Embodied and Sedentary Militia 1814

 

    The  battalions of Canadian militia were active throughout the 1814 campaign.  The 2nd Regiment fought at both Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.  When I started this project I was confused over the terms "embodied" and "sedentary" militia.  These troops who served for longer tours of duty were termed "embodied" militia while those who were called  away from their farms and businesses only during times of dire emergency were the "sedentary" militia.  

The Sedentary militia units seldom had uniforms.  They might have castffs from stores but fir tge most part hey were instructed to report for battle turned out in a civilian coat made of a dark cloth. They were advised to avoid grey coats, which was the color frequently used by the Americans.

   The Embodied militia wore both uniforms and civilian clothes. While  they  wanted to present a uniform appearance, it was very rarley achieved.  Depending on the year or month they were given red coats with yellow facings, green coats with red or yellow facings, castoffs from the 41st Foot (red faced red), regulation gray trousers,  "gunmouth" blue trousers. Head gear were left over stove pipe shakos, round hats or what ever the individual brought with them.  Equipment were regular accoutrements.  The troops who came the closest to military uniformity were the flank companies, who's uniforms included lace and possibly wings.

On the table top they present a interesting and unusual appearance. 

   

British Infantry Shakos War of 1812

 

  A major question when creating your British/Canadian army for the War of 1812 is which shako type will your regulars wear?  Opinions, debate and speculation about what equipment might have been in stores, Horse Guard's attitudes toward equipping  units in far-flung quarters, and isolated and obscure eye-witness accounts all flavor the question.  I still have not pinned down sources but here are my thoughts and opinions and I sincerely welcome you to draw your own conclusions. 

Stovepipe

Belgic

A British infantryman's cap (shako) was meant to last him two years. If an infantryman was issued a stovepipe shako in 1812, it would not be replaced until 1814 unless the entire unit was re-equipped. The British army went to war against Napoleon in Spain wearing the Stove Pipe shako.  The Belgic shako (sometimes called the "Waterloo" shako) was adopted by regulation in 1812, but did not find its way into the hands of infantrymen until nearly the end of fighting in Spain. It is usually associated with the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

1812/1813

What about the written orders in Canadian or British archives that determine which caps were in service. As it turns out, the orders provide very little guidance as the headgear is simply referred-to as "caps", or "felt caps."What the neck is a "Felt Regulation Cap."   Is it a stovepipe or Belgic shako? Both were made of felt.  Other documents mention 600 "bucket caps" returned to storage at Kingston in 1813. Were these stovepipe shakos returned because they had been replaced by Belgic shakos, or were they the shorter bucket shakos worn by Caldwell Rangers?  One would think these clerks could be more helpful!!!!

1814

The solution I  have reached for my armies  (and it is only an opinion) is that the Stove Pipe shall was worn in 1812/1813 and the Belgic shako by the time the 1814 Niagara campaign. There remains much debate about the Incorporated Militia regiment. The remainder of the militia, especially the Sedentary Militia, are presumed to be wearing primarily castoffs and items brought from home.  This could let you field them in stovepipe shako, round hats or any civilian hat or cap you like.

The times they are a changing....

 

Come on my brave Fusiliers!’ 15 March 1781

 

Guilford Courthouse 15 March 1781
Along the first line:

  " As at Camden, the British went forward as soon as they were in line. Captain Peter led the 23rd on as acting commanding officer, with the regiment effectively in two wings under captains Saumarez and Champagne. As they went forward, one of them noticed the ‘field lately ploughed, which was wet and muddy from the rains which had recently fallen’.

On they trudged towards the fence that marked the end of Hoskins’ cornfield and the beginning of the woods to the fore, observing as they grew closer that the rails were lined with men. MacLeod’s cannon opened fire, sending their ball whooshing into the American lines. Colonel Webster, on horseback, trotted to the front of his brigade and called out so that all could hear, ‘Charge!’ The men began jogging forward, bayonets fixed and muskets levelled towards the enemy. A crackling fire from their left, Kirkwood’s riflemen, began knocking down a redcoat here or there, but did nothing to check their impetus.

When the British line was little more than 50 yards from the North Carolina militia everything seemed to stop for Serjeant Lamb: … it was perceived the whole of their force had their arms presented, and resting on a rail fence … they were taking aim with the nicest precision. At this awful period a general pause took place; both parties surveyed each other for the moment with the most anxious suspense … Colonel Webster spurred his horse to the head of the 23rd and bellowed out, ‘Come on my brave Fusiliers!’ Some of the Americans started to run, but most held on for a moment; there was a rippling crash of American musketry when the redcoats were at optimum range, 40 to 50 yards away. Dozens of Webster’s men went down as the musket balls cut legs from under them or smashed into their chests. Lieutenant Calvert worried for an instant how his men might react to such a heavy fire: ‘They instantly returned it and did not give the enemy time to repeat their fire but rushed on them with bayonets.’ Captain Saumarez noted with pride, ‘No troops could behave better than the regiment … they never returned the enemy’s fire but by word of command and marched on with the most undaunted courage.’..."


Quote from;
Fusiliers:  The saga of a British Redcoat Regiment in the American Revolution  by Mark Urban

A new Project

 

I am adding a few new American Regular regiments to my War of 1812 armies.  I will be using the wonderful Knuckleduster miniatures.  Instead of the usual 1814 uniform I am going with the hybrid 1813 uniform.  Its colorful and different.

  The uniforms of the American Army during the War of 1812 is a very complex subject.   Uniforms changed considerably throughout the war,not once but at least three times.   The uniforms worn early in the war were very different then those worn at the end of the war.  More importantly units didn't always receive new items immediately when they became available. 

  Throughout the 1813 campaign season the American regular infantry wore a hybrid uniform. On paper, the US Army had an entirely new uniform in 1813. This was a plain coatee without the lace adorning earlier versions of the garment, and a ,new leather shako. But as any student of military history can tell you, the dictates from on high do not always translate into changes in the field; at least not right away;  sometimes if ever.  The American army throughout the 1813 campaign season (a third of the war), wore a hybrid of the 1812 and 1814 uniform.

  On paper the United States Army  had an entirely new uniform.  This was to be a plain coatee without the lace the earlier coatee had  plus a new leather shako.

  The leather shako was delivered very quickly to the front lines, and most units had them in hand for the 1813 campaign season.

  The regimental coats were another story. The old laced 1812 coatee continued to be worn by a substantial number of units, and because of shortages of blue dye, it was delivered to units in various shades of grey, "drab", brown, and black. According to Rene Chartrand, the Army specified that, "the mixed color coatees and garments were to be cut as prescribed in the February 1812 regulations, with red collars and cuffs, and white lace binding."

US Regulars in the hybrid 1813 uniform from the Knuckleduster miniatures website.

  The units wearing this old coat/new cap configuration, were as follows (coat color follows listing):

12th US: Drab, red facings

14th: Brown for some, Drab faced with Red for others.

21st: Blue, red facings

16th: Black, red  facings

  Yet another exception to the rule., which the War of 1812 is filled.   The 25th US Infantry had the old felt shako and a blue coat faced with red (and with minimal lace).