Monday 30 January 2012

The Free Men of Color at Battle of New Orleans

The War of 1812 offers many many unique units to model.  Of interest is the "Free Men of Color" units of Majors Lacoste and Daquin which fought during the New Orleans campaign.

I will only briefly dive into the uniforms of the units.  Of what information I could gather from my rather casual research suggests that the two units probably had different attire.  Lacoste's unit was a continuation of the old Spanish/French militia contingent and would seem to have worn a uniform of an undecorated dark blue or dark grey coatee with tails (but no turnbacks) with white trousers and white crossbelts and brass badge.  A short roundhat ("tophat") headgear was worn.
A group of students from Frederick Douglas High School play members of the Free Men of Color during the 195th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 at Chalmette Battlefield on Friday, January 8, 2010.


The well-known painting of the night action of Dec. 23rd of Major Daquin’s Battalion of Free Men of Color fighting wear mostly civilian clothes because their battalion is only recently organized from San Domingo but do note the falling individual (center of painting) which has a similar uniform than those in the earlier photo.