"British Legion flags, AWI" Topic

My Google-fu has let me down, as has my modest personal library. Does anyone have a reference for flags that may have been used by the British Legion (Tarleton's boys) in the AWI? I speculate that the infantry portion would have had something similar to a regimental while the mounted portion may have had a guidon, but I can find nothing to verify this hunch.

The infantry were light infantry – and so had no colours. The cavalry were adopted into the regular army and at that point (if not sooner) received a standard.

Interesting, thanks. I just assumed the infantry would have a bit of something to wave about since Banastre was such a flash cove and most loyalist units I can find info on had some variation on a regimental. No flag for the infantry, then. They'll have to capture one if they want something to wave!

My British Legion infantry have a black flag with the union jack in the corner & the red St. George's cross. I painted "British Legion" in the center with a surrounding wreath. They probably didn't carry colours in the field but on the table top I needed something to put the morale rings on.

Aaron, my Google-fu has failed me also, previously, on this matter.

I agree with edinburghowl that being light infantry, the infantry would have no colours.

The dragoons, however, were formed by combining the Philadelphia Light Dragoons, Caledonian Volunteers, and Kinloch's Light Dragoons, and later the Buck's County Light Dragoons were added.
In 1781, they were taken on the British Establsihment as the 5th American Regiiment (British Legion). At this point, I would expect a regulation guidon, per regulations.
Tarleton being a regular, however, I would guess that he had a regulation guidon, based on a regiment with black facings, way before being brought on the establishment. Several companies make flags for the 17th LD, and color in the white with black, or scan one and use Paint Shop or something.

After Yotktown, most of the regiment not captured was absorbed into the King's American Dragoons. Years ago, I saw a National Geographic article on Nova Scotia or New Brunswick which had a surviving guidon for the KAD, blue and of the usual pattern. While not BL, it does suggest a coninuity with Regulations which Loyalist formations would be certain to follow.

From this, my guess is that a perfectly legitimate black pattern Dragoon guidon can be used while being beastly in the Southern Colonies and at losing at Cowpens.

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OFM — you are in two places at once — and using a different name: the BUG strikes again!

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I think that is about 90% likely that the post on your link is not from me, and the one here is. 8^)

Thanks John. I've seen that KAD flag and based my assumption on that. I think I'll follow your lead and paint up a black dragoon flag. I may also gove the infantry a nice black regimental also. It seems unfair to let the mounted boys get all the girls AND the flag.

This is more of a question rather than an answer, but here goes anyway.

Have any of you ever heard of a British Legion standard (or color) ever being mentioned in contemporary accounts? Personally, I haven't, although I'm not an expert. Maybe someone who is really familiar with the Southern battles (such as Cowpens or Camden) or has read Tarleton's memoirs could answer this.

I can think of a few times I've read AWI accounts of a color or standard of a particular unit being captured (which indicates a unit at least had a color or standard to begin with, even though details are lacking).

BTW, it sounds like you're itchin' to do a British Legion standard, AaronT, and I think you've gotten good advice!

Jeigheff,

You are quite right; I've got Tarleton's account of his campaigns in the South and there's nothing in there about colours or guidons, as far as I recall. The cavalry action at Gloucester and the loss of a large part of the Legion at Cowpens would have generated at least a scuffle around any flags being carried, I would have thought, yet the opposition at those actions don't mention them either. The Queen's Rangers are know to have had a set of infantry-style colours made, but probably only after becoming part of the Regular Establishment.

Someone else mentioned Tarleton being a Regular and therefore likely to have had a flag made, but of course he was a light cavalryman (16th LD) and such troops – like the light infantry – did not carry flags on campaign because of the nature of their work.

That said, if one is to be carried, black would appear to be the most obvious colour.

Flags For the Lads makes a set of Legion colours.A standard Union Jack,and the regimantal is a maroon color,Union Jack in the corner,and a stylized "L" in the center with crowns(?) adorning the three corners.I used this briefly when I had the 25mm Old Glory Legion figures.Which were a bit suspect I believe.

Sgt. Bob