"90th Foot Headdress" Topic

I was recently looking at a book on British uniforms of the War of 1812 which mentioned that the 90th Foot had a similar cap to that of the 71st I.e a stretched bonnet with a peak, a pompom (tourie) on top and a band of tartan at the base. This is based on an example in a museum in Canada. Has anyone seen this? There is a sketch in the book (reference below) which shows it with shako cords and a plume rather than a pompom. I'm a little surprised as the 90th only officially became light infantry in May 1815 when they were on their way back to France.

The war of 1812 : a wargamers' guide. Pt. 2, The uniforms of the King's Army
Glenn, Charles, Manley, Stephen

The request for conversion to light infantry was approved on 22 April 1815 & became effective on 1 May 1815.

According to Delavoye's 1880 'Records of the 90th Regiment, (Perthshire Light Infantry)' when in 1794 Thomas Graham received his commission to raise his regiment,"Lord Moira, who was greatly interested by Colonel Graham's exertions and zeal, obtained the King's leave that it should be enrolled as a light Infantry Battalion, and as such it was equipped and drilled."

At this time there were no Light Infantry regiments in the British army. Graham appears to have taken as his model styles of uniform found in light infantry companies in the regiments of foot. Certainly by 1800, the regiment was kitted out in Tarleton-style leather caps with bearskin crests, jackets with 'flank' wings and short tails, and pantallons with short gaiters and this is the uniform in which they joined Abercromby's force to drive the French from Egypt in 1801 in which it seems they operated as light troops.

However, this was not acknowledged when regiments were selected for the Shorncliffe light troops project and in 1805 the 90th were sent to the West Indies where they remained for the next nine years before moving north to Canada.

Whether the regiment was still outfitted as Graham arranged by the time they were sent the Caribbean seems doubtful, and presumably they were refitted and provided with standard infantry clothing for tropical service. The question then arises of how they were outfitted when they arrived on the Canadian frontier in 1814.

It is recorded that in April 1812 the regiment's stores of arms and clothing were destroyed as the result of an earthquake and volcanic eruption on the island of St Vincent. At that time, the rank and file were predominantly English, as had been the case for the last ten years (English 1,097, Scots 538, Irish 485, and foreigners 24). Despite the regiment's Scottish title, it seems unlikely that the 90th would have adopted a cap in the style of the 71st, with its band of 'national tartan,'when five years previously a number of Highland regiments had been ordered to dispense with their Scottish trappings due to shortage of Scottish manpower.

They would have been first equipped with the Light-Infantry Crested cap (Tarleton). Thereafter, it would have been the 1806 cap probably until 1815.

They had no Scottish uniform distinctions.

Here are pictures from 1796, 1797 and after 1806.

Just a slight correction. I meant the 1800 and 1806 cap

And this may be of interest in general.

link

This may be of interest in general.

Very interesting. I'd forgotten about that replica cap.

Interesting also to see the officer of 1797 wearing what seems to be a light dragoon cut of coat. A precursor of the Rifle officers fashion.

Ditto the field officer wearing his cocked hat athwart rather than fore-and-aft. Was that a common practice after 1800?

There seems to be some confusion as regarding the title 'Perthshire Volunteers.' Certainly Thomas Graham announced in 1794: " I have obtained His Majesty's leave
" that it should be called 'The Perthshire Volunteers.'

Whether that title survived the regiment's embodimant as the 90th Regiment, is not entirely clear. It does not feature again in the text of the 1880 history until Lord Hill's letter conveying the granting of the title light infantry in 1815.

Exactly, which corps of 'Perthshire volunteers' is supposed to have been absorbed into the 9Oth in 1802 with the addition of their title to the 90th, as I have read in some places, is not immediately apparent. Again, this is not referred to in the Delavoye history.

Certainly the regiment was recruiting uo to strength after the campaigns of previous years. While regarded as a 'national regiment,' it seems the 90th recruited signifcant numbers from south of the border, " Manchester or Birmingham invariably provided twice as many men as the county".

Meanwhile Grahams's ongoing efforts to maintain the 90th as a light infantry corps are recorded as late as 1804 when the regiment was in Ireland, having the previous year sought the Duke of York's permission "to restore the 90th to what it originally was, a light infantry battalion."

It seems this was only finally successful in 1815 with the Prince regents approval for the 90th Regiment, or Perthshire Volunteers to be "formed into a Light Infantry corps, and of the clothing, arming, and drill of the regiment being the same, in all respects, as the 43rd,51st, 52nd, 68th, 71st, and 85th Regiments."

I have a picture of a trio from the 90th by Richard Simkiss (?)

It apparently depicts the uniform and headdress from 1801, but Simkiss was from a later generation, not a primary source.

I'm not sure how to add a picture on TMP, so I'll post a link instead.

Yes that is the light infantry uniform, referred to in above posts, corresponding to references cited in the 1880 history. Simkin does have to be taken with a pinch of salt but the figures seem plausible.

Haythornthwaite's Blandford book on the French Revolution has a nice plate showing a soldier of the 90th in Egypt, and makes the claim that Sir John Moore developed some of his ideas watching them go through their evolutions.

I believe it was alleged by Stewart of Garth, in his 1822 work on Highlanders and the Scottish regiments, that Sir John Moore, who at the time held a command in Minorca 1797-98, observed the 90th drilling on the glacis of Fort St. Phillipa, and their "system of light manoeuvres," which he afterwards introduced at Shorncliffe.

Stewart was a not-entirely unbiased chronicler of Scottish military merit.

Interesting. I took a look in JFC Fuller's book on Moore, but there are no regimental references in his brief summary of Moore's involvement with light troops in Egypt,

Would be interesting to know the source of their "system of maneuvers," whether they somehow scaled up the existing light company evolutions, or whether someone created or adapted one from somewhere else. I suppose there must have been other units with at least the experience of operating in extended order in a battalion scale- maybe the 60th, from the war in America?

JFC Fuller's book has Graham's order of 1804:

"Colonel Graham's Regimental Orders, 1804.

Colonel Graham, in his Regimental Orders of January 29, 1804, insisted that not only should the 90th Regiment be made perfect in light infantry movement under the immediate guidance of its officers, but that its men should also be taught to act on their own initiative. The following is a copy of them:

REGIMENTAL ORDERS

Tuam,
January 29,1804.
" Colonel Graham is always highly gratified by seeing the90th Regiment. He is proud of his attachment to it, and he feels confident that the same spirit which has raised its character so high will ever maintain it unsullied.

In an open country, the readiness and precision with which every movement, under the immediate guidance of the officers, is performed would give the bravery of the regiment every advantage that could be wished for, but in meeting an enemy in a broken and enclosed country, such as Ireland is from one end to another, every means should be taken to prevent victory costing the lives of more gallant men than is necessary. To obtain this important object, the regiment ought not only to be perfect in light infantry movements which are so peculiarly adapted to the circumstances of service in this country, but as great extension may be often necessary, and as on these occasions the attention of the officers cannot be given to every man's conduct, the soldiers must learn how most to annoy the enemy with the least risk of themselves. In time of action they must individually possess themselves, maintaining that coolness which distinguishes true courage, so as to be able to take advantage of any favourable circumstance that will enable them to advance under cover, at the same time paying a strict obedience to any signals that may be made them by their superiors.
" By much practice across the country a knowledge of ground will be acquired both by the officers and men ; they will individually become acquainted with the nature of this kind of service, and on all occasions, knowing what is best to be done, will acquire confidence so as not to be too anxious if separated for a short time from their comrades; officers are expected to be unremitting in their exertions to become perfectly masters of every part of their duty, and in their intelligence and activity the instructions of the men must depend relative to the objects which are recommended as so necessary and important.

This instruction must be given on the spot; it is scarcely possible to explain by any general rule what must vary according to the circumstances of the moment; but the leading principle that should govern the conduct of all officers in the command of detachments, great or small, is to prevent their men being exposed in close order to the fire of an enemy that is not seen.

"It is evident that a few men scattered along and covered by a fence will successfully maintain their ground against an infinitely greater number drawn up in close order and remaining stationary in the middle of the field, for their fire is ineffectual, while every shot from the fence must strike a collected body. An extended line must, therefore, always cover the front of the main body till a favourable opportunity offers of advancing rapidly and charging the enemy.
The skirmishers must avoid, too, as much as possible, remaining stationary in an open situation, but will gain ground from a flank under cover where it can be found, or, if necessary, advance to the front in extended line with as much rapidity as possible from one fence to another.

Colonel Graham need not recommend it to the commanding officer to lose no opportunity when the weather will permit of carrying on the usual instruction of the young officers and recruits, and the important exercise of light infantry movements across the enclosures. He will be extremely anxious to receive information of the progress of the regiment, and he requests that on the back of the weekly statements sent him, a memo, should be made of the days of such practice, noticing if any of the officers are absent, and why.
(Signed) Thos. Graham."

Quoting again from Alexander Delavoye's account of the formation of the 90th in his 'Records of the 90th Regiment, (Perthshire Light Infantry) 1795 to 1880' (1880)
'Being one of the first of the new levies reported as complete, the "Perthshire Volunteers" became the 90th Foot, and Lord Moira, who was greatly interested by Colonel Graham's exertions and zeal, obtained the King's leave that it should be enrolled as a Light Infantry Battalion, and as such it was equipped and drilled.

In Delavoye's companion work 'Life of Thomas Graham, Lord Lynedoch' (1880) he quotes Thomas himself. In July 1795, awaiting active service, the 90th marched to new quarters in Hampshire:
Among the other regiments in camp, was the 33rd Foot, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable Arthur Wellesley, but from some circumstances chiefly connected with the drill of the 90th, which, being considered as a light infantry battalion, had to be marched off the regimental parades to more distant and wilder ground, it so happened that I did not become acquainted with that officer. p.92
Later in the letter, Graham refers to German musicians having yet to turn up. These may have been experienced bugle-horn players recruited to act as signallers, perhaps even with jager service.
From Minorca in November 1798, Graham wrote to his brother-in-law, Lord Cathcart:
We… already embarked again to sail to-morrow on a secret expedition under General Stuart. The 28th, 42nd, 58th, and 90th, Artillery, Artificers, etc.; it is a very small but good corps. He has just appointed me to command the reserve, consisting of detachments from all but the 58th, making about 800 rank and file. I suppose, for its number, there cannot be a finer corps;… This is a very pleasing one to me as it came very unexpectedly; if the 90th could have been considered as a flank battalion I should have liked it better, but I should have been wrong in so doing, as the flank companies of the 28th and 42nd are, probably, better men than our equalized companies, and have the advantage of having seen service, as you know…" p.156
We then have Graham's letter to Lord Cathcart from September 1803, following the 90th return from Egypt and their march to Scotland to recruit, after a period of uncertainty over the Regiment's continuing existence:
…I then proceeded to ask him to recommend to His Royal Highness to restore the 90th to what it originally was, a light infantry battalion, stating that it would be a very flattering and agreeable circumstance to the regiment, and particularly so to me, as it might give me a chance on service of being employed more independently than if it remained in the line. His answer was truly kind, for with expressions of approbation to me and the regiment.. p.156



Ah, you've got me, Prince- I should have dipped deeper into old Boney Fuller.

On page 38, referencing Moore's acquaintance with the 90th In Minorca, he says, "Moore had occasion to watch the system of training adopted by Major Mackenzie of the 90th Foot. This consisted in breaking the battalion up into skirmishers, supports and reserve, on the plan of de Rottenburg, of whom I shall say more later."

Without digging further in, this makes it sound like they were using the manual for light troops written by de Rottenburg of the 5/60th. That was published in 1798 (a bit earlier than I had remembered), but the War Office clearly didn't sit on it.

Building on experience in North America, General George Townshend's "Rules and Orders for the Discipline of the Light Infantry Companies in His Majesty's Army in Ireland" (1772) and Major General William Howe's exercises at salisbury in 1774 to develop his theories 'Discipline for Light Infantry in Battalion' found fertile soil in some quarters.

Lord Cornwallis, the colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, was a case in point, viz, this item from the Newcastle Courant

"LONDON, June 27, 1771

"Yesterday the 33d regiment, commanded by the Earl of Cornwallis, who had been reviewed last week by his Majesty upon Blackheath, were again, at his particular request, assembled in Hyde-park on their march to Portsmouth; where they again exhibited all their new manoeuvres, as light infantry. Their quickness of motion and marching, and various order or firing, is really astonishing; and their whole exercise and discipline beyond parallel and example in any troops in the army. They passed the pales, ditches, and defiles, quite up to Kensington gardens, and back again through the grove, by the powder magazine, with as much agility and alertness, as if they had been unincumbered with arms, upon a regular march, in open campaign country: here they formed in an instant the Indian file, and fired in ambushcade. Upon the whole, the performance was excellent."

Newcastle Courant, July 6, 1771

The Northampton Mercury, which published the above account in its July 1, 1771, issue, added this note:

"Yesterday the First Regiment of Foot-Guards began to learn the new Exercise that Lord Cornwallis has introduced into the Thirty-third Regiment of Foot, which is esteemed the best disciplined in the Army."

Building on the accumulated experience of the AWI and the opinions of the 'American School' there would have been a good deal for the enthusiastic Colonel Graham to draw upon.
Maj. Gen. David Dundas complained in 1788 that every second battalion CO seemed to be drilling his men as light infantry. The 33rd was still an exemplar of flexible infantry drills when young Lt Col Hon. Arthur Wellesley took command in 1794.

I could take photos of the Reverend Sumner notes in the ASKB – so via the attached link you find the pages referring to the 90th Foot: PDF link

Greetings from Berlin
Markus Stein

Many thanks Markus,

Excellent find.

Apparently the reason for the raising the 90th foot is given below – it is taken from the footnote on page 187 of J F C Fuller's "British Light Infantry In The Eighteenth Century ( An Introduction To Sir John Moore's System Of Training)"

"The raising of the "Perthshire Volunteers " has a distinctly romantic story attached. Sir Thomas Graham, a Whig Member of Parliament, had taken his wife, the beautiful Mrs. Graham of Gainsborough's picture, to the South of France on account her being consumptive. There she died in1792. Sir Thomas on his return journey to England with her remains, was stopped by a drunken crowd of National Guards who accused him of attempting to smuggle arms to the aristocrats. To satisfy their brutal curiosity they broke open his wife' coffin. From that day forth, although he was now forty-four years old, it became the one duty of his life to shoot down Jacobins. On his return to Scotland he spent every penny he could find on raising the Perthshire Volunteers which became the 90th Foot, and is now the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles. Sir Thomas Graham eventually became General Graham, Lord Lynedoch, G.C.B., and is best remembered as the victor of the battle of Barrosa, 1811. The French paid dearly for their insult."

Ian

Thanks for all the contributions especially that of Markus. My thoughts are:

The 90th were trained as light infantry in the early days and wore a Tarleton helmet in Egypt.

After that they seem to have become a standard infantry battalion and dressed as one. As they fought in the West Indies and Canada where the terrain may have been more wooded, they may have kept up their LI training but they weren't officially LI until May 1815. The regimental history mentions them being brigaded with LI in the fighting in Guadeloupe but doesn't call them LI.

There doesn't seem to be any more information on the shako they wore in Canada in 1814. It may have been like the 71st's or a standard stovepipe or even a Belgic shako. I think this is possible as all their stores were lost in April 1812 following an earthquake and it seems likely that they would have a new issue of clothing if going from the West Indies to Canada in May 1814.

I may go to the regimental museum over the summer and see if they have anything more.

Regimental museum. A word of warning. The Cameronian's collection of the regiment passed to South Lanarkshire Council, represented by a regimental gallery in Low Parks Museum, Hamilton. I suspect it will concentrate on the history of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) post-1881 and is probably not 'manned.'
The website contains this note:
"Please note that our research resources are not housed at Low Parks Museum and access to them is strictly by appointment only. Please give at least four weeks' notice since we may have to retrieve resources from storage."

link

Olivier Millet has produced "LES ARMEES DE LA GUERRE DE 1812 Les armées des États-Unis, du Royaume-Uni et des provinces du Canada de 1812 à 1815" link which shows the 90th dressed as light infantry in a stovepipe. But no clue as to his source(s) other than the extensive bibliography at the end. Will follow up with the volumes that I have access to, as unfortunately Lawson only deals with units going from the Peninsular War to the Americas..

42nd Flanker,

Thanks for the warning. I have been to the museum about 10 years ago and thought that it was more oriented to the 26th. I'll contact them first and see what I can find.

Prince of Essling,

Thanks for the link- that's an interesting and useful document. It will take me some time to go through it (with Google translate!). The uniform drawings seem to be based on those on the Centjours. It struck me that it shows buff faced regiments with buff belts. I'm not convinced about this (see topic on this site). Interestingly Dibble's pictures above for the 90th only have one instance of a buff belt and it is a very pale buff- the others are white.

One important book I cannot access is "A scarlet Coat : uniforms, flags and equipments of British forces in the War of 1812" by René Chartrand

Review on the Napoleon Series at link
This may hold the answer or it may be a generic answer?
Some extracted examples at link

Thanks again. Looks like an interesting book well worth reading but there are no copies with 3000 miles!

Sorry I haven't contributed more to this thread as I've been otherwise engaged in (Battery reunion & wedding 'not mine') pressing matters. But I'll post something that may be of interest later today. This thread as a link in any further enquiry pertaining this Regiment will be of great help.

Ian,

I've the book – a valuable addition to the library regarding British uniforms (also the counterpart about the American uniforms of 1812 is good). But my former check didn't give something new about the 90th.

René Chartrand first covers the uniform development of all branches in general and afterwards particular points to all regiments. His primary sources for the regimental notes were the Rev. Sumner notes (which I published here) and the manuscripts of Pearse and Company, the manufacturer of the uniforms in northern America (these manuscripts are in the national Canadian army museum in Ottawa).

Here's the small text about the 90th:

90th Foot (Perthshire Volunteers)
1st Battalion in Canada from August 1814 to June 1815. No engagements.
Buff facings, gold buttons, unlaced for officers; men's lace square ended in pairs, one yellow and one blue line; in pairs, the 'blue edge in' (Pearse).

A footnote states:
Reference to the light company and the battalion companies in October 1811 inspection at St. Vincent and Grenada seem to indicate that the regiment was organized as a line regiment at the time of the War of 1812. It was formally made a light infantry regiment in 1815 (War Office 27/104).

No image is provided in the book.

Greetings from Berlin
Markus Stein

Hi Markus,

Many thanks for checking. Your finding was what I silently feared. The other books in the bibliography provided by Olivier Millet failed to provide any helpful information on the 90th.

Will have a look later at "Select British documents of the Canadian War of 1812" covering the time period the 90th were due to deploy to Canada but am not very hopeful.

Once again many thanks

Ian

Here you go!

The 2nd Battalion colour did not bear the Egypt (sphynx) battle honour.

Excellent Paul,

Many thanks for your contribution. Michael Barthrop is quite clear in his last paragraph, same as the rest of the infantry.

Ian

Always glad to help. Especially when it pertains the British army of the period.

Here's what Franklin had to say: