| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Gasaka Soquilla |
Posted - June 17 2003 : 4:55:17 PM
For those interested, here's a brief history of our recreated regiment:
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A Short History of the 84th Regiment of Foot,
(Royal Highland Emigrants) 1775 - 1784
The 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) was an unusual regiment.
It was the first Highland regiment raised in the Americas. By 1782, only 25% of its enlisted men were Scots; however, it kept its traditional Highland uniform for the duration of the Rebellion. It was also one of the few regiments raised on the Provincial Establishment and then transferred to the Regular
Establishment (December 1778).
The Royal Highland Emigrants were raised by Lieutenant Colonel Allan MacLean in 1775. By Royal decree, MacLean was authorized to recruit any Scots, preferably veterans of Highland regiments disbanded in America after the last war.
They were to be clothed and armed like the 42d (Black Watch) and to consist of two battalions of 10 companies each. When MacLean landed in America, he found that Major John Small of the 21st Regiment was already raising a battalion of Scots to be called the Young Royal Highlanders. Small's Battalion was then amalgamated into the Royal Highland Emigrants as the Second Battalion with Small as Major Commandant.
The Royal Highland Emigrants (both battalions) recruited mainly in the Mohawk Valley area of New York, in the Maritime, and in the Carolinas, all areas of heavy Scots settlement. The men from the coast went mainly to the Second Battalion at Halifax. The men from the interior went to Quebec and the First Battalion. Only a few of the recruits from Carolina made it to the Regiment.
After the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February, 1776, the recruits in the Carolinas were scattered and demoralized; however, some of them did in fact walk to New York City to join the Regiment.
The First Battalion was involved in the gallant defense of Fort St. Johns (Quebec). The 55-day siege put the rebel campaign way behind schedule and was directly responsible for the rebel failure to conquer Quebec and Canada. The Royal Highland Emigrants were the majority of the defenders of Quebec. The Emigrant's experienced officers efficiently planned the demise of the rebels
(who were freezing outside the city gates) with little risk to the crown forces. The end of the siege found General Montgomery dead, General Arnold limping, and the ragged remnants of a rebel mob retreating back through the wilderness in defeat. In the years to follow, the First Battalion was heavily involved in policing the Canadian frontier from Quebec to Mackinaw, doing logistics duty,
and being involved in two successful raids into New York.
The Second Battalion garrisoned Halifax, where it trained and served as marines. The men of the Second Battalion were very effective in interdicting and capturing rebel pirates and privateers in the Maritime and along the Maine Coast. Two companies were sent for the Battle of Newport, Rhode Island (1776), and two companies were with Clinton for the first attack on Charlestown, South Carolina in 1776. When Clinton later returned to the South, he had with him five
companies of the Royal Emigrants. The Light Company served all over the South and was particularly active in Georgia. The rest of the detachment was scattered in small, company-sized garrisons. Four of the companies were at the victory at Eutaw Springs (1781). Towards the end of the war, two companies were sent to Jamaica to help defend it from the French.
After the war, the 84th was disbanded and the men offered land grants. The First Battalion settled mainly in Ontario. The men of the Second Battalion settled mainly in Nova Scotia. Some chose to reenlist in older line regiments, and a very few took passage to Britain.
In the first year, the First Battalion was issued green Provincial uniforms at Quebec. This included the long green coat with tri-cornered black felt hat, breeches, grey hose, and the first patter |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fitz Williams |
Posted - June 21 2003 : 12:12:41 AM
Thanks! That's great info. Exactly what I was looking for. |
| Gasaka Soquilla |
Posted - June 19 2003 : 3:13:17 PM
Fitz,
here's some documentation on the coats from the 84th RHE's website (the leggings were dark blue blanket material with black horn buttons - thigh high as worn by the Crown forces at that time).
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CAPE / WATCH COAT / GREAT COAT
The troop were issued capes for guard duty. In the winter, the men were also issued watch coats or great coats. Capes were dark blue without sleeves. Watch coats where dark blue and had sleeves and buttoned up in the front. {RHQ Order: all watch coats and capes to be dark blue with red lining and white metal 84th buttons. Blanket coats should be white (natural) and uniform by company. Ditto leggens.}
"Had we the plaids, I would teach them the wear them in a manner that would answer for a watch coat." Halifax, January, 1777, A.M.
"11 greatcoats for officers, serjeants and privates." Halifax, September, 1777, M.M.
"Greatcoat and leggings cloth, coarse watch coats, blanket coats long and short." Montreal, May, 1778. F.P.
"Greatcoat and leggins cloth 119 bales, trimming for ditto 10 bales/casks." May, 1778, H.P.
"Watch coats and leggins." March, 1780, W.O. 28/3
Description from Nova Scotia Gazette, 9 May 1780, Vol. x, #727: "Lost - a gentleman's blue great coat, lined with scarlet coating and crimson velvet cape. Reward. Lost by an officer of the 82nd Regiment."
"2 capes washed." March 20th, 1783, M.M.
Note: See charcoal drawing in the collection of Fort Michlimackinac, MI. Soldier of the 8th or 84th Regiment. |
| Gasaka Soquilla |
Posted - June 19 2003 : 3:05:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitz Williams
quote:
They were issued one pair of woolen overalls, a woolen waistcoat, a blanket coat, Canadian cap, Canadian overshoes, watch cape, mittens, gloves, ice creepers, and snow shoes.
What would the blanket coat have been? A matchcoat, or a capote-style coat with sleves?
And the watch cape? Like a watch coat without selves?
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Hello Fitz,
I'll have to dig up the info regarding the watch coat for you, the 84th website has all that (about 95% of the 84th RHE's the regiment has documented). On the blanket coat, this is in regards to the 1st Brigade stationed along the NY/Canadian border, & you were correct about the capote-style coat.
Are you familiar with the eyewitness paintings of Rev War Crown forces by von Germain [spelling]?
(From memory, so I maybe just a wee bit off, but not by much) the (hooded) blanket coat was white with dark blue stripe on lower body & end of sleeves, with four blue ties in front & two blue rosettes on back hip area. There was usually a broadarrow GR visible on lower body as well.
This coat was commonly issued to Crown forces along the Canadian/US frontier during the Rev War (though I'm not so sure about Hessian forces).
I'll locate a description of the watchcoat for you.
Cheers.
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| Fitz Williams |
Posted - June 18 2003 : 10:48:35 PM
quote:
They were issued one pair of woolen overalls, a woolen waistcoat, a blanket coat, Canadian cap, Canadian overshoes, watch cape, mittens, gloves, ice creepers, and snow shoes.
What would the blanket coat have been? A matchcoat, or a capote-style coat with sleves?
And the watch cape? Like a watch coat without selves?
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