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.
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.]
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
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.
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Our SAR chapter dinner meeting will be on Tuesday November28, at Spring Creek Barbeque. The address is 4895 Hwy Six in Missouri City.
The featured speaker will be our own Dr. Chris Hammonds, and he will speak on “The Boston Tea Party at 250”.
Send checks to Carl Hill (call him for address). He will order the number that has been purchased.
Cost is $17.00 each.
Plan is to place them Dec. 16th.
Came across this feature in the Blog in Oct. Interesting info on viewership.
sent in email on Oct 18. Today's info (11/1)
All-time: 190,529 191,341
Today (10/18): 116 44 (11/1)
Yesterday (10/17): 81 65 (10/31)
This Month (Oct): 1070 44 (Nov)
Last Month (Sept.): 10,574 1838 (Oct)
Alexander Hodge Chapter President, Carl Hill and Secretary, Steve Barber joined with members of the DAR Alexander Hodge Chapter to greet the returning Veteran's Honor Flight at Hobby Airport.
The returning flight had the 25 Veterans who served in American Wars who had travelled to Washington D.C. to visit American War Monuments.
Patriotic groups who met them on their return to Houston included the SAR, DAR, American Legion, and others.
Pictured below:
Ed Sellers left in
uniform, next to him is Steve Barber and wife Sandy Barber, Carl Hill, Art Bynum is in the SAR uniform on the
right, The rest of the ladies are in Sandy's Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter. Ed and Art that are in uniform are members of the Freedom SAR Chapter in the Woodlands.
All members are invited to lend a hand and make short work of the clean-up of Hodges Bend Cemetery on December the 2nd. Time to meet is 9am. Will plan to finish by 12pm.
Weeds and vines need to be cut down so bring tools for the job.
Here are some pictures I took on May 30, 2023. I dropped by there before a Meeting. It is not far from Spring Hill BBQ.
The Chairman would administer SAR Programs that are encourage and award students sponsored by our Alexander Hodge Chapter.
The George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is for local high school students and will commence this Fall. Students submit an 800-1200-word essay, based upon original research dealing with a topic that shaped American history.
It can be on a person, event, philosophy or ideal associated to the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution.
Local winners will be submitted to the State SAR competition and then those winners will be submitted to the National SAR competition. Submissions from our local students will be judged by Alexander Hodge members Randall Hankla and Dennis Giuffre.
State Competition Awards: 1st place is $3500; 2nd place is $1500 and 3rd place is $500.
National Competition Awards: 1st place is $6000; 2nd place is $2500 and 3rd place is $1,000.
We need a Chairman to oversee and administer this worthwhile Program.
Anyone interested contact our President, Carl Hill.
In preparation for a planned Event on Dec 16th, we need help from members by purchasing the needed Christmas wreaths which will be placed on the graves of Veterans. The price is $17.00 each.
We voted at the Business Meeting on the 31st to authorize the purchasing of 3 wreaths from Chapter funds. Additionally, a member has also purchased one. I am planning on purchasing 3 wreaths. Any help in making this a successful Event will be appreciated.
The wreaths will be delivered to our president, Carl Hill, and he will hold onto them until the Event.
More of the planned Event will be Posted at a later date. Please put Dec. 16th on your Calendar to save the date.
The Alexander Hodge Chapter DAR has invited all Alexander Hodge Chapter SAR members to join them at their November meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.
Location has been changed to Imperial Park Recreation Center in Sugarland.
It is located on 234 Matlage Way, Sugarland Tx. 77478.
Social time and snacks begin at 6pm followed by the Meeting beginning at 6:30pm
The highlight of the meeting will be by Denise Bennett who does historical reenactments. She will portray Priscilla Mullins Alden, a passenger on the Mayflower.
I hope to see you there!
All Chapter members are invited to an Event honoring Veteran's Day on November 10th at the Anderson VA Facility in Houston. The Chapter has been asked to participate in the parade in front of the VA facility.
We will also have a booth for patients and their relatives to visit.
Identifying the uniforms worn our Patriots and to include a discussion each Colony/State's role in the events of the Revolutionary War will continue as a Supplement to our monthly Newsletter.
But, here in the Blog, I will continue to add bits and pieces of background information so as not to repeat the same information for each of the Colony.
Early in the War, a standard uniform for any Colony either did not yet exist or didn't exist in the quality needed for expanded numbers of soldiers. Some Militias already had their own uniform colors.
Often the first uniforms were from the French and Indian War or were the common working or hunting dress of a soldier. Supplies were augumented from captured British uniforms or from imports from France and Spain. One American merchant ordered from France 30,000 yards of blue and of brown cloth. The Spanish alone supplied about 30,000 complete uniforms and the cloth for making more.
On 4th November 1775 Congress adopted brown as the first official color of the Continental Army. The various Regiments were distinguished by different color collars, cuffs, and lapels.
Any uniform or garment worn by soldiers in the field of battle did not last long and required replacing.
On 2nd October 1779, General Washington issued a General Order which set the standard for American dress regulations. The Infantry were to be clothed in dark blue, with different facings and distinctions for groups of states.
One dress that was wore when none of other were available, was the hunting frock or rifle dress. These were the type of preferred uniform of the frontiersman soldier of Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. It was derived from Indian clothing and consisted of an unbleached homespun or deerskin shirt, or 'frock' fringed deerskin leggings and moccasins. Gen. Washington gave his official approval of this dress and requessed that 10,000 sets be made for the Army.
Though the French and Indian War (The Seven Years War) of 1754-1763, the American colonists became skilled at defending themselves and in some case being part of a military force. Colonal officers, such as George Washington gained experience leading men in battle.
In 1769, the French sent Baron de Kalb to America to report on the preparedness of the colonists' for open warfare. He noted that they had facilities for creating a large merchant marine force. They did not have arsenals nor magazines, yet merchants carried stocks of gunpowder to the Indians. They were well supplied with cannon and with firearms. He estimated that there were 200,000 young men enrolled in the Militia.
New threats led the British to pass the Militia Law of 1775 which provided for the enrollment of all free males between the ages of sixteen and fifty. They were formed into Companies and Regiments with officers appointed by the Royal Governor.
They were required to supply themselves with arms, packs, blankets, and canteen. They were engaged to serve, without pay, for short periods within the borders of their own Colony. Colonies, such as Connecticut had 26,000 militiamen in 1774. By 1775, New Jersy had twenty-six Regiments of infantry and eleven of calvary and Pennsylvania had fifty-three battalions of infantry. By the time the Revolution started in 1776, most of the Colonies had a nucleus of a defense force.
At the time of the Revolution, a Company had about 50 men. A Regiment had 500 men. A Battalion consisted of four to six Companies but could contain about 1000 men.
(Note: Looks like we have abt 89 members and 16 Jr members. If all paid that would be approx. $390.35 for 2024 & 2025).
Motion from the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument Committee
The Committee has approved the following in its meeting of 10/10/2023:
“The Texas SAR leadership challenges each of its chapters to contribute $3.75 per member per year for the next two years (2024 and 2025) towards the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument to be located at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. If we are successful with full participation at this level and raise approximately $20,000, we will have, in addition to the $19,300 currently pledged by chapters and compatriots and $15,000 from the GWEF, obtained commitments for approximately $55,000 or the expected expenditure for the project.”
“Each chapter is responsible for challenging and coordinating with its own members to achieve these chapter goals. The Texas Society will not levee any fee on any member or chapter. This effort is entirely voluntary.”
Click here to view the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument web page on the Texas SAR website.
For questions, please contact the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument Committee
Committee Members:
Richard Zdunkewicz, Committee Chair; rzdunkewicz@comcast.net
Tom Jackson, Committee Vice Chair; longhorntij@yahoo.com
Sam Massey; sartxpres2023.2024@gmail.com
Jesse Villarreal; jesseo2800@yahoo.com
Mel Oller; mel_oller@yahoo.com
Jim Kuykendall; jimkuy55@gmail.com
Joe Dooley;
2024 Dues Notice
Compatriots,
For those of you who have a deliverable mailing address, your 2024 Dues Notices should be arriving in your home mailbox within the next few weeks. These are sent Bulk Mail to your address of record as of September 1st. If you do not receive one by Thanksgiving, please look for your notice online, and help us get your address corrected.
Texas SAR has voted that Junior Members will not need to pay dues for 2024.
Keep in mind that your dues are considered late on January 1, 2024. If they are still unpaid 30 days later - NSSAR will drop you from the rolls and you will start to show a gap in your service and not get your magazine. So...please pay them online or by mail as soon as you can to help your Chapter and avoid a lapse in your SAR Service! As in previous years, you have 3 options for paying your dues.
Online/Paypal (option 1) - We encourage everyone to use this option, and pay your dues by credit card through Paypal. Click here for the online dues payment page and enter your National SAR # and Name as it appears on your Membership Certificate. Then select your primary chapter and any others you maintain dual membership with and follow the checkout procedures. This is operational on the TexasSAR.org website NOW. PayPal fees have been removed for 2024 Dues payments.
As mentioned, this online Paypal form also allows for secondary (dual) chapters to be added for those wishing to pay as a dual member.
US Mail (option 2) - You simply take the bottom section of the dues invoice you receive in the mail and send a check for the amount indicated with the pre-addressed envelope, stamp it, and return it to us by US mail. This is to be for your PRIMARY Chapter Dues Statements - it only includes dues for your Primary Chapter, State Dues, and National Dues where applicable.
US Mail (option 3) - Use this option if you want to pay by check, but did NOT get a dues notice in the mail or you want to pay NOW for whatever reason. Click here for the online dues invoice page on the private site, grab your dues notice online, print it out , and mail it back in with a check. This option is available NOW on the TexasSAR.org website.
(here is the ID & password to the private side...please do not publish this on any social media, webpages, or printed materials, ID: SARaccess & password: psTexasSAR)
Donations - As many of you are aware, our society has many beneficial funds that you can donate to for great purposes. Each year, when you renew your membership is a great time to make a donation to one of several great options. All Donation $ will be allocated as you indicate on the form. Please review the items listed in the donations section of the online dues payment page, and support these worthwhile programs. Thank you for your continued support of our programs!
Please do NOT mail to older addresses - those have been closed - USE THE ADDRESS ON THE RETURN ENVELOPE or the ONLINE DUES NOTICE ONLY. If you or your bank mail it somewhere else, there is no guarantee it gets to us or that you will be credited. Getting these in on time is important for your Chapter and you. The sooner your dues are in, the sooner our books are cleared with NSSAR and the funds available to your Chapter in the Spring - and no more reminder calls !!! We appreciate your patience and support !!!
Thank you so much for your continued support!
In Patriotism,
Mel Oller Don Hayes
Secretary Texas SAR Assistant Treasurer - Texas SAR
sec@txssar.com assttreas@txssar.org
The Texas SAR and National SAR have various areas that a Chapter can "compete in". This can win recognition for the Chapter and is often in areas that the Chapter is already doing.
There is a need for someone as a Chapter Historian to capture what we do during the year and to build a on-going Yearbook.
Quoted From the Texas SAR
"Chapter Yearbook Judging
Some Chapters are asking about beginner yearbook suggestions.
Here are my thoughts:
○ There are no rules, be creative, what will set your chapter above the others.
○ Your chapter is only competing against those in your chapter size category; don’t let the very large chapters scare you away from entry.
○ If your chapter is one of three, then you will win.
○ Ideas of things to submit: Programs/Speakers, Agendas, Minutes are a great start.
○ Strive for more: Newsletters, Civic activities, JROTC activities, Photos with captions, Awards given, Awards received, Speaker’s Bureau activities.
○ Organization by some criteria with a Table of Contents is great; by date, by activity type, whatever makes sense to the reader.
○ Video category: be creative and thorough.
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Chapter Yearbooks as judged at the April 2023 Texas SAR Conference.
The winners are:
Small Chapters (1-49 members): 1st—Edmund Terrill #34; 2nd—Ark-La-Tex #69
Medium Chapters (50-99 members): 1st—Robert Rankin #62 2nd—McKinney #63
Large Chapters (99+ members): 1st—Dallas #2 2nd—Plano #37 3rd—Piney Woods #51
Video Submission: None."
Here is the Plan for coverage of the Troops, their uniforms, and as it occurs, there will be Special Mention of the Patriots of our members. All this will be sent out by our Newsletter Editor, as a Supplement to the monthly Newsletter.
I had not accessed the Genealogical info for our members when I wrote on the Maryland troops. So, much later, I will profile the Patriots for all our members by the Colony they served.
I was able to profile 3 member's Patriots for GA and am working on another 3 member's Patriots for NY. There are 5 of them.
Middle Department or Main Army - Maryland; Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey.
