KNUCKLEDUSTERS

GUIDE TO BUILDING UNITS F O R T HE

W AR O F 1812
Revised April 22, 2013

Knuckledusters War of 1812 product line now numbers in the dozens of packs; 97 at last count! With so much selection, it is very easy to get overwhelmed trying to find a place to start. So Ive created this document; a buyers guide if you will. A disclaimer is in order. The subject of 1812 uniforms is vast and murky. Like a reenactor, the wargamer portraying a unit from this war is striving to create an impression; that is to say, an approximation that is revealing of the units history, understanding that it will not be a literal snapshot. The historical record of the War of 1812 is incomplete, vague at times, and frustratingly open to interpretation. Obscure bits of crucial information about uniforms lurk silently in the shadows of paragraphs read during a midnight research session, coming back to haunt even the most devoted sculptor (i.e. me). What follows are merely suggestions for portraying units on the table-top, but you are urged to do your own research to refine your selections.

UNITED STATES.
TYPE OF UNIT YOURE BUILDING US Infantry, 1812 Laced coatee and cylindrical felt shako, worn in the early part of the war, and by some units into 1813. WHAT YOULL NEED 1812-US026 Advancing or 1812-US033 Marching 1812-US031 Officers 1812-US027 NCOs 1812-US032 Flagbearers and Drummer US Infantry, Mid-War (1813) 1812-US057 Advancing The new leather tombstone shako, but with Or the old laced coatee which continued to be used 1812-US054 Marching due to supply problems with the new 1812-US013 Officers (same as 1814) streamlined, plain blue coatees. 1812-US055 NCOs Many units wore this at Cryslers Farm. 1812-US056 Flagsbearers and Drummer

US Infantry, Late War (1814) During the Niagara campaign, those that had blue coats wore this uniform, a leather shako and a blue coatee with minimal lace.

US Infantry, Scotts Brigade, Lundys Lane Short grey roundabout jackets and leather tombstone shakos.

1812-US009 Advancing Or 1812-US001 Marching 1812-US002 Command Expand and add variety with: 1812-US013 Officers 1812-US014 NCOs 1812-US004 Advancing Or 1812-US003 Marching, Support Arms 1812-US008 Command in Roundabouts Expand and add variety with: 1812-US013 Officers 1812-US015 NCOs in Roundabouts 1812-US052 Advancing Or 1812-US 049 Marching 1812-US020 Command

US Uniformed Militia, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and some Maryland Units. Used at Queenston Heights and Bladensburg, among other battles. Round hat (a.k.a. top hat), waistcoat and coatee with lapels US Uniformed Militia, Federal Equipment In the 1814 Niagara campaign (Lundys Lane, etc.), many of the militia received US government equipment.

Maryland Militia For Bladensburg and North Point. Distinctive shako with cloth hatband/turban. A company with shoulder wings was documented in a painting, but should NOT be considered a flank company in a typical regiment. Frontier Militia; Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, 1812-US006 Advancing and other frontier states. Essential for New Or Orleans. 1812-US007 Skirmishing 1812-US028 Officers 1812-US029 NCOs 1812-US030 Flagbearer and Musicians Barneys Position at Bladensburg 1812-US043 Flotillamen, Gun Crew 1812-US044 Flotillamen, Inf. Detachment 1812-US035 US Marines, Advancing 1812-US036 US Marines, Commmand Civilian Militia 1812-US048 Advancing Useful for the raw militias at Bladensburg, New 1812-US050 Marching Orleans, and other defensive positions where 1812-US051 Command local militias turned out on short notice. From Expand and add variety with assorted Frontier Connecticut to Louisiana, civilian volunteers Militia figures from packs 006, 007, 028, 029, wore similar attire. and 030.

1812-US012 US Militia, Government-Equipped 1812-US002 Command Or 1812-US020 Command with Lapels Or A combination of both. 1812-US040 Marching 1812-US042 Command 1812-US041 Elite Volunteer Unit

US or Maryland Militia Rifles The same uniform was favored by rifles in the US and State service; hunting frock and round shako. Both wore green, but the militia had red fringe while the Federals had yellow fringe. Artillery Three types of crews, for early war, late war, and militia. Knuckleduster currently does not manufacture guns. Front Rank or Perry French or Prussian artillery pieces are recommended. American guns feature the double-trail carriage system. Cavalry US Light Dragoons, which rarely participated in combat. Knuckledusters troopers feature the correct helmet, based on museum examples. The plume is front and center, as opposed to the side, an error made by a 19th-century historian who was looking at a post-war model and mistook it for a wartime helmet. Kentucky Mounted Volunteers Strikingly-uniformed frontier cavalry, very well trained. They feature fringed hunting shirts with round hats.

1812-US019 Advancing Or 1812-US047 Skirmishing 1812-US025 Command Add variety with: 1812-US005 Rifles in roundabouts 1812-US016 Felt shakos 1812-US017 Leather shakos 1812-US053 Militia artillery in bicornes

1812-US21 Troopers 1812-US22 Officer 1812-US23 Flagbearer and trumpeter

1812-US039 Troopers 1812-US038 Officer (Johnson) 1812-US 037 Flagbearer and trumpeter

BRITISH.
TYPE OF UNIT YOURE BUILDING British Infantry in Stovepipe Shakos The stovepipe shako was still very much in use, although many officers could be found with the new Belgic shako or the very common round hat (a.k.a. top hat). WHAT YOULL NEED 1812-B038 Center Companies, Advancing Or 1812-B001 Center Companies, Marching And 1812-B021 Flank Company, Advancing Or 1812-B002 Flank Company, Marching And 1812-B003 Command Expand and Add Variety With: 1812-B037 NCOs in Stovepipe Shakos 1812-B018 Officers in Belgic Shakos 1812-039 Officers in Round Hat 1812-B016 Center Companies, Marching 1812-B017 Flank Companies, Marching 1812-B018 Officers 1812-B019 Flagbearers, Drummer 1812-B020 NCOs 1812-B022 Advancing 1812-B023 Skirmishing 1812-B024 Command

British Infantry in Belgic Shakos For many units at Lundys Lane and after. Use for Incorporated Militia after June, 1814.

British Light Infantry The 85th at Bladensburg and the 43rd at New Orleans are good examples of these troops. Wings on the shoulders and a bugle badge instead of shako plate are the Light Infantry uniform distinctions. Note: flank companies for line units have full shako plates, so are not suitable for light infantry regiments. Upper Canada Sedentary Militia The vast majority would wear civilian clothes (B012), and would not carry colours. Castoffs or sporadic uniform supplies were sometimes available, but rarely in great numbers, and mostly given to flank companies, which each district was required to provide, and who would turn out for more frequent training (see below).

1812-B012 Advancing (majority of troops) 1812-B005 Command (set aside flagbearers to add variety to line units) Expand and add variety with: 1812-B039 Officers in round hats 1812-B036 NCOs in round hats Flank company packs listed below.

Upper Canada Flank Companies Militia who trained every weekend and served as reliable light infantrymen, but remained on the militia rolls. More likely to be uniformed than sedentary militiamen.

1812-B011 UC Militia, Advancing Or 1812-B010 UC Militia, Skirmishing 1812-008 UC Miltia, Skirmish Command Expand and add variety with: 1812-B024 Light Infantry Command 1812-B021 Line Flank Co., Advancing 1812-B022 Light Infantry, Advancing 1812-B023 Light Infantry, Skirmishing 1812-B040 Round Hats, Advancing Figures customized for the Incorporated Militia are coming soon. They will have bugle-badge shakos as light infantry, but most will not have light infantry wings. Until that time UC militia as listed above will serve well. A few figures in round hats may be thrown in for variety. After June 1814, proper uniforms with Belgic shakos would be used. 1812-B040 Center Company Advancing Or 1812-B004 Center Company Marching 1812-B013 Flank Company Marching 1812-B005 Command (set aside flagbearers as they were not used by militia) Or 1818-B006 Skirmishing 1812-B008 Skirmish Command Expand and add variety with: 1812-B039 Officers in round hats 1812-B036 NCOs in round hats 1812-B010 UC militia skirmishing 1812-B011 UC militia advancing 1812-B021 British flank company, adv. 1812-B014 Advancing 1812-B015 Command 1812-B034 Skirmish 1812-B035 Skirmish w/Command

Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada After June 1814, use British Infantry in Belgic Shakos. Before June 1814, dress as UC militiamen above.

Lower Canada Select Embodied Militia British infantry coatees with round hats, with some in stovepipe shakos with full brass plates.

Canadian Voltigeurs One of the heavily engaged British units at Cryslers Farm. Caldwells Rangers Company-sized unit that fought alongside Indians at Thames, Longwood, and Lundys Lane. Glengarry Light Infantry Canadian Light infantry fully trained and part of the British Army establishment. Notable for their uniforms: same as the 95th Rifles, but they were musket-armed.

1812-B007 Skirmishing 1812-B009 Command

FUTURE RELEASES. RELEASES.

Knuckledusters line of figures is constantly expanding. Future releases will include British artillery and cavalry, French-Canadian militia, Seven-Nations warriors, Incorporated Militia with bugle-badges, British officers in cocked hats, and other variations on existing troop types. Ill do my best to keep this document updated so it is a useful tool to guide your purchases. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at knuckledusterharris@gmail.com or (309)838-9871.

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