"AWI light infantry black cartridge pouch belts?" Topic

So, I painted up a consolidated unit of light infantry a while back. I intended it to be a generic-looking group of light infantry that was made up of the L.I. companies from several foot regiments.

I went with Perry metals, the slouch hat and roundabout jackets.

I painted the cartridge pouch belts in white, based on some other paint jobs I had seen online as well as some artist renderings.

But in a couple different reference books I have it shows the light infantry with black cartridge pouch belts. From what I read the black pouch belt was a distinctive difference from the regular center companies of a regiment where the belts were generally white. It also seemed that the bayonet shoulder belt was black instead of white.

So, what I'm not clear on is, was there a particular time chunk in the AWI where it was one or the other? Was black universal for the L.I.? Or was it a mix of both black and white? Or, was it like an "early war vs. late war" thing. Like transitioning from the chain helmets to the cocked hats?

These are not my own work, but this is exactly how I painted mine. Is it incorrect to have the cocked and plumed hats with the white shoulder belts?

These are from Giles Allison's blog. He did his with the black cartridge pouch belts:

See this:

TMP link

Thanks for the link, very helpful! I found especially interesting the reference to some regiments L.I. whitening their black belts. Must have given the bets like a ghostly, greyish color which prompted the "exceedingly ill" description. Must have reminded them of a person who was sick and had that pale, ill look about them!

18th Century, Baranovich. "Ill"often just meant "bad" as in "ill-conceived" or "ill-timed" or "ill luck." It didn't necessarily have any connection with sickness.

@Robert,

No, I get it, "ill-conceived", or "ill-bred", there's a bunch of them etc. I was just thinking of the color which must have been rather dreary looking. That's the first thing I though of.

It looks like my Evil Twin Winston was quite adamant in the link. I honestly don't remember why he/I would say that. 🙄
At this stage in my painting career, the best I can say is that there were rules and regulations, and then there was reality. I like to fall back on "as the Colonel shall decide", but it also came down to what stage in the war, how old the belts were, and if the Sgt Major wanted them to all look alike.

My sympathies, Winston. I have that trouble with Bob and even young(er) Robert myself.

You know, it's funny. In 1969, I knew what troops wore what uniforms--or at least where to look up the answers. After 11 years in the Air Guard, 14 Regular Army, maybe another 10 military adjacent and 50+ of military history and historical miniatures gaming, I find myself using "may" "might have" and "probably" more and more.

Certainly the influential, dare I say iconic, dell Gatta paintings of Paoli Tavern and Germantown supposedly commissioned post-war by an officer of the 52nd) together with that officer's own paintings which also survive all light infantry of the 2nd LI Battalion wearing black accoutrements.
Regulars and militia on manoeuvres on Warley Common in England in 1778 are also depicted by de Loutherbourg wearing black or buff belts.

The story is of course more complicated but there it is