The Continental Light Dragoons, 1775–1783
Conversions in 1:76 Scale
Airfix offers mounted figuras in each of its army packs of the American Revolution, Washington’s Army and British Grenadiers. Except for the headgear, these figuras are dressed in the same fashion as the cavalry of the period. Conversion is simple, requiring only a swap of heads.
The converted figuras have been painted to represent the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, based on an illustration in John Mollo’s "Uniforms of the American Revolution". At least some members of this regiment are recorded wearing French style brass dragoon helmets, instead of the typical black leather cap with a coloured turban, and yellow tassels. A bill signed by Colonel Blackden of the 2nd Light Dragoons provides further evidence that brass for the helmets was purchased.
Suitable heads with brass helmets may be scrounged from francés napoleónico Cuirassiers made by Airfix. The new heads are attached with pins cut from 0.6 mm piano wire, and secured with superglue or PVA white glue. The Napoleonic cuirassier helmet has a taller crest than the earlier French dragoon helmet, but the difference is hardly noticeable at this scale.
If Airfix figuras are unavailable, Revell’s Seven Years’ War Austrian Dragoons may be used instead, although their large cuffs would have to be cut down to resemble the closer fit of American revolutionary uniforms. Heads in 1:72 Scale may be taken from ESCI’s French Cuirassiers.
Parts Required
- Mounted American Officer, Airfix 01739
- Mounted British Officers, Airfix 01740
- French Cuirassier Helmets, Airfix 01736
Light Dragoons, Legionary Corps, and State Cavalry
Cavalry played an important role in the war, providing scouts, patrols, escorts, mounted and dismounted skirmishers. Mounted troops were difficult to raise, and very expensive to maintain, and there were rarely more than 1,000 Continental Light Dragoons available at any time during the war. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Light Dragoons were amalgamated in 1780, following heavy losses. The mixed unit had four troops, and it was later designated the 3rd Legionary Corps. Officers and NCOs of the 1st and 4th regiments subsequently reformed their units. All four regiments of Continental Light Dragoons were converted to Legionary Corps in 1781, composed of mounted and dismounted troops.
| Continental Light Dragoons 1777-1781, Legionary Corps 1781-1783 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regimiento | Coat | Facings | Waistcoat | Headgear |
| Col. Bland’s Virginia Horse, 1776 1st Continental Light Dragoons 1st Legionary Corps, 1781 | brown, brass buttons | green | green | black cap, green turban, yellow tassel |
| 2nd Continental Light Dragoons Col. Blackden 2nd Legionary Corps, 1781 | blue, white buttons | white | white | brass helmet, tan turban, white crest |
| 3rd Continental Light Dragoons Col. George Baylor’s Dragoons 3rd Legionary Corps, 1781 | white, white buttons | light blue | white | black cap, lt. blue turban, white feather |
| 4th Continental Light Dragoons 4th Legionary Corps, 1781 | green, white buttons | red | red | black cap, black turban, white crest |
| Provost Corps, 1778-1783 Major Bartholomew von Heer | blue white buttons | yellow, white turnbacks | yellow | black cap, black turban, black crest |
| Continental Legionary Corps | ||||
| Cavalry Element | Coat | Facings | Waistcoat | Headgear |
| Charles Dabney’s Virginia Legion Major Nelson’s Corps of Cavalry | blue, white buttons | blue, red (officers), blue turnbacks | white | black tartleton, black crest |
| Pulaski’s Legion*, 1778-1780 Count Pulaski’s Polish troopers carried a lance with white over red pennon. Two uniform styles are known, the second one being using during the southern campaign. | blue, yellow trim, white buttons & hussar lace | blue, yellow trim, white turnbacks | white | black cap, silver star, grey turban, white plume, white crest |
| blue | red, red or white turnbacks |
|||
| Armand’s Legion Col. Armand Marquis de la Rouerie. The second uniform style was seen during the southern campaign. | blue, brass buttons | buff, white turnbacks | white | black tarleton, white plume, black crest |
| blue, brass buttons | buff | buff | ||
| Lee’s Legion Detachment of 1st Lt. Dragoons Major Henry Lee | buff, brass buttons | green | green | black cap, green turban, yellow tassel |
| State Cavalry | ||||
| Troop or Regiment | Coat | Facings | Waistcoat | Headgear |
| Connecticut 11th Militia Regiment Light Horse Company | blue, brass buttons | blue | white | tricornio, gold trim |
| Rhode Island Independent Troop of Horse Captain-General’s Cavaliers | blue, brass buttons | white | white | - |
| NY, Albany County Troop of Horse | blue, white buttons | - | - | Tricorne, silver lace |
| NY, King’s County Troop of Horse | blue, white buttons | - | red | Tricorne, silver lace |
| Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia, 1774-1783 | brown, white buttons | white | white | black cap, yellow turban, foxtail crest |
| Pennsylvania Light Horse** | brown, white buttons | white | white? | Round hat, silver trim, bucktail |
| Virginia Light Horse*** | blue | red cuffs | - | - |
| South Carolina Regiment of Horse, 1761-75 | blue, brass buttons | red | red | Tricorne, gold trim |
| North Carolina Light Horse | blue | red | - | - |
* The Polish troopers of Count Pulaski’s legion may qualify as trained lancers in
wargames.
|
||||
On campaign, officers and troopers stowed their personal gear in large leather saddlebags. Two Pistols were standard issue, and they were carried in British pattern pistol holsters with fur covers, attached forward of the saddle. If regimental saddle blankets were available, they would have been in the coat colour, edged in the regimental facing colour. Most regiments had turnbacks in the facing colour, except where noted above.
Continental Light Dragoons are a must have for anyone interested in the American War of Independence. The units are so attractive that the collector and wargamer will want them all. Light dragoon figuras are not readily available, but conversion is easy, because of the limited numbers of mounted troops involved in the war. Only 2 figuras per regiment are required if a grand-tactical game system like Volley & Bayonet is used.
Anthony De Lyall & Klaus Schultheis
Bibliografía
- Katcher, Philip: The American Soldier, pp. 14, 15, 17, 19, 20
- Wise, Terence: Military Flags of the World, 1618–1900, Flags No. 221, 222, 225
- Allevi, Piersergio: Figuras p. 205
Preguntas más frecuentes
Para más información, por favor contactar con Military Miniatures Magazine en el Miniatures Forum.
Figuras de la Guerra de Independencia de los Estados Unidos
– Publicado: 1997 – Actualizado: 16.07.2007© 1997-2011 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Alemania. Todos derechos reservados. Mujeres | Hombres | Selfness | Mercado Navideño | Encuentro del Desayuno | Love & Fun | Internet
Juego di Guerra | Agenda Cultural | Enlaces
