American Revolution

Taken from Paper Soldiers of the American Revolution, British troops and thier allies.
Although British I’ve titled it American Revolution and placed it in the North American section for anything concerning the  subject of the American Revolution.
The B/W line drawings in this book are quite good but some ot the information regarding the uniforms is a little basic.
Ideal  for anyone to colour who requires a cheap form of therapy, or just has too much time on their hands.
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There is a very similar coloring book for American Civil War uniforms as well. If I recall it has about 100 figures each with a front and back to color.

Ive scanned and 'colorized' numerous b/w line drawings from various "Uniforms of _____" coloring books myself. The bad news is that many of these books are used and/or hard to come by and in some cases some kid/previous owner has already ruined several of the drawings preventing me from scanning it.

www.amazon.com/American-Military-Uniforms-1639-1968-Colouring/dp/0486232395/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1384199652&sr=8-4&keywords=uniforms+coloring+book
www.amazon.com/World-Uniforms-Coloring-Colouring-Books/dp/0486235793/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384199652&sr=8-3&keywords=uniforms+coloring+book
www.amazon.com/Uniforms-American-Revolution-Coloring-Fashion/dp/0486218503/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384199652&sr=8-2&keywords=uniforms+coloring+book
www.amazon.com/Civil-Uniforms-Coloring-Dover-Fashion/dp/0486235351/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384199652&sr=8-1&keywords=uniforms+coloring+book
^ the ones I have.

There appears to be a whole series of the ‘Paper Soldiers’ books although this is the only one of that series that I’ve seen.
Many avoid the colouring book’s believing them to be poorly illustrated and only designed for children.  Some of these books are very well illustrated along with some good information.
If only computers and scanners were as easily available when most of these books were first published!

wfrad wrote:There appears to be a whole series of the ‘Paper Soldiers’ books although this is the only one of that series that I’ve seen.
Many avoid the colouring book’s believing them to be poorly illustrated and only designed for children.  Some of these books are very well illustrated along with some good information.
If only computers and scanners were as easily available when most of these books were first published!

I agree, some of them are actually very well researched and detailed ... sure they are geared towards children but as a little kid in the mid 1990s it was these coloring books that spurred my interest in military uniforms.

Unfortunately some of them such as "Uniforms of the American Revolution" have cartoonish looking characters that are either incredibly obese or incredibly thin.

Another image from ‘Paper Soldiers’.
The original drawing appears to show a broad sword type bayonet which I believe didn’t come into service until post 1800.
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Hi Bill, I could be wrong but I believe that all other ranks had white tape on their tricornes. IIRC only officers had gold tape.

Very good otherwise  

Well spotted, I could say that it was a deliberate mistake to see if you were awake!
Unfortunately it was a blunder on my part.
Men white officer’s gold.
Thanks Chris,
WF

This is a page from Paper Soldiers of the American Revolution, British Soldiers and their Allies.
Completing the page from the previous post. I've kept the changed details in respect of the soldier on the left, the more common bayonet used by British forces and minor details to the musket.
Also added a picture of the type of long Bess and bayonet used.
The illustration in the shows a private with epaulettes which is contrary to the dress regulations in force at the time.
Special dress regulations were drafted for the Composite battalion dated 12th march 1776.  
Officers using white lace like the privates of their respective regiments. Sergeant coats to have white lace instead of gold.

Original link no is no longer live, re-posted image.

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4th [Kings Own] Regiment
Another page from the paper soldiers book, I only done three of the four images on the page.
I've tried to find out about the hat plume.
According to official and other sources the 5th regiment wore a red plume/feather,  black for other regiments for the light dragoon style cap.
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Note that the button-lace on the 3rd figure is missing, I didn't notice until it was uploaded, the lace should be white,
Original image deleted by file host.

Original and link dead, re-posted.
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Drummers of the 10th of Foot.  The only real change from the original drawing, taken from Paper Soldiers, is that I've added a more detailed crest used by a re-enactment group.
Information for Infantry bands is a little sketchy since they were dependent on the regiments officers.  
Most, not all, had coats of the facing colour and many are not mentioned in any detail in official records.  
I've used the regulation blue for the lace line but I've seen re-enactment images that have used a yellow lace line.  
The re-enactment are more than likely correct but I've still gone with the regulation blue for lack of further information.

Again from Paper Soldiers of the American Revolution, mistakes are all mine.
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The drawing of Tarleton had epaulettes, although several portraits of the time show shoulder cord.
A detachment of the 17th Light Dragoons was allocated to the British Legion under Tarleton.
He may have been the monster that he was reputed to be, or he may have just been a soldier doing his job, probably both.  
He was apparently arrogant and full of his own self worth, having many friends in the right places didn’t hinder him either.
I don’t think he was on Wellington’s Christmas card list..
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This drawing differs slightly for the illustration in Lawson’s A history of the Uniforms of The British Army, having extra braid on the lower skirt of the coat/capote.  
I’m not sure about the cipher on the pouch, whether it was solid or voided.

From Lawson’s, Vol III.
For the winter of 1776-77 all the troops were provided with blanket coats ans lettings, and woollen or fur caps and mittens or long knitted caps with tassels.  Canadian Capotes of white wool trimmed with light blue woollen braids bound with the same.  They were fastened in front with three bows or rosettes of the same blue braid, the hood at the back was of white milton, also bound with blue braid.  The fur caps were of red cloth turned up at the base with brown fur and ornamented with a fur tail or brush falling down the back.  Leggings or overalls of thick blue cloth reaching well up to the waist and being strapped over the shoes (and presumably buttoning to a little above the ankle).
An under coat with sleeves of white wool.

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August 1768, from a letter from the Adjutant General to Colonel Cunningham.
The regiments that have buff lapels are to have buff waistcoats, of which you have the27th, 40th, 48th, and 61st in Ireland.  All other Regiments, let them be faced with blue, green, white, red, orange, yellow or black are to have white waist coats; the breeches and linning of the coats are to be of the same colour as that of the waistcoat.

From the Inspection Return for June 1775.
Officers gold-laced epaulette, buttons with badge and number of Regiment.
Colour of facing rather white than buff.
Shoulder and waist belts white but ordered to be altered to buff.

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29th Foot.
Added an example of the type of cap plate and facing lace not on the original drawing.
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33rd of Foot
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With regards to origin of the belted plaid and tartan worn by the 42rd, and others, there’s uncertainty as to who wore what and when.
There’s several theories to when and who introduced the government plaid and it’s original set but it seems to have been a dark blue, black and green set.
One theory put forward was the set of the government pattern came from the Stewart set worn in the early 1700’s by the Royal Company of Archers, the set not the colours.
Another is that it was invented from scratch as the first Colonel the Earl of Crawford wasn’t a highlander.

1739-49: The Earl of Crawfords Regiment of Foot also called The Highland Regimen.
1749: Re-numbered 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot.
1758: 42nd (The Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot 1758.
1861: 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch).
1881: Amalgamated with the 73rd to form the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
1934: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment).
2006:  3rd Batt. The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Dates differ a little depending on source, I’ve used Cochrane’s Scottish Military Dress, Gordon’s Bloodline, Henderson’s The Scottish Regiments and Brereton’s A Guide to the Regiments and Corps.

Form Ian S. Hallows Regiments and Corps of the British Army;
Raised in 1739 as the Highland Regiment (43rd) (42nd Foot in 1751) and in 1758 as the 2nd Battalion of the 42nd Regiment (73rd Highland Regiment in 1780). These two regiments became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1881.
The 42nd became the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch never having been dissociated from the Black Watch link while the 73rd became the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch.
From Records and Badges of the British Army 1900;
In 1786 the 2nd Battalion  42nd Royal Highlanders was constituted a separate corps with the title 73rd of foot.
In 1809 the 73rd was ordered to discontinue the Highland Dress and also had dark green facings.  
On the introduction of the Territorial system in 1881, the 73rd reverted to its original position of second battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Company officer of the 42nd, again the set of the tartan/plaid is not known for certain.
The check on the cap I believe should be red, white & green.
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As for the 42nd, the tartan set is not known for sure.
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For Chief Brandt I didn’t really have any one description, so it’s mainly made up for many, guess work.
Butlers Ranges, depending on source there’s minor differences in the uniform such as hats, feathers and whether the trousers were buff or white.
All are probably correct at any given period.
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From, Uniforms of the 1775-1783 American, British, French, and German Armies in the War of the American Revolution by Lt. Charles M Lefferts.
J. F. Pringle in his Lunenburgh or the old Eastern District (1890, p 183), says: “On the first formation of the corps the uniform may have been green, but it was certainly scarlet at a subsequent period.  The uniform worn by Lieut. Jeremiah French, of the second battalion, is still in existence, carefully preserved by his granddaughter, Mrs. Knight, now living in Cornwall.  The coat is of scarlet cloth, with blue facings and gold lace, a small epaulette of gold fringe on each shoulder.  The buttons are gilt, with the letters and words ‘K. R. R. New York’ stamped on them.  The dress waistcoat is scarlet, with gilt buttons.  The undress waistcoat and breeches are of white cloth.  The suit requires only the cocked hat, stockings, boots and buckled shoes, and crimson sash to be complete.”

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The two images below, the first is the b/w plate from the book and the second has the original painting superimposed on top of that plate.

The text is from Uniforms of the American, German British, French, and German Armies in the
War of the American Revolution l775 – 1783.
Painted and Described by the late LT. CHARLES M. LEFFERTS.  

Johnson’s Royal Regiment of New York, 1776,  The Royal Greens
This Loyalist Regiment was also called the Queen’s Loyal Americans, or the Royal Regiment of New York, but was best known as the “Royal Greens” by the Americans, who particularly hated the men on account of their inhumanity when in the field.
It was raised in 1776 by Sir John Johnson of New York, from among the Tories of Tryon County, N. Y., and among Canadians.
The number of enlisted men varied from time to time, for in 1777, at Fort Schuyler, the entire regiment consisted of but one hundred and thirty-eight men.
Their uniform of green and white, as shown in the drawing, was the dress adopted by the British Government for all Loyalist or Provincial commands in 1776. The facings at first were to be of white, green or blue cloth, but later orange, red or black was added as the commanding officers chose. The buttons of pewter were stamped with the Crown and the letters “R. P.” for “Royal
Provincial." Their leggings were of brown cloth to the knee. The belts of buff leather were the same as in the regular British service. The hats of coarse felt were laced or bound with white tape.
As in the British Line, the drummers reversed the colours of the dress, wearing white coats with green waistcoats and breeches. The light infantry company wore small wings of green cloth on their shoulders, laced with white, as shown on the grenadier of the 5th Foot, Plate XXX.

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