Two eye witness accounts: Lexington Green 19 April 1775

 

It is always interesting to compare eye witness accounts of the same event.  Two people can see or experience the same event but come away from it with totally different interpretations.  Here is the case of British officer William Sutherland (38th Regiment) and Lexington Militia Man William Todd.  Both interacted on Lexington Green but came away with totally different interpretations of the same event.  

It. William Sutherland was mounted on a captured horse and when the firing broke out on Lexington Green the horse bolted for home taking Sutherland on a wild ride before he could stop it and return:

When we came up to the Main body who were drawn up in the plain opposite to the Church when several Officers called out, throw down your Arms & you shall come by no harm, or words to that effecth Which they refusing to do, instantaneously the Gentlemen (British officers) who were on horseback rode in amongst them at which time I heared Major [John] Pitcairns voice call out "Soldiers dont fire keep your ranks and form & surround them," instantly some of the Villains were got over the hedge, fired at us, & it was then & not before that the Soldiers fired which sett my horse agoing who gallopped with me 600 yards or more down a road to the right amongst the middle of them, at last I turned him and in returning a vast number who were in a wood at the right of the Grenadiers fired at me, but the distance was so great that I only heared the Whissing of the Balls, but saw a great number of people in this Wood, in  consequence of their discovering them being there our Grenadiers who were then on our flank and close to them gave them a very smart fire.

On the other hand here is a Lexington Militia man, William Tidd who thought he was being chased by a mounted British officer and ran for his life;

about five o’clock of said morning, intelligence was received that the British were within a short distance; and, on the beat to arms, I immediately repaired to where our company were fast assembling; that when about sixty or seventy of them had taken post, the British had arrived within sight, and were advancing on a quick march towards us, when I distinctly heard one of their officers say, “Lay down your arms and disperse, ye rebels!” They then fired upon us. I then retreated up the north road, and was pursued about thirty rods by an officer on horseback calling out to me, “Damn you, stop, or you are a dead man!” – I found I could not escape him, unless I left the road. Therefore I sprang over a pair of bars, made a stand and discharged my gun at him; upon which he immediately turned to the main body, which shortly after took up their march for Concord. 

William Tidd.

Culloden (1964) Peter Watkins

 

  April 16, 2021 is the 275 anniversary of the Battle of Culloden.  Back when I was eight or nine years old I saw the Peter Watkins documentary Culloden.  It was a fascinating and horrific experience. Since that time I have seen the movie multiple times and searched out and read John Prebble's book numerous times.  Although I have read other books about the battle my mind still sees it through the lens of this film.  

 Back in April 1983 I took a month off from work to travel around Great Britain via rail pass.  It was a amazing experience.  I made sure I was in Inverness in time for the anniversary of the battle.  I got up early on the morning of 16 April and in a light drizzle walked to the battlefield with a copy of John Prebble's book Culloden.  For a number if hours I walked about stopping and reading portions of the book at the locations of the battle from the book.  I cannot remember how long I was there but it was a fascinating experience. 

 I have, through my time with the NPS and on my own visited numerous battlefields (Monmouth, Guilford Courthouse, Cowpens and too many others) and historical sites (Ford's Theater) on the anniversary of the event.   But of all of them my time on Culloden moor was the most memorable and haunting.

Rawdon's Army April - September 1781

 

When Cornwallis' chased off after Greene he took the best of the best with him.  Lord Rawdon was left to defend South Carolina with a mixed bag of worn out understrength British regiments, poor moral Hessian regiments used for garrisson duty and a number of crack loyalist regiments.  There was little cavalry and most were mounted infantry who were learning on the go.  Quite the opposite of Cornwallis' army.  Yet, he accomplished wonders with it and his army can make a very good table top collection.  Please note that information on loyalist uniforms is sketchy at best and most documents are for 1783 so what a particular regiment wore and when is often a best guess.  Most details for uniforms would be similar to dress in Cornwallis' army.

British Regiments:

3rd Regiment:

Arrived June 3, 1781.  Took part in relief of Ninety Six and Battle of Eutaw Springs.  Uniform red coat with buff facings, small clothes and belting.  It is not known if they adapted their uniforms to campaign conditions or not.  So possible to use figures in their 1768 regulation uniforms.

17th Company

Served with Provincial Light Infantry in operations against Marion and other partisans.  Made up from survivors of the 17th Regiment of Foot after Stoney Point.  Dressed in the battalion companies uniform of red coat faced white,  cocked hats, and overalls. Officer silver lace.

Marjoribanks' Flank battalion

Made up of the light and Grenadier companies from the 3rd, 19th and 30th Regiments. It is not known if they adapted their uniforms to campaign conditions or not.  So possible to use figures in their 1768 regulation uniforms.

19th Regiment

Arrived June 3, 1781. Took part in relief of Ninety Six.  Regimental baggage lost at Monk's Corner S.C. July 1781 and fought at Quinby Bridge.  Flank companies at Eutaw Springs.  It is not known if they adapted their uniforms to campaign conditions or not.  So possible to use figures in their 1768 regulation uniforms.

30th Regiment

Arrived June 3, 1781.  Took part in relief of Ninety Six.  Uniform red coat with pale yellow facings.  It is not known if they adapted their uniforms to campaign conditions or not.  So possible to use figures in their 1768 regulation uniforms.

63rd Regiment

Sent to siege of Charleston in 1779 and remained in South Carolina until 1782.  Detachments fought as mounted infantry at Fishdam Ford and Blackstock's Hill in 1780.  Regiment fought at Hobkirk Hill and Eutaw  Springs 1781. Green facings. Officers gold lace.

64th Regiment

Fought at siege of Charleston 1779 and Eutaw Springs 1781.  Very active against Marion and fought a series of actions against him. Uniform black facings.  Officers gold lace.

82nd Regiment

Arrived in South Carolina as part of General Leslie's reinforcement December 1780.  Black facings.  Officers gold lace.

2/84th Regiment (Royal Highland Emigrants)

Sent to South Carolina April 1781 and fought at Eutaw Springs.  Originaly dressed in Highland uniform similar to 42nd.  May have worn overalls in south rather then kilt.  Blue facings.  Officers gold lace.

Loyalist Regiments:

Provincial Light Infantry

Arrived with the forces under General Alexander Leslie in December 1780.  

Formed in New York in 1780, the battalion was made up six companies from the following loyalist regiments: 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions New Jersey Volunteers (blue facings),3rd bn. De Lancey's (green facings),Loyal American Regiment (green facings) and King's American Regiment (Blue facings) and numbered about 200 men. They were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Watson Tadswell Watson, a Guards officer.  The battalion  wore their parent regiments uniform but were to be equipped as light infantry. They also had a company from the 17th Regiment of Foot operating with them.  For most of their time in the south they operated in anti partisan operations against Sumner and later with the 64th Regiment of Foot and a troop of loyalist horse against Francis Marion's partisans.  They took part in the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

Volunteers of Ireland  (2nd American Regiment)

The regiment was raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania during the British occupation in 1777 by Francis Rawdon-Hastings.  He had been given permission to form a British Provincial regiment from Irishmen, serving in the American Thirteen Colonies. It was felt that many of these men would desert to the Crown of such a regiment was raised.  Known as the Volunteers of Ireland the regiment was placed on the American establishment as the 2nd American Regiment (Volunteers of Ireland) on 2 May 1779.

  The Volunteers served at the siege of  Charleston in 1780, and the Battle of Camden 1780.  Sergeant Thomas Hudson of the Volunteers  received a decoration for heroism at Camden. The regiment fought at the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill in April 1781, as well as the relief of the Loyalist fort at the Siege of Ninety-Six in May 1781.

 

New York Volunteers (3rd American Regiment)

  One of the very first loyalist fighting regiments they had a long and stories history.  Organized as two independent companies under Captains  Grant and Campbell in late 1775, they fought at the Battle of Long Island although "dressed in rags."  They later took part in the fighting around White Plains New York.  Sent south with Colonel Archibald Campbell in 1779 they fought in Georgia and South Carolina.  After their defense of Rocky Mount their commander Colonel Turnball suggested they were given a standard. In addition a company from the regiment under Captain Coffin was equipped as cavalry and served as dragoons at Hobkirk's Hill and Eutaw Springs battles. In 1779 they were taken on the American Establishment as the 3rd American Regiment. Uniform is based on returns in 1782 which suggest they wore red coats faced blue. Prior to that it is very unclear and contradictory.  Officers appear to have had silver lace .  

    

Kings American Regiment (4th American Regiment)

The King's American Regiment was raised in New York in December 1776 by Colonel Edmund Fanning. It took part in the 1777 attacks on Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery,  the 1780 Siege of Charleston, the 1781 raids on Newport and Richmond, Virginia, and the 1781 Campaigns in South Carolina,  Georgia and East Florida. The regiment was brought into the American Establishment, on March 7, 1781 and renamed the "4th American Regiment". The regiment became part of the British Establishment in 1782 (possibly as the "110th Regiment of Foot" ) and was disbanded in Canada in 1783.  During much of their history they fought along side the New York Volunteers at Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton 1777 and again later at  Hobkirk Hill 1781. The regiments uniform for much of their history appears to be red coats faced green (later faced blue).  Officers lace was gold.  

South Carolina Royalists

Although raised as an infantry battalion by the summer of 1781 they were converted to a legion type organization.   From a nine company infantry regiment eight companies were equipped  as cavalry, and one infantry company.  In this configuration they were more mobile and equipped to fight the American partisans.    They reverted back to infantry companies before being moved to to St Augustine, November 1782 .    It appears the regiment had many black soldiers in its ranks. When disbanded in October 1783 the white soldiers were sent to settle in Nova Scotia.  Black soldiers were combined with other men from various loyalist corps and sent  to the West Indies to serve there as Carolina Corps.

  There is not a lot of documentation for this regiment so it's a educated guess based on what is out there.  Here is what we do know;  Early in their history they had red coats faced white.   Wiederhold’s 1783 Almanack states that the South Carolina Royalists had red coats, but no facing and button colors are indicated. The 1783 New York List mentions “Red Coat — Yellow Lappel Variety button hole,” for the South Carolina Royalists.  It is also possible they might have had blue jackets for a short time.

 3/DeLancy

Red coat faced green in 1783.

2/New Jersey Volunteers

Red coat faced blue 1783.

Coffins Dragoons (Mounted company NYV)

Raised from a company of infantry from the New York Volunteers.  A report from December reported the men dressed in "green jackets.". These were either left over uniforms from the NYV rifle Company or possibly from Queens Rangers or British Legion uniforms in supply at Charleston.

South Carolina Dragoons

Commanded by Captain Edward Fenwick this troop Of about 30-40 men served with the South Carolina Royalists.  no documents about uniform.  

South Carolina Rangers

Raised in Charleston in 1780 and served in that area.  Commanded by Major John Harrison.  Nothing known about uniform.

Hessian Regiments

By 1781 Hessian regiments were usually second class units and reserved for garrisson duty.  They seldom took the field.  Researching Hessian regiments can be confusing due to the name of the regiment changing with new commander.

De Angelelli

Originally the Grenadier Regiment Rall.  Part of the garrison of Charleston about 400 men.  Uniform blue coat lined red with red collar and cuffs.  Small clothes buff.  Brass Grenadier caps.  

Fusiliers Regiment Ditfurth

Part of the garrisson of Charleston.  As a Fusilier regiment wore brass cap with yellow bag edged white.  Blue coat lined red and pale yellow facings.  Small clothing yellow and red neck stocks.  Officer lace gold.   About 500 men.

Garrison Regiment von Huyn

Part if the garrison of Charleston.  About 500 men.  Uniform blue coat with yellow collar and cuffs and lined red.  Small clothes buff.  Officers lace  silver.

A Night To Remember by Walter Lord

 

  

   A short break from wargames and historical research.  Each 14th April I take some time in the evening to read one of my favorite books of all time, "A Night To Remember" by Walter Lord.  Its a ritual I gave been doing since I was very young.  Sometimes I finish the book (staying up until the early hours of the morning) other times its a few chapters.  A fascinating topic and a very brilliant read.  The copy I read is a rare illustrated edition which I hunted for and finally found back in the 1980's.  It is also autographed by a few survivors of the ship I was lucky enough to met and the author Walter Lord himself.  So its doubly special.

Tomorrow, back to more usual topics and my run down about Lord Rawdon's Southern Army April swept ember 1781.

Cornwallis' Southern Army 1781

 

  Cornwallis' Field force is something of a wargamers dream.  You get all the bells and whistles and the really neat stuff with little or no fluff.  It is built for that gamer who loves to have the elite regiments.  Only the best is good enough! There are Guard regiments, elite line regiments, light infantry, cavalry , artillety, Jagers and Hessian. Due to the small numbers involved you can build this army at a 1:10 ratio without breaking the bank.

British:

Most British regiments will be dressed similar.  Red coats with regimental facings on the lapels, collar and cuffs were often cut short.  Winter overalls of brown wool were worn in place of breeches.  The westkit or vest was of white wool or linen material.  The cocked hat or tricon was usually cut down into a round or slouch hat. Belting was whiten buff leather for most regiments except the Highlander.  On the right hip was a black cartridge box, sometimes with a brass regimental badge and a bayonet on the left hip.  Water bottles or canteens were usualy tin although the Guards had their unusual tubs.  A linen haversack held rations and there were a variety of knapsack. Exceptions to this will be listed with each regiment.

17th Light Dragoons

A small troop of about 40 to 50  men were attached to the British Legion.  They kept their regulation uniforms.  When offered new British Legion uniforms as replacements after their uniforms were worn out refused.

Brigade of Guards:

Arrived in December 1780 and served throughout the campaign.   The Brigade was drawn from all three Guard's regiments and their uniform was very heavily modified for service in America.   After arriving in South Carolina in January 1781 the Guards were reorganized into six oversized companies of about 140 rank and file each.  The first battalion was made up of two battalion companies and the Grenadier company.  The second battalion had two battalion companies and the Light Infantry company.  The light company was often detached and saw service with Tarleton's British Legion cavalry during the campaign.  

Regimental coats were shortened, shoulder straps replaced with blue cloth.  The distinctive regimental lace was removed in 1776 but may have been replaced by 1780.  Trousers and short gaiters were issued to replace breeches.  The cocked hat was uncocked, lace removed, brim cut short and recocked on one side only.  The waistbelt was placed in storage and the bayonet standard attached to the cartridge box belt.  Haversacks and a water tub issued.  

The Grenadiers and Light Infantry were issued a curious hat-cap.  This appears to be a visor cap with a bearskin crest.  A possible drawing of this was done by Major John Andre on his map of Brandywine. To distinguish the two battalions the first were to leave strips of lace on their shoulder straps.

As the War progressed it appears that the regimental lace was placed back on the coats, and bayonets placed on  separate belts.  The Guards were also in 1780 issued brown overalls like the rest of Cornwallis' army for the winter. 

Light Infantry battalion:

The Light battalion fought at Camden and was destroyed at Cowpens.  It often was attached to the British Region and flight with them in many of their actions. It was composed of 2 companies of  the 71st Highland Regiment (35+34 ), 1 company of the 16th Regiment of Foot (41), & 1 company of the Prince of Wales’ American Volunteers (40).  

 Uniforms are a bit of a mystery and since there is little documentation they are a best guess.  Presently I field them as British light infantry in short coats, overalls and round hats with black equipment.  The 71st had white facings, the 16th yellow and the Prince of Wales possibly blue.  If you want more variety you could field them in their regimental uniforms.  

7th Regiment of Foot:

The eight battalion companies of about 200 men served until captured at Cowpens in January 1781.   By 1780 the regiment was a veteran battalion of long service and were not recruits.  The regiment wore red coats faced blue.  Although it was very common for most British regiments to wear their hats cut down the 7th may not have done this according to the present reenactment group.  If so it would be one way to make the regiment look different from the 23rd.  Colors captured at Cowpens.

23rd Regiment of Foot:

This famous regiment numbered about 250 to 300 men and served together with the 33rd throughout Cornwallis' campaign.  They took part in most important actions

The regimental coat with blue facings was shortened and brown winter overalls issued.  By 1779 the Regiment had placed the expensive Fusiliers cap in storage and wore a cocked, probably cut down like the Brigade of Guards hat.   The cartridge box had a badge in brass of the three feathers of the Prince of Wales. The regimental and Kings colors were carried in the south.

33rd Regiment of Foot:

Served throughout the campaign with about 240 to 300 men.The regimental coat with red facings were shortened and a hat similar to the Guards worn.  Otherwise same uniform information as for the 23rd who they served together with in most actions throughout the campaign.

71st Highland Regiment:

By 1781 this hard fighting regiment had been campaigning in the south since 1779.  The regiment was made up of two battalions.  The light infantry company served with the compbined ad hoc light battalion.  Both the light company and first battalion captured at Cowpens.

The regiment wore a shortened red coat with white facings.  The belting was black and probably A cartridge box rather then a belly box.  Overalls were brown wool for winter.  The highland bonnet was worn.

Royal Artillery:

Served throughout the campaign with three and six pound guns.  Wire a blue coat faced and lined red and yellow lace.  Gun carriages were gray with metal parts painted black.  May have worn cocked hats trimmed yellow or cut down caps.

Hessian:

Jager Company:

A oversized company of about 90 men.  Green coats faced and lined red.  Probably overalls.

Musketeer Regiment von Bose:

Arrived in December 1780. A large regiment of over 300 men.  Dressed in blue coats faced white and lined red.  Issued The British brown winter overalls.  Cocked hat had white lace and a Red pompom.  

Loyalists:

British Legion Dragoons:

The most famous of loyalist regiments. Tarleton's dragoons served throughout the campaign and acquired a reputation for ruthlessness.  Organized into three troops they numbered between 120 and 240 men.  Before Cowpens they took in  very large numbers of  Continentals captured at Camden.  This could account for their poor performance at that battle as many took the opportunity to desert back afterwards.  Dressed in short green jackets with black collar and cuffs, buff breeches and the famous Tarleton cap.  In summer may gave been dressed in white socks.

British Legion Infantry:

The poor step child if the British legion. Served until captured at Cowpens in 1781.  In addition a light three pounder usually operated with the Legion.

Wore a green coat with black cuffs and collar.  Waistcoat was also green and possibly laced and overalls.  Possible leather helmet or cap or campaign modified cocked hat.  Documentation is lacking.

Royal North Carolina Regiment:

Although they marched with Cornwallis' they were usually assigned to guard the baggage.  Possible wore red coat faced blue with no lace. There is no documentation for white hats.  Although if you want them who am I to say no!