The CROWN FORCES

1st Battalion Marines, 2nd Company - June, 1775

A red regimental coat with white facings and the usual white waistcoats and breeches, with white cross belts, mark the 1st Marines in their shore uniforms. Aboard ship they would wear more typical sailors' clothing called "slops" (see Virginia State Navy).

The primary function of Marines was to maintain shipboard discipline, although in June of 1776 they were aiding in the defense of Boston.

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Tall bearskin miter hats, as well as the brass match case on the cartridge box strap and the wings on the shoulders of their coats, are typical to grenadier companies, the elite of the British army. Their coats are red faced blue, their small clothes are the usual white wool, and they wear tall black wool gaiters. Their uniform is in nearly perfect condition and in its idealized form, as it was on their arrival to Boston.

The 4th Grenadiers were at Lexington-Concord, at the outbreak of American Revolution, and were almost wiped out recapturing Breed's (Bunker) Hill at Boston.

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55th Regiment of Foot, Captain Trevor's Co'y - August, 1776

Green facings on their red coats set the 55th apart in the NWTA. The uniform of the 55th reflects the classic British uniform for service in Europe, as yet not adapted to the rigors of American warfare.

The 55th fought at Long Island, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown, before being transferred to the West Indies where it saw heavy action against the French in 1778-1784.

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A skull and crossbones on the front plate of their red horse hair crested helmet is undoubtedly their most distinctive feature, Some may have a large gold G-17-R on the faceplate. The "Death or Glory Boys" also wear red regimental coats faced white with white and black lace, white small clothes and tall gaiters or boots.

Dragoons are horse troops, used for shock and reconnaissance. In the fall of 1776, the 17th Dragoons were in New York assisting Howe to drive Washington's army completely out of the state.

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Brigade of Guards, Grenadier Co'y - November, 1776

The Guards Grenadiers have the typical grenadier matchcase and wings on their shoulders, but not the bearskin hat. Their coats are scarlet faced blue and have no lace. They wear white waistcoats and long trousers.

A brigade consists of several regiments acting under the command of a brigadier general, in this case the 1st, 2nd (Coldstream), and 3rd (Scots, pictured) Regiments of Foot Guards. The grouping of buttons on their lapels indicates the regiment.

The Brigade of Guards arrived in America in August of 1776, was captured at Yorktown in 1781, and was eventually released from prison in 1783. At the time portrayed, the Brigade was operating around New York.

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Green coats faced red, with white or green waistcoats, bicorn hats with green cockades and red and green pom-pons, and German Jaeger rifles mark the Hessian Jaegers, a rifle company. They wear captured American white trousers and white shirts ruffled at the throat.

The heavy Jaeger rifle was a deadly accurate weapon, but cumbersome and slow to load. Jaegers participated in every major campaign of the American Revolution.

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42nd Royal Highland Rgt., Grenadier Co'y - January, 1777

The 42nd wear the tall bearskin mitered hat that was common among grenadier units. Their short red coats are faced with blue, signifying a royal regiment. Red and white lace is on the shoulder wings, lapels and cuffs. They wear a belted plaid or kilt and diced hose. The cartridge box is worn at their waist and has a GR and crown on the flap.

The 42nd were active mostly in and around New York state and participated in the battles of New York, Brandywine, Germantown and others.

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2^nd  Battalion of  Light Infantry "Blood Hounds"

The origins of the British Light Infantry go back to the French and Indian War in America.  In 1771, each British Infantry regiment was required to create one company of new light infantry. These were light, fast moving, irregular troops that best adapted to new terrain and fighting tactics in America.  In wartime, the commanding generals of

armies often detached flank companies (companies on both ends of the battalion formation) from their regiments and formed them into battalions.  They were picked from the ranks and were the best shots in the regiment. These picked men were posted on the left flank of the regiment as the advanced force holding second place of honor along side the Grenadier companies. They excelled in open order skirmishing, marksmanship and moving quickly over the rough terrain of the Americas. The light infantryman was well used during the war.  They saw many actions some of which include Lexington-Concord, Bunker Hill, Long Island, Harlem Heights, Brandywine, Paoli and The Battle of Germantown. The light infantryman’s skill in marksmanship was paramount but constant campaigning and loss of men led to a crisis in replacements. 

The Light Infantry uniform was described as such: the light infantry appears in either red sleeved waistcoats or plain, short, red jackets with wings on the shoulders. They wore black leather cross belts, the British Rawles Cartridge box or captured rebel boxes. Men carried tomahawks with swords or tomahawks with bayonets depending on whether each man carried a rifle or musket. Ideally there were five rifles per company to assist and compliment the musket men.  Other accoutrements included tin or wooden canteens, linen haversacks, a tumpline for a blanket roll and personal effects and a black round hat cocked up on one side.  The white gaitered-trowsers replaced the breeches for fast movement, personal protection and maneuverability.

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Regiment Von Riedesel's style of clothing was typical of most German infantry that fought in North America during the Revolution. Blue and white striped overalls are common as fatigues with Braunschweigers. They wear dark blue coats faced yellow with red turn-backs and white metal buttons. A yellow and white pom-pon tops their cocked hat, identifying them as a Musketier regiment.

The Duchy of Brunswick leased soldiers to the King of England for service in America. The Regiment Von Riedesel was with Burgoyne on his march from Canada, and surrendered with him at Saratoga, NY, on October 17, 1777.

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71st Rgt of Foot, Fraiser's Highlanders, Major's Co'y - September, 1777

Fraiser's Highlanders wear short red coats faced white, topped by the traditional highlander's bonnet as they were at the Battle of Brandywine. Trousers were considered more practical than kilts for service in America. Their leather waistbelts with single frogs for bayonet are black, unusual for British troops.

Fraiser's entered the war in April of 1776 as the largest British regiment that served in the Revolution, but suffered enormous casualties before returning to England in late 1783.

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The Fort St. Joseph Militia wears civilian clothing with a wild mix of French and Indian influences: bright colors, moccasins, wooden shoes, fingerwoven sashes, and decorative silver broaches. Weapons and accouterments also reflect their frontier lifestyle and French heritage.

The militia at Fort St. Joseph, in what is now southwestern Michigan, was not an organized "permanent" militia, but rather a group of civilians acting as militiamen. At the time portrayed, they had joined forces with a detachment of the King's Eighth in an effort to forestall an impending attack on Detroit by George Rogers Clark. The French at Fort St. Joseph were deported to Michilimackinac by Governor Patrick Sinclair in June of 1780.

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8th (King's) Rgt. of Foot - July, 1779

Dressed in red coats faced blue, white small clothes, tall black gaiters, and black cocked hats trimmed white, the 8th may be seen with their distinctive goatskin knapsacks. Painted canvas knapsacks were common for troops' personal articles when on the march, but some German and British regiments chose goatskin.

The 8th Regiment covered the widest range of any regular British unit, from Montreal to the Mississippi River and Canada to Kentucky. They served on the frontier with Indians and loyalists from well before the war, 1768, until after the war's end in 1785.

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The light company, shown here, wears a short green jacket faced green, and a leather cap with a silver crescent symbolizing Diana, Goddess of the Hunt. They wear white trousers with spatterdashers, typical of light troops. Their caps sport feathers of white and black, the black worn in mourning for Major Andréwho was captured and hung for his part in Benedict Arnold's betrayal.

The 1st American Regiment was originally raised during the Seven Years War by Robert Rogers and were better known as Roger's Rangers. They were re-raised by Rogers in 1776, and served to 1784. Today they are part of the Canadian Army as the Queen's York Rangers, 1st American Regiment.

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Campeau's Co'y, Saint Anne's Militia, Bird's Expedition - 1780

Campeau's company wears a variety of civilian clothing that shows their frontier lifestyle and French heritage. Weapons and accouterments are also civilian in nature and vary greatly.

The Saint Anne militia was comprised of men raised along the Detroit River Region. Captain Bird led a British expedition into Kentucky that was supported by the local militia - including Campeau's Company - and native Americans. The expedition resulted in the capture of Ruddle's and Martin's stations.

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The 84th, in their government plaid and short red coats faced blue, look very much like the 42nd. Their blue highland bonnet, the style of lace on their lapels and cuffs, and the absence of shoulder wings are the primary differences. They wear white small clothes and a cartridge box and bayonet on their waist belt.

The 84th was the only highland regiment to be raised outside of Scotland. It was formed in 1775 from the families of the 42nd, 77th and 78th Highlanders, who had settled in Canada after the seven years war. Scottish emigrants from New York and North Carolina were also recruited.

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Capt. Andrew Bradt's Co'y, Butler's Corps of Rangers - July, 1783

Leather helmets and green regimentals faced red distinguish this notorious loyalist frontier regiment. Their waistcoats are also green, and their leg and footwear reflect the personal tastes and frontier experiences of the individual soldier. Butler's preferred white neckwear over the more common black military stock.

Based at Fort Niagara, Butler's Rangers terrorized the patriots of the northern frontier for the duration of the war.

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