Kilts in the American Revolution?

[Magnus Sporrano]

But Scots/Irish sided with the Colonists.

The colonists were pretty well split between loyalists and patriots.

Do you mean to imply that the Scots Irish sided with the patriots?

EDIT: I shoud amend my assertion - The colonists who cared about who ruled them were pretty well split between loyalist and patriot ideals. The majority of American colonists, much like today, didn't much care and just wanted the issue to go away.

[HeathBar]

The colonists were pretty well split between loyalists and patriots.

Do you mean to imply that the Scots Irish sided with the patriots?

EDIT: I shoud amend my assertion - The colonists who cared about who ruled them were pretty well split between loyalist and patriot ideals. The majority of American colonists, much like today, didn't much care and just wanted the issue to go away.

I guess I've just been a little to vague in my replies. Sorry about that. Yes I had read that a majority of the Scotch/Irish sided with the Patriots. (the revolutionary Patriots, not the New England Patriots )

[Freedomlover]

I saw this too. I knew that British forces had kilted troops in North America during both the French-Indian War and the American Revolution. But during the Revolution, were there any kilted American troops.

Doubtless, but I can't prove it just yet. However, there were kilted Union troops during the War of Northern Agression (1861-1865).

BTW, the figure of "88 frigates" in the quoted OP article is ludicrously wrong. According to the Navy List for those years the RN only had about 60 in commission at any one time, and there were never more than half a dozen in American waters at the same time.

[macwilkin]

Doubtless, but I can't prove it just yet. However, there were kilted Union troops during the War of Northern Agression (1861-1865).

Historians disagree about whether the 79th New York Infantry actually wore their kilts in combat -- most tend to believe that they were actually wearing either tartan trews or the standard federal sky-blue kersey trousers. One source maintains that the trews were worn throught the War of the Rebellion/Civil War. There were other units, such as the 12th Illinois Infantry, which wore balmorals, but information on the various militia units, North or South, that identified themselves as "Scottish" is lacking, especially in comparison to other ethnic units, like the Irish or the Germans.

I can't say I have ever seen any documentation for colonial/patriot forces wearing kilts.

Cheers,

Todd

[Joe Gondek]

There was a kilted loyalist highland unit rasied in North Carolina
also as one raised in Canada

Georgia also had Kilted Miliitia in 1742

[Chris Webb]

Here's a specifid officer kilted: Malcolm, William (Brig.Gen.) - Member of St. Andrew’s Society (New York?) Commanded the military escort of George Washington becoming President, wearing a Scottish-type military uniform, including a kilt.

Chris Webb

[Chris Webb]

Well, I've spent hours trying to find what I know I saw in writing about some Scots-Irish patriots requesting to wear the 'garb of their fathers' instead of the normal uniform of Washington's army. What I read even said something about how the kilted soldiers faired better, health wise, through the cold winter than the trousered soldiers.

The only place I think I may have read this was in James Webb's book, Born Fighting ... of course, I can't even find my copy of that book now. If anyone has it, could you please take a look in the chapter about the Scots-Irish and the American Revolution, maybe it's there.

Man, I've been Googling for so long now that when I stand up everything in my office looks like it is scrolling down.

Chris Webb

[Sylvain]

I saw this too. I knew that British forces had kilted troops in North America during both the French-Indian War and the American Revolution. But during the Revolution, were there any kilted American troops.

Here in Québec, we know there were Scottish soldiers with the British army, in this war you Americans call French and Indian war, that is called Guerre de Sept ans in France and simply Conquête here. After the war, those who were in Quebec City were the first to play curling, in Winter, using old canon balls (?).