New hobby

[adrian76]

Ok, its official. kissmythistle and I have joined the British Legion. We're going to be Revolutionary War reenactors. One ot the fringe benefits is that I'll be carrying a rather large caliber boom-stick...and I won't have to shave the mutton chops believe it or not. There is a part of the pre-Napoleonic era British army called Pioneer Sergeants (which

Comments

[fitzjameshorse]

Youre right about facial hair.
My initial thought is that Tarletons Legion was mostly cavalry and I always assumed Pioneer Sergeant was an Infantry post.

[adrian76]

I first thought the same thing until kissmythistle started on her literary project. I was, unfortunately, jaded by that POS film The Patriot with Mel "Stumpy" Gibson.

The accounts of the Battle of Waxhaws (Wacsaws) depict Lt. Col. Tarleton riding in with not only his cavalry, but with foot soldiers doubled up with the Cavalry soldiers on their horses in order to catch up with Mister..*ahem* Colonel Buford. According to this account (PDF file) the contingent at Waxhaws consisted of the "British Legion, cavalry and infantry: 200, Lieut. Col. Banastre Tarleton".

[fitzjameshorse]

Co-incidently The Patriot was on TV last night.
Several people I know were in Braveheart, a much better film than The Patriot.
The extras in the battle scenes were actually Irish soldiers. The part of Scotland was played by Ireland :)

My own field of history is the earlier part of the 18th century. Particuarly the Jacobite Rebellions and the Irish Brigades in French service (and of course in later USA, Confederacy, Mexico etc)
As you may know Fitzjames Horse was the Franco-Irish (Jacobite) Cavalry Regt.

[ccfinlay]

Congratulations on joining Tarleton's Legion!

My memory is that the infantry were latecomers to the Battle of Waxhaws, that Tarleton raced ahead with the men on horses and left them behind to catch up later. He was afraid that Buford was going to cross the border with the governor (whose name I'm regrettably blanking on at the moment) and escape.

But my memory--as I aptly demonstrated in that last sentence--is often liable to fail me. It's why I have to write with my research in front of me.

Either way, I wish you both joy in your new hobby!

[adrian76]

Oh we will thanks! I just got the aforementioned "boomstick" on loan from a friend of mine who is not doing as much Rev War stuff. He's more focused on the Civil War these days. Still, its interesting delving deeper into history now that its not an obligation :)