Uniforms in the War of 1812 In the 1810s, civilian men wore outfits consisting of shirts, waistcoats, coats, and breeches or pantaloons. Shirts were made of cotton with stiff, standing collars, and worn with ties called cravats or stocks. Waistcoats were vests that were visible over the shirt, and under the jacket. Suit coats were cut to the waist in the front, and were either cut squarely or curved in the rear, making tails. Coat pockets were located in the tails, and often the pocket flaps decorating the front were false. 1 These coats could be either single- or double-breasted. Breeches were short trousers that ended at the knee, but by 1812 these were falling out of fashion. By then, most men wore pantaloons, which were long, tight trousers. 2 Military uniforms followed these styles, and adapted them for battle, such as with use of turnbacks, whereby coat tails were buttoned up to be out of the way. Coatees were also worn, which had shorter tails than regular coats. Among the soldiers who fought in the War of 1812 were formerly enslaved men and Black Loyalists who came to Canada after the American Revolutionary War, as well as Canadian-born men of African descent. This war was important to them because if the United States added British North America to its territory, they feared that any freedom that they had gained would be taken away (see Coloured Corps). Because of this, African Canadian men fought beside British soldiers and Canadian militiamen, usually wearing the same uniforms. As the British did not segregate their troops, Black soldiers served in a number of different regiments alongside whites in a variety of roles. 3 1
Red was the main colour of the British uniform because it was the official colour of the Royal livery. 4 If a regiment had royal in its title, the facings on the uniform (usually the collar, cuffs and hem) would be blue to match the facing colour of the Royal livery. In most cases, the colours of the uniform and facings would depend on the livery of the colonel of the regiment. One notable example was the Glengarry Regiment, who wore green. 5 All units had slightly different uniforms, and each level within that unit varied. Braid, lace, buttons, button holes, and button spacing were all different depending on which unit or regiment a soldier belonged to, and even then, the look of the final uniform was decided at the discretion of the colonel. 6 Officers Officers were the highest ranking members of the military, and were responsible for all aspects of battle, from campaign stratagem to looking after the wellbeing of their soldiers. Their uniforms were more elaborate than those of the average soldier, and were made with silk and gold accessories. Governors, lieutenant governors and generals had different styles of uniforms: everyday working uniforms, campaign uniforms worn on the battlefield, and the fancier dress uniform. Working uniforms were also called plain coats, and their colour and design all varied depending on the officer s rank. The base of working uniforms consisted of a scarlet coat with blue lapels and cuffs, scarlet collar with blue collar patch on each side of the front, white turnbacks, gold buttons, and embroidered button holes. 7 Epaulettes, which are decorative shoulder pieces worn by military figures, were worn by officers until 1811, after which a gold aiguillette (braided cord) was worn off the right shoulder. 8 The rank of officers was denoted by the spacing of the buttons and embroidering of button holes on the lapels, sleeves and tails. 9 Officers wore bicorn hats (a hat with two points) with a white-over-red feather, gold cockade 2
loop 10 and tassels. Dress uniforms, on the other hand, included white breeches and high black boots. 11 Campaign uniforms consisted of scarlet cloth (wool) with dark blue collar tabs, lapels and cuffs, and had no embroidery or lace, but did include the white turnbacks. Instead of white breeches, the plain coat was worn with blue or black pantaloons and low boots. 12 The rank of officers was denoted on these uniforms in the same way as the dress uniforms. Staff officers were high ranking officials who seldom saw battle, but who were responsible for the administrative upkeep of combat, such as ordering food and clothing, and keeping accounts. Their uniforms were similar to the regular officers, but only senior staff officers had dress uniforms. Among staff officers, rank was denoted though the use of gold buttons and lack of embroidery and lace. Cavalry Cavalry were soldiers who rode horses into battle and acted as scouts and messengers. During the War of 1812, only two regular cavalry units served in British North America the 14 th and 19 th Light Dragoons and they were positioned largely in Lower and Upper Canada. 13 Their uniforms consisted of a crested bearskin Tarleton helmet and a blue jacket with heavy braid. The 19 th Light Dragoons wore a blue jacket with yellow facings; three rows of plain white round, metal buttons; and collar, cuffs, false pockets, and back seams edged with a white braid. 14 When mounted, the cavalrymen wore white leather breeches with black boots, and when on foot they wore knee gaiters 15 instead of boots. 16 Everyday uniform consisted of a single-breasted blue jacket, white pantaloons, and a blue fatigue cap trimmed in yellow. Cavalry officers had the same uniforms as their soldiers, except they were made out of higher quality materials, with 3
silver chain, buttons, and braid. Officers also wore a crimson silk sash around their waist. 17 Another cavalry uniform, designed in 1811, featured a broad-topped shako (a tall military cap) with a band of coloured lace denoting regiment (yellow for 19 th, white for 14 th ). Coats remained blue with collar, cuffs, lapels, turnbacks, and epaulettes, and also a fringe at the back waist and piping in regimental colours. A girdle was worn around the waist in the facing colour, with two blue stripes. In the dress uniform, white pantaloons were worn. Grey or grey-blue overalls strapped with brown leather were worn on campaign. Chevrons 18 on the upper right arm denoted rank. 19 Canadian Provincial Cavalry On June 28, 1812, a group of militia men organized themselves into the Niagara Light Dragoons. This group consisted of two troops from the Lincoln Militia with whom the Coloured Corps was associated and was made up of 50 officers and men. This cavalry had no specific uniform or cavalry equipment. They were commanded by Captain Thomas Merritt, who stated that they found their own horses, clothing, appointments, &c, &c. 20 As cavalry, they never received any clothing from the government. In 1813, another troop called the Niagara Provincial Light Dragoons was raised, and this cavalry was observed as being badly mounted and equipped in every way. 21 They were intended to have a uniform similar to the 19 th Dragoons in Lower Canada, but in spite of trips to Montreal by their Captain to obtain the necessary uniforms and equipment, the troop remained ill equipped. Other mounted troops were raised in Upper Canada in 1813. Captain Andrew Adam s Troop and Captain Richard Fraser s Troop were both raised in eastern Upper Canada and soon amalgamated. In October 1813, Fraser s Troop was issued with 4
65 light artillery jackets, pantaloons, round hats and greatcoats (long over-coats). 22 Their jackets were simple, plain blue jackets, with red collar and cuffs, and brass buttons. Artillery Artillery troops were largely concerned with serving garrison guns in forts, but also served field artillery during the Niagara campaigns. Officers wore a blue coatee with scarlet collar, cuffs and lapels; white turnbacks; gold buttons; gold lace garnished button holes; white waistcoat and breeches; black boots; crimson sash; and a bicorn hat with gold cockade loop and button, and white plume. Grey pantaloons and short boots were worn on campaign. 23 Enlisted men, who included the British Artillery and the Canadian Gunners, had a blue coatee with red collar, cuffs, shoulder straps and turnbacks; brass buttons; white breeches with black gaiters; and a stovepipe shako with a brass plate and white tuft. 24 Rank was denoted by chevrons, and sergeants wore a crimson sash with a blue central stripe and a gold-coated shako plate. Drummers wore red coatees with blue collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps and turnbacks with brass buttons. Militia Militia units at the time were divided into two categories, the Sedentary Militia, which essentially only existed on paper to supply recruits to the active units, known as the Incorporated Militia. These units, at least, had fairly standardized arms and uniforms, and were given some training. 25 The Coloured Corps had the same status as the Incorporated Militia. 26 Standard line regiments wore red, but the rifle units wore green. 27 A shortage of red cloth is cited as the reason why different units had different coloured coats. 28 Special units, such as engineers and artillery gunners, wore blue jackets. 5
If the Coloured Corps had been raised as a line company they would have worn red jackets, whereas if it had been raised as light infantry, they would have worn green. 29 Some historians believe that by May 1813, the Coloured Corps had been re-designated as the Corps of Artificers, a military construction troop (see Fort Mississauga). If this was the case, the Coloured Corps should have received blue coats to wear, but it is unlikely that this would have happened due to budgetary difficulties. 30 However, Gareth Newfield presents the possibility that a clerical error mistook the Coloured Corps for the Corps of Artificers, possibly due to confusion over their new role as labourers. 31 Additionally, there continues to be debate around whether or not the Coloured Corps was, indeed, a light infantry company. Adding to the confusion of what colour were the coats worn by Black militiamen during the War of 1812, was the report of a Black soldier in a green coat being killed during the battle at Fort George in 1813. It was assumed that he was a member of the Glengarry Regiment because he was wearing their green colours. 32 However, due to the aforementioned shortage of red cloth, many militiamen ended up wearing green despite not being affiliated with the Glengarry Regiment, and this Black fallen soldier could have simply been militia. Navy Naval uniforms during the War of 1812 were of similar cut and style to the military uniforms. Rank and command were denoted through gold lace on the sleeve or by epaulettes. 33 As the navy had the term royal in its name, blue was their predominant colour, with their uniforms consisting of a blue jacket, and white breeches or pantaloons. Indeed, the colour blue became iconic for the British Royal Navy and they continue today to be referred to as the True Blue. 34 Buttons on the naval uniforms featured a crown over an anchor, which was introduced in 1812. 6
Jackets were fastened with hooks and eyes, and the buttons were strictly for show; as well, the lapels were stitched down. 35 The jackets were cut straight across the front, in the cut-away style, and did not feature the turnback of the military. Non-commanding sailors of the British Navy did not have uniforms, but were able to buy clothing, called slop clothing, from commissioners of the navy at a fixed price. This gave an impression of uniformity, as the jackets for purchase were of a dark blue, with white or blue trousers. 36 Loose fitting, short sleeved, collarless shirts (similar to modern t-shirts) were also worn under waist coats and jackets. 37 Escaped slaves in the United States joined the British Navy who patrolled the shores of Virginia and Maryland (see Black Refugees). By 1814, there was a naval unit of formerly enslaved men being trained for action. 38 By the time war broke out between Britain and the United States in 1812, British uniforms had become iconic as Red Coats. Despite this, uniforms came in many different colours which denoted the differences between artificers, riflemen, and navy. Black soldiers served not only in the Coloured Corps, but also in other units. 39 Indeed, the brave men who fought to secure their freedom in Canada wore all the colours of the British military. 1 Pockets were located in the tails because it was an easy place for cavalry to reach items such as a pipe, tobacco, or letters. Pockets on the front of the coat would have disrupted the clean line. 2 Phyllis Tortora and Keith Eubanks, A Survey of Historic Costume, Third Edition (New York, NY: Fairchild Publications, 2000), 270. 3 Peter and David Meyler, A Stolen Life: Searching for Richard Pierpoint (Toronto, ON: Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1999), 83. 4 Livery refers to a specific uniform provided by people of rank to be worn by those in their companies during times of war. 7
5 The Glengarry Regiment wore green because many of the members were Irish and Scottish, and did not want to wear the Royal Livery. 6 René Chartrand, A Scarlet Coat: Uniforms, Flags and Equipment of the British Forces in the War of 1812 (Ottawa, ON: Service Publications, 2011), 45. 7 Chartrand, 18. 8 Chartrand, 19. 9 Chartrand, 19. 10 A cockade loop is a rosette made out of ribbon worn as a decoration on hats. 11 Chartrand, 17. 12 Chartrand, 18. 13 Chartrand, 23. 14 Chartrand, 23. 15 Gaiters are a piece of protective clothing worn over the foot, ankles and lower legs. These were particularly useful for cavalry. 16 Chartrand, 23. 17 Chartrand, 23. 18 Chevrons are a decorative insignia in a V-shaped pattern, used in military and police uniforms. 19 Chartrand, 25. 20 Chartrand, 27. 21 Chartrand, 27. 22 Chartrand 27. 23 Chartrand, 32. 24 Chartrand, 31. 25 Chartrand, 85. 26 Meyler, 85. 27 Chartrand, 86. 8
28 Richard Feltoe, Recoated Ploughboys: The Volunteer Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada (1813-1815) (Toronto, ON: Dundurn Press, 2012), 367. 29 Chartrand, 86. 30 Chartrand, 88. 31 Gareth Newfield and Maryann D Abramo, The Coloured Corps (1812-1815), in Submission Report, No. 2010-28, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, (2010), 7. 32 Meyler, 86. 33 Miller, 55. 34 Miller, 7. 35 Miller 122. 36 Chartrand, 199. 37 Chartrand, 199. 38 Frank Cassell, Slaves of the Chesapeake Bay Area and the War of 1812, in The Journal of Negro History, 57:2 (April 1972): 150. 39 Ernest Green, Upper Canada s Black Defenders, OHS Papers and Records, 27 (1931): 3. 9