Kilts in American Revolution

[DCampbell16B]

The Royal Highland Emigrants were raised in Canada from, primarily emigrants who lived in Canada and were veterans of Highland regiments. They wore British army uniforms similar to other Highland regiments of the time (i.e., short coats with blue facings (as a Royal regiment) and Government Tartan kilts/belted plaids. There is a contemporary watercolor of one of them.

Butler's Rangers was a full regiment raised of Loyalists from what is now New York State and (IIRC) Upper Canada. They had one company of Highlanders. The reenactors of this company have always worn a kilt, but I'm not sure what references they have to support this. It could have been merely a way to stick Gaelic speakers together.

The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in the South early in the Revolution was recently transplanted Highlanders in a hastily formed militia against a Patriot militia. There is anecdotal evidence of pipes being played and tartan being worn. Again, if I remember correctly, Flora MacDonald was involved in raising that militia before she returned to Scotland.

Most of the Highland regiments that landed wearing tartan eventually wore breeches as it was just more practical in the climate, and replacing tartan was difficult overseas.

[Canadian Vet]

The Royal Highland Emigrants were raised in Canada from, primarily emigrants who lived in Canada and were veterans of Highland regiments. They wore British army uniforms similar to other Highland regiments of the time (i.e., short coats with blue facings (as a Royal regiment) and Government Tartan kilts/belted plaids. There is a contemporary watercolor of one of them.

Butler's Rangers was a full regiment raised of Loyalists from what is now New York State and (IIRC) Upper Canada. They had one company of Highlanders. The reenactors of this company have always worn a kilt, but I'm not sure what references they have to support this. It could have been merely a way to stick Gaelic speakers together.

The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in the South early in the Revolution was recently transplanted Highlanders in a hastily formed militia against a Patriot militia. There is anecdotal evidence of pipes being played and tartan being worn. Again, if I remember correctly, Flora MacDonald was involved in raising that militia before she returned to Scotland.

Most of the Highland regiments that landed wearing tartan eventually wore breeches as it was just more practical in the climate, and replacing tartan was difficult overseas.

Scottish roots go deep in Canada going back to the occupation of Quebec in 1763. About 14% of Canada has Scottish roots.
My earliest ones arrived from Scotland in 1780 and mixed it up with refugees from the Revolution starting right away.
Other followed later.

[Canadian Vet]

""There is no merit in being wet and/or cold and sartorial elegance take second place to common sense." Jock Scot"

"Any fool can be uncomfortable." Lt. Col. John Harvey Royal Canadian Artillery (and Clan Donald).

[OC Richard]

Records show that demand for tartan in the colonies rose dramatically following the Act...

I know it's contrary to our modern ideas, but most of the tartan trade to the colonies was to plantation owners to clothe their slaves.

It's safe to say that the idea of wearing tartan for symbolic purposes dates to 1822. It's why the Allen Brothers, who arrived in Scotland around that time, got such distorted unhistorical fantastical notions about the nature and purpose of tartan. In the Highlands (and elsewhere) it had simply been attractive cloth to make clothing from.

There's a preposterous scene in Outlander where a Highland prisoner is cherishing and hiding a scrap of tartan. It would be like you or I cherishing a scrap of denim.

[OC Richard]

About the Highland regiments, we have to avoid the mistake of thinking that they were necessarily kilted when on active service.

In The Uniforms and History of the Scottish Regiments Barnes states

...the (1780) painting of James Stewart (an officer in the 42nd) in the Scottish Naval and Military Museum...shows how their dress was affected by active service, even the kilt being discarded on expeditions into the forest country, and replaced by canvas breeches...gradually everything superfluous was eliminated until, by 1783, they were dressed and equipped almost like Light Infantry, including the tomahawk and camp axe. There was even some attempt at camouflage, as all white parts- waistcoat, turnbacks, etc.- were browned and the dull red of the private's coat, after some exposure, was not very conspicuous. They did retain the Highland bonnet- almost the only remaining Scottish item.