Grenadier Regiment Rall 1776

[B6BosGO]

The Grenadier Regiment Rall had it origins in 1703 when the best men from the various landmiliz (militia) regiments were drawn together into a single battalion. It was referred to as a Landgrenadier Regiment. It was thus not a elite grenadier battalion but a garrison or militia type battalion. Nor were it's men the tall giants popular mythos thinks of as grenadier. Callow farm lad made up the battalion rather then veterans. One observer remarked it's rank and file were the smallest of the regiments he had seen. Possibly the average soldier could have been private Johannes Reiner who was 17 years old and stood 5 feet 1 inches tall!

But once in America the regiment saw much active service and distinguished itself. At both White Plains and Fort Washington the regiment was in the forefront of the fighting. After its surrender at Trenton the survivors were placed in a composite battalion with members of the Knyphausen and Lossberg regiments and took part in the Philadelphia campaign. It was later reorganized as a full battalion and took part in the fighting in the South at Savanna and Stono Ferry. The regiment returned to Germany in 1783.

Researching the Rall regiment has been quite interesting. There are no illustration of the Uniform before the American Revolution. Both watercolors of the regiment date from the 1784 and 1786, after the war. The 1786 watercolor is most frequently reproduced so that is the Uniform many show. The earlier 1784 watercolor has many differences but because it was earlier I have gone with that one.

The uniform was a blue Regimental coat with red cuff and collar and no lapel. small clothes were buff. The Grenadier cap had a brass front, red base and blue bag with white lace. Belts were white but musket slings reddish brown. Cartridge box black with brass badge and small grenade in each corner. Officers lace and gorget were gold.

Figures are from Fife and Drum miniatures. Regimental colors are from GMB.

http://bravefusiliers.blogspot.com/2018/11/grenadier-regiment-rall-1776.html

[Michi]

You put a lot of time for research and painting into them, the results are great therefore! What are their colours showing? Hesse or Thuringia?

[B6BosGO]

  For the flags neither was helpful.  I used the article by Steven Hill on Hessian colors of the American Revolution that was published by the Company of Military Historian.  He explained in great detail the colors. Here is a link to a pdf ;

dupagemilitaryflag.com/files/33395736.pdf

[vtsaogames]

Thanks for the info and the eye candy.

[Warboss Nick]

Again some nice painting on more german troops!

[Baron von Wreckedoften]

I think he has a hidden Hessian hankering.

[vtsaogames]

They look so nice and from 1776 on they are at most of the battles.