UNIFORMS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION -- French Army

UNIFORMS OF
THE FRENCH ARMY
IN THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In the East Indies, the regular colonial infantry wore a white coat with turned-down collar, cuffs and lapels of the regimental facing color -- blue for Isle-de-France, and orange for Pondichery -- white turnbacks; white metal buttons; three large below the right lapel, three large to each pocket, three small to the shoulder strap of fusiliers. Fringed epaulettes were of the regimental facing color for grenadiers and red for chasseurs. White waistcoat, breeches and gaiters; black tricorn laced white with white cockade, a cockade loop and small white metal button. The facings of Pondichery were changed to white collar with blue cuffs and lapels in 1780, but these had worn out at the Cape of Good Hope by March 1783 when plain blue coats with linen linings were procured locally.

The six colonial artillery companies in the West Indies, Canonniers-bombardiers, had a blue single-breasted coat with red turned-down collar, boot cuffs and turnbacks; yellow metal buttons; four large to each cuff, 12 large down the front, three to each pocket, and a small one to the aurore epaulette. The hat was laced yellow and the small waistcoat buttons were of yellow metal, but other items were the same as the infantry.

In French Guyana, the Cononniers-bombardiers de la Guyannehad blue turnbacks and waistcoats, white breeches, and the coat had red lapels with six small buttons each and three small buttons under each cuff. For the Canonniers-bombardiers de l'Ile-de-Francethe turnbacks, waistcoat and breeches were blue, the lapels red with six small buttons each and three small buttons under each cuff. In India, the Canonniers-bombardiers de l'Indiehad a blue single-breasted coat with red turned-down collar and boot cuffs; blue turnbacks; yellow metal buttons: three large to each cuff, 12 large down the front, three to each pocket, and a small one to the yellow epaulette (after October, 1780 red lapels with six small buttons were allowed); blue waistcoat and breeches. At the Cape of Good Hope since 1781, their worn-out uniforms were replaced in March, 1783 by white nankeen waistcoat and breeches, blue coats with red cuffs and piping, and crude linen smocks and trousers in August.

[REFERENCES: The French Army in the American War of Independence. Men-At-Arms Series, #244. Reed International Books, Ltd., London, England. 1991. Color plate by Francis Back.]

1 - Sepoy, Isle-de-France Regiment, India, 1782-83
2 - Fusilier, Isle-de-France Regiment, India, 1782-83
3 - Sepoy, Austrasie Regiment, India, 1782-83

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