In the fall of 1778 a quantity of waistcoats and breeches were issued to the Virginia Continental line.
“...Resolved, That the Governor be requested to order by the first opportunity, as much baize from the public store, as will make waistcoats, to be sent for the Virginia non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the Continental army, and delivered to them gratis, and also such worsted or woolen caps, as may be in the said store, and one thousand blankets.”
H.R. McIlwaine, ed. Official Letters of the Governors of Virginia, Richmond, 1926, Vol. I, November 14, 1778
At least 1,711 of the 2,068 waistcoats appear to have all been constructed of red fabrics other than baize:
784 Red flannel Waistcoats
435 Best Red Cloth Waistcoats
492 Red Serge Waistcoats
(John Moss and Christian Febiger, October 29, 1778, Invoice for Blankets and Clothing, Washington papers)
To George Washington from Colonel Christian Febiger, 4 November 1778 From Colonel Christian Febiger Elizabeth Town [N.J.] the 4th of Novbr 1778.
May it please your Excellency By Order of Generall Woodford I have been in philadelphia and gott made up and procured for the Virga Troops a Quantity of Cloathing Viz. 2194 pair of Breeches, 2068 Vests, 2200 Shirts 1294 Blanketts some Caps, Shoe Buckles etc. etc., which I have brought on with me, Those Goods the Governor of Virginia has order’d either to be sold to the Troops at the Reasonable Rates mention’d in the Invoice or given gratis to such men as have not receiv’d their Quota allow’d by Congress for this Year.1 Major Genl Lord Stirling order’d me to take our proportion out at Pompton where our Brigade now is, an[d] as he had Reasons to think, that the other two Brigades would soon be order’d into Jersey, he directed me to receive your Excellencys Commands, whether their proportions should be sent them immediately or be stored on this Side till they came. I have been inform’d of your Excellencys Orders, that no Cloathing should be issued to the Troops, untill a sufficiency arrivd to Cloath the whole Army.
The 2,194 pairs of breeches were made up in the following colors and farbrics:
“1903 Blue & Green Cloth Breeches…291 Pair Red Serge Breeches”
(John Moss and Christian Febiger, October 29, 1778, Invoice for Blankets and Clothing. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.)
A manuscript by General William Woodford (dated September 11, 1778) that recently went up for sale at Heritage Auctions enumerates the colors, variety and types of cloth available in this issue. It is likely that the blue breeches contained in the 1903 Blue & Green Cloth breeches" were "light Blue" given the amount of light blue cloth in the inovice.
"Invoice of all the goods brought to Philadelphia from Virginia for the use of the Troops of that State, as per the report of Lieut. Colo. [William] Heth who was sent with instructions from the Brigadiers & Field Officers of the Virginia Line to take charge of them upon their receiving an acct. from Mr. Stark of their arrival this the 21st of August 1778...
7 1/2 Peices of Scarlet Broad Cloth 175 3/4 yds.
10 ps Buff Do ...287 3/8 yds.
26 ps light Blue do...712 yds.
8 ps Coarse Do...290 yds.
9 ps Mid. Green Do....337 yds.
1 ps Coarse Do...33 yds.
8 ps Coarse Red...300 yds.
12 ps Do Do...397 yds.
4ps fine Black...113 yds.
1500 yds Coarse brown Linen, a large proportion of which is little better than Crocus
664 dozn of Hose...
1300 pair of Shoes
1707 Shirts
3155 pr Shoes
576 Shirts
444 black Stocks
144 ready made short brown vests, without any kind of facings
625 yds coarse blue Shalloon
no kind of Trimmings except a large quantity of very indifferent green Thred
The Goods sent up last winter from Virginia were committed to the care of three Officers who delivered them out pr orders from the Virginia Brigadeers & kept an exact acct. of the articles delivered... "
