Prior to 1743 British Regiments were generally known by the names of their colonels, and the regimental colours, procured by each individual colonel, were embellished with designs entirely at his whim, often with elements of his personal or family coat of arms. In 1743 the first of a series of Royal warrants and regulations standardized British colours in several important ways that still obtained at the time of the American Wars: 1) the first colour of each battalion was to be the Great Union, 2) no color would display any designs except those approved, and specifically not any part of the arms of their colonels, 3) the second colour was to be the color of the regimental facing and display a small union in the upper canton next the staff, 4) except those specifically authorized royal or "ancient" badges, colours would display in their centers the rank of the regiment in a union wreath of roses and thistles on one stalk.

Warrants and drawings prepared in 1747, 1749, and 1751 reiterated the points made in 1743 and included water-color paintings for those regiments allowed "ancient" badges. (These dates are often cited individually, in fact they refer to a single set of rules prepared by Colonel Robert Napier, Adjutant General of the British Army, in 1747, delivered to the Clothing Board 1749, and published 1751.) Each painting included a label or scroll on the colour for regimental motto, although few regiments had a motto at the time. It is unreasonable to suppose, however, that flags were made, presented, and carried with blank  scrolls, and no original colour so made has yet come to light. (Courtesy of the DuPage Military Flag Company)

In 1747 a Royal Warrant (from 1743 standards), consisting of  a two-color "regimental identification system", was first introduced for British Army Foot Regiments of the Line  army wide, and is  still in existence today. Each regiment received a King's Colors (British), described as "the Grand Union throughout," and a Regimental Colors (Regimental Flag) with a field in the regimental colors and a canton of the Union Flag. Regiments whose facings had been white now had facings in their designated Regimental Color with a white field quartered by a broad red cross. Regiments whose facings had been black now had them quartered by a broad red cross. On both Colors (Flags), the number of the regiment, in gold Roman numerals, was centered within a "union wreath" of roses and thistles. However, those regiments of the "Old Corps" with "ancient devices" or royal badges, such as the Royal Scots and the Buffs, were permitted to bear them on their Colors with their regimental number appearing in the upper hoist. 

                                 

In the example (above) both Colors of the 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) are illustrated. As a famous "Old Corps Regiment" the Buffs were also permitted to bear the dragon badge of Wales on their Colors. In three corners of the Regimental Color was the floral badge of England, a crowned Tudor rose. The motto on the scroll over the dragon on the 'Regimentals" states "Veteri Frondescet Honore" or "The glory of our fathers lives in us again". In the center illustration, the cuffs, collar and turnbacks of the jacket (1768 pattern) worn by members regiment also depicts the regimental "colors".  

When the War of Independence erupted in 1775, and disregarding the local "loyalist" units, there were only about 8,000 regular British soldiers in North America. However, by wars end, some 56,000 men would serve in North America. Each Regiment of Foot was commanded by a Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel and contained one Battalion each of about 475 men divided into 10 companies. Realistically, however, the numerical strength of the British Regiment was between 380-450 men. None the less, the Regulars of the British Army were arguably the best trained, drilled and disciplined military elements in the world.  The standard infantry weapon was the famous Brown Bess musket (officially the Long Land Pattern Musket, and later in the century the Short Land Pattern Musket), perhaps the finest weapon of its type ever produced. (All art renderings by F. J. Schaller Jr.)

 

Companies of the British Regiments of Foot

 

The 8 "Line Companies" contained the bulk of the regiments personnel and were made up "hat men", so called because they wore tricorn hats.  British soldiers were required to be able to load, aim and accurately fire three shots per minute. In true European tradition, soldiers in the "line companies" stood shoulder to shoulder in ranks at least two rows deep and fired by volley at their foe. Distinctive in their red coatees, they made excellent targets, a fact not lost to American woodsmen and Native Americans who sought cover and concealment in trees and foliage. None the less, they made a good account for themselves in both the French & Indian War and the American War of Independence.   

 

The right flank company of the Regiment was the Grenadier Company, which contained the tallest and bravest men of the Regiment, a designation (grenadiers) originally given to men that pitched hand grenades at their foe. Used as the right flank element of the Regiment, this company contained the "elite shock troops", men who would stand their ground at all cost. Grenadiers wore a distinctive tall, brimless bearskin cap and "looped coats" (jackets with  large "wings" at each shoulder seam). The brimless bearskin cap, with its regimental front plate, was a direct descendent of the older Mitre cap, first actually worn by Grenadiers from 1743 to 1763. The need for a brimless hat had become apparent when, prior to lighting and throwing a grenade, the "grenadiers" had to sling their weapon over their shoulders and the sling would usually catch the brim of their tricorn hats. Awkward, to say the least, not to mention a serious encumbrance at a critical moment, this led to the invention of the Mitre cap for the Grenadiers. Brimless hats, in one form or another, remained a distinctive form of unit identification for Grenadier companies within the British Army until well after the Revolutionary War.  

The left flank company of the 10 company British Regiment of Foot consisted of the Light Infantry Company, its formation a direct result of General Braddock's disastrous (and embarrassing) defeat during the French & Indian War. The hierarchy in the British Army saw a need to have some of its soldier trained to fight "American-style" when waging war in North America and therefore these men were specifically selected for their military skills, toughness and ability to act independently and were formed into Light Companies. Wearing lighter clothing and distinctive leather visored caps, they were usually deployed as skirmishers, in advance of the regiment, and were expressly trained to utilize the same tactics as their Native American and Colonial antagonist.  The Light Infantry Company was first incorporated into the British Regimental structure in 1771 following lessons learned in America during the French and Indian War.  

 

Brigades of the British Army in the Colonies

At the time of the American Revolution, the staff organization of the British Army was very rudimentary in nature. war, For the most part, the 60 some odd British Regiments of Foot were assigned to Brigades, which had become the "basic" fighting element of the army. Each Brigade was commanded by either a Major or Brigadier General and contained 3 or 4 Regiments (Battalions) of Foot with two or three Brigades forming a Division. Each Brigade commander was assisted by a Brigade-Major while each divisional Commander would have the assistance of one or more aides-de-camp. In battle, the Brigade formed its line with the senior Regiment positioned on the right of the front line, which was considered to be the "post of honour". The next senior Regiment would be posted on the left with the center being taken by the other less senior regiments of Foot.   

     

British Artillery in the Colonies

For informational purposes, cannons fell into two catagories, field artillery and siege artillery. The most common field artillery pieces were the brass 3-pound, and 6-pound cannons, with 12-pound guns and larger cannons being used on occasion. The main reason for the extensive use of the smaller cannons was that the primitive road system in the Americas precluded any regular usage of the heavier ordnance. A 6-pounder, complete with carriage, weighed around 1,000 pounds and was pulled by a 4-horse team while a 3-pounder, weighing around half that, was drawn by 2 horses.  This was about all the weight that the two 51-inch diameter carriage wheels could support on the rough country roads. The use of "Gallopers", light cannons mounted on split rail carriages and drawn by one horse became common fare in the war, especially in the Southern Colonies. As to organizational structure, the customary practice of assigning two "Battalion" guns (3 or 6-pounders) to each Brigade was slowly giving way to the formation of Artillery Brigades consisting of four 6-pound guns each, however, this new trend was slow to be fully implemented in the war and the old allocation remained somewhat the standard until war's end. Pictured at the left is the tunic of a gunner in the Royal Regiment of Artillery.   

 

  

Below are thumbnail pictures of the various British soldiers that served in the America's. All pictures are from Osprey's excellent Men-At-Arms Series. Just click on the photo for a larger view.