78th Highlander kit 1806

[Ryan Ross]

That's about as impressive as it gets, to my mind.

Heck of a fine job you've done, sir!

[Fitzy]

Excellent !!!!


Paul.

[Orvis]

Re: the question about grenadier caps, I believe the grenadier companies and musicians in all British Army regiments of foot retained the 1768 regulation bear-fur grenadier cap throughout the Napoleonic period, but these caps were customarily left in stores for active service, when the grenadiers wore the same headdress (feather bonnets for Highlanders) as the battalion company men. The distinguishing marks for grenadiers were the "wings" on the coat, the color of the plume (white for grenadiers), and the wear of rank chevrons on both sleeves for NCOs, although this may have varied by regiment. After the Napoleonic War period ended and garrison duty resumed, the fur grenadier caps (enlarged!) came back out for dress parade and were retained until flank companies (grenadiers and light bobs) were abolished sometime in the 1850's.

[piperdbh]

That's a really nice-looking uniform. I know you're very proud of it.

What are the ruffly bits on your shoulders made from? It looks like white ostrich feathers.

[OC Richard]

As a former reenactor myself, it always gives me great pleasure to see things done RIGHT. What a fantastic job! The kilt, the jacket, the bonnet are all fantastic.
Kudos to you!

[Bigkahuna]

As a former reenactor myself, it always gives me great pleasure to see things done RIGHT. What a fantastic job! The kilt, the jacket, the bonnet are all fantastic.
Kudos to you!

*** on the above!!

[ErikGarrett]

Excellent work! I love period recreations.

[R.S.Buff]

What are the ruffly bits on your shoulders made from? It looks like white ostrich feathers.

those are made of wool yarn tied together.

Nice job! Would it be possible for you to post a photo of the rear of the kilt?

I will take some more photos this week. I would like to bring it to your tartans museum and show it to you in person.


I took advantage of new excellent research and cloth reproduction done by Kochan-Phillips Historical Textiles in reproducing the broadcloth and stitch by stitch accurate coatee pattern and by Peter MacDonald for recreating the Wilsons of Bannockburn tartan cloth.

here is the button detail

[ErikGarrett]

A bit unrelated, my father trained with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, historically the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, back in the late '70s. He was Third US Inf Div at the time and of the 7th "Cotton Balers" Infantry Regiment. He told me a story of some kilted lads who took great offense to his and two other "Yanks" singing "The Battle of New Orleans" while drunk, his regimental song. Turns out the Kilted Highlander's unit lineage came from the 93rd who's forefathers were the ones who had "ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go." He claims he owes his life and subsequently mine to a Scottish Sergeant Major who showed up just in time.

[Donnachaidh]

Hello Eric...

Battle of New Orleans

28 December 1814: British advance up left bank of Mississippi River towards New Orleans. Come under fire 750 yards from Andrew Jackson's parapet & a schooner on the river.
Lie for 5 hours under rain, sleet & bombardment. British pull back.
1 January 1815: British attempt a reconnaissance in force. Torrential rain bogs down artillery & troops. US left flank actually routed and in flight but unperceived by British until too late to take advantage.
8 January: Final British assault. Mistakes and bad luck add up. American position on right bank of river actually overrun & captured. Left bank; American advance redoubt taken by detachment of light infantry companies including that of the 93rd. British right flank falters. 93rd aborts support to captured redoubt and crosses field to help faltering right flank assault. Halts 100 yards from parapet. Lt. Col. Dale killed. No orders to advance or withdraw. 93rd stands fast & is mown down. General Edward Pakenham killed. Orders finally received & after futile attempt to advance.

"93rd marches off field."

British losses: 2,000. 93rd contributes 300 to 550 killed, wounded & prisoner. 18–30 January: British withdraw downriver to ships, embark.
11 February: British capture Ft. Bowyer outside Mobile, Alabama. 93rd & others landed on Dauphin Island outside Mobile Bay.
13 February: Sloop-of-War brings news of preliminaries of peace at Ghent. Women & children of 93rd allowed ashore.

I tend to think that some folk take certain advantages of the truth.
As an old 'folkie'..I've sang, with the lads in the band, a very different version of the same scenario.
As a Scot , I've sang of the bravery of the highlanders who made British troops quake in their shoon at the very mention of the skirl o' pipes and a rebel yell...

Truth be told...at Culloden..brave highlanders were the first to run from the field...and the Irish....well they fought till the end and were treated as prisoners of war.

Strong drink often clouds the mind and leads one into a temptation or a ridiculous point of view.