"Painting Covenanter Horse - Advice" Topic

Hi, has anyone any advice on painting up Covenanter Horse and Lancers for the ECW/WotTK? Is everyone in grey apart from commanders or is there any evidence for any other coat colours? And how widepsread were cuirasses?

Very few cuirasses but perhaps some buffcoats. Red was regarded as a "martial color" so a squadron or regiment sponsored by a great magnate might have that for a change of pace.

Hodden grey all round……the rank and file anyway

Don't think Scottish horse wore cuirass their horses were smaller and weaker than the English ones

Hodden grey, some buff coats, officers possibly with cuirass.

A cuirass weighs around 6-8 pounds. Did it really matter that much to a scrawny horse?

link

Hodden grey is quite brownish grey. Basically since it's wool fabric it would probably be spun from a range of different coloured wool giving a warm brownish grey. Recent research suggests it's more brown than grey.

I don't think the Scots issued uniforms to cavalry. They
were expected to provide their own clothing, with buff coats being the preferred outfit. A few might have found sets of back and breast plates but this would have been rare. Some of the Gordons (may be a troop?) had full cuirassier armour in the Bishops wars.

So, I would go for a slightly irregular look with most in buff coats, a few sleeveless buff coats, and one or two in dull riding coats.

I always try to use smaller horse models for my Scottish cavalry to differentiate from the better mounted English.

I don't think the Scots issued uniforms to cavalry.

Oh, this is a key point. I had read that the uniforms were issued to all arms…

I haven't seen a reference one way or the other, so would like more info.

It wouldn't take too much of a leap of faith to go for buff coats and hidden grey though.

There was a shortage of pistols and armour earlier in the wars (although units with pistols went overboard with them), hence uptake of lances. I have seen references to units being equipped with cuirass, helmets and pistols from 1644 onwards

My apologies, Whirlwind and KYPD38, I have mis-remembered this point about issues of clothing to horsemen.

Keith Roberts (Cromwell's War Machine) and Jon Tincey (Soldiers of the English Civil War 2) both point out that there is very little evidence of the issuing of any clothing (or buff coats) to the cavalry, perhaps suggesting they were expected to cloth themselves, and the near universal wearing of buff coats meant that scarves (sashes) were important to distinguish troopers from one side or the other. It is also said that the New Model Cavalry were not issued with uniforms.

However, Stuart Reid in his original (A5 paper back) Partizan Press Scots Armies of the 17th Century says that the Scots Horse were "of course" equipped with hodden grey coats and breeches. They are shown dressed thus in the latest hardback Scots Armies of the Great Rebellion by Mr. Reid.

Hope this helps, and once again apologies for my earlier confusion.

Thanks CtG,

My Hodden-clad Horse should be getting a run out soon!