Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Bush fighting for Dummies

I recently attended a living history event where instruction was to be given on "Bush fighting" or "Woods discipline", as it was called in the period. The entire enterprise consisted of comical fast paced wheeling in open order in an treeless field. Needless to say nothing of great value was offered or learned that day by participants in the exercise other than an insight into the frailties of man. It did however remind me of this great quote from North Carolina:

 

"Janet Schaw, ca. May-June 1775. Wilmingtown [North Carolina.]...
        We came down in the morning in time for the review, which the heat made as terrible to the spectators as to the soldiers, or what you please to call them. They had certainly fainted under it, had not the constant draughts of grog supported them. Their exercise was that of bush-fighting, but it appeared so confused and so perfectly different from any thing I ever saw, I cannot say whether they performed it well or not; but this I know that they were heated with rum till capable of committing the most shocking outrages." 



The standard European infantry practice in the early 18th century was the massed coordinated firing of well disciplined troops in close order in ranks three deep. These formations made the most out of the musket's ability to be reloaded quickly and to mount a bayonet, and were well suited to the open countryside of much of Europe.


Detail from the Review of the Norfolk Militia by David Morier, c.1759–63 


Adam Stephen wrote a letter to John Hunter, 7/18/1755, discussing Braddock's Defeat at Fort Duquesne:

"In short, the Enemy obtained an easy and compleat Victory. The few independents and Virginians that were engaged behaved better and suffered much. There were but few of them engaged, as General Braddock had unhappily placed his confidence and whole Dependence on the Regiments. But his Excellency found to his woeful Experience, what had been frequently told him, that formal attacks & Platoon-firing never would answer against the Savages and Canadians. It ought to be laid down as a Maxim to attack them first, to fight them in their own way, and go against them light and naked. As they come against Us, creeping near and hunting Us as they would do a Herd of Buffaloes or Deer; whereas you might as well send a Cow in pursuit of a Hare as an English Soldier loaded in their way with a Coat, Jacket &c. &c. &c. after Canadeans in their Shirts, who can shoot and run well, or Naked Indians accustomed to the Woods".

John Jones described the behavior of Independent Company Soldier named Lucorney at Braddock's defeat; Jones "saw the prisoner [Lucorney] several times behind a Tree...fireing and watching his opportunity to fire upon the enemy." Andrew Holms said Lucorney "Struck upon a Tree making the Deponent understand that it was the proper method for the Troops to take for their defence."

What was the Indian method?


In the 18th century, "Bush fighting" or "the method of Ind'n Fighting" was adopted by both Americans and the British military to counter (and adopt) the ambush and encirclement tactics encountered in the heavily forested frontier when fighting Indians. I will avoid getting into the religious associations that permeated every aspect of Native life, and will attempt to keep this as concise as possible.

Map of the Battle of the Monongahela showing the encirclement of Braddock's Army by David Preston, from his excellent book "Braddock's Defeat" from a Mount Vernon post.


"James Adair's 1775 "HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS" tells us that typically "The common number of an Indian war company, is only from twenty to forty, lest their tracks (should be discovered by being too numerous)  but if the warring nations are contiguous to each other, the invading party generally chooses to out-number a common company that they may strike " although he also relates a story from 1747 of a very successful Mohawk party consisting of "two or three only" that operated in the Carolinas for four moons, killing over twenty Cherokees before being captured and killed by their pursuers who "formed a large semi-circle" from " then closed into a narrower compass" to locate them.

An ambush location was chosen (generally along a road, path, campsite and etc.), often with a predetermined distance when the party was to open fire, and then the war party would use trees and terrain to provide cover and concealment. The goal was surprise and shock, with the war party firing first, and then closing to encircle the confused group they are ambushing before a defense could be mounted. 

"We take care to have the first shot at our enemies, and then they are half dead before they begin to fight." (as quoted by Christian Frederick Post in 1758)

Once the ambush began, firing and reloading occurred behind trees, and a "half Moon" or "half Circle" would be closed upon the party being ambushed.

"the Enemy indeavoured to inviron them, and had actually got them into a half Circle before the Deponents were aware upon which, and young Verdiman observing that two Indians had pointed their Guns, they, the Deponents, all retreated backwards with their Faces to the Enemy, and took to Trees." (Depositions Concerning Indian Disturbances in Virginia 1758)

"that before the Indians fired and Watts had returned the Fire on which an Indian fell, the Indians had got them into a half Moon, and that the Bullet shot by the Indian at Watts went between Watts’s Head and the Bark of the Tree he stood behind and beat of much of the Bark." (Depositions Concerning Indian Disturbances in Virginia 1758)


The war parties had leadership, but were not callous about casualties like 20th century communists sending waves of peasant conscripts to certain death. "They say of themselves, that every one of them is like a king and captain, and fights for himself." (Christian Frederick Post 1758). If the party being ambushed was able to fire first, put up a spirited defense that induced heavy losses, rapidly escaped, or counter attacked, the ambush was generally broken off (in a sort of slower break contact drill).

"In a very little Time after they heard the Indian War Whoop and a Gun fired upon which a running Fight began.  That the Indians tryed to get them into a half Moon three Times which at last they effected, and that in the Engagement he saw two Indians fall.  That at last the Enemies’ half Moon being broken, both Parties fled from each other." (Depositions Concerning Indian Disturbances in Virginia 1758)

 

Anglo Tactical adaptions

 
Detail from the 1757 Patt Walsh/Fort Edward horn showing aimed firing from trees and team loading. The Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV. Gift of Herman P. Dean, 1964


James Smith's narrative illustrates the placement of two men per tree, one of whom was to always have a loaded gun in order to provide a "constant" fire.


"I collected ten of my old warriors, that I had formerly disciplined in the Indian way, went off privately, after night, and encamped in the woods. The next day, as usual, we blacked and painted, and waylayed them near Sidelong Hill. I scattered my men about forty rod [a rod is 5.5 yards or 16.5 feet] along the side of the road and ordered every two to take a tree, and about eight or ten rod between each couple, with orders to keep a reserve fire, one not to fire until his comrade had loaded his gun—by this means we kept up a constant, slow fire, upon them from front to rear"

Barton's Journal illuminates how soldiers on the Forbes expedition drilled to extend from column into a linear front capable of an "incessant" fire. The extended line would deny the enemy's ability to encircle the formation, and after six rounds were fired the men were to counterattack the aggressors to further break up the attack. 

"Sunday, August 13th 
At three O'clock the troops are led to the field as usual and exercised in this manner.

They are formed into four columns two men deep parallel to, and distant from, each other about 50 yards. After marching some distance in this position, they fall into one rank entire forming a line of battle with great ease and expedition. The two front men of each column stand fast & the next two split equally to right and left and continue alternately till the whole line is formed. They are then divided into platoons; each platoon consists of twenty men, and fire three rounds. The right hand man of each platoon beginning the fire and then the left hand man; and so on right and left alternately until the fire ends in the center. Before it reached this place the right and let are ready again. By this means an incessant fire is kept up. When they fired six rounds in this manner, they make a sham pursuit with shrieks and halloos in the Indian way, but falling into much confusion; they are again drawn up into line of battle and fire three rounds as before. After this each battalion is marched in order back to camp."  (Barton, Thomas. "Journal of the Forbes Expedition" Ed. William A. Hunter, The Western Pennsylvania Historical Society , Pittsburgh: October 1971). 

Having learned some very hard lessons in the French and Indian war, the British army instituted training to counter small unit ambushes in wooded terrain, further codifying those practices with the formation of permanent Light Infantry companies prior to the Revolution.

    Lord Townshend’s Instructions for the Light Infantry in Ireland, 1772.

    “-Rules and Orders for the Discipline of the Light Infantry Companies in His Majesty’s Army in Ireland.-*

    “The Light Infantry Companies are always to be drawn up two Deep with a space of Two Feet between the Files. Marching in a Wood upon any Service of a Secret Nature, they are to be taught to lower their arms in two motions and carry them in a diagonal Position, with their hands on the swell of the firelock; and they are to shoulder in three Motions. They are to perform all Evolutions by Files and never to wheel any part of the Circle by Platoons or subdivisions much less by a larger Body. When marching through a Wood or any Strong Country by Files and ordered to form a Front to the Left, the Right Hand File is to face to the Left and the others to run up briskly and dress by it.  If to form a Front to the Right, the Right Hand File is to face to the Right and the other Files are to form briskly to the Right of it; and then the Rear Rank of the Detachment becomes the Front, when a few Files are formed the Commanding Officer is to order an Irregular Fire to begin, and to Continue until the signal shall be given for Ceasing, It is to be particularly observed that each file has an entire dependence upon itself and that the Firelocks of the front and rear Men, are never to be unloaded at the same time, When the front Rank Man Fires, the Rear Rank Man is to make Ready and step up briskly before his Comrade, but is by no means to discharge his Firelock until the other has loaded, and then he is to step briskly before the Rear Rank man, and this method to be followed untill a signal shall be given for ceasing to Fire.  This Mutual Defense and Confidence is one of the most Essential Principles of Light Infantry. The Men when in a Wood are to be taught to Cover themselves with Trees by placing the Right Foot about six inches behind the left, and presenting to the Right of the Tree, and after firing to step back two paces, and give Room to the Rear Rank man to come up to the same Tree and to fire alternately, according to the directions before mentioned. All Officers Commanding Companies, or any body of Light Infantry, are to fix upon signals for extending their Front to the Right or to the Left, or to both Flanks, or to Close to the Centre, to Retire, or to advance, and these signals must be made by a loud whistle, a posting horn, or some other instrument capable of conveying a sufficient sound to be heard at considerable Distance, and the stoutest of the Drummers is to be taught to sound these Instruments by directions from the Commanding Officer, who is to give the strictest Orders to the Men to be silent and attentive without which it is scarce possible that any action in a wood can be successfull."


Portions of the American Revolutionary army also practiced Woods maneuvers as well as standard infantry drill. In the orderly book of the 2d Virginia Regiment in the fall of 1775: “The Ajutant to proceed with Exorcise & Decipline of 1764, & for the present to Continue, that & Bring on the men in every part of it & Teach the Woods Exorcise one Day in a Week…men are to be Divided into Small Squads under proper officers to Learn the Exorcise the most Expert men to Join the Grand Squade – the Unarmed men may be taught to March &c. at all times when the Can Borrow arms to be Exorcising & Larning the Use of them.”


It would seem that experienced woodsmen (like the men in the Virginia Depositions Concerning Indian Disturbances in 1758) didn't use formalized commands or prompts to "tree all" for their defense and I will not belabor this text in an attempt to collect all of the variations in commands and methods, but the general practice seems to have been to extend a line in open order with pairs firing from behind trees to create a front that couldn't easily be encircled or outflanked. Although the commands and terminology may vary from 1755 to 1783 and from backcountry farmer to British Light infantryman, the general activity and method seems to have been the same.

Journal of Henry Muhlenberg, July 23 1776:

 "Again in the evening, arrived a company of Riflemen or sharpshooters, form Reading on their march to Jersey. Most of them are native youngsters from in and around Reading who learned bush fighting like that of the Indians. They are also clad in Indian fashion and are armed with rifles and tomahawks. 
Their outer shirts are shaggy, almost like the pictures of satyrs, fauns, or sylvan spirits of ancient times”

In 1777, a reluctant (Tory) 12th Virginia Rifleman serving under an 8th Virginia officer in an ad hoc rifle unit attempted to encircle and ambush a group of British soldiers of the 23rd in a cornfield with ironic results. 

"we discovered a few of the Welch fusileers cooking at a barn in the middle of a large field of Indian Corn. Capt. Dark resolved to take them if possible, on which account he divided his men into 6 parties of 25 each, under the command of a Lieut and 2 Serjeants. The party on the left to which I belonged, he ordered to surround the field, which we did, but were discovered by those we thought to surprise, who were only a few of a party consisting of fifty that were out foraging. They drew up immediately and marched out of the field; upon which our Lieut and 4 of his men fired upon them, which they returned with a whole volley, and plyed us very warmly from among the trees, for some considerable time, untill the other parties came up and attacked them in the rear; whom they also gallantly repulsed and put to flight. The party I belonged to upon the approach of the rest, retreated; at which time I left them, and made the best of my way to the English camp."

The Fusileers' use of the cover and concealment offered by the tree line enabled them to escape the ambush and hold off the approach of the riflemen who were firing from the open field.

On July 29, 1775; Robert Washington warned his fellow Virginians:

"Let us not plume ourselves with this conceit, that we shall always have the bush to fight behind; for, in the different services of war in this Country, there will be passes to be guarded or forced; bridges to be crossed or defended; trenches to be guarded or formed; streets to be cleared; and sometimes squares to be formed: in all which cases, bushing it would be of little or no use; and to send undisciplined Troops on such service would be absurd indeed. The native courage of the Americans, and their knowledge of the woods, with an early use of fire-arms, has rendered them superiour in the woods to any Troops in Europe, and, if under regular discipline, might be as famous in the field. But it may be observed and said, we want men of knowledge in such cases to instruct us."

The training reforms led by Von Steuben as well as the massive amounts of military aid from the French government allowed our Continental Army to stand against the British forces in a decisive and professional manner. Although the use of the "Woods discipline" won some frontier battles like King's Mountain and bolstered American abilities in skirmishing as well as in campaigns against Indian foes, these small unit tactics were secondary to professional competency in winning the Revolution.


I'd like to thank Steve Rayner for his generous sharing of information on this topic through the years, reflected in several of the quotes above.



 



Monday, September 8, 2025

In memoriam: Jay M. Howlett

 

Portrait of Jay Howlett by Photographer Mark Tucker

 

It is with great sadness that I note the passing of my friend Jay Howlett last month. A talented artist, Jay mastered many crafts, trained as a saddler at the now closed Colonial Williamsburg Taliaferro-Cole Saddler's shop, he then went on to become an artificer, worked for Williamsburg's military programs, and was also adept at the art of the tailor, shoe making, hat making, and single-handedly revived the Leather breeches trade at Colonial Williamsburg. 

 

Busman's holiday at Battersea plantation ca. 2008

Jay was a brother, husband, father, friend, artisan, interpreter and musician; generous to a fault,  he was kind with necessary criticism and a mentor to many. He impacted numerous lives and institutions and will be sorely missed.

 



Rush on boys! 

Thursday, July 3, 2025

2025 Arsenals of History Symposium at the National Museum of the US Army

 

 
Registration and information is here
 
20–22 August, 2025
National Museum of the United States Army. Fort Belvoir, Virginia 
 

 
Group photo from the event. A high quality symposium with some great topics. The Army Museum was also very well done and the Special Revolutionary War exhibit "Call to Arms" is highly recommended!

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Book review: Settle's "The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution's Southern Campaigns "

 

Due to wartime consolidations, unit transfers, and the capture of almost all of Virginia's Continental troops at the fall of Charleston, SC in 1780; following the movements of the remaining Virginia forces is difficult and confusing. Smaller detachments were at times referred to by both commanding officer's names and new duplicate numbered regiments in primary documents as well as 19th century pension applications.  John C. Settle's "The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution's Southern Campaigns " does an excellent job of clarifying the movements and the composition of various detachments in the chaotic final years of the American Revolution in a concise, accessible manner. I highly recommend picking this up if you have an interest in post 1780 Virginia and Southern campaign Revolutionary War military history.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Massachusetts Provincial Small Arms of the Louisbourg Expedition- 1745

 

My new article "Massachusetts Provincial Small Arms of the Louisbourg Expedition- 1745" is featured in the June issue of "Man at Arms" Magazine ( Vol 47 no 3). Primary documents and archeological specimens tell the unlikely tale of English guns made for the African trade in use by Massachusetts soldiers during the 1745 siege of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. Available now at https://gunandswordcollector.com/magazine/

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Making a DIY Revolutionary War old construction/soft Cartridge pouch


Thomas Jefferson's 1781 Circular-Letter to the County Lieutenants of Virginia pleaded that:

"...every man who has or can procure a Gun have it instantly put into the best order a Bayonet fitted to it, a Bayonet belt, Cartouche Box, Canteen with its strap, Tomahawk, Blanket and knapsack. Some of these articles are necessary for his own safety and some for his Health & Comfort. The constant exhausture of the Public Stock of these Articles by calls from all Quarters renders it vain for the Militia to expect to be supplied from thence when they come into the Field, and nothing is so easy as for every man to have them prepared while quiet and at Home. The cartouche box with a leathern Flap, a wooden canteen with its strap and a knapsack of thick linen (the better if painted) are what may be had in any man's family and there are few neighborhoods which do not afford artificers equal to the repair of a Fireloack and furnishing it with a Bayonet..."
 
 

 Although a shot bag with horn or a cartouch (aka "Belly" ) box is more suitable for some militia impressions, a proper cartridge pouch is necessary for a few scenarios. In the 1780s, Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas at times issued cartridge pouches for militia service, in addition to use by State and Continental troops ( see a previous discussion here ).

Many of the pouches sent South during 1780 and the Yorktown campaign appear to have been roughly used and abused soft or "old construction" pouches taken out of service as the New Construction pouches were becoming predominant with the regulars, so  I based this build on a typical northern early war soft pouch. I used hemp for the strap instead of leather  because of the Stephens to Gates complaints that "what straps there are to the boxes of are linen."

 


 

The materials used were a block of 12 x 4 inch ash (actually two 2x2s glued together), an awl, a round punch, a ruler, leather needles, beeswax, a sharp utility knife, coarse linen thread, steel carpet tacks (#8 or 9/16s) a drill with 1/8th and 3/4 inch bits, a hand saw, and a hemp strap. The vegetable tanned leather for the pouch body was scanty, about 3 ounces, and the rough out flap was heavier as observed in some original pouches I examined. I dyed the smooth side black before cutting. Rusty iron or steel in a jar of vinegar for a week or so will produce a nice blackish dye, especially when well oiled afterwards.

 


My local hardware store carried blocks of 2x2x12 ash that I clamped and glued together for the block. Obviously a larger non composited chunk of pine or any other native wood would be optimal, but the purpose of this build was to do a minimal tooling "off the shelf" hardware store exercise. I used a hand saw to cut the block down (ripping to 2 x3 high first) and then filed and sanded it. Holes were marked and started with a smaller bit, then I followed up with my 3/4 inch bit, with 2.75"s marked on my bit. Don't sweat perfect spacing or a slight run out, as both show up in original blocks as can be seen above and below.


 The original block I was using as my model had several small tacks placed in the wood. I am unsure if these were all done after the pouch body was assembled but I chose to used four tacks to place my hemp webbing strap (careful to hit the wood in between holes). The center two rear tacks for my reproduction were placed after the leather pouch body was on.


 The body was formed from two "D" shaped pieces of scanty leather, add about an inch on the sides and 2 or 3 inches to the bottom after making your block (there should be a goofy looking void under the block). I stitched them together rough out, then wet them, and flipped them so the smooth side was on the outside and my seams were in the pouch interior. Let the leather dry in the sun with the wooden block inside it.

 


Before the box goes in the pouch, a small leather button in the center bottom of the pouch should be added. There are several fasteners to choose from, I elected to use a small toggle button. These are made by taking a piece of middling weight leather and cutting it to resemble a spade, or a rectangle with a skinny tail on one side. The rectangle is folded/rolled on itself and a punched hole makes a cavity for the tail to go through. Once pulled taught the other end is knotted inside the pouch body. 

 


The next step was to mark my stitching holes, and to stitch the flap onto the pouch body, taking care to sandwich the strap in between the pouch body and flap. Afterwards, a leather tab was added to the flap interior to catch the button on the bottom of the pouch. Finally, a tack was added to the space in between the holes on the left and right ends, again as seen on the original block.
 
Overall, this is a project that can be tackled by the novice with minimal cost and equipment. I am unhappy with the (in)consistency of my flap stitching and a few minor details from my first trial, and may alter the shape of the flap a bit. My work will certainly not pass for an arsenal or saddler made box, but  is in line with the coarser domestic production based on some extant American pouches.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

"Paint, or Colour with Bark": Dyed hunting shirts in Revolutionary America

 Although the majority of hunting shirts were likely made from natural unbleached or "brown" and white linen, many references to both military and civilian hunting shirts being dyed various colors survive from primary sources in the 18th-century. 



 Common, unbleached "Brown linen" ca. 1759 from The Dress of the People by John Styles p262

However, some frontiersmen seem to have worn shirts described as "painted":

"...400 Virginia volunteers, all armed with rifles, and excellent marksmen, and dressed alamode de sauvages, with painted shirts and fur-caps stained with paint..." (Scots Magazine in 1765 describing Bouquet's Virginia Volunteers, see the Annotated and Illustrated journals of Major Robert Rogers by Timothy J. Todish and Gary S. Zaboly p298 ). 

Thankfully Thomas Gage clarifies the meaning of "painted" for us a few years later:

"An Indian Interpreter was here a few Days past from the Ohio, who saw thirty or forty People seated on the Banks of that River on the lands ceded by the Six Nations, and on whose Approach some Indians in the Neighbourhood abandoned their Dwellings and removed. Many of these people were half naked, chiefly covered with loose, Coarse, linnen Frocks, such as the Frontier People Manufacture for themselves, and paint, or Colour with bark; and they differ little from Indians in their Manner of Life. They have no means to purchase Clothing but by skins, and that induces them to hunt, and consequently to intrude on the Indian hunting grounds; which is often productive of Quarrels, and Murthers." 

(General Thomas Gage to Lord Hillsborough.NY October 7th 1772)

Other references to "painted" or more properly dyed/stained hunting shirts exist:

"Fairfax County, [Virginia] Association...distinguishing our dress, when we are upon duty, from that of the other Companies, by painted hunting-shirts and Indian boots, or caps, as shall be found most convenient." (SIZE ROLL OF THE INDEPENDENT COMPANY OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
APRIL - MAY 1775 revwarapps.org
)

Professional dyers like Philadelphia's John Hickey advertised that he "dyes linen or woollen blue, green, red, yellow, purple or any other color." (Pennsylvania Gazette, March 11, 1756). Merchant records show that both indigo and copperas were common commercially available dyes in many back country stores, and home brew concoctions made with bark are also mentioned with some frequency. Attempts to dye sometimes met with limited or fugitive success, many Virginia deserters are described in "dark coloured" or simply "died" hunting shirts. In some cases, such as the account of James Nourse below, we have very vague information to work on.

May 10 1775 Camp at Smith Point mouth of the Great Sandy 40 miles below the Great Kanaway

"The men that bound in the other canoes for Kentuke set off- as did soon after Cressop.  Saturday 13th May.  Tom finished washing my linen and dying my Hunting shirt..."

Thankfully, not everyone was as mysterious as Nourse, and we have some clues as to the colors and the dyestuffs that were utilized in the 18th century.


Black:

Black was achieved with elderberry bark and iron filings.

The Fountain of Knowledge, or British Legacy 1770 p45

 

 April 4, 1777 The Virginia Gazette
"Twenty DOLLARS reward. Deserted from Elk Ridge landing, Maryland, the 5th of February last, four soldiers belonging to capt. Charles Flemings company of the 7th Virginia Regiment  had with him a bundle in a blanket, and a rifle. Joel Johnson, a low well set man, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, wears his own dark hair and very large whiskers, full faced; had on a hunting shirt dyed black, fringed round the capes, ruffles, tail, and down the breast, belted with the skin of a rattlesnake, had with him a bundle in a blanket..."

The pension application of  Frederick County Marylander Thomas White S31474 mentions he  wore a black dyed hunting shirt "the clothes of the Regement was coloured black and was calld the Black Hunting Shirt Regement in the flying camps...his Colonel of the name of Shihawk [sic: Henry Shryock]".

 Blue:

Indigo was cultivated as a dyestuff in Colonial America, particularly South Carolina, and was commonly available in the Colonies. For more information on dying with indigo look here.

Indigo dyed linen (link).

 A deserter from Smallwood's Maryland Battalion was described wearing a "castor hat, blue hunting shirt, osnabrig trousers with five buttons at the ankles [overalls], and a short, light colored double breasted waistcoat" in the 10 August 1776 edition of the Pennsylvania Evening Post (Katcher UCA p 89).

 Thomas Trap, Serjeant, 30 Years of Age, 6 Feet high, dark Hair, slim made, pitted with the Smallpox, talks in a whining Manner; his Wife, who was heavy with Child, went off with him. Philip Ragan, Corporal, 22 Years of Age, 5 Feet 7 Inches high, brown Hair, speaks fierce, of a dark Complexion. Brice Ragan, a Private, Brother to Philip, near his Size, 20 Years of Age, fair Complexion, of an agreeable Look. Henry Mace, a Private, 5 Feet 8 Inches high, well set, fair faced, had a blue hunting Shirt when he went off; the Serjeant, Corporal, and Philip Ragan, carried off their Regimentals of Blue with white Worsted Binding; they, with Mace, were enlisted into Captain Alexander's Company, and may be taken in Frederick County, Virginia. EIGHT DOLLARS Reward for each Man, to be paid by
ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD, Col. 2d Virg. Reg. - 
Virginia Gazette (Dixon & Hunter), Williamsburg , September 5, 1777 .

 

  Brown:

 

 

Detail from an apparently overdyed brown linen short coat or jacket. Connecticut Historical Society 1981.110.0

   "Brown" linen in contemporary usage was natural colored or unbleached linen. At times this was enhanced or overdyed to be a darker brown than the light tan color of "brown" osnabrigs linen that was commonly used for hunting shirts. This brown overdye was likely most commonly achieved "tanning" by putting the shirt into a leather tanning vat (generally using oak bark to provide tannins).

Detail from a ca. 1780 brown overdyed linen suit showing the contrast between the undyed natural or brown linen lining and the overdyed exterior fabric of the breeches.  From the Collections of The Henry Ford ( Object ID-2013.136.1)
 

In 1765, William Smith recommended frontier soldiers wear "a strong tanned shirt, short trowsers, leggins and mokawsons or shoe packs."(An Historical Account of Colonel Bouquet's Expedition Against the Ohio Indians in the Year 1764

Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), Williamsburg , July 8, 1773.

 "  FIFTEEN POUNDS REWARD. RUN away from NEABSCO Furnace, two Convicts, and an indented Servant, belonging to the Honourable John Tayloe, Esquire, viz. JOSEPH LOVEDAY, from the West of England, about twenty three Years of Age, five Feet seven Inches high, of a ruddy Complexion, with sandy coloured Hair, a red Beard, a pretty smooth Face, very squeaking Voice, a large Scar on his Throat, and his Knee has been disjointed when he was a Boy, which makes him trail his leg when he walks. He went off some time last Fall, and was seen, I am lately told, about Mr. Zeen's Iron Works, in Frederick County; so that it is presumed he is still in that or some of the back Counties, and may be employed in the Farming or Team driving Business, which he professed, but is very ignorant of both. He carried with him a blue Fearnought and a white Cotton Jacket, long Trousers died brown with Tan Bark, and in other Respects was clothed as Servants commonly are."

Uniforms of the Philadelphia Associators, letter from Mary Morgan to her sister Anne Coale, May-June 1775.

"then there are the rangers Mr. Francis Capt, Uniform is tanned shirts with a Cape, a belt round their waists with a Tomyhawk sticking in it- some of them paint their faces and stick painted feathers in their heads, in short their aim is to resemble Indians as much as possible. " (Notes and Queries, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 10, No. 4, Jan., 1887)

 

 Virginia Gazette (Purdie), Williamsburg, September 6, 1776.    

DESERTED from the College camp, the 2d instant (September) a soldier who says his name is JOHN BOYD, born in New England, and a shoemaker by trade. He is about 30 years of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, and has some scars about his mouth; had on a brown hunting shirt fringed, and trousers of the same colour. He told some persons before he went off, that he was going to York town for a rifle, and some clothes that he said he left there. He had taken the place of a soldier in my company the day he went away, and I expect he is either gone towards York or Fredericksburg. Whoever will deliver the said Boyd to my company of the second regiment shall receive 40 s. reward, paid by FRANCIS TAYLOR. 

Green:

"General Observations upon dyeing" from the 1773 edition of  the Encyclopaedia Britannica (Vol 2 page 461) mentions "That although green be the most frequent and the most common of natural colours, yet there is no simple ingredient now used alone to dye green with upon any material; sap -green being the nearest, which is used by country people." The 1767 Instructor: Or, Young Man's Best Companion by George Fisher has a section on "Colours and Dying" that clarifies that "Sap-green...made of the Juice of Buck thorn Berries."

Buckthorn berry dye on cotton, linen, silk, hemp, and wool fibers, from Dye plants in curious spaces.


Schoolmaster John Guy's 1796 Miscellaneous Selections; or, the rudiments of useful knowledge mentions that "Green colours are to be produced only by a mixture of blue and yellow...it is common first to dye the cloth blue with indigo,and then yellow with any yellow colouring ingredient; by which means a green colour is produced." For further discussion on greens, look here.

"A regiment from Virginia lay in York.  I prevail'd on my mother to make me a hunting shirt and trousers, green with yellow fringe.  Thus equip'd I was constant with this Virginia encampment.
 Then men were in a poor condition to meet an enemy: old and young, rich and poor, all in brotherly bond, some with out shoes or stockings, some no coats, some with old muskets and some with fowling pieces,
however as they went on their journey, whear supplied by citizens who could spare them clothes and provisions..."Memoir of John Durang Pitssburgh 1966 p6 -
Katcher's Uniforms of the Continental army p 169


The Virginia Gazette, January 19, 1776
Richmond, December 26, 1775
The above servant was lately seen in Williamsburg, in a hunting shirt with green trimmings, and said he had enlisted in a company at York town.

The Pennsylvania Gazette Philadelphia, August 22, 1776.

FIFTY SIX DOLLARS Reward. DESERTED, this morning, from Captain Copenhaver company, 2d Battalion of Riflemen, of Lancaster county, commanded by Colonel GREEN, the five following men, viz.

Balizer Bomgardner, about 32 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, well set, sandy coloured hair; had on a green frock and trowsers; took his arms and accoutrements with him. Adam Bomgardner, brother of the said Balizer, about 30 years of age, near 5 feet 10 inches high, black hair; had on a green frock and trowsers. Adam Tidler, about 20 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, stoops in his walk, sandy coloured hair; had on a green frock and trowsers; took his arms and accoutrements with him.Jacob Musser, about 20 years of age, near 5 feet 8 inches high, a Shoemaker by trade; had on a green frock and trowsers. John Toops, about 25 years of age, 5 feet 2 inches high, well set, black hair; had on a green frock and trowsers; was Drummer to the company.They were all of Hanover township, Lancaster county, neighbours to each other, had all received the advance money. - The said Balizer Bomgardner had entered in the place of another man, who paid him Ten Pounds for the same. - The arms and accoutrements were appraised in order to be paid for by the public. Whoever takes up said deserters, and delivers them at the camp, at Amboy, or secures them, so that they may be delivered to the Commanding Officers of said Battalion, shall receive for the said Balizer Bomgardner, the reward of Twenty four Dollars, and for each of the others Eight Dollars, and all reasonable charges, paid by THOMAS COPENHAVER , Captain.

 Purple:

Purple could be achieved with maple bark and copperas (a green hydrated ferrous sulfate used especially in making inks and pigments), as well as imported logwood dyes. 


Purple from Sumac on cotton, linen, ramie/silk, wool, and silk fibers from Dye plants in curious spaces.


"It is Expected that each Capt. will with all Expedition Provide Legins for his men & hunting shirts Dyd of a purple Coulour"   (Orderly Book of the 2d Virginia Regiment, October 27, 1775) 

 Virginia Gazette or, Norfolk Intelligencer (Duncan), Norfolk , June 15, 1775.

"   RUN away from the subscriber the 20th instant, (May 1775) a convict servant man named GEORGE NEWTON, a farmer, born in Yorkshire, imported in the Justitia this spring; a stout man about 6 feet high, much freckled, a very red beard, walks clumsily, has a scar on the fore part of his head and some on his left arm, said to be occasioned by shot, he has been in some office about the custom-house in London. He took with him two oznabrig shirts almost new, one of them lately dyed of a purple colour with maple bark and copperas, a pair of trowsers of thin dutch or oznabrigs very narrow for him, a bound felt hat, a pair of old country made shoes, a jacket without sleeves, when new was of a claret colour (much worn) he stole a white linen shirt, stock and brass stock buckle, one pair of new worsted hose mixed brown and white, one pair of white yarn stockings; he may have stole other clothes..."

Yellow:

 

Dandelion flower dyes on cotton, linen, and ramie/silk, from Dye plants in curious spaces.
 

Yellow could be achieved with Hickory bark.

"In the year1776 belonged to a Company of militia composed of Young men, natives of America of good character and standing Commanded by Capt. Peter Mantz, Adam Grosh first Lieut., and Peter Adams second Lieut., natives and residents of Frederick-Town Maryland. A Hunting shirt, dyed yellow with Hickory bark, Pantaloons of the same, a pair of Indian Legons of gran [green?] cloth with a piece of Bearskin over the crown of the hat: armed with a good Rifle and Tomahawk, shot pouch & powder horn   thus armed and accoutred, we took up the line of march about the 1st of June for the City of Annapolis..." S31960 John Shellman

 

1777 Va Gazette
Twenty Dollars Reward
For apprehending John O'Neal, who deserted from Winchester the 3d instant. He is about 5 feet 9 inches high, stout made, and wears a yellow hunting shirt. He was enlisted by col. Neaville, and served some time at fort Pitt. Since his desertion I have been informed he enlisted with capt. Craghorn of the 8th regiment, and was left sick at Williamsburg when that company marched to New York, and that he has received the bounty of several recruiting officers besides myself.
Matthew Smith
1st Virginia Regiment  Winchester, April 15, 1777


Sunday, January 5, 2025

Upcoming F&I conference: "Washington's First War" starting 2/14/25

 



 
 
 
Washington's First War: The Great War for Empire on the American Frontier
 
The George Washington Hotel, Winchester, Virginia
 
February 14-15, 2025

Includes tours of Fort Frederick and Winchester. Speakers include David Preston, John R. Maass, Ph.D., Scott C. Patchan, Timothy Shannon, Ph.D., Jim Mullins, James M. Dubik  and Glenn F. Williams, Ph.D.
 
Further information and registration info is here 
 

Photo courtesy Todd Post