as knowledgeable about flags. From looking around the net I see I am not alone. If I replace them what do I replace them with? So for now it is what it is.

I was just joshing ya. :-). I've used my continental lights for Dearborn's boys too.

I game in 15/18 so the distinctive light uniform helps to identify them. No flag though, but they could for 1781.

I can of figure you were kidding. As you can tell my Dearborn guys have don't have a flag either. Probably most of these American units did not have flag or something crude that has been lost to history.

Did the British carry their flags in these Saratoga battles? I'm not certain of this, but it is hard to resist the temptation to give them their flag on the game table.

As for LI flags, Lafayette brought back 2 lovely ones from France, along with a boatload of uniforms on his second visit. No more need for Hortalez et cie now! All above board. Yes sir.
Of course my late LI battalions carry them. But Dearborn's? Alas no.

But if you MUST give the lads a flag, a pine tree Liberty flag is as good as any, if they are New England troops. If from New York, perhaps an Excelsior flag?

Did the British carry their flags in these Saratoga battles? I'm not certain of this, but it is hard to resist the temptation to give them their flag on the game table.

"No" according to (a) a German officer who served with the expedition, and (b) Burgoyne's staff when negotiating the Convention.

"Yes" according to Lt Col Hill of the 9th Foot, who spirited their colours away back to England and presented them to the King.

My theory (and that's all it is) is that possibly the 9th took theirs as the "regulating"/senior battalion in their brigade (ie the one on which the others would have formed in battle). Initially, they were brigaded with the 47th (which replaced the 31st due to the latter's indiscipline) and 53rd; the second brigade was composed of the 20th, 21st and 62nd – so quite possibly the 20th took theirs with them, too, but I've not come across any record of it. After the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the need to leave a garrison and guard the batteaux led to the 62nd, later replaced by the 53rd, and 47th being "detached" and the 9th being added to the second brigade. Hence the 9th, 20th, 21st and 62nd fought as a brigade at Freeman's Farm, in the traditional order of seniority (enemy at the top of the page):

20th, 62nd, 21st, 9th.

As luck would have it, the two central battalions bore the brunt of the fighting on September 19th.