Continental Light Infantry in Hunting Shirts

These two figures belong to the Continental Light Infantry.  They are dressed and equipped for Lafayette's Virginia campaign of 1781.  According to the records, some units wore traditional light infantry coats (that is, the coattails were cut short), while others were issued hunting shirts. [1]


The light infantry formed the backbone of Lafayette's force.  With these men, Lafayette attempted to defend Virginia against British raiders under Benedict Arnold, and later, Lord Cornwallis.

After the battle of Green Spring (July 6, 1781), Lafayette wrote in General Orders that: "The brilliant conduct of Major Galvan and the continental detachment under his command, entitle them to applause." [2]  These men were true veterans of the Continental Army.


References
[1] John U. Rees.  "Their presence here...has saved this state": Continental Provisional Battalions with Lafayette.  Pg. 33.  Available at http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/light.pdf

[2] Marquis de Lafayette.  Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution volume IV, pg. 240.

Militiaman Priming

This militiaman is a conversion from Accurate's "Militia priming" figure.  The original figure had a very distinctive face with beard and balding head.  I substituted a different head from All The King's Men, and turned it so that he was looking down his gun's barrel, rather than at his priming horn.  The result is a dynamic figure (at least in my opinion!) who is keeping his eye firmly on his enemy while he is loading.  With opponents like Tarleton's Legion, this is a good idea!

Figure by Accurate; head by All the King's Men; painted with Testors paints.

Tarleton's Cavalry

The British Legion is one unit of the American Revolution which has attained lasting fame...or infamy, depending on one's perspective.  Commanded through its American campaigns by Banastre Tarleton, the Legion was known as an effective and sometimes ruthless fighting force.  Whether fighting in the North (for example, at Poundridge NY) or the South (Camden SC), the Legion was generally the victors.  They refused to charge during the Battle of Cowpens, but they later fought desperately at Guilford Court House and executed a lighting raid against Thomas Jefferson, missing him by minutes.

Figures are Chinese copies of Italeri; heads by All the King's Men.  Heavy conversion was required on the riders and some on the horses.  Painted with Testors paints.

Flagbearer of the 80th Regiment of Foot

This is an ensign of the 80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers) carrying the King's color.  British regiments of the mid-to-late 18th century carried two colors: a King's color and a regimental color.  The King's color was a Union Jack throughout, with a wreath enclosing the regimental number in the center.  The regimental color was in the unit's facing color, with a small Union Jack in the upper left corner and a wreath enclosing the regimental number in the center.


And speaking of facing colors, this man is wearing blue facings!  Why the change from a previous post when I put the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers in yellow facings?  More information will be coming in a future post...


The figure and flagpole were from All the King's Men Toy Soldiers.  Visit their website at http://www.allthekingsmentoysoldiers.com/ATKMAWI.html


The lance head on top of the flagpole was hand-sculpted by me; the gold and crimson mixed cord is made from embroidery floss.  The flag itself was borrowed from the website "British Regimental Drums and Colors" at http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/images/D80.htm.  Do check out this website, as it is full of the ornate flags and drums carried into battle by King George's redcoated armies.