Fusilier Regiment von Knyphausen 1776

   Fusilier Regiment Knyphausen arrived in New York city in August 1776.  They took part in the fighting at  Long Island, White Plains and Fort Washington.  As part of the garrison at Trenton they surrendered after that battle.  For  1777  the survivors of the Trenton debacle were amalgamated into the  Combined battalion Loos.   This battalion took part in Howe's  Philadelphia campaign, fought at Brandywine and took part in the occupation of Philadelphia.  In 1778 the battalion was restored to their original name.  September 1779 they were sent to garrison Quebec but suffered very heavy loses in a storm at sea which forced them to return to New York.  Again sent to Quebec in May 1780 they stayed there until October when they were returned to New York city.  From there they returned to Germany in 1783.   This ended the service of this hard luck regiment in the American war.

  Uniforms of the Hessian and Brunswick regiments during the American Revolution are a confusing topic.  There is much misinformation and contradictory materials out there.  The contemporary watercolors of the regiments often published are from a slightly later time after the war and may include changes done after the war.  So those of us who paint these fine fellows must do our research and make our best guess.   During the course of painting these fine fellows i have had to repaint numerous details over when new information became available.    If I have made a error in the uniforms I beg your pardon.

  The regiment had blue coats with black lapels, collar and cuffs.  Officers lace was gold.   The Fusilier caps  are based on original caps worn by the regiment.  Drummers are based on information from the end of the Seven Years War.  Drums at that time for this regiment were brass with white cords and Drum rims were black and white diagonal strips.  Regimental colors are from GMB and beautiful little works of art they are. Miniatures are from Minden Miniatures who also do the Fife and Drum range.

  I would like to thank Ed from the Fife and Drum miniatures forum.  He was kind enough to share his research  and suggestions with me over the confusing subject of Hesse Kassel uniforms.  Thank you sir!