43rd Regiment of Foot

The 43rd Regiment had a very long service history in North America during the American Revolution.  Its light infantry company was a part of Pitcairn’s expedition against Concord in 1775 and the entire regiment participated in the battle of Bunker Hill.  In 1776, the 43rd participated in the Long Island expedition.  The regiment then spent a few years garrisoning Newport, Rhode Island, where they defended it against a joint French-American attack.

2 units of Dundas's Brigade.  1 more to go...

General Sir Henry Clinton evacuated Newport, bringing the 43rd back to New York.  They remained in garrison in New York until April 1781, when they were sent to reinforce General Cornwallis' army in Virginia.  They arrived in Virginia just in time to play a major part in the battle of Green Spring (July 6, 1781).  As a part of Colonel Dundas's brigade, they ambushed Anthony Wayne's advance and inflicted heavy casualties on his brigade of Pennsylvanians (including the 2nd Pennsylvania http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2016/04/2nd-pennsylvania-regiment-by-armies-in.html).

Of course the 43rd followed Cornwallis to Yorktown, where they were forced to surrender on October 19, 1781.  At the end of the siege, Banastre Tarleton records 1 captain and 11 rank and file of the 43rd missing, along with 10 killed and 18 wounded. [1]

At Yorktown, the 43rd Regiment also surrendered its King's and Regimental colours to the Americans, the most senior regiment to do so.  The 17th, 23rd, and 33rd colours disappeared.  Tradition speaks of the escape of the 23rd and 33rd colours, but is silent on the 17th.

Commodore Norrington (find him at http://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com/2019/12/commodore-james-norrington.html) begs leave to mention that these soldiers can also be placed under his command as a unit of marines.  No pirates or rebels will be able to stand before them!  He is disappointed, however, that these brave soldiers have not been granted the coveted title of "Royal Marines".  (This will happen in 1799, Commodore Norrington, so keep your chin up!) 

What does Norrington think of campaign uniforms?

Figures by Accurate (British Infantry Set #2 ) and A Call to Arms (American Maryland Infantry https://www.michtoy.com/item-CTA-010-Maryland_Infantry.html).  Both mix very well together.  Since the figures from Accurate had a mix of legwear (high gaiters and half-gaiters) and accoutrements sculpted, I decided to represent a slightly more "campaign" unit than the 80th.  Some have their hats cocked on one side, and some wear gaiter-trousers.  Painted with a mix of enamel and acrylic paints.

Notes

[1] History of the Campaigns in the Southern Provinces.  Banastre Tarleton.  https://archive.org/details/historyofcampaig00tarl/page/n477/mode/2up