"Breach Cloth Colors?" Topic

My memory has failed me. I remember that both sides at one time or another tried to get allied tribes to wear a uniform breach cloth, but I cannot remember the colors. Could someone who does save me a day of rummaging through the library? Thanks.

I never heard of uniform breech cloths, most of the time the tribes were fighting on one side, the British. However, at the battle of Chippewa there were Iroquois fighting on both sides. The `American`Iroquois wore a `turban` of white cloth as a distinguishing mark around their heads. At the same battle American militia distinguished themselves from Canadian militia, both in civilian dress, by taking their hats off. I`d love to find out if uniform breech clothes were ever suggested!

They really were ordered, at least once on each side, and the French had a similar notion in the FIW. I just can't find my 20-odd year old notes. Now, how much anyone actually paid attention is another matter. You get that even in regular armies and much more recent.

But I take the attitude that, since my tin soldiers won't change to the proper field sign between battles, and I can't hear the field word, or ask them which regiment they belong to, I'm entitled to paint them in anything historical which helps me tell the sides apart. (Which is why my US War of 1812 militia wear the state-authorized uniforms even when particular units didn't--and also why the uniforms never quite match those of the regulars, even when they could.)

If people were shooting at me, mine would have had a yellowish hue at the front and a brownish hue at the rear.

"Breach cloths" – my first thought was that these were for cleaning artillery, or marking the way into a hole in the wall during night assaults.