Philabegs

[james a. husky]

In both the "Seven Year's War" ("French and Indian War" for North American folk) AND the "War of the American Rebellion" ("American Revolution" although as with the "Seven Year's War", it TOO was really a "World War"), the 42nd was shipped over with the Belted Plaide and later, due to supply problems in getting new Plaides (they were to be issues every two years), ripped what was left of the original Plaides into single-loom widths and made them into philabeags.

There is (in letters, journals, etc.) some mention of "loops", "stitching", "keepers", etc., and of course, drawstings or cords.

I have the full Plaidie for the issued uniform. I just did a philabeag (4 yard), kinife-kilted (because that's the way the full Plaide was done) to the line, with three horizontal lines of long stitching on the rise (to hold the pleats... something that looks as it might have been if done in the field). To finish up the trio I did (using the 1789 "Gordon" as an inspiration) a 4 yard philabeag kilted to the line, box pleated, with the pleats sewn vertically. Neither philabeag has lining or fitting... straight up and down lines. IIRC the Regiment went to "trousers" by 1779 and went out in '83 still wearing "trousers".

Certainly there's nothing to it in making your own. This was originally done in the field out of neccessity. For a more modern issue, once the philabeags had replaced the full Plaide, that requires a bit more effort and for certain, the kilt after the Napoleonic period gets even more complicated.

added: All three "kilts" are held on by belting on, no ties or anything. An interesting thing I learned doing the project was that the philabeag (if the waist was folded down on itself) would actually hold up very well WITHOUT belting it on. The nap of the weave locked it on good and tight!

For the '45, do it yourself!


Jim aka kiltiemon