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THE COMPANY OF MILITARY HISTORIANS |
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Re: [AmRevolution] red coats
Posted By: Radford Polinsky (h-67-101-168-71.lsanca54.dynamic.covad.net)
In Response To: Re: [AmRevolution] red coats (Mike Davies)
Date: Tuesday, 13 July 2004 0924 hrs. EDT
Please note that the 1768 Warrant does not actually "command" that the army wear red coats! The only place where the coat color is mentioned is the paragraph describing Drummers' and Fifers' coats, where: "The coats of the drummers and fifers of all the royal regiments are to be red, faced and lappelled with blue, and laced with royal lace. The waistcoats, breeches, and lining of the coats, to be of the same colour as that which is ordered for their respective regiments. The coats of the drummers and fifers of those regiments which are faced with red, are to be white,faced, lappelled, and lined with red; red waistcoats and breeches. Those of all the other regiments are to be of the colour of the facing of their regiments; faced and lappelled with red. The waistcoats, breeches, and lining of those which have buff or white coats, are to be red. Those of all the others are to be of the same colour as that which is ordered for the men. To be laced in such manner as the Colonel shall think fit. The lace to be of the colour of that on the soldiers’ coats. The coats have no hanging sleeves behind." Apparently it was so generally known that British soldiers wore red coats that it was not thought necessary to actually say so in the 1768 Warrant.
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