Green Mountain Rangers - AWI

The territory that makes up the modern day State of Vermont was a hotbed of controversy from the years preceding, during, and after the American Revolution. The colony of New Hampshire issued land grants in the area between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain. This are became known as the New Hampshire grants. Subsequently, the British crown decided in favor of the colony of New York's claims to this land, and New York issued grant to land in the are, happily ignoring those previously made by New Hampshire! 

The majority of the population rejected the claims of New York, and that led to the establishment of a local militia, known as the Green Mountain Boys, lead by Ethan Allen, his brother Ira Allen, and their cousins Seth Warner and Remember Baker. By the 17700's , they were several hundred strong and were the defacto rulers of the area. 

In 1775, a body of the Green Mountain Boys joined with Connecticut Militia Colonel Benedict Arnold to seize control of Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain,. before advancing on as far as Quebec and Montreal, where their attempt to take the city during the winter failed. 

In the summer of 1775, they became the basis of the Green Mountain Rangers in the Continental army, famously fighting at Bennington in 1777. 

Vermont then declared itself and independent Republic. The Continental Congress chose to ignore the issue to avoid conflict between New York and New Hampshire, and it was not until 1791 that Vermont became part of the new UInited States as the 14th state. 

The flag of this unit is well documented, with remnants still existing. 

Hessian Musketeer Regiment Von Trumbach

This regiment was first raised in 1701; in 178 its colonel changed to GM Carl Ernst Johann von Bose, and it was thence known as Musketeer Regiment von Bose. 

The regimental uniform had white collar, cuffs, lapels, waistcoats, and breeches. 

Drummer's uniforms had yellow lace with a narrow red stripe, and the drum hoops were red and white with a narrow blue stripe. 

The regimental flag is by Flags of War. I actually think I have accidentally reversed the flags between this unit and Musketeer regiment . Considering the small difference between white and paille, I don't think I will worry about it! 

The regiment fought at the battles of Forts Clinton and Montgomery, Connecticut Farms, Springfield, Guilford Courthouse, Green Springs, and Yorktown.

These are Perry figures once again. 

After the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, General Lord Cornwallis wrote the the regiment "deserves my warmest praises for its discipline, alacrity, and courage...". 

Yes, this regiment has a re-enactor group.

Hmm, I may have to try adding that red line to the drummer's lace!

Grenadiers of the Regiment von Bose/von Trumbach in the snow!

2nd New Hampshire Regiment

This regiment was first raised in the winter of 1776, and served until 1782. 

We're not sure if more than one company wore the light blue uniform with red facings, but in my army they do!

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These were "State" line troops, not Continentals or militia. 

These are Brigade Games figures. 

The flag is printed from internet sources; the original was captured by the British when they took backl control of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. 

Aside from "NH, 2nd Regt" on the shield", the scroll reads "The Glory not the Prey". 

Hessian Musketeer regiment Von Donop

This regiment traces its origins back to 1687.

It fought at the Battles of Long Island, Fort Washington, Brandywine Germantown, Monmouth Courthouse, Connecticut Farms, and Springfield. 

The regimental flag is by Flags of War in the UK. 

The regiment had paille (off white) collars, cuffs, lapels, waistcoats, and breeches.

These are Perry figures. 

Drummers had yellow lace with a red stripe, and red and blue drum hoops. 

1st Continental Light Dragoons

The first regiment of Continental Light Dragoons had ist origins as Bland's Virginia Horse, and joined Washington's army at Morristown, NJ, in December 1776.

At that time, it was recorded as having two different uniforms, one blue faced red, and the other brown faced green; I have depicted them in the later. 

They officially became the 1st Continental Light Dragoons in March of 1777. 

Reversed colors for the trumpeters (green faced brown) were documented by Bland in the Spring of 1777, along with many other details of rank distinctions.

This uniform is depicted in both Mollo and Leffert's works. Lefferts shows a lighter, orangish brown, which I have copied, while Mollo shows dark brown coats.  

The flag is by Adolfo Ramos; it  appears there may have been several flags carried, all with the same design, but with red or green ground colors instead. This flag is by Adolfo Ramos. 

The legs on the horses of these Perry figures were kind of disaster - quite bent and fragile; I straightened them as much as I dared!

British 16th Light Dragoons - American Revolutionary War

  

The regiment was raised as the second of the new regiments of light dragoons in 1759, as the 16th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, also known as Burgoyne’s (yes, that Burgoyne, then a Colonel) Light Horse. In 1766 they were renamed after Queen Charlotte as the 2nd (or The Queen’s) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, the number being an attempt to create a new numbering system for the light dragoon regiments. However, the old system was quickly reestablished, with the regiment returning as the 16th (The Queen’s) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons in 1769. It saw action during the 7 Years War, supporting Britain's ally, Portugal. 

The 16th Light Dragoons arrived in New York in September, 1776. They were involved in fighting at White Plains (1776) Brandywine (1777), Paoli (1777), Germantown (1777) and Monmouth Court House (1778). 

By December, 1778, the regiment was so depleted that the remaining men were drafted into the 16th Light Dragoons, and the officers returned to Britain to recruit. 

The regiment originally had black facings, but changed to dark blue with the change to the "Queen's" title.  In 1784, the regiment changed to Dark blue jackets along with the rest of the British Light Dragoons, in their case with scarlet facings. During the Napoleonic Wars, it fought at Talavera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Bussaco, Sabugal, Salamanca, Burgos, Vittoria, San Sabastian Nive, and Waterloo!

The unit was converted to the 16th Lancers in 1816, wearing a dark blue Lancer uniform until 1832, when a scarlet coatee was authorized for service in India. When the unit returned to England in 1846, it petitioned to retain the scarlet uniform when all the other Lancer regiments were ordered to return to dark blue; it thus  was unique in wearing a scarlet uniform (faced dark blue) until 1914!

Virginia State Infantry, AWI

Here's the last of the American units wearing hunting shirts.

What nakes this a Virginia unit?

First of all, the flag (by Adolfo Ramos), which has the goddess Virtus standing over a fallen tyrant (representing George II), and the motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis", "Thus always to Tyrants" . More or less the same design continues as the present day Virginia state flag. 

At least one Virginia regiment was known to have worn hunting shirts died blue. 

These are once again the fine Brigade Games figures, sculpted by Paul Hicks. 

A rather business like looking lot!