Uniforms of the American, British, French, and German Armies in the War of the American Revolution 1775–1783

362 Pages·1976·8.16 MB·English

by  Charles M. Lefferts

LEFFERTS
Uniforms of the
1775 - 1783
U
n American, British, French, and
i
f
o
r German Armies
m in the
War of the American Revolution
s

o
f
by LT. CHARLES M. LEFFERTS
t
h
e

W
a
r

o
f

t
h
e

A
m
e
r
i
c
a
n

R
e
v
o
l
u
t
i
o
n
WE, Inc.
published by WE Inc. OLD GREENWICH, CONN.
Price — $8.
UNIFORMS OF THE AMERICAN, BRITISH,
FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN THE
WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1775-1783
By the late Lt. Charles M. Lefferts
Today there is much being published on
the American Revolution, both in new books
and reprinting of older works. Nowhere is
the subject of uniforms used by all armies in
this war being issued. The famous Lefferts
book is the only book on the subject today.
Published in 1926, in a limited edition of
five hundred copies, the book was a collec­
tor’s item in a short time. Lefferts’ love for
historical accuracy and his indefatigable
labor, we are enabled to present this col­
lection of uniformed men of the Armies who
took part in the War of The American Revo­
lution. For thirty years, Lt. Lefferts devoted
almost his full time to this work, searching
for the purpose the archives in Great Britain,
France, and Germany, and every known
source in the United States. Together with his
record of uniforms, he also gives complete
details to the history of all units, such as
states, regiments, Loyalists Regiments raised
in America. Each uniform plate, he gives
complete history of the unit and colors of the
uniform. There are 50 Lefferts' uniform plates
in black and white of the uniforms of the
Armies. The editors have added one new his­
tory section on The Continental Army, with
plates and a group of steel engraved plates
of famous battles and heroes of The Revo­
lutionary War. No other book today brings
such a wealth of information and material
on the subject. A must reference book for
HISTORIANS, COLLECTORS, MODEL MAKERS,
MUSEUMS and LIBRARIES. The book is hard­
cover, with dust jacket.
309 pages; 6 x 9; Illustrations; $8.00
GERMAN ARMY AND NAVY UNIFORMS
AND INSIGNIA OF WW I
Edited by E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum.
This recent book is probably the most com­
plete study of the Germany Army and Navy
from 1841 to 1918. It depicts details of all the
units from the Bands to the Colonial troops.
Of course the Infantry, Artillery, Uhlan and Air
Forces are also completely covered. The text
and drawings on the German Navy are the
best yet detailing the major combat units and
the ships of the line. This 195 page book con­
tains hundreds of photos and drawings of
uniforms and equipment; many never before
published in America. A definitive reference
book for historians, collectors, model makers,
libraries and museums.
195 pages; 10% x8; $8.95
GERMAN MILITARY UNIFORMS
AND INSIGNIA 1933-1945
A detailed study of the military uniforms,
insignia of the GERMAN ARMY, NAVY, and
AIR FORCE. A special section on uniforms, in­
signia, ranks of the WAFFEN SS, POLICE,
LABOUR, POLITICAL, and YOUTH organiza­
tions. A section on flags and armbands.
Wealth of little-known and hard-to-find facts
on German military and political uniforms.
The most comprehensive book published on
German military accoutrements. Greatly
needed by collectors, historians, and model­
ers. This work represents a significant FIRST in
its field. Heavily illustrated with hundreds of
line drawings and photos of uniforms, badges,
insignia and field equipment.
227 pages; 51/2,x81/2 ; $7.95
NAVY UNIFORMS, INSIGNIA AND
WARSHIPS OF WW II
Edited by W. H. Tantum and E. J. Hoffschmidt.
Covers in line drawings and photographs
the major combat vessels of the United States,
Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy.
Great wealth of detail on the uniforms, head­
gear, ranks, insignia, badges, and equipment
of all the major and minor naval powers. A
most important and authoritative reference
book for the military historian, collector, mod­
eler and navy buff. Over 500 illustrations.
268 pages, 9x61/2 ; $9.95

Uniforms of the
American, British, French, and
German Armies
in the
War of the American Revolution
1775-1783
Painted and Described by the late
Lt. CHARLES M. LEFFERTS
Member of The New-York Historical Society
Edited by
ALEXANDER J. WALL
Librarian of The New-York Historical Society
F
E
I
H
C
N
I
R
E
D
N
A
M
M
O
C
Y
M
R
A
S.
U.
D
N
A
L
S
I
G
N
O
L
M
O
R
F
T
A
E
R
T
E
R
Y
R
E
L
L
I
T
R
A
Y
M
R
A
S.
U.
N.
O
T
G
N
I
H
S
A
W
H
T
I
W
R
E
G
N
E
S
S
E
M
S
E’
W
O
H
F
O
W
E
I
V
R
E
T
N
I
Lt. CHARLES MacKUBIN LEFFERTS (1873-1923).
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
At the close of the memorable year 1776 the cause of our new­
born Republic seemed well-nigh hopeless. The first flush of vic­
tory at Lexington, the glory of Bunker Hill, and the successful
siege of Boston had been followed by the defeat at Long Is­
land, the loss of New York, and the disheartening retreat across New
Jersey. True the master-strokes of Trenton and Princeton had come
like rays of light in the darkness; but Washington, confronting the
formidable army of disciplined British and Hessian troops, found his
forces sadly diminished in number, while the calls for militia met with
feeble responses, and the term of enlistment of his best troops was
about to expire.
Perceiving the futility of attempting to oppose a powerful and
trained enemy with a force of raw levies of doubtful quality and un­
certain length of service, Washington appealed to Congress to raise an
effective Army. “Short enlistments and a mistaken dependence upon
militia,” said he, “have been the origin of all our misfortunes.
The evils to be apprehended from a standing army are remote and,
situated as we are, not at all to be dreaded; but the consequence of
wanting one is certain and inevitable ruin.”
Appreciating the necessity of a national force, he recommended that
a certain number of the battalions added to the army be composed of
volunteers drawn indiscriminately from the several States. As a result
of the urgent representations of the commander-in-chief, Congress de­
cided that the army of State troops should comprise 83 battalions, ag­
gregating 66,00() men, these battalions being assigned to the different
States as follows: Virginia 15, Massachusetts 15, Pennsylvania 12,
North Carolina 9, Connecticut 8, South Carolina 6, New York 4, New
Jersey 4, New Hampshire 3, Maryland 3, Rhode Island 2, Delaware 1,
and Georgia 1. The actual enlistments, however, did not equal the
number of men thus authorized, nor was the quota assigned by Con­
gress to the different States heeded ; but there was a considerable aug­
mentation of the number of troops in the field and a still more
important increase in their efficiency. The men were enlisted to serve
during the war, at the end of which they were each to receive a
hundred acres of land as a bounty. Colonels were to receive five
hundred acres each, and the other regimental officers were to receive
a similar bounty in land, graded in proportion to their rank. It was,
however, found difficult to induce men to enlist for an indefinite period
and the recruits were accordingly given their option of serving for
three years without a bounty or remaining until the end of the war
and receiving a farm. The States were required to clothe and arm
their recruits, and to select the officers for the new organizations.