"Fraser's Highlanders 2/71st - Questions" Topic

Looking for details on numbers/types of poses to order, how to paint/base.

If forming a unit of the 71st Highlanders at Guilford Courthouse, or elsewhere in the south for late war, would you add figures for flank company?

For example, if the unit will be 24 figures total?

I actually have similar questions about von Bose Regt & 33rd Foot in the south.

The von Bose Regiment was a musketeer regiment. Its grenadier company was converged into one of the combined grenadier battalions and did not fight with the parent regiment. The regiment's strength in 1780-1781 was 350 but that was quickly reduced due to combat and non-combat casualties. The following is from "The Deployment of German Auxiliaries in the American Revolution".

Musketeer Regiment Trumbach/von Bose was known as the Musketeer Regiment Von Turmbach until late 1778 when Major General C. von Bose became the new commander. The regiment arrived in New York City in August 1776 and remained as a garrison unit there throughout 1777. The Von Bose Regiment also participated in several operations to secure South Carolina in 1780. It became a part of Cornwallis' army and stayed with him through the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina, in March 1781. At Guilford Courthouse the regiment received special note for bravery. Only 285 men were left in the regiment commanded by Major O'Reilly as it marched with Cornwallis into Virginia. At Yorktown the regiment had detachments assigned to the defense of Redoubt #9 when it was stormed by French troops on the night of October 14, 1781. The Grenadier Company had remained in New York and returned to Hesse-Cassel from there.

Hope this helps a little.

Jim

Greg Novak's Book The War of Independence in the South notes that the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Foot had a return of 212 men on March 1st Prior to the battle.

The site link

Shows 244 with the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Foot

So likely between 212 and 244 (round off based on your figure ratio size)

Actual basing would depend on what your figure to men ratio is – or how you are building your units

Were the 67 light coy men of the 71st not all captured at Cowpens? There seems to be a question as to whether a new light company had been formed by the time of Yorktown. Regardless, a new differentiated light company being formed by the time of Guilford CH seems unlikely.

I am using Guilford as a model and base OOB, but then going to add on things that permit a southern campaign.

Would the lights and grenadiers ever not be converged in practice for the Brits? The 23rd and 33rd for example?

I will likely be doing 1:20 on my basing. Perhaps 1:15.

The 71st was experienced in open order, as were all British regiments that "came over" in the wave of 1776. Making another light company would be no problem. LI should look exactly like line, and ditto the Grenadier company, if you use one. So no worries about basing.

If you're doing Guilford Courthouse, I recommend that you not stick to the strict numbers in the OOB. The small numbers may bite you in later battles.

I highly recommend for the 71st Perry, Old Glory or Kings Mountain. NO KILTS! Very few Highland regiments retained the kilt in America.

The light companies of the Guards operated together, and separately from the parent battalions.

Experience regiments like the 23rd and 33rd had had their flank companies stripped long ago. Heaven knows where they operated from at this time.

Unless they just got off the boat, like the 3rd, no 1768 Warrant uniforms. Stick to shortened costs and figures sculpted for the late war Southern campaign.
No LI caps or Grenadier caps for anyone. Slouch hats were the rule.

Bear in mind that if you wish to use these figures in early war campaigns or games (as frugal gamers must) that these structures are not needed.

I am indeed looking at Perry, Foundry and figs that compare in size. I've wondered if Brigade match.

If anyone is interested in looking at my detailed thinking, I have most of it spreadsheeted, and can send email. I have a bunch of source books, and look closely at Greg Novaks work. I also ordered Tim Reese's uniform works.

I have myself doing lots of back and forth from things like how to incorporate hunting shirts to what I need to add to a Guilford OOB in order to do other pieces of 1780-83. I am going to try ATOs Tarletons Quarter as a basis for campaigning.

I would not swear to it in a court of law, but I can't think of a single engagement of the AWI in which a British regiment want into battle with its flank companies. If both were present, it was because the regiment itself, the grenadier battalion containing the grenadier company and the light battalion containing the light company were all present. But they weren't maneuvering together. If someone knows of an exception, please let me know.

People keep wanting to retrofit Napoleonic Wars practice on earlier conflicts, but administrative organization is not tactical organization in 1775-1783.

That's what I assumed but I'm really not an AWI expert at all. Much more a novice.

Looking at Perry figs, would a British Foot in the south such as the 33rd be in "roundabouts"?

I would like to add that Fife & Drum Miniatures makes some very Highlanders not in kilts.

And the proprietor is a pleasure to deal with. (I hope he sees this so I get a discount on my next order) :)

I got a sample from a buddy tonight. Very nice.

Brigade are excellent, but slightly smaller than Perry.