Militia Clothing & ArmsClothing : Battle Road standards constitute the base minimum for clothing, equipment, arms and personal appearance (read: no facial hair). Since this is 1763, and not 1775, clothing of the style worn in the period 1745 to 1765 is most desired, and if you have such clothing, including full skirted collarless or short stand collared or cape collared coats, jackets, rather long, more straight cut waistcoats, fly fronted breeches, please wear them. If you have slightly older style 1775 clothing with fall fronted breeches,a more fully cut frock coat, and a waistcoat with long skirts with a break at the waist, that's ok too. Tight fitting breeches, square cut waistcoats, and really close fitting coats with narrow cuffs are not appropriate. Neck cloths should be worn by most men instead of a military neck stock, white linen stocks are also ok. Hats should be either a good civilian cocked hat with even cocking all around, a fantail round hat, or plain round hat, in that order. Plain, period shoes with buckles or ties are appropriate - please, no gaiters or leggings! If you have a question about the clothing as to its appropriateness, please drop me a line, preferably with an image of the garment in question, and I will be happy to help make a determination on it.
Accouterments: Most accouterments that are appropriate for Battle Road should be ok for this event. Accouterments of those who are involved in F&I impressions or served as provincial or Regular troops at Louisbourg will be acceptable. Bayonet belts should be waistbelts in black or browned leather, unless you are a Regular, then Ochred buff is apropos. Cartridge pouches should be either a proper 18 hole British style pouch with a large overflap as have been made in Joel Bohy's workshops at the Hive, or an early Rev. War militia pouch on a plain leather or woven linen strap. Canteens should be wooden single or double hoop style, though crescent style tin water bottles are also acceptable. Double strap knapsacks are too late for this event, but snapsacks are ok, as are single strap knapsacks. Arms should be some variant of Brown Bess, either Long Land or Second Model. Queen Anne Dog Lock or similar English style gun of .75 caliber that will accept a socket bayonet will be ok. The Town of Boston issued arms to those who could not afford them, so French muskets would likely not have been carried with the militia, due to the difficulty in furnishing regular ammunition. Bayonets should be socket rather than plug style. In addition to a bayonet, Mass. provincial law required each militiaman to carry a sword, cutlass, or hatchet/tomahawk. Cartridges: Plan to bring cartridges, as we will need to supply our own, 6-8 per person minimum. We will be parading and drilling throughout the day. I don't know if we will be able to fire at any other time than the celebratory fire on the news of the peace being read from the balcony of the Old State House, but will see what we can do safely in the space we will have to work with. |
Civilian Clothing & ArmsBattle Road standards apply.
For women, this means an open-front gown with robings and a stomacher. The well-to-do typically have matching petticoats, while lower classes do not always. Chintz, calicoes and printed cottons are available in Boston in the 1754-1763 period, and extant examples exist in Britain. For men, militia standards will apply. |