Highland unit uniforms

[Biathlonman]

The 78th Fraser Highlanders are recreated today - with chapters in a few Canadian cities. They have a website with photos. The 78th wasn't around by the Revolution. Their big day on the battlefield was at Quebec, in 1759.

As for the 42nd - I believe wore the tartan they have still - the "government" tartan - but I think many ended up in breeches as the kilts wore out and were not replaced.

A "normal" re-enactment uniform from the period runs about $1000 for uniform and $1000 for a Brown Bess. Add a kilt to that - and no worsted wool mind you - the kilts then were hairy like a blanket and well over 20 oz and this will cost you. "Battle weight" means heavy. You need not go that route. Re-enactors are dedicated but of course far older than the real soldiers whose roles they recreate. Young men haven't the time or money for this hobby, usually.

Some people have said my views haven't credibility - but I've seen the Black Watch's tartan from the period in their museum in Perth, Scotland. No question about what it looks like. Good luck.

[figheadair]

The 78th Fraser Highlanders are recreated today - with chapters in a few Canadian cities. They have a website with photos. The 78th wasn't around by the Revolution. Their big day on the battlefield was at Quebec, in 1759.

That of course was the first time that they were raised. Due to renumbering of the Line Regiments the regiment was re-raised in 1775 as the 71st Fraser's Highlanders and at roughly the same time (1778) the 78th number was allocated to the Ross-shire Regiment. They in turn were renumbered as the 72nd and a third 78th raised in 1793. The 72nd and 78th amalgamated in 1881 as the Seaforth Highlanders.

As for the 42nd - I believe wore the tartan they have still - the "government" tartan - but I think many ended up in breeches as the kilts wore out and were not replaced.

Agreed.

Add a kilt to that - and no worsted wool mind you - the kilts then were hairy like a blanket and well over 20 oz and this will cost you. "Battle weight" means heavy. You need not go that route.

All tartan at that period was worsted. I've examined literally dozens of pieces of pre-1800 tartan; none is hairy and whilst some pieces were heavier that others this was a feature of a thicker yarn less densely woven.

Some people have said my views haven't credibility - but I've seen the Black Watch's tartan from the period in their museum in Perth, Scotland. No question about what it looks like. Good luck.

I beg to differ. The oldest piece of tartan that the museum owns is in a Crimean era kilt made from Wilsons' cloth. Indeed, there is no surviving piece of 42nd cloth pre-c1800.