The main distinguishing feature of our new sergent's impression is the lace band around his forearm. The 1779 Reglemente says that his lace should be "a simple silver braid on the forearm," nothing that to make it stand out more on the white uniform it should be piped in the facing colour. For ours, that … Continue reading Sergent’s “Stripes”
Making Cartridges – Part 3
Welcome back- at last we've assembled our cartouches and loaded the giberne! And how, you might ask? With the template cut out... ...we place a lead ball in the top of the mandrel, and then roll it into the paper. We use the "hole" in the table to secure the paper around the ball. Then … Continue reading Making Cartridges – Part 3
Making Cartridges – Part 2
The next step in our reproduction cartouche (cartridge) making is the necessary implements to shape them! The instructions that we are following, which were issued in 1777 to the officers in charge of ammunition manufacturing, state that you need: - a "wooden mandrel, 7 inches long and 6 lines 9 points in diameter; these must … Continue reading Making Cartridges – Part 2
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
On This Day – the French attack Jersey!
And no, not *New* Jersey! Here in the UK it can be easy to think that the battles of the #RevWar were only visible in North America. Now not only does this neglect the wider global engagements, and indeed the lengthy siege of Gibraltar, but 245 years ago a small French expedition attempted to open another front … Continue reading On This Day – the French attack Jersey!
An Army Marches on its Stomach
The oft-toted phrase "an army marches on its stomach" was very much the case when the French arrived in America. Expédition Particulière, commanded by Rochambeau, spent much of 1780 and 1781 in New York and Rhode Island, and research by Dr Selig has shown that these 4-5 thousand soldiers went through 8-10 wagon loads of … Continue reading An Army Marches on its Stomach
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
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!
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?
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
Le Régiment Gatinois 