35th Regiment of Foot 1757-1759 (Replicants)

The 35th Regiment is perhaps best known for forming part of the ill-fated garrison of Fort William-Henry.  They defended that fort for six days against the Marquis de Montcalm and his French, Canadian, and Indian army.  After surrendering on August 9, 1757, the defeated British troops marched out of the fort the next morning, only to be attacked by Montcalm's Indian allies.  This event became known as the Fort William-Henry massacre and was immortalized in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of the Mohicans (and its many movie adaptations).

The 35th then made up a part of the British expedition sent to capture the French fortress of Louisbourg in 1758.  After a siege of about a month, Louisbourg surrendered.  In 1759, the 35th attained their moment of glory (if not as much fame as the Fort William-Henry massacre) when they fought in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.  The 35th formed the reserve on the British right flank.  The main British battle line fired a volley, then "fixed our bayonets and, under cover of the smoke, the whole line charged." [1]  Since this contemporary account was written by an officer of the 35th Regiment, it seems likely that the 35th charged alongside the main British line.

Tradition credits the 35th with breaking the French Regiment Royal-Roussillon and capturing their colors.  The regiment is also said to have adopted white plumes after picking them from French casualties.  Unfortunately, none of my research has been able to confirm these stories.  Rene Chartrand summarizes: "Regimental legend has it that the 35th captured a colour of the Royal-Roussillon Regiment and also took white plumes from its grenadiers.  This is possible but period evidence or trophies to confirm the story do not seem to have survived." [2]

In 1760, the 35th took part in the battle of Sainte-Foy, when a French army made one last attempt to recapture Quebec.  They were then a part of the climax of the French & Indian War, the surrender of the last French stronghold of Montreal.  Afterwards they served in the Caribbean.

These figures are Replicants "British at Culloden" figures.  They are well-sculpted, though prone to significant amounts of flash.

No conversion (aside from flash removal and cuff detailing) was needed on these figures.  They were sculpted with lapels buttoned over and coat skirts unhooked, as befits the squally weather of Culloden.  While summer campaigns likely would not have looked quite like that, pre-1768 British figures in 54mm are difficult to find.  Besides, coat skirts could come unhooked in the heat of battle ;). 

Some question has arisen regarding the exact shade of orange used by the 35th.  I have followed David Morier and used a vivid orange tint, rather than an orangeish-yellow.


Notes

For more info about the 35th, including its service in the French & Indian War, please visit: http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=35th_Foot

[1] Anonymous.  Seven Years' War Journal of the Proceedings of the 35th Regiment.  Online.  https://archive.org/details/sevenyearswarjou00flet/page/n93, 93.  Accessed August 21, 2019.

[2] Rene Chartrand.  Quebec 1759.  (Oxford: Osprey, 1999), 54.