Future Supplements currently completed will cover New York troops and uniforms, then Vermont troops and uniforms.
The New York Supplement will mention the Patriots of three members.
The Vermont Supplement will mention Patriots of two members.
Beginning work on Virginia. We have many members with Patriots who served there.
jgp
The acceptance of my Article to the National SAR magazine for last Summer's Issue came as a surprise. We'll see if lightening will strike again!
I submitted new article to our National SAR magazine for the Winter Issue. I hope it will be accepted.
Here is a preview of the material submitted.
Redcoat -Foe or Friend?
By Jim Penny
SAR#102201
Alexander Hodge Chapter
#49
We have
all heard of Paul Revere’s ride and the warning shout of the “The Redcoats were
Coming, The Redcoats were Coming”.
Although, that particular warning phrase has recently come under scrutiny. Yet, still when one hears of a Redcoat, the
British soldier immediately comes to mind.
Yet, this was not always the case. The American forces were short on uniforms
through much of the War. About 15,0004
captured British uniforms were used during the War and often without taking the
time to dye them a more friendly color. The
Leadership of American Forces had mixed feelings on the use of both captured
uniforms and the use of red uniforms of some American military Units.
For example, When St John’s (Saint Jean,
QC) fell to the Americans in November of 1775, correspondence between from American
commander General Richard Montgomery to General Philip Schuyer reveals “The
officers of the First Regiment of Yorkers, and Artillery Company, were very
near a mutiny the other day, because I would not stop the clothing of the
garrison of St. John’ s. I would not have sullied my own reputation, nor
disgraced the Continental arms, by such a breach of capitulation, for the
universe; there was no driving it into their noddles, that the clothing was
really the property of the soldier, that he had paid for it, and that every
Regiment, in this country especially, saved a year’ s clothing, to have decent
clothes to wear on particular occasions.”
Yet, another entry by General Montgomery
indicates that he did not have the same views for uniforms captured from a
British storehouse at Montreal since it was a lawful seizure and not the taking
of personal property of captured British soldiers. “With a year’ s clothing of the (British) 7th and
26th, I have relieved the distresses of Arnold’s corps, and forwarded the
clothing of some other corps. The greatest part of that clothing is a fair
prize, except such as immediately belonged to the prisoners taken on board;
they must be paid for theirs, as it was their own property.” He is referring to the uniforms provided as relief
for the survivors of Colonel Benedict Arnold’s march through the Maine
wilderness to the gates of Quebec City.
From
Headquarters at Morris Town, General Washington addressed his concerns on the
use of red uniforms to Colonel
Stephen Moylan and to James Mease on May 12th, 1777. Colonel Moylan was commissioned a commander of the 4th Regiment of
Continental Light Dragoons known as Moyan’s Horse, with the rank of Colonel, on
January 8, 1777. Note: The regiment was known for taking the field in captured
British scarlet coats faced with blue and saw action at the Battle of
Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown in their scarlet uniforms. James Mease served as Clothier General of the
Continental Army from 10 Jan. 1777 until the department was reorganized in 1779.
(To Colonel Moylan) “Sir… A party of your Regiment arrived here
Yesterday…... Their appearance has convinced me fully of the danger which I
always apprehended from the similiarity of their Uniform to that of the British
Horse, …., and had they been travelling thro’ a part of the Country, where it
might have been supposed the Enemy’s Horse would be foraging or scouting, they
would in all probability have been fired upon. The inconvenience will increase,
when your Regiment joins the Army. Your patroles will be in constant danger
from our own scouting Parties….”. I
therefore desire that you will immediately fall upon means, for having the
colour of the Coats changed, which may be done, by dipping into that kind of
dye that is most proper to put upon Red. I care not what it is, so
that the present colour be changed.”
(To
James Mease) “Sir,
Being more and more convinced, of the impolicy of any part of our Troops being
Clothed in Red and that many injurious and fatal consequences are to be
apprehended from it, I think it necessary to repeat my request, mentioned in my
last, that you will have all the Clothes in your hands, of that Colour,
dyed of some other, as soon as you can. Yesterday an Escort from Colo. Moylan’s
Regiment dressed in that Uniform, ….., they certainly would have suffered.
Unless the matter is immediately remedied, by changing the Colour, our people
will be destroying themselves…..”
Washington continued writing James
Mease to seek a solution to American troops wearing red and in particular those
of Colonel Moyan.
On the 20th May 1777, Washington wrote
“Sir,… I am informed, that Colo. Moylan has provided Frocks for his men,
with which they can cover their Red Coats occasionally; if so, it takes off the
objection which I had to their Uniform. But this cannot be done by the Foot, as
they cannot carry a coat and Frock, you must therefore contrive to have their
Coats dyed, as quick as possible. Colo.
Mason’s Regiment must have the Brown and Buff Clothing…”.
On 17th April 1777, “I could wish
Colo. Moylan would put his Regt in any other Uniform than Scarlet, because I am
convinced that many Mistakes and perhaps some fatal ones will happen from our
Dragoons being cloathed in Red and Blue which is the same with the Queens
Dragoons. There now are going on, 1400 Suits of Brown and White and Brown
and Buff which are handsome, and good standing Colours, I had rather see
Moylans Corps in one of them than in scarlet, for the Reasons I have mentioned…..”
On
12th May 1777, a response from James Mease to General Washington
recountered how Colonel Moyan was desirous of changing the color of his
soldiers uniforms except the officers had went to great expense to outfit
themselves in red and did not want to change.
He also described some of the British uniforms being supplied to
American troops as the Red coats of the British 21st Regiment of
Foot having blue facings on the collar, lapels, and cuffs; the Red coats with
blue facings of the 16th (Queen’s Own) Regiment of Light Dragoons; the Red coats
of the British 47th Regiment with white facings; tRed coats of the 53d Regiment
with red facings; and the Red coat of the 62d Regiment with pale yellowish buff
facings.
Some American units had a history of the uniform’s color that
they did not want to give up. For
example, in attached Picture 1 and Picture 2 are Units
who are still keeping the tradition alive.
The list of Regiments that wore a heavily red uniform includes forces from Rhode Island, Virginia (1776), Connecticut (1777), Maryland (Baltimore, 1776), South Carolina (Charleston, 1773-1776), and several Continental Regiments. Both our Spanish and French allies had Irish Infantry Regiments from who wore a Redcoat. The Spanish had three Irish Regiments: Ultonia (Ulster), Irlanda, and Hibernia. The French also had three Irish InfantryRegiments: Walsh, Dillion, and Berwick Regiments. One of the Walsh Regiments were assigned to Capt. John Paul Jones flagship, Bon Homme Richard where they performed as a Marine Regiment (see Picture 3 and Picture 4).
Picture 1 Picture 2
Pautuxet Rangers - Rhode Island Kingston Reds Militia - Rhode Island
Picture 3 Picture 4
Adams reviewing the Marines assigned French, Irish Dillion Regiment
to John Paul Jones (French, Irish Walsh Regiment)
Sources:
1.
AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNIFORMS FROM
1775-1783; THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR
by Digby Smith, Kevin F. Riley, Consultant Jeremy Black MBE; publisher: Lorenz Books, London.
2. Pritzker Military Archives (pritzkermilitarylibrary.org). Located in Chicago, ILL. painting by Charles H. Waterhouse
3. “From George Washington to Colonel
Stephen Moylan, 12 May 1777,” Founders Online, National
Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0396.
[Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 9, 28 March 1777 – 10 June 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, p. 401.]
4. Seeing Red - Fort Ticonderoga
prepared by Jim Penny
Here is the last on viewership of our Blog.Came across this feature in the Blog in Oct. Interesting info on viewership.
sent in email on Oct 18. Nov 1st Dec 4th Dec 15
Today (10/18): 116 44 (11/1) 26 2
Yesterday (10/17): 81 65 (10/31) 43 (12/3) 38
This Month (Oct): 1070 44 (Nov) 208 (Dec) 1788
Last Month (Sept.): 10,574 1838 (Oct) 2266 (Nov) 2266
prepared by Jim Penny
In 2023, We heard many excellent discourses on a variety of American Revolution topics. Members who were not present missed great presentations!
Nov. 28, 2023. Our own Dr. Chis Hammond delivered a very detailed examination of the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party on the approach of the 250th Anniversary on December 16th.
Sept. 30,2023. Wesley Wright presented an excellent presentation on Gen. George Washington and his Farewell Tour to his troops. He provided members with a professional printed booklet of George Washington's actual Farewell Address. A handout on the Newburgh Conspiracy was included.
July 25, 2023. Dr Gregg Dimmick on the subject in his book "Sea of Mud". The book and his archeological excavations deal with the discovery of artifacts near Houston on the Brazo river relating to the Mexican forces retreat back to Mexico. Many military articles were lost in the mud along the river and at their crossing.
May 30, 2023. Andy Hall presented a topic was titled First Ashore, the Continental Marines at New Providence in the Bahamas in March 1776.
March 28, 2023. Our fellow member, Randall Hankla presented a very good topic on the Battle of King's Mountain. The presentation was accompanied with a map of the arrangement of forces during the battle. Additionally, examples of the firearms used during the battle was also present.
January 31, 2023. Texas SAR District VP, Richard Zdunkewicz spoke with a slide presentation of his family history of immigrating to Texas from Louisiana. The legacy family names of Chauvin, LeBleu, Camersac and Sallier are associated with this heritage. His family fought under Bernardo De Galvez command as an ally of the American government. Also, his family founded the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
prepared by Jim Penny
| |||
