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.

 

Regimental Coats
How Far Off the Ground?

Coat Length in the First Regiment of Foot Guards, 1776

Submitted by Linnea M. Bass and William W. Burke

 

Many experts on British uniforms during the War for American Independence believe that there was a standard length for infantry coats. The following excerpt from the orders of the First Regiment of Foot Guards in London, 18 May 1776, proves otherwise. When the 1776 clothing was issued in May, commanding officers of the companies in the regiment were ordered to

"be carefull in fitting their Mens New Cloathing according to the pattern Corporal. General Rule to be observ'd for the length of the Coats are to be in the following proportions Vizt.

 

Tall Grenadiers	5 1/4 Inches from the ground
Men of 5 feet 10	5 Inches
5 feet 8	4 1/2 Inches
5 feet 7 & Under	4 Inches

Note these lengths to be taken while the Men are kneeling."(1)

 

Not only do these measurements vary from the standard 6" from the ground recommended by Simes, they are also proportioned according to a man's height(2). Surprisingly, the shorter men received longer coats! This certainly would not level the coat lengths in the regiment. It would, however, assist the shorter men who might have trouble getting their coats to turn back properly if there was not enough material left below the bottom of the facing after the garment was cut to its proper length.

On an entirely different subject, the order also provides some insight into the heights of men in the Guards. Tall grenadiers were those over 5' I0", while the minimum in a battalion company seems to be something close to 5' 7". This is confirmed by an order to recruit an augmentation to replace the men from the Regiment sent to America. The companies were allowed to enlist men of 5' 6 1/2" or taller.(3)

Finds like this order make it clear that standards within a specific regiment may have differed from what 20th Century researchers consider the norm. It emphasizes why good research on the clothing and accoutrements of a regiment requires looking at original orders and not using just the Royal Warrants or standard military guides of the period such as Simes.

Notes:

1. Orders, First Regiment of Foot Guards, London, 18 May 1776, Order Books of the First Guards, manuscripts in Regimental Headquarters, Grenadier Guards, Wellington Barracks, London, reprinted courtesy of the Lt. Colonel Commanding the Regiment.

2. Thomas Simes, A Military Course for the Government and Conduct of a Battalion (London: 1777) as quoted in Hew Strachan, British Military Uniforms 1768- 1796 (London Arms and Armour Press, 1975), p. 190.

3. Orders, Brigade of Foot Guards, London, 27 March 1776, from the Order Books of the First Guards.

 

Soldier Stuff

Musket - Shortland 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.