Brigade of Guards in America ,

Grenadier Company

Uniform & Kit

Here is a quick outline of the things that a soldier needs.  Most of the items are custom made to fit the reenactor.   Where available, we use mass produced historically accurate items to save money.  The patterns and items used are all documented and great pains are made to recreate the items with accuracy.  As new information comes to light, we have changed how we look to reflect that information.

The date of our impression is the day after the Battle of Ft. Washington, November 17, 1776 .  There seems to be the most detailed information on the uniform and kit from this period.  The documentation indicates that the Brigade wore a campaign dress as opposed to a parade dress as seen at St. James Palace in England .  The Regimental Coat was cut short.  The wool tape around the buttons was removed.  The men wore trousers rather than breeches.  The gaiters were cut down to half gaiters.  The waist belt was removed and the bayonet attached to the Cartridge Box.  The Bearskin Cap was traded for a Hat Cap.  In the end, one saw not the dress of parade but a trained soldier on campaign.

Uniform & Stuff

Regimental Coat - Scarlet wool with "royal" blue facing, cut for campaign.  Buttons in regimental pattern and of regimental design.
Waistcoat - White wool with small regimental buttons down the front.
Trousers - White canvas
Shirt - One shirt of white linen, the other made from checked cotton.
Neck Stock made with black horse hair.
Shoes - 18th century reproduction shoes.
Half gaiters with horn buttons
Hat Cap - Black cap with front plate, white turban, tuft of bearskin on the crown and black ostrich feather on the right side.
Foraging Cap - Scarlet wool with royal blue wool front and white tassel.
Hair - Worn long (wigs for those with short hair) cut to campaign style with out curls, platted (braided) and pinned behind the left ear with a hair nail and ornament.

Specialized troops, such as musicians and pioneers, wore cloths very similar to the soldier.  Some details are different to mark their role and information is available upon request.   Boys too young to be soldiers or musicians wear simple clothes of the time.
 

Soldier Stuff

Musket - Shorthand Model, 2nd Pattern Service Musket (Brown Bess)
Musket sling, sling of white buff leather
Bayonet with scabbard attached to Cartridge Pouch
Cartridge Pouch of black leather and Brass Cipher with a 36 hole reversible wood block
Cartridge Pouch Strap of white buff leather, brass match case attached to the front, extra match cord attached to the back by two small pewter grenades.
Whisk & pick
Tin canteen with wood stopper and rope strap
Linen Haversack
Canvas knapsack - optional
Gray wool blanket

Camp Stuff

British Infantry Wedge Tent - 6' x 6'2" x 7' high with an 18" bell

Women's Clothes

Women and children play a very important part of reenacting 18th century camp life.  The same dedication to historical accuracy seen in the soldiers uniform and kit is applied to the women's cloths.  The ladies in the Brigade are ready to help assist in putting together an accurate impression of the 18th century lady.  Girls wear clothes similar to their mothers.

There are other items that reenactors pick up over time to make their life easier or to use for historic discussion.  The important factor is that everything displayed must be documented as being used in the 18th Century.  For specific details and patterns, contact a member close to you. How to Join
 

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