George Washington's Army has four facets which work together as per the Revolutionary War. Each of these facets includes not only soldiers but appropriate civilian involvement as well.
CONTINENTAL LINE
Regular United States Infantry were known as "Continentals" or the "Continental Line." Contrary to common perception the American Revolution was not ultimately won merely by brave but undisciplined volunteers. To win the war it was necessary to train an army with the requisite discipline to go "toe to toe" with the British in open battle - thus George Washington's Continental Line. We do have specific uniform standards for this portrayal. (See below.)
MILITIA "The Patriot Volunteers"
The Patriot Volunteers are Arizona's Revolutionary War militia company. The majority of those who fought for the patriot cause during the Revolutionary War were civilian men, often with minimal or no training who turned out when needed, usually to defend their home area. These men were from every type of occupation, social level and background imaginable. Those portraying gentlemen, shopkeepers, mechanics, ministers, merchants, traders, peddlers, sailors, fishermen, trappers and frontier settlers are all welcome in the militia. Those portraying farmers are especially welcome as this class made up the majority of Americans at the time. Our Patriot Volunteers primarily represent militia of the American Revolution but are also able (with small adjustments) to portray the French & Indian War and other aspects of the Colonial era.
RIFLEMEN
These were men from the western areas of Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and even the regions that would become Tennessee and Kentucky. (Those from the area that is now eastern Tennessee were known as "Over the Mountain Men".) They were expert with the rifle, a weapon virtually unused in the more settled areas. In military terms they had unique strengths and vulnerabilities which meant that their role on a tactical level was generally different from those of the Continental Line or the militia. There are Indian allies among them.
EUROPEAN ALLIES
Included here are soldiers and advisors from among America's allies, particularly France but also including Spain (which sent troops to fight in Florida and Louisiana) and volunteers from other European nations as well.
As all of the above...
We proudly participate in the American Heritage Festival being held each November in Queen Creek, Arizona. For this event we currently field a common ad hoc Revolutionary War patriot militia unit, a unit of soldiers of the Continental Line, a group of riflemen, General George Washington and a French officer sent over as an advisor courtesy of Benjamin Franklin and our ally King Louis XVI. Plans are afoot for taking part in 225th anniversary Revolutionary War and 250th anniversary French & Indian War events on the East Coast. We also enjoy taking part in numerous civilian oriented activities such as historic balls, school & civic presentations and period style social events.
Men of at least 16 years of age may shoulder arms. Flag bearers are also utilized. We have a drummer, but more drummers and a good fifer would be welcome.
Our American Heritage Festival is coming again in November and we are actively seeking new recruits for our Revolutionary War era presentations.
Wanted: Men who will stand for freedom as Patriot Militia, Frontier Riflemen, European allies or Regular United States Line Infantry of George Washington's Continental Army. Each of these components were involved together in many Revolutionary War battles.
The "Patriot Volunteers" Militia
As our militia dress as civilians we are also able to divide into patriots and loyalists when the occasion may call for it. With small adjustments we can become a French & Indian War militia group as well.
Though we have those who portray gentlemen, we are looking primarily for those who will shoulder muskets as "middle class" farmers, townsmen, mechanics, tradesmen, etc. and thus the following clothing list. It emphasizes versatility, utility and commonality.
Coat: This may have a collar or be collarless. A civilian style common to the 1750s to 1760s would be suitable for either Rev. War or F&I War. The cloth should be wool or linen and of a "basic" color such as blue, brown, grey, green or black. The buttons should be self-fabric covered or pewter. Despite what you might have seen in movies, most men didn't typically go about in public without a coat. (Alternative: Period style jacket)
Waistcoat (Weskit): For the 1750s & '60s this may go as low as the mid thigh. During the 1770s it became fashionable as high as nearly the natural waist. A middle class person who isn't necessarily up with the very latest cuts from Paris could get by for both Rev. War and F&I War with one coming perhaps to the upper thigh. Alternately, have two waistcoats of different lengths - one for each. Linen and wool are excellent choices for a typical civilian miltiaman. Most should stay away from silks or flashy brocades. Buttons may be pewter or fabric covered.
Breeches: For the Revolutionary War drop-front is the more common style though fly-front is still used. For F&I War fly front is by far more common though the drop-front style is proven to date to the early 1750s. Breeches should be of wool, heavy linen, heavy cotton or a linen/cotton blend. Leather is also acceptable. Choose basic, muted colors such as brown, black, dark blue, grey, etc. White is also a good choice. Buttons may be pewter or fabric covered. (Alternative: Period style trousers or sailor slops)
(Note: The coat, waistcoat and breeches may all be of the same cloth ... or the coat and breeches may match with the waistcoat contrasting ... or the waistcoat and breeches may be of the same cloth with the coat contrasting. All three combinations are known to have been worn.)
Shirt: This should be linen or cotton and for most it should be without ruffles. It may have a common style shirt collar or a band collar. White, "natural," brown and blue are good choices.
Neck Stock or Neck Cloth: The best choice would be white linen. Cotton is also acceptable.
Stockings: These may be cotton or wool of any basic color.
Shoes: A simple 18th century style civilian shoe with plain pewter or brass buckles is best. "Hi-Lo" boots made by Fugawee work too.
Hat: Tricorns, roundhats with or without one side cocked up and toucques (Liberty caps) are all acceptable. They may be untrimmed or have plain, simple trim.
Spectacles: If worn, these should be of a period style.
Belts: Leather belts with period style "double D" buckles may be used.
Clothing Patterns: Avoid "commercial" patterns from the lines found in fabric stores. They may be fine for school plays but are not suitable for reenacting. If you need recommendations as to historic reproduction patterns or where you may have clothing made for you please email us. Don't waste your money. Do your research and commit to a quality result.
Wigs: The majority of militia would not have worn wigs but there may be a few.
Facial Hair: 18th century men did not wear beards, goatees, soul patches or long sideburns. (Yes, some German troops did sport waxed moustaches and Edward Teach, the infamous pirate wore a trademark black beard early in the century - but these are rare exceptions which had purpose in what they did.) Whatever you may have seen in movies - or even on reenactors - men simply didn't wear beards during this era. (Yes, I am aware that there is facial hair pictured on this very page. Authenticity is a "work in progress" for us all. ;o)
Accessories: Haversacks, pouches, powderhorns, etc. were all commonly used. Make sure they are of period materials and design.
Weapon: This could be a British "Brown Bess" musket, a French "Charleville" musket, an older military model or a civilian article such as a fowling piece. All would be flintlocks. Quality reproductions of the Brown Bess and Charleville are available from certain suppliers along with the necessary accoutrements. A period style bayonet is optional. The typical militia member would not carry a sword or pistols though there may be a few. Ditto for rifles. Avoid modern black powder weapons which have an historic look but are not correct to the period.
Riflemen
Our company of Riflemen portray frontiersmen (“longhunters” or "over the mountain men") who fought in an organized manner for American Independence, generally as marksmen who were able to move quickly and harass the enemy from a distance. They dressed in a variety of attire appropriate to a frontier/wilderness setting of the 1770s-'80s though the well known linen frock and hunting shirt seem to have been very common. Our riflemen serve primarily as scouts and skirmishers. There could possibly be Indians serving among them as well.
"Betsy Ross" Flag of the Continentals Pine Tree Flag of the Militia
Continental Line
Militia Artillery
General George Washington
Rifleman
Militia
Soldier of the Continental Line
French Officer
"Over the Mountain" Man
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Uniform History of the United States Continental Line Infantry
American uniforms during the War for Independence covered a great deal of territory in terms of colors and combinations as well as details. As early as 1775 the Continental Congress made an attempt at a degree of uniformity with the choice of brown coats as official with facing colors to vary by regiment. Lacking supplies and cohesion and with many regiments already outfitted as they pleased, this directive never seems to have made much progress. After all, very early in the war the majority of officers had already shown a proclivity toward blue coats, an attraction shared by a large number of the men as well.
In 1779 George Washington stepped in as Commander in Chief and issued orders regarding the regulation of army uniforms.
Regarding infantry, dark blue regimental coats of wool lined with white linen became standard. Buttons would be of pewter. The color of the facings would be determined by region. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut regiments would have white facings. New York and New Jersey would have buff facings. Regiments from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania would have red facings. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia would have blue facings and buttonholes edged with narrow white tape.
The small clothes (drop-front breeches and waistcoats) were of white linen or white wool. Though Washington came to favor the use of “overalls” (not to be confused with the modern article) and some men had them, it is apparent that most soldiers served in breeches and stockings though some of these had half-gaiters to protect the lower leg. For instance Washington’s Life Guards (who were undoubtedly among the best equipped soldiers in the army) are described near the end of the war as wearing breeches, stockings and half-gaiters – not overalls.
Most regiments wore hats which were of the military cocked tricorn variety, black with white trim being most common for Continental infantry, along with a black and white “alliance” cockade.
It is fair to say that not all regiments or all soldiers in all regiments were all outfitted as per official regulations. Some regiments probably never complied and many were likely in partial compliance. However, a good degree of progress seems to have been made.
Several researchers (including Charles Lefferts) have concluded that by far the most popular and representative of all the American uniforms was that which was “official” to the middle states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. This blue coat with red facings seems to have been used far beyond just this region and was enjoying popularity even before the official orders of 1779. After all, this color combination had been common among colonial units earlier in the 18th century. During the Revolutionary War the blue coat with red facings made perhaps its first appearance in 1775 with the Wethersfield militia company of Connecticut. They were the only American unit to arrive in uniform for the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The blue coat with white facings of the New England regiments was also common while the “official” uniforms of the other regions seem to have been less used.
Uniformity was always a goal though even by the end of the war it had yet to be fully realized. Some regiments went through a number of incarnations and uniform changes. Even a unit as famous and well equipped as Washington’s Life Guards seems to have gone through a uniform history that leaves the researcher wondering. Washington’s original commissary request for this unit was blue coats with buff facings (as per his own uniform) and white small clothes. However, the unit seems to have been provided with red rather than white waistcoats. These troops initially were given British style dragoon hats (said to have been captured by a privateer) but later are apparently wearing the cocked hats standard to the army. Late in the war Washington’s Lifeguards are described as wearing blue coats with white facings. Perhaps these were New England men who had not been reissued new uniforms (though this would seem unlikely as the Life Guards was an elite unit and Washington was particular regarding their appearance) or perhaps the uniform of the Life Guards had changed – as was so common to many regiments throughout the war. As the records of the Life Guards were destroyed in a fire we are left to speculate.
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The Continental Line
Continentals (Regular United States Line Infantry) will be attired in uniform and be outfitted with Charleville or Brown Bess muskets and proper accoutrements.
The Continental Line Uniform
The uniform we utilize is that which was used by the "middle states" of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland & Delaware. (This gives us the flexibility to participate in both northern and southern campaigns/scenarios.) The coat is a lined "regimental" of dark blue wool with red wool facings and pewter buttons. The waistcoat is white linen or a linen/cotton blend. The shirt is white linen (preferably) though cotton is acceptable. Though some soldiers wore what were called "overalls" (particularly late in the war) we opt for white breeches of wool, linen or a linen/cotton blend. Stockings are white and may be of cotton or wool. The hat is a black wool felt cocked hat with white trim and an "alliance" cockade. The alliance cockade is a rosette of black silk with a smaller rosette of white silk placed in its center. The neckstock is of black linen or silk and either ties or makes use of a stock buckle. The shoes should have plain pewter buckles. Half-gaiters ("spatterdashes") over the shoes are optional.
Continental soldiers should be clean shaven. Men of the time simply did not wear beards. Though we may allow riflemen and militia some personal discretion, Continental Line soldiers should be period correct. (Yes, this is a work in progress.)
Uniform for George Washington's Continental Line
This is the uniform we have been fostering for the use of our Continental Line for the American Heritage Festival as well as parades and other events.
(1) A regimental coat of blue wool with red wool facings, lined in white, with white turnbacks with red wool hearts, and either USA or plain pewter buttons.
(2) A lined white linen waistcoat with pewter buttons.
(3) White heavyweight linen drop-front breeches, lined and with pewter buttons.
(4) A white linen or cotton drop-sleeve shirt.
(5) A black linen or silk neckstock.
(6) White stockings
(7) A military style lined black wool felt cocked hat with white binding and with the "alliance" black and white rosette cockade. (A small white silk rosette placed in the center of a larger black silk rosette)
(For more history regarding United States Continental Army infantry uniforms please see the article at the bottom of this page.)
Continental Line Equipment
Brown Bess or Charleville Musket with sling, cartridge box and belt, bayonet with scabbard, canteen, haversack
Yes, there is expense in being outfitted for those who choose to be involved. Quality reenacting is not an inexpensive pursuit. The single largest expense is for the correct period weapon. (Example: A Brown Bess or Charleville musket may cost as much as $900 though by shopping you may be able to find one as low as $600.) We don't want you wasting your money on inauthentic or poorly made materials. Please avoid modern patterns, synthetic fabrics and wrong clothing. We are not developing this army haphazardly and again we don't want to see anyone waste their time or money and have to backtrack. We intend to aim for a level of authenticity which will show respect for both spectators and those who have gone before us.
What is the value of this investment?
Reenacting as a soldier serving in the cause which activated and inspired our founding fathers can be a life changing experience. But this is more than an investment in yourself. When you see the admiration in the eyes of spectators and know you have inspired them - when you listen to intelligent questions and comprehend the interest you have served to spark - when you have stirred appreciation for those who have gone before us and the principles they espoused - then you will begin to understand the value of the investment you have made.
Email Us for further details.
What about the ladies? Yes, we want to see more 18th century ladies turned out for the cause of freedom. Again, please don't waste your time and money on bad patterns, fabrics or the poor quality items which are unfortunately sold by some vendors. This is not an inexpensive pursuit by any means but in the long run it pays to do it right.