Royal Clothing Warrant of 1768

With the announcement of Wargames Factory's British infantry box set I thought it would be a great opportunity to provide some details on the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1768. There are some really great guidelines that you can use when painting your regiments but keep in mind that many officers altered the look of their regiment based on the needs and available resources at the time. So, these are the governing principles which His Majesty's soldiers must adhere to but when you are thousands of miles from home what the King doesn't know won't hurt him. :)

Here is a reference picture with some of the terms that are used for the soldiers equipment and clothing.

Officers' Uniforms

• Regimental coats are to be scarlet and faced with the regimental colors.
• Buttons are to be stamped with the regimental number.
• Grenadier officers wore an epaulette on each shoulder
• Officers of the battalion companies were to wear an epaulette on the right shoulder. 
• All officers swords of the regiment were to be the same design and the hilts were to match the regiment's buttons in either gold or silver. 
• The tricorne or 'cocked hat' was to be trimmed in lace, gold or silver and each officer was issued a crimson silk sash which is to be worn around the waist knotted on the left hip. 
• Gorgets would match the color metal of the regiment (silver or gold).
• Grenadier officers would carry a fusil, short musket in addition to swords.
•  Battalion company officers were issued spontoons. 

NCOs and Privates

• Sergeants were to wear scarlet coats with regimental color facings.
• Sergeants were issued crimson color sashes that would have a center stripe of the regimental color. Red faced regiments would have a white stripe. 
• Grenadier sergeants were issued the same equipment as their officers. 
• Battalion company sergeants were issued halberds and swords.

• Corporals and Privates were to wear regimental coats consisting of madder red (red-orange) with regimental color facings.
• Corporals were denoted by a silk epaulette on the right shoulder. 

Musicians

• Drummers and fifers of 'Royal' regiments were to wear red coats with blue facings and have the royal lace.
• Drummers and fifers of regiments with red facings were to have white coats with red facings and lining.
• Drummers and fifers of all other regiments were to wear the reverse colors of the regiment consisting of a coat matching the regimental color and red facings.
• Drummers and fifers of regiments with either white or buff facings will wear red small clothes (waistcoat and breeches).
• Drummers and fifers of all other regiments will wear small clothes in the regiments facing color.
• Drummers and fifers would carry short swords.

Headgear

• Grenadiers, drummers and fifers wore black bearskin caps. The cap plate was silver and the back of the cap was red with a white cord. 
• Fusiliers also wore bearskin caps but they were slighter shorter in height. 
• Battalion companies wore the tricorne (cocked hat).
• Sergeants' hats would have silver lace.
• Corporals and Privates hats would have white lace.  
• Tricornes of all ranks would have a black cockade. 

British Regimental Drums & Colours is a great resource for knowing the regimental colors and which regiments served in North America during the American Revolution. 

I hope this helps you as much as it will help me when painting my new soldiers.  Thanks.