grenadiersdugatinois Research, Soldat's Life, Uniform & Equipment

Making Cartridges – Part 1

This weekend, a small detachment began the work on a project we've been researching for a while….reproduction cartridges. The first step is, of course, casting the lead musket balls! The main difficulty is the twin nature of molten metal and toxic lead, so appropriate safety precautions (as seen here) were an essential - but otherwise … Continue reading Making Cartridges – Part 1

grenadiersdugatinois Pictures & Media, Research, Soldat's Life

Could You Survive the American Revolution?

We're very excited to be able to share the result of our media collaboration earlier this year! Episode 2 of Survive History's "Could You Survive in the Revolutionary War Militia?" features an interview with our Caporal and Chair, Rory, alongside some wonderful footage of our grand tenue (parade dress), and our drill "in action". https://youtu.be/A8HB3WlMXqI?t=1265

grenadiersdugatinois Research

An Excursion to the V&A!

Le Caporal and our resident chocolate shop owner were able to visit the #marieantoinettestyle exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum this week. The exhibition represents an international collaboration between several major museums across Europe, and features some incredible extant garments from the wardrobes of la Reine herself and her contemporaries, along with a wealth of … Continue reading An Excursion to the V&A!

grenadiersdugatinois Pictures & Media, Research, Soldat's Life, Training

Just Marching About?

https://videopress.com/v/0YIQMywA?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true We're absolutely thrilled that High Peak 1 got this footage of us drilling during #buxtongeorgianfestival at Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust. The soldats are demonstrating the Stechschritt (or "piercing step") which was becoming progressively more popular across Europe in the mid-late eighteenth century, as a result of Prussian successes under Frederick the Great. Its obvious … Continue reading Just Marching About?

grenadiersdugatinois Civilian Life, Pictures & Media, Research

Introducing the Voices of Williamsburg

Whilst we are heavily focused on our impression of the French army during the #RevWar, this is not to suggest that we are only a military group! We have a growing range of civilian impressions - the "Voices of Williamburg" - reflecting the interactions between soldats of le Gatinois and the Virginian population they lived … Continue reading Introducing the Voices of Williamsburg

grenadiersdugatinois Pictures & Media, Research, Soldat's Life, Training, Uniform & Equipment

Portez vos armes!

As illustrated here in this wonderful photo captured by Daz's Photography, French soldats only ever carried their muskets on their left shoulder, whether at the "portez" or "au bras" positions. By contrast, a French Officer or "bas Officier", a supernumerary NCO such as a sergent or a caporal acting as a sergent, always carried their … Continue reading Portez vos armes!