The Continental Light Dragoons, 1775–1783
Conversions in Scala 1:76
Airfix offers mounted soldatini in each of its army packs della rivoluzione americana, Washington’s Army e Granatieri Britannici. Except for the headgear, these soldatini are dressed in the same fashion as the cavalleria of the period. Conversion is simple, requiring only a swap of heads.
The converted soldatini have been painted to represent the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, based on an illustration in John Mollo’s "Uniformi della Rivoluzione Americana". At least some members of this reggimento are recorded wearing brass elmetti dei dragoni in stile francese, instead of the typical black leather cap con a coloured turban, e yellow tassels. A bill signed by Colonel Blackden of the 2nd Light Dragoons provides further evidence that brass for the elmetti was purchased.
Suitable heads con brass elmetti may be scrounged from corazzieri francesi napoleonici made by Airfix. The new heads are attached con pins cut from 0.6 mm piano wire, e secured con superglue o PVA white glue. Il elmo dei corazzieri napoleonico has a taller crest than the earlier elmo dei dragoni francese, but the difference is hardly noticeable at this scale.
If Airfix soldatini are unavailable, Revell’s Guerra dei Sette Anni dragoni austriaci may be used instead, although their large cuffs would have to be cut down to resemble the closer fit dell’uniformi della rivoluzione americana. Heads in scala 1:72 may be taken from corazzieri francesi di ESCI.
Parts Required
- Ufficiale americano a cavallo, Airfix 01739
- Ufficiale britannico a cavallo, Airfix 01740
- Elmi dei corazzieri francesi, Airfix 01736
Dragoni Leggeri, Legionary Corps, e State Cavalleria
Cavalleria played an important role in the war, providing scouts, patrols, escorts, mounted e dismounted skirmishers. Mounted troops were difficult to raise, e very expensive to maintain, e there were rarely more than 1,000 Continental Dragoni Leggeri available at any time during the war. The 1st, 3rd, e 4th Light Dragoons were amalgamated in 1780, following heavy losses. The mixed unit had quattro troops, ed it was later designated the 3rd Legionary Corps. Ufficiali e NCOs of the 1st e 4th reggimenti subsequently reformed their units. Tutti quattri reggimenti of Continental Dragoni Leggeri were converted to Legionary Corps in 1781, composed of mounted e dismounted troops.
| Continental Light Dragoons 1777-1781, Legionary Corps 1781-1783 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regiment | 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 elmo, 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 | ||||
| Cavalleria Element | Coat | Facings | Waistcoat | Headgear |
| Charles Dabney’s Virginia Legion Major Nelson’s Corps of Cavalleria | blue, white buttons | blue, red (officers), blue turnbacks | white | black tartleton, black crest |
| Pulaski’s Legion*, 1778-1780 Count Pulaski’s lancieri polacchi carried a lance con white over red pennon. Due 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 o 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 Cavalleria | ||||
| Troop o Regiment | Coat | Facings | Waistcoat | Headgear |
| Connecticut 11th Reggimento Milizia Light Horse Company | blue, brass buttons | blue | white | tricorno, 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 lancieri polacchi di Count Pulaski’s legion may qualify as trained lancieri in wargames.
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On campaign, officers e troopers stowed their equipaggiamento personale in large leather saddlebags. Due Pistols were standard issue, e they were carried in pistol holsters britannici con 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 reggimenti had turnbacks in the facing colour, except where noted above.
Continental Dragoni Leggeri are a must have for anyone interested in the American War of Independence. The units are so attractive that the collector e wargamer will want them all. Soldatini di dragoni leggeri are not readily available, but conversion is easy, because of the limited numbers of mounted troops involved in the war. Only 2 soldatini per reggimento are required if a grand-tactical game system like Volley & Bayonet is used.
Anthony De Lyall & Klaus Schultheis
Bibliografia
- Katcher, Philip: Il Soldato Americano, p. 22
- Wise, Terence: Military Flags of the World, 1618–1900, Flags No. 221, 222, 225
- Allevi, Piersergio: Soldatini, p. 205
Domande più frequenti
Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.
Soldatini della Guerra di Indipendenza Americana
– Pubblicato: 1997 – Aggiornato: 16.07.2007© 1997-2011 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germania. Tutti diritti reservati. Donne | Uome | Selfness | Fiera natalizia | Incontro di Colazione | Love & Fun | Internet
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